Applying for a payday loan is very convenient and easy. Payday loans have minimal requirements, unlike traditional bank loans. But to get the approval, you have to abide by certain criteria.
A Guide to Credit Scores
The following article was originally published on blog.figure.com on 6/25/19.
Your credit score – three numbers that hold considerable sway over your financial life — is often the first thing a lender wants to see before considering giving you a loan.
5 Amazing Tricks to Help You Save on Medical Insurance
Did you know that about 44 million people in the United States don’t have health insurance? It’s no surprise that this number is so high because of medical insurance costs.
Medical insurance costs too much money for most people and costs continue to rise every year. The good news is you can be a savvy insurance shopper if you use the following tips to save on medical insurance.
Tricks to Help You Save on Medical Insurance
Who doesn’t want to save money nowadays? It seems like everything is rising in price including medical insurance which means we have to learn how to lower our costs in order to stay afloat when it comes to our finances.
1. Deductible
One way you can save on your monthly payments is by choosing a higher deductible. This is advised for someone that is healthy and doesn’t see themselves visiting the doctor’s office too often.
We don’t recommend increasing your deductible in exchange for a premium that is lower if you tend to go to the doctor often. In that case, it more than likely won’t make sense.
Keep in mind that raising your deductible can be risky because if something huge were to happen medically you can end up with high out of pocket expenses. This is why we recommend this if you don’t usually go to the doctor’s office to often and if you’re healthy.
2. Shop Around
When it comes to your health insurance you don’t have to settle on the first one you come across. You can shop around. Going through companies with agents that specialize in healthcare such as Medigap Life can help you compare and find the best option for you and your situation.
If we shop around for homes and new cars, health insurance is no different. There are myriads of options from PPOs to HMOs which can get confusing. You also have options of choosing your own physician or going with any they have in their network.
If this seems overwhelming or stressful then calling in the experts is best. They know the lingo and can advise you based on your needs.
3. Health Savings Account
Another way to save money is by contributing money from each paycheck to a health savings account (HSA). The good thing about contributing towards this account is that you won’t have to pay taxes on it and you can withdraw the money at any time.
Another pro about adding money to an HSA is that anything you contribute to the account rolls over to the following year if you don’t use it.
The money in your HSA you can withdraw at any time to pay for deductibles, procedures, and prescriptions. If you go for a higher deductible as mentioned above and you’re contributing to an HSA every paycheck, you will have peace of mind that you have money to cover your deductible in case of an emergency.
Although having a higher deductible can seem scary if you’re saving money tax-free through an HSA then you will have more peace of mind. On top of it, you will be saving on your monthly premiums which can add up.
4. Cut Back on the Unnecessary
You might have experienced going in for a symptom and the doctor wanting to do various exams for precautionary measures. Sometimes some of these exams you do not necessarily need. You have the right to ask your physician how necessary the exam or procedure is before agreeing to it.
By asking this you will open the door to possibly them recommending an alternative that will be more cost-effective and will save you money. Your doctor will also know that money is a factor for you which he can take into consideration and help you find ways to cut costs down.
5. Choosing Your Facility
If you are going in to see a doctor and your symptoms are not life-threatening then a visit to the emergency room will more than likely not make sense. Their rates are the highest and can drain your wallet.
If you have something like a cough you can go see your primary doctor or if they’re closed go into an urgent care near you instead of the emergency room. Make sure that you do your research and read reviews on local urgent cares and clinics because they’re not all the same.
Nowadays there are also telemedicine options which might be the most cost-effective in the case of a common cough, a stomach bug, or even the flu. Check if your primary physician offers any email or video consultations. This can save you a ton of money and time. You won’t have to make an appointment, wait for your appointment, and then take the time to drive there.
Some insurance companies also offer free phone hotlines 24/7 for you to call in and describe your symptoms. From there they will advise you if you need to visit an urgent care or not.
The point of choosing your facility to be seen is to not rush to the emergency room if you’re not dealing with something is threatening your life. Even a broken finger can be dealt with at an urgent care rather than the emergency room.
Happy Saving!
There you have it — 5 ways you can save on medical insurance. Now it’s time to apply what you learned and start shopping around to find the best health insurance to fit your medical needs.
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Writing Invoices: How to Make Effective Invoices for Your Business
Are you an entrepreneur at heart? Are you thinking of starting your own company?
Go for it! If anything, it’s much more fulfilling than working for someone else. It might be a little overwhelming at first, but it’s worth it.
Introducing K-Merchant – what changes to expect in the commerce market?
Imagine being able to easily accept cryptocurrency payments from a phone, tablet or PC at the simple touch of a button. Cryptocurrency, up to past few years was a major discovery itself, but now there is an opportunity to evade the traditional banking system and benefit from the blockchain technology.
K-Merchant, a cryptocurrency payment solution platform, facilitates Bitcoin, Ethereum and KaratGoldCoin payments, and can automatically convert them into traditional currencies for the vendor’s ease.
The system allows for easy onboarding and an easy-to-use dashboard for funds management and registry overview. K-Merchant also offer an online adaption of its system – a website plugin that facilitates online cryptocurrency payments. K-Merchant is already integrated with WooCommerce and many other e-commerce platforms. People who have their KaratGold Coin on the K-Merchant app can spend KBC through thousands of online retailers around the globe.
The greatest benefit of all is that no skill or knowledge of blockchain or cryptocurrency is required to use the system as everything is streamlined, automated and simple to use.
“K-Merchant is an absolutely secure and transparent payment system due to the blockchain technology. Everything runs automatically, legally secure and above all quickly: The customer initiates a payment via K-Merchant, the system validates it, and the process is completed – irrevocably and without costs. The payments are then credited to the service provider in the twinkling of an eye and irreversibly. The retailer / online shop has to install the payment system and accept crypto payments.
