Even Betty White is getting in on the action. The 90-year-old actress and recent SAG Award winner for the “Best Female Actor in a TV Comedy Series” appeared in a YouTube video about this concept. The video has received more than one million hits. “It’s the hottest program for spicing your golden years,” says White.

International Communications Research conducted a survey on the subject and found that 79 percent of people felt that life settlements was something insurance professionals and financial planners should be telling their clients about. More than half say they’re worried they’ll have to keep working after the age of 65. “Many people didn’t know selling their life insurance policy was even an option; however, boomers are demanding more education from their financial advisers, said Wm. Scott Page, president and CEO of The Lifeline Program. A recent Associated Press report found that 44 percent of baby boomers lacked confidence in being able to retire.

Life Settlement An Increasingly Common Way To Pay For Retirement is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

In 2010 the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency increased the limit for miles per gallon rates. For 2012 models, vehicles must have a combined 29.7 mpg. That will increase to 34.1 mpg in 2016. Those increases are forcing auto makers to change things that were once commonplace– like the inclusion of a spare tire. Spare tires and tools can weigh as much as 40 pounds. “Unfortunately many vehicle owners may be unaware that their vehicle has no spare tire until they experience a flat tire,” says John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Buying, and Consumer Information. “Consumers should review their owner’s manual and emergency maintenance supplies they have in the vehicle and be informed about alternatives to a spare to prevent panic or a delay when encountering a flat tire.”

To ensure that you are protected against a flat find out if you have a spare tire. AAA says it’s important to come up with an alternative solution if one is not present. Keep in mind that if sealant is your option, it needs to be replaced every five years or after it’s used.

Insuring Yourself Against A Flat Tire is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Nearly 200 teen drivers were surveyed and experts found that those who are most likely to drive with multiple passengers are those that consider themselves thrill-seekers, those whose parents don’t set rules or monitor their whereabouts, or those who don’t understand the risks of driving in general. “The good news is that that these teens make up the minority,” said Jessica Mirman, PhD, study author and a behavioral researcher in a news release. “Teens in this study generally reported strong perceptions of the risks of driving, low frequencies of driving with multiple passengers, and strong beliefs that their parents monitored their behavior and set rules.”

Another study looked at what was happening to distract the teen driver just before they crashed. Males with passengers are nearly six times more likely to break a road rule and twice as likely to drive aggressively before a crash. “Both male and female teen drivers with peer passengers were more likely to be distracted just before a crash as compared to teens who crashed while driving alone,” explained Dr. Curry. “Among the teens who said they were distracted by something inside the vehicle before they crashed, 71 percent of males and 47 percent of females said they were distracted directly by the actions of their passengers.”

The study found that parents play an important role in safe teen driving. Setting house rules of no non-sibling teen passengers for the first six months of driving can help limit accidents. “Most teens take driving seriously and act responsibly behind the wheel. However, some may not realize how passengers can directly affect their driving,” said Dr. Mirman. “Teen passengers can intentionally and unintentionally encourage unsafe driving. Because it can be difficult for new drivers to navigate the rules of the road and manage passengers, it’s best to keep the number of passengers to a minimum for the first year.”

Twin Studies Investigate Teen Auto Accidents is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Google Wallet has taken on the responsibility of replacing the traditional wallet with a virtual one. The point of Google Wallet is to provide users with a digital wallet on their smart phones which stores all of their credit cards.

Additionally, users can purchase and store Google Prepaid Cards on their phone. Google Wallet allows shoppers to pay for their merchandise by tapping their smart phone against PayPass terminals at the checkout.

Although it seems extremely convenient, many people are worried about the security of Google Wallet. What if someone loses their phone? Can the application be wirelessly hacked? How secure is Google Wallet compared to credit cards?

Google has assured users that there are multiple layers of security protecting each device. At a basic level, the application requires a four digit secret pin to be entered before purchases can be made.

The pin code security is basically the equivalent to that of a debit or ATM card. However, there is one significant difference. Google Wallet’s pin is digital, so if the phone is lost or stolen, a hacker could potentially crack the code.

On the application’s website, Google encourages users to cancel their credit cards if the phone is stolen or lost, just as you would with a real wallet. Most credit card companies do not require cardholders to pay for unauthorized purchases, especially if the company is notified as soon as possible.

It is also important to note that four digit numerical pins do not take very long to crack. Users should be sure to avoid obvious or easy-to-guess pins, such as “1234″, “0000″, “2580″, or pins that have the same number for every digit.

