100% Coverage DOES STILL EXIST!

 Everyone deserves to be safe & warm. Just like our dog "ZEN"

Ok so the agent just told you the "price" for health insurance and it sounds great. Then here comes the DETAILS of what you get for that price.

• You will be able go to the doctor a limited amount of times a year for just a copay, without paying your deductible.
• You will have prescription coverage on generics for just a copay.
• You will get all preventative standard(mammograms, vaccines, blood work, etc.) testing covered with your doctor visits.
• Should you go to the hospital for outpatient, inpatient, or emergency care you will need meet your deductible before the insurance begins picking up the tab.
• The insurance company will pick up either 70% 80% or 100%(it is your choice) of the bill after your deductible.

Sounds great right? Wrong, many folks concentrate on the price and forgo the LAST important detail "what is actually covered".

If you do not want an additional bill after going to the hospital you got to ask your agent about 100% coinsurance plans. This means you will be covered fully after you meet your deductible!

If you focus on price alone you will get:

A plan with a high deductible and coinsurance of 70/30 or even higher depending on the carrier's plan. It is the difference between buying a box of macaroni and cheese and making mac & cheese homemade baked in the oven.

The best way to assure that your get the most coverage for the lowest amount is to start with what you want and then work you way towards a little less coverage until you find a "price" that fits your budget.

Working your way down in price instead of up will certainly help in getting you and your family the most coverage.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.