Wednesday, September 28, 2011

GROUP Insurance Can Be MORE Expensive...

Many do not know this but if the health insurance that your employer offers keeps increasing every year, you may be better off buying it on your own.

Instead of getting group insurance INDIVIDUAL insurance might be better for you.

Here is a list that helps you know if Individual Insurance will cost you less:

  • Is the past 10 years of your medical history CLEAN (no hospitalizations, no surgeries, no chronic conditions)?
  • Do you take no or only 1 to 2 medications?
  • Do you got to the doctor 6 or less times a year?
  • Are you not overweight or only slightly overweight?
  • Do you NOT smoke or use tobacco products?
If you answered yes to 2 or more of these you are a good candidate.

WHY WOULD IT BE CHEAPER?

Insurance companies want HEALTHY people to insure. So you get a discount for being healthy. They set the rate by your health record. So if you take care of yourself, exercise and eat right you insurance premium payment is low. 

In a GROUP plan they have to ACCEPT folks that have ongoing conditions. So the coworkers you know that go to the doctor for every sniffle and sneeze are the ones that make your insurance payment higher. The insurance company sets GROUP rates by the number of CLAIMS in a year. So each time someone in a group goes to the doctor it raises the rates on EVERYONE in the group.

BOTTOM LINE you not only may be able to get a plan at a lower price but you EVEN may get MORE coverage. DON"T be scared of the individual market if you lead a healthy lifestyle... it is your friend.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Why Would You Choose A Higher Price Plan?

It simple right? You find what you want in a plan and you find 2 or 3 different companies that all have the plan at a different price BUT your broker suggested one at a higher price.

Why? Is it because the broker will make a bunch more money? Most likely NO, the broker won't make more. It is usually for some other reason such as:
  • The company withe the lower price takes a long time to process.
  • Or they do not have very good customer service.
  • Or one of your agents other clients has had recent difficulties and as of now the agent feels that you would be better served by the other company.
If a price difference is with in 10 or 15 dollars the agent goes beyond the basics
of the plan and actually evaluates through their experiences which company will
best fit your needs.

We do this to keep customers. We want to know that once you have purchased the insurance
you will be able to use it with ease.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Healthy Recipe Under $6




Simple dinner Recipe that will feed the whole family for under $6.00.

Passed down from my farm family.

1 Head Cabbage
1 pound of turkey burger or lean hamburger


Brown burger and set aside in a bowl. Cut cabbage into 1 inch chunks disposing of stem & heart. Place in large skillet with olive oil and a little water. Cook on medium heat stirring occasionally until cabbage begins to caramelize. Add burger back to pan and continue cooking until well caramelized. Salt & Pepper to taste.

Serves 4 / Add a 2 head of cabbage to increase yield will then serve 7.

Cooking time is anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes.

Leftovers taste even better and it is HEART healthy.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

About To Cancel? Call Your Agent!

  1. Not going to be able to make your monthly health insurance payment -- CALL YOUR AGENT
  2. Got an unexpected bill from your doctors office -- CALL YOUR AGENT
  3. Told that the specialist, doctor, or clinic does not take your insurance -- CALL YOUR AGENT
  4. Received a notice from the insurance company that your rate is increasing -- CALL YOUR AGENT
  5. You were asked for more than your regular copay -- CALL YOUR AGENT

Ok, so your probably thinking I want you to call me so I can sell you more insurance. NO, I want to instead fix your problem. Here is how the problems above can be fixed.

  1. You can push your payment back if you do not have the money. It usually takes a simple phone call BUT YOU MUST GIVE 7 BUSINESS DAYS NOTICE to push you payment back. 
  2. The billing department of a doctors office MESSES up, quite often. Human error many times is why a person gets a bill that they are not supposed to receive. Your agent can determine how to get the doctors office to fix this problem.  
  3. You should NEVER go to a doctor, specialist, or clinic without calling the toll free number on the back of your insurance card to make sure that they are IN NETWORK. Call your agent if you have problems with this.
  4. An Independent AGENT sells insurance for more than one carrier and can usually find a lower price if you receive notice your payment has increased. 
  5. Sometimes the receptionist at a doctors office is so busy she has not looked at your insurance the right way. Calling your agent to find out why she is asking for more than your copay. This will likely fix the whole problem.
When you hit a bump in the road with your insurance it is my responsibility to help you through it. I am the one that sold it to you. I want to make sure you get the best from it.

Critical Illness

There is supplemental insurance available that gives you a lump sum payment for:

  • Heart Attack
  • Stroke
  • Cancer
  • Organ Transplant

It is called Critical Illness insurance. It is technically life insurance and also pays out upon death. It can be purchased in quantities of 10,000. For example if you purchase a high deductible major medical plan you can purchase 20,000 or 30,000 of critical illness and be covered completely for your deductible (and have extra to cover bills during recovery) should any critical illness hit. 

Ask your independent agent about this option when you look for health insurance. A physical is RARELY requested and the premium(monthly payment) is usually quite low.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Trust in Your Agent

The best thing to do is place TRUST in your AGENT. Know that THEY DO NOT SET the price. The price is set by YOUR health condition, AGE, height & weight. Your agent simply can help you get the most coverage by combining different insurance FEATURES and PRODUCTS.


LISTEN to what he or she has to say. They may be able to lower your price if you are willing to do things like take GENERIC drugs or by choosing a high deductible with ACCIDENT or CRITICAL Illness coverage on the side to cover EMERGENCIES.


MANY times this can save you a $50.00 to $200.00 a month. BUT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN to your OPTIONS to get these kind of deals.

How To QUALIFY for Health Insurance

Not everyone qualifies for INDIVIDUAL health insurance. This is insurance that folks get if an EMPLOYER does not offer benefits. If you get coverage through work (i.e. group) they HAVE to ACCEPT you and ALL PRE-Existing conditions.

When getting Insurance outside of work companies only choose folks that are responsible with their health. This means they want people that eat right, exercise, do not smoke, and do not get sick all the time from not taking care of themselves.

THESE FOLKS get the BEST PRICES. They get EVEN better prices than if they buy health insurance from an EMPLOYER. 

Your health history is what determines if an insurance company thinks you are a GOOD CANDIDATE to be a customer of theirs. So disclosing truthfully to an agent what you have been DIAGNOSED with in the past or CURRENTLY take medications for is CRUCIAL. Your agent can then tell you if you will qualify for health insurance at all.

Some companies are more lenient than others so if you take a few medications they may still approve you. Again the LEAST EXPENSIVE insurance is for the MOST HEALTHY people.

REALISTICALLY you got understand that health insurance is like a MORTGAGE or CAR payment. You body is what protects the ESSENCE of your being. So if you truly desire to protect it you have to invest in its health. Getting the LOWEST price  usually LEAVES HOLES in your policy.

So once you find out if you qualify keep in mind you still have to buy enough to assure you are COMPLETELY covered.