How to Find the Best Health Insurance Plan for You

U.S. News ratings and a search tool make it easier to pick the health plan that works for you.

Welcome to Best Health Insurance Plans, our effort to make plan-shopping easier for people who need to get their own individual or family coverage directly from an insurer or broker. To rate health plans marketed directly to individuals and families, U.S. News tapped into a newly available federal database containing information provided by hundreds of insurance companies about thousands of individual plans. We have distilled the data and put it into an easy-to-use online tool that can help you pick the plan that's right for you and your family by comparing it with others on a range of costs and covered services.

We measured each plan's coverage against 10 categories of health benefits deemed essential by such leading institutions as the Institute of Medicine and adopted as part of the Affordable Care Act, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in July. You can think of Best Health Insurance Plans as a national prototype for the state health insurance exchanges that are scheduled to go into effect in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. Our goal is to help you obtain affordable coverage for the services you need and limit your exposure to expenses you can't anticipate. Read more in our buyers guide.

Here's how to use this site:

Step 1. Make sure the information is relevant to you. We only provide information on plans sold by health insurers to individuals and families. You should use our ratings if you're self-employed or working for a firm that doesn't offer health plans, if you don't belong to organizations that offer health coverage to their members, and if you're not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare coverage.

Step 2. Decide how you want to browse the plans. We've provided several entry points for the health plan ratings. You can go right to a personalized search by filling in the blanks in the blue box near the top of this page. Or if you want a broad panorama of available plans, you can view ratings for plans in your state. Again, start at this page.

Step 3. Scan our listing of plans or your search results. We've rated plans for individuals and families based on scope of coverage, giving five stars to plans that cover the broadest range of essential benefits: prescriptions, emergency care, hospital care, outpatient care, mental health, substance abuse, maternity, rehabilitation and habilitation, and certain kinds of pediatric care. These ratings give you an at-a-glance assessment of the completeness of a plan's benefits. We also give plans higher marks if they have fewer hidden costs. For instance, some plans exclude certain charges from the stated out-of-pocket limit, meaning that you could very well pay much more than you might think.

Step 4. Try to anticipate the impact of a worst-case scenario. The whole point of health insurance is to protect against the kinds of crushing medical costs that can dump families into bankruptcy. Charges for knee replacement can easily top $40,000; for an uncomplicated heart bypass operation, $100,000. When choosing any plan, consider the extent to which it covers the high costs of major procedures and catastropic illnesses that might require a long hospital stay. Your medical needs are unique, as is your tolerance for risk and your budget. U.S. News & World Report's Best Health Insurance Plans can help you deal with the sheer number of health care plans available, and help you make an informed buying decision.

Step 5. Consider a plan's potential total cost—monthly premium plus deductibles, copayment, and coinsurance. We didn't factor premium amounts into our star ratings. Instead, you can quickly see how a plan's premium stacks up against that of other plans—we've calculated each plan's real-world monthly premiums for an average person and put the plan's premium on a scale of one to five dollar signs from lowest- to highest-cost. Our star ratings for coverage include an assessment of each plan's cost-sharing provisions—how much you pay out of pocket through copays (flat dollar amounts) and coinsurance (percentages of charges). Coinsurance can be especially costly, because it can range up to 50 percent or more of the price of an expensive procedure.

The following articles will help walk you through the steps:

8 Keys to Picking the Best Individual Health Insurance Policy. Your odds of making the right choice increase if you keep a few basics in mind. A little homework may save you thousands and help you get the care you need.

Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Health Insurance. Some plans charge a high percentage of applicants more than their stated premiums. Many plans also exclude expenses that members have to pay themselves, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, from the stated out-of-pocket limit.

Mumbai teen gang-raped: three arrested

Mumbai: Three of the six men accused in the gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl in Mumbai on Friday have been arrested.

The teen was assaulted in an open drain underneath a bridge in the western suburb of Goregaon. While four are accused of assaulting her, two others allegedly helped them.

The survivor’s complaint was allegedly dismissed by the cops when she went to a police station with her relative to disclose the crime, because she said she knew some of her attackers and had agreed to let them escort her home.

“An inquiry has been ordered (for why the case was not registered),” Jaywant Mane, a senior inspector at the police station in Goregaon said.

Her complaint was finally recorded by the police on Sunday, after a social worker intervened.

The survivor reportedly knew all of the six suspects and agreed to join them at an apartment in Goregaon, a western suburb of Mumbai for a puja linked to the festival season.

After the ceremony ended, she said she was worried about walking home alone at night.

The men offered to escort her but then forced her into the drain, made her drink beer and then took turns to rape her. They left her lying there, and she walked home, said sources.

In August, the gang-rape of a young photographer at a deserted mill in the heart of Mumbai outraged the country. Five men are being tried at a special fast-track court; the 22-year-old survivor fainted recently in the court-room while sharing her testimony.

John Kerry telephones PM Nawaz

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Geo News reported.

Sources said PM Nawaz showed concerns of Pakistan on drone strikes during telephonic contact with John Kerry.

Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry suggested on Monday an attack that killed the Pakistani Taliban leader was justifiable but added Washington was sensitive to Pakistan's concerns, after Islamabad denounced the raid as a blow to peace talks.

Speaking at a news conference on a visit to Saudi Arabia, Kerry said he would not confirm or comment on reports that a US drone had killed the Taliban leader.

But he said of Mehsud: "This is a man who absolutely is known to have targeted and killed many Americans, many Afghans and many Pakistanis. A huge number of Pakistanis have died at the hands of Mehsud and his terrorist organization."

"Pakistan has been deeply threatened by this insurgency in Pakistan."

Kerry added: "... we are sensitive to the concerns of the country and we look forward to working very closely with the government of Pakistan."

"We intend to continue to work together with them (Pakistanis) through the strategic dialogue that we have established in order to work through these kinds of challenges."

Hakimullah Mehsud, who took over as the leader of the al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban in 2009, was killed on Friday, along with three others, in a US drone strike in northwest Pakistan, security and Taliban sources said.

 

Adam Khourou Say Nijat By Munir Ahmed Baloch

SC orders LB polls in cantonments on Nov 27 or Dec 7

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has ordered that local bodies (LB) elections in cantonment boards be held on November 27 or December 07.

The Supreme Court has directed the federal government to decide on the matter within seven days. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that the court would not allow a delay in elections in the name of changing legislation.

The apex court has started contempt proceedings against Defence Secretary Asif Yasin Malik for failure to comply with court orders of conducting LB polls in cantonment boards.

The counsel for the defence secretary informed the Supreme Court that an intra-court appeal against the indictment had been filed. To this, Chief Justice Chaudhry asked if there had been a decision on the intra-court appeal.

Maliha Lodhi to be appointed Ambassador to UN: Sources

Islamabad: Government has decided to appoint Doctor Maliha Lodhi as the permanent Pakistani Ambassador to United Nations, Saach.Tv reports.

According to Saach.Tv  diplomatic sources after the issuance of notification at the government level Maliha Lodhi will take over her responsibilities as an Ambassador.

There was news circulating in social media about the appointment of Najam Sethi as Pakistani Ambassador but when Saach.Tv  contacted its diplomatic sources who denied this news.

The sources further verified the news about the appointment of Maliha Lodhi as Pakistani Ambassador.

Doctor Maliha Lodhi, who started her career from journalism, has full command over diplomatic matters. In past, she had served as the Pakistani High Commissioner to United Kingdom and twice as the Pakistani Ambassador to US.

Defence Secretary indicted for contempt of court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has indicted Defence Secretary Asif Yasin Malik for contempt of court over failure to conduct local bodies (LB) elections in cantonment boards despite court orders.

During proceedings, the counsel for the defence secretary informed the Supreme Court that an intra-court appeal had been filed against the indictment, to which Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaurhdy questioned if a decision had been taken regarding the appeal.

Earlier, the apex court ordered that LB elections in cantonment boards be held on November 27 or December 07. The court directed the federal government to decide on the matter within seven days.

Chief Justice Chaudhry remarked that the court would not allow a delay in elections in the name of changing legislation.

Can Co-op Bank rise from the ashes?

It is a humiliating day for Co-op Group, or at least its previous management, because there is confirmation in today's rescue deal for Co-op Bank that the value of the bank has collapsed to nothing.

One reason why this bank should stay afloat is because Co-op Group is injecting £462m into it. But even so, Co-op Group will emerge with a holding in the bank of just 30%. Or to put it another way, the value of its current 100% ownership of the bank is being valued at a big fat zilch.

This destruction of Co-op Group's investment in the bank stems from a merger with Britannia Building Society in 2009 that has spewed losses, massive wasted investment in IT and from not generating enough profit out of the better operations to meet regulators' requirements for the capital it needs as a buffer against potential future losses.

If the rescue happens, the remaining 70% of Co-op Bank will henceforth be held by hedge funds and other investors.

Their £942m of loans to the group - or more precisely, their holdings of bonds classified as "lower tier 2 capital" under the Basel classification (stay with me!) are being converted into shares. And they are also putting £125m of cash into the bank.

Oh my goodness, hedge funds in charge of the UK's most ethical bank! Whatever next?

Well the hedgies - led by Aurelius, Silver Point and Monarch - insist they are not on a mission to turn Co-op Bank into just any old bank, or worse - unless, that is, any old bank wouldn't spill red ink on the scale of the Co-op in recent years (err yes, any old bank has done that too).

The important point is that the professional investors don't want to lose any or all of Co-op Bank's staggeringly loyal 4.7 million customers, who have stuck with the group through all the uncertainties about its future in recent months, but might take their money and custom elsewhere if Co-op Bank decided not to be very co-operative and moral in future.

So as part of the deal to save the bank, its constitution or articles of association are being rewritten, to state that it must behave ethically.

