2012年全国6月18日英语六级考试全真模拟题(2)

Understand, also, that most agents focus solely on insurance. “Sometimes there are solutions to your problem that might be better treated without insurance,” said Arthur Flitner, a small-business expert at the Insurance Institute of America. In some cases, for example, it makes more financial sense to self-insure against certain property risks by setting up a rainy-day fund, or to minimize lawsuit risks by enforcing strict employment policies.

That’s when a risk consultant can help. Because they’re costly — you’ll usually pay a few thousand dollars for a basic project — it makes sense to hire a risk expert only if you have an unusually risky operation, or run a business with more than, say, $25 million in revenue(收入)or more than 100 employees.

After you’ve found some trustworthy vendors, it’s time to shop for bids. Go to as many brokers and agents as you like, but keep in mind that insurance companies won’t bid on the same account through different brokers.

Picking a Policy

If you’re grossing less than $3 million, you will most likely end up with a business owners policy, known as a B.O.P., which bundles business policies and lets you add additional pieces as necessary. Every carrier assembles its B.O.P.

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differently, so make sure you’re making accurate comparisons when shopping. If you are grossing more than $3 million, you will probably have to buy your policies separately. There are four policies you really can’t do business without if you have more than a couple of employees:

Workers’ compensation is required by state law and covers workers’ medical expenses, disability pay and death benefits. Rates vary widely by industry and occupation. While the premiums for a secretary might be 22 cents per $100 of payroll, the rate for a roofer might exceed $20 per $100 of payroll. Make sure your business is classified correctly, and don’t try to pass off your toy factory (manufacturing is considered high-risk) as a design firm (low risk). Once employees start filing claims, carriers will conclude that you are a riskier-than-usual design firm and raise your premiums.

Property insurance covers your physical premises as well as equipment in your office. Rates vary widely, depending on the age of your building, how far it is from the fire department, and whether it is made of steel or wood.

Beware of coinsurance clauses, which allow carriers to pay only a share of damages if they believe you underinsured your property. Instead, ask your broker to add “agreed value” coverage in which you and the insurance company agree on an appropriate insurance level. This can add up to 15 percent to your premiums, but it leaves less room for dispute later.

General liability insurance covers injuries your company causes to other people’s health, property or reputation. Rates usually take into account factors like revenue, size of your offices and number of customers. Most basic packages cover $1 million for each occurrence; umbrella policies can add more coverage quite cheaply.

If it’s available, make sure you buy the more expensive “occurrence” policy, which covers you for accidents at the time they occurred — even if you have since left the business and your policy has lapsed — as opposed to a “claims made” policy, which covers you only if you are insured when the claim is made.

Business interruption insurance — the kind Ms. Melchionda should have had — pays not just the lost sales and rent and payroll costs while you rebuild your business after an accident; it also pays for you to rent a temporary office or equipment so you can get back on your feet faster.

These policies are just the first building blocks of your insurance coverage. There are dozens of other policies you could add, depending on the kind of business

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you run. Some, like medical malpractice for doctors and hospitals, are

absolutely

essential, while others are pure waste. To determine what you need, start by asking yourself two questions: how likely is it that you’ll sustain damage, and could you cover the cost of the damage yourself? As experts like to point out, insurance is meant to cover catastrophes, not pay for maintenance.

“It’s a gamble,” said George Von York, a public adjuster who helps business owners negotiate higher claims payments from insurers. “Most people will never have a substantial claim in their life. But boy, when you need it, it’s good to have that coverage.”

1. The passage mainly focuses on .

A) how to buy the most suitable insurance for your own business

B) how to pick an agent for you own business

C) how to pick a policy when you buy the insurance

D) how to deal with the insurance company

2. Gabrielle Melchionda .

A) did not realize that the insurance company will compensate her loss in the fire

B) realized the real pain for her loss in the fire when the fire broke out

C) had her company insured against business-interruption

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