Crystal Lake Cave in Iowa - A Great Vacation and Travel Destination

Iowa has some beautiful places that are wonderful vacation destinations. One of the must see places is Crystal Lake Cave. There is an interesting story behind this location. Back in 1868 lead miners were looking for a lead vein and they drilled 40 feet into the ground. And although they were not successful in finding the lead they had hoped for they did find something else even more amazing. What they found was Crystal Lake Cave. Although the cave was discovered for many years it was not open to
the public until 1932. Bernard Markus, one of the original miners, played a role in getting the cave open to the public and it finally became so after his death.

While the miners were digging they found quite a few different types of gems and minerals that are on display in the gift shop. There is no other show cavern like Crystal Lake Cave and this is the longest a cave has been "alive" in Iowa. The cave is underground and continues to be one of the most amazing places to visit in Iowa. The tour of the cave takes about half an hour to 45 minutes and it is an adventure like none other you have ever taken. A tour guide will lead you so that you get the most out of the adventure. Keep in mind that no matter what the temperature is outside it will be quite cool in Crystal Lake Cave and the year round temperature is usually around 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

The cave is open from 9 am to 5 pm on weekends in May and daily in June, July and August from 9 am until 6 pm. In September the cave is open from 11 am until 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am until 5 pm on weekends. The cave is open through mid October from 11 am until 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am until 5 pm on weekends. The rest of the year the cave is closed for winter. Prices for adults are $10 and $5 for kids four to 11. Kids under four are free and senior citizens receive a 10% discount. Group pricing is available. The cave is located three miles south of Dubuque, Iowa and 20 minutes from Galena, Illinois.

There is a website that has great information on USA Vacations and Unique Travel Spots Listed State By State and Season, the website is called: Seasonal Vacation Spots, and can be found at this url:

http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Dental Insurance - Better Way To Fend For Your Teeth

Having healthy teeth imply good health. But, due to busier schedule of life, we are often tend to neglect our teeth too much to take good care. This finally leads us to have minor or serious teeth disease costing us a lot of time and money. Having a dental insurance insures you saving not only a lot of money, but also many of your time. In fact, getting your teeth insured has become necessity of every family, as the insurance facility gives you more flexibility to go to your doctor.

There are two ways to avail the benefits of insurance of your teeth, the one by going to NHS (National health Service) dentist, and the second by going to private dentist. Normally, you will have to pay treatment charge to the dentist, and then claim your money before the insurer, from whom you have bought the insurance. Private dental insurance covers for routine check-ups, urgent dental problems and serious dental problems.

It is not that insurance of your teeth pays you 100% charge of your treatment. Most of the insurance will pay you around 75% of treatment cost. And to avail the insurance facility, you need to buy the insurance three to six months prior to use the plan. If you want to get rid of paying every time to your doctor, it is better to go for capitation scheme. Instead of paying each time you visit your dentist, under this scheme, you have to pay a monthly premium to insurer. This will cover normally teeth issues like regular check-ups, cover fillings, X-rays, extraction, etc.

The growing financial concern have made several of insurance companies to come up with many plans of dental insurance deal. Before choosing anyone, it is important that you read all the terms, conditions, guidelines and policies of the insurance company. Comparison between several of insurance deals are available on many financial websites. These sites don't only offer you free quotes, but also guide you to choose the best insurance deal.

Individual Dental Insurance Considerations

Individual dental insurance is a type of insurance providing insurance cover against dental treatment costs. Dental diseases are the most common type of diseases across the world. Dental treatment costs are increasing by the day. Both routine as well as occasional dental treatment is becoming costlier. Routine dental treatment includes plaque removal, cleaning, x-rays etc. occasional dental treatment includes treatment or procedures like, tooth extraction, root canal treatment, braces, cosmetic procedures to improve face cut and jaw line etc. It has been observed that most accidents involve head and facial injuries. Facial injuries usually involve damage to teeth, gums and jaws that need extensive dental treatment which can be extremely costly. Dental insurance provides protection against such unanticipated costs.

In an individual dental insurance plan, the individual pays a small monthly or annual premium to the insurance company. The insurance company in turn bears any cost incurred by the individual towards dental treatment in the period of insurance. Some of the points which must be considered during purchase of a individual dental insurance plan are given below.

Health & Dental Insurance: If you already have a health insurance, it may or may not cover dental treatment costs. If it does not, opt for dental insurance by increasing your monthly premium by a small amount. This will save you taxes also as the premium is a deductible under United States laws.

Employer Insurance: If you are working for a corporation or a large company, opt for dental insurance through your employer. This will reduce your monthly premium by almost half, as the employer pays part of the premium. Employer insurance is a type of low cost dental insurance.

Family Dental Insurance:. Family Dental Insurance works out cheaper per head than individual dental insurance. The larger the group the lesser the premium is the thumb rule.

