Loyal to your insurance company? It may be a mistake

Insurance experts at the Consumer Federation of America say consumers need to be more aggressive in ensuring they're getting the lowest possible price from their car insurance company.
J. Robert Hunter, Director of Insurance at CFA and former Texas Insurance Commissioner, says it's never been more important to shop around for insurance.
“You may have been with your auto insurance company for many years. You may even receive a loyalty discount of five or ten percent on your bill. You have filed few or even no claims during your years with the insurer. You are a great customer and it may seem that there’s no reason to complain about your auto insurance," Hunter said, warning that it's just such customers who are targeted by rate increases.
“Watch out! Your insurer may be increasing your premium by far more than your loyalty discount, precisely because you have been so loyal. Even if you have a perfect driving record, many insurance companies are raising rates on people just like you – people who do not shop around," he said. "Newly revealed insurance practices show that reasons you might be vulnerable to price increases are such things as staying with one insurer for many years, never calling the company with complaints or simply buying your insurance through an agent rather than online.”

Are you being PO-ed?

The name insurers use for such practice is “Price Optimization,” referred to as “PO.”
The industry uses personal consumer data and statistical models to measure how likely each customer is to shop around and how much of a price increase he or she will tolerate, Hunter said. After determining what economists call the “price elasticity of demand,” insurers push up premiums based on how unlikely it is that a customer will shop around for a better price, even if the driver has never caused an accident or been issued a ticket.
Many insurance companies, including about half of the larger ones, raise a driver’s premium if they conclude that the driver is not likely to leave their company, the CFA reported. This means millions of drivers are possibly being charged a premium that is higher than the amount considered appropriate and fair for their risk profile.
What should a consumer do?
The best defense against being PO-ed is to shop around, according to Hunter.
“Even before the advent of price optimization it was very important to shop for insurance since prices vary so widely. But now, to avoid being POed, shopping is critical,” Hunter said.
Hunter said consumers should also call their state’s Insurance Commissioner and tell her or him to stop insurance companies from using this Price Optimization scheme to unfairly raise rates on customers.

Browsing Topic: Car Insurance Rates

Subaru tops in resale value, Lexus first among luxury brands

It's not just the purchase price of a car that determines whether it's a good buy. Resale value also enters into the picture, and Subaru and Lexus have taken top honors for best resale values in Kelley Blue Book's annual survey of the mass and luxury markets.
Subaru had three models taking the top spot while Lexus had six among a total of 22 segments. Chevrolet and Toyota each have an impressive five models winning 2015 Best Resale Value Awards, with the majority being trucks or SUVs.
Kelley editors note that depreciation often is the greatest expense incurred by drivers during the first five years of vehicle ownership. An average 2015 model-year vehicle only will retain about 38.2 percent of its original value after a five-year ownership period, meaning that a $50,000 new car today will only be worth somewhere close to $19,100 after five years.
Vehicles with average or below-average resale values are plentiful and may be heavily discounted while models with higher resale values may be a little more expensive upfront and may not come with as many rebates and discounts, which is why consumers need to carefully weigh the potential benefits of a higher resale value down the road.

No surprises

This year's ratings were no big surprise.
"Lexus notably captured the top luxury brand honors for the fourth year in a row, and after previously winning the brand award in 2011, Subaru is back on top again for 2015 as the best mainstream brand for resale value across its entire lineup," said Eric Ibara, director of residual value consulting for Kelley Blue Book.
"While both Subaru and Lexus deliver incredible resale value, we also are impressed with the strides made by General Motors, which tops domestic automakers with seven combined awards for Chevrolet and GMC," Ibara said. "The entire list of Top 10 Best Resale Value vehicles is dominated this year by trucks, SUVs and crossovers, which is a testament to the strength these categories will carry in the future."