K-Merchant can, of course, be integrated into the most popular online shop systems such as Magento, Shopify or Prestashop.” says Dr. h.c. Harald Seiz, head of the Karatbars group, which initiated the K-Merchant.
K-Merchant is already integrated with WooCommerce and many other e-commerce platforms.
To learn more about KaratGold`s innovative products, visit their website.
Protect Your Income ― Understanding GDPR in 2019
Since the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was first passed into law, companies have been fined more than €56 million (approximately $62,570,200) for data breaches. In the first three quarters of the year, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) had received more than 206,000 GDPR complaints in 31 countries. While more than 95,000 of the data breaches were consumer complaints, 65,000 came from data controllers.
Of these GDPR complaints, only one percent of the 206,000 that has been investigated and closed have legally challenged the ruling in the courts. It is also essential to take into consideration that of the €56 million in fines, CNIL’s fine levied against Google was for €50 million (approximately $55,866,250) of it. Here are a few important tips to protect your income by understanding the GDPR in 2019.
GDPR Compliance
While it is mandatory for all EU businesses across all industries, there is still much confusion about GDPR compliance for non-EU companies. Non-compliance fines can go as high as €10 million (approximately $11,173,250), or 2 to 4 percent of a company’s global consolidated turnover. Here is a GDPR readiness checklist that includes individual rights, restrictions, penalties, and emerging legal issues. These GDPR guidelines were written for enforcers and data protection watchdogs:
- Implementation of a data migration plan
- A transparent GDPR process
- Application of administrative fines
- Process for notification of breaches
- Consent for data security and migration
- Accredited data protection professionals
- Authorities like supervisors and corporate data protection officers
- Annual review of data protection assessment and effect on consumers
- Automated process for reporting and data privacy decision-making
GDPR as a Basic Human Right
The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was drafted in 2000 to protect the rights of citizens, which became law in 2009. Under Article 8, EU citizens have a legal right to personal data protection. In 2016, the GDPR was added to the charter and took effect in 2018. While the charter recognized citizens had a right to personal privacy, but the GDPR included additional user protections for data security and technology migration.
GDPR Restrictions
The GDPR’s primary focus has always been to protect consumers from the loss of their personal and financial data when conducting business online. From the onset of the GDPR, there has been pressure on EU officials to protect consumers’ fundamental rights while also looking for ways to enforce GDPR values. There is also much focus on restrictions that boost rights while looking for additional ways to toughen authoritative support for the GDPR laws.
Corporate GDPR Obligations
Whether you are a start-up or a global digital conglomerate like Amazon or Google, fines are meant to deter a company’s inability to protect consumer data safely. There is also a focus on data migration, which puts many more global companies in the EU crosshairs for fine levies.
There is now pressure on EU companies, and those who do business with EU citizens, to assess their data protection plan and inform the EDPB authorities when breaches occur. As more about the law and enforcement come to light, the information will help protect future income.
The Real Cost of Complacency
Newton’s Law of Inertia explains that an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon. In other words, when you’re still, it’s much easier to fall into a state of complacency than to get yourself moving. It’s a law of nature. However, it might be holding you back, particularly when it comes to your finances. Money isn’t a place to allow for complacency.
Understanding the Concept of Credit Card Churning
Although initially many people were perfectly happy using a single credit card for all their purchases, the concept of signing up for 3-4 credit cards in a year is slowly but steadily gaining colossal prominence. People prefer this new style of using credit cards because it helps them take advantage of signup bonuses. This is known as credit card churning. Although a few individuals may not be aware of it, this process is a fairly common phenomenon in the world of personal finance.
What Is the Best Life Insurance Policy for Seniors?
For seniors over the age of 60, guaranteed universal life insurance is generally considered the best to get. This type of insurance can give you the most value by combining permanent coverage that whole life insurance provides with a reduced cost of term.
Here’s a brief guide to help you find the best GUL policy for seniors.
Choosing the Best Senior Life Insurance Companies
There are several benefits that you’ll find with a good insurance company that provides GUL insurance.
Financial Reliability
Insurance companies need to be able to pay out on claims when needed. Look for an insurance provider that has a record of financial stability and has received a “Superior” label from A.M. Best, which is an independent agency that specializes in rating insurers’ financial wellbeing. You can also check out ratings from S&P Global and Moody’s, two other agencies that provide the highest marks of “Very Strong” and “Excellent,” respectively.
Leniency Regarding Age
Companies should also ideally provide policies that cater to most senior citizens, with leniency when it comes to age. A majority of insurers will provide GUL policies to seniors aged 60 to 85 if the party seeking insurance agrees to undergo a medical exam. However, exams could result in denial of coverage for seniors who have serious health conditions.
It’s also important to find an insurer that has relatively generous expiration dates. GUL will expire like term life insurance, only a GUL policy is intended to outlive the insurance policyholder. This is why insurers typically will write policies intended for individuals aged 90 to 121.
A Variety of Policy Sizes
Another aspect you’ll want to find in the right insurance provider is a range of policy sizes. The best policy will be able to fit both your available budget and death benefit requirements. While some policyholders may set aside money for funeral and end-of-life expenses in a $15,000 policy, others with hundreds of thousands available in their budget often set up inheritances. The right insurance provider will be able to accommodate various needs with policies of different sizes.
Consistent Premiums
A GUL policy should also come with guaranteed level premiums that won’t change at any point throughout the policy. This safeguard will ensure that you don’t have to worry about increasing rates over time. You won’t get any unpleasant surprises if you can find a company that comes with static premiums.
Taking all of this into account when looking for an insurer can help ensure you find the best life insurance policy.