A new independent committee, reporting to the bank's board, will be the guardian of this ethical culture. And Co-op Group will have the right to strip the bank of the "Co-op" moniker if it starts lending money to clubbers of seal pups or in any other way doesn't behave as its customers would want.

But to be clear, Co-op Group is not yet saved. For the rescue to be formalised, its creditors must vote for it - and the logistics of securing their approval are horribly complicated.

On the plus side, the hedgies controlling 48% by value of the lower tier 2 capital have said yes. But what's actually required of those creditors is an assent from 75% by value and just over 50% by number.

There also have to be three separate votes of holders of the upper tier 2 capital, and they include up to 18,000 retail investors, many of whom are not experienced or sophisticated investors.

Herding them will not be easy - and yet two-thirds of them must vote and 75% by value must vote in favour for the rescue to take take effect.

In theory, those retail investors - who have been represented by the financial adviser Mark Taber - have got a deal closer to what they wanted than Co-op Group's initial proposal.

Back then they were being offered shares in the bank. But this horrified many of them, who had come to depend on the fat interest being paid on their preference shares and perpetual subordinated bonds (known as pibs).

So Co-op Group is now offering them a couple of options: the chance to receive a decent tax-free income for 12 years, but with no repayment of principal at the end of the 12 years, or an immediate write-off of between 15% and 40% of the value of the bonds and a continuing interest payment of 11% on what's left.

Mr Taber tells me he is happy with what Co-op has now put on the table, but he concedes that it will be hard work securing the requisite majorities.

Co-op Group is putting pressure on creditors to agree in two different ways.

First, it is saying the upper tier two creditors - who comprise the bulk of the ordinary or retail investors - will get 8% less if they don't agree to the terms before 16:30 GMT on 29 November.

And it has today formally told all creditors that the alternative to this rescue is resolution or takeover by the Bank of England. Here's Co-op being less cuddly than is its wont:

"If the Bank were to enter into a bank insolvency or administration procedure following resolution, all holders of the existing securities would receive no recovery at all."

Now Co-op would not have issued that warning to bondholders, that saying "no" would mean wipe-out, without consulting the Bank of England.

Ouch.

And one final thing.

In an attempt to restore profits, Co-op Bank is closing around 50 branches, or around 15% out of 324. That will lead to many hundreds of job losses, maybe 1000.

But don't blame supposedly ruthless hedge funds for that. The Co-op had already embarked on that cost-cutting exercise (10 of the 50 branches have already gone).

The new management of the group, in place for just six months, inherited the kind of mess where the survival of the bank required them to behave in a less co-operative way than they might have liked.

RHC to meet today to sight Muharram moon

Karachi: Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) will meet on Monday evening in the office of Meteorological Department in Karachi for the sighting of Muharram moon, say media reports.

Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Chairman of RHC, and different members of the Zonal Committee will be present during the meeting. Technical experts will also attend the moon sighting meeting.

Tauseef Alam, Chief of Met Department, and representatives of Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) will also be present in the RHC meeting.

After the meeting, Mufti Muneeb will announce if the moon was sighted or not.

Tazadaat Kae Sai By Hamid Mir

Hundreds evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts

Jakarta: A volcano in western Indonesia has erupted twice hurling red-hot ash and rocks up to seven kilometers into the air and forcing more than 1,000 people to flee their homes, say media reports.

Mount Sinabung on Sumatra island erupted in September for the first time in three years, forcing thousands to flee their homes, and has been erupting intermittently ever since.

Early Sunday it hurled a column of ash seven kilometers (four miles) into the air, then erupted again in the afternoon.

Police and troops began evacuating residents from villages in a three-kilometer area around the volcano after the first eruption, said national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

“1,293 residents living around Mount Sinabung were evacuated to safer areas,” he said.

“The number of evacuees will rise.”

More than 15,000 people were evacuated after Sinabung, in North Sumatra province, first rumbled back to life in September.

Indonesia has dozens of active volcanoes and straddles major tectonic fault lines known as the “Ring of Fire” between the Pacific and Indian oceans.

In August five people were killed and hundreds evacuated when a volcano on a tiny island in East Nusa Tenggara province erupted.

The country’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi in central Java, killed more than 350 people in a series of violent eruptions in 2010.

People start migrating amid Lyari gang wars

Karachi: As many as 500 families moved to safer places as clashes between two criminal groups restarted in Lyari.

According to police, two hand grenade attacks were reported at the Alfalah Road of Lyari. Miran Naka, Jhatpat Market, Koyla Godaown, Phool Patti Lane and Gulistan Colony were affected by violence.

Fear and panic gripped the area while markets and shops were closed down.

Hindus celebrated Diwali across Pak

Karachi: Tens of thousands of Hindus all across Pakistan stocked up on firecrackers, handed out sweets and adorned their homes with glowing lanterns and sparklers to celebrate their most sacred religious festival of Diwali, which is also known as “festival of lights,” on Sunday evening.