COMPLETE RESULTS

2015 BEST RESALE VALUE: BRAND
SUBARU
2015 BEST RESALE VALUE: LUXURY BRAND
LEXUS

2015 BEST RESALE VALUE  BY VEHICLE CATEGORY

SUBCOMPACT CAR: Honda Fit
PLUG-IN VEHICLE: Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
COMPACT CAR: Subaru Impreza
COMPACT SUV/CROSSOVER: Jeep Wrangler
SPORTY COMPACT CAR: Subaru WRX
MID-SIZE SUV/CROSSOVER: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
MID-SIZE CAR: Subaru Legacy
FULL-SIZE SUV/CROSSOVER: Chevrolet Suburban
FULL-SIZE CAR: Dodge Charger
LUXURY COMPACT SUV/CROSSOVER: Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY CAR: Lexus RC 350
LUXURY MID-SIZE SUV/CROSSOVER: Lexus GX 460
LUXURY CAR: Lexus GS 350
LUXURY FULL-SIZE SUV/CROSSOVER: Lexus LX 570
HIGH-END LUXURY CAR: Lexus LS 460
HYBRID SUV/CROSSOVER: Lexus RX 450h
SPORTS CAR: Chevrolet Camaro V6
MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK: Toyota Tacoma
HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR: Chevrolet Corvette
FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK: Toyota Tundra
HYBRID/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CAR: Toyota Camry Hybrid
MINIVAN/VAN: Toyota Sienna
TOP 10 CARS
Chevrolet Colorado
Honda CR-V
Chevrolet Silverado
Jeep Wrangler
Ford F-150
Toyota Tacoma
GMC Canyon
Toyota Tundra
GMC Sierra
Toyota 4Runner
(Residual values used for award calculations are based on the 2015 model-year vehicles that appear in the January/February 2015 Kelley Blue Book® Residual Value Guide. Top 10 models appear in alphabetical order).

Crash victim hadn't been notified of airbag recall

The death of a Honda Accord owner highlights a major flaw in the current safety recall system -- namely, the failure of car owners and dealers to have recalls performed before selling a car.
According to a lawsuit, Carlos Solis IV bought his 2002 Honda Accord in April 2014 from All Stars Auto Sales in Cypress, Texas, not knowing that the previous owner had ignored several recall notices mailed in 2011.
On Jan. 18, Solis was involved in what was described as a "relatively minor" collision with a 2003 Infinit G35. When his airbag deployed, shards of metal from the recalled Takata airbag allegedly struck Solis in the neck, killing him, Automotive News reported.
More than 8 million cars have been recalled in a massive effort to replace airbags that may contain faulty inflators. At least five deaths have been attributed to the airbags.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the driver's family," Takata said in a statement. "The incident cited involved a vehicle that had been previously recalled, and we are working in close collaboration with Honda to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the vehicle's status at the time of the incident. Takata's number one priority is the safety of the driving public.”

The car had been recalled a second time more recently, in June 2014, as the original Takata airbag recall was expanded. But Honda said it had not notified Solis of that recall at the time the accident happened.
Used car dealers are not required to repair recalled vehicles and are not even required to inform consumers that they are purchased a recalled car or truck.
The only way consumers can check with their vehicle has any outstandint recalls is to check an online database like the one maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Carfax also has easy-to-use recall search.

Car dealers settle charges their Buy-Here, Pay-Here deals foster discrimination

It's common for new car dealers to offer financing to their customers but used cars dealers historically haven't been as involved in writing loans, which a just-settled lawsuit suggests may be a good thing.
The U.S. Justice Department and North Carolina's attorney general had accused two of the state's used car dealers of discriminating against minority consumers through their "Buy Here, Pay Here" plans.
The dealers, Auto Fare Inc. and Southeastern Auto Corp., both of Charlotte, have agreed to pay $225,000 and clean up their lending practices to bring them into compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
The lawsuit charged the dealers had used “reverse redlining” by intentionally targeting African-American customers for unfair and predatory credit practices. The settlement came after the court denied the dealerships’ motion to dismiss the case and agreed that reverse redlining by an auto lender is illegal discrimination.
“It is not only illegal, but also fundamentally wrong, to target borrowers of color for predatory loans and exploit their need for a car to do essential tasks such as getting to work,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division.  “I hope that other buy here, pay here dealerships will evaluate their practices in light of this settlement.”

“All consumers deserve to be treated fairly when they buy a car,” said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.  “We hope this case sends a strong message that car dealers cannot use race when targeting buyers with overpriced cars and oppressive loans.”

