如果你18岁以上从外州或外国来加州访问，只要你现有的驾照没有过期，你就可以在加州驾车而不需要转换为加州驾照。
如果你接受加州的工作或成为加州的居民, 你必须在案10天之内取得加州的驾驶执照. 符合下列任何一种情况下你将被认为是加州居民: 在加州选举中投票, 付加州居民学费, 申请加州物主税务减免, 以及接受任何只有加州居民才能享有的权利与义务.
译自California DMV official web site (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dmv.htm).
This depends on the company from which you purchase your renters insurance. Nevertheless, many companies cover:
Other types of coverage, depending on the company, may include:
While landlords insure the apartment building against damage, their insurance policy does not cover your belongings. Purchasing renters insurance would protect your possessions if they are stolen or destroyed in a fire. Remember when you live in an apartment complex with many other tenants, you share the risk of damage–for example, if one unit were to catch fire.
Renters insurance can also protect against liability lawsuits or medical bills of guests injured in your apartment.
Some landlords require you to purchase renters insurance.
If so, this would be stipulated in your lease or lease riders.
Renters insurance covers damage or loss to the property of those who rent an apartment. Anyone who rents, whether from a house owner, a property manager, or a university (as a student living in a dorm), should consider purchasing renters insurance.
Liability protection. Some renters insurance protects you against a lawsuit if someone or their property is damaged on your apartment¡¦s premises.
Medical payments to guests. Some policies cover the medical bills up to a limit of anyone, except you or anyone else who lives in the apartment, who is injured in your apartment.
Increase in Living Expenses. If your living expenses increase, because you must live elsewhere due to a loss, some policies cover, up to a limit, that increase.
Lost property while traveling. Some renters insurance policies cover your property even when you¡¦re traveling, should the airline lose your luggage.
Premium policy add-ons. If you¡¦re willing to pay a higher premium, you can buy additional protection. The add-ons differ from company to company, so be sure to ask for details. Typical add-ons include:
property damage due to floods or earthquakes
damaged wedding or engagement presents
如果你在一家公司上班, 不幸被Layoff, 同时又已怀孕多月. 公司是否会继续给你买医疗保险直到生下小孩呢?
一般而言,你不在公司工作了, 公司就没有义务为你买保险了.但你可能可以用COBRA, 就是继续用公司的保险, 但你要付全部的保费. 尽管这比你在职时昂贵许多, 却比自己买新的保险便宜. 特别是在有些情况下你可能根本不qualify买新的保险.
“COBRA” 是美国联邦政府强制的保险项目, 目的是使雇员在离职后有可能得到连续的保险服务.
COBRA stands for the Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, an amendment to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. 详情可参考:
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html
Many homeowners who hire help are not aware of the potential legal hassles that can ensue when an accident occurs on their property. Workers, such as the kid mowing the lawn, the housekeeper tidying up your home for a big party, or the landscaper planting your annuals, could suffer an injury while on your property. After an accident, you may be financially liable for the worker’s injuries and disabilities, and your homeowners insurance policy may not cover you in the event of a lawsuit.
Employees vs. independent contractors
One of the factors used to determine if you are liable for a worker’s injury is whether the person is considered your employee or is a contractor (or subcontractor). As a general rule, whether a person is considered an employee or a contractor hinges on the amount of control you have over the worker. If you have the right to control what must be done and the manner in which it is to be done, the worker is probably your employee.
For example, you hire someone to care for your children and do light housework in your home. This worker follows your instructions about childcare and household duties, and you provide the supplies used to do the work. This person is your employee.
Generally, if the worker can control how the work is done, the worker is a contractor. A contractor usually uses his or her own tools and offers services to the general public in an independent business.
For example, you hire someone to care for your lawn. This person provides their lawn care services to other homeowners, uses their own tools and supplies, and hires and pays any helpers they need. Your lawn care provider is an independent contractor, not your employee.
Note: This is an oversimplification. The rules regarding employee and independent contractor status are very complex. If you have any uncertainty regarding a worker’s status, you should consult a tax professional.
Workers’ compensation insurance for employees
If you have employees (such as a housekeeper, gardener, nanny, cook, etc.), your state may require that you carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage for them. Even if you are not required by state law to carry workers’ compensation insurance, it may be wise to do so anyway. If an employee is injured, and if you have hired the worker legally and paid for workers’ compensation insurance, an injury claim would fall under that policy’s coverage. Otherwise, the claim would fall on you. Your homeowners insurance policy is not likely to offer any coverage in this event. If you are hiring regular help who could be considered employees, make sure you consult your insurance agent and/or your state Workers’ Compensation Agency about coverage.
Workers’ compensation insurance for independent contractors
Contractors, such as builders, landscapers, or other tradespeople who work on or around your home, should be covered through their own (mandatory) workers’ compensation insurance, and any injury claims would be covered under that policy. If, for some reason, the contractor does not have coverage or has discontinued the policy to save on the premiums, you would be next in line to pay for a worker’s injuries and/or disabilities that occurred on your property (although you may be able to file a lawsuit against the contractor).