The primary security feature that Google Wallet uses is a computer chip called the “Secure Element”. All purchases made on the device are encrypted and stored on the chip, which is separate from the phone’s memory.

Another popular concern is the possibility of a virus or malicious application that could access the Secure Element. Google has assured the public that only trusted programs are able to access the information stored on the chip. Security software is stored on the PayPass terminals as well.

In addition to using PayPass terminals, Google Wallet can also be used for making online purchases. When users go to the checkout, they can choose Google Wallet as their method of payment.

Users will then be prompted to sign into Google Wallet using their username and password. Not all websites allow shoppers to be with Google Wallet, so always check for an image or button that says “Google Buy” or “Google Checkout”.

Although Google Wallet is not a payment option on every website, the number of websites that support this feature will increase as the application gets more popular. In the next couple of years, users will be able to order pizza and pay bills using Google Wallet.

Google Strikes Again With Google Wallet is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Law enforcement agencies typically report a larger number of break-ins during the holiday season which can taint this typically cheerful season. “The holidays are a joyous time of year filled with family gatherings and gift giving,” said Terri Miller, director of H.E.A.T. in a news release. “But, with overflowing parking lots and vehicles filled to the brim with purchases, the holidays are also a dream for car thieves.”

Some tips that can keep you from calling the police and your insurance company include staying alert while walking to your car. Restrain from texting or digging for your keys because that could make you an easy target. Keep your car parked in well-lit areas and avoid parking near dumpsters, bushes or vans that may be good hiding spots for criminals. Use your trunk to hide purchases. Putting them in plain view makes it even easier for thieves to steal the gifts you worked so hard to find.

If you’re planning a marathon shopping trip you may also want to consider moving your car. A crook could be watching as you take a load to your car and then return to the mall for another round of purchases. Law enforcement officials also say it’s important to give up the car if you are threatened by a carjacker. Your life is more important and it will definitely give you another thing to be thankful for this season.

Law Enforcement: Auto Crimes Increase During Holidays is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

If you’re driving in the Greater Portland area a new study found that one in three drivers are likely breaking the law by using a cell phone without a hands-free device. One in four are texting and emailing while driving. That’s according to a survey from PEMCO Insurance which also found that Portland-area drivers are upset about sharing the road with these potentially dangerous drivers. “Distracted-driving laws are becoming common across the U.S., and for good reason,” said PEMCO spokesperson Jon Osterberg in a news release. “Distracted driving is dangerous, and while our poll results show that most drivers agree, we need to raise awareness to help lower the number of drivers who are focused on their phones rather than on the road.”

Of those polled, 31 percent say they’ve used their cell phones without a hands-free device and 26 percent say they’ve  used their phones to text or email while driving. But 42 percent say that texting violations should warrant a $142 fine and another 55 percent believe that offense should go on a driver’s record. Probably not surprising, drivers under 35 years old are more likely to say the fine is too hefty.

Distracted Drivers Are Everywhere is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Once you do decide on a policy, it’s important to put the paperwork in a place where your loved ones can access it easily. “Consumers need to be familiar with their life insurance policies so they don’t overlook important features that could be critical to their livelihoods,” says Jeff Koll, assistant vice president of product development for Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company.  ”Make sure you have a copy of your policy, that you know where you keep it and that someone else in the family also knows where you keep it.  You can always request a copy of your policy from your insurance company if you need it.  In addition, evaluate your insurance coverage from time to time to make sure it’s appropriate for your stage in life.” To help you in your decision Colonial Life created this list of commonly overlooked aspects of life insurance.

1. Waiver of premium.  This feature pays the premium of a policy if you become seriously ill or disabled and can’t afford the payments.
2. Accelerated death benefit. This feature allows you to receive cash advances against the death benefit of your policy if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness. This can be a great feature to help pay for medical treatment and other expenses when they have only a short time to live.
3. Guaranteed purchase option. With this feature, you can purchase coverage at designated future dates or life events without proving you’re in good health.
4. Long-term care riders.  Some life products include this option, which allows you to use the benefits of your policy to pay for long-term care. But using that option means you will not receive your full life benefit when you pass.
5. Spouse or child term riders.  Life policies with this feature allow you to purchase term life insurance for your spouse or dependent child, up to age 26.  If you can’t afford separate policies this can be more affordable.
6. Cash value plans. This type of policy pays out upon your death and also accumulates value during your lifetime. It adds an investment element to your life insurance.
7. Mortgage protection.  This feature, typically found on term life policies, will pay your mortgage if you die.
8. Cash withdrawals and loans.  Many universal and whole life policies allow you to withdraw or borrow money, using the cash value of the policy as collateral. Interest rates tend to be relatively low.  You can also use the cash value of your life policy to pay your premiums if you need or want to stop paying premiums for a period of time.  You must pay back the loan or your beneficiaries will receive a reduced death benefit.
9. Survivor support services. Some life policies offer services that provide objective financial and legal assistance to beneficiaries.
10. Employee assistance programs. This feature makes resources available to you for problems that can affect your personal and professional life.  Resources are usually free and help address issues such as substance abuse, stress, marital problems, legal concerns and major life events.

