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robintek

Nov 05
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IS YOUR HEALTHCARE CONSIDERED PREVENTIVE?

By Life and Health

Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health insurers to cover most preventive care, the definition of this term remains unclear.

“A lot of consumers, doctors, and pharmacists don’t know what’s required,” says Judy Waxman, vice president of health and reproductive rights with the National Women’s Law Center.

To avoid surprise costs, healthcare experts recommend that you:

  1. Know what’s covered: Under the ACA, insurance companies must cover the full cost of many preventive services, including vaccinations, cancer and other health screenings, annual well visits, breast pumps, and all FDA-approved contraceptives, based on input from a nationwide panel of primary care experts. (For a list of services covered, go to http://www.healthcare.gov/what-are-my-preventive-care-benefits).
  2. Know how your insurance company interprets these guidelines. For example, because mammograms are recommended for women over 40 every one or two years, some insurers will pay for the test annually, while other will only do so every other year.
  3. Stay in your health plan’s provider network. Once you see a doctor who doesn’t participate in your plan, you’ll be subject to costs, even if the visit is for a preventive service that the law requires insurers to cover in full.
  4. Get to the bottom of unexpected bills. If you’re billed for a service you thought was preventive and covered in full, begin by calling your doctor’s office and then go to your health plan. If that doesn’t work, you can appeal to an independent third party. For a tool kit on preventive services, including sample appeals letters, go to The National Women’s Law Center, http://www.nwlc.org.

To learn more about this key issue, feel free to get in touch with our health insurance professionals at our agency.

Nov 05
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TERM LIFE INSURANCE: THE CONVERSION OPTION

By Life and Health

Term life insurance is temporary, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Most term life policies sold today can be converted to permanent whole life or universal life which will provide coverage until you die and can offer significant advantages.

When you convert from term life to permanent, you won’t have to answer questions about your health or undergo a medical exam. If you bought a policy when you were in excellent health but then later got sick, you’ll maintain the health rating you had when you purchased coverage.

If you’re relatively young, the conversion feature also allows you to build your life insurance investment gradually as money becomes available. More and more people are using this strategy to accumulate a life insurance nest egg for their beneficiary(ies). For instance, you might convert $100,000 of a $1 million term life policy to permanent life every few years.

When shopping for convertible term life coverage, ask yourself:

  • Is there a deadline for converting? Although some policies let you convert at any time until the end of the term, others only allow conversion during a specific period.
  • What are your conversion options? This will depend on the insurance company and the quality of its portfolio.
  • What are your options if you don’t convert? Once your policy reaches the end of its term, the premium spikes and is no longer guaranteed. To keep coverage in force, you’ll either have to either pay a far higher rate or shop for a new policy, which might be difficult if your health has declined.

We’d be happy to review your financial situation and offer our recommendations. Just give us a call.

Nov 05
Love0

ARE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PREMIUMS AFFORDABLE?

By Life and Health

A recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reports that individual health insurance under the Affordable Care Act will cost an average of $2,988 yearly or $249 a month. Subsidies, tax credits, and Medicaid payments should reduce these premiums to no more than $100 a month for nearly 30 million people who don’t have insurance.

Although some individuals might pay more for coverage, these averages are still 16% lower than the Congressional Budget Office projected in 2012.

The health care reform act extends coverage to low-income Americans, including the 48 million now uninsured. To help offset the cost of covering older, sicker individuals in this group, the law requires every American to buy insurance or face a fine, under the “individual mandate” provision. The 55% of adults who have health coverage through their jobs are considered in compliance with the mandate.

According to the DHHS report, rates under the ACA’s state-based insurance exchanges, where individuals will shop for health plans, will vary significantly depending on the state and the level of coverage (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum). For example, in Wyoming, the least expensive Bronze plan will cost $425 a month, compared to only $192 a month for the same coverage in Minnesota.

In Comparison, a recent Government Accountability Office report on the cost of individual health insurance found that people who are young and healthy can buy relatively inexpensive policies. According to the GAO 30-year-old nonsmoker might pay as little as $30 a month in Georgia or $85 a month in Alaska. As always, our agency’s health insurance professionals are stand ready to offer their advice on selecting the health plan that’s best for you.

Nov 05
Love0

HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS: MYTHS AND REALITY

By Personal Perspective

Don’t let negative rumors about home security systems keep you from adding this valuable protection for you and your family. Before you buy a system, consider these myths and realities:

Myth: No one will break into my home.

Reality: Burglars can target any home anywhere, and they’re seeking unprotected targets like yours. In 2011, the FBI reported more than 1.5 million residential burglaries, an average of more than one a minute.

Myth. Security systems cost too much.

Reality: According to the FBI, burglaries cost victims an average of $2,185 in 2011. A security system that costs $50 a month (a mid-range figure for most systems) can provide more than three and a half years of protection for the money and valuables you might lose in a home burglary, not to mention helping ensure your peace of mind.

Myth: My pet will set off false alarms

Reality: Many home security systems are pet friendly, designed to distinguish between pets and intruder.

Myth: Having a security system won’t lower my insurance rate

Reality: Because insurance companies can save a ton of money when policyholders use quality alarm systems (which reduce the chances of burglary claims significantly) they offer these customers a sizeable discount on homeowners coverage. You can use these savings to offset the cost of your system.

Myth: Because I have insurance, I don’t need a security system

Reality: Insurance can’t bring back irreplaceable items, such as family heirlooms or other valuables, which a home security system can help protect. What’s more, many people don’t want to deal with filing a claim and receiving an insurance settlement.

For more information on the benefits that alarm systems can provide, feel free to get in touch with us at any time.

Nov 05
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TOP HIGH-TECH CAR SAFETY FEATURES

By Personal Perspective

Everybody has felt that unpleasant surprise when a car comes zooming into view after being hidden in a blind spot. Older motorists are no different, and they see warning systems against this hazard as the top safety feature in newer cars, according to a new report by the MIT AgeLab and The Hartford Insurance Company. After surveying hundreds of drivers over age 50 who get behind the wheel at least three times a week, the study found that these “mature motorists” felt more confident with cars which have at least one of 10 advanced safety technologies.

Here are the top 10 safety features for older motorists (in order):

  1. Blind-spot warnings alert drivers when another vehicle is approaching unseen and also help with parking.
  2. Crash mitigation systems detect imminent collisions and can help reduce passenger injuries.
  3. Emergency response systems alert paramedics or other emergency personnel if there’s an accident.
  4. Drowsy driver alerts warn motorists when they nod off or otherwise become inattentive.
  5. Reverse monitoring systems help drivers (especially those with reduced flexibility) judge distances and back up safely by warning of objects behind the vehicle.
  6. Vehicle stability control reduces crashes by helping steer a car if it veers offline or has trouble navigating a curve.
  7. Lane departure warning alerts motorists when they drift from a lane.
  8. “Smart” headlights illuminate the road more effectively by responding to the direction the driver is steering and the vehicle’s speed.
  9. Voice-activated command systems allow motorists to use a car’s features without losing focus on the highway.
  10. Automated parking assist calculates the angles and steers the car into the space, reducing driver stress and increasing the number of potential parking spots.

How many of these safety features does your newer car have?

Nov 05
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ATTENTION LANDLORDS!

By Personal Perspective

If you rent out residential property, you face a variety of financial risks, everything from damage from fires and windstorms, through fines for building code violations, to a disgruntled tenant who sues you.

Landlord insurance to the rescue! These policies cover losses to the property, medical payments for tenants or visitors injured on the premises, and your personal liability for alleged negligence.

The amount of coverage depends on your financial situation. If you’ve taken out a mortgage on the property, the lender will probably insist that you buy a policy large enough to cover the loan balance. As a rule of thumb, the higher the value of the property and the greater the risk of potentially catastrophic liability, the more coverage you’ll need.

Your premium will depend on the type of losses covered and the extent of reimbursement. If you choose comprehensive or all risk coverage (which will pay for damage from all causes unless specifically excluded), your cost will be higher than if you buy “named perils” coverage (which covers only losses due to specific causes). Expect a higher premium for replacement value, which will reimburse you fully for rebuilding your property, than for actual cash value coverage, which will pay only the value of the property, less depreciation.

You can also reduce your premium by increasing the deductible (which usually range from $100 to 5% of the building coverage).

Optional coverages include repayment for rental income lost if the property becomes uninhabitable, and for risks of doing business with tenants, such as legal fees and liability against claims for libel, slander, and discrimination.

Our personal insurance specialists would be happy to help you choose the landlord coverage that offers the best value. Just give us a call.

Nov 05
Love0

ARE YOU READY FOR A CAR CRASH?

By Personal Perspective

You know the drill after an auto crash, heart stopping panic, and then, especially if there’s major damage or a serious injury, exchanging names, addresses and insurance information with the other driver. Easy, right?

However, if the other driver refuses to provide these particulars (or you’re so shaken that you forget to ask for them), you could end up in serious financial, or even legal, trouble.

Dan Young, Senior Vice President of Insurance Relations for CARSTAR warns, “[After an accident] sometimes drivers just don’t do what they’re supposed to do.”

To make sure you’re prepared for such a mishap, follow these guidelines:

  • Remain at the scene. Although state laws differ, failure to exchange information or notify police can lead to a hit-and-run charge or loss of your license.
  • Keep a “cheat sheet” in your glove compartment about what to ask after an accident.
  • Use your cellphone to take a photo of the other vehicle, (preferably showing its license plate) as visual proof of the incident.
  • Write down details. As soon as you and your vehicle are out of traffic and harm’s way, record the date and time, location, make and model of the cars and actions or statements by the other driver.
  • Ask any bystanders or eyewitnesses for their names and contact information.

In the meantime, review your auto policy to make sure that you carry: 1) collision coverage, which will pay for repairing your car and providing a replacement vehicle, if needed and 2) uninsured/underinsured motorists insurance (UM/UIM), which will cover damages for injuries caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

For more information, feel free to get in touch with our agency.

Nov 05
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YOUR DISASTER PLAN: CONTINUAL

By Risk Management Bulletin

You want your disaster plan, also known as a “business continuity” plan, to be complete, accurate, functional, up to date, and able to meet your recovery objectives. To ensure that you meet these goals, there’s no better way than a “live test.”

You can create buy-in among managers and staff by providing a test scenario that’s specific, realistic, detailed, and comprehensive.

Consider this real-world example: A television communication company in Miami was completing its disaster plan when it learned that a powerful hurricane was headed straight toward Southeastern Florida. Fortunately, because the business had several days’ warning, it was able to implement the plan rapidly and communicate it to employees. Although the company was prepared for the worst, the storm struck to the south and west, near Key West.

Although there was no significant damage in the Miami area, the exercise tested important components of the plan, such as the ability of the business to:

  • protect equipment and strengthen the building in a timely and orderly manner
  • activate and maintain an alternate transmission site
  • test backup electrical generation and other equipment under adverse weather conditions
  • communicate emergency technical instructions to affiliate stations throughout the Spanish and Portuguese speaking world
  • sponsor a shelter for emergency storm personnel
  • release and recall staff in an orderly basis

A post-disaster meeting led to a number of refinements in the plan. Most important, the exercise confirmed the ability of the company to maintain important business activities at a pre-established acceptable level, with minimal impact to its customers and revenue stream.

If you’d like advice on testing your company’s business continuity plan before disaster strikes, just give us a call.

Nov 05
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SHOULD YOU HAVE A FULL-TIME RISK MANAGER?

By Risk Management Bulletin

As your business grows, the risks you face become more complex, potential losses grow, along with your insurance premiums. At some point, you’ll need to decide whether it makes sense to turn over the responsibility for risk management to a full-time professional.

Before making this decision, experts recommend that you weigh two key factors: 1) the cost of paying a full-time risk manager, and 2) the potential savings that this manager can generate.

The first element is relatively easy to determine, it’s the salary and overhead of the manager, plus whatever clerical support that he or she needs.

The second item requires you to analyze the extent which a full-time risk manager can:

  • Centralize and compartmentalize responsibility for risk management in a single department. This improvement in efficiency should more than offset the increase in administrative costs.
  • reduce losses by providing analysis of loss control needs, careful scrutiny of reports, and knowledge of whom to contact for specialized help. Careful attention to loss reserves and adjusting practices can help cut costs dramatically. For example, adjusting liability and workers compensation claims requires special expertise. Insurance companies generally provide adjusters, it’s always helpful to have someone on your team who can evaluate their conclusions.
  • help lower your premiums by paying closer attention to coverage criteria, negotiating with agents, brokers, and insurance companies, and using familiarity with industry terminology.

If you’d like our input on making this key decision, feel free to get in touch with the risk management professionals at our agency at any time. We’re here to serve you.

Nov 05
Love0

WORKPLACE SUBSTANCE ABUSE: $100,000,000 A YEAR – AND GROWING

By Risk Management Bulletin

That’s how much the federal government estimates that drug and alcohol abuse costs American businesses. Nearly three in four adult abusers are employed, some of them perhaps by you! You might know these people by their absenteeism rate: they’re off the job at 2.5 times the rate of the average employee. There is no federal drug-free workplace law for private employees, however some states have implemented their own statutes. There is the voluntary approach as well, you can reduce workers comp premiums for businesses that ban drugs on the job.

A drug-free workplace program should follow these guidelines:

    1. Set a strict ban on abuse of alcohol and use of illegal drugs. Outline how you will reinforce the policy and the consequences for violating it.
    2. Develop a testing program. Decide whom to test, when to test (e.g. pre-employment, random, regular, reasonable suspicion, or incident-related), who will do the testing (preferably a certified independent lab), and what will happen after a positive finding.
    3. Decide what to with violators. Some businesses discipline or terminate drug abusers. Others, who see these workers as worth rehabilitating, set up employee assistance programs (EAPs) to deal with drug and alcohol issues off site.
    4. Define the role of supervisors. Because line managers will probably be the first to notice the signs of abuse, educate them on what to look for, how to document what they witness and how to properly deal with the situation. However, they should not diagnose what are essentially medical issues, or counsel abusers.
    5. Communicate with employees. Make sure they know the details of your program, the effects of abuse, and the importance of understanding the problem and dealing with it.

We’d be happy to advise you on creating and implementing a comprehensive workplace substance abuse plan.

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