Student contents insurance guide

Starting university is exciting but it can be a daunting experience, too. With so much of your focus on meeting new friends, surviving Freshers' Week, starting your studies or simply finding your way around a new city, protecting your belongings might not be top of your list of priorities.

However, if you take just a minute or two to think about the things you own, and in many cases rely upon, such as your laptop, mobile phone, TV, clothes, iPod or camera, the value is probably greater than you think. So while buying insurance may seem dull, it's one of the most sensible investments you can make as a student, particularly since young people in the 16-24 age group are three times more likely to be victims of burglary and one in every three students becomes a victim of crime (source: Home Office Report ‘Crime in England and Wales 2007/2008’).
So what is student insurance and why do I need it?

Some students are under the impression that their belongings are covered under their parents' home insurance, but this is often not the case and even where cover is available it will usually be restricted. As a result, standalone student contents insurance policies are available to protect against loss or damage caused by risks such as theft, fire, vandalism, storm, flood and burst pipes.
With the average student now owning over £4,000 worth of belongings (Source: Endsleigh Student Possession Research 2008) student contents insurance can provide you with valuable peace of mind, regardless of whether you are in your first or final year of studies. Although insurance won’t make the loss, theft or damage of your belongings any less upsetting, it will ease the financial strain of replacing them.
Getting the right student contents insurance
The most important aspect of finding the right student insurance policy is ensuring that it provides suitable cover for your lifestyle. Always check the small print of the policies you're interested in to ensure they provide suitable cover for your needs. You may be living in shared accommodation or halls of residence but some student insurance policies will not cover ‘walk in theft’ (burglary without forced entry), and other policies may not cover pedal cycles or musical instruments as standard, for example.

Some insurance companies will offer flexible cover options so that you can pick and mix your cover depending on what you need - meaning you often have the option to insure one item, a selection of items or the contents of your whole room. To ensure you have an adequate amount of cover check the policy terms for item cover limits, any ‘total valuables’ limits (the maximum you can claim for multiple items), the excess (the amount you have to contribute in the event of a claim) and any exclusions (items or risks that are not covered).

Remember to check the period of insurance too, as your policy may cover your possessions during term time only and should you need cover to continue during holiday periods then you will need to speak to your insurer to arrange this.

Depending on the insurance company, other policy benefits may include a 24 hour student helpline, legal expenses cover, cover for course fees should you be deregistered due to death, illness or accident and accidental damage cover.

Van insurance guide and help

What is van insurance and why do I need it?

Since the Government brought in the Road Traffic Act (1930), van insurance has become a legal requirement for all drivers on the road. Therefore you are legally obliged as a driver to be insured against the possibility that you may injure another person or cause damage to another person's property. For example if you reverse your van into someone else's vehicle, your van insurance will pay for the repairs to the vehicle. Anyone who does not have van insurance could receive a fine or driving ban if they are caught.
How do insurers protect the victims of uninsured drivers?

In 1946 the Motor Insurers' Bureau was set up to provide a way of compensating the victims of uninsured or untraced motorists. All motor insurance companies must be members of the Motor Insurers' Bureau and contribute to its funding.
So if an uninsured or untraced driver injures you or damages your van, you should receive compensation from the Motor Insurers' Bureau.

Van insurance - the basics
What documentation or paper work will I get?
Once you have taken out your van insurance policy, your insurance provider will send you:
A certificate of insurance (or a cover note which is a temporary certificate)
A schedule and/or policy document
A policy booklet (or they will tell you where you can access one)
Your certificate is a very important document as it is evidence that you are legally insured and is one of the documents that police will ask to look at if you are stopped while driving.
A cover note may be supplied if the insurance company or broker needs time to complete the paperwork. This will give you the same protection as a insurance certificate but is only usually valid for 30 days.
Key things to remember!