The Hindu community in Jacobabad had decorated the city giving it a bridal look, while the community in Hyderabad celebrated the festival of lights with all the enthusiasm. Special pooja (prayers) were held at the 30 temples of the district of Dadu including the main Punchayet Hall. They also prayed for the security and integrity of the country. In Thar, the community lit up oil lamps outside temples, their houses and pooja ceremonies were held all over the desert.

Diwali celebrations were also held in Multan where the youths came out in large numbers rejoiced and danced on the roads and resorted to aerial firing in ecstasy. The children in Rahimyar Khan lit up oil lamps and stoked up on firecrackers.

Abdul Rasheed case: Musharraf’s bail petition decision likely today

ISLAMABAD: Additional Session Judge, Wajid Ali Monday said that he would be announcing the decision on Musharraf’s bail petition in Abdul Rasheed Ghazi murder case at 12.00 today, Geo News reported.

Earlier during the hearing here today, former president Pervez Musharraf’s counsel made a plea that it was mandatory under the national judicial policy to announce the decision on bail petition within five days, while the hearing of the petition has already been adjourned seven times and prayed that the matter should no more be kept in abeyance instead let the decision be announced and added whatever be the decision would accepted.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Asad advocate said that the matter should be deferred until the decision announced.

How to get the cheapest car insurance: Ten tips for cheaper car cover

The major crime most drivers commit against their personal finances is failing to shop around for the best premium and simply accepting your insurer's renewal quote, which is likely to be much higher.One in three consumers pays over the odds for car insurance, according to the RAC, and new EU rules are likely to make that worse as they are set to send young women's premiums soaring having banned insurers from pricing on gender.

Younger drivers can also grab themselves potentially much cheaper car insurance by opting for one of the new blackbox policies, these put a spy in your car to monitor your driving and reward those who are careful and don't drive at dangerous times.

Laura Keely, right, opted to have a little black box put in under the dashboard of her Vauxhall Corsa by Insurethebox. In 2011,she paid £1,800 for a comprehensive policy. Twelve months on, her premiums have dropped to just £1,000 — a 44 per cent fall.

Whether you are male or female, old or young, follow our ten steps to lower premiums. 

1. Shop around for the best deals

Savings of hundreds of pounds can be found if you shop around when you renew your cover.

Be careful though. When shopping around for car insurance, it's important to make sure that you are comparing like-for-like cover. Some policies may seem cheaper, but you may find you don't have the same level of cover when you have to make a claim. 

Use an online comparison service to do the hard work for you. Put in your details and check the prices that come up. You can alter the excess that you are willing to pay and the mileage you will drive and get new quotes. Also check the insurers that don't feature in comparison sites, the big two are Direct Line and Aviva.

M&S cardholders looking for car insurance cover could clock up 1,000 points by taking out a new policy (renewals don't count). You also get European and legal coverage.

For the environmentally-conscious, The Green Car Insurance deal not only plants trees on your behalf, but throws 90 days free travel insurance and an 18 per cent discount on your car cover into the deal.

Churchill offers a 24-hour legal advice line, an uninsured drivers promise and a five year servicing deal. Experienced, safe drivers could also get an 80 per cent discount for cover of eight years or more.

Temp Car insurance could be a good option if you are after cover for a short period of time and Privilege gives a 10 per cent discount on its multi-car cover. Provisional Marmalade have a decent offering exclusively structured for young drivers.

2. Don't put everyone on your policy 

Ensure that only regular drivers are named on the policy. You can always add someone for a few days when they really need to drive the car. 

3. Protect that no-claims bonus

A long no-claims bonus is the single best way of cutting car insurance costs, so protect it. This may increase the premium by a few pounds, but this fades into insignificance against the potential loss of a 90% discount on a premium of several hundred pounds. 

But the definition of a protected no-claims bonus can vary widely between insurers. Though accidents caused by another driver will normally have no impact on such a bonus, those caused by the insured could. The key is to always check the policy carefully.

4. Take a higher excess

Increase your voluntary excess. Agreeing to pay more towards the cost of any accident repairs will bring down premiums. If you are not at fault in an accident, the excess can be recovered.Beware being tempted to allow it to rise too high, however, especially if you have a lower value car.

5. Secure your car

Fitting an approved alarm, immobiliser or tracking device can attract a discount of around 5%. Many newer cars will come with these as standard, so make sure you check if you have them and then declare them.

FIVE STEPS THAT CAN CUT THE CAR INSURANCE BURDEN

1. Compare prices Use an online comparison service to do the hard work for you. Put in your details and check the prices that come up. You can alter the excess that you are willing to pay and the mileage you will drive and get new quotes. Also check the insurers that don't feature in comparison sites, the big two are Direct Line and Aviva. This is Money's car insurance search is powered by MoneySupermarket and will search more than 130 insurers for you. Try it out here.

2. Haggle! The car insurance market is notoriously competitive. Once you've been on This Is Money's comparison and found your cheapest price (below), get on the phone and start bargaining!

