Insurance Commissioners

• The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) works to organize the regulatory efforts of state insurance commissioners throughout the United States. The NAIC "Insure U" website focuses on consumers' insurance needs. It includes information on how people can adjust their insurance coverage to fit different stages of life. For example, parents who have young children might participate in carpools in which they drive other people's kids to school along with their own children. In such cases, the NAIC recommends increasing auto liability insurance for additional protection in case parents are involved in a collision while participating in a carpool.
  
  

Insurance Underwriters

• The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) focuses on businesses involved in health insurance sales. Yet the association also has a consumer section on its website. Among other things, the site includes several consumer guides on group health insurance, private health insurance, long-term care coverage and Medicare. People who have pre-existing medical conditions also will find information on how they might be able to access state health care programs if they can't get health insurance elsewhere.
  
  

Consumer Organizations

• Consumer organizations such as the Consumers Union provide information on insurance coverage. The Consumers Union provides health insurance information through the "Consumer Reports" website. Rankings for HMOs are posted on the site, along with recommendations on selecting a health care plan. "Consumer Reports" also offers tips on how drivers can take advantage of auto insurance discounts. For instance, some insurers use electronic monitoring to track the number of miles policyholders drive. People who drive less than average could receive as much as a 30-percent discount on their policies.
  
  

Financial Websites

• The insurance sections of financial websites such as Bankrate.com include information on choosing auto, health, homeowner's and life insurance. Financial websites can give consumers insight into reducing their insurance rates. According to a Bankrate.com article titled "5 Best Ways to Cut Insurance Costs," people may improve their chances of cutting their insurance rates by plying agents with questions about discounts. Homeowner's insurance providers may reduce rates for long-term customers by as much as 5 percent. Some auto insurers offer lower rates to customers who drive vehicles with higher safety ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the crash-worthiness of vehicles annually and lists the results on its website.