Managed Health Care Vs Indemnity Health Care: In managed health care individual health insurance, the premium is very less but you can only go to a dentist authorized by the insurance company. However if you want freedom to visit any dentist of your liking, you should opt for Indemnity health care plans, however the premium is costlier.

Be Safe Rather Than Sorry On Holiday

If you are traveling abroad this year, it is worth spending some time looking at getting some travel insurance. The provision of cover in the case of disease or accident is extremely important in certain countries, and could save you on a fortune. As well as medical cover, travel insurance provides cover for numerous other events. And traveling without the correct insurance this summer could leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket if you become ill or have an accident overseas.

Recent figures from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office estimate that half of people going on a short break are uninsured compared to 13% of those on longer duration trips. But disaster can strike at the most unexpected of times, and it pays to be prudent.

If you forget to take out travel insurance for your holiday you could be in line for some expensive bills if you were to fall prey to an accident.

The following shows some examples of typical medical costs:

Anywhere in the Med should you pick up Gastro-enteritis, you will be liable for: £400 - £600


• Two days in a general hospital ward in the Mediterranean would incur costs of: £600


• Broken leg in the USA, in total including all hospital bills and other expenses will cost: £10,000


• A scheduled flight in business class with a nurse escort from the west coast of the USA will set you back in the region of: £9,000 - £12,000


• An air ambulance back to the UK from the Balearics will cost you between: £10,000 - £12,000


• Costs for catching bronchitis requiring seven days' in-patient treatment in the Far East will be around £15,000


• Catching bronchitis and requiring seven days' in-patient treatment in the USA, will cost even more, at: £20,000

Even if travelling within the EU with a European Health Insurance card [which replaced the old E111 form] you may find that you have to pay a large percentage of the cost of treatments which you may have expected to be free. Remember also that the EHIC only provides this limited cover in EU countries, and not ht whole of Europe. The European Health Insurance Card is no substitute for travel insurance, but it is useful to have.

So no matter what length your holiday this summer, remember to take out travel insurance. It's far better to have it there just in case than take a potentially expensive gamble.

Arizona Homeowners Insurance Quotes - Get the Best Rates

Insurance quotes for your Arizona home can vary by hundreds of dollars from one insurance company to another. So where can you quickly and easily find the best Arizona homeowners insurance quotes? Insurance comparison websites.

Find the Best Rates

The fastest way to get the best rate for Arizona homeowners insurance is to go to an insurance comparison website. On these sites you'll fill out a simple form with information about your home and your homeowners insurance needs, such as:

* The year your home was built the square footage.

* Construction information about your home, such as the type of foundation and the roof material.

* How many feet from your home to the nearest fire hydrant and how many miles to the nearest fire station.

* Any safety features in your home, such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, deadbolts, sprinkler systems, and security systems.

* What amounts of coverage you want to purchase for your home and for your personal property.

* What deductibles you want.

* Any additional coverages you want, such as for collections, jewelry, or watercraft.

* Any additional risks in your home, such as a swimming pool

The best insurance comparison websites even let you talk online with insurance professionals, so if you have questions as you fill out the form you can get fast and reliable answers. (See link below.)

Choose the Homeowners Insurance Company with the Best Rate

Once you fill out the form with information about your home and insurance needs, you'll receive homeowners insurance quotes from multiple A-rated homeowners insurance companies. All that's left for you to do is compare the quotes and choose the company with the best rate.

How to Pick a Good Home Owner Insurance Company

Peace of mind, security, and protecting your most valuable asset and possessions are the three best reasons that any homeowner needs to have a good home owners insurance policy. When it comes to finding a good home owner insurance company it pays to do some up front research before you buy a new policy. One thing that is important to note when researching insurance companies is that while financial strength is important very few go bankrupt because before they can even get licensed to do business in any state they have to prove they are financially sound.

Before you choose a home owner insurance company, check out a few independent research companies first. Independent research companies thoroughly examine home owner insurance companies and give them ratings based on certain factors. Also, be sure to take advantage of additional study reports offered by the independent research companies, such as the special guides some independent research companies compile in order to help customers better understand the process used to decide a home owner insurance company rating. Apart from learning about average rates and consumer complaints made against the companies you are considering; it is also a good idea to look into their financial stability history.

The insurance business is regulated by individual state laws which can be different from state to state. There are independent research firms who rate the insurance industry and in most cases the ratings that are given are on an alphabetical scale such as A, B, C, and so on. When looking for an insurance provider it is best to choose one that is rated a B or higher and avoid companies with ratings warning of future liquidation or under some form of state probation or suspension.

Take into account the ratings each independent research firm has given to the homeowners insurance companies you are considering. It is also to make sure that any insurance providers you are considering is licensed to sell insurance in your state. Under no circumstances should you purchase home owners insurance from a company without a license in the state in which the house is located.

Once you find a reputable and financially secure home owner insurance company everything else you are looking for – great coverage, quick claim service, and affordable rates – will fall into place. One final thing that is a necessity is a insurance provider that will give you the freedom to quickly and easily change your coverage as your needs change through the years.

