“Knowing your products, your sales pitch, what in the most in demand and where to source quality leads and how to work them are all part and parcel of being a top insurance agent. What you don’t get told is how to concisely summarize your agency and its product in less than 30-seconds. It means a laser focus on what is important to tell a potential customer. Can you do it?” asks Benepath.net CEO, Clelland Green, RHU.

Not too many agents can reel off a convincing spiel in 30-seconds, but that does not mean they cannot learn how to. It is a good lesson in marketing and how it works. If an agent can market their agency and what they sell in 30-seconds, they truly understand what it means to market the essentials, and essentials are what customers want.

“They don’t want obscure facts about Medicare supplements, or want to know how much a funeral costs, they want solutions to problems. In other words, just the facts. Getting to the heart of the matter of selling a policy someone actually wants is an art,” adds Green. “This is where knowing your customers wants and needs becomes paramount to making a solid sale.”

What is involved in a 30-second focused pitch, an insurance agency’s digital asset? Quite a lot, and the agent must spend hours scripting, rehearsing, timing and getting feedback on what it sounds like and whether it has the moxie to meet the mark. They need to know their value proposition – what appeals to the customers in the niche they want to market in. It has to highlight a valued product, service or solution, focus on agent expertise and get the message across succinctly but clearly. It is, with practice and patience, doable.

Mini marketing, meaning the 30-second verbal art of telling prospective clients what they need to know about an insurance agency, their products and services has some “must do” components:

• it must include the top three things that make an agency different from the competition
• it must create empathy by identifying a particular group serviced
• it must be short, sweet and to the point because there may not be 60 seconds to make the pitch
• it must transmit enthusiasm for the product and the potential client
• it must aim for a vertical market in one niche, not a broad, all are welcome market
• it must close with a call to action

“The beauty of the 30-second pitch to a client is that you may change it to suit your needs in any industry you choose whether it is group insurance or small business insurance. This helps you refine and define what your agency is about and makes you a driving force to be reckoned with when you are in sales mode,” says Green.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.net, a leader in providing health insurance leads. Benepath provides agents with exclusive health insurance leads and Medicare leads in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.net.

There are a large number of agents out there that have issues with using lead generation companies and investing their hard-earned marketing dollars in buying leads. Those same cautious individuals end up watching the competition soar like an eagle when it comes to selling Medicare supplements.

“Why is the competition doing better than you are? They are buying exclusive Medicare supplement leads from benepath.net,” explains Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, benepath.net. “The fact is the Medicare supplement market is ripe for harvesting because the buyers in that demographic need what you are selling. It doesn’t get any easier than that.”

Selling insurance, no matter what kind, is not a walk in the park. Agents should always work their leads, even Medicare leads, with enthusiasm, drive, integrity and determination. The greying of America means there are millions of potential customers to approach with a much sought after health product, one that they need to be as healthy as possible.

The nation’s population is not the only thing aging. So is the Medicare program itself. Some predict it is going to run out of money by 2017. Others suggest it is likely to remain operating, but at a 20 percent less capacity. “That aside, and most such predictions like this need to be taken with a grain of salt,” adds Green. “Medicare supplements help fill the gaps left in health insurance coverage in the ‘original’ Medicare.”

Also referred to as Medigap, Medicare supplements give seniors a better, more complete plan to see them through their medical issues. This point, perfect for educating potential senior customers, may be used in discussion with Medicare supplement leads. Working this type of lead is not just about selling. It is also about education, assisting the client to choose what is the best coverage for their situation and about making someone’s life better.

“With all those points working in your favor, your business can and will grow by leaps and bounds. When you market what people want and need and do a good job of it, they convert. Don’t eschew buying from a lead generation company until you have actually tried it,” Green suggests. “The results will surprise you.”

Medicare supplement leads are a bit like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. “Believe in the process and product and reap the rewards,” says Green.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.net, a leader in providing Medicare leads. Benepath provides agents with exclusive leads in just a few mouse clicks. To click here to visit http://www.benepath.net.

The senior care industry is booming. To be successful in this niche, it is crucial to choose a reliable lead generation company. Some offer older leads which are neither useful nor lucrative. choosi Others send leads that have already been worked, but still call them exclusive. “In a way, they are “exclusive:” your lead generation company is excluding you from profit in the scheme,” Green reported. “There are no benefits in working an exhausted lead or spending good money on it.”

So, how does an agent find a good partner? Choose a lead generation company with a good reputation who promises to stand behind its product. Its system should screens leads, pre-qualify them and provide them to you with complete information.

“Pay attention to the amount of help they offer you. Do they help you sell and market? If so, the company may make an excellent partner. If a company is willing to commit extra time to assisting you, you can can help each other succeed,” added Green.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.net, a leader in providing Medicare leads. Benepath provides agents with exclusive leads in just a few mouse clicks. To click here to visit http://www.benepath.net.

Exclusive Medicare supplement leads are worth every penny you spend on them. They are a critical part of your business as well, since America is aging, and you have a growing, captive market. However, you do not want to waste time trying to find your own leads or deal with a fly-by-night lead generation company who might skirt some legal and ethical issues. Gone are the days of trying to beat out every other agent within a 50 mile radius to sell Medicare supplements —- unless you like doing business that way.

Before you invest in exclusive Medicare supplement leads, there are some questions you need to ask the company you are planning on dealing with. Were the leads checked against the “No Not Call” list? Do they come in the territories you want? Do they come as set appointments? Are they pre-screened and qualified, so you know you are not wasting your time? Those are just some of the things you might want to ask; you can custom order exclusive Medicare care supplement needs, based on what you want. Won’t it be nice to talk to leads that need and want your products and are qualified to buy them?

With exclusive Medicare supplement leads, you do not share with any other agent. You have genuine exclusivity to serve your potential customer to the best of your ability. Leads that come pre-screened and pre-qualified increase not only your productivity, but enhance your financial bottom line. No more wasting time on dead end calls. Just sit down, open your email, check your leads, pick up the phone and call your prospective customers to discuss what they would like and answer questions. It doesn’t get any better than that.

To begin with, you might want to do just one geographic territory, so you don’t feel overwhelmed, but remember, you have the choice to take as many leads as you want, or keep it to a small handful a day so you have time to work them all. In short, you get to arrange times and appointments and contacts according to times that best suit you. It’s a smart way to do business and one that will expand your agency’s financial bottom line.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.net, a leader in providing Medicare leads. Benepath provides agents with exclusive leads in just a few mouse clicks. To click here to visit http://www.benepath.net.

“While a large number of the American population is foregoing health insurance coverage, they are doing so because they think it’s too expensive. What many people don’t realize is that they ‘can’ find a reasonably priced policy, just by taking the time to find what they need. Fear of the unknown, as in there isn’t anything with a good price for me, is keeping them from being protected,” said Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of Benepath, Pennsylvania.

Busting the myth that there is no such thing as a reasonably priced health insurance quote or policy is simple. Get online and start hunting. Medical quotes, otherwise referred to as health insurance quotes online have an advantage or two not found by purchasing in person — — lower online prices. This is due to the fact the insurance agent or broker did not have to advertise to the same extent online as offline. The savings in promotional dollars are passed on to the customers.

“Additionally, today’s insurance market is very price competitive, so now is the time to look for something you want and can afford. Get it in place before 2014, and you won’t be mandated to get what’s going, whether you like it or not. This isn’t to say that government offered insurance might not be acceptable, but most people would rather have a choice in what they buy, not something they are forced into getting,” added Green.

Keep one thing in mind when searching online for health insurance quotes, and that is that they are intended to be free. If there is a requirement to pay a fee for that service, move on to another insurance website. “There are two sides to that scenario,” Green pointed out. “Paying for an insurance quote means a more specific quotation, tailored to your circumstances, which some people appreciate. Free quotes may not be as specific and therefore not as accurate price wise. It’s your choice as to which method works the best.”

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

Some insurance marketing companies lay claim to being insurance search engine optimization (SEO) gurus, but are they really? Usually not. There are very few SEO companies that can claim they have over 25 years of insurance experience. However, when you find such a company, this is the answer to your insurance marketing prayers.

One of the first things you should be told by an “expert” insurance SEO company is that your website needs to be created with conversion in mind and needs to be user friendly. That merely means is it easy to navigate, is the information on it easy to access, is it relevant information for users and are you easy to contact? While many think that insurance SEO in just about keyword placement, this is a myth. Insurance website optimization is not just about keywords, it is about optimizing the experience the user has when they visit your site.

At one time, websites thrived on inbound links. Then, Google said they were going to block paid links, link exchanges, website directories and any links about anything that had nothing to do with your insurance website. In other words, relevancy has become the watchword of the day. If it’s not relevant, and a quality link, it does not do you any good in your marketing and ranking attempts. Relevant, quality links are real links and thus valuable for your website.

This isn’t to say you can’t still get links from some website directories, because you can, they just need to be respected and well, relevant. For instance, Yahoo Directory or Joeaunt.com.  Using insurance directories or resource guides helps to drive quality traffic to your site, because their content is relevant to your insurance website. The most important point here is that content driven links are highly valued. News releases, articles and blogs published within niche communities offer high quality links with long-term benefits.

One important thing to keep in mind is that your content, and any other activity, needs to be synced with LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, and Google +. Today, social media is the driving force behind insurance website marketing. The more active your insurance agency, the better it looks to followers and the search engines.

If you want to be rock stars, find an insurance SEO company with experience in the insurance industry. Your insurance website and all other optimization techniques will be highly relevant, because they have the experience to market insurance websites.

Ready to Quote is an insurance marketing company, ReadytoQuote.com. ReadytoQuote.com specializes in marketing insurance websites online. Learn more at ReadytoQuote.com.

“In a world that is virtually upside down these days, personal service in sales is remembered. Unfortunately, many sales people make the mistake of thinking what is important is the final sale,” said Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of Benepath.net. “While the final sale is important, it is not the ‘be all, end all.’ Personal touches are often what separate you from the ranks of other agents who are bent on sales numbers only.”

Take selling insurance, for example. Instead of being viewed just as a way to make money, selling insurance is an opportunity to help people make the right decisions for their health and welfare. It could be a real win-win for you and your customers. And if your business includes buying exclusive Medicare supplement leads, Green has some words of advice.

“Before making the leap into buying exclusive Medicare supplement leads to build an insurance business, it is wise to check out whether or not those leads may be customized to suit your geographic business needs. No sense in buying leads two states away that you can’t really service properly,” said Green. “Also find out if they are pre-qualified and genuinely exclusive to you only.” They should be or the agent will be competing with up to seven others for a sale, which is a waste of time and money.

And don’t forget the most important thing: the personal touch. “A personal note of thanks, encouragement or an offer to help by providing more information will be remembered. Ensure your notes are personal and not canned. Take the time to either email a note of your own creation, or send something by snail mail. While it may be a shame that the personal touch seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur, there is nothing saying you can’t bring courtesy, kindness, thoughtfulness and genuine caring to the way you do business. The results may surprise you,” said Green.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.net

“We hear this all the time, that the health care reform bill will cover everyone and that we must get insurance in place by 2014 or pay a fine. We know that the Supreme Court just backed ObamaCare, but what many do not know is that the changes coming in 2014 will not cover everyone,” said Clelland Green, RHU, CEO and president of Benepath.

Government figures suggest that the expanded insurance coverage will be available for 30 million uninsured individuals in the U.S. However, there are at least 26 million individuals who will still not have coverage. That figure includes illegal immigrants and people who cannot pay out-of-pocket expenses for health insurance.

The Affordable Care Act will expand the number of Americans with health insurance. Medicaid is due to be expanded as well to cover health care expenses for lower-income individuals and those with a disability. Tax credits, available in 2014, are designed to help middle-class U.S. residents buy health insurance coverage.

“Given that the Supreme Court backed the law, it means that roughly 93 percent of legal American citizens will have health insurance in place by the year 2016,” said Green. Nonetheless, there will still be millions of illegal individuals who will not qualify for coverage, and many legal residents who will go without it, some by choice and some because they make too much money to qualify for assistance but cannot pay for coverage. Groups that are likely to remain uninsured include illegal immigrants, potential Medicaid applicants and middle-class Americans unable to pay for insurance.

There are more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. today, but there is no provision for them in the new health reform law, which makes one wonder about the Obama Administration saying illegal immigrants are welcome in the U.S. “They will not be able to sign up for Medicaid, will not be eligible for tax credits and will not be able to use online exchanges. Why? Because they are not citizens,” Green said.

Potential Medicaid applicants will hit an all time high of about 77 million by the year 2016. Even though changing the system is supposed to streamline the application process, it is expected that many who qualify will get left behind in the dust, largely due to all the changes, which makes the application process a nightmare.

Even though the middle class will get tax benefits to help them buy health insurance, there are some families that make too much money to qualify for those credits but still do not have quite enough money to buy private health insurance.

“There are a number of wrinkles that will need to be ironed out before the government can truly claim their health care reform will insure everyone in the U.S. Despite that, many view this as a step in the right direction,” said Green.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

“I’ve heard this said many times over: that people with pre-existing medical conditions have a hard time getting health insurance that is reasonably priced. It is not impossible to find affordable health insurance, but it can be a challenge. That will change in 2014,” added Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of Benepath in Pennsylvania.

If health care reform stays the course, what will happen in 2014 is insurance providers will be banned from excluding people with pre-existing conditions from getting insurance. However, that is still a full two years away, and does nothing to help the millions of Americans that are deemed uninsurable now.

“To fill in the gap between now and then, the government set up the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan in all 50 states,” explained Green. “In simplified terms, the plan offers health insurance to those who have difficulties getting health insurance. The plans offer hospital care, specialty care and primary care, and prescription drugs. This plan with lower premiums would be ideal for many of the almost 57 million going without health insurance. But the odd thing is that less than 19,000 people have opted for this plan.”

In an economy that makes even putting bread on the table questionable some months, one would think those who are uninsurable because of a pre-existing health condition would welcome the opportunity to have reasonably priced coverage. However, while this sounds like a great plan at first glance, the stumbling block is the waiting period.

People wanting to switch to this plan must face being without any insurance coverage for at least six months before they apply and that includes COBRA. “Six months is a long time to wait if you have diabetes or a heart condition and need daily medications. Many feel it is too big a risk to take, even if it means they’d be paying less after their waiting period was over,” Green pointed out.

There is an option that those caught between a rock and a hard place may find attractive if they want to join the government program. It is referred to as non-insurance health plans. These plans typically market health services to large groups of people and when those who do join officially become members, they have a great deal of buying clout that allows the company to obtain discounted prices for medical services. “In some cases,” demonstrated Green, “the discounts can range from 25 percent to 80 percent on vision, dental and medical service, drugs and medical supplies. Some people find that very attractive.”

When it comes to costs for going to the hospital, discount companies either pre-negotiate cost reductions for hospital procedures or assign an advocate to negotiate lower costs. “The advocate may also apply for financial assistance to pay the hospital balance off on your behalf, if that is suitable under the circumstances,” Green said.

More often than not, the discount medical programs are very affordable, coming in at less than $50 per month for the whole family. Many outfits do not require contracts, and benefits are available on sign up. “You just need to keep in mind that this option is not traditional health insurance. While it may not be for some people, others may find it attractive enough to wait the six month period until they can get the regular health insurance. Ultimately, the choices are yours and you do what you need to do for your health,” added Green.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com.

Many families choose to give an already-paid-for automobile to one of the children as a holiday gift. This tells the child that they have earned trust and proven that they are responsible. It can be a touching moment when a teenager takes the keys of their very own car for the first time.

But it is important to remember that re-examining an insurance policy is a part of that step. Whether mom got a new car and the teenager becomes the primary driver of the old station wagon or dad bought a new truck and gave the old sedan to the teenager, it is important to go back over the Florida auto insurance quote after the holidays to make sure everyone has sufficient coverage.

“We see a lot of people who get a car as a Christmas gift and they want to give their old car to their teenager,” said Vincent Payne of AGIC Insurance, Inc. “This can work out easily but it is important to have the Florida car insurance filed correctly in case something happens.”

Teenagers in cars need to be closely monitored to make sure they are not using electronic devices while they are driving. Many states outlaw using smartphones while behind the wheel, but some other states are even stricter when it comes to teenagers and mobile phones.

Florida does not have any laws restricting mobile phone use, which makes it even more important that parents keep a close eye on driving teenagers.

To learn more about how to get a great Florida auto insurance premium, visit http://www.agicinsurance.com or call AGIC Insurance at 1-877-854-0123.

“It’s not hard to sell Medicare supplement leads and with good reason,” says Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of Benepath.net in Pennsylvania. “The next few years will see even more Americans become a part of the Grey Wave sweeping across the nation. These individuals will become eligible for Medicare and as a result, will need Medicare supplements to fill in any gaps in coverage. This is where an enterprising insurance agent comes in.”

The modern way of sourcing business is to purchase Medicare supplement leads. For certain, the new way beats the old way of trying to sell Medicare supplements to every homeowner an agent could find, on the theory that anyone who owned a house could benefit from Medicare protection. Times have changed and so have the ratios for converting leads.

“In the ‘olden’ days, every 10 Medicare supplement leads may cough up about three appointments and out of those three appointments, perhaps one sale. Cold calling, word-of-mouth referrals, direct mail and the like did return results, but it was a long, tough road to travel. Welcome to the 21st century and the luxury of one click Medicare supplement leads,” said Green.

Today, insurance agents will grow their business best by buying pre-qualified Medicare supplement leads; leads that come in real time and have not been worked by anyone else. This is important to agents, because if the leads are not exclusive, they have lost any leverage they had to work the lead by the time they eventually get it.

“The direct purchase of exclusive Medicare supplement leads is one of the smartest business moves an agent looking to expand their business can make,” added Green. “It offers them prospects fast, in real time and often results in a high conversion rate because they are dealing with people who ‘want’ the product.”

Gone are the days of 50 to 60 hour work weeks of cold calling, setting up appointments, working leads the old-fashioned way, and not making much money. Buying Medicare supplement leads means the marketing has already been done, and the only thing that remains is to call or meet the potential client. Even though technology moves fast, the innovation of pre-qualified, exclusive insurance leads is a real plus to agents wanting to make their business successful.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.net.

“A holiday gift with monetary value needs to be added to the insurance policy in case of a catastrophic event,” said Lee Rogers of the Florida Insurance Group. “People often overlook the valuables they bring into the home.”

That means new jewelry, new electronics or artwork all need to be catalogued and added to the insurance policy. Rogers recommends keeping the receipts for newly purchased items to help keep track of the values. He also suggests adding heirloom items that grandma may have given out as everyone gathered at her house during the holidays.

“If grandma gave you grandpa’s cufflinks or a valuable old watch, those things can be significant and you will want to add them to the policy,” Rogers said. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem like much, but added together heirloom jewelry and artwork can have tangible value.”

A wider variety of catastrophes can threaten the electronics in the home. A fire or flood can create havoc, but an electrical storm can do major damage, too. “High-end electronics often get overlooked when updating insurance policies,” Rogers said. “People put a projector up in the ceiling that drops down to create a movie theatre in the family’s ‘man cave.’ Those are cool to have, but it is smart to get it insured, too.”

It is important to remember to adjust the policy as soon as the gifts are brought home to make sure coverage is sufficient, Rogers said.

To learn more, call 1.888.525.2210 or visit http://www.floridainsurance.com.

Sometimes public radio stations will offer a pick up service and allow supporters to donate a car or boat as a donation to the station. Groups like Boat Angel allow you to make tax deductions by giving them your boat of any size or make. Many of these donations happen at the end of the year so that the donation counts toward that year’s income tax cycle.

It is important to remember to change your insurance policy after the donation. If someone gives away an old car or an old boat, the insurance company can adjust the policy so that the old vehicle is no longer being covered.

“Donating an old car or vehicle is good for you twice,” said Lee Rogers of the Florida Insurance Group. “You get the tax deduction from the donation and you most likely will get a reduction in your insurance policy, too.”

In many cases, the boats, personal watercraft and cars are disassembled for parts, but in some cases, the vehicles are rehabilitated and sold.

“You want to get the car or boat off of your insurance policy as soon as possible after the transaction not only because it will likely save you money, but also because it removes you from being liable for the vehicle,” Rogers said.

The policy can be altered on the same day as the donation if possible, he said.

To learn more, call 1.888.525.2210 or visit http://www.floridainsurance.com.

With pressure mounting on automakers, they are starting to include more state-of-the-art safety features. Some are still optional upgrades, but advocates hope many of these features become standard. Items such as backup cameras and electronic stability control can help drivers prevent accidents. New lane-keeping systems are being developed to trigger a steering wheel to vibrate if a driver has drifted outside a lane. And for those who get too tempted to use their phone while driving, some automakers are offering a feature that blocks phone calls through the vehicle’s phone system – this is a “Do Not Disturb” feature for the modern era.

“Safety features are getting better and more intelligent as auto technology progresses,” said Lee Rogers of the Florida Insurance Group. “They also help cut down your auto insurance costs, so it benefits you in many ways.”

Parents will like to hear that automakers are including features that prevent speeds of more than 65 miles per hour and a control that keeps the sound system low until the front seat occupants put on their seatbelt.

To learn more about Orlando auto insurance and the Florida Insurance Group, call 1.888.525.2210 or visit http://www.floridainsurance.com.

“The abandonment of the long-term care provisions in the health reform act scared millions of American seniors and their families,” said Evan Tunis, president and CEO of Next Exit Retirement, a Boca Raton long-term care insurance broker or West Palm Beach long-term care insurance broker. “What were they going to do to pay for their pricey nursing home or assisted living care? Given the fact that there are 40.3 million seniors in the U.S., this is a bigger issue than many may think.”

To put these numbers into perspective, Senior Journal released statistics that revealed between 2000 and 2010 people in the 45 to 64-year-old age bracket increased to 31.5 percent of the total population, or 81.5 million individuals.

“That age bracket wasn’t the only one to explode,” added Tunis. “So did the 65 and older demographic, growing at a rate of 15.5 percent and topping out at 40.3 million. Those numbers are significant and those in that age bracket may need long-term care, assisted living facilities to stay independent, or nursing home care. If they don’t have long-term care insurance, this will be a major struggle not only for the individual, but the family.”

Make no mistake, this is a very emotional issue and it has a serious impact on the elderly and their caregivers. The White House said it could not find a plan that offered a reasonable premium, and so they killed it, leaving stunned and frightened seniors and caregivers trying to pick up the pieces. With one in five caregivers scouring the Internet for long-term care information and almost 12 percent of Internet browsers trying to find the same information, this is an issue that will not go away.

Long-term care has a life of its own, particularly since the costs are continually creeping upward. For example, a couple who are 65-years-old or older can expect to pay at least $197,000 for their care. If nursing home care is also a part of the equation, that cost may hit over $260,000 to $570,000. “No one has that kind of money on hand, especially not seniors, and Medicaid does not fill the gaps,” Tunis indicated.

With statistics like this facing the aging American population, it is definitely time to emphasize that buying long-term care insurance when younger is a smart move to protect one’s future. As it stands right now, seniors are faced with a lose-lose situation when it comes to trying to maintain their health. The very people that built the nation are being left out in the cold to fend for themselves because the government, once sworn to protect the rights of everyone, is abandoning them to save money.

“I honestly can’t urge you strongly enough to take your health care into your own hands and plan for the future. It is a critical issue. Calling me now to talk about what long-term care policy would suit your circumstances will give you peace of mind, not to mention that you will be able to maintain your independence later on in life because you planned for the future,” Tunis added.

Evan Tunis is with Next Exit Retirement. To learn more about Boca Raton long-term care insurance or West Palm Beach long-term care insurance visit http://www.nextexitretirement.com.

“While you may think it is a stretch of the imagination to think you could be in debt so deep there is no way out but bankruptcy, this is a reality in America today,” said Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of Benepath in Pennsylvania.
“That isn’t meant to scare you. It is meant to tell you how it is. Feel free to check this out at http://www.pnhp.org/new_bankruptcy_study/Bankruptcy-2009.pdf, where you will find some startling figures that put the medical bankruptcy problem into sharp focus.”

The facts are that medical issues have caused at least 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. in 2007. “The cost of medical care has risen sharply since 2007, and continues to rise even as you read this. With those kinds of statistics, the very thought of ‘not’ having health insurance is frightening,” Green added.

Without good health, it becomes increasingly more difficult to hold a job, pay bills, take part in life’s daily tasks, keep a roof over one’s head and put food on the table. The money that does come into the home is paid out to medical expenses; expenses that eventually overwhelm every other bill an individual or family needs to pay. There is no end to paying medical expenses, largely because they are so high to begin with. “For instance, a broken leg may cost $17,000 and up. With a bill that high and other expenses to meet, people just can’t keep up,” Green indicated.

While the cost of insurance may seem prohibitive, it is far less expensive than having to pay a $17,000 or higher medical bill. With insurance, the costs are manageable. Without it, the patient is responsible for all the costs associated with a broken leg including, but not limited to, the ambulance bill, medications, x-rays, materials to set the bone, surgery if required, casting, follow-up care and physiotherapy. That would be one whopper of a bill without insurance.

“It is vitally important to carry health insurance, even in tough economic times, unless you plan to add even more fuel to the fire by being involved in an accident or coming down with pneumonia. If you can deal with the mega bills, then you can manage without insurance. Most of us can’t, and for this reason, even if it means cutting a few corners here and there in the household budget, it makes good, common sense to have health insurance,” stated Green.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com. Benepath is the leading provider of affordable health insurance quotes. Visitors to Benepath.com can get health insurance quotes from top rated insurance companies in all of the United States.

“For native Floridians who have never driven in snow, let alone dealt with icy roads, the family trip up north can be a stressful one,” said Vincent Payne of AGIC Insurance, Inc., a Florida car insurance company. “Get peace of mind by having a chat with your insurance company and learning more about how to drive in cold climates.”

Sometimes the most basic tips are helpful to arrive at the family’s snowy holiday destination. Trips can take longer in wintry conditions, so make sure to give the driver extra time to drive safely. Driving slower is important when it is sleeting, icy, or snowing, as it does take longer to brake, turn, and even accelerate in these conditions. Make sure to not ride the bumper of any cars in front, as braking can get tricky in winter weather.

“Make sure your cellphone is charged and the gas tank is full if you know you will be heading into dangerous weather,” said Payne. “Having properly inflated tires helps too and buy a scraper to use up north to get frost or snow off your automobile.”

Other basics to know are to be extra careful when driving over bridges or areas that do not get much light. Cruise control should also be avoided when the road is slippery as sudden braking or accelerating can cause hydroplaning.

AGIC Insurance, Inc. makes it easy for drivers to be prepared for holiday driving. Over the phone or online, drivers can get assistance and learn more about their affordable Florida auto insurance quotes. To learn more, click on http://www.agicinsurance.com or call 1-877-854-0123.

“Health insurance leads are gold and need to be worked as soon as you get them,” commented Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of Benepath.net in Pennsylvania. “And the reason for that is when people have made the decision to buy, they tend to call for information and want their insurance right away before they change their minds.”

Before picking up the phone and calling a health insurance lead, be prepared with all the information they requested and have even more on hand, just in case. “Marketing insurance isn’t always easy and it is better to be over prepared by having too much information, rather than not enough,” added Green. “The main thing to remember is to answer their questions and ask some of your own. This puts the conversation on a more personable level, like you were talking to them across a coffee table. Anyone searching for the right health insurance will have lots of questions, and if you can answer them, that may mean a sale.”

To work successfully with health insurance leads, make certain they are real time leads delivered within minutes of the query for more information being received through an online form. These potential clients are expecting a call and will appreciate the promptness of the response. “Fresh leads delivered directly to your inbox are well worth the investment as they are exclusive to only you,” Green said. “This provides you with a leg up over other agents who did not opt for exclusive leads and find out they are sharing them with at least five to six others.”

In today’s busy world, there is the chance that when the request for information is made by the agent, that the person who asked to be contacted may not be available when called. Often it takes several tries to reach someone, but keep calling and leave a voice message if that option is provided. Not leaving a message is the equivalent to not calling in the first place. “And if you want to be a successful insurance agent, you will utilize every marketing tool you can think of to make a sale. Using exclusive health insurance leads is one of the best tools you could have in your marketing arsenal,” Green remarked.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.net. Benepath is the leading provider of health insurance leads. Visitors to Benepath.com can learn more about getting exclusive health insurance leads from all of the United States.

“The Florida Legislature and the campaign are going to focus their solutions on how to curb fraud and rein in insurance costs in the next year,” said Lee Rogers of the Florida Insurance Group.

Claims from Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Hialeah had the most questionable accidents statewide. State legislators want to focus their efforts in these big cities to see how improvements can be made. Governor Rick Scott is zoning in on preventing fraud, limiting auto accident lawsuits, and reforming auto-medical clinics and accountability. These issues are costing taxpayers close to $1 billion a year.

Floridians pay more than 50 percent higher rates on auto insurance than other states’ residents. Concerned individuals want to find out how other states with personal injury protection and no-fault laws have been able to keep fraud and premiums in check.

“Each year it is good to review your auto insurance premiums to make sure they have all the protection you want and need,” said Rogers. “This is a time when we can shop your policy around to see if there is a more competitive rate.”

To learn more about the Florida Insurance Group, call 1.888.525.2210 or visit http://www.floridainsurance.com.

“The issue not only affects the area’s residents and emergency resources, but it drives auto insurance premiums up,” said Vincent Payne of AGIC Insurance, Inc., a Florida auto insurance provider. “The state’s efforts to crack down on this issue are needed to make auto insurance more affordable and protect people who have been truly injured in an accident.”

Hillsborough County has improved its PIP fraud rate and noted more than 123 arrests, 150 criminal charges, and 273 unique cases that investigators have analyzed during the last 15 months. The county’s sheriff’s office is looking for people who stage crashes and get kickbacks from bogus medical clinics. They are also investigating clinics that overtreat patients to bilk the system.

“PIP insurance is required by law and coverage must be at $10,000 at a minimum,” said Payne. “If you are looking for ways to save money on your insurance, we can look at what the requirements are and what areas can save you more, such as deductibles and optional parts of your policy.”

Tampa Bay, specifically, has seen an 81 percent rise in PIP premiums. But for drivers who have a good driving record, drive autos with safety features, and have a low-risk vehicle, they can still get affordable Florida auto insurance quotes.

AGIC representatives will help drivers shop around for the best Florida car insurance coverage. To learn more, click on http://www.agicinsurance.com or call 1-877-854-0123.

“Health care reform was always a contentious issue from day one,” said Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of Benepath in Pennsylvania. “Since it was passed, it has faced court challenge after court challenge, and the latest lawsuit is based on the allegation that the Affordable Care Act violates religious freedom.”

The key element that has caused the uproar over the Affordable Care Act is the law that states every person must buy health insurance by 2014 or they will have to pay a penalty. This has been met with challenges across the nation, and so far one court of appeal has upheld the mandate, one has struck it down and one has dismissed a lawsuit twice based on jurisdictional issues. It other words, this is an issue looking for a court decision, but so far it is not making much headway nor is there any degree of consensus on it.

“The latest challenge was brought to court by a religious group on behalf of five citizens. They feel the law violates their beliefs and that Congress does not have the authority to force them to buy health insurance, when they believe that God will protect them,” Green outlined.

While this is an interesting challenge, Congress has steadfastly maintained it does have the authority to pass such a law and enforce the mandate because the cost of health care is getting out of control. And that is the argument the federal government lawyers will use to rebut this latest lawsuit.

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs are Susan Seven-Sky, Peggy Lee Mead, Charles Lee, Kenneth Ruffo and Gina Rodriguez and the defendants are Eric Holder Jr., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Department of the Treasury and Timothy Geithner. In short, the case cite for those who want to read the interesting arguments by finding the case online is Susan Seven-Sky v. Eric Holder Jr. Case No. 11-5047.

“It is a thoughtful read and full of arguments that make a great deal of sense. As always, there are two sides to every lawsuit, and the court will need to decide which one prevails after entertaining all the material submitted. While reading this case, you might want to take a look at your thoughts and feelings on this issue about being mandated to buy health insurance if you do not have it by the year 2014,” suggested Green. It is an issue that is likely to continue to be a hot button for many Americans.

The nugget of the argument to be made in court by the religious group is that forcing people to get health insurance means they would have to get it indefinitely or pay annual penalties for holding a sincere belief that God protects them from injury or illness. In short, they are refusing to get the health insurance because it would violate their faith. “Of interest is the fact that the Affordable Care Act does have some religious exemptions, but in this instance, it appears that some of the plaintiffs may not qualify,” added Green.

On the government’s side, the argument is that Congress has determined that individuals who do not have health insurance quite often do not pay for the medical services they may require. This shifts the cost to the providers and taxpayers, which is the whole reason behind why the Affordable Care Act passed. “Of note is that uninsured Americans cost the system close to $43 billion in 2008,” Green pointed out.

Perhaps it is time to take a really hard look at this Act and figure out if it may not actually be the beginning of turning around a system that is badly in need of repair.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

“These apps help prevent the temptation to answer an email, text, or call,” said Vincent Payne from Florida auto insurance company AGIC Insurance, Inc. “People won’t have to interrupt their driving to pay attention to what their cellphone is doing.”

For example, AT&T has launched a BlackBerry app called DriveMode that tells the person trying to reach the driver that he or she is driving and cannot respond. Users can customize the message or have the auto-response message get sent. As a free app, it is a no-brainer for drivers to start using much like an out of the office message.

“This is not only smart for everyday use, but will also help cut down on accidents that you could get in,” said Payne. “Distracted driving can cause an accident within seconds, which will hurt your driving record and affect your Florida car insurance rates.”

Before driving, the driver must turn on the app that will then disable web browsing, calls, emails and texts. Emergency 911 calls can still be made. The CTIA, an association of the wireless telecommunication industry worldwide, says that using a cellphone while driving can distract a person longer than other activities like eating, grooming, or turning the radio station. If a person must use a cellphone, hands-free options are far safer.

“Do not even be tempted to use a cellphone while at a red light, stop sign, or waiting for traffic to move,” said Payne. “It can cause an accident that can hurt you or another driver. The risks are not worth it.”

A vehicle’s safety features and an individual’s driving history can influence a Florida auto insurance quote. To learn more about how to get a great auto insurance premium, visit http://www.agicinsurance.com or call AGIC Insurance at 1-877-854-0123.

“We are glad to see these improvements and be able to offer auto insurance clients even better rates with these new developments,” said Vincent Payne, of Florida auto insurance provider AGIC Insurance, Inc. “This will make an impact on injuries, deaths, and damage that some of the crashes have caused on the roads.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported earlier in the fall that SUV deaths dropped by two-thirds in the latest year of reporting data. Besides ESC, SUVs are starting to incorporate front-end energy-absorbing structures that cars have used for many years. This means there are decreased chances that a SUV could override another vehicle in an accident and prevent the crash from affecting the front seat areas. Head-protecting side airbags have also been used in many of the new SUV models.

“The IIHS noted that from 2007 and beyond, SUV models come with many of these features as standard items in their vehicle lineup,” said Payne. “Safety features and a good driving record can help lessen your Florida car insurance premium too.”

Since SUVs have come more in line with car safety standards, the IIHS reports that pickups now cause more deadly accidents. Some cite their auto body weight, and the fact that trucks often carry heavy loads in the back for the cause of serious accidents. The IIHS said that pickups were slow to use ESC features, but in due time will become a feature that everyone wants in their vehicle.

Individuals and families who want to find out more about how to get the best value on their Florida auto insurance quote should contact AGIC Insurance, Inc. To learn more, click on http://www.agicinsurance.com or call 1-877-854-0123.

“If you’re selling insurance, Medicare supplement leads need to be a major part of your business,” added Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of benepath.net in Pennsylvania. “This is a demographic that needs what you are selling, and with the possibility of mandatory insurance coming in 2014, real time Medicare supplement leads are worth their weight in gold. I’m not just talking about any old leads that are days old or that have gone to six or more agents before you get them. I’m talking about real time, exclusive to ‘you’ leads that can set you up to succeed.”

For those agents that have been there and done that, and discovered the leads they got were virtually worthless, this is an opportunity to check out. “You need quality leads to make it worth your while; quality leads which are pre-qualified, fresh and ready to go. Those kinds of leads are well worth not only the investment of your time to call them, but you will get a good ROI when you sell them a Medicare supplement,” Green pointed out.

Exclusive Medicare supplement leads help grow and expand an agent’s business and are a terrific way to source new and fresh prospects. The whole point of buying leads is to not only build a business, but save time trying to find leads the hard way. “Not that you can’t go out and knock on doors if that is what works best for you, but it is the hard road to building a successful business,” said Green. “Buying exclusive Medicare supplement leads is a lot less expensive than using direct mail leads – at least four times less expensive. That’s money in your pocket.”

Today’s economic climate is tough, but those agents who choose to invest their time and money in the right places, for the right things that ultimately pay off, will have a head start on building a solid insurance business over time. This business with good customers will keep coming back, year after year. The main attraction to buying exclusive Medicare supplement leads is that they are a pipeline that keeps on giving, and a business that will keep expanding as a result.

“If you have already tried buying leads and have had less than a stellar experience with them, for instance you got leads on the national Do Not Call list, then you likely ran across one of the places that sell leads that have been around the block too many times to count and were not properly checked,” Green said. “That is a waste of your time and money. You will do far better with Benepath’s real time leads. Try it. Read how other agents are now making a good profit. Our solid reputation is your guarantee of receiving quality, pre-qualified leads.”

What an agent needs is leads to come to them as set appointments from a captive audience, meaning one that is in need of the service an insurance agent is providing. For instance, Medicare supplements. If leads come in as set appointments, agents and brokers are able to use them when their timetable permits. This tends to increase business productivity and the financial bottom line. Talking to people who want what an insurance company has to offer only makes good marketing sense.

At all times, agents and brokers have control over how many leads they want and when they want them, as well as being able to specify territories and demographics if they wish. It is as easy as a few clicks on the computer to get exclusive Medicare supplement leads daily, which is a win-win situation for the potential customer and agent/broker. “If you want to reach a large number of seniors in a short amount of time, Benepath’s exclusive Medicare supplement leads will make that happen,” Green emphasized.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

“There is no excuse for not wearing your seatbelt,” says Vincent Payne of AGIC Insurance, Inc. “This cannot only affect your life but make an impact on your Florida auto insurance policy. You don’t want to risk it over what takes less than a minute to buckle.”

Another incident further south on I-75 did not turn out so well. When a vehicle merged into traffic it hit the back of trailer. The auto with the trailer rolled over to the shoulder and ejected a man who was not wearing his seatbelt. He was pronounced dead at Lee Memorial Hospital. The driver and other passengers also went to the hospital for minor injuries.

“Unfortunately accidents like this are a reality and remind drivers that they need to protect themselves with smart driving practices and adequate insurance,” said Payne, who helps drivers obtain Florida auto insurance policies. “It is too late after an accident to get insurance or modify it to cover your concerns.”

Interstate 75 is more than 470 miles long in the state and covers most of the north-south route throughout Florida. As a main artery for drivers, it allows 70 mile per hour driving. As such, it is the site of many auto accidents. From accidents involving rollovers to merging incidents, driving at such a high speed with many lanes of traffic can prove deadly. I-75 has been the scene of wrong-way driving, accidents involving tire blowouts, and even incidents in road work zones.

“Drivers need to get in their car every day and make sure the tires are filled, that they are alert and able to drive, and have a game plan to get to their destination,” said Payne.

AGIC Insurance, Inc. helps drivers shop for the best Florida car insurance at a great value. They will take the time to explain a Florida auto insurance quote and what is needed to ensure a driver’s safety on the road.

Melissa DeAngelo is with Florida auto insurance company and Florida car insurance company, AGIC. To get a quote or learn more visit www.agicinsurance.com.

“Using the correct car seat, seat belt, and having adequate insurance for all your passengers is the proper way to safeguard your children,” said Orlando auto insurance representative Lee Rogers, of the Florida Insurance Group.

New recommendations for car seats have been issued by NHTSA. These are now according to a child’s age, not just weight or type of restraint used. Rear-facing car seats are best for a child up to three years of age and convertible 3-in-1 car seats accommodate a range of heights and weights. Once a child has outgrown a rear facing seat, he or she can use a front-facing car seat with a harness. This can be perfect for kids from four to seven years old. And when this car seat is too small, they can use a booster seat with a seat belt.

“Seat belts not only save lives, but safety features such as this, air bags, anti-lock brakes, and more also help decrease your Orlando car insurance,” said Rogers.

The NHTSA has a program where parents can register a child seat to see if there are any recall notices. They also list child seat inspection stations and other tips that make buckling up a little one easier. Overall, the NHTSA recommends that kids remain in the back seat as it is safer. Correct use of car seats and enough coverage for bodily injuries, uninsured motorists, and personal injury protection will help to protect a child and a family’s assets should an accident happen.

To learn more, call 1.888.525.2210 or visit http://www.floridainsurance.com.

“The first six months after getting your license are the most important,” said Vincent Payne of AGIC Insurance, Inc. “Getting adequate insurance and having your parents ride along in different road conditions will help you feel more comfortable and approach situations proactively.”

The top three driving errors that teens make are: not knowing how to detect or react to hazards; speeding around curves and merging too quickly on highways; and, being distracted. Distractions include texting, talking on a cell phone, changing dashboard controls, paying attention to friends riding along, and grooming. By grade 11 in high school, four out of five teens drives a car during the week a minimum of two hours.

“Driving for school, work, or errands can be a great way for a teen to learn how to drive safely,” said Payne. “Parents also need to be good role models – a parent must wear their seatbelt, don’t drink and drive, and stay focused on driving if they want their teen to follow their lead.”

Adding a teen to a parent’s Florida auto insurance policy is a great reminder to sit down and talk with them about how accidents and driving violations can increase an insurance premium. Speak to a qualified Florida car insurance agent to ensure the policy has enough coverage for bodily injury, property damage, and uninsured motorists. AGIC helps parents and teens find the best Florida auto insurance quote that has reasonable deductibles.

Melissa DeAngelo is with Florida auto insurance company and Florida car insurance company, AGIC. To get a quote or learn more visit www.agicinsurance.com.

“Long-term care is an issue many Americans want to shove under the rug,” explained Evan Tunis, president and CEO of Nextexitretirement.com. “It is one of those things no one really wants to confront when they are younger and in relative good health. The thing is, with each passing year the reality is you may need long-term care, and if you have no provisions in place to pay for that, the alternatives are not very appealing.”

Even though life expectancies have increased, the result causes a gap in the number of people needing long-term care and the resources being offered by the system. It is a large gap and many fall through the cracks. The brutal fact is that many Americans may reach old age and have no resources to pay for long-term care and the alternatives may be government funded homes or private assisted living situations.

“If you have read the news lately, you will know there are many horror stories about nursing homes, assisted living centers and government run senior’s facilities,” said Tunis. “Bad things do not happen to everyone, but most seniors want to hold onto their independence for as long as they can. Without long-term care in place, that is not always possible.”
For those that do not seriously think there is a burgeoning aging and care crisis, consider these numbers. There are approximately nine million Americans over the age of 65 years old that need long-term care services of some kind. This number will increase as more people reach the age of 65. Long-term care services are in heavy demand and to meet that demand not only does there need to be increased facilities, but the cost of care will skyrocket. “In 2010 alone, long-term care costs were on average about $75,000 a year, and this is not just for those over the age of 65,” added Tunis. “It could happen to anyone, at any age, and that is something to seriously think about.”

When does someone know if they need long-term care? “This typically happens when a person acquires an illness, whether it is a cognitive illness or disability that keeps them from being able to carry out the basic necessities of daily living,” Tunis explained. “The cost of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia is catastrophically high. If you plan now for the future, you will have everything secured and not worry about how to pay the medical bills.”
“It is my job to be here for you and answer any questions you may have about long-term care policies and how to shop for them and what they can do for you,” stated Tunis. “Do not hesitate to contact me. What people do not think about is that just because they have good health now, does not mean things cannot change. It is best to be prepared for just about any eventuality when it comes to your most precious asset – your health and independence.”

Evan Tunis is with FloridaHealthcareInsurance.com, the leading provider of Florida and Florida Keys health insurance quotes. To learn more about Florida health insurance, visit http://floridahealthcareinsurance.com/floridakeys -insurance.html

“As the ground continues to be saturated, some homeowners’ properties cannot hold the inches of rain that happen daily,” said Orlando home insurance representative Lee Rogers, of the Florida Insurance Group. “Flooding to the main residence or a detached structure with valuables can be an expensive reality without the adequate insurance.”

Homeowners need to protect themselves with a separate flood insurance policy, as damage due to rising waters is not covered in a typical homeowners insurance policy. For individuals that do not live in a flood zone, policies are inexpensive. Deductibles do vary, so a Florida homeowners insurance agent can go over what is the best policy for the value.

“For areas that are prone to flooding, most lenders require you get flood insurance,” said Rogers, who also helps with Orlando flood insurance policies. “You want to consider what the records show about the history of flooding in your area and take precautions in heavy storms and hurricanes.”

It is important to know evacuation routes ahead of time, or have enough groceries on hand if a bad storm would cause power outages and flooding. Emergency kits with first aid supplies, a battery operated radio, daily medication, and flashlights are essential. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes reminds homeowners that driving in two feet of water can put an auto in peril. Driving or wading through floodwaters can conceal dangers in the water, so it is best to turn around and wait until it is safe again.

“It is smart to take an inventory of your household before a flood occurs,” said Rogers. “Then should damage happen, you are more prepared and can just document what has occurred through photos. This will be very beneficial to you and the insurance adjuster when a disaster happens.”

To learn more, call 1.888.525.2210 or visit http://www.floridainsurance.com.

“Before a disaster strikes is the time to research your policy, update your home inventory, and review your plan with the family should a bad storm pass over the area,” said Lee Rogers of the Florida Insurance Group.

Homeowners should also know what their policy covers for wind, water, and flood damage. Wind damage is covered in standard policies, and some water damage is covered. Flood insurance, which is separate, is needed for rising waters, water that could come through a home’s foundation, and even backed-up sewers. Otherwise, without flood insurance a homeowner could be liable for the damage out of their financial reserves.

“The good news is that if you are not in a flood zone, you can get flood insurance for super affordable rates,” said Rogers. “Homeowners need to call us before a named storm enters nearby waters to modify their policy. We cannot change coverage when a storm is approaching.”

Hurricane policies should also include monies for needing to replace property, make alternate living arrangements, and get much-needed repairs after a serious storm. In Orlando, the Florida Insurance Group has helped homeowners for more than 20 years get a policy that gives them peace of mind. They shop more than 20 Orlando home insurance companies to make sure their clients get the best policy for their money. To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 or visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

“Long-term care is an issue many Americans want to shove under the rug,” explained Evan Tunis, president and CEO of Nextexitretirement.com. “It is one of those things no one really wants to confront when they are younger and in relative good health. The thing is, with each passing year the reality is you may need long-term care, and if you have no provisions in place to pay for that, the alternatives are not very appealing.”

Even though life expectancies have increased, the result causes a gap in the number of people needing long-term care and the resources being offered by the system. It is a large gap and many fall through the cracks. The brutal fact is that many Americans may reach old age and have no resources to pay for long-term care and the alternatives may be government funded homes or private assisted living situations.

“If you have read the news lately, you will know there are many horror stories about nursing homes, assisted living centers and government run senior’s facilities,” said Tunis. “Bad things do not happen to everyone, but most seniors want to hold onto their independence for as long as they can. Without long-term care in place, that is not always possible.”

For those that do not seriously think there is a burgeoning aging and care crisis, consider these numbers. There are approximately nine million Americans over the age of 65 years old that need long-term care services of some kind. This number will increase as more people reach the age of 65. Long-term care services are in heavy demand and to meet that demand not only does there need to be increased facilities, but the cost of care will skyrocket. “In 2010 alone, long-term care costs were on average about $75,000 a year, and this is not just for those over the age of 65,” added Tunis. “It could happen to anyone, at any age, and that is something to seriously think about.”

When does someone know if they need long-term care? “This typically happens when a person acquires an illness, whether it is a cognitive illness or disability that keeps them from being able to carry out the basic necessities of daily living,” Tunis explained. “The cost of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia is catastrophically high. If you plan now for the future, you will have everything secured and not worry about how to pay the medical bills.”

“It is my job to be here for you and answer any questions you may have about long-term care policies and how to shop for them and what they can do for you,” stated Tunis. “Do not hesitate to contact me. What people do not think about is that just because they have good health now, does not mean things cannot change. It is best to be prepared for just about any eventuality when it comes to your most precious asset – your health and independence.”

Here are the points taken for various offenses:

Three points
Speeding less than 15 mph over the limit
Improper lane change
Open alcoholic container
Not using a child restraint
Littering
Driving during restricted times
Parking on a highway improperly

Four points
Speeding more than 15 mph over the limit
Not stopping at a traffic signal
Passing a school bus when stopped
Reckless driving
Moving violation that caused an accident

Six points
Accident caused by speeding
Leaving an accident scene with damage more than $50

Additionally, drivers can receive multiple points against their record in a single incident. When 12 points are given in any year period, a driver’s license is suspended for a month. 18 points in 18 months causes a three month suspension. And 24 points in 36 months suspends a driver’s license for a year.

Overall, these points remain on a driver’s record for 10 years. Individuals should know to be honest and give their complete history when getting a Florida auto insurance quote. Insurance companies will see a copy of the individual’s driving record and will also pull an updated record at the time of renewal.

“Even with a violation, it is still important to carry Florida auto insurance,” said Vincent Payne from AGIC Insurance, Inc. “If a serious accident were to happen, the driver could be liable and risk his assets if there is not enough insurance to cover the damages he did.”

AGIC Insurance, Inc. is known for working with drivers to find the best Florida car insurance at a great value. They will take the time to explain the policy and what is needed to ensure a driver’s safety on the road. To learn more, click on http://www.agicinsurance.com or call 1-877-854-0123.

“Many people think a bad car accident will never happen to them,” said Lee Rogers from Florida Insurance Group. “It is too late to get better insurance after an accident occurs.”

Drivers are urged to be proactive to ensure that their auto insurance has ample coverage for all the important factors that need to be addressed before an accident. First, with bodily injury, drivers need to consider what could happen to themselves and their passengers in a serious car accident. Medical treatment, prescriptions, and therapies sometimes need to be used for weeks and months for a person to heal. Without adequate coverage, an individual would have to pay the bill out of their savings.

“This coverage is important too because it will cover legal and court expenses if you were the one to cause the accident and be sued,” said Rogers. “The amount your protect yourself with is per person and accident.”

Uninsured motorist coverage is also critical to get when the other driver does not have sufficient or any insurance. Usually a driver will get the same coverage limits as the bodily injury amount. The coverage pays for injuries and associated costs. In Florida, uninsured motorists make up to 24 percent of all drivers on the road, so this is a reality a driver must address before it is too late.

“Drivers should get these basics in their policies and also go over what is the right deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage for their budget,” said Rogers. “We will go over every step to make sure you feel comfortable about your auto insurance.”

The Florida Insurance Group provides Orlando auto insurance at great values. They assist drivers to make smart insurance decisions and have access to more than 40 insurance companies to make sure auto insurance quotes are competitive. To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 or visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Drivers need to be particularly cautious when extreme thunderstorms hit the area. From driving slower to being mindful of urban flooding, drivers need to be aware that road hazards increase in the summertime. The Florida Highway Patrol says that drivers should slow down to avoid hydroplaning and pay attention. If there is a flooded area, turn around as it is hard to know if there is debris or other hazards that are on the roadway.

“Before you drive in bad weather, make sure you check the local news to decide if you really need to go out,” said Vincent Payne of AGIC Insurance, Inc. “You do not want to damage your car or hurt yourself in these types of storms and driving conditions.”

Payne said these bad storms remind drivers to be thinking of the height of the hurricane season that happens from late August through early October. Drivers should make sure their Florida auto insurance is adequate and they have a plan should an area need to be evacuated.

“Should a hurricane happen, you want to make sure that your vehicle is in good working order, you have enough food and supplies, and decide to depart early,” Payne said.

The Florida car insurance agents at AGIC Insurance, Inc. will review a driver’s auto insurance to make sure it is sufficient should a bad storm or hurricane occur. They are known for reasonable Florida auto insurance quotes, and partner with top-notch medical care and repair centers should a driver need these services. AGIC has a deductible program that lets a driver cut their deductible in half when a preferred provider for health concerns and auto repairs is used. To learn more, click on http://www.agicinsurance.com or call 1-877-854-0123.

“People are in a hurry to get to where they want to go these days,” said Clelland Green, RHU, CEO and president of Benepath in Pennsylvania. “That even includes wanting as much information as they can get about health insurance, as fast as they can get it. That is why so many insurance websites have an instant quote function. Plug in your relevant information, click, and lo and behold, you get virtually instantaneous results. That is great for saving time when you are searching for health insurance quotes. However, a quote is just a quote, and not set in stone.”

In other words, a quote is based on a few factors that a potential customer provides. There may be other extenuating circumstances that could change that quote. A quote is a good place to start as it provides some idea of what a premium would cost based on the information provided. Obviously, if inaccurate information is provided, the quote will be affected. For instance, if a smoker tells an insurance company they do not smoke, a lower rate will be quoted.

If that smoker does end up getting a less expensive policy, the first thing that will happen when the smoker needs smoking cessation medication is that the insurance company will deny their claim (at best) or cancel the policy (at worst). What a waste of money and time. “If you want comprehensive health insurance coverage, tell the complete truth and pay the necessary fee,” said Green. “It is your health, and it is important.”

“To get an accurate, tailored quote and policy, you really need to speak directly to an experienced insurance agent,” added Green. They know how to find you the best deal on policies and how to find one that genuinely suits you, so you do not end up buying a cheap policy that does not cover what you need it for in the first place.”

Beware of relying on just quotes alone to buy health insurance. “It is always a wise move to contact an insurance agent and start asking questions about what options are on the market, how they could apply to you and your family, what is covered and what is not, and a whole host of other questions that need answers you cannot find online,” Green insisted. “Finding affordable health insurance is important, but you cannot do that just by getting quotes online.”

Beware of making a decision to purchase based on price alone. The reason price should not be the main determining factor in buying affordable health insurance is that the cheap policies may not offer the right kind of coverage. What is the point in spending money on a policy that does not cover what someone needs it to cover?

“There is no sense in spending money you will not get any return on,” Green pointed out. “And furthermore, it makes no sense to say you have health insurance if the health insurance you do have does not cover your needs adequately. Pay attention to what you are going to buy and take the time to ask questions and read the fine print. Your health may depend on it.”

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

Drivers should know they have choices when it comes to making repairs. Some shops will recommend original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, whereas other auto body centers will use aftermarket parts. Ask your Florida car insurance agent what your policy recommends for the year and make of your car. Individuals will spend more money with OEM parts, so it is wise to get an estimate before the mechanics and experts start working on the repairs.

“Being without your vehicle can be a very stressful experience,” says Vincent Payne of AGIC Insurance, Inc. in Florida. “We will give you quick access to our preferred repair center so you can get the repairs done efficiently by experts.”

Accident coverage in Florida typically covers for a rental car while the repairs are being done. Repair centers can take care of common dings, including bumper repair, scratch and dent removal, windshield replacements, and other parts replacement. Be sure to mention if any personal property was also damaged in the accident and be able to prove its value by receipts or other legitimate ways. If drivers have pictures of the vehicle and property from before the accident or the scene itself, this will help an insurance agent understand the extent of damages.

“AGIC has taken great strides to partner with repair centers throughout the state that will bring your automobile back to its pre-accident condition,” says Payne. “We want you to get back on the road with full confidence that your vehicle looks and runs well.”

AGIC Insurance has a unique deductible program that allows a driver who’s been involved in an accident to cut their deductible in half by using their preferred provider network for health concerns and auto repairs. They also allow payment plans so that drivers can choose how much and when their auto insurance payments can be made.

To learn more about getting a Florida auto insurance quote, click on http://www.agicinsurance.com or call 1-877-854-0123. AGIC representatives will take the time to explain vehicle damage coverage as well as liability, medical, and uninsured motorist coverage so every client has a full understanding that they are getting quality insurance at a great value.

“While you might not think about this, unless it’s something that happens in your life, there are a larger number of parents and grandparents hopping flights to far flung spots on the globe. Not to get away from it all, but instead, to visit their mobile children who have chosen to live and work in other countries. There are also students who go abroad to further their education. Ever wonder what those people do if they need to go to hospital when they are in another country?” asked Clelland Green, RHU, and president of Benepath, Pennsylvania.

Most people who travel just automatically assume that their health insurance will kick in when they have an emergency. This is not the case, and if someone does need health care services in another country and does not have coverage that is applicable there, they will find themselves out of pocket or unable to pay for care.

“To cover incidents abroad, you need visitor’s health insurance. Your U.S.-based health insurance coverage won’t cut it,” Green said.

Think traveling without health insurance will save money? “If you don’t get into an accident, you will save money. However, if you trip and break a leg or are involved in a car accident, the bill will be staggering and you are responsible for the ‘whole’ thing. That’s right – the whole bill. Your U.S. insurance can’t be used. Do you want to take the risk of an accident abroad and the expenses that go with it?” Green said.

While saving money is a good goal, saving money at the expense of one’s health is not a smart idea. Visitor’s health insurance is not that expense. Or to put another way, visitor’s health insurance would say the enormous expense of medical care for any accident or illness. People who travel may choose what they need, the coverage they want, what options would work for them and the deductible.

“An individual, tailored plan for a reasonable price, what more could you ask for in terms of protection while you are away from home?” Green said. “If you do your homework and check around, you will find what you need. Aim to deal with a company that specializes in visitor’s health insurance and you should get what you need, along with the peace of mind of knowing that you are covered for any nasty event that may happen while you are traveling.”

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

“Business drivers will want to make sure they have the right amount of insurance to protect their assets should they get into a bad accident,” said Vincent Payne of www.agicinsurance.com. “Another driver could come after the business’ assets and income when seeking claim monies.”

Florida car insurance quotes will analyze business use, vehicle weight, number of miles driven each year, and individual’s driving records. Tracking mileage will help make the policy accurate and also is a tax write-off. Safety features such as antilock brakes, air bags and antitheft devices will also make premiums more reasonable.

A good Florida auto insurance company will go over not only auto liability requirements, but will give the driver peace of mind for bodily injury coverage, property damage and any additional coverage the business should have.

“We help many small businesses, whether it is just one employee or 100 workers who have business vehicles,” Payne said. “Pickup trucks, SUVs, cars, and vans are great business cars, not just pleasure vehicles.”

A big facet of the Florida auto insurance coverage is the physical damage portion. Business owners will get sufficient coverage for collision, comprehensive, and specific perils. Collision coverage accounts for losses that occur during an accident. Comprehensive coverage is for broader losses. And specific perils cover fire, theft, and other big risks.

AGIC Insurance, Inc. is experienced in assisting business owners and drivers with all their Florida auto insurance needs. They are known for their customer service, great rates, and flexible payment options. And they partner with the Physicians Group to provide outstanding medical care to individuals involved in auto accidents.

To learn more:
http://www.agicinsurance.com
1-877-854-0123

Interest rates, inflation, overall economic activity, financial leverage, and liquidity make up a good part of the analysis Demotech does to give good ratings like this.

“Florida car insurance shoppers want to know that we’ll be here when they need claims honored,” said Vincent Payne of www.agicinsurance.com. “Our strength and integrity allows us to offer car drivers choices for their car insurance and great rates.”

AGIC Insurance is connected with agents that understand a driver’s local needs, desires to keep costs down, and that have the ability to be there for them should an accident happen. Their agents will help clients compare coverage and Florida car insurance quotes. Many policies can vary greatly, so their agents will go through the vital parts of the policy to give their client peace of mind.

“Our A rating also really shows in our commitment to service,” Payne said. “We handle your claims quickly and can provide options if your budget is tight and the bill is coming up quickly.”

Their unique cash payment option allows drivers to drop off payments at more convenient locations with longer hours. AGIC also has an installment payment plan that enables drivers to pick when and how much payment they can make. And if an accident occurs, drivers can slash the hefty deductible payment by using one of their facilities in their preferred provider network. AGIC also partners with the Physicians Group to provide top-notch medical care to individuals involved in auto accidents.

To learn more:
http://www.agicinsurance.com
1-877-854-0123

“A recent poll of American doctors revealed something that shocked the pollsters, and will likely make you think hard about health care reform. The pool shows that a large number of doctors are opposed to health care reform. Why? Because they feel it means more healthcare workers that will not be mandated to earn doctorate level health care degrees like doctor’s assistants and nurse practitioners,” said Clelland Green, RHU, and president of Benepath, Pennsylvania.

Just about 3,000 doctors spoke out about health care reform, and they were not impressed with the general direction of the proposed changes. Overall, their major concern was that they could see health care deteriorating over the next five years. This was not just a small percentage that expressed that concern. The survey showed 65 percent felt health care would go to heck in a hand basket.

“Some of course thought it may improve, but that number ranked at 18 percent; hardly a resounding vote of confidence. Certainly, some also felt things would remain the same, under the principle that the more things change, the more they stay the same. That number was a paltry 17 percent,” Green said.

The major point that doctors kept referring to was the at least 32 million people that would be able to access health care if the health care reform legislation remains active. Who would treat them? The obvious answer was physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners; which may give many seeking medical attention some pause for thought that the person they are seeing is not a fully qualified and highly trained medical doctor.

As for how health care reform will affect the patients, many of the doctors interviewed felt the legislation had the potential to impact people in a negative way. In fact, 58 percent of the physicians were of a like mind on that subject. There were at least 27 percent who felt the changes would be good and positive in the long run.

“What will happen in the future? Who knows, but with surveys like this, it is bound to be interesting,” Green said.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

If your website is not functioning as well as you think it should be, perhaps it is time to take a hard look at what needs to be done to make it more successful. You want to convert those browsers to buyers. The only way to do that is to ensure that you have the right things going on with your site. In other words,  you need the right insurance search engine optimization (SEO) – search engine optimization that works for you and brings you business.

Working with SEO is sort of like building that better mousetrap. Everyone needs this kind of service and yet some still think they can do things on their own. Unfortunately, those without the experience to do SEO the right way will find their website buried deeply on page six or worse of Google’s website rankings. Not the best thing for your business.

You want and need people to know who you are, know about your business and find it on the Internet. You want them to interact with you, buy from you and talk to you and ask questions. The more interactive you are with your customers, the more they will remember you, which will mean business later on. You cannot accomplish this if your website does not rank well. Few people will go beyond page one of Google’s rankings to find what they want. Therefore, you want to be on page one. It is that simple, but complex at the same time.

The mostly simple part is that you need to expand what you offer on your website to include the latest and most interactive widgets and gadgets used in the 21st century to connect with the billions of people online. You need the social media, the blogs, the Twitter account and other things like an instant insurance quote function. People demand more online today than they ever have before. If you do not give it to them, they will go someplace else.

People want insurance information fast and they want it yesterday, so if you have the ability to offer them quotes yesterday, you have just given them something they really wanted  and they will remember that when they choose to buy. You need to find a search engine optimization company that will be your partner in the success of your business; one with insurance marketing experience of their own. They know your business, because they do it every day.

Ready to Quote is an insurance marketing company, specializing in marketing insurance websites online. Learn more at ReadytoQuote.com.

Melody Leonardo, the eldest daughter, made it all the way to Fresno to try out for the celebrated long-running trivia show with the host, Alicia Tribeca. She was a sure shoe-in to make it on the show, surpassing her peers after each level, for she was fed trivia questions when she was in her mother’s womb.

Her mother was a waitress at the local coffee shop and her father sold appliances at the mall, so she did not come from an upstanding intellectual household. However, her parents huddled in front of the TV every night to catch the trivia show at 7 p.m., competing with each other for the right answers as if they were on the show themselves. Her mother would bring books and cheat sheets to work and hide them in her apron and would study the answers on her break, and her father would do the same.

This shared obsession was what kept their marriage exciting. When the two children came, the more, the merrier. It became their family identity and they wore their crest proudly.

One day, as her mother was pouring a cup of coffee for Matt Lockhard, an independent California insurance agent, she helped him with a difficult crossword clue that boggled him for hours and was stunned to hear the lofty, unexpected knowledge come out of a waitress at a tiny coffee shop.

“How did you know that?” Matt asked her.

“What? Just because I wear this uniform doesn’t make me stupid,” she answered with a smile.

“Just between you and me, I received my master’s in linguistics from Harvard but addiction took over my life, so that’s why I am here. But don’t tell anyone, OK?” she said in jest as she teasingly nudged him with her elbow and the coffee pot in the other hand.

“Besides, my Melody is going to be on Alicia Tribeca’s game show tryouts tomorrow!” she said proudly and loud enough for the whole diner to hear. Everyone applauded.

But when the time came, Melody was beat out by some uppity surfer kid.

“How did that happen?” Melody asked her parents. “I studied every waking minute!”

“It is the luck of the draw, sweetie,” her father said, “and in real life, that is the way it is. You can’t possibly know all the answers no matter how much you try. But what matters, is that you love to learn just like us. You’re one of us, Melody. Melody Leonardo, Da Vinci, Da Great!”

The Leonardos all huddled together as Melody silently wept and laughed.

To learn more please visit: http://www.mattsinsurance4ca.com

It is hard to really know where the future will take the American population in terms of health insurance. Ideally, we will all have access to low cost health insurance in the future. That sounds great on the surface, but this is not an option for people; this is mandated health insurance, whether people want it or not. Those who do not have it will face fines.

This likelihood poses a major dilemma for people without health insurance today. “What do they do? Should they get health insurance now? Wait? Not buy it and see what happens? There are a lot of unanswered questions here,” said Clelland Green, RHU, and president of Benepath, Pennsylvania.

To date, those who do not have health insurance feel they are justified in not spending the money to care for themselves or their families; at least until something happens and the roof falls in when the bills start arriving for medical care they needed.

“If you live paycheck to paycheck, finding extra to buy health insurance can be a squeaker,” Green said. “But if you don’t have coverage, the medical bills will completely wipe you out financially. That applies either now, when you could make the personal choice to buy affordable health insurance, or later, when you will have to buy it at an unknown and perhaps higher premium, or pay a fine.”

Frankly, the best time to buy affordable health insurance is now when there is a measure of choice and control over what is bought. “Start right now to research what is out there to meet your needs or the needs of your family.  There is a lot of variety on the market and you can definitely find something that works well for you and your budget. Health insurance plans have varying levels of coverage, deductibles, premiums and co-pays, so it only makes sense to act now when you have choices,” Green said.

Keep in mind that to compare health insurance policies, the details need to be the same for every quote requested. If something is changed, the results will change and it will also change what is covered and not covered. It all boils down to those all-important choices. “If you need to go to the doctor more often for a medical condition, try to line up a plan with a lower deductible and co-pay. If you hardly go at all, you may be able to choose a cheaper plan with less coverage,” Green said.

There is no doubt the health care of the nation will be changing in the future. Being ahead of those changes may be the smart move to make now, rather than later.

To learn more, visit Benepath.com

Realizing that one’s car has been stolen or is a total loss following a collision can be devastating on its own.

“What can be even more disheartening is when it is learned that more is owed to the lender on the vehicle than what insurance will provide as reimbursement,” said Lee Rogers of Florida Insurance in Orlando. “There is where car gap insurance can come in handy.”

What is Car Gap Insurance?

Car gap insurance is one of the many “extras” in automobile insurance that is not required by the state. As the name implies, cap gap insurance covers the difference between what standard insurance will pay when an automobile is lost or damaged beyond repair, and what is owed to the lender.

This type of insurance coverage is typically most beneficial for those leasing vehicles, those who have put down a low down payment when buying a car and for those with vehicles that have particularly high depreciation rates.

Here’s a hypothetical situation for how car gap insurance would come in handy. Say a new car is purchased for $30,000 and then 12 months later is totaled in an accident. Due to depreciation, traditional insurance says the vehicle is only worth $23,000. Depending what the down payment was, the purchaser could find themselves on the hook for several thousand dollars unless they have car gap insurance.

“Depreciation of a new vehicle is particularly important to keep in mind when considering insurance coverage,” Rogers said. “Most new vehicles lose up to 20 percent of their value 12 months after being driven off the lot.”

It is always better to purchase gap insurance sooner than later, but many car insurance companies allow policyholders to purchase gap coverage in the months following the purchase of a new vehicle.

There can be a cap on the amount of coverage that insurance companies will pay out in gap coverage.

The cost of gap coverage depends on the particular insurance provider but some calculate it as a single-digit percentage of a given premium.

Car gap insurance cannot only bring peace of a mind to a policy-holder but it can save thousands in out-of-pocket costs should a vehicle be totaled or stolen.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

“Prevention and wellness programs will help retain and attract employees,” said Thomas Kaspar of Grouphealthflorida.com. “Your employees will be more healthy and an employer can tout cutting edge benefits.”

Kaspar’s group health agency helps businesses find what insurer offers the best health awareness and prevention initiatives. Grants from the PPACA will most often be awarded to companies that sign up with plans that offer health education, risk assessments, and screenings as well as seminars to encourage participation from all employees to modify unhealthy behaviors and lifestyle patterns.

“Many insurers offer tailored programs to keep employees well, rather than just covering illness or injuries,” Kaspar said. “The wellness services will cover women, men, and children’s wellbeing and strive to help employees and their families live longer, healthier lives.”

Health plans now abound with options for personal and online coaching to help achieve healthier lifestyle goals, from reducing stress and sleeping better, losing weight and improving fitness and energy levels, stop smoking, and improving the work/life balance. Paired with health care tax credits and insurance exchanges, small businesses will have many incentives to offer insurance and wellness programs that they otherwise might not have thought about or allocated monies for in their business plan.

With more than 20 years experience, Group Health Florida assists benefit managers and companies through the detailed process of finding the best insurance and wellness programs for their employees. They pride themselves on providing a high quality of service, dependability, knowledge, value, and clarity.

To learn more visit: http://www.grouphealthflorida.com

When shopping for home insurance, owners will want to look not only for affordable prices, but also companies that provide excellent customer service. Agents should be available when you need them most. Natural disasters and accidents, unfortunately, do not always occur during regular business hours. A good agent will be understanding and helpful when a family loses their home and all of their posessions in the middle of the night.

It is better to call a home insurance agent as soon as possible, especially for those who live in Florida. Agents cannot sell insurance when a hurricane is near the state, so homeowners must have policies in place beforehand to protect them from damage related to the storm.

If an owner already has a current home policy, compare those coverages and what they provide should one of the most frequent claims happen in their home. Call an Orlando home insurance agent to see how to get better coverage. If an owner already has a wind mitigation inspection filled out, this will equal cost and time savings when shopping around.

It is just as important to pick a company that has the financial backing and stability to service customers year after year, no matter what storm or calamity might come through the Orlando area. It is very important to look at their reinsurance. Reinsurance is insurance for insurance companies and shows how they would be able to pay claims should multiple hurricanes occur.

“We have been in business for more than 20 years in Orlando and know it is a good idea to review your policy to ensure it is up-to-date for what is happening in the area,” said Lee Rogers of www.floridainsurance.com. “It only takes a few minutes to see what opportunities there are to get more adequate coverage and save you money.”

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Many homeowners need to take a look at their policies when they decide to rent out their home. A homeowner’s policy must be converted to a landlord policy to cover the basic damage that could happen with renters. Separately, tenants should get renter’s insurance to safeguard personal belongings.

It is best to speak with a knowledgeable Orlando home insurance agent about the coverage choices that are available. Deductibles will most likely be modified and coverage limits will come into play too. Landlord policies can cover just one home, or if more investment real estate is purchased, policies can be created for insuring two or more condos, homes, or duplexes.

“The biggest factor you’ll want to consider is what you want your policy to do for you should a claim happen,” said Lee Rogers of www.floridainsurance.com.

Landlords can choose from named peril policies that will cover specific, major losses such as fire, explosion, or wind. Or a comprehensive policy can cover all types of accidental losses, unless excluded from the policy. Optional coverage can also compensate for liability, detached structures, theft, loss of rent, personal property, vandalism, and malicious mischief.

“And when it comes to settling a claim, you’ll want to know ahead of time how you will receive the monies to take care of any issue,” Rogers said.

An actual cash settlement will pay for the current value of the property, which equals the replacement cost minus depreciation costs. This type of policy will have lower premiums but could also leave a landlord paying some money out of pocket. Conversely, the replacement cost method pays the amount needed to replace the property with a new one of like kind and quality. This type will have higher premiums, but gives better peace of mind that a landlord will receive adequate monies when a claim is made. Both are subject to deductibles and coverage limits.

“Some companies offer big discounts for higher deductibles, and a landlord can qualify for other discounts depending on how the home is built,” Rogers stated. “It is smart to find an agent that will review your policy every year, as changes can happen when a landlord makes improvements or changes happen in the housing market.”

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

First, when a home is sold, depending on what property is bought or rented next can make a big difference. As a consumer, you will want to find an agent that can go over the premium differences in square footage, location, construction style and age of the property, and what personal property will be transferred to the new residence.

Then, when retiring, consumers can save on auto insurance since without the daily commute to work, an individual is reclassified as less of a liability. When someone is at home more of the day, it also presents less risk and thus home insurance policies can come down too.

“Every year it’s good to check in with you agent to ensure that your deductibles are adequate and your premium is affordable,” said Lee Rogers of www.floridainsurance.com, who specializes in Orlando home and automobile insurance. “We’ll also inquire about any life events that can lessen your payments.”

And when kids go to college without taking a car, be sure to remove them from an umbrella policy or parents will be paying for something that’s not being used. This can save a policyholder quite a bit of money since teenage drivers and their vehicles are more of a risk.

“We’ve been in business for more than 18 years and know people are busy with their careers and lives,” said Rogers. “It takes only a few minutes to review your status and see what opportunities there are to save you money.”

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Orlando, Fla. – Major travel publishers have announced their top cities to travel to in 2011. When traveling, drivers will want to make sure they have reviewed their automobile insurance before they visit these top cities.

Liability coverage protects a driver if they are held responsible for an accident that causes injury or loss to others. Florida law mandates personal injury protection, so this type of coverage and an additional $10,000 of property damage is a must should a driver cause an accident.

Medical coverage pays hospital and medical bills for the driver and any passengers in the vehicle. Uninsured motorist coverage is also encouraged and, lastly, collision/comprehensive coverage pays for the vehicle damage due to accident, theft, vandalism or fire.

“Drivers should enjoy these great cities and landscapes that the U.S. has to offer, and review their automobile insurance before they go,” said Lee Rogers of www.floridainsurance.com. “It is best to purchase more insurance than required to properly insure your family, assets, and future earnings.”

The top 2011 cities include the day drive of Atlanta and Savannah, and go further west to New Orleans and Austin. Frommers and Lonely Planet staffs also agree that weeklong drives are a great way to see the U.S. and recommend Southern Utah with the breathtaking Bryce Canyon and Zion Parks as a natural wonder with dazzling rock formations and scenic views. Denver, the Grand Canyon, Northern California and Palm Springs round out the top western-U.S. picks. New York City takes the number one spot by both publishers. This year is the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and the September 11 Memorial is scheduled to open with lots of crowds and dedications. And the High Line, a former abandoned railway track, is now a popular park and will debut this spring.

Floridainsurance.com has helped travelers and drivers for more than 20 years. Their online quoting system is a fast and easy way to ensure drivers have the coverage needed for a fun excursion in the future.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

If you want to make sure you keep the visitors that land on your insurance website, then one of the things you really need to offer is instant quotes. Potential customers love being able to get an idea right away about how much they need to spend to get an insurance policy they need.

The 21st century has brought with it an increased desire to get more information faster. By providing instant insurance quotes, your insurance website will rank higher than one that does not offer quotes. Competition is what allows your business to thrive. Knowing what you need to do to keep your insurance website alive and fresh is crucial for business.

The smart insurance website will offer at least three quotes to their visitors. That is the optimal number for people to start comparing prices and policy content and it is not all that confusing. When people are looking for insurance, they want to know the policy price structure and what that will get them. In other words, the basics. If they want anything more, they can call or e-mail the agent.

If your insurance website does not have that kind of information, you may lose that visitor. Ultimately, you want to keep people on your site and get them to buy a policy. If you are trying to optimize you own website, do you have the time during your work day to tend to your website, included features to attract customers, keep it professional and fast loading and optimize it for the right keywords? Chances are the answer is: “No.”

It is time to hire out your search engine optimization to a company that understands the insurance marketing business, because that is what they know, that is what they do and they have the experience to back them up. Imagine that kind of experience working for you. Imagine partnering with a search engine optimization company that knows what your clients want and need and can deliver that to you to boost your business.

To be in business, you need to attract customers, if you do not have insurance search engine optimization experience, then find someone who does and do it right the first time. Your business will thank you for your smart choice.

ReadytoQuote, aninsurance marketing company, specializes in insurance marketing and insurance websites online. Learn more at ReadytoQuote.com.

“If you have been denied health insurance, you’re no doubt wondering what on earth you are going to do, whether or not you have any other options and why you were denied. Chances are, you were denied due to a pre-existing condition. But that doesn’t mean another insurance company won’t consider you, because each company underwrites risks differently. In other words, it pays to shop around, and don’t take no for an answer,” said Clelland Green, RHU, and president of Benepath, Pennsylvania.

“If you’re hunting for health insurance on your own and have hit a snag and been rejected, seriously, it’s best to talk to an expert health insurance agent. They’re there to help you, the advice is free and they can usually find you something that will meet your needs. Too many people, in the rush to avoid talking to an insurance agent, are overlooking a valuable, time and money saving, free resource,” Green said.

The truth about the health insurance hunt is that people do not honestly know what they want or even really need. Too many people just make assumptions about things and do not check them out. Nine times out of 10, those assumptions are just plain wrong and someone may go without health insurance because they thought they could not get it.

Most people can most definitely get health insurance. Some may even get partial coverage for some things, which is better than no coverage at all. “The one thing to be very wary of is that if you have opted to try an individual plan that does not have medical underwriting, these are often just discount plans masquerading as something else. They do not give you the kind of coverage an honest to goodness medical health insurance plan will provide,” Green said.

Another open option may include high risk pools. At least 29 states have them and they are designed to help those who have been deemed uninsurable. Check around before taking this route, as more often than not, there is something that will suit everyone’s needs, no matter what their circumstances may be.

“Pools do have disadvantages you need to know about, such as they can terminate your coverage if there is legislation against it, there are long waiting lists, the costs are higher and you may no longer be eligible if you move, etc.,” Green said.

The best method to find health insurance is to stick with a local health insurance agent, visit trusted health insurance provider websites and do the research. An informed consumer is a wise one.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

“While a lot of people figure they will be just fine when it comes to not having Florida Keys health insurance, the truth is, no one really knows for sure what will happen in life. They may have an accident, break a leg, contract pneumonia or be diagnosed with asthma. Guessing how healthy you are going to be is a little like playing Russian roulette. You may not get the bullet and then again, you may, so why take chances with your health?” asked Evan Tunis, Evan Tunis of Florida Healthcare Insurance, Delray Beach, Florida.

If people are uncertain of what they need for health coverage, they will be heartened to know that there are a wide variety of options available to them on the market. If price is a concern, it is quite possible to find suitable Florida Keys health insurance at a reasonable price. “You need to know what you are looking for, what your budget is, what you need in terms of care and that includes pre-existing conditions and how often you usually see a doctor a year,” Tunis said.

For those looking for health insurance for their families, the best place to start looking is by making a list of what is needed. That may include the medical conditions of all family members, their drugs and how often they see a doctor. Everyone has different needs and the idea is to find something that covers as many of those needs as possible.

When looking online for various Florida Keys health insurance plans, find out precisely what kinds of plans are out there that would suit a family situation. There may be various routes to choose here as well. “For instance, if you are employed, you might get less expensive coverage through work. If not, you will want to speak directly to your local health insurance specialist for help. That’s my job, and I can assist you in finding what you need, quickly and for a reasonable price,” Tunis said.

It is always helpful to check into what the limitations are for each plan under consideration. Every plan has some restrictions, but they are not always the same, so it is wise to know what those are, particularly if there are family members with pre-existing conditions. To that end, also be on the lookout for plans to take care of prescriptions. “If you and/or anyone in the family are taking pills, this needs to be factored into the health insurance coverage equation as well,” Tunis said.

Evan Tunis is with FloridaHealthcareInsurance.com, the leading provider of Florida and Florida Keys health insurance quotes. To learn more about Florida health insurance, visit http://floridahealthcareinsurance.com/floridakeys -insurance.html

Basketball at the base gym was like playing pick-up basketball at the yard – it was sometimes brutal and often ungraceful. There were guys who were totally inept, who swung elbows into faces, flailing about like a hurt chicken, bulldozing some guys over and sometimes injuring them severely.

But Everett knew the game well. He had played organized ball since high school and was MVP and a point guard, team captain, the go-to person, and he despised more than anything all the Frankensteinian frenzy that happened at the base gym. He only played there because he knew the people and it actually was the only good consistent spot to play ball.

Sometimes, as he was sitting at the sidelines waiting for his turn to play, after signing up his name on the roster and saying he got “next”, he would often think about work, and how funny or ridiculous some of his clients were.

One client kept insisting that her cocker spaniel’s treats should be tax deductible because Princess told her it was meals to benefit the employer, meaning her, for her happiness. Another woman who kept getting her child’s social security wrong finally got it right. She said about her continual mishap, “So, what’s the big deal? I was off by one number.”

Everett had been bringing Matt with him for years to play ball at the base gym – Matt Lockhard, the independent California health insurance agent, who checked in with him as he checked the ball in from the side line, “You are still covered, right?” Matt asked Everett.

“Of course! I have the best health insurance agent!” said Everret while defending Matt.

“Good!” Matt said exasperatingly after bypassing Matt and putting up a superb layup in his face.

Then he realized what it was all about after that. All the accounting and perfection really doesn’t amount to much, especially when Matt just scored on you.

To learn more please visit: http://www.mattsinsurance4ca.com

“Stop this madness,” Willimina howled, as she accidentally stepped in a puddle with her new designer heels. Willimina Hayslett just flew into Los Angeles from New York City to visit her clients regarding her new fall line. Although it hardly ever rains in Los Angeles, she managed to find a muddy pool of water to step into. In the northeast, muddy puddles were just synonymous to the unpredictability of spring.

She was polished and dressed impeccably, for she was a walking symbol of ultimate fashion. But she was, on the other hand, never an optimist. Even as a baby she cried every time her mother tried to put her into her favorite fleece sweater. “Look at that thing, it’s hideous, you would cry too if you had to wear it,” she said to her boyfriend, who was looking with her through her old baby photos. She had a series of handsome boyfriends, but not one was ever suited or stylish enough for her.

“No, not the Willimina Hayslett heels!” exclaimed a man who just witnessed the event.

Willimina looked up to look at the most stylish and debonair man she had ever seen.

“How did you know that these were…?”

“Are you kidding me? Willimina Hayslett is my specialty! I have a store on Rodeo and I sell her stuff. You should come and visit since you are also a big fan of her and you can perhaps get a new pair of heels.”

Perhaps he didn’t recognize who she was with her big black shades, or maybe it was because her hair was up. But then again, she remembered that she didn’t care for photographers too much and avoided them all like a plague, so not too many pictures of her circulated, not even at fashion week in New York or Milan.

“Thank you,” said Willimina, “but I have too many of her stuff in my warehouse, too.”

“Would you care to join me at the café here, where I was sipping my coffee before I witnessed the tragedy?”

Willimina didn’t have to go anywhere until the next day, so she obliged. During the course of their encounter, she learned that his name was William Hatsfield and that he was originally from Powers Lake, South Dakota – not the hybrid of luxurious living that she hoped for but he, after all, was certainly a big fan of her work. As she looked down at her waterlogged heels, she wondered if she should tell him?

Then she remembered what Matt Lockhard, the independent California insurance agent said, “Don’t have to tell the whole story all the time in order for them to believe you!”

“I would love to see your store while I’m in California,” she said to William just short of being interrupted by her cell phone. “Excuse me for a moment, William. Hello, mother…yes, yes, I see… How is the weather in Powers Lake?”

At that moment, William forgot about his infatuation with Willimina Hayslett and fell in love with a hometown girl.

To learn more please visit: http://www.mattsinsurance4ca.com

“It goes without saying that these days, people really do need health insurance, because you just don’t know what will happen today, tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. If you don’t have the proper health insurance coverage, you will be left holding an enormous medical bill if something bad happens and you likely won’t be able to pay it,” said Evan Tunis of Florida Healthcare Insurance, Delray Beach, Florida.

While many Americans struggle with the specter of compulsory health insurance in the years to come, they worry about how they will pay for it. They have enough on their plate right now, without trying to find the extra cash to pay for health insurance premiums. Their primary goal, in many cases, is to just get food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.

“But, therein lies a real dilemma,” Tunis said. “If one of the parents gets sick and needs medical care, their budget is completely blown and they may not be able to pay the bill. If they had Tallahassee health insurance, they would have likely be able to deal with the bill without going under financially.”

The best solution to the fear of being taken ill and being unable to deal with the expenses is to get health insurance. There are a number of factors to consider before anyone does ultimately choose what they think will work for them. For instance, anyone needing health insurance really needs to be aware of what coverage they really need. That may include coverage for unexpected medical issues because of an accident or coverage for an unexpected health condition that could happen to anyone, such as diabetes.

Shop around for various providers. Ask questions. Take notes. Compare policies. “Ask more questions and you will find something that fits your budget. Certainly, cost is a major consideration these days and you need to find something that you are able to manage,” Tunis said. “Those on a budget need to discuss this with the health insurance agent, so that they know what your parameters are when they look for policies for you.”

Something else that really does need to be taken into consideration is the customer service offered by the insurance company. “It’s interesting, because most people don’t even think about this, but you should, because if you have to make a claim, have a problem or a question, you will want help when you call. If you can’t get good service up front when you’re shopping for a policy, think twice about spending your money with that company,” Tunis said.

To learn more about Florida health insurance, visit Orlando Health Care.

“That might sound like a difference without a distinction,” said Clelland Green, RHU, and president of Benepath, Pennsylvania. “But, there actually is a difference and it has to do with many factors, including the blending or consolidation of hospitals into chains.”

Health care costs are far more expensive in the U.S. than in any other developed nation. There are several schools of thought on this, with the first one being that med mal lawsuits have hiked the costs by driving doctors to practice defensive medicine. The other line of thought goes that the fault for higher health care costs lies with those Americans who don’t have any health insurance and use the ER rather than primary care.

“Whatever your feelings on the matter, many think that health care services are being abused. But, a new report reveals that the U.S. actually uses less health care services when compared to Western European nations.  It appears the main reason is actually rising unit prices. Put another way, each individual treatment per person is costlier in the U.S.,” Green said.

The rising per unit price comes about by way of things like several hospitals merging into one mega-hospital chain. This means that there is no competition in those areas and that the hospital can charge patients whatever they want to charge them – as much as they can get away with in the marketplace.

“Stop to think about that for a moment. Health care costs have continued to rise every year, which means health insurance plan prices also go up. It’s the health insurance companies that ultimately cover the treatments and higher treatment prices affect premium prices, which in turn affects the co-pays and co-insurance percentages by driving them up as well,” Green said.

Do the more expensive health care rates, that are supposedly being used less, give patients better health care resolutions? Chances are the answer to that is no, because spending more money doesn’t always guarantee a healthier outcome.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

“When people get married, they usually figure they’re going to be together for a long time to come. Unfortunately, these days, the divorce rates are quite high. One casualty of the divorce that people don’t tend to think about is their Orlando health insurance,” said Evan Tunis of Florida Health Care Insurance, Delray Beach, Florida.

Whether a person is covered by their spouse’s insurance policy through their job or the insurance was bought from a private company, the spouses need to make some kind of arrangements about continued health insurance coverage. “If you’re wondering what you can do in a situation like this, I have a few tips that might come in handy. One of those tips is to join COBRA, but, only if you have a pre-existing condition. This federal law lets employees keep their health insurance coverage under an employer’s plan just so long as they keep paying the premium,” Tunis said.

Of interest is also the fact that the law allows spouses and other family members to keep getting coverage for up to three years after a divorce. “Yes, the premiums for COBRA are pricey, but if you are stuck, you at least have the option open until you can find Orlando health insurance through other means. This is really useful for those with pre-existing conditions; people who may have problems getting insurance from someone else,” Tunis said.

“Another thing to try is buying your own health insurance,” Tunis said. “Ask your employer if you can get on your company health plan, if they happen to have one. Don’t be too surprised to find out they may have a specific enrollment period to add new members. No company plan? Then you may need to opt for an individual Orlando health insurance policy, which is quite a liberating move when you’re involved in a divorce situation.”

When all else fails, there is the option of requesting a spouse keep the other member on their insurance policy. In other words, it would be mandated through the provisions of the divorce. This is a wise move if there are kids involved. In the alternative, a sum of money can be requested to help pay for insurance.

“For example, if you buy individual health insurance, you could ask that your spouse pay half. Make sure you have a good divorce lawyer in situations like this,” Tunis said.

To learn more about Florida health insurance, visit http://www.floridahealthcareinsurance.com/orlando -insurance.html.

Therefore, more and more businesses are doing their best to offer health insurance, particularly if they are looking for people with rare or high-level skills. Offering health insurance can also mean tax breaks.

“Statistics show that health insurance can reduce the number of sick days that employees take,” said Thomas Kaspar of Grouphealthflorida.com. “Here’s how: If your workforce feels comfortable seeing a doctor whenever it needs to, chances are employees will take advantage of preventative care like yearly physicals, resulting in less absenteeism.”

Business owners may be concerned about providing healthcare to employees. After all, it may have added costs, plus the administrative hassle of finding and staying on top of any potential changes.

But offering health insurance will result in a healthier workforce. Absenteeism lowers productivity in a business. It can also have an effect on the bottom line.

Preventative care in health insurance plans means that employees will make use of physicals and regular check-ups. Without insurance, this will not happen. These steps could diagnose any potential problems early, resulting in less of a chance for employees to be out for long periods of time. It can also reduce workers’ compensation and disability claims. Turnover, too, will likely be reduced as many employees prefer a job that offers health insurance. This will save money, as everyone knows there are hidden costs in hiring and training new workers.

“The bottom line: Having a healthy workforce means a more productive workforce,” Kaspar said.

There are a multitude of group health insurance plans to fit any size of business. Employers looking to provide insurance for employees must seek quotations from more than one insurance company and compare the various health plans that are being shown, ask lots of questions, and take their time in making a decision.

To learn more visit: http://www.grouphealthflorida.com

“Many older Americans make the mistake of thinking that as they near middle age, they can rely on Medicare. They can’t actually access Medicare until they are 65 years old. In the meantime, they need a health insurance plan that suits their lifestyle that isn’t too expensive. Affordable health insurance for baby boomers is a silent issue that is beginning to come to the fore as more boomers near the magic Medicare mark,” said Clelland Green, RHU, president of Benepath, Pennsylvania.

While health care reform may offer those in the middle age group some relief in the future, that will be a while coming. What does a middle-aged boomer do these days to find affordable health insurance? “One of the issues is that the person looking for affordable health insurance is older. There is nothing they can do about that, but it means they are in a more expensive premium range, even if they are in relatively good health,” Green said.

It is a medically documented fact that many people over 50 years of age start to develop issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Even if the high blood pressure comes from age alone and not because of lifestyle, the premium ratings are still higher. That means that a boomer has a higher chance of being rated up or declined because of a health condition, and that’s the plain truth – a fact of life.

“There are several products out in the marketplace aimed at middle-aged people that say they are guaranteed acceptance for their health plans. It sounds like the plans are cheap and an ideal solution when needing health insurance. However, these health plans are usually ‘discount plans,’ which means they are not health insurance. Be careful what you buy,” Green said.

There is another product out there for baby boomers that might suit some people, but not others. “The key is to check into anything you are offered and make sure you know what you are and are not getting. For instance, there are some structured benefit plans offering easier acceptance. But the limits are quite low and that devaluates them. Besides, you also have to pay a hefty premium. While they are health insurance plans of a sort, they are not major medical plans, something which you need to know right up front,” Green said.

There are options out there for those needing affordable health insurance in their middle years, it just takes some time to find the right plan. When searching for a viable plan that offers the right kind of coverage, consult with a knowledgeable health insurance agent.

To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com

You may feel emotionally overwhelmed. The claims process can seem overwhelming, too. But a good insurance provider will walk you through the appropriate steps.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Let’s say an unfortunate event has occurred and you have gone through all the necessary steps of reporting the damage to your home. What happens next? Typically your insurance provider will send out an insurance adjuster to assess the situation and write a report on the damage. The provider will then get estimates from various contractors about the repairs that your home requires.

If you lost furniture or other personal belongings as part of the disaster, those costs will be tallied up. Depending on how your policy is structured, you will either receive the value that you paid for your items or the current market value.

“You may also be eligible to receive reimbursement for other living arrangements that you had to make if your home has become unlivable. You may also have to buy new furniture or clothing,” said Lee Rogers of Florida Insurance in Orlando. “It is important that you keep receipts and records of what you have spent during this time so that these figures can be added to your total reimbursement.”

Your insurance provider may write you an initial check to help with your expenses, though this does not reflect the total reimbursement. Once the insurance provider totals all of the figures and your deductible is subtracted, you will then receive a final reimbursement.

There are several factors that can complicate the claims process. In fact, it is possible to receive up to four checks for a single incident: A check for the damage to your home, a check for your personal effects, a check for your living expenses and a check later on if additional damage is discovered and verified by an appraiser.

If your home is destroyed, you can also have the option to rebuild. Your home will be rebuilt to the same standards that it was in before the incident occurred. Of course, the money will go toward paying off the mortgage if you have one on the house. You will receive the remainder if it is greater than the amount you owe. Money for repairs will be put in an escrow account.

“When filing an insurance claim, it is important to provide accurate and timely information to your insurance provider to keep the claims process running as smoothly as possible,” Rogers said.

For more information, visit www.floridainsurance.com on the Web or call 1.888.525.2210.

“There’s really no need to be confused when it comes to deciding what type of Tampa health insurance would work for you or your family. I’m a phone call away and know the market intimately. All we need to do is talk about your life situation and what you need to be covered. I take it from there and find what works for you and for your budget,” said Evan Tunis of Florida Health Care Insurance, Delray Beach, Florida.

If people initiate their own search for health insurance, one of the first things they need to do is try and figure out what they absolutely need, and then factor in things that would be nice to have if their budget can handle it. The search starts from this point. While there are a great number of options on the market, with time and patience, anyone can find what they need. Mostly.

“I say mostly because many of the subtler things that people need to know about a health insurance policy are not always online. There just isn’t the room to do that. So typically, the preferred rates are up online, because they’re lower. If Joe American wants that rate, then they need to be in tip top shape. Generally speaking, most people have a pre-existing condition and that will change their quote. This is why you need to call an agent and ask questions,” Tunis said.

Asking questions is the right way to get to the bottom of all the different policies to choose from for Miami health insurance. For example, if a person is taking medication for acid reflux or to keep the blood from coagulating too quickly, some insurance companies may decline to insure him or her, and others may issue a rider. Knowing what medications a person is taking is part of the whole decision making process when it comes to finding a suitable health insurance policy.

“If you’re stuck and don’t know for sure what would work for you, then call me. I am available to answer your questions and can definitely help you when you’re looking for a Tampa health insurance policy,” Tunis said.

To learn more about Florida health insurance, visit http://www.floridahealthcareinsurance.com/tampa-insurance.html.

There are many reasons one would choose to give this way. A gift of a paid-up policy can provide tremendous benefits to the institution, be it a church, university or other not-for-profit.

Typical donors have outgrown the need for insurance protection, have paid the policy for several years, want to ensure the completion of a significant gift and use this gift of life insurance as part of a comprehensive financial plan.

“Before you consider donating your life insurance, be sure to confirm the donation is even possible,” said Mark Lublin of Life Insurance 2.0. “First, you should ensure that the organization is a bona fide nonprofit—that it’s a 501(c)(3) organization. Ask for certification.”

Then ask someone at the organization if they will accept the life insurance as a gift. Some charities find insurance policies are more trouble than they’re worth. So double-check.

It is possible to receive a tax deduction from the gift, but the receiving non-profit has to be both the owner and the beneficiary of the life insurance policy. The Internal Revenue Service will not allow you to subtract the cash value of your policy from your taxes if you name the charity as the beneficiary but not the owner.

Third, decide whether you want to donate a term or whole life policy. Term life insurance policies do not cost as much, but they are also less enticing to charities because when the term expires on them, they are essentially useless. Whole life policies cost more, but they have a cash value that builds up the longer that premiums are being paid on them.

“There are plenty of advantages of naming a charity as the owner, beneficiary, and premium payer of a life insurance policy,” Lublin said.

It is important to mention that for a tax deduction you may not ultimately be able to claim the entire market value of a life insurance policy given to a non-profit. In fact, it is only meant to be understood as a starting point.

Lesley Reuben writes for Life Insurance 2.0. To learn more or to compare
life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life
insurance quote, visit http://www.lifeinsurance20.com

According to recent survey by Life Insurance Market Research Association, an insurance industry think-tank and research group, 30 percent of U.S. households don’t have coverage, compared with 22 percent just six years ago. Even more alarming is that among the households that don’t have coverage, 11 million are families with children under the age of 18.

“Despite today’s economic challenges, it is important that families think about the fact that forgoing life insurance can be a dangerous decision,” said Mark Lublin of Life Insurance 2.0. “Life insurance can bring much-needed peace of mind.”

Many surveyed by LIMRA said they felt that the life insurance coverage offered through their employer is enough to meet their needs. Yet in the past year, someone became unemployed in 15 percent of all U.S. households.

There are several reasons for the upswing in the number of people living without life insurance. However, LIMRA found that the drop in life insurance ownership is not because families feel safe. Among households with children under 18, four in 10 say they would have immediate trouble meeting everyday living expenses if the primary breadwinner died today.

Obviously, the economy and stricter household budgets have contributed to their risky decisions to forgo life insurance. These consumers may not be aware that life insurance products are cheaper than ever.

The cost of term life policies, which provide coverage for a specific period, have dropped because people are living longer and insurers are using technology to lower their administrative costs.

A new poll of 30 leading life insurance companies conducted by Life Quotes, Inc., has found that life insurance rates remain at all-time lows.

“With life insurance rates at such favorable levels, now is actually a great time to purchase a policy,” Lublin said.

Lesley Reuben writes for Life Insurance 2.0. To learn more or to compare
life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life
insurance quote, visit http://www.lifeinsurance20.com

With group health insurance plans in Florida, the policyholder is more often than not the CEO of a company or the head of an association of some kind. This person offers health insurance coverage to employees or association members. The biggest benefit with group health insurance is that no one may be turned down for coverage, which is unlike individual health insurance. That’s a distinct benefit for workers.

On the other hand, when it comes to opting in to a group health insurance plan, members all get the same coverage and do not get to pick and choose what they want in the policy, like an a la carte menu. For example, members are not given the option to choose a particular co-pay or deductible, and this is because every member in that group has the same insurance.

The most popular part of being involved in a group health insurance plan is the money people save in the long run, as this type of health insurance is less expensive than individual plans. Of course, this is a benefit to the association head or the company boss, but ultimately, it is an enormous benefit for the workers as well.

As for premiums for group health insurance through an association or a company, there are a couple of ways to go on that. Either the employer picks up the full premium of the group plan on its own, or requires that workers pay a portion of the premium. Generally speaking, this is an entirely personal choice that should be based upon what works best in that particular workplace. There is also a requirement of an 18-month continuation of insurance for employees who quit or who are terminated. This law comes under the Florida Health Insurance Continuation Act and is a part of the COBRA laws.

For a company or association looking for information on Florida group heaalth care insurance, the best method to find a reliable source is to use a search engine that sifts through the myriad of different plans available in Florida and narrows things down to a few relevant group plans. Once the choice is narrowed down, the policy details can be compared side by side, and the best policy for the circumstances chosen.

To learn more visit: http://www.grouphealthflorida.com

While it might sound a tad dramatic to say not having health insurance coverage may bankrupt you, it’s the honest truth. Consider this: you get into a car wreck and hit your head on the steering wheel and you need an MRI and other medical intervention. You don’t have health insurance. How are you going to pay the bill when it arrives? Many people don’t have that kind of money on hand. If they can’t pay their bills, what other choices are available to them? More often than not these days, the final option that many Americans have been forced to take is bankruptcy.

For example, as of Aug. 17, bankruptcy filings shot up 20 percent in the 12-month period ending June 30. A total of 1,572,597 bankruptcy cases were filed in federal courts, compared to 1,306,315 bankruptcy cases filed in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009. This is the highest number of bankruptcy filings for any period since many of the provisions of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (2005) took effect. Half of the bankruptcies were filed on the basis of the person filing having suffered a serious health problem and fewer than 9 percent hadn’t suffered a medical catastrophe, divorce or job loss.

As you can see, if you don’t have health insurance, any serious medical issue will put you and your family in a very precarious position. No one has a crystal ball that will tell them when they should rush out and get health insurance because something is about to happen. The facts are that bad things happen just when we figure life is going pretty good. What if you broke your wrist or leg, would you have the money to pay for that without having health insurance? Chances are the answer to that is “No.”

On the other hand, if you have health insurance, you stand a fighting chance of getting your medical bills paid. Put another way, health insurance can keep you from going bankrupt, so it’s well worth the monthly premiums to protect you and your family. While many people complain about the high costs of premiums, they don’t realize that those premiums and their policy will protect them when they need it the most. It’s that or nothing and nothing means catastrophic bills that could sink a family’s finances.

Isn’t it in your own best interests to be protected, for your health and for your financial integrity?

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com.

The first few days back in school felt like a pleasant dream to Dorothy. Each day that week, she rode her spiffy new 10-speed to her high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Her purple bike had been safely tethered to the crowded bike rack each day, the 12-mile freeway ride proving relatively uneventful. She was a junior now, on track in her college prep courses for UCLA, and she was caught up on her homework and having a blast. But on the Friday of that fateful first week, the health insurance plan that her beloved great-grandfather had purchased from California Health Insurance agent Matt Lockard, proved fortuitous. Her great-grandfather, known in the neighborhood as a cowardly lion because of his pacifist views, had served as Dorothy’s guardian since she’d been in 7th grade and her parents had both died of “that rash.”

But on that fateful Friday, she suffered more than scrapes and bruises, more than mere contusions, when she smacked into the side wall of her school’s cement façade. She hadn’t been paying attention, she later admitted. Dorothy was knocked unconscious, but she’d recovered a bit by the time the ambulance came. Still, she was somewhat delirious and kept yelling: “Where art thou, great-grandfather, ye cowardly lion?” as if it were a mantra.

In her hospital room, the surroundings were unfamiliar, surreal, and in a word, strange. Even when her beloved great-grandfather came a calling, and brought along California Health Insurance agent Matt Lockard, she kept referring to that stoic man from Ventura as “the Tin Man,” which was quite unfair as Matt does indeed have a heart, and it beats, yeah, it beats. Finally, he showed that heart, saying to Dorothy, “Your great-grandfather loves you, and besides, everything’s covered and I’ve brought your homework.” All the time, Matt smiled, pleasantly showing his teeth – including several molars of the type never before seen in the mythical land of Oz.

But at the mention of homework, Dorothy snapped out of her trance, sort of. “Thank you, Tin Man,” she said, smiling.

To learn more please visit: http://www.mattsinsurance4ca.com

Social Security turned 75 on August 14. While some celebrated its successes, the dominant narrative was instead that Social Security is in trouble. Politicians and pundits took note of Social Security’s anniversary amid renewed warnings about the dire challenges the program is facing.

In the political realm, discussion of Social Security has degraded more to the level of insult slinging and demagoguery than actual policy discussion. Democrats are accusing Republicans of trying to dismantle the nation’s most popular social insurance program (which they are) and Republicans are accusing Democrats of scare mongering about Republicans’ plans (which they are).

However, as is increasingly and unfortunately the case, the additional attention currently being paid to Social Security is not contributing to a better understanding of the program.

Debates about the health of Social Security are not new. Since President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935, the program has never met a 75-year test for solubility. [1] Yet, 75 years later, Social Security is still paying all promised benefits to retirees and individuals with disabilities.

President George W. Bush made Social Security “reform” a key goal early in his presidency. However, even with non-stop media coverage and in some cases flat out fear-mongering, the idea of privatizing some or all of the nation’s Social Security program simply did not appeal to the majority of Americans. The inability to pass any changes to Social Security after making “reform” key to his agenda was one of President Bush’s larger legislative failures.

The debate over what, if any, changes should be made to the Social Security system was quieted during the later years of the Bush presidency, but has resurfaced with vigor as President Barack Obama approaches the midway point of his first term. The resurgence of the debate can be attributed to several factors. Republicans, pandering to an increasingly extreme base in the coming 2010 mid-term elections, are using public confusion about the program to foment an atmosphere of fear and panic over looming budget deficits. Ideology also plays a roll. Conservatives do not like Social Security. It is a popular, effective government program that runs counter to the dogma that government can do no good. Finally, some politicians and economists are engaged in a good faith effort to make sure seniors who rely on Social Security and workers who have been promised Social Security will continue to receive benefits into the foreseeable future.

One key group investigating the future of Social Security is President Obama’s deficit commission. In February, the president created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, and tasked the commission with developing solutions to help maintain the nation’s long-term fiscal solubility. Social Security leads the commission’s agenda, and members are mandated to produce a series of recommendations by Dec. 1, 2010. [2]

From its inception, the commission has received criticism from the left for its conservative makeup, being comprised of Republicans and moderate- to conservative-leaning Democrats. In a recent Washington Post article, Ezra Klein scored the six Republicans and six Democrats on the commission using DW-NOMINATE rankings. He found that the Senate Democrats on the committee are more conservative than the average Senate Democrat and that the Senate Republicans on the commission are also more conservative than most of their Senate Republican colleagues. The result, in his view, being a committee evenly split in terms of partisan affiliation but right leaning in terms of ideology. [3]

Klein’s analysis of the commission follows a wave of criticism directed at its co-chair, former Republican Senator Alan Simpson. Simpson, proving himself out of touch with working Americans, described Social Security as a “a milk cow with 310 million tits.” In addition to showing a striking lack of tact (the quote coming from a letter written to the head of the National Older Women’s League), Simpson’s rant proves he either does not care about or does not understand the actual workings of the Social Security insurance program. Social Security, funded separately from rest of the federal budget, quite simply pays benefits to those who have paid in. In order to qualify to draw Social Security, an individual must work and contribute to the program for 10 years. Social Security is not means tested; benefits are paid progressively as a percentage of former earnings and contributions.

The mean Social Security benefit is around $14,000 a year, providing 40 percent of retirement income for the average American. [4] According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Social Security lifts 20 million Americans out of poverty. [5] And, according to a recent national survey commissioned by the AARP, 85 percent of adults oppose cutting Social Security and half of non-retired adults support paying higher payroll taxes to ensure the systems stays solvent. Younger Americans, while skeptical about the program’s future, are particularly supportive of the program. 90 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 said they believe Social Security is important. [6]

However, while Social Security is popular, many Americans, particularly young Americans, are skeptical about its future. Much of this can be attributed to the misunderstandings and mistruths that are continuously perpetrated by some in Congress and in the media. Here are the truths behind some of the more common Social Security myths.

1. Social Security adds to the deficit.

Social Security, by law, cannot add to the deficit. It is a separate program, paid into through FICA contributions, with benefits paid only from the revenue it raises. If the trust fund were to be exhausted and current contributions were not adequate to pay benefits, Social Security could not borrow from the general budget. Federal law prohibits Social Security from borrowing.

2. Social Security is broke, and there is no “Trust Fund.”

Conventional wisdom among Social Security skeptics is that the program is out of money now and that there is no Social Security Trust Fund. This is fueled largely by the fact that Social Security did begin to pay more in benefits than it received in taxes earlier than was projected due to the depth of the 2008 recession. Regardless of this fact, The Social Security Trust Fund currently runs a $2.5 trillion surplus. The Economic Policy Institute estimates the surplus will peak at $4.2 trillion in 2024 [7]

Trust Fund intact, with no changes to the program, Social Security is projected to be able to pay 100 percent of benefits until the year 2037. After 2037, Social Security will still be able to pay 75 percent of benefits. [8] A program projected to meet costs almost 4 decades into the future with no adjustments is not a system in crisis. Other government programs would be hard pressed to meet such a standard.

3. The Trust Fund has been raided and is just full of IOUs.

Those who decry the vacuous trust fund, eliciting imagery of a big room with lonely piles of IOUs, are in reality making claims against the creditworthiness of the United States government. True, the Social Security Trust Fund is not sitting around in a lock box as Al Gore eloquently stated. The funds are invested in Treasury Bonds, “full faith and credit” notes that the government issues to many of its creditors. Since the federal government has never missed a payment on its debt, and is not expected to anytime soon, to claim the Trust Fund is full of useless IOUs is disingenuous.

4. The retirement age must be raised because people are living longer

The retirement age argument is tricky because two things are the case: more baby-boomers are soon to retire, and people, on average, are living longer. The argument seems logical on its face, but the reality is very different.

The crux of the issue surrounding the retirement age is that the rise in life expectancy since 1935 is largely due to lower infant mortality rates and is unevenly spread among income levels. Since 1972, life expectancy has increased by 6.5 years for top earners, but by less than two years for workers in the bottom half of the earnings bracket. [9] Because of this disparity, the less affluent, those who most need social security, will see the greatest benefit cut. It is not as difficult to imagine staying in a well-paying office job for a couple more years as it is to continue working lower-paying labor-intensive jobs until age 70.

In addition, the retirement age is already set to increase gradually, due to a 1983 law, until it reaches 67 for people born after 1959.

5. Benefit cuts are needed

To the extent that there will be shortfalls in the Social Security budget in the future, they are minor in relation to other budget expenditures, and can be corrected without cutting benefits. In 1983, when Social Security actually did run out of funds, a “deal” was made with workers to put Social Security back in the black. Payroll taxes were raised, significantly, on middle and lower income workers. The tax increase was highly regressive, but, coupled with a raise in the retirement age, was responsible for building the large surplus Social Security enjoys today.

The increase in taxes on lower income individuals also allowed Reagan to cut taxes on those earning higher incomes. At the time, implicit in the deal was the idea that lower income workers would overpay their taxes for 30 years, at which point higher income individuals would pitch in to relieve some of the burden and cover any funding shortfalls. After a period of overpayment of payroll taxes, the tables would turn, and middle and lower income individuals would begin to underpay payroll taxes with the difference being covered by a raise in income taxes on higher earners. [10]

Thirty years later, the second part of that deal has been conveniently forgotten. Without cutting benefits, and in the spirit of Alan Greenspan’s 1983 recommendations, creating new sources of revenue could increase funds. The cap on Social Security taxed-income, currently $106,800, could be raised or eliminated. Other taxes, like a proposed financial transactions tax, could be implemented. The 75-year projected Social Security deficit is roughly equal to the cost of extending President Bush’s tax cuts on those earning over $250,000 a year for the same period. [11]

The logic, as Paul Krugman stated, is that benefits have to be cut to avoid cuts in benefits. That logic does not add up. [12]

6. Social Security faces the same issues as Medicare and Medicaid.

Social Security often gets lumped in with Medicare and Medicaid as a problem “entitlement” program. It is true, Medicaid and Medicare do face funding problems, but much of this is due to the ballooning costs of health care. Social Security does not face the same problems as Medicare and Medicaid as payouts are not affected by rising health care costs.

Even with these realities, many watching the Social Security debate expect the deficit commission to offer a package of several cuts, including an increase in the retirement age. It is anticipated these cuts will be coupled with some sort of an increase in payroll taxes for wealthier Americans.

Current and future retirees would be well served if politicians would stop confusing the distinction between cuts in Social Security and cuts in the national debt. Mounting deficits are a legitimate concern, but can in no way be attributed to Social Security. Americans, both those receiving Social Security benefits, and those planning to receive benefits in the future, acknowledge the significance of the Social Security. A program that is so important to so many Americans deserves an honest debate.

SOURCES

1. http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/webfeatures_viewpoints_ss_myth/

2. http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/

3. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/08/the_republicans_on_the_deficit.html

4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-miller/its-time-to-bolster-socia_b_696327.html

5. http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3260

6. http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-08-2010/social_security_75th.html

7. http://www.epi.org/analysis_and_opinion/entry/fact_check_has_social_security_begun_tapping_its_trust_funds/

8. http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TR/2010/index.html

9. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/07/more_on_raising_the_retirement.html

10. http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/08/deal

11. http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3262&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cbpp%2FfYJq+%28Center+on+Budget+and+Policy+Priorities%29#_ftnref1

12. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/opinion/16krugman.html?_r=1&hp

As tragedies can occur without notice, life insurance should be secured so that loved ones will not have to face financial ruin as well as an emotional loss. Dealing with the death of a loved one can be emotionally taxing and families should be able to mourn the loss of loved ones without having to worry about paying the bills.

Life insurance is one of the most effective tools for dealing with lost income, as it can deliver a designated amount of money, which is usually free from income-tax, to a family at the time they need it the most. Life insurance is particularly important for those who have children that will need to be provided for. A person’s death can dramatically change the ability of the surviving spouse to pay for rent, save for children’s college funds, and to maintain the family’s standard of living. In addition, a surviving spouse or partner may need to work less in order to take care of the children or may need to secure child care, and this can be costly. Families who consider these issues and obtain a life insurance policy will be prepared to deal with the death of a provider. While it might be tough to assess how a tragedy might change the lives of an individual’s loved ones, it would be even tougher for those loved ones to face financial hardship on top of their loss.

Even those who think they are in perfect health and too young to think about the need for life insurance, it is never too early for those who act as providers for other people. Family members who rely on a provider’s salary for food, clothing and shelter will still need these things even in the event of something tragic.

Although securing life insurance can seem like a scary prospect because it highlights one’s mortality, it should also provide a sense of comfort. Individuals can rest assured that if something unfortunate were to occur, their families would be protected and provided for. Deciding on the right life insurance policy for one’s circumstances can be tricky, and individuals should give careful thought to how they can best protect their dependents.

To learn more or to compare life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life insurance quote or term life insurance quote visit Lifeinsurance2o.com.

There are a great number of health aspects that can affect your ability to qualify for term life insurance, and these same aspects can have a profound effect on your rates. If you do not have a clear understanding of how these aspects of health can affect your life insurance premium, you may have a hard time figuring out why your rates may be higher than comparable policies for healthier people. It is important to understand how alcohol, smoking and weight can all affect term insurance and how they affect premium rates.

Alcohol consumption can have an effect on your insurance premiums. While many people may think it is impossible for an insurance company to judge their alcohol consumption, they have several ways to assess an individual’s relationship with alcohol other than by reviewing the health questionnaire. As many companies require a physical, they will use the information gathered during the process to assess your alcohol consumption. Another way that insurance companies look for unhealthy levels of alcohol consumption is through the individual’s driving record. If you have any alcohol related incidents on your record, most life insurance companies will see you as an elevated risk and will most likely adjust your premium for a policy as needed to reflect that liability.

Smoking habits can also have a great effect on your insurance premiums. To accurately assess your smoking habits, the insurance company will likely require a questionnaire as well as a physical exam. The medical evaluation will be the easiest way for companies to uncover your smoking habits, as smoking leaves behind numerous chemicals in your body. During the physical, companies look specifically for these chemicals and will use this information to determine how much of a risk you are.

Being overweight or underweight may cause you to see some form of increase in your life insurance premiums. Term life insurance premiums are affected by weight because of the health-related ramifications. If you are underweight or overweight, then you are potentially putting yourself into a health risk situation. The amount of deaths caused by obesity is rising and life insurance companies do not want to take risks on those who are obese. Maintaining a healthy weight can help keep your rates down, but straying too far away from that healthy size can cost you a lot.

By controlling these lifestyle habits that pose a risk to insurance companies, you can help control the amount you will pay for life insurance. You should consult an expert life insurance broker who can offer you advice on how to get the lowest premiums.

To learn more or to compare life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life insurance quote or term life insurance quote visit Lifeinsurance2o.com.

Individuals take out life insurance policies because they want to ensure that their families are protected even after their death. While most life insurance is secured with this good intention, sometimes the coverage in a single life insurance policy is not sufficient to meet all the needs of a family, especially when there are a large number of dependents and the financial commitments are high.

Fortunately, there are a number of options available to families that will increase their life insurance amounts. One of the most popular ways to get such insurance is through an employer. Most employers who offer their employees a benefits package will provide a basic amount of life insurance to all of their employees. This coverage is almost always guarantee issue that does not require any medical information. The employer may decide on a flat amount for all employees and may offer an amount that is equal to one times the employee’s yearly salary. While most employer-provided group life insurance does not cover more than one year’s salary, some policies may allow you to multiply that coverage at your own cost. You could, for example, choose to purchase additional life insurance that is three or four times your yearly salary. By obtaining the supplemental group life insurance your employer offers, you can provide extra financial security to your family.

The great benefit of securing supplemental coverage through a group life insurance policy is that you are likely to pay a lot less in premiums for the policy than you would if you purchased an additional individual life insurance policy or increased your coverage on an existing one. The premiums are substantially lower because the life insurance company is writing a single policy for a large group of people.

It is important to remember that group life insurance is not meant to provide for your family on its own. It is meant to supplement life insurance policies you already have. A group plan is simply a great way to supplement any individual policies you may have separate from your employer. If your employer gives you the opportunity to increase your group life insurance amount, you’ll want to carefully consider the cost as well as what coverage you already have before making a final choice.

To learn more or to compare life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life insurance quote or term life insurance quote visit Lifeinsurance2o.com.

If you’re like many single men and women, part of a group that represents nearly 40 percent of America’s population, you may feel that you have little need for life insurance. After all, if you have no spouse to protect in the event of your premature death, you are not likely to have many financial obligations. While this may be true for some, many singles need and would greatly benefit from securing life insurance policies.

Just because you are single, does not mean that you are alone and do not have people who depend on you. Your death would likely have a profound financial effect on your family members and having life insurance can help reduce this impact. If you are a young adult, you may have accumulated student loans that will need to be paid off after your death. In these days, many education loans are taken out in the names of other family members, and parents are generally the co-signers. Under law, a co-signer would be fully obligated to pay 100 percent of a debt if the other signer is unable to do so. Obtaining a life insurance policy can help protect your family members from having to shoulder this financial burden on their own, in the event of your premature death.

When you pass away, there will be final expenses that must be taken care of. Sometimes these expenses can cost thousands of dollars. These obligations could fall on your parents and other loved ones and cause them undue stress. Securing a life insurance policy now can take this pressure off of your loved ones.

If you are a single parent, you should also make sure that you secure life insurance. As the sole breadwinner in your household, you are responsible for the support and care of your children. If something happened to you, other family members may step in to help, but this may place a significant financial burden on them. As a single parent, you already know the cost of maintaining your children’s standard of living, and when you die your income will die with you. A life insurance policy can ensure that your children will be provided for in your absence.

An expert life insurance broker can discuss your options with you and help you choose a policy that will provide an adequate amount of coverage.

To learn more or to compare life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life insurance quote or term life insurance quote visit Lifeinsurance2o.com.

In today’s troubled economy, high-risk investment strategies have threatened the financial stability of some life insurance companies and thus the safety of policy benefits. As a result, many policyholders may be concerned with the company’s ability to pay out benefits. This nervousness may be enough to get them to choose another life insurance provider that can provide more stability and better coverage.

Another important reason that people lose confidence in their existing insurer is because their needs may change, and they may not feel that their existing insurer will be able to provide them with affordable options for increased coverage. Just be advised that any change in your personal circumstances since you first acquired life insurance may require a different strategy than the one originally pursued and getting increased coverage at an affordable price is not guaranteed.

When considering policy replacement, you may also wish to explore the possibility of amending or converting your current policy to a newer product within the same insurance company you have now without any loss of rights or accumulated cash value. If, however, you have already made the choice to switch to another life insurance company, be sure to check out the insurer’s industry rating, as determined by an independent rating service, before committing your funds to the company. 

If you are considering replacing or changing your existing life insurance policy, you first should carefully assess your needs and determine what is in your own best interest for the long-term.  You should also consider the interests of those you are protecting and factor this into your decision. 

Deciding how much insurance you need, how long you will need it for, and which policy will provide the best coverage is crucial to your financial security and your loved ones’ future. If you’ve lost confidence in your existing life insurance policy insurer, it might be a good idea to shop around and carefully consider all of your options. An expert life insurance broker can help you find a new policy that will fit your needs.

To learn more or to compare life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life insurance quote or term life insurance quote visit Lifeinsurance2o.com.

Purchasing a life insurance policy is not something one should do quickly without considering all of the options. Those who are interested in purchasing policies need to take time and review their needs as well as the needs of their family members. Oftentimes, many people prefer not to think about life insurance at all, as it forces them to consider an unpleasant subject. They only do so when they have had a recent brush with death. Waiting to buy life insurance until a critical moment can be costly for families, and individuals should consider buying a life insurance policy as soon as possible. Doing so will help secure their families continued survival and prosperity.

Life insurance policies should not be static documents; instead, these documents should change as the needs of one’s life changes. As such, life insurance policies should be reviewed at least once a year, so that they will accurately reflect the policyholder’s needs. In order to properly assess their needs, individuals should consider the following questions when reviewing their policies:
Should life insurance be purchased to pay for funeral expenses or should funeral expenses be paid from accumulated cash? Funeral expenses can often run in the thousands and not all families may be able to pay these sums out-of-pocket. A life insurance policy could help families cover these expenses and alleviate the financial burdens associated with one’s passing.

Should a policy be taken out to cover estate taxes? Although the estate tax has been repealed for 2010, this is likely to change in 2011 if Congress takes no further action. As such, the estate tax in 2011 could be costly for some families, and they may require a life insurance policy to help cover their estate taxes.

Should insurance be purchased to leave a lump sum for family members? If so, how much should be left? While some beneficiaries may be able to handle large sums of money, others may find doing so difficult and may need to have the life insurance distributed as income. If the policyholder chooses to provide income, should this income be for the beneficiary’s lifetime or should it be for a set number of years?

Having insufficient life insurance can have devastating effects on a family. Asking these questions when reviewing one’s life insurance policy or when purchasing a new one will help individuals decide what kind and how much coverage is right for them.

To learn more or to compare life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life insurance quote or term life insurance quote visit Lifeinsurance2o.com.

When you are young, single and on your own, you may not even consider purchasing life insurance. This is because life insurance is generally designed to provide income and security to those who are financially tied to the insured, such as children or a spouse. However, there are several reasons why you might consider a life insurance policy while young and single. For one, life insurance premiums are likely to be low when you are young and in good health. Also, you may have dependent parents you wish to provide for and obtaining a life insurance policy when you are young will offer them security.

After you get married, you will want to plan for your family’s continued security. It’s a good idea to secure life insurance at this point because you are now financially tied to someone else, and your death may have significant impact on his or her security. You and your spouse will need to decide what the right amount of coverage is and whether or not you wish to purchase whole life insurance or term life insurance.

Once you start a family, you will need to consider purchasing additional coverage that takes into account all of the expenses associated with raising a child. Raising a child can be expensive, and you should consider things such as the cost of college tuition when deciding on how much coverage to add to your policy. You may even wish to consider purchasing a small life insurance policy for the new addition to your family. This can give you extra piece of mind in case of a tragic event.

After your kids grow up and move out of the house, you may have different life insurance needs. You will no longer have to worry about providing for their college education and may wish to pursue a policy that has less coverage. You will, however, still need to retain life insurance to provide for your spouse and may even choose to keep the policy you had, so that you can use the benefits in your estate plan.

Once you reach retirement age, your life insurance needs are likely to change once more. You may just need to secure enough coverage to ensure that your spouse will be financially stable and to cover any remaining debts you might have. A larger amount might be necessary if you plan to leave this money to your adult children, or if you want to use it to help with your estate taxes.

As you go through the different phases of your life, your life insurance needs are likely to change. An expert life insurance broker can help you decide what kind of coverage is right for you right now.

To learn more or to compare life insurance quotes, compare term life insurance, or get an instant life insurance quote or term life insurance quote visit Lifeinsurance2o.com.

Medical homes seem to be a radical idea that no one wants to discuss and the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (Center for Medicine) has some concerns about the concept. While they agree that there needs to be cost cutting measures to get a grip on Medicare expenses, they aren’t too enthralled with the idea of medical homes.

These “homes” are way, way back in the health care reform bill in the inevitable fine print. What the text proposes is the establishment of a medical home pilot program for disabled persons and for seniors. It seems the idea would mean providing a medical home for every person during the long process of America moving to a wellness based system, instead of remaining with the current sickness based model.

This idea begs the question of what would happen to Medicare, Medicare supplements and a whole host of other scary questions that people can’t really wrap their minds around. On the surface the idea sounds like a great one, with the homes being operated by nurse practitioners and doctors’ assistants who would use evidence based medicine.

These individuals would hand out treatment to those in the home, but without the supervision of a doctor. There is also a question of what precisely does the term “treatment” mean – handing out medications or performing other medical procedures? How would these costs be absorbed and by whom? What the Center for Medicine is wary of is the imposition of “one-size fits-all” medicine handed out by only partially trained medical staff to cut corners and save the government and private insurance carriers some money.

Here’s where Medicare comes into the picture. The proposed pilot program would be aimed at Medicare patients with a high medical risk score, and/or those needing constant treatment or supervision. This type of patient requires the care of a physician, not just a nurse. And herein lies the concern of many seniors on Medicare and the Center for Medicine. This will put the proposal into perspective sharply. Right now there are roughly 22 million individuals eligible for the proposed medical home program.

The logistics of a program of this nature are staggering and one wonders if the government has any clear concept of what that would mean in terms of trying to set it up. To contemplate caring for 22 million people with just nurses and doctors’ assistants is a sobering thought. More to the point, how will this really save Medicare and the health system any money?

Think about that for a minute and the realization will dawn that someone will need to pay for this kind of care and if it’s not the government and insurance carriers, then it would be private individuals. Seniors on

Medicare and Medicare supplements barely have the kind of money to afford what they have now, how would they afford a medical care home?

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Next is what the House chooses to do when they sit in September. Some of the ridiculous issues raised over the summer months have up and gone away, but others remain that will likely be a great deal more contentious and have greater ramifications.

The leading issue seems to be the “public plan,” which is a polite way of speaking about a kind of government insurance plan that would be available to those who had absolutely no other health insurance options. While this sounds like a dandy plan on the surface, there are those that insist it would be a government takeover of health care, not always a good thing given the current state of affairs.

On the other side of the fence there are those that make the case that the public plan is ultimately necessary for any kind of reform to be effective. If access to health care is an issue that is supposed to be resolved, then this particular point of view tends to make sense to a large number of people.

Taking a step backward to get a clearer view of the debate, one comes to the conclusion that both sides of the argument have a point, but neither is totally right. That isn’t too much of a surprise given that it’s politicians doing the infighting. Really, the questions that ought to be asked, rather than focusing on poverty and access to health care, might be, “How will the government make Medicaid better and stronger?”

This question makes sense since the original universal health care changes have been tanked for now and the focus shifted to expanding health insurance coverage to certain segments of the population. Obviously, one of those segments is people living in poverty. Everyone should have a safety net for medical expenses, and there isn’t one right now. Instead, families face potential bankruptcy and total financial ruin over medical bills.

Ironically, the one program that should be able to help those in such dire circumstances – Medicaid – doesn’t guarantee either insurance or health care to people in poverty. Reform, if it is indeed on its way, needs to perhaps have Medicaid returned under the federal government’s wing and change the reimbursement doctors are given so they may assist people in poverty. That would make a significant change in the health care system.

If poorer people did have access to health care, it would keep them from having to use hospital emergency rooms. Just think about how much this one small change would mean to the system wide budget that faces escalating costs, thanks to poor people using ERs as doctor’s offices.

Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

While many people have both parts A and B of Medicare, they are making a mistake by thinking that they have complete protection. What they have is comprehensive coverage, but this is not the same thing as complete protection.

If you go back a bit in history, Medicare has never covered outpatient prescription costs, with the onetime exception in 1989. Things mostly remained that way until 2003 when a new act was brought into force – the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act. All that whole mouthful means is that it expanded Medicare to include a prescription drug benefit that started in 2006.

You might be wondering why the change wasn’t implemented earlier. This has to do with the fact that Medicare has the right to definitively outline the care it will cover, and that includes part D. This brings up another interesting point, the one that says all medical treatments and procedures must be approved by Medicare. This is the major reason why you need to have a good working knowledge of Medicare to really understand the program.

Not many people seem to realize that every part of Medicare offers benefits for different types of care and that Medicare parts A and B each have different co-payments, out-of-pocket expenses and limits. What this really means is that you almost have two different insurance policies.

What do you need to know to have your medical expenses covered by Medicare? The first thing you need to know is that your treatment is medically required and deemed appropriate for the condition you have. Medicare must approve your treatment and it must have been prescribed by a doctor.

They won’t OK coverage of unique procedures or experimental treatments. If however you feel you have been wrongly denied, you do have the right to appeal the decision. Why is this stuff important for you to know? It is significant for you to know because Medigap and/or Medicare supplement insurance only pays a claim if Medicare accepts the expenses as reasonable.

Keep in mind that no matter where you buy Medicare plans and/or Medicare supplement plans, they are all the same, all standardized. The only differences will be what one company charges versus another. The thing to pay attention to is that since the plans were standardized, plan F has become the most popular because customers value the full coverage. This isn’t to say that there aren’t other viable alternatives such as plan C, D or G because many hospitals and physicians don’t demand the patient pay more than what Medicare approves.

Randy Gillespie is with Illinois health insurance agency, Focus Insurance Group. To learn more about Illinois health insurance, Illinois health insurance quotes, Illinois group health insurance or to get an Illinois health insurance quotes, visit Focusinsgroup.com

One of the first things to consider is having every family member on a separate policy. While that idea might go against the grain, there is a very good reason for it. It’s a proven fact that some insurance carriers have actually cancelled a whole family’s health insurance coverage because of something that might be wrong with just “one” dependent. That’s a pretty scary thought to have everyone in the whole family suddenly without health insurance.

Don’t jump whole hog into buying health insurance from a company no one seems to know very much about. The ideal thing is to thoroughly check out whether the company under consideration has a good track record for paying claims or not. Word of mouth is often helpful here.

If there isn’t much information to be found about the company, take a pass and move on to another choice. The ideal health insurance agent is one who will spend time educating clients about their options and not pressuring them to buy anything, not to mention the agent knows precisely who has a good track record for paying their claims.

When choosing an insurance company before buying health insurance, it’s a good idea to pick a company that does “not” hike rates every six months after the initial first year with them. While this might seem impossible to believe, it does happen and in fact there are examples of insurance companies handing out a 31% rate hike every six months after the first 12 months, this despite assuring the customer would only see (on average) a mere 8% increase in rates. No one needs to be dealing with rate increases like that.

It may be tempting to fudge a person’s health status on an insurance application; after all it just seems like a “little white lie.” Never try and hide any health conditions from the insurer. It is a virtual guarantee that they “will” find out later during the course of medical testing, etc. Finding out later has some serious repercussions that may include policy cancellation.

Don’t go to the doctor’s office that often? If that is the case, consider a different type of health insurance, as there is no sense in paying for the ability to visit the doctor frequently if that never happens. It doesn’t make sense to fork over hard earned money for doctor co-pays if it isn’t necessary.

Seek an expert health insurance agent that isn’t just out to sell something, but takes the time to help figure out which plan would be the very best fit for everyone that needs health insurance.

To learn more about Illinois health insurance, Illinois health insurance quotes, Illinois group health insurance or to get an Illinois health insurance quotes, visit Focusinsgroup.com

It only makes sense that to obtain life insurance the company will want to know as much as possible about the person applying. Knowing as much as possible, of course, usually means a health exam done by a doctor or paramedic, lots of forms to fill out, the routine blood tests, urine tests and saliva tests, not to mention the obligatory list of medications being taken and why they are being taken.

It all seems a bit too invasive and nosey, but realistically if a person expects to get their life insured, then they have to expect that the company considering doing that will want to know as much medical information as possible. It’s not just the medical information they insist on either. Many insurance companies will be asking questions about smoking history, hobbies (just in case the person sky dives or pilots a plane) and pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions don’t exclude someone from getting insurance, but it may change the category or class they are ultimately approved in which to get insurance.
If, on the other hand, the person applying for life insurance wants less than $100,000 and happens to be under 40, they usually don’t have a tough time getting what they need. In either instance, the cost of the life insurance premium does tend to depend on the person’s age and health, which brings up an interesting scenario. What if the person applying for life insurance does not reveal all of their health issues?

If they didn’t confess to all their medical issues and withheld the fact that they smoke occasionally, this will come out in the salvia test they submitted to, no matter how many breath mints they have to hide the fact. Interestingly enough many insurance companies don’t tend to penalize people for failing to be totally honest about their health, as it may have been a genuine oversight, or they view their odd cigarette as classifying them as being a non-smoker because it’s not a whole pack.

Generally speaking though, it’s wise to just tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth and save the embarrassment later. Being honest about one’s health will only help get the right kind of life insurance in the final analysis.

To learn more about Florida health insurance, Florida health insurance quotes, Florida life insurance,Florida life insurance quotes, Florida group health insurance visit Floridahealthcareinsurance.com.

It’s no secret that Florida health insurance is essential. It is also no secret that it has the potential to be expensive, which accounts for the rising number of uninsured in the state. Recently, the government and a handful of non-profit organizations have started to wade into the health care field in an effort to reduce the expense of Florida health insurance. That only makes good sense in order to make medical care accessible to people who need it the most. It’s about time the sense of “community” began to take hold in the critical area of Florida health insurance.

It’s not just individuals who need Florida health insurance. It’s designed for groups as well. In both instances, it is set up to protect people and allow access to health care services. Shopping for the right kind of insurance and making sure it’s affordable is often a major concern for people, particularly during a recession. Florida health insurance is noted for offering coverage for children up to the age of 19, pregnant women, families and self-employed people. Still, it’s a smart consumer who takes the time to check on the varying prices offered from one insurance company to another.

Florida health insurance basically offers what a health insurance plan should offer: benefits for medications, prescription coverage, hospital stays and doctor visits. The plans available range from individual Florida health insurance to large group health insurance and from temporary health insurance to small group insurance. No matter what coverage a person needs, there is a Florida health insurance plan that will fit the bill.

In order to qualify for individual Florida health insurance, there is a medical exam to pass. It’s the usual run of the mill doctor’s checkup kind of test that will provide the insurance company with a complete health record. If a person does qualify for Florida health insurance, the next step is paying the premium which is usually based on medical history and age.

Opting to buy individual Florida health insurance is less expensive than group health, but the choices made in the final analysis may depend on other factors rather than just cost. This is why it is best to speak with a local Florida health insurance agent who knows his plans inside out and who can provide a clear overview of what benefits each policy has to offer.

To learn more about Florida health insurance, Florida health insurance quotes, Florida life insurance,Florida life insurance quotes, Florida group health insurance visit Floridahealthcareinsurance.com.

In a nutshell, life insurance gives money to a listed beneficiary (friend, spouse, family member) if the person who holds the policy dies. In most cases, people buy life insurance to cover their final expenses such as the funeral and burial and to provide income to a beneficiary. Other reasons may include a wish to cover college expenses for someone or a legacy and to pay off estate taxes. There are exceptions to this general rule in that some people just buy a death benefit policy, while others may choose a policy that grows in value over a period of time.

If you don’t know what you want, the best place to start is to review the basics of life insurance, figure out how much coverage you actually need, what type of insurance might best suit you and how the underwriting process works. You certainly don’t have to do this on your own and in fact you’d be one smart life insurance shopper if you took the time to speak to a life insurance expert about the various options you may choose.

Usually the first thing people wonder about when they start thinking about life insurance is how much coverage they should get. There isn’t a right or a wrong number for the amount you would need to cover expenses upon death, but there are a few things you should consider. Take into account what your current financial position happens to be, meaning what are your assets, income, expenses and liabilities? Do you have an idea of what your final expenses would be? What debts are you carrying that might be long-term in nature for your family? Do you want to leave income for a survivor?

Depending on your answers, you should be able to get a rough idea of the amount of life insurance you may need. For example if you want to make sure someone has income on your death, you need to also take into consideration the yearly interest rate. So really life insurance is all about planning for your goals and then finding the right vehicle to carry out your wishes.

You need to know that there are four categories of life insurance you may consider and those are considered to be the primary types of life insurance: term life, whole life, variable universal life and universal life. Before you make any choices about what you ultimately buy, you should be asking questions about the features and benefits of each choice available. Be aware that some insurance plans offer some form of cash accumulation while others do not.

In order to be approved for life insurance you will need to go through an underwriting process which basically means filling out a general medical and financial application and a physical examination. In most cases the whole process may take about 3 to 6 weeks for approval. At that point, you will start paying your life insurance premiums.

Evan Tunis is with FloridaHealthcareInsurance.com, the leading provider of Florida health insurance quotes. To learn more about Florida health insurance, Florida health insurance quotes, Florida life insurance,Florida life insurance quotes, Florida group health insurance visit Floridahealthcareinsurance.com.

Concerned health care consumers are able to opt for paying current expenses and save for future qualified medical/retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis by buying Illinois HSAs – Health Savings Accounts. These are much better than doctor’s office co-pay plans.

Why are they better? They’re better because the Illinois HSAs cover everything and not “just” the visit to the doctor’s office. In addition, not many people realize that when they go for further diagnostics after they’ve paid their portion of the doctor’s bill, the lab tests and other services have to be paid for out-of-pocket.
To take advantage of Health Savings Accounts an individual needs a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). The HDHP is also referred to as catastrophic health insurance, and usually costs less than traditional health care coverage. The reason it costs less is due to the fact the first several thousand dollars are paid by the client before coverage kicks in.

Money saved on insurance may then accrue in a Health Savings Account. The money in the account belongs to the account owner and decisions made to spend the funds are the sole responsibility of the account holder, not a third party or health insurance carrier.

Other interesting benefits offered by a Health Savings Account include the ability to invest the money however the account holder sees fit to grow money to save for the future. Having control over the disposition and day-to-day account management adds value to this alternative solution to traditional health insurance plans.

People don’t buy an Illinois Health Savings Account. It’s just that – a savings account that accrues money on a tax-preferred basis. The only thing purchased with an HSA is the HDHP. The idea is the HDHP covers the shortfall if medical bills exceed funds available in the HSA.

To qualify for an Illinois Health Savings Account the minimum deductible for the HDHP is set at a certain amount for individuals and families, as are out-of-pocket expenses. Speak to your expert local insurance broker about the variable deductible amounts, about preventive care and higher out-of-pocket limits.
Banks, credit unions, insurance companies and other approved companies offer Illinois Health Savings Accounts for the general public. Or an employer may offer a plan for workers. If other health care plans do not pay out significant dollar amounts, they may be kept along with the Health Savings Account.

Randy Gillespie is with Illinois health insurance agency, Focus Insurance Group. To learn more about Illinois health insurance, Illinois health insurance quotes, Illinois group health insurance or to get an Illinois health insurance quotes, visit Focusinsgroup.com

If one sits down and does some math with the life expectancy and lower death rates, the first thing that comes to mind is that if people are living longer and dying less, they will need to have more money to do that. In addition to needing to have more money, they will also need life insurance that makes sense for them in order to be covered properly.

The problem is that many Americans just don’t have spare cash right now, if they have “any” cash at all during this recession. All over the U.S. things are tight and people don’t spend money on anything they don’t think is absolutely necessary – often that includes life insurance. Unfortunately that is somewhat counter intuitive as this is a product that people “do” need in times like this despite begin strapped for cash.

Many people are faced with situations such as taking out a loan/mortgage for a house and then not going for the life insurance to cover it in case of a death. Those who already have life insurance are also cutting back on their coverage, in the hopes they will pick it up later when things improve economically.

Right now the life insurance market is fairly competitive and the rates are pretty good. There are many different options open to people and they’re fairly easy to get information on by going online to various life insurance websites. Fighting with the fear of not having enough money to pay the bills usually stops people from considering purchasing life insurance. However, if they can see past the immediate problem to the long-term future, this would be a worthwhile and smart investment.

One doesn’t need to buy a life insurance policy with all the bells and whistles. A basic life insurance policy is a grand place to start. Make it a point to check that out first and also compare what other kinds of policies happen to be available as well. Whole life is also an option – for which a person pays a set premium while decreasing life insurance lowers the coverage while the mortgage decreases. Generally speaking whole life insurance pays out on your death, while the term cover simply refers to insurance for the “term” of that particular policy. That means it could end without any payout, so in the long run, term insurance is cheaper.
There are tough questions to face when trying to determine the amount of life insurance that would work to cover the family in the event of the death of the major income earner. For instance, are there other loans and debts to pay off, has the mortgage been increased or borrowed against for other reasons? Has the level of the life insurance been raised to cover all the extra debt? Is it feasible to “not” have insurance or be adequately covered?

Always make it a point to speak to a life insurance expert to get the real scoop on all the differing policies available for various situations. The agent knows the product and can definitely provide professional advice on what would work best in certain situations.

To learn more about Florida health insurance, Florida health insurance quotes, Florida life insurance,Florida life insurance quotes, Florida group health insurance visit Floridahealthcareinsurance.com.

First of all, if you are in a position to buy additional life insurance, meaning more than what you currently have, not only will you likely save money on the premiums, but you will have the opportunity to put that policy (or policies) into an irrevocable trust. The main reason for doing that is to make sure the proceeds of that policy or policies are not taxed leaving the beneficiaries with less money than they would need to survive.

Chances are that since you last bought a life insurance policy that rates have jumped substantially. The fact is if you check online you’ll find out that premiums have actually shot up anywhere from 10% to 15%, a significant hike. This may be a deal breaker for some people, but one needs to remember that either way with higher premiums or the prospective buyer being older, the premiums are going to be high.

This means shopping about for the best rate right now and not waiting another six months or so to make a decision. The longer people wait to buy extra insurance, the higher the costs. That’s a fact of doing business during a recession. Prices won’t drop and one can pretty much guarantee they will continue to rise, so acting quickly may offer the better deal on life insurance premiums.

Figuring out how much coverage is needed is a bit like a game of Russian roulette – it’s hard to know what the outcome will be. Generally speaking the rule of thumb is that people should buy five to 10 times their income in coverage. This may be too small for some people and they may opt to bump that figure up to 20 or even 30 times their income for coverage. This of course is an individual decision based on the family’s circumstances and future plans.

If the policy is supposed to be owned by a trust, speak to an attorney who will outline how the process is initiated and ultimately achieved. It’s usually best to set up the trust first and then apply for the life insurance. Setting up a trust does tend to take some time, so if this is something worth doing, take the time to do it right the first time so there are no glitches further down the road.

There are a few things needed to set up a trust – a separate bank account to fund the trust and an employee identification number obtained from the IRS, and a few other legal documents. Entrust this process to an attorney and save the major headache it will generate.

Once the new additional life insurance policy has been bought (and the trust fund all ready to roll) the good news is that it is really easy to transfer any other life insurance policies into the trust. This protects a person’s estate from being unnecessarily taxed – for now that is. No one really knows what will happen with estate taxes in the future, so be safe now because if things change, what is in place now will likely be grandfathered.

To learn more about Florida health insurance, Florida health insurance quotes, Florida life insurance,Florida life insurance quotes, Florida group health insurance visit Floridahealthcareinsurance.com.

It’s a fact that one in every five Americans is a senior. Come 2050 this will be one in four. If you take the time to do some math, you can see where this market will continually burgeon until even greater numbers of seniors are on Medicare. This is important news for insurance companies and the health system because seniors these days are living far longer than they did before – thanks to the marvels of new technology.

Wave one of the baby boomers will hit the marketplace in roughly a year and a half if they were born in the 20 year period after the end of WWII. The next wave will hit in approximately 2025. Medicare as we know it today will look nothing like it used to with the advent of all these new people becoming eligible to receive benefits. This also begs the question of just how the health system will cope with such an enormous influx of older people needing more care. Think of how expensive that is going to be. Given the state of the economy today, this might be viewed as a touch and go situation at best.

Keep in mind that seniors in the 21st century are leap years ahead of their predecessors. They’re alert, politically aware, highly motivated, intelligent and quite involved in advocating for their future. They’re prepared to take on the government and fight for what they perceive to be their right to adequate health care. They’re also far more financially secure than generations before them and they continue to generate revenue by way of annuities, pensions, social security, jobs (yes, seniors are indeed working past the age of 65) and investments.

Part of the reason that today’s seniors are far more aware of what is going on around them than ever before is that virtually one out of every five over the age of 65 is now online. Just about half of the seniors in the 65 to 75 year old bracket use the WWW. Those over 75 have also taken the plunge into exploring global connectivity.

If seniors are online, what do you suppose they are currently looking for as they surf? If you guessed they were trying to get information on Medicare, health insurance and Medicaid, you’d have just won the prize at the county fair. What a golden opportunity for brokers or agents that specialize in these forms of health insurance, as research reveals these same Internet savvy seniors are also starting their health insurance purchases online now as well.

If you’re prepared for the future and ready to serve the baby boomers as they become eligible for Medicare, etc. then you won’t have any trouble finding customers. In fact, they’ll likely be coming to you first. Make sure you have a highly interactive and easy to use website that has all the information seniors need and provides excellent service.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

While it might come as a surprise to think you really are able to get cheaper Florida health insurance; the fact is, it really is available. All you have to do is be willing to surf the Internet, carefully read what you find, and call a Florida health insurance agent to ask questions.

Not everything you see on a health insurance website is the gospel truth as you’d like to know it. You are only seeing part of a huge network of people dealing with thousands of variables as they try to quote health insurance prices to thousands of people – most of whom want the cheapest fix they can get, but the best coverage that money can buy. Bit of an oxymoron that was.

Sure you might find insurance agents that can quote you a price that suits your budget, but when you get to chat about pre-existing health conditions, suddenly the price changes – drastically. So you scratch that carrier and move on to find one who will accept you. You may find one, and their price may be better than the first company you talked to, except they exclude your pre-existing medical condition. This basically means you’re no further ahead than you were when you started calling around.

Cut to the chase when you call Florida health insurance agents and let them know right up front if you have any pre-existing health conditions. This will save you time on the phone and also tell you who will cover you and who won’t. Chances are in the long run you will need to go with a carrier who will cover you, pre-existing condition and all.

The exclusion of pre-existing health conditions is rather an odd form of discrimination against people with an illness and indicates the insurance company would prefer to only insure healthy people as they’re less of a risk. There’s food for thought.

Evan Tunis is with FloridaHealthcareInsurance.com, the leading provider of Florida health insurance quotes. To learn more about Florida health insurance, Florida health insurance quotes, Florida life insurance,Florida life insurance quotes, Florida group health insurance visit Floridahealthcareinsurance.com.

It’s no laughing matter when you go to use your health insurance benefits and find out you don’t have what you thought you did for health coverage. In fact it’s often a nasty shock to the system and to your wallet.

This, more than anything, points out one essential thing we all should be doing – reading the fine print on our health insurance contracts, supplements, plans or whatever you want to call them. Whatever you do choose to call them, make sure when you search for Florida health insurance that you have a list of questions you want answered.

While it might seem as exciting as watching paint dry, reading the fine print will tell you precisely what is covered and what isn’t. In other words you won’t find out about it later when you’re in a situation where you thought you had coverage – and didn’t. Now that just cost you some money you didn’t expect to be paying out. Whether you’re opting for Florida HMO, PPO or POS, know what you need versus what you might get.

Sad, but true, are the health insurance companies that hope you don’t read what type of coverage you’re getting. This means they can sell you something that is relatively inexpensive compared to other plans. Well there’s a reason the plan they’re selling is cheaper. It doesn’t have the kind of coverage you may need. Florida health insurance has so many different loopholes, options, advantages and disadvantages that your best bet is to talk to an expert agent who knows their stuff.

Customer service hears these kinds of complaints all the time from people more than a tad irked about not being covered for something they wanted. It’s not their problem that you didn’t get what you wanted. They’re trying to backfill what an agent sold you. If you’re annoyed about your coverage, it’s the agent with whom you need to deal.

Make it a point to take the time to read what your health insurance benefits really provide, not assume without glancing at them that you have all you really need. Far too many people have been unpleasantly shocked to find out their health coverage wasn’t all that it should be.

If you’re in Florida and wanting information on Florida health insurance and what it really has to offer, talk to the experts. Don’t call a large online health care quote provider who could care less where you live or what you need.

Evan Tunis is with FloridaHealthcareInsurance.com, the leading provider of Florida health insurance quotes. To learn more about Florida health insurance, Florida health insurance quotes, Florida life insurance,Florida life insurance quotes, Florida group health insurance visit Floridahealthcareinsurance.com.

One hand of the government says they are not going to raise taxes to fix Medicare. The other hand says the plan to reform Medicare will cost more because Medicare needs to change. So, which is the real story and what is the real definition of the word subsidy? Is it true that Medicare and Medicaid are the reasons the economy is so out of whack or is it the other way around?

Ostensibly a subsidy is a grant of public money that assists a private operator in serving the public or it is any financial assistance given by one person to another. The fact is that the government subsidizes Medicare and Medicaid, and what the government does not subsidize comes out of the pockets of seniors. Based on what many seniors hear in the nationwide town hall meetings, they feel that too much change will spell problems for them.

Seniors do not want “less” medical care and would be happy to keep what they have right now, and they most certainly do not want to pay more out-of-pocket for what they are currently getting. While it may all boil down to a matter of perception, the fact is that if changes are made to Medicare and Medicaid and Medicare supplements, it is virtually inevitable that costs will increase. It’s the nature of the beast.

Most frightening of all to seniors on limited budgets, even if they do have a comfortable income, is the fact that they feel the government is beginning to offload the increasing costs of Medicare and Medicare supplements to the one part of the population who can least afford it. Some have even been heard to say they feel they are being put out to pasture by the government’s rush to trim senior health care because their lives are shorter at that age.

Without going off the deep end on this subject, it would be best if seniors took the time to really make themselves familiar with the issues before making up their minds. Ask the tough questions, see what the answers are and then make an informed decision. There is no doubt that the cost of revamping Medicare is going to be tremendous and that it can’t be done until the economy is in better shape than it is right now.

There are still a number of unanswered questions relating to the high birth rate in the U.S. and how that impacts the health system, as well as questions about the immigrant population who moved here to take advantage of health care services. How will those costs be factored into a new health system without taking from Peter to care for Paul?

While things need to change in order to provide care for all, the question still remains: How will that be done and where will the money come from to accomplish it? In the meantime, don’t jump to conclusions until the whole picture becomes clear, as there may be more to understand before making up your mind that the government is out to “get” seniors. This may not be the case and like many items we have already heard about, it might only be “suggestions” to see the response.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

The first thing to understand when dealing with Illinois health insurance is what the definition of a pre-existing health condition happens to be. To simplify a sometimes long and drawn out description, a pre-existing condition is one where a person has seen a doctor and has been diagnosed with a “condition or illness,” and has been treated prior to applying for Illinois health insurance.

The tricky situation then becomes the fact that many Illinois health insurance companies use the application questionnaires to implement an exclusion period to defend themselves against people with pre-existing health conditions. It is often used as a loophole to deny insurance, rider it or accept it, but with a higher premium.

The conundrum in Illinois is that if a person is looking for individual Illinois health insurance and they have a pre-existing condition, the insurance company can turn them down unless the person happens to be eligible for an Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HIPAA. Without getting too technical, HIPAA protects Illinois health coverage for workers and their families if they change or lose their jobs and provides protection for those with pre-existing medical conditions by limiting their exclusion period.
While it’s a good thing to have that law in place to protect people who need Illinois health insurance, the unfortunate thing is that the law hasn’t gotten rid of the ability of insurance companies to deny health insurance to those with pre-existing health conditions or even excluding medical conditions. What this boils down to is that there’s only guarantee issue in State sponsored plans and in insurance company funded plans. If an applicant for Illinois health insurance meets six HIPAA criteria, they are eligible for guaranteed issue HIPAA. In a pinch, this may be the only route those with major pre-existing health conditions are able to take.

Illinois health insurance companies all tend to handle pre-existing health conditions differently, so it’s best to do some serious research online and in person to find out what company and policy will be applicable. It’s a given that individual plans have more exclusions and are more expensive than group plans. When in doubt, ask a local insurance agent what is available and what the requirements are to apply.

Some of the most important insurance companies in the state of Illinois handle pre-existing conditions a little bit differently, because of this it is important to do some research and actually shop around for a policy before deciding to apply. Individual plans have more exclusions than group plans and that is why they are quite a bit less expensive, because they are more restrictive.

To learn more about Illinois health insurance, Illinois health insurance quotes, Illinois group health insurance or to get an Illinois health insurance quotes, visit Focusinsgroup.com

How easy is easy? Really, it is a lot easier to get competitive health insurance quotes in Illinois by doing smart surfing online and finding a site that offers side-by-side competitive quotes. Not just a few things side-by-side, but a site that offers customers the best bang for their buck.

Keep in mind that not all the things one sees on an online insurance website are always applicable to your particular situation. For instance, you may find a totally outstanding quote and note that it is the “preferred” rate. That means you have to meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for that particular Illinois health insurance policy. This is one of the major reasons you will want to talk to the agent who owns and runs the website you are surfing, to clarify any questions you might have about the quotes you will receive.

Sometimes just reading quotes side-by-side online, or side-by-side comparisons made by an expert health insurance broker after you have provided your information makes sense and sometimes there are unanswered questions that can be cleared up by an insurance expert. Always take the time to carefully compare the health insurance plans you see online, paying particular attention to two things – what is included in the plan and what the price happens to be.

There are various choices of health insurance plans that may be tailor-made to suit your circumstances with some tweaking. You will definitely have a wide variety of carriers to choose from when you find an Illinois health insurance website with up-to-date information.

You might be wondering why you have a good chance of finding a “deal” on Medicare supplements. This happens because each private insurance carrier has the option to offer Medicare (if they do offer Medicare, as not all insurers do) at a rate they choose. So it makes a lot of sense to have a health insurance expert provide you with side-by-side comparisons after providing your information. Of course you will want to make sure that the Medicare supplements you want will dovetail with the Medicare plan you ultimately choose.

If at any time you have questions while getting your competitive Illinois health insurance quotes, reach for the phone and make that personal call to the expert. It goes without saying that you only want the best in Illinois health insurance for you and your family.

Randy Gillespie is with Illinois health insurance agency, Focus Insurance Group. To learn more about Illinois health insurance, Illinois health insurance quotes, Illinois group health insurance or to get an Illinois health insurance quotes, visit Focusinsgroup.com

The major problem with Medicare and all the various deductibles is that it is extremely confusing trying to figure out which portion of Medicare – Part A and Part B – has which deductible kick in and when. For the record, Medicare part A offers hospital coverage, and part B provides medical coverage. If there is no Medicare supplement insurance involved then when the calendar year starts and a patient visits their doctor they would pay a deductible of roughly $150.

If this same person had to go to hospital and spent three days there, they would get in the mail a part A deductible bill of approximately $1,000. If for some reason the same patient had to return to the hospital for another short stay a few months later, they would once again get a part A deductible bill in the mail for the same amount as their first stay. At this point many seniors throw up their hands and wonder what is happening and why they are getting two bills in the mail.

The reason there were two deductibles in one year under Medicare part A is because the deductible is charged for a benefit period, and a benefit period starts the day a person goes to a hospital or other nursing institution.

The period typically ends when the patient hasn’t gotten hospital care for 60 days in a row. If that period ends and another trip to the hospital is required, this is classified as a new benefit period. On the other hand, Medicare part B only has the one deductible a calendar year.

If Medigap supplement insurance was in play in this scenario, then it would likely have covered the out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare part A and part B deductibles. At one time there was the option to consider the benefits of a Medicare Advantage plan. Unfortunately, this plan will no longer be offered in 2010.
Medicare isn’t always the easiest health care insurance to understand, but with a little due diligence and digging, most of the answers are readily available. Granted they may be confusing at first, but if seniors take the time to speak to a local Medicare insurance agent, they will have the answers immediately. A local Medicare agent will know the plans and benefits intimately and if budget is a concern, he will be able to tailor Medicare supplement insurance to go with Medicare that is affordable and actually delivers what it promises to deliver.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Luckily, Medicare is a whole lot easier to understand than many people think. There are portions of their various policies that leave something to be desired in the comprehension and plain English department, but suffice it to say that for the most part, what someone needs to know is easy to find out and easy to understand.

There is a handbook available from Medicare if the spirit moves a person to ask for it. However, it is confusing at best and leaves readers with the vague feeling they missed something, and they usually did. To really narrow the focus of what is definitely needed for Medicare, do some pre-planning and have the various options selected by March.

Make critical decisions like going with an HMO as opposed to private insurance or a PPO. Perhaps an existing retirement plan offers health benefits after the age of 65. These are things that need to be taken into consideration when selecting Medicare plans and Medicare supplement insurance.

Other decisions that need to be made include deciding if it makes sense to take part A, which is free, and part B that is paid out of social security. Something that needs to be perfectly clear about part A is that it picks up 80 percent of the costs of a hospital stay, but it does not cover the doctors treating a patient during that stay. Alternatively, part B offers doctor/surgeon/specialist coverage that handles 80 percent of physician visits, lab tests, surgeons and other specialists. This is usually the plan that most seniors will use.

A smart move for seniors is to take advantage of open enrollment. This is when three months prior to the senior’s birthday and three months after it, they are considered to be in open enrollment. This is useful information because during this period of time there is no health underwriting with insurance companies.
HMO’s can definitely deny coverage based on the health of an individual. However, insurance companies cannot, not if the person is in open enrollment. This is a golden opportunity to take advantage of if one’s health isn’t that great.

Depending on what state a senior resides in, they may wind up paying between $100 and $175 for Medicare supplements. In other states there is the option to choose plan F or plan J which would mean no deductibles, co-pays and the Medicare supplement insurance would pay the remaining balance of the medical bills. It’s best to check with a licensed Medicare insurance broker who will be able to outline what plans are available in various states and their costs before making any decisions about what Medicare plan and Medicare supplements are needed.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare is not the ‘be all-end all’ and all encompassing insurance program than many elderly Americans seem to think it is; far from it to be precise. It will not and cannot take care of all their medical needs. It was never designed as a program to handle every medical need a person has. It was initially designed to take care of life’s medical crisis moments such as heart attacks and things like seriously broken bones.

Unfortunately, Medicare somehow became the magic panacea to cure everyone’s aches, pains and illnesses when they got older. That meant that buying Medicare supplements didn’t make much sense to older people because they already had Medicare coverage. Many of them opted to not get Medicare supplements because the cost seemed out of line. This mistaken impression needs to be corrected before too many seniors realize their mistake later when they desperately need medical care they cannot get with Medicare.

If the elderly do not understand the differences between Medicare and Medicare supplements they will find themselves faced with medical bills later in life that they not only didn’t expect to have, but will have no way to be able to pay them. This isn’t to say the Medicare is flawed, but it should be noted that it does have limited coverage, and it’s the consumer’s responsibility to know what Medicare does provide and what it doesn’t. Having said that, often seniors need help understanding Medicare supplement insurance from their families, and also need to know where they can find pricing for Medicare supplement coverage that suits their budgets.

If you’re helping your older relatives understand the complicated tangle of Medicare and Medicare supplement insurance, make sure to explain to them why having this extra coverage is crucial for their medical care; that they need the extra coverage now to cover care needed later.

There are four levels of Medicare that you need to know about, and each of them deal with medical coverage differently. For instance, Medicare part A pays overnight hospital expenses; part B handles routine doctor’s fees/tests; part C is optional coverage in that if you have part A, B or Medicare Advantage part C (which will be phased out in 2010) you are eligible for part D (prescription drug coverage). With the changes to Medicare coming in 2010, it makes sense to have a heart-to-heart talk with a local Medicare insurance agent who will be able to outline more in-depth what the coming changes are and what they may mean to you.

Every part of Medicare has a variety of deductibles and limits in place that once reached will mean your Medicare coverage is exhausted. These limits and deductibles change now and then, so keeping up-to-date with the changes will provide you with the peace of mind that your elderly family member is fully covered in any event. Don’t hesitate to contact a local Medicare insurance agent and discuss what you need for your senior family member. They are there to help you.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

In a hundred words or less, Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) is offered to the public through private insurance companies in order to fill in the “gaps” in Medicare coverage. This is because Medicare does not offer coverage for “everything” and most people find they need a bit extra to get the coverage they need.

In an attempt to make things relatively simple, the government dictated that Medigap policy carriers are only allowed to offer precise plans the government approved. Those policies are Medicare supplement Plans A through Plan L. Every company that sells Medicare supplements is selling the exact same policies; there are no differences between insurance companies on policy content. What does differ however, is the price charged for Medicare supplement insurance. This definitely does change from company to company, which means if you do some shopping around, you may be able to save yourself some money.

To put this another way, if you buy a Plan A Medicare supplement insurance policy from XX insurance company, it will be an exact match to a Plan A policy bought at insurance company AA. One thing that you really do need to do before you choose which Medicare supplements suits your needs is to compare not only the plans, but also compare the companies that offer you that kind of insurance. Sure you can get quotes online, but make sure they are from different types of insurance companies.

Pay close attention to what you are reading while you are online, as there are insurance companies whose methodology on selling health insurance dictates how they price their Medicare supplements. Next, closely examine each plan for the benefits you will receive. There will be some plans that have benefits that you will never use and therefore it won’t make any sense to buy them. This is one good way to save money, by choosing a plan you know without a doubt you will use and not shelling out money for unused benefits.
Remember, that the step where you do your benefit comparisons is crucial so that you know precisely what you are getting when you make your decision to buy a Medicare supplement. This is where it makes the most sense to call a local Medicare insurance agent and ask some pertinent questions about coverage.
Your life is unique to you and no one else can tell you what would suit you the best except you. This is why you need to ask questions and narrow your search parameters down to get the best possible combination of policies that deliver the coverage you need – minus the benefits you wouldn’t use.

Talking to a local Medicare insurance agent is a major step in understanding the community you live in, what the realities are for you as a healthcare consumer using networks and other information you will need to tailor a plan for your needs.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

It wasn’t too long ago that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois told their members that one of their hospitals, St. John’s, was making the decision to discontinue its status as a Medicare Select contracting network hospital. That decision, which caused a lot of pandemonium, was supposed to kick-in on the 17th of June, 2009.

Of course the implications for a decision like this that affected Illinois health insurance echoed far and wide, with the major complaint, aside from what people would do to replace the service they were getting, was having to change to another type of plan that was more expensive. An agreement was ironed out where Blue Cross Blue Shield helped people who’d lost their original Illinois health insurance plans to get reinstated and credited for premium increases that arose due to changing plans.

This kind of thing raises the very specter of changes coming to the health care system over the next few years. And along with the changes come the questions of whether or not the changes will be beneficial. This is one of the toughest questions to answer with any degree of certainty.

It would involve having a crystal ball and a system that would address everyone’s medical needs; a system that would be affordable and accessible to all. Comprehensive health care reform is supposedly coming, and likely won’t come any too soon given the current state of the health system. In the meantime we muddle along with what works the best at any given time, and that includes Medicare Select.

Medicare Select is basically an Illinois health insurance Medicare supplemental insurance plan that provides you with choices. They also have the advantage of being priced at an even more reasonable level than the usual versions of Medigap insurance policies. The one major difference that you might want to be aware of is that Medicare Select acts like a managed care plan. That simply means that you’d have to use doctors and hospitals that are in an Illinois health insurance network. In addition, your insurance company will only pay full benefits if you got your medical care from a preferred health provider who is, once again, a part of the insurance company’s designated network.

Let’s take a quick look at an example. If you go to see a preferred provider physician, Medicare pays the approved charges. Your supplemental insurer pays the full benefits under your policy. However, if you choose to use services outside the plan network, the plan may deny the claim entirely or only pick up a very limited portion.

So really, there are three things you need to know and remember about a Medicare Select plan. The first thing is that it is considered to be an Illinois health insurance supplemental product, just about the same as Medigap insurance. In other words, when you buy a Medicare Select policy, you’re getting a standard Medigap plan. And, as we already pointed out (but it’s worth mentioning again) pretty much the only difference between a standard Medigap policy and a Medicare Select policy is that the Select policies are managed care plans. To get full benefits from the Select plans, you will need to use designated hospitals, clinics and even certain doctors. This will explain why these plans are priced lower than similar Medigap policies.

Something else you also need to know about Medicare Select plans is that they are typically only offered in larger cities in Illinois. If you live outside a large city, you may have other options. To find out what those options are, contact an expert Illinois insurance agent in your area.

Randy Gillespie is with Illinois health insurance agency, Focus Insurance Group. To learn more about Illinois health insurance, Illinois health insurance quotes, Illinois group health insurance or to get an Illinois health insurance quotes, visit Focusinsgroup.com

Good health insurance quotes are worth their weight in gold, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy it from a big name online company. Shop around, be honest with the agents you talk to and then listen closely to the various options you have. Smaller companies can provide you with much more flexibility in terms of health insurance quotes.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Tell the health insurance agent precisely what you are looking for based on what you need for you and/or your family. Tell them all the circumstances, such as pre-existing conditions, whether or not you have children or may be planning on more children, or whether you are managing a condition with a certain drug and can offer proof.

All the information you give the agent is confidential and will help them to provide you with a plan that works. There are thousands of options out there and you can’t read about all of them online. That’s what health insurance agents are for, to make choosing an affordable health insurance a whole lot easier.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Remember when searching for health insurance quotes the bigger companies are not always the best choice. They do have other carriers, but you don’t get side-by-side comparisons of one plan to another, not like you do when you ask Benepath for a quote. You want a site that gives you the ability to see what others offer at the same time.

Don’t base your search for affordable health insurance on price. In other words don’t go the cheapest option because you will be giving up benefits you may need in the future.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Never mind asking the physician about a new drug because it may sound really awesome. All this does is hike the cost of your drug bills. Look at it this way, if you want decent health insurance plans for your family, you also have to work to make it budget-wise. Think hard about whether you really need that drug. Wouldn’t you rather save money and be thankful for affordable health insurance?

If affordable health insurance is your main goal for your family, make sure you do all you can to keep other costs associated with health care down. Think twice about using the emergency room when you could just as easily go to urgent care and get attended.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.

Shop for generic drugs. There is no reason to insist on brand name drugs when generics do the trick. The differences between brand name drugs and generics are minimal in terms of how well they work. The difference in price, however, is significant. When you’re sourcing health insurance quotes, ask the agent about this. They’ll tell you the same thing.

Not many people realize the only difference between brand name and generic drugs is in the way the end product is packaged. It might not have the same kind of coating as the brand name drugs, but they work. And, they cost a lot less. Since affordable health insurance is so vital today, consider every way possible to reduce your costs.

To learn more about Health insurance quotes, affordable health insurance, affordable health insurance quotes, health insurance plans, visit Benepath.com.