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Elaine Said:

How Hard Is It To Keep Open A State Farm Insurance Agency or Allstate Agency?

We Answered:

Depends - how long will it take you to put $200,000 of premium on the books? That's 2,000 auto policies, or 1,000 homeowners policies. If you can't sell that much in six months, you're not likely to be able to keep the doors open.

It's ALL about sales. FWIW, not many people "stop in" to an insurance agency to buy insurance. Very, very few sales are walk in sales - it's NOT like retail clothing. You'll get LOTS of people asking for quotes - ie, LOTS of work, but very, very few sales. MOST people have to pound the pavement and make cold calls to make the sales happen - and the first few years, expect to put in 80 - 100 hour workweeks.

If you're planning on sitting behind a desk at the mall and waiting for the business to come to you . . . it ain't gonna happen. You'll get all the dui's and demolition contractors that 1. can't get coverage elsewhere 2. will give you bum checks and 3. it's all going to be the junk business that State Farm and Allstate won't write, anyway.

Robin Said:

What do you do when Healthnet Insurance tells the hospital to bill you and it's over what you are responsible

We Answered:

If you paid your deductible, and your percentage.... and the insurance company paid their part.... What's left? Are they billing you for the amount that should be discounted?

Did you pay the entire deductible and out of pocket amount to the hospital? If not, who did you pay it to? If you paid your deductible to a doctor, you may be due a refund from that doctor.

How much is the difference? I need more information. The balance your are being billed is coming from somewhere... Its either your responsibility, the insurance companies, or the hospital's discount... Speak to a supervisor at the insurance company. They should be able to speak with the hospital if needed, to find out where the balance is.

If your insurance is not self-funded, you can file a complaint with the California department of insurance. Ultimately, if the claim is processed correctly, that won't help all that much. Look at your insurance EOBs. Does the amount listed as your responsibility match the amount the hospital is billing you?

Albert Said:

earthquake insurance for real estate investors?

We Answered:

The cost of the insurance is very prohibitive. I do not even have it on my private residence. I did have it before the 89 quake in SF, and it was a good thing, my house came off the foundation. It was cheap back then, but not since.

Check the maps, stay away from the actual fault lines, and you should be OK.

You can add additional bracing to your foundation if you are not on a slab.