First, what is the problem with the range of insurance policies on offer from the insurance industry? Why is it necessary for the Department of Insurance to intervene in the market? The answer is simple. California has been hit hard by the recession. Gone are the days when people were proud to live in the “Golden State”. The problem is seen most obviously in the repeated failures of the state to deal with its massive deficit. Now translate this into the millions of people living in the state who cannot find work paying enough money to live on. Their poverty means it is impossible to pay for insurance and eat. Not surprisingly, millions of drivers are on the roads without insurance. In 2008, the Department of Insurance estimated about 18% of Californian drivers were uninsured. Since then, the unemployment rate has doubled.

Why is this a problem? Well, although many drivers buy uninsured or underinsured cover, you have to be able to identify the other driver in the accident. If you cannot, say because it’s a hit-and-run, you cannot show the other driver was uninsured and so cannot claim on the policy. Since most uninsured drivers prefer not to wait around to admit their criminal offense (that costs them a fine and may result in their vehicle being impounded), all that can, drive away from the scene of the accident as quickly as possible. That is bad luck for you and great news for the insurers who take your premium and rarely have to pay out. Read the rest of this entry

Value for money – Barcelona Holiday  Accommodation

The topic of this article is :How to get the most value for money Spain vacation this year. It does not matter what type of vacation you are looking for; family, action oriented or a beach holiday, you can get an all-in-one deal in Barcelona, and quality accommodation for a reasonable price! For a family (or any larger group) the best alternative will most certainly be to rent a Barcelona self catering apartment suited to your needs. This option is both the cheapest and, for most, the more rewarding way to stay in Barcelona as you get to have a more genuine impression of daily life in the city.

Best vacation apartment deal Barcelona

An obvious benefit of staying in an apartment is you are free to plan meals with your family or other travel companions without consideration of closing times etc. Staying close to one of the numerous markets, like the world-renowned La Boqueria, means  you will find any type of eatable product you could possibly want to take advantage of having your own kitchen. Furthermore, you can ask the, usually, very knowledgeable professionals who work at the stalls for tips on have to handle what you buy. In any part of Barcelona you are never far from one of the traditional markets. Renting a Barcelona holiday apartment offers the traveler the chance to be more immersed in the local culture, and with all travel companions under one roof it makes it easier to organize your troops in the mornings!

A good deal does not simply mean the lowest price. A good deal for your vacation accommodation also means renting from an officially approved apartment agency! Holadays Barcelona (www.acomodis.com) is such an agency where you can rent official apartments with guarantees that you will actually get what you pay for, in including a safe, central location, a modernized apartment with all comforts (including WIFI, washing-machine, TV and stereo system etc.) and attentive and friendly service.

Your Barcelona Vacation

Renting an apartment for days means staying in one of the central Barcelona districts: In Eixample: the area For architecture buffs  and shopaholics. Here you can follow the ruta de modernisme, walking around seeing the great works of Antoni Gaudí and his compatriots including the city’s great symbol Sagrada Familia. This central district is also a Mecca for shopaholics with the majestic Passeig de Grácia and Diagonal avenues littered with designer stores.
There is also a vibrant club-scene with an emphasis on clubs you go to gyrate to the latest beats and the area hosts numerous top restaurants, Catalan and international alike. The Barcelona Old Town: For historical architecture, museums, local designer shopping, night life and dining. The medieval part of town with the splendid Santa Maria del Mar as the jewel is an independent designer heaven with lots of discoveries to be made in the maze of backstreets!
This is also  place to start a night-out would be the bars in El Born and then head to the clubs in Barri Gotic located in and around Plaza Reial.
If a beach holiday is what you have planned there is a number of accommodation options in the St.Martí district with apartments within walking distance of the beaches.  Off-season deals can be as low as less than 70 euros pr. night meaning you could end up paying less than 20 euros per person!

The world is often a confusing place and nowhere is the confusion likely to be so complete as in the tax system. Here we have the best brains in the Government taking on the best brains in the private sector. The Government wants the maximum tax take. The private sector wants to arrange things so that no one with money ever has to pay any tax. Somewhere in the middle the two world-views collide and, usually, some tax is paid. Anyway, when President Obama signed the healthcare reform bill into law, some of the largest employers in the US let out a collective sigh of pain. As an example, Caterpillar is the world’s largest manufacturer of excavators and bulldozers. The day after the President’s signature, Caterpillar announced it was taking a charge of $100 million to earnings over an expected loss of tax benefits. A number of other influential corporations have also made allowances in their accounts. The reason is that the healthcare reform ended a tax break given to cover the cost of supplying drugs to early retirees. Read the rest of this entry

There are times when you get an overview and then it hits you, “Somethings just don’t add up.” Well, you remember Wellpoint, don’t you? This is the friendly company that, around January or February, announced it was going to increase premium rates by up to 39% in a number of states around the Union. President Obama got himself all worked up, citing them as the real reason why all the Democrats in Washington should band together and take a stand against the insurance industry. Then, sure as eggs is eggs, there was a stampede to get the healthcare reform bill to the President for him to sign it into law. Those Democrats sure did have fun beating on Wellpoint. So the big question is what happened next? Here’s one of the largest corporations in the insurance market demanding premium increases. Did it get its way?

The answer starts off in California where the maximum rate of 39% was due to take effect. The state referred the proposed increase to independent auditors for an opinion. The answer came back negative. It seemed Wellpoint couldn’t add up. Well, that’s oversimplifying things a little. But the reality is that the numbers Wellpoint offered to support their premium increases were based on some very shaky mathematical assumptions. When news of the report became public, Wellpoint withdrew the proposed increase. Acting on this, Kathleen Sebelius who is Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services sent out a letter to all state insurance commissioners encouraging them to review every proposed premium increase. This is the first sign that the balance of power is shifting against the insurance industry and in favor of the consumer. For too long, insurance companies have hidden behind complicated mathematical explanations and gamed the system. With the Affordable Care Act now law, Sebelius is encouraging every state to give itself the power to approve rate increases. The first sign of continuing good news for consumers comes out of Connecticut where Attorney General Blumental forced an audit of Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross, both Wellpoint subsidiaries. Connecticut’s Insurance Commissioner Sullivan rejected these companies requests for increases last year. It seems likely the same thing will happen this year. Read the rest of this entry