Improved practices

The settlement requires the dealerships to implement a number of specific practices to ensure that the terms of their loans and repossession practices are no longer unfair and predatory.  The required changes include:

• limiting projected monthly payments to no more than 25% of a borrower’s income;
• requiring interest rates to be at least five percentage points below the state’s rate cap;
• mandating a lower interest rate for borrowers who have specified evidence of lower credit risk; requiring competitive sales prices;
• prohibiting hidden fees on top of the required down payment;
• prohibiting repossessions until at least two consecutive missed payments;
• providing down payment refunds to borrowers who quickly go into default;
• requiring strict compliance with provisions of state repossession law enacted to protected consumers;
• providing borrowers improved disclosures at the time of sale (including disclosing the presence of any GPS, or automatic shut off, device);
• allowing borrowers to obtain an independent inspection of the car before completing the purchase; and providing borrowers improved notices before repossession.

The settlement also requires defendants to establish a $225,000 settlement fund to compensate victims of their past discriminatory and predatory lending. 
“Predatory lending practices that lock consumers into contracts they cannot afford are illegal and can spell financial disaster for borrowers of lower income or challenged credit history,” said U.S. Attorney Anne M. Tompkins of the Western District of North Carolina.  “Today’s settlement ensures that all customers of Auto Fare Inc. and Southeastern Auto Corp. will have equal access to credit regardless of their race.”
The lawsuit alleged that the two dealerships’ sales prices, down payments, and interest rates were disproportionately high compared to other subprime used-car dealers.  Because the dealerships did not meaningfully assess the customers’ creditworthiness or ability to repay, their rates of default and repossession were disproportionately high.  Additionally, the dealerships engaged in repossessions when customers were not in default.
source: Car dealers'

Subaru, Lincoln and Honda rate as high values among 2015 cars

2015 Subaru Outback (Photo credit: Subaru)

When you shop for a new car, chances are you focus on the cost of the vehicle – what you have to pay to drive it off the lot.
But have you thought about what it will cost after that? The analysts at Kelley Blue Book (KBB) have, and have singled out 2 brands for the lowest projected cost of ownership over the first 5 years of a new car's life.
“New car shoppers usually pay a lot of attention to how much a car will cost upfront; however, sometimes an even more expensive car on the front end can actually save you money during the first five years of ownership by having low total ownership costs,” said Dan Ingle, vice president of vehicle valuations for Kelley Blue Book. “Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own information evaluates the other out-of-pocket expenses drivers will incur beyond the initial purchase price, which helps consumers choose the vehicle that fits their needs and their long-term budget best, helping save money down the road.”

Loss of value

Those costs include depreciation, or loss of value. It's a truism in the auto industry that a new car can lose thousands of dollars of value just by being sold to a consumer. But some cars lose value faster than others.
There are other costs that come with owning a car, such as expected fuel costs, insurance premiums and expected maintenance and repair costs. Based on all those potential costs, KBB selected Subaru as the top 2015 brand and Lincoln as the top luxury name plate.
KBB analysts say Subaru stands out because of its low depreciation costs and strong residual values among all its models. That means consumers who keep their Subarus in top condition will enjoy strong trade-in value when it comes time to sell. It should also be cheaper to lease a Subaru since lease payments are calculated on the difference between the purchase price and residual value.

Fair purchase price

In addition, KBB found Subaru has a mid-range Fair Purchase Price and competitive fuel costs, making it the 2015 5-Year best brand to own among all carmakers. Some of the models giving Subaru the edge include the 2015 Subaru Forester, Impreza, Legacy, WRX, Outback and BRZ.
Subaru also recently drove away with the overall brand award in Kelley Blue Book’s 2015 Best Resale Value Awards for having the best projected resale value across its entire 2015 model-year lineup.
Among luxury name plates, Lincoln takes the crown. KBB analysts singled it out for the lowest average total maintenance costs of any luxury brand. It also ranks high when it comes to holding resale value and for low insurance costs.
The Lincoln models getting the most praise are the 2015 Navigator, MKX and MKZ.

Best car for the money

KBB isn't the only automotive authority with an opinion in this area. U.S. News has released its survey of the 2015 automotive field, picking the Lexus RX 350 SUV for the seventh straight year as Best Car for the Money.
But not everyone wants, or can afford, a luxury SUV so the magazine has picked a single car as best in 21 categories. Among subcompacts, it singled out the the 2015 Honda Fit. Among full-size models, the 2015 Chevrolet Impala took the prize.
Honda was the carmaker recording the most wins. Honda and its Acura brand won 3 awards each.
"In recent years, Honda has focused on providing more standard features in its Honda products and sportier performance for Acura models," said Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "That focus has resulted in more praise from professional car critics.”

source: Subaru, Lincoln and Honda

auto insurance policies

What features matter most?

