International Travel Health Insurance for Seniors - Tips For Choosing The Right Coverage

The freedom to travel is a benefit many retirees look forward to with anticipation. Travel insurance policies are available that cover trip interruption, baggage loss, and that provide 24-hour telephone assistance. But when traveling internationally it is vitally important that seniors consider unexpected medical emergencies.

With few exceptions, Medicare will not cover medical costs outside the United States, so a travel health insurance plan may be a good option.

Most plans may exclude pre-existing conditions, so it is important to be careful when choosing a policy. Travel insurance is comparatively inexpensive, and can offer financial peace of mind in the event of a medical emergency.

Factors in choosing the right senior international travel health insurance policy include:

1. What type of coverage is needed? Basic coverage can include emergency medical treatment and medical evacuation. Be sure to check the benefits and exclusions in any policy to be sure they meet your needs.

2. Of critical importance to seniors - are pre-existing medical conditions covered? Plans may require that the senior traveler have Medicare coverage in the U.S., or require the policy be purchased within certain time limits. Watch the wording -- broad or ambiguous definitions can result in your claim being denied if, for instance, a condition were identified for which no prior symptoms existed.

Should pre-existing medical issues exist, having a doctor's statement of the condition and medications is a good practice. If you must carry medications, keep them in clearly labeled, original containers, and check to be sure they are not considered illegal in the countries being visited.

3. How much does the Medical Evacuation benefit cover? An emergency medical evacuation can be expensive. The benefit for emergency medical evacuation will cover the expense of transferring you to an appropriate healthcare facility. In some cases, it may be advisable to return to your home country for follow-up treatment and recovery. Due to the high cost of medical evacuation, a separate coverage limit may apply.

4. Are there any age limits, or are benefits reduced because of age? Some plans place a limit on the age of the insured, or will limit coverage over a certain age. Costs of medical care can vary depending on the country visited, so be sure the benefits limits will cover possible costs.

5. Does the policy cover the duration of travel? Be sure to purchase a policy that covers the amount of time you expect to be traveling. Verify the "benefit period" (different than the policy or coverage period) - the maximum period of time the policy will pay benefits for a covered medical condition that was first diagnosed or treated during the policy period.

6. Is the insurance company regulated? It is recommended that you only contract with insurance companies who are registered to conduct business in your state. In the event of any disputes, the State Insurance Commission can only assist if the company is legally registered.

7. Do you understand the policy? It is important to carefully read any policy before purchase and be sure all clauses are understood. If there are questions, do not be afraid to ask for clarification!

Travel can be one of the most satisfying aspects of a long, contented retirement. Working with an experienced insurance agent is important to assure you have the right medical coverage for your needs.

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Transcription of Vox Pops

Vox pops (short for vox populi, Latin for voice of the people) are not interviews as such but short recordings asking a variety of different people one question, or just a few short questions requiring short answers. They may be carried out in order to get public opinions for market research, radio or television items or promotional videos.

Transcription of vox pops may be necessary for a number of reasons. It is very helpful to have a transcript of your work to help you edit it for broadcasting, and if it is research that's going to be used in a documentary or similar then it useful to have a written version so that it can be easily analysed e.g. 'one in three people said ...' It's obviously vital for market research so that a full and in depth analysis can be carried out.

If you have a long stream of vox pops on one recording then a transcriptionist experienced in working with these should be able to offer you a time-stamp option. This helps you quickly find the relevant point in the recording from looking at the transcript. A time-stamp indicates the time in the recording every so-many minutes e.g. if you have a five-minute time-stamp the transcript will put a marker in at 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes etc.

A word of advice here. Some recording equipment comes with a facility that puts in a bleep every so-many minutes, in order to help the transcriptionist put in the time stamps. Don't use it! Every time the player puts in a bleep it obscures what's being said. An experienced transcriptionist with the relevant equipment can put in time stamps without this, and you will then get all the material you have recorded actually transcribed!

What you want on your recording will depend very much on why you're doing it. If you are recording for TV or radio then although you clearly don't want traffic noise drowning out your interviewees' voices, you do want it to be clear that they are shot 'on location'. However, from a transcription point of view that's less than ideal, as in order to be able to catch all the words that people are saying, the less background noise there is the happier your transcriptionist will be! If you require transcription of your vox pops, one option might be to record the vox pops themselves with a noise canceling microphone, which is designed to reduce the effects of ambient noise, while a colleague records the ambient noise on another microphone. You can then use the recording from the noise canceling microphone to send to your transcriptionist and mix the two sound recordings for your broadcast. Alternatively if you're a wiz with sound editing software you may be able to reduce the ambient noise and save as a different version, which can then be used to transcribe from. However, this is often less successful as the ambient noise is frequently in the same range as human speech, which means if you cut out one the other goes too!