3. Avoid paying monthly charges Direct debit installments generally come hand-in-hand with high interest rates. An alternative is to borrow the money on a 0 per cent purchase credit card and then clear it within a year. [Check the best 0% purchase credit cards here]

4. Think outside the box An accelerated no-claims bonus, such as Admiral's Bonus Accelerator, could give you a year's no claims bonus after just 10 months.

5. Named drivers and friends and family If you have previously been insured as an additional driver on another policy, see if you can transfer a no claims bonus to your own insurance coverage. Some insurers do this, including Direct Line. Try for a discount by insuring two or more vehicles between friends or family members with the same firm.

6. Do less miles

The fewer miles the car covers, the greater the saving. For example, a reduction in annual mileage of 5,000 miles could save a typical 35-year-old female driver about £50 a year in premiums. A cut of 10,000 miles a year could save more than £100.

But you must be honest about your annual mileage, as inaccuracy will jeopardise any claim. Check your use cover - if you don't use your car to drive to work or for business - both things that increase your premium - you may be able to get a cheaper rate.

7. Think carefully about adding young drivers 

Adding a young, inexperienced driver to your policy can be a false economy, especially if you have a large or higher powered vehicle. The premium will still be affected by the youngest driver and he or she may not have a no-claims bonus. Insurers have also been cracking down on fronting, where parents insure cars in their name for children to cut costs, so make sure if you are the policyholder on a car driven by your children that you are actually its main driver, or that you declare otherwise.

8. Watch out for insurance trap cars

If you decide to change your car, check with your insurer if the model will have a significant effect on the premium. Sporty cars can attract a high premium and often a slightly different model or smaller engine can make a big difference in your favour. It will also probably save you on petrol too!

9. Remember what the garage is for

 If you decide to change your car, check with your insurer if the model will have a significant effect on the premium. Sporty cars can attract a high premium and often a slightly different model or smaller engine can make a big difference in your favour. It will also probably save you on petrol too!

If your garage is full of junk, clear it out and use it for your car. Insurers like cars kept in garages overnight and this can dramatically cut your premium. Aside from the benefit of not having to scrape the ice off in winter, there is a higher risk of theft by keeping the car on the road, so keeping it in the garage will be reflected in your premium.

10. Be a better driver and sign up to a blackbox

Blackbox policies, where the insurer instals a system in your car to monitor your driving, reward those who drive carefully. Officially called telematics, these check your speed, your handling and how cautiously you drive, and also whether you are on the road at perceived dangerous times - ie the early hours of the morning.

They can cut premiums substantially once you start proving you are a good driver. The biggest win is for those whose premiums are high, especially young drivers.

Mehsud's death: PM chairs high-level meeting today

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, would chair a high-level meeting here to review the situation that emerged following the death of the outlawed Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone attack.

According to the sources, the meeting would likely to take important decisions.

The prime minister has returned after completing his visit to the United Kingdom. He would reach Islamabad on Sunday morning after staying in Lahore this night.

Tasveer Ka Doosra Rukh By Muhammad Izhar ul Haq

Congress angry at the music legend Lata

New Delhi: Maharashtra Congress said that legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar would reconsider her endorsement of Narendra Modi for the Prime Minister’s post after knowing the reality.

Yesterday, at a function in Pune where BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Modi inaugurated a hospital named after Lata’s late father Deenanath Mangeshkar, the singer said she wanted to see him become the Prime Minister.

Stating that every person is entitled to express his or her views in a democracy, MPCCspokesperson Sachin Sawant said in a statement here that “after understanding the reality of Modi’s so-called development record and his fraudulent secularism, she would certainly rethink whether a man who is perpetually telling lies should become the Prime Minister”.

“Modi and company, through their professional and deluding propaganda machinery, have misled her,” Sawant added.

“We will soon send her information on his bogus development, his economic policies which deprive the poor of benefits of developmental schemes, and insensitivity towards issues of national interest,” Sawant said.

It would help Mangeshkar change her view, he said. Sawant also said that Congress did not believe that the singer, who sung the iconic ‘Ai Mere Watan Ke Logo’ and whose voice had come to symbolise the national harmony, supported RSS’s and Modi’s ideology as it was against the national unity.