• What’s covered?

  The amount of coverage you need varies from state to state. If you are a cautious person, you might opt for a more expensive policy with better coverage. If you have a lot of assets, experts recommend that you get enough liability coverage to protect them; otherwise the other party involved in an accident could have attorneys go after your assets as well.
  • Read the policy: Carefully examine the insurance policy to understand exactly what is covered and make the right adjustments to suit your unique situation.
  • Limits: Pay attention to the limits set by the insurance policy. In some cases, there will be a maximum payout, which may not be as high as you’re looking for.

• Are there exceptions?

  Sometimes policies will have exceptions and you’ll end up paying out of pocket for an accident or repair that you thought would be covered.
  • Other driver’s don’t have insurance: If you get into a collision with an uninsured driver, you’ll have to pay for repairs out of your own pocket and sue for damages.
  • Car theft: Insurance policies don’t always cover car theft.
  • Damage from natural accidents: Some insurers don’t cover collisions with animals, tornados, earthquakes, damage from falling objects, etc.

• Mechanics and replacement parts

  Some insurers will push you to use shops in a direct-repair program or use cheaper replacement parts rather than the original equipment manufacturer.
  • Are service providers reputable?: Check the fine print of the policy to see if the insurer has control over which service providers and parts are used for repairs.
  • Can you choose a service provider?: Choosing your own mechanic is the best case scenario, but they aren’t always covered by insurance policies.
  • What if the replacement part breaks?: Find out how the insurer handles faulty repairs and how quickly they will take care of it.

• Cost

  The cost of auto insurance is a big factor in most people’s decision about which policy to choose.
  • Premium: The premium is the monthly or yearly price that you pay for your insurance plan.
  • Deductible: Deductibles are the amount of money you are required to pay before your insurance company starts to pay out. The lower your deductible, the higher your premium.
  • Coverage factors: Depending on what level of coverage you opt for, the cost of your insurance will vary. Your past driving record, credit rating and level of coverage will all affect how much your policy costs.

• Optional coverage

  In addition to basic auto insurance, there are optional coverages available for drivers with different needs.
  • Collision coverage: Collision coverage pays for the expenses to repair your car. If you drive an older car that isn’t worth much money, it may not be worth it to pay for collision insurance.
  • Comprehensive coverage: This covers things that could happen to your car that might not be covered by standard insurance, such as weather damage, running into an animal or other factors. It’s a good idea to opt for comprehensive coverage if you can afford it, but it can get costly so if you drive an inexpensive car it’s probably not worth it.
  • Uninsured motorist protection: This protects drivers in the event that they get into an accident with a person who isn’t insured but is to blame for the accident. It will cover damages to the car and injury in the event that another driver is unable to pay out.

• Insurance company ratings

  An insurance company’s reputation is important. Good companies should have a quick response time, be adept at handling claims and have excellent customer service.
  • Reviews and complaints: Check the reviews and ratings on an insurance company before purchasing a policy. Be aware of any complaints that have been filed.
  • Handling claims: How long does it take for the company to handle a claim? Do you have to pay out of pocket first or do they cover the expenses immediately?

  What are different types of auto insurance policies?

  • Liability insurance

    Liability insurance covers you if you’re in an accident and the accident is deemed to be your fault. It will cover repairs to damaged property as well as medical bills resulting from injury. Most states require at least a minimum amount of liability insurance but it’s a good idea to purchase extra protection.

  • Collision coverage

    If you are involved in an accident, collision coverage will pay for the repairs to your car. If your car is damaged beyond repair, good collision coverage will pay for the value of your car.

  • Comprehensive coverage

    If something happens to your car that isn’t a straightforward accident, such as weather damage, hitting an animal or theft, comprehensive coverage will pay for the damage to the car.

  • Personal injury protection

    Personal injury protection is imperative for all drivers. Medical bills following an accident can be devastating and good personal injury coverage will cover medical expenses as well as missed work expenses.

