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| Insurance |
— What Other Coverages Are Available?
Insurance companies must offer the following coverage with every automobile policy, but they are not required by law to be purchased by the insurance holder.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist provides liability insurance when the party at fault does not have the state-required minimum liability coverage or the minimum liability coverage is insufficient to cover the injuries sustained in the accident. Likewise, uninsured motorist property damage covers possible reimbursement for damages your car sustains.
Most insurance companies also will offer the following optional coverages.
Medical Payments provides for the payment of medical and similar expenses without regard for liability when injuries are incurred in a car accident.
Physical Damage (Collision and Comprehensive) do not cover mechanical breakdown or normal wear and tear. Collision covers damage to your vehicle caused by the collision of your car with another vehicle or with any other object, regardless of fault. It also covers vehicle upset (overturn), but it does not cover bodily injury or property damage liability. Comprehensive coverage covers damage to your car caused by reason other than collision, such as fire, theft, windstorm, flood or vandalism.
Endorsements/Riders can be purchased to insure any special equipment (e.g., aftermarket additions like premium stereos and tires) that has been added to the original vehicle, towing and rental reimbursement.
— What Information Do I Need to Have Ready When I Get a Quote?
When you are ready to ask for an insurance quote, you first need to know what coverages you want, what limits of liability you require and what deductibles you desire. Also, you need to have the following basic information available on all drivers in your household:
HEALTH INSURANCE
If you’re like other newcomers, a top priority is finding a new physician for you and your family. So, how do you learn about your health care options and find a family doctor? Of course, your employer should be your first stop. Your company’s human resources office usually can provide you with brochures about hospitals and doctors that will accept the company’s insurance. Following are a few general resources in the Bay Area:
— Healthy San Francisco
The Bay Area has a program called Healthy San Francisco, which is designed to subsidize medical care for certain uninsured residents of San Francisco. Launched in 2007, the program’s objective is to bring universal health care to the city, but eligibility and services are limited, and the program website states that insurance “is always a better choice.” The program is open to city residents ages 18–64, regardless of citizenship, immigration, employment or health status, whose income and net worth are low but do not qualify them for other public coverage and who have had no insurance for at least 90 days. The program covers a range of services, but only pays providers within San Francisco.
Insurance companies must offer the following coverage with every automobile policy, but they are not required by law to be purchased by the insurance holder.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist provides liability insurance when the party at fault does not have the state-required minimum liability coverage or the minimum liability coverage is insufficient to cover the injuries sustained in the accident. Likewise, uninsured motorist property damage covers possible reimbursement for damages your car sustains.
Most insurance companies also will offer the following optional coverages.
Medical Payments provides for the payment of medical and similar expenses without regard for liability when injuries are incurred in a car accident.
Physical Damage (Collision and Comprehensive) do not cover mechanical breakdown or normal wear and tear. Collision covers damage to your vehicle caused by the collision of your car with another vehicle or with any other object, regardless of fault. It also covers vehicle upset (overturn), but it does not cover bodily injury or property damage liability. Comprehensive coverage covers damage to your car caused by reason other than collision, such as fire, theft, windstorm, flood or vandalism.
Endorsements/Riders can be purchased to insure any special equipment (e.g., aftermarket additions like premium stereos and tires) that has been added to the original vehicle, towing and rental reimbursement.
— What Information Do I Need to Have Ready When I Get a Quote?
When you are ready to ask for an insurance quote, you first need to know what coverages you want, what limits of liability you require and what deductibles you desire. Also, you need to have the following basic information available on all drivers in your household:
- Names, ages, sex and marital status for all drivers
- Driving records (accidents and moving violations) for all drivers
- Annual mileage of the car
- Full vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Year of vehicle
- Cost of vehicle
- Any special equipment added to the vehicle
HEALTH INSURANCE
If you’re like other newcomers, a top priority is finding a new physician for you and your family. So, how do you learn about your health care options and find a family doctor? Of course, your employer should be your first stop. Your company’s human resources office usually can provide you with brochures about hospitals and doctors that will accept the company’s insurance. Following are a few general resources in the Bay Area:
- San Francisco Medical Society (SFMS) was established in 1868 to improve the health of all San Franciscans by uniting and supporting the local physician community. With more than 1,500 members—including practicing physicians, residents and medical students—SFMS is a nonprofit organization that advocates for physician and patient rights, unites physicians of all specialties to create a solid local medical community and works to improve the health of all San Franciscans by providing support and education to physicians and patients. The SFMS is affiliated with the California Medical Association (CMA). Visit www.sfms.org for health-care information in the Bay Area and to use the Physician Finder tool.
- DoctorFinder provides basic professional information on virtually every licensed physician in the United States. The database includes more than 814,000 doctors. AMA-member physicians are offered an expanded listing that contains additional information, such as office hours, accepted insurance providers, education history and other helpful information. Visit http://webapps.ama-assn.org for more information.
- California Medical Association provides information on California Medical Association members only. Call (800) 786-4262 or visit www.cmanet.org.
- Medical Board of California can help you find public information about a medical doctor, physician assistant, acupuncturist or surgical assistant licensed by the state of California. Information available for consumers includes the professional’s name, license number, licensure status, disciplinary status, honors and awards and malpractice history. Call (800) 248-4062 or visit www.mbc.ca.gov.
- American Board of Medical Specialties lists all doctors that are board certified. Be sure the doctor you select is board certified by visiting www.abms.org or calling (866) 272-2267.
— Healthy San Francisco
The Bay Area has a program called Healthy San Francisco, which is designed to subsidize medical care for certain uninsured residents of San Francisco. Launched in 2007, the program’s objective is to bring universal health care to the city, but eligibility and services are limited, and the program website states that insurance “is always a better choice.” The program is open to city residents ages 18–64, regardless of citizenship, immigration, employment or health status, whose income and net worth are low but do not qualify them for other public coverage and who have had no insurance for at least 90 days. The program covers a range of services, but only pays providers within San Francisco.
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