Always read all the documents sent to you to make sure all the details are correct and that you have the level of cover you need. If you have any concerns or queries contact your broker or insurance company.
Ensure that you give the correct information to the insurance company or broker; otherwise your insurance may not be valid. If you do not, it could result in the insurance company not paying out if you were to make a claim.
Tell your insurer or broker everything that relates to you as a driver or road user, such as driving history, claims and convictions.
Keep all your policy documents in a safe place; you never know when you may need them!
What's included in my policy?
What your policy covers depends on what type of cover you have chosen and any additional cover you may have bought. The documentation you receive with you insurance policy should outline exactly what is covered.
What types of policy are there?
There are three main types of policy which each offer different levels of cover.
Third Party Only (TPO)

This van insurance is the minimum level of cover required by law in the UK. It covers:
Liability for injury to others (including passengers)
Damage to property
Liability whilst towing a caravan or trailer
Remember! This does not cover you for accidental damage to your own vehicle; you will have to pay for that yourself.
Third Party Fire and Theft (TPFT)
This covers everything that third party covers, plus:

Fire damage

The theft of your own vehicle
Damage to your van caused during the theft
Comprehensive
Comprehensive is the most extensive van insurance cover and includes everything third party fire and theft does and usually the following:
Loss or damage to your vehicle
Windscreen cover
Personal effects
Accidental damage
Medical expenses

Remember!
 Some van insurance companies are now offering cheaper policies that offer less protection. These may be known as 'stripped down' policies, for example the insurance company may have removed windscreen cover. Always check your policy documents to make sure you get the right level of cover for your needs.
How do I make a claim on my policy?

You need to tell your van insurance company as soon as you can when you have had an accident or if your van has been stolen, even if you are not going to claim.

If your van needs repairing once the insurance company has all the details of your claim they will inform you of the nearest approved repairers and arrange for your van to be repaired. An approved repairer is a garage that your van insurance company has a relationship with to do repair work on their behalf. If you do not go to an approved repairer then your insurance company may not pay for the repairs.

Dental Insurance guide

Are you the one who grinds teeth while sleeping? Is the surface of your teeth facing some problem? If yes, you might be at risk of a serious dental problem. Thus, dental insurance is a total must that can keep your dental health in a good condition. You might be well aware of the fact that paying some visits to the dentist can cost you huge amounts. So it is imperative to find an affordable dental insurance plan that not just suits your requirements, but is affordable as well.

You can have a word with your current dentist in order to see if the professional provides some kind of insurance policy. In various cases, the dentist’s clinic is linked with an insurance firm that can save you great amounts. Being a part of some group dental scheme is a great option as you can get various treatments covered at reasonable rate. If you are not so sure about the best dental insurance plan for your needs, you can refer to your dental care professional to seek advice. In all, various dental clinics recommend affordable and cheap dental plans for the patients. In circumstances where a person does not have enough funds to buy a dental insurance policy, dentists will suggest them to use the discounted dental offers. These plans are in fact identical to the PPO or Preferred Provider Organization.
Moreover, before you search for the best dental insurance plans available, you need to evaluate your dental requirements first. Ask yourself whether you require the maintenance plan or the comprehensive one. In case you have a tendency to face big dental problems, it might be nice for you to opt for the comprehensive plan as such a kind of scheme covers all the expenses of major dental treatments. But you have to consider that the premium for such a comprehensive policy is a bit higher than you generally pay for the maintenance program. In case you are featured with a limited budget and don’t even require much repair, it is recommended that you choose the maintenance plan as this can offer you the regular checkups and annual cleanings for free of cost.

You can even enjoy a discount on your dental plan. Check with your dentist and see if he or she offers any discounted schemes. Basically what actually happens is that the dentists offer you a discount when you get the work done. The benefit attached is that you save some amount and the dental professional gets his or her money the same day without waiting for an insurance company to pay for their work. In short, using a good dental insurance can save you huge amounts that you might spend on regular visits and treatments.