  • Uninsured motorist protection

    About one in six drivers is uninsured, even though it is illegal to be. Uninsured Motorist Protection offers payment when you are in a collision with another driver who is at fault and does not have insurance. It is usually relatively inexpensive to add uninsured motorist protection to a car insurance policy.
    

    Who's it for?

    • Drivers who own a car

      Auto Insurance is required by law for drivers in most states. Drivers who own a car and drive it often should definitely have auto insurance to cover the cost of damages to their car and personal injury. Otherwise, repairs and medical costs can be very expensive.

    • Drivers who occasionally drive cars not their own

      If you don’t own a car but occasionally drive rental cars or cars that belong to other people, you should still have auto insurance. The car owner’s insurance typically doesn’t cover other drivers unless that is stipulated in the policy.

    • Car owners who have other people drive their car

      If you own a car that other people drive, such as a hired car, you should have auto insurance that covers the additional driver as he or she may not have insurance.

    
    source: auto insurance policies

Top 10 of the Most Reviewed Auto Insurance Companies

Progressive Insurance		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Available in all 50 states Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	*****
GEICO		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Available in all 50 states Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	****
State Farm Auto Insurance		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Available in all 50 states Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	****
Allstate Auto Insurance		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Available in all 50 states Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	***
Esurance		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	***
USAA Auto Insurance		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Available in all 50 states Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	**
Nationwide Insurance - Auto		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	**
AARP/Hartford Auto Insurance		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	**
Liberty Mutual - Auto		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Available in all 50 states Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	*
Farmers Auto Insurance		Accepts online payments Accident forgiveness Available in all 50 states Collision coverage Comprehensive coverage Liability insurance Multiple policy discounts Personal injury protection Safe driving discount Uninsured motorist protection	*

source: Auto Insurance Companies

List of United States insurance companies

• PhilHealth
• 21st Century Insurance
• Acuity
• ACE Limited
• Aetna
• Aflac
• Alleghany Corporation
• Allied Insurance
• Allstate
• American Automobile Association
• American Family Insurance
• American Income Life Insurance Company
• American International Group (AIG)
• American National Insurance Company
• Ameritas Life Insurance Company
• Amica Mutual Insurance
• Applied Underwriters
• Arbella Insurance Group
• Assurant
• Assurity Life Insurance Company
• Auto-Owners Insurance
• AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
• Bankers Life and Casualty Company
• Baja Auto Insurance
• Berkshire Hathaway
• California Casualty
• Central United Life Insurance Company
• Cincinnati Insurance Company
• CNA Financial
• Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company
• Combined Insurance
• Commerce Insurance Group
• Conseco
• Country Financial
• Chartis
• Chubb Corp.
• Electric Insurance Company
• Elephant.com
• Encompass Insurance Company
• Erie Insurance Group
• Esurance
• Evergreen USA RRG
• FM Global
• Family Heritage
• Family Life Insurance Company
• Farmer Brown Insurance Agency
• Farmers Insurance Group
• Federated Mutual Insurance Company
• First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association of the United States of America
• FirstComp Insurance Company
• First Insurance Company of Hawaii
• GAINSCO
• GEICO
• General Re
• Genworth Financial
• Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association
• GMAC Insurance
• Gracy Title Company
• Grange Mutual Casualty Company
• Guarantee Insurance Company
• Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
• Hanover Insurance
• The Hartford
• HCC Insurance Holdings
• Hiscox
• Homesite Insurance
• Horace Mann Insurance Company
• Infinity Property & Casualty Corporation
• Insurance Panda
• IntelliQuote Insurance Services
• Jackson National Life
• John Hancock Insurance
• K&K Insurance
• Kansas City Life Insurance Company
• Kentucky Farm Bureau
• Knights of Columbus
• Liberty Mutual
• Lincoln National Corporation
• Manhattan Life Insurance Company
• Markel Corporation
• MassMutual Financial Group
• Merchants Insurance Group
• Mercury Insurance Group
• MetLife
• Modern Woodmen of America
• Mutual of Omaha
• National Life
• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company
• New York Life Insurance Company
• Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group
• Northwestern Mutual
• Ocean Harbor Casualty Insurance Company
• Ohio Mutual Insurance Group
• Omega
• OneBeacon
• Oscar
• Oxford Health Plans
• Pacific Life
• Pacificare
• PEMCO
• Penn Mutual
• Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire
• Philadelphia Insurance Companies
• Physicians Mutual
• Principal Financial Group
• Primerica
• Progressive
• Protective Life
• Prudential Financial
• QBE
• The Regence Group
• Reliance Insurance Company
• RLI Corp.
• Safe Auto Insurance Company
• Safeco
• Safeway Insurance Group
• Secura Insurance Company
• Sentry Insurance
• Selective Insurance
• Shelter Insurance
• Southern Aid and Insurance Company
• Standard Insurance Company
• State Auto Insurance Group
• State Farm Insurance
• Sun Life Financial
• Symetra
• TIAA-CREF
• The Main Street America Group
• The Norfolk & Dedham Group
• The Travelers Companies
• Trupanion
• Unum
• USAA
• West Bend^{[disambiguation needed]}
• West Coast Life
• Western Mutual Insurance Group
• Western & Southern Financial Group
• Western United Life Assurance Company
• Westfield Insurance
• White Mountains Insurance Group
• Workmen's Auto Insurance Company
• Zurich NA