طالبان سے مذاکرات پاکستان کا اندرونی معاملہ: امریکا

حکیم اللہ محسود پر حملہ مذاکراتی کوششوں کیلئے دھچکا ؟، امریکا نے پاکستان کا موقف مسترد کر دیا، امریکا کا کہنا ہے کہ طالبان سے مذاکرات پاکستان کا اندرونی معاملہ ہے۔ مذاکرات پر حملہ سے کتنا اثر پڑا، یہ پاکستان سے پوچھا جائے۔واشنگٹن: (آن لائن) امریکا نے پاکستانی حکام کے ان دعوئوں کو مسترد کر دیا ہے کہ حکیم اللہ محسود پر حملہ سے مذاکرات کی کوششوں دھچکا لگا ہے اور کہا ہے کہ تحریک طالبان سے مذاکرات پاکستان کا اندرونی معاملہ ہے۔ ڈرون حملے میں حکیم اللہ محسود کی ہلاکت سے ان مذاکرات پر کتنا اثر پڑا ہے اس بارے میں پاکستان ہی سے پوچھا جائے۔ امریکی محکمہ خارجہ کے سینئر عہدیدار نے حکیم اللہ محسود کی ہلاکت کی تصدیق نہیں کی تاہم کہا کہ دہشت گردی کے خاتمے کیلئے پاکستان اور امریکا کے سٹریٹجک مفادات مشترک ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ سیکورٹی اور انسداد دہشت گردی سمیت پاکستان کے ساتھ تعلقات کے ہر پہلو پر بات چیت جاری ہے اور دونوں ممالک ایک دوسرے کے خدشات دور کرنے کے لیے مل کر کام کر رہے ہیں۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ تحریک طالبان پاکستان کو امریکا نے غیر ملکی دہشت گرد تنظیم قرار دیا ہوا ہے۔ یہ القاعدہ کے ساتھ قریبی تعلقات رکھتی ہے اور امریکا پر حملے کی کئی بار دھمکی دے چکی ہے اور اس نے کئی واقعات کی ذمہ داری بھی قبول کی تھی۔ ترجمان نے اس امر کی تصدیق کی کہ اسلام آباد میں امریکی سفیر اولسن کو طلب کرکے ڈرون حملوں پر احتجاج کیا ہے اور احتجاجی مراسلہ دیا گیا ہے تاہم انہوں نے اس مراسلہ کی تفصیلات بتانے سے گریز کیا۔ ترجمان نے کہا کہ ہمارے پاکستان سے وسیع البنیاد شراکت داری اور انسداد دہشت گردی سمیت دیگر امور پر بات چیت جاری ہے اور ہم ایک دوسرے کے معاملات کا جائزہ لے رہے ہیں۔ ترجمان نے کہا کہ امریکہ اور پاکستان مل کر تشدد کا خاتمہ کر رہے ہیں تاکہ خطہ میں خوشحالی، امن اور استحکام لایا جا سکے۔

Pakistan Taliban appoint interim leader: spokesman

MIRANSHAH: The Pakistani Taliban have appointed an interim leader to head the group temporarily after the death of commander Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike, a spokesman told AFP Sunday.

Mehsud, who had a $5 million US government price on him, was killed along with four cadres in North Waziristan tribal district near the Afghan border on Friday.

Shahidullah Shahid, the main spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said a permanent replacement had not been chosen yet.

"Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani, the head of the supreme shura, has been appointed as temporary head of the TTP," Shahid told AFP, adding that prayers for Mehsud were still going on.

The killing of Mehsud sparked a furious reaction from the Pakistani government, which accused Washington of sabotaging fledgling efforts towards peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar said a group of clerics had been ready to go and meet the TTP to initiate talks, which have been backed by all major political parties, when the drone struck.

Shahid refused to say there was no chance of the talks going ahead, but accused the government of kowtowing to Washington and cutting a deal to "sell" the militants. "Nobody in history has ever negotiated with slaves," he said.

"We were waiting for a meeting, while the Pakistan army and government was sitting with the US finalising deals to sell us."

And he stopped short of vowing revenge for Mehsud, who took over as TTP chief after founder Baitullah Mehsud in a drone strike in 2009.

"Time will tell whether we take revenge of his martyrdom or not," he said. In the past, the TTP has responded to its leaders being killed with deadly violence.

Are you covered for storm damage? & How to claim for storm damage...

St Jude's Day storm caused chaos for millions this morning as road, rail and air transport were all disrupted.

But, homes have been affected too. Hurricane-force winds and hard rain have left around 270,000 properties without power, while others have woken up to damaged roofs, broken windows and fallen trees.

You'll be thankful then you can claim on your home insurance to cover the cost of any damage. But can you be sure it will pay out?

Buildings insurance policies, for example, will cover any financial loss caused by storm damage, but problems can arise if you and your insurer have differing views on what actually constitutes a 'storm'.

Then there can be issues around whether the damage to your building was, 'caused by a storm or whether any damage caused during a storm was predominantly caused by that storm.' Confused? Read on...

When is a storm not a storm?

Although your buildings policy will cover you for 'storm damage', there's a good chance it won't come with a definition as to what exactly constitutes a storm. So you'll have to assume that a storm will generally involve high winds and a mixture of rain, hail or snow. Or all three if you're really unlucky.

And then there's the issue that storm damage can be caused to your property by other extremes of bad weather but without any particularly high winds.

To define exactly what a 'high wind' is, insurers will often look towards the Beaufort Scale, which categorises wind speed on a scale of zero to 12, and only winds above a certain point on this scale will be classified as 'storm force' and severe enough to do damage to a property.

And none of this is any good if your house has been damaged in a storm but the wind speed means it doesn't quite make the cut! So check the terms of your policy and check the Ts and Cs. If the guidelines around storm damage are unclear, get in touch with your insurer to see where you stand.

Was the damage caused by the storm?

