Most of the time, insurance claims are run of the mill. Sometimes, claims fall on the wrong side of the law, like when a driver torches his own car. Occasionally, a claim that crosses an insurance adjuster's desk is downright bizarre. Here are a few favorites -- just don't try these at home.

If you have ever had to make an insurance claim, you know that your premium dollars pay for very important protection. Hopefully, you enjoyed a hassle free claims process. If you did have problems getting your claim paid, you probably considered finding another insurer. Either way, you learned the importance of having an insurance company on your side!

A long-term care insurance policy provides a daily allowance for the care of an individual who is no longer able to care for herself. The daily allowance is intended to cover the costs of nursing home care, nurses, aides and similar expenses. These policies became popular in the 1990s.

Life insurance is not a simple product. Even term life policies have many elements that must be considered carefully in order to arrive at the proper type and amount of coverage. But the technical aspects of life insurance are far less difficult for most people to deal with than trying to get a handle on how much coverage they need and why. This article will briefly examine the top 10 misconceptions surrounding life insurance and the realities that they distort.

The open enrollment season for next year's benefits elections is already underway. Whether you're an employee being faced with new health insurance options through your company plan, run your own company like me, or purchase individual health insurance, the choices you make regarding your health insurance are an important part of your 2008 financial strategy.

Millions of American families need a hand as they sort through their health care options during this year's open-enrollment season, which involves much more than checking for the lowest premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Saving money is a false economy if a health plan falls down on the job of providing good care and making it easy to get.

I was looking over my credit card bills the other day and noticed that I’ve been paying for credit insurance…something I never signed up for to begin with. When I called to ask about it, the representative informed me they had received verbal confirmation from me a few months back when I renewed my card. I most certainly did not give any kind of verbal confirmation to add that to my account. It was a back and forth discussion before the charges were reimbursed, but it got me to thinking. Is credit insurance really worth the money?

Buying life insurance can be intimidating. But don't let that discourage you from trying to get the best deal on the policy that's right for you. Because most of us aren't perfect, insurers ask a lot of questions and do medical tests when you apply for coverage to determine how much of a risk you are to insure. The bigger the risk you are, the higher the rate you'll have to pay.

1) Cost - Private mortgage insurance typically costs between 0.5% to 1% of the entire loan amount on an annual basis. On a $100,000 loan this means the homeowner could be paying as much as $1,000 a year, or $83.33 per month - assuming a 1% PMI fee. (Calculated as: $100,000 x 1% = $1,000 / 12 = $83.33) By itself that's a pretty hefty sum. However, the average home price, according to the National Association of Realtors is about $240,000, which means families could be spending nearly $200 a month on the insurance. That's as much as a car payment!

Contracting a serious illness or disease can be devastating - both to your health and to your finances. Should you be unable to work due to failing health, you may find yourself unable to pay for basic needs or necessary medical care, adding worries about money to worries about your health. Critical illness insurance is designed to alleviate your financial concerns should you find yourself facing life-threatening health problems.