 Life annuity

• Allstate
• American Family Insurance
• American Fidelity Assurance
• Amica Mutual Insurance
• AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
• Bankers Life and Casualty
• Conseco
• Farmers Insurance Group
• Fidelity Life
• Genworth Financial
• ING Group
• Jackson National Life
• John Hancock Insurance
• Lincoln National Corporation
• MetLife
• Mutual of Omaha
• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Old Mutual
• Pacific Life
• Protective Life
• Prudential Financial
• Standard Insurance Company
• State Farm Insurance
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
• TIAA-CREF
• Transamerica Corporation
• UNIFI Companies
• United of Omaha
• Western & Southern Financial Group
• Woman's Life Insurance Society

• Health insurance (major medical insurance)

  
  
• AARP
• Aetna
• American Family Insurance
• American National Insurance
• Amerigroup
• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• Assurant
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
• Cambia Health Solutions
• Centene Corporation
• Cigna
• Coventry Health Care
• EmblemHealth
• Fortis
• Golden Rule Insurance Company
• Group Health Cooperative
• GHI
• Health Net
• HealthMarkets
• HealthPartners
• HealthSpring
• Highmark
• Humana
• Independence Blue Cross
• Kaiser Permanente
• Kaleida Health
• LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon
• Medica
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
• Molina Healthcare
• Premera Blue Cross
• Principal Financial Group
• Shelter Insurance
• State Farm
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
• UnitedHealth Group
• Unitrin
• Universal American Corporation
• WellCare Health Plans
• WellPoint

Medicare

• Aetna
• American Family Insurance
• Bankers Life and Casualty
• Conseco
• Kaiser Permanente
• Mutual of Omaha
• Premera Blue Cross
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
• Tricare
• YKP HEALTH INSURANCE CO.

Supplemental insurance

• Aflac
• Allstate
• American Fidelity Assurance
• Assurant
• Central United Life Insurance Company
• Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company
• Combined Insurance
• Conseco
• Liberty National Life Insurance Company
• Manhattan Life Insurance Company
• MEGA Life and Health Insurance
• Mutual of Omaha
• State Farm Insurance
• Washington National

Travel insurance

• Allianz Global Assistance
• April Travel Protection
• InsureandGo|InsureandGo USA
• Seven Corners
• Jefferson Insurance Company
• USA-ASSIST Worldwide Protection

Workers' compensation

• Accident Fund
• American International Group (AIG)
• Cincinnati Financial Corporation
• Erie Insurance Group
• GUARD Insurance Group
• Hanover Insurance
• The Hartford
• Liberty Mutual
• Merchants Insurance Group
• Missouri Employers Mutual
• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Penn National Insurance
• Sentry Insurance
• State Accident Insurance Fund
• State Compensation Insurance Fund
• State Farm Insurance
• WellPoint
• Zenith Insurance Company

source : wikipedia

The best Android apps for Chromecast

We’re taking a good hard look at the selection of Verizon prepaid phones available, and are rounding them all up here for your reference.

Going month-to-month on Verizon has its perks, and there are a lot of good reasons to go with prepaid in general. Going month-to-month on Verizon has its perks, and there are a lot of good reasons to go with prepaid in general. The biggest drawback is that you need to fork over a fair bit of cash up front for a new device, since it isn’t subsidized over the course of a contract. There’s also a nice in-between with Verizon’s Edge program, whereby you pay off your device discount every month.
Whatever your reasons for rolling with prepaid, we’ll be updating this list regularly, so you can count on the data here being current.

Samsung Galaxy S5	Moto G (2013)
$599.99	$99.99
Android 4.4.2	Android 4.4.4
Great battery life Waterproof Built-in fingerprint scanner & heart rate monitor	Excellent bang for buck Great battery life Android Lollipop software available now
TouchWiz software may not appeal to some users Hardware design is a bit plastic and outdated Annoying cover over charging port can be hard to manage	No expandable storage No LTE Camera is still just okay

		HTC One (M8)	LG G2	Apple iPhone 5s	Nokia Lumia 928
		$599.99	$499.99	$549.99	$99.99
		Android 4.4.4	Android 4.4.2	iOS 8	Windows Phone 8.1
		Awesome battery life Great sound from speakers Excellent build quality	Excellent display Teeny tiny bezel Versatile camera	Excellent camera Great build quality TouchID fingerprint scanning	Great display Wireless charging Good low-light camera
		Sleek design is hard to hold Mediocre camera Lacks water resistance common to other flagship devices	Awkward button placement Hardware is still plastic No removable battery or memory	Relatively small screen Software features still behind Android in some areas Ho-hum battery life

T-Mobile's new Score! upgrade program could save you up to $140 on a new phone every year

T-Mobile's today rolling out yet another program for customers that aims to make upgrading even easier. It's called Score! (yes, with the exclamation point) and at $5-a-month for both postpaid and prepaid T-Mobile customers it offers a free upgrade to an entry-level smartphone after just six months, or a steep discount on a mid-range-to-premium phone after 12 months.

Okay, but what phones are we talking about here, and how much are you saving? Glad you asked.
After paying a total of $30 into Score over six months, your upgrade choices are just one phone: the Alcatel Onetouch Evolve 2, though it won't cost you anything to do the upgrade. You'll save $50 on that if you're a postpaid T-Mobile subscriber, or $80 if you opt for T-Mobile's prepaid plans.
But if you're willing to wait a year and pay $60 into Score, then your choices expand to some phones that are a bit more appealing. It won't cost you anything more to upgrade to an Alcatel Onetouch Fierce 2 or LG Optimus L90 (prepaid or postpaid), or the T-Mobile Concord II (prepaid only). Those options run at retail from $126 to $198, so you could save up to $140 right there.

If none of those mid-tier phones suit your fancy, you can save on some of the best phones T-Mobile has to offer, such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 ($40 off after deducting the $60 you've already paid into Score), or $90 off on either a Nexus 6 or Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
Opting for any of the upgrade options resets your eligibility calendar, naturally. As we mentioned earlier, this program is open to both prepaid and postpaid customers (though which payment scheme you're on will affect the phones available to you), and the discounts are available to both those who choose to pay for their phones up front or finance the cost over 24 months.
So is Score worth it? That depends on if you're somebody who either has or wants to upgrade their phone frequently. If you prefer a cheap Android handset that you can abuse and replace every six months, $30 per phone isn't that bad. Same if you really want an annual upgrade to the latest and greatest — unlike programs from the likes of AT&T and Verizon, T-Mobile's upgrade program might actually save you money if you strive to take advantage of it. It might not be a lot of money considering how much you'll be spending on new phones overall. And there's no saying which phones will be available through Score when your time comes and if the phone you want will be among those choices (that the Nexus 6, Galaxy S5, and Galaxy Note 4 are there is an encouraging sign, though we'd prefer T-Mobile offer all of their phones through this program).
Source: T-Mobile, T-Mobile Score Upgrades

T-Mobile has two more ads lined up for the Super Bowl

It looks like T-Mobile will be showing multiple new ads during Super Bowl XLIX. In addition to their ad starring Kim Kardashian, T-Mobile will also air a spot featuring comedians Chelsea Handler and Sarah Silverman. While the full ad hasn't yet been posted online, the carrier did post a behind-the-scenes video.

T-Mobile has yet another new ad that takes aim at the data practices of their rivals. Called "Data Vulture", the ad stars Rob Riggle and, well, a vulture and was produced specifically for NBC's online livestream of the Super Bowl.
The carrier has also announced an endorsement deal with Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. The deal includes three magenta buses with Sherman's face and T-Mobile branding on them, which will act as free shuttles to key locations before the start of the Super Bowl.
Source: T-Mobile

Cricket bumps $40 base plan from 1GB of data to 2.5GB, offers Moto G (2013) for $25

AT&T's prepaid carrier Cricket is increasing the data allotment for all of their plans without making any changes to the pricing. It's a bit of a shake-up, offering one of the best data packages among prepaid carriers. Additionally, they're offering the first-generation Moto G for just $24.99, and discounts on several other the best phones on Cricket.

Here's what's changed:

• Basic: $40/month, previously 1GB, now 2.5GB
• Smart: $50/month, previously 3GB, now 5GB
• Pro $60/month, still 10GB

Where things get a little more crazy is the "Advanced" tier, which offers 20GB of data each month, and for a "limited time only" can be had for the same $60/month as the Pro plan. That is, however, so long as you purchase an LTE-capable device to go with that plan.
All plans included unlimited voice and texts, and all but the $40 Basic plan also include unlimited international texting. You can check out Cricket's revised plans right here.
As for that $25 Moto G, that price comes after a mail-in rebate, which you'll get in the form of a prepaid Visa card. You'll have to pay $149.99 up front, of which you'll get $125 back on the card. Cricket is also offering a $70 rebate on the $149.99 HTC Desire 510 and $20 back on the $99.99 LG Optimus L70. We suggest just turning around and applying it to your balance at Cricket.
Source: Cricket

Major carriers partner to bring LTE to Chicago's subways

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has announced that the city has reached a deal with Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile to bring 4G LTE from all four carriers to the Chicago Transit Authority's subway system. The network, which will replace the decade-old system currently in Chicago's subways, will provide continuous coverage for 22 miles.

Mayor Emanuel expressed his hope that this upgrade will help make Chicago a more competitive city in the official announcement:

"By adding 4G wireless service all throughout the CTA, we are bringing 21st century technology to every rider on every line of our 21st century transit system," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "This is another way that we are investing in a modern CTA to encourage ridership, make Chicago more economically competitive, and open up more economic opportunities to more residents throughout the city."

The network upgrade began in early January, and is expected to be complete by the end of 2015.
Source: City of Chicago

Google's 3D-scanning Project Tango moving to new home inside the company

Project Tango is moving out of Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group and into a new home within the company. Project Tango uses a number of sensors for monitoring the world in 3D. The company promises a continued commitment to Project Tango development according to a post from Google ATAP on Google+:

While we have your attention, we'd also like to give a shout out to the developers who have been developing apps using the Project Tango Development Kit. We continue to be committed to moving the technology forward with your help and appreciate your feedback as the platform evolves. To keep up to date with news and updates please sign up to receive our newsletter at: http://goo.gl/KI6BP7.

This follows the recent announcement that Google Glass will be moving out of Google X under the supervision of Nest's Tony Fadell, though at this time nothing has been said as to exactly where Project Tango is headed.
Source: +Google ATAP, Project Tango newsletter

We're podcasting live at 4 p.m. EST!

Whether this has been the longest week ever of one of the quickest, the end result is the same — we've arrived at Friday. Final day o the work week (for most of us) and the home of the live recording of the Greatest Android Podcast in the World.

So coming up this afternoon: We'll discuss what it does (and especially what it doesn't mean) for Microsoft to have invested in Cyanogen, more folks have gotten Android 5.0 Lollipop on the HTC One M8, we've got new pictures of what the upcoming M9 might look like, we've got a Samsung Tizen phone in house, we wrap up our Nest series and get launch into antivirus stuff — and we'll answer more of your questions live, without a net.
So join us at this link at 4 p.m. EST — that's 9 p.m. in London — as we get this thing done!

Google Earth Pro features now available for free to everyone

Google has announced that they are making Google Earth Pro features free to all users. Google Earth Pro adds a number of features and on top of the standard Google Earth desktop setup that allow you to measure 3D buildings, record HD video of your virtual flights, and more. You'll now be able to record your virtual trip to your favorite city absolutely free.

To use Google Earth Pro for free, you can download the desktop app and grab a free key from Google. Enter your user name and license key when you open the app and you'll be good to go. Existing Pro users don't need to do anything, and their license keys will continue to work just fine.
Source: Google