The condition of your property can also play a part in whether or not your claim for storm damage is successful. For example, if any part of your property was deemed to be in a poor state of repair before the storm hit, there's a good chance your claim won't be upheld.

Most policies will stipulate the building must be in 'good shape' and some may even exclude damage caused by wear and tear or gradual deterioration, which may be listed as 'gradually operating causes'.

Roof tiles are a notoriously grey area and if it is deemed they would have been displaced regardless of whether or not a storm hit, your claim won't be upheld.

If a roof tile blows off your house and hits your car, this won't be covered under a home insurance policy and a claim will have to be lodged with your car insurance company. Similarly, if a tile blows of and hit someone else's car, they'll have to claim on their car insurance and the matter is out of your hands - though irate car owners can take a bit of persuading.

Even if a tree blows down during a storm and hits your house, something which seems commonplace during storms in the UK, you may not be covered for this so check the terms of your policy.

If a tree has been blown down during a storm but has caused no other damage to your property you may find the cost of removing the tree is not covered. You may even find that you can't make a claim if a falling tree has demolished part of your house so, once again, check your policy and if you're not covered it may be worth adding some limited cover for an additional premium.

Other problems can occur if there is damaged cause by large volumes of snow - if the offending snow fall occurred during a storm then it'll most likely be classed as storm damage. If, however, it gradually builds up during a number of flurries, it probably won't be.

But what can you do if you're unhappy with the decision your insurer has reached regarding your claim for storm damage?

A claim for accidental damage?

So, a big storm has hit, wind speeds have hit the right level on the Beaufort Scale and a load of tiles have blown off your roof and the accompanying rainfall has turned your bedroom into a wet room.

The good news is you can claim for storm damage. The bad news is that you may only be able to claim for the damage caused to your roof as, technically, this was caused by the missing roof tiles - had they been in place, the room wouldn't have been submerged.

Yes, this does seem convoluted but, again, check the terms of your policy as you may be able to claim for the damage to your ceiling if you're covered for 'accidental damage' and the contents of your room should be covered by your contents insurance - you have got contents insurance, right? If not, it's better late than never, so start shopping around now.

Even if your building is in poor state of repair, you may be able to make a claim for accidental damage, though.

And if your claim still falls on deaf ears but you remain steadfast that it should be upheld, the next step is to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) which has the capacity to uphold your claim if it deems it valid.

Here are our top tips to help you make a successful claim on your home insurance.

1. Do what you can to prevent further damage

Do what you can to prevent further damage to your property and reduce the risk of harm to others -but ONLY if this poses no risk to yourself. For example, if your roof is damaged and it's easy to access, it's worth covering it in a plastic sheet or tarpaulin to minimise further damage. But if access is tricky, leave well alone.

Never attempt to repair something that needs a professional - trees that have fallen should only be moved with the help of an expert.

If your home has been flooded, turn off your gas and electricity supply.

2. Contact your insurer

Contact your insurer as soon as you can and provide as much information as possible about what has happened. Damage to your property is usually covered by your buildings insurance, while contents insurance will cover damage to your possessions.

If you need to employ a contractor to remove debris or start repairs, it's best to check with your buildings insurance provider first. Some insurers will require you to use a specified tradesman and if you don't, your claim could be invalidated. There should be a helpline number on your insurance policy that you can call.

If you need to get emergency repairs carried out, be sure to keep hold of the receipt.

3. Take photos

Taking photos of the damage around your home, or even filming it, will help to support your claim. Don't be tempted to throw anything out without discussing it with your insurer first as these items will need to be assessed.

4. Don't exaggerate

Dealing with damage around your home can be stressful, but avoid exaggerating your home insurance claim. If you're not honest, your claim could be rejected.

5. Arrange alternative accommodation

If your home has been severely damaged and you need to move to alternative accommodation while repairs are carried out, the cost of this will usually be covered under your insurance policy. However, it's best to check when you speak to your insurance provider.

What to remember

Don't forget that when you make a home insurance claim, you will have to pay an excess. If your excess is high and the damage is relatively small, you may find it works out cheaper to pay for the damage out of your own pocket.

Also bear in mind that the cost of your home insurance will rise the following year if you make a claim - in fact, according to our number-crunchers at MoneySuperMarket, claiming for storm damage could push up your premiums by 33.9% (or around £47) a year.

Don't simply accept your renewal quote though - the best deals are usually offered to new customers, not existing ones, so always shop around to compare quotes with MoneySuperMarket.

This is even more important if your home has been flooded as in the most severe cases, premiums can be boosted by as much as £2,000 a year. However, from 2015, a new scheme, Flood Re, is set to come into force which will cap home insurance premiums according to Council Tax bands for those whose homes have been flooded. You can read more about this in Mark Hooson's article.

In the meantime, the insurance industry's Statement of Principles will continue to run. This ensures householders can renew their cover, regardless of the flood risk, so long as the government funded flood defence schemes. However, premiums and excesses can be high as they are calculated to reflect the risk you face.

Americans Rank the Top 10 Best and Worst Mobile Banking Apps

Why did U.S. consumers rank Citizen’s Bank highest? And what three critical areas do several banks need to improve in?