Discount Dental Plans - This Is How They Work

Do you have a toothache? Do you have visible cavities? Do your gums bleed, especially while brushing your teeth? Do you currently have dental insurance? Do you intend to buy dental insurance? Well my friend, I highly recommend that you don't waste your money. The reason why I say that is because dental insurance does not cover any kind of pre-existing conditions. That means that if you have any of the above problems a toothache, cavities, gingivitis, or any other dental issues, you're pretty much out of luck because you'll be paying for those treatments out of pocket.

Dental insurance is not what it used to be. Years ago most decent jobs offered dental insurance coverage along with their health insurance package. You could go to see your dentist to get all of your basic issues taken care of, such as your cleanings, x-rays, etc., everything except for any pre-existing conditions. Well, this hasn't changed one bit over the years.

I don't understand why people think that they're going to go in and pay a few dollars for dental insurance premiums and then immediately have all of their teeth fixed. It just doesn't work like that. Think about this for a moment, when you go to get insurance on your car don't they come out and do a look around on your car? Don't they take pictures of all sides of your car? Of course they do! The reason why they do this is because they don't want to pay for any damage that was already there. Well, dental insurance is the same way. It makes absolutely no sense to think that it would be any different.

The way to go these days is to purchase dental discount plans. Dental discount plans, also sometimes referred to as discount dental plans, offer discounts of anywhere from 10 to 60% on standard dental procedures. This is how they work. You join a discount plan, which costs as little as $80 per year for an individual or $150 per year for your entire family. Within one to three business days you can see a participating dentists in your area. All you need to do is go in and have a complete examination done, find out exactly what you need to have done, let the Dentist know what you can afford to pay for that day and pay them for the discounted procedure at the time of your visit.

Pre-existing conditions are fine, there are no waiting periods, no exclusions, no age limits etc., the only stipulation to have a dental discount plan is that you must pay for your services at the time of your appointment. Dental discount plans are absolutely the way to go in 2007. I recommend that if you've been considering buying a dental plan, that you take a good look at discount dental plans.

Dental Service Plan - Get the Best Plan and the Best Rate

Looking for a dental service plan? Want to get the best plan with the best rate? Here's how to find it.

Dental Service Plan

Dental service plans, also known as discount dental plans, are an inexpensive alternative to costly and restrictive dental insurance.

Dental service plans save you money on dental care. You get 10% to 60% discounts on dental procedures including exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, extractions, root canals, bridges, braces, dentures, and periodontal and cosmetic dentistry.

You can choose from 32 regional and nationwide networks with more than 100,000 participating dentists and dental specialists.

Dental Service Plan Highlights

* You get immediate coverage. There are no waiting periods as there are with dental insurance.

* Premiums are cheap, with individual plans starting at $79.95 a year - less than $7 a month.

* There are no exclusions for preexisting conditions or health restrictions like there are with dental insurance.

* There are no deductibles or coinsurances to pay.

* You get unlimited benefits. There are no annual maximums like there are with dental insurance.

* There are no lengthy forms to fill out or paperwork hassles to deal with.

* You can see a dental specialist without having to get a referral.

Where to Get the Best Rates

The best way to get the best dental service plan and the best rate is to go to a dental comparison website where you can compare the rates and benefits of a number of different plans. If you like a particular plan you can sign up online.

The better comparison sites offer a toll-free telephone service where you can talk with a dental plan specialist and get answers to any questions you may have. (See link below.)

How To Find Affordable Dental Plans For Seniors

Although most people are not aware of it, affordable dental plans for seniors are still available. It's difficult for many seniors to afford traditional dental insurance because of the high costs associated with it. However, dental discount plans fit into almost anyone's budget, even senior citizens whom many of are on a fixed income. This is how dental discount plans work.

Dental discount plans are not insurance. They simply provide substantial discounts for dental procedures to their members. Because these discount plans are not insurance there is no waiting period necessary before you can be seen, pre-existing conditions are included, there are no age limits and there aren't any exclusions, unless you have already had dental work started with another dentist. In this case, you would have to have that work completed before you could see anyone else and begin using the new plan.

This is what you need to do. First, you need to find a dental discount plan that offers services in your area. Second, you need to pay the membership fee, after which you'll receive your membership card and information about the participating dentists in your area. You'll normally have information that will enable you to see a dentist within one to three business days.

All you need to do is find a dentist close to you and make an appointment. When you go to see the dentist, provide your membership card and have a basic exam done. This way you and your dentist both will know exactly what needs to be taken care of. You are not required to have everything done at once. Tell the dentist what you'd like to get taking care of at that time and pay for it when you're finished. When you can afford to have something else done simply make an appointment and get it taken care of.

These is the most affordable dental plans for seniors that are available, unless they have some type of coverage through Medicare. If you are a senior citizen and do not have any type of dental coverage, but need to have dental work done, I highly recommend that you look into discount dental plans as an option.