Life Insurance Lingo: Ten Things You Need To Know is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Around $47 billion are spent on emergency department services each year in the US. If some of that funding was shifted to preventing illnesses in the first place through less expensive doctor’s visits, access to paid sick days would save $1.1 billion each year. About $500 million in these preventable costs are covered by taxpayers with allocated funds going to veterans and low income families. “As high and rising health care expenditures continuing to be a top concern for policymakers and businesses alike, paid sick days is a cost saving solution that should receive serious attention,”  said Claudia Williams, Research Analyst with IWPR and an author of the report.

If an employee has paid sick days they are more likely to go to a doctor during regular business hours. They’re also less likely to put off needed care. Some states are considering legislation that would make sure workers have the ability to earn paid sick time. Some industries are less likely to have paid six days. For instance, two-fifths of private sector employees, including three in four food service workers, three in five personal health care workers and three in four child care workers, do not currently have access to paid sick days.

Study: Paid Sick Days Could Lower Healthcare Costs is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

1. Products: Critical illness insurance will continue to get attention

Major medical issues like cancer, heart attacks and strokes usually exceed many employees’ major medical coverage. Critical illness insurance can provide vital out-of-pocket protection in these cases. “One way to think of critical illness insurance is as ‘living life insurance,’” says Randy Finn, assistant vice president of supplemental health products at Colonial Life, where critical illness sales increased 24 percent from 2009 to 2010. “If you get a serious illness such as cancer and die, life insurance helps with that. But what if you survive? You’re likely to have years of financially crippling bills to pay.”

2. Sales: Voluntary insurance sales will improve significantly

Experts believe sales will increase as more workplaces feel the need to offer a variety of choices to employees. “There’s a big need for better education of workers about the need to protect their most valuable assets with life and disability coverage,” points out Jeff Koll, Colonial Life’s assistant vice president of life and disability products.

3. Services: Wellness programs will become more common as a cost-reduction strategy for employers

Employers have more motivation to keep their employees healthy as health care costs continue to rise. “Good communication about wellness programs is essential for them to be effective,” says Steve Bygott, Colonial Life’s assistant vice president of marketing analysis and programs. “Without a focused effort to ensure employees understand the program and its value to them, participation tends to be low.”

4. Technology: Employees will receive access to more online insurance tools

Employers are putting more decisions into their employees’ hands which means easily accessible tools are going to become even more important.

5. Economy: Government sector employers will need more money-saving options

Government employers are feeling the financial pinch and will need more affordable insurance solutions. “The good news is there’s a huge opportunity for government employers to control costs by changing their benefits plan design,” says Pat McCullough, Colonial Life’s public sector practice leader. “Government employers have been slower than other industry segments to shift away from the more comprehensive, paternalistic benefits models of the past, but there are solutions to help them offer strong packages and still save money.”

Insurance Trends For 2012 is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Lindquist’s job didn’t provide medical insurance so according to the Washington Post he tried to qualify for workers’ compensation since he was injured on the job. But in June the claim was denied, leaving Lindquist with $2.5 million in bills, according to his sister. Lindquist Baldwin said last week.

Fortunately some good news finally arrived when the Accident Fund Insurance Company of America announced it had changed its mind. “Upon further review of the case, and receiving additional information on the facts involved in this situation, Accident Fund believes the appropriate decision is to honor Mr. Mark Lindquist’s claim for worker’s compensation benefits,” Mike Britt, president of the Lansing, Mich.-based insurance company, told the Washington Post. “We are committed to working with Mr. Lindquist to ensure he receives all the benefits to which he is entitled and helping him to recover from his injuries.” Lindquist told the newspaper that this may mean he won’t have to sell his home like he had previously thought.

Tornado Victim Receives Good News From Insurance Company is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance