The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance-and Still Get the Coverage You Need

by Kimberly Lankford

Before You Buy Another Insurance Policy Read this Book!Without proper insurance—health, auto, homeowners, life, disability, or long-term care—an unexpected event can quickly derail your financial plans and put your life savings at risk.Insurance is an essential part of financial planning, but many people are paying hundreds – sometimes thousands -- of dollars more than they need to, and often, they buy the wrong kinds of coverage. With your family's financial future at stake, you can't afford to make the wrong decisions when shopping for insurance.In The Insurance How You Can Save Money on Insurance—and Still Get the Coverage You Need , industry expert and writer Kimberly Lankford breaks through the clutter and jargon of the industry and helps you make the most of your coverage and avoid expensive mistakes that can jeopardize your financial future. Some of the topics addressed •Mistakes people make when choosing employer-provided health plans –and how to find a better deal on your own•Strategies for making the most of health savings accounts•Why it’s dangerous to make small homeowners insurance claims•How to benefit from plummeting life insurance prices•Major pricing changes in auto insurance that could save you hundreds of dollars•Steps you can take to avoid problems at claim time •Why long-term care insurance is essential to protect your retirement savings, and how to minimize rising premiumsAs a journalist writing about insurance for more than a decade, Kim Lankford has been investigating the business from the inside and out – writing about sales strategies for insurance company executives and agents at the beginning of her career, then revealing those strategies to consumers as the chief insurance writer for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine and author of the "Ask Kim" column.  Lankford’s inside knowledge of the business has made her one of the best-known insurance writers in the country.

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Kimberly Lankford is an experienced financial journalist with more than 25 years of expertise in translating complex financial subjects into clear, practical guidance. For 22 years, she wrote the popular “Ask Kim” column for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine and Kiplinger.com, fielding hundreds of reader questions each month on topics such as insurance, taxes, retirement, health care, and avoiding scams. As a freelance writer, her work appears regularly in U.S. News & World Report, AARP, Military Officer Magazine, and other publications. Her articles have also been featured in The Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Bloomberg Wealth Manager. She has authored several books, including Rescue Your Financial Life and The Insurance Maze, and has written widely distributed financial guides for military families. Frequently featured as a financial expert on national television, radio, and podcasts, she is also quoted in major outlets like The New York Times and NBC News. Lankford is a member of the National Press Club and other professional journalism associations.