What do consumers think of banks’ mobile banking apps? It’s easy enough to find out. Just pop on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, where you can look at customer ratings and reviews.

That’s precisely what Xtreme Labs did. They analyzed hundreds of consumer comments about the mobile capabilities of the top 53 U.S. banks (as ranked by total assets), then issued a report ranking the best and worst banking apps in the industry.

Their study examines device compatibility, highest and lowest rankings, and common customer complaints. Xtreme Labs also outlines a number of solutions for banks to improve their mobile offering.

When looking at the top 15 banks ranked by most assets, Android outperforms iOS apps in terms of overall ratings, whereas banks generally develop more on the iOS platform.

( Read More: Marketing Strategies To Shatter The Mobile Banking ‘Glass Ceiling’ )

The average rating on iOS is 2.8 stars for the current version of the app and 3.3 for all versions. The average rating on Android is 3.8 stars for all versions. The top issues found across both platforms include: bugs, no deposit function or deposit limit is too low, and poor design.

Citizen’s Bank is the only bank with the highest rated apps on both Android (4.5 stars) and iOS (4.5 stars) platforms.

Common accolades for top ranking apps are for its frequent updates, specific bug fixes according to customer feedback, and ease of use with users often describing the app as “everything you need” in a mobile app for “someone on the go.”

PNC Financial Services Group and BOK Financial Corporation have rolled out the most U.S. mobile offerings, with 7 and 14 apps respectively.

Top 10 Highest Rated iOS Mobile Banking Apps

1. RBS Citizens – 4.5 stars, 93% favorable reviews
2. Charter One – 4.0 stars, 91% favorable reviews
3. KeyBank for iPad – 4.0 stars, 83% favorable reviews
4. City National – 4.0 stars, 76% favorable reviews
5. Santander – 3.5 stars, 83% favorable reviews
6. Associated Bank – 3.5 stars – 76% favorable reviews
7. Huntington Bank for iPad – 3.5 stars, 75% favorable reviews
8. US Bank – 3.5 stars, 71% favorable reviews
9. Utrecht Bank – 3.5 stars, 69% favorable reviews
10. Bank of the West – 3.5 stars, 68% favorable reviews

Top 10 Highest Rated Android Banking Apps

1. USAA  – 4.6 stars, 95% favorable reviews
2. RBS Citizens – 4.5 stars, 97% favorable reviews
3. AmEx – 4.4 stars, 91% favorable reviews
4. Wells Fargo – 4.3 stars, 90% favorable reviews
5. BofA – 4.2 stars, 88% favorable reviews
6. TD Bank – 4.2 stars, 88% favorable reviews
7. Chase – 4.2 stars, 87% favorable reviews
8. BB&T – 4.2 stars, 87% favorable reviews
9. Regions – 3.9 stars, 80% favorable reviews
10. Union Bank – 3.9%, 79% favorable reviews

Top 10 Worst iOS Mobile Banking Apps

1. People’s United Bank for iPad – 2.0 stars, 79% negative reviews
2. PNC – 2.0 stars, 79% negative reviews
3. SunTrust  – 2.0 stars, 78% negative reviews
4. BB&T for iPad – 2.0 stars, 73% negative reviews
5. Chase – 2.0 stars, 70% negative reviews
6. TD Bank – 2.0 stars, 70% negative reviews
7. PNC Virtual Wallet – 2.0 stars, 69% negative reviews
8. Regions – 2.0 stars, 69% negative reviews
9. Fifth Third – 2.0 stars, 69% negative reviews
10. BofA – 2.0 stars, 68% negative reviews

The lowest-rated Android apps was M&T Bank, with 2.3 stars and 63% negative reviews.

Common complaints for low-ranking apps include the fact that critical functionality such as the dashboard loading properly does not work and that the app is merely a link to the mobile website. Other issues include applications crashing and freezing, frequent error messages and issues with connectivity, opening, and loading. The lacking functionality is a source of significant frustration and thus a deterrent for overall usage.

According to Xtreme Labs, one in six consumers who switched banks indicated a poor mobile banking experience prompted the switch. Between 51% and 76% of mobile users want to use their device to call customer service, check balances, transfer money, pay bills, and look up branch locations and hours. But only one-half of consumers using mobile banking report that they fully understand the capability of the technology, representing an opportunity for banks to educate their customers, increase usage and potentially deepen customer share of wallet

The Xtreme Labs study was conducted from May 18 to June 25, 2013. The report aggregated publicly available consumer ratings in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and listed those results, as well as top complaints based on consumer comments. Data for the current version of each app was used for iOS if there were reviews and ratings available for the current version, otherwise data from all versions was used.“A poor mobile banking experience can be the single factor for a bank to lose a customer,” cautions Mike Stern, Director of Business Development at Xtreme Labs. “It’s surprising to see that there is a significant opportunity for top banks in the U.S. to improve their mobile offerings when it comes to user experience and application functionality.”