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Don't Wait! Get Insured!

Entrepreneurship can be a trouble-free affair, particularly of employees and business resources if you are insured with a corporate insurance. You will perceptibly not want your hard earned money utilized in business to be unexpectedly lost during an emergency. So, purchase corporate insurance and keep your business and employees against all possible risks. A corporate insurance will take care of your employees against sickness, personal accidents, also encompassing business assets like trading and service properties, manufacturing units for any unforeseen emergencies. To purchase a corporate insurance for your employees, you will have to provide necessary details like number of employees, age and name of their dependents, claim status of any previous policy, condition of your previous policy, etc. For your business possessions, you will have to furnish the obligatory details of the same.

Risks are no doubt a part of life. For instance, although most freight exchange companies will try their best to minimize damages to the best possible extent, it isn't always possible to ensure this. Unanticipated circumstances such as stormy weather or a theft on board can result in grave losses to you and your company. Hence with this standpoint in mind, it is always favorable to go for a superior quality cargo / marine insurance deal. You can even get the support of a qualified marine insurance agent who will essentially bargain on your behalf to land you great deals and the best prices. When it comes to marine insurance schemes there are bounty of options you can select from. You will also find that the price of obtaining a marine insurance is in fact appreciably lesser as compared to the overall freight charges. Also the fact that you can avail noteworthy financial reimbursement makes any investment in this insurance well worth the costs.

Another important insurance policy, one must have, is the personal accident insurance policy. The significance of a personal accident insurance might not be a big deal if you haven't experienced the heartrending event of the accident. But why wait to encounter it, and then bear the equally exasperating financial consequences? If you are covered with a personal accident insurance policy, there is no need to fret as you and even your other family members are covered by the benefits of the program. So if you're still not insured with personal accident insurance, you might as well apply now for one and avoid the quandary of financial matters.

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Brick Paver Installation & Edging

Staging of material

Most paver projects will vary depending on access, site conditions, project size and of course, the weather. These situations can have an overall impact on your project from a timing stand point. Careful consideration should be taken to determine the time to start the paver installation. Always try to minimize or avoid any traffic on the prepared areas.

The foreman or project manager should always have the materials (sand / pavers) distributed around the project site for easy and efficient installations. Paver pallets/bundles should be placed in a manner not to interfere with the paver installation. The proper pallet/bundle placement can make the actual project installation easier and quicker by reducing the overall labor of handling the material.

Brick paver patterns

Pavers can be placed in many different patterns depending on their shape. Each paver shape will generally have several different hatch patterns that are provided by the manufacturer.

The laying pattern and shape of the paver is very critical to the performance of the application. Contractors need to take into consideration the traffic weight loads on their paver projects. 90 or 45 degree herringbone patterns are recommended in all street and driveway applications, as these patterns will provide the maximum load support needed and will resist creeping from the turning of tires and starting or braking of vehicular traffic. In most applications worldwide, it has been shown that pavers laid in a herringbone pattern have performed adequately.

Pavers that are 60 mm (2 - 3/8 in) thickness are suitable for pedestrian applications. Pavers that are going to be used in commercial or industrial applications should be 80 mm (3 - 1/8 in) in thickness.

Reference/starting point for brick paver installation

There are a number of conditions that determine the starting point of a paver project.

When starting to install pavers it is best to snap a true straight chalk line on the surface of the bedding sand or pull a true straight string line above the surface of the bedding sand at the finished elevation of the pavers. This will help as a guide for maintaining straight joint lines and will also allow the installer to make adjustments in the alignment of the pavers.

Buildings and concrete curbing are generally not straight and should not be used for establishing straight joint lines. The use of string lines is essential to determine the true straightness of the edge as well. As the paver installation progresses, the string lines will help minimize the need for small trim pieces.

Joint width between pavers should be between 1/16 and 3/16 in (2 and 5 mm ). There are some pavers with spacer bars on their sides. These will maintain a minimum joint width and allow the bedding and jointing sand to enter between each paver. Pavers with spacer bars are generally not laid in snug against each other since a string line will provide consistent joint spacing.

