formats

My company raised our insurance deductible again. What can I do?

Most healthy people with health insurance are concerned that an accident could cause financial strain on the family.  With companies raising insurance deductible each year there is a simple product you can buy to protect yourself and your family: an Accident Medical Expense (AME) Policy: AME Brochure

 

True Story:

My brother and I went bowling last summer and he slipped on the oily lane.  While bracing his fall he hyperextended his arm, tearing the labrum in his left shoulder.  He was told that he would need surgery to repair this damage.  His health insurance deductible was $5,000 and his medical bills exceeded $10,000.  Knowing that my brother did not have an extra $5,000 laying around (and that he was a terrible bowler with bad form) I wrote him a supplemental accident policy a few years earlier to cover his high deductible.  When all was said and done my bother did not have to pay his deductible and the whole ordeal only cost him $250, which was the cost of using the accident policy.

 

Accident policies are available for individual and for families.  They require NO MEDICAL UNDERWRITING and can be effective as soon as the next day.

To obtain a current quote please click here

 

 

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
No Comments  comments 
formats

Insurance for those with pre-existing conditions

In many states there is now a coverage option for those who have been denied health insurance or had a portion of coverage excluded due to pre-existing conditions.  Although there are no medical questions to qualify for this plan there are other requirements.

Most Notable Requirements:

  • Applicant must be without insurance for at least 6 months
  • Applicant must have be denied coverage or had a portion of coverage excluded

 

(more…)

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
No Comments  comments 
formats

Life Insurance that pays even if you DON’T die.

Term life insurance can protect your family against financial loss in the event of your untimely death. Whole life can do the same and will pay out no matter when that time comes. Since the cost difference between whole life and term is large it is natural to question whether or not you’ll outlive your term policy and therefore be wasting your money with term. What if you don’t die in time? What if you get sick, can’t work but still don’t die?

Here are two thoughts. Some term policies come with a return of premium option (ROP). This means if you don’t die before your policy term ends you get back all the premium dollars you paid. There is also a form of term insurance that pays if you die during the term AND if you become sick but don’t die. This is called critical illness. The cost is affordable and fills a glaring gap in most people’s insurance protection.

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
No Comments  comments 
formats

The Hole in your insurance coverage

Here’s the scenario: You just had a heart attack.

The doctor tells you that you’re very lucky to be alive and that you can’t work for 2 months.  Your doctors and the hospital will get paid by your health insurance.  Your life insurance isn’t paying because you’re alive.  Who pays you to recover?

Critical Illness coverage helps to fill “The Hole” and cover unforeseen expenses such as your health insurance deductible and lost income.

Most employers don’t offer this gap coverage as this is an area often overlooked when we consider insurance to protect us from the unknown.  This protection compliments your current health and life insurance policies and can be purchased for almost any monthly amount. These policies can serve to cover your health insurance deductible or even to replace lost income for a year.

Get a Quote | Download a Brochure

 

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
2 Comments  comments 
formats

hdhp vs. scheduled benefit (excepted or non major medical)

Published on July 26, 2011 by in Health Insurance

Many are drawn to a High Deductible Major Medical (HDHP) plan for the lower premium.  But did you know there is an alternative to high deductible major medical plans?  Scheduled benefit plans will pay fixed benefit amounts for the same types of services as HDHP without a deductible.  So if you’re in the camp that would have a hard time paying for monthly premium AND a $5,000 deductible this option could be for you.  Many of the more common surgeries would be paid better by a scheduled benefit plan than a hdhp.  Below is a claims example (illustration purposes only).

 

Charges HDHP with $5,000 deductible  Scheduled Benefit Plan Pays:
Gall Bladder Surgery (physician service)  $1,229  applied to deductible  $1,180**
2 Days in Hospital (inpatient, hospital charge)  $4,750  applied to deductible  $4,000 ($2,000 per day)
Anesthesia  $956  applied to deductible  $200
  Total:   $6,935*   $5,000 out of pocket $1,555 out of pocket
* source: healthcarebluebook.com
** Surgical schedule is based on 100% of medicare rate

 

The scheduled benefit plan used for the above example is the Health Access Fundamentals by Assurant Health (Fundamentals Level).  For more information and a quote please click here.

Since scheduled benefit plans are NOT major medical they could leave you with a large out of pocket for large claims (ex. heart attack, stroke or organ transplants) and are not recommended for those primarily concerned with large claims.  If your concerns lie between routine coverage and catastrophic you can bolster a Health Access Fundamentals policy with accident and critical illness supplements.  Contact us for more information.

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
4 Comments  comments 
formats

Why can’t I find a child only health insurance policy?

Published on July 26, 2011 by in Health Insurance

Since children cannot be denied on any new major medical health insurance application, carriers in most states have stopped offering coverage for children only, under 19.  A parent is required to be on the policy with the child.  As per the health care reform bill, children under 19yrs can no longer be denied coverage on full reform plans (purchased after March 23,2010).  Plans purchased before this date are known as grandfathered plans, which can underwrite children the same as adults.  If certain policy or benefit changes are made to a grandfathered health insurance policy is it possible for it to lose its “grandfathered” status so please check with your carrier for more specific information.

(more…)

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
1 Comment  comments 
formats

Benefits for Small Businesses | Cost to Business Owner = $0

Offering benefits to your employees has always been a successful way to attract high quality talent to your company.  But many small business owners have trouble affording to bill.  Now there’s a way small business owners can offer benefits to employees and it doesn’t cost the business owner anything.

(more…)

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
2 Comments  comments 
formats

Do I need Dental Insurance?

Published on June 25, 2011 by in Health Insurance

Do you have a dentist that gives you a price break because you don’t have dental insurance?

Many dentists don’t want to deal with insurance companies and offer cash discounts to their patients instead.  In this case a Cash Dental plan could make sense.  Theses plans can be used with ANY dentist since they pay a fixed cash benefit for a variety of dental services (cleanings, fillings, crowns, etc).  Dentists like these plans because they aren’t restricted by a provider network and the patient receives help paying for services.  If your dentist is still unwilling to file a claim on your behalf, you can do it yourself and the insurance company will reimburse you.  A popular one can be found here.

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
2 Comments  comments 
formats

COBRA FAQ

Published on June 25, 2011 by in Health Insurance

Have questions about COBRA and what your options are?

FAQ-DEC 2010 DOWNLOAD

You can visit the DOL website or view the FAQ pdf above.  If you have questions after reviewing that please leave a post here and we’ll post a response.

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
No Comments  comments 
formats

Have you heard of Dropbox?

Published on June 24, 2011 by in Computer

This is an online backup folder that gives you FREE storage.  Will sync folders between computers and is accessible online.  Get free space by clicking here.

 

 
 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
2 Comments  comments