If you are hiring a contractor for a job on your property, ask for written proof of the following to cover worker injuries, property damage, and uninstalled materials:
Contractor’s license
Workers’ compensation insurance
General liability coverage
Proof of workers’ compensation insurance for any subcontractors working on your project
Check with the carrier listed on the proof-of-insurance certificate that the coverage is still in force. Verifying the contractor’s insurance coverage before the work begins can allow time for the contractor to correct any problem with lapsed insurance, or for you to find another contractor.
What your homeowners policy may cover
In some states, homeowners insurance policies contain a provision or endorsement providing limited coverage for minors performing lawn mowing or other similar tasks requiring the use of power tools. Some policies specifically exclude domestic workers such as nannies or housekeepers, while others cover injuries of household employees only under the liability coverage section, so a lawsuit may be required before a claim is paid. Check with your insurance agent.
You may need extra liability coverage
In addition to the liability coverage provided under your homeowners policy, you may want to consider additional liability coverage to protect your assets in the event of a liability judgment that exceeds the limits of your homeowners insurance. Such coverage may be called an excess liability policy, or a personal umbrella liability policy. This type of coverage supplements the liability coverage provided under your homeowners policy.
Check references
Don’t forget to do reference checks on people you are considering hiring to work on your property. Reputable tradespeople should be willing to provide you with customer references. In addition, you can check with the Better Business Bureau to see if a business has received complaints (and if the problems were rectified). Your local building department can tell you if a particular trade requires certification or licensing, as well as the name of the local licensing body or official. Don’t forget to verify that any insurance policies held by a contractor under consideration are still in force.
[From insurance.com]
在美国租车，一般都需要有两种保险，
第一是第三方Liability保险，就是保你开着租来的车，出了事故，造成了他人的人身或者财产损失，这个保险就可以Cover这种损失。
第二是出租车的保险，通常称为Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) 或者Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)，如果你把租来的车给损坏了，无论是碰撞、车祸、或者是失盗，这个保险都应该可以Cover，如果这个保险由租车公司提供的话，有时候还会有一 定的Deduction，就是最初的一百元或者两百元归你付。
出租公司一般提供以上两类保险，但价格不菲，有时侯甚至超过租车本身的价格，那么租车时是否一定要强制购买这两类保险呢，答案是否定的。
第一类保险，如果你在美国有自己的车，并且购买了汽车保险的话，那么这类保险都会Cover你暂时租车的Liability，所以，对于大多数有车族，都没有必要购买第一类保险。
第二类保险，也不是强制要求购买，而且很多白金（paltimum）信用卡都包含这个保险，所以你用白金卡租车的话，如果损坏了车，信用卡公司将会赔付车的损失。所以租车前，请咨询你所要使用的信用卡，看看他们是否提供此类保险。
事实上, 如果你为你自己的车购买的保险包含Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), 你的保险也会Cover第二类保险. 一般的保险公司都允许将你现有的保险用于暂时租车. 条件是只能在你现有保险种类和金额之内.
本文根据wenxuecity.com改编，欢迎指正
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) is an organization that provides or arranges for coverage of certain health care services. Typical HMO coverages include access to a primary care physician, emergency care, and specialists/hospitalization when needed.
Kaiser Permanente is the largest HMO provider in North California. Many Kaiser Permanente hospitals bring physicians, emergency care, pharmacies, and medical labs under a same facility.
Comparing with ohter types of medical insurance plans, HMO normally has the lowest premium. However, some critics of HMOs address concerns as to a lack of selection of primary care physicians and making health care decisions based upon a pure profitability standpoint as opposed to decisions driven by providing the best level of care for its patients.
PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) is a form of managed care under which health care providers contract to provide medical services at pre-negotiated rates. Members who subscribe to a PPO are required to use the health care providers who participate in the PPO network – utilization of a health care provider outside the PPO network may result in the member paying more out-of-pocket for services which could have been provided within the network.
Blue Cross is the largest PPO provider in North California.
IPO (Independent Provider Organization) operates by having an HMO contract directly with independent physicians to provides services to HMO members.
POS (Point of Service) plans allow the individual policy holder or certificate holder to visit out-of-network, non-participating doctors for a fee. If the services of a non-participating health care provider are utilized, the individual often obtains restrictions of benefits or incurs more out-of-pocket costs.HMO: An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) is an organization that provides or arranges for coverage of certain health care services required by members of the organization. Typical HMO coverages include access to a primary care physician, emergency care, and specialists/hospitalization when needed.
Q: I have not had any accidents or violations, So why do my auto insurance premiums continue to increase?
A: The costs of buying and repairing cars continue to climb. Insurance companies need to cover those costs. Even if your driving record is unblemished, your rates and those of other drivers will climb to compensate for more and costlier accidents involving others in your state or insured by your carrier.
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