Installation of brick pavers

One of the most widely used methods for the installation of pavers is hand installation of each paver. It is best to install a single row of pavers along one of the true straight lines that you have pulled or above the bedding sand. This will give you a straight and true line off which to work. Once this row is established, you can continue to work outward into the field with the rest of the pavers. Always make sure to periodically check your joint lines to make sure they are true and straight. If not, adjustments to the pavers can be made as you continue installing. Pavers should be installed hand tight. The best method is to place a paver against another one and let it slide down into the bedding sand. Do not kick or tap the pavers into place as this can throw your lines out of true straightness.

When installing pavers on a steep grade, they should be installed at the base of the grade going uphill. This will prevent the pavers from creeping as they are being laid.

On large commercial and industrial applications, hand laying pavers would not be cost effective due to the labor intensity. The best way for installing pavers on large projects is to install them mechanically. The use of a mechanical laying machine can install approximately 6000 - 7000 sq ft a day. There are a couple items a contractor should consider before installing pavers mechanically:

1.) Mechanical installers are only capable of installing pavers in certain patterns.

2.) The contractor must make sure that the manufacturer is capable of manufacturing and bundling pavers in the desired pattern on the pallets for easy mechanical installation.

3.) Contractors may encounter a color blending situation coming off the bundles of pavers. Poor color blending could result in a patchy looking installation. Most manufacturers are consistent with color blending on each bundle of pavers, but it is the contractor's responsibility to ensure proper blending in the field.

Cutting procedures for brick pavers

Contractors typically have two ways of cutting pavers. Pavers are cut either by 1). A double bladed guillotine or by 2). A gas powered cut off saw or brick saw which is equipped with a diamond blade. The diamond blade cut-off saw or brick saw will provide a much cleaner and more accurate cut. Most brick saws will have a hose attachment on them which will allow the operator to cut the pavers wet. When cutting pavers wet, it will help minimize dust and will prolong the diamond blades life as well. The operator of the brick saw should always cut the pavers away from the surface of the paver field when cutting wet, due to the fact that the pavers will create a slurry that will stain the paver surface. Pavers that are cut should not fit tight, sufficient spacing should be available for jointing sand.

The brick saw operator should always wear the proper protection that is needed for operating a saw, such as eye, ear, respiratory and hand protection ).

Edging types

Edge restraints play a major role in the overall success of an interlocking pavement installation. Edging restraints eliminate lateral movement of the pavers and hold the pavers tightly together. Especially at the outer perimeter of the paver application, without an edging restraint, your project is guaranteed to fail over time.

There are several different edging restraints from which contractors can choose. Typically manufactured edge restraints are the most commonly used by contractors. Manufactured edging restraints can range from, plastic edging, steel and aluminum, timbers or precast concrete and stone. An edging type that is used primarily in commercial and industrial applications is poured-in-place concrete curbs. This edging restraint is typically installed by other contractors.

Edging installation

When installing your edge restraint, it should rest directly on top of the compacted gravel base. The compacted gravel base course should extend a minimum of 6in beyond the perimeter of the pavers. This will provide a proper foundation upon which the edging restraint can sit. Manufactured edging ( i.E. Plastic, steel or aluminum ) should be firmly anchored into the compacted gravel base( check with the manufacturer's literature for the recommended spacing of the spikes). There are some edging restraints that will extend deeper into the gravel base or beyond the base course ( i.E. Timbers or poured-in-place curbs ). Edging restraints should never be placed directly on top of the bedding sand. This could result in the migration of the bedding sand and eventual lateral movement of the pavers. If there is a possibility of losing bedding sand between the pavers and the edge restraint, then geo textile fabric is recommended. When a gap between the pavers and the edging exceeds 3/8" (10mm), then the space should be filled with cut pavers. All edging applications should be properly back filled after they are installed to help provide additional stability.

Compaction of brick pavers

After installation, the pavers need to be compacted. The entire area that is to be compacted should be swept clean of any foreign objects and debris that can cause scratching or scuffing on the surface of the pavers.

It is important to have a compactor that can exert between 3000lbs. And 5000 lbs. Of centrifugal compaction force. In addition, it is important that the first compaction takes place before any jointing sand has been applied to the pavers. If jointing sand is applied to the pavers before compaction takes place, this can cause a bridging problem and will not allow the joints to be completely filled with jointing sand. This can also prevent the pavers from being properly set into the bedding sand.

When compacting the pavers, it is recommended that you make at least two passes in different directions across the pavers. This will allow the pavers to be properly set in the bedding sand and will force the bedding sand up into the joints from the bottom of the pavers.

The compaction of the pavers is very critical to the final performance of the pavers. Failure to do proper compaction can result in deformations and pavement failure over time.

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What Lowers Car Insurance Rates?

Car insurance in one form or another is required by most (not all) states. Those who are required to have automobile insurance must realize that insurance rates and premium payments are not the same for everybody.

What lowers car insurance rates however will be of interest to most consumers since nobody wants to pay more than they have to for cover.

Of course, those without appropriate or enough insurance and those not required by the law to have insurance, will be required to compensate for damage, injury or death they may cause. So while not having car insurance might seem like a great saving, it can be a very expensive mistake if you find yourself involved in an accident.

This article will discuss how a consumer can minimize insurance payments effectively and efficiently. Do bear in mind that the consumer to a certain extent, has control of the premium payments.

Keep Your Credit Ratings above Median

Credit ratings are determined by credit bureaus. The former generates credit reports and scores that determine the credit ratings of a consumer. The proper term is "ratings", in the plural because each credit bureau (and there are a few) have their own credit rating based on their own credit report and credit score of a particular consumer. To put things simply; higher credit ratings can be what lowers car insurance rates. The best credit scores are those above 720 FICO and the worst are those below the federal and state median, 650. Tip - maintaining above average credit scores is simple; the consumer only needs to follow two simple rules:

Always pay your debts on time and in full. Check your credit reports annually using your free annual credit check and dispute any information that is false or obsolete.

Keep Your Driving History Positive

The more negative information relating to driving history that you have, the higher your premium payments. Therefore, the best way to keep car insurance premium payments at a minimum is to follow the rules of the road. Negative determinants include but are not limited to previous DWI/DUI convictions and traffic violations.

Flex Your Coverage

The type of coverage as well as the extent of coverage determines the total insurance cost as well as insurance premiums. The best way to maximize coverage and minimize premiums is to include or increase the coverage of risks you are prone to encounter, while dropping cover for risks that you will never be subjected to.

For example, if you live in the dessert with little chance of flooding, you may want to drop the flood/inundation coverage. If you always keep your car in a garage, then theft coverage maybe minimized or totally dropped.

Your Automobile

The make and model of your automobile is also an insurance quote determinant.

Below are a few details to remember:

The older and less maintained the automobile, the higher the insurance rates. The harder it is to find and the more expensive the automobile make and model parts, the higher the insurance premiums. SUV's and luxury cars have higher insurance premiums.

Your Age and Driving Experience

The reality is, your insurance premiums become higher or lower if you are within a certain age bracket. The worst age group to be in is 17 to 25, next is 26 to 35. If you started paying car insurance within these age groups and have never looked at what lowers car insurance rates, then it would be best to renegotiate or change providers when your insurance is up for renewal especially when you fall out of these age groups and your driving experience has increased.

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Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game

With the Internet, phone apps, and more, a lot of people are being exposed to games that they might not have ever had the chance to play otherwise, or even hear about for that matter! The fact is that Mahjong sets have offered countless generations in the Eastern world with hours and hours of fun, skill, and strategy. While popular in the Eastern world for centuries, the game largely became known to those on continents like Europe, North America, and South America through these phone apps and computer games. However, the versions on the computer and phones do not offer you quite the same experience. You will want to take some time to experience the classic game that started it all if you enjoy playing the digital versions of it!

Game Sets. The first thing you will want to do if you want to experience the thrill and challenge of the classic game is to purchase your very own Mahjong sets for your home. There is some variation in the options available, and you will find the best selection in terms of price and style alike by shopping at a game or toy website online. Because this game in its classic form isn't as popular in the West as it is in the East, purchasing online is truly your best option. As you shop around, a carrying case or bag for your set is a "must." Keep in mind that your set will come with approximately 136 or 144 tiles, not to mention the other pieces involved in the game, too.

Tournaments. If you try out your Mahjong sets at home and find that you enjoy playing the classic version, as so many others around the globe do, you may want to consider looking for a tournament to play in near your home. While the game isn't quite as popular in Western cultures as it is in the East, it is still a widely popular game that has a huge following, so you likely can find tournament-style play somewhere close to home. This will give you the chance to improve your skills and try out your hand against a wide range of other players. Plus, tournaments of this kind are just plain fun!

Variations. If you enjoy playing the classic version, you likely will also want to take some time to research variations of play. As with many different types of games that have grown in popularity around the globe and that have been around for centuries, different variations have cropped up around the world and these unique versions can really offer your whole family as well as your group of friends some fun while you experiment with them. You often can spend just a little time researching them and then starting playing them right away.

Plenty to Choose From. As you can see, Mahjong sets can really open up some fun and exciting doors for you to enjoy with friends, family, and even other players at tournaments, too! Take time today to order your own set so you can start playing the classic game at home.

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