Scott Fenstermaker |
| What to Expect: Service from Your Independent Agency |
| 2009.09.28 16:36:32 | |
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What many Employers expect and what they get from their Insurance Professional are not always the same. Â At the time of the sale there are a lot of promises made and over time many that are forgotten along the way. Â So what are reasonable expectations? Â You shouldhear from your agent at least twice per year. Â One at the time you are written, once during the year to make sure things are going well and then again on renewal which completes the cycle. Â You should be able to reach your agent or their staff by phone/email anytime you need something and expect quick turnaround to your call or inquiry. Â At SBG, we lead with our service rather than follow. Â We know your benefit pricing is the same from our carriers and from any other agent/broker. Â In other words, our pricing is not something we can use to differentiate us from our competitors. Â Our service, however is the method we use to look and feel different. Â We are very proactive with the insurance companies we work with. Â This gives us the lead in new products and new developments as they come down line. Â This leads to greater savings to our clients as the newer products are usually less expensive and can be packaged in a more efficient formant. Â Check with you agent and make sure you are getting all they offer. Â Make sure they are keeping you up to date with the latest technology and benefit programs from the various carriers in our area. Â Just a few thoughts to up the ante on your expectations... Â Â Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | health insurance | Blue Cross and Blue Shield | United Health Care Hits: 111 | Read more... |
| HMOs...Are They Still The Answer? |
| 2009.09.22 17:54:51 | |
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Health Maintenance Organizations...have been around since 1937.  Kaiser was the first in the U.S. and is still around.  There are several kinds of HMOs with Kaiser being one of the most successful.   Staff Model HMOs  control costs the best by controlling the process.  This means they are overseeing what doctor you can see and when you are approved to see a Specialist.  The ''gate keeper'' approach has been one of the biggest concerns of this type of HMO.  Other HMO plans have been more like a traditional Point of Service Plan with the exception of your need to use the HMOs directory of doctors.  There is no out of network coverage available.  With the increasing cost of Health care, people are asking are the HMOs still doing the job they once did to better control cost.  All insurance plans are going up in cost but some at different rates of increase.  Are HMOs holding the line better?  This is debatable and hard to determine.  Health Savings plans and Health Reimbursement Accounts are becoming somewhat more popular. There goal is to slow the rise in health care by transferring some of the risk back to the employee. This has an initial savings that stays with the plan but hasn't proven yet to slow the rate of increase.  More data is still needed.   The one thing that has become evident, however, is that when it is truly the employees money, they are more cafeful about how and when their money is spent.  That is ultimately the whole idea.    Tags: health insurance | Tallahassee Insurance | Dental Insurance | individual health insurance Hits: 165 | Read more... |
| Why would Employers Buy Disability Coverage for Their Employees? |
| 2009.09.18 13:24:37 | |
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The first reason is the Disability coverage also covers them, the business owner, at a fraction of the cost. Â It is also guarantee issue as long as the business has 3+ employees. Â These are important considerations for any business owner to consider. Â You also do the right thing by covering your employees and offering them a benefit. Â They have the same problem buying disability coverage on their own. Â Higher costs and underwriting considerations. Â Disability coverage is the most important benefit after ones health insurance coverage. Â It basically protects your ability to earn an income and pays you when you cannot. Â Generally, the benefit is equal to 60% of your earnings before your disability. Â Many employees don't think about this very important coverage until it is to late and they find themselves out of work for a time. Â The cost of this benefit is usually less then 3% of the income it is protecting. Â Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | North Florida Health Insurance | individual health insurance Hits: 104 | Read more... |
| The Best Voluntary Benefit |
| 2009.09.15 16:07:27 | |
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What is the best voluntary benefit?  What is a voluntary benefit?  This is a benefit that the employee pays for.  It is written as a group benefit, charged accordingly and written on a guarantee issue basis.  Dental insurance is the top voluntary benefit.  It is a benefit used by all and used by all the family members without going to the hospital, becoming disabled or unemployed.  Employees will gladly step up and pay for their dental coverage.  Usually dental insurance is inexpensive and covers the basic as well as most of the major services.  The children are also covered and get the latest flouride treatments.  So if you are looking to enhance your benefits  without incurring greater expenses for your organization, look no further than a quality dental insurance plan.     Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | North Florida Health Insurance | individual health insurance Hits: 125 | Read more... |
| Health Care Reform |
| 2009.09.14 13:21:46 | |
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 What is Health Care Reform?  Who is leading the charge?  Is the Public Option in or out?  These are the important questions being touted now.  Can Congress come to an agreement would be another...  If we started with some of the amendments both Parties agree on, meaningful reform could pass immediately. There is much to agree on.  For example, the concept of Portabiity is popular, waiving pre-exisiting conditions is another, revising COBRA is a simple one as the Federal Government created it in the first place.  Covering the real uninsured and insentivising those who can afford health insurance is certainly a measure that would improve the flow of needed dollars in to the system.  Much work is to be done.  The Public Option is not the answer.  There is no benefits and costs would skyrocket the cost of the healthcare system.  The Public Option is greater control by the Government of the total system at a time when Medicare and Medicaid are going broke.   Let us as a Nation focus on what we know is meaningful Reform and hold off on Legislation that would increase cost at a time when our Country is out of money.      Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | health insurance | Dental coverage | Tallahassee Individual Health Insur Hits: 104 | Read more... |
| Individual Health Insurance |
| 2009.09.09 18:05:36 | |
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The young people out in our economy represent the greatest number of uninsured. Â Many don't want to pay for the insurance and they do not feel they need the coverage. Â Many of the young guys think they will never need it at such a young age. Â Insurance is never easier to get and never more affordable then when we are young. Â Our health is better and therefore we can lock in our insurability by qualifying for better rates on a better policy. Â Now is the time for people to get their best policy. Â Health Savings Accounts are very affordable and can be purchased on individual policies. Â Many younger people can benefits from the savings aspects of the plans as well. Â The money is deposited on a tax deductible basis and can be used tax free for medical and dental expenses. Â Â Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | individual health insurance | Blue Cross and Blue Shield Hits: 97 | Read more... |
| One More Time... |
| 2009.09.03 18:20:15 | |
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Tags: Tallahassee health insurance | health insurance | Blue Cross and Blue Shield | Tallahassee Insurance Hits: 102 | Read more... |
| Who is Not Providing Benefits? |
| 2009.09.01 13:09:56 | |
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 Those employing fewer than 25 employees offer benefits less than 50% of the time.  This is a recent statistic by a major insurance company offering benefits to all types and sizes of businesses.  Where as those with greater than 25 employees offer benefits in over 90% of the cases.  Why such a disparity?  Part of it is the perception that the bigger companies get a better deal.  This used to be true in Florida but not since Small Group Reform in 1994.  Many small businesses not currently offering benefits have not shopped the market lately to price the newer plan available to them.  With Health saving Accounts and Health Reimbursements and low cost options many plans are very affordable.  Why buy health insurance in the first place?  Obviously to keep us from going bankrupt.  Also, to reap the benefits of the discounts the major insurance companies afford us.  This is often not fully realized when considering the purpose for the insurance.  Major Insurance Companies and Hospitals negotiate for better pricing.  This helps us at the time of claim.  Discounts off retail pricing at just about any Hospital in America are between 70-80%.  The Hospitals need those insured to help offset the uninsured and the underinsured from Government Insurance plans such as Medicare and Medicaid.   Tags: Tallahassee individual health insur | Tallahassee Group Health Insurance | health insurance | Tallahassee Insurance Hits: 110 | Read more... |
| Executive Benefits |
| 2009.08.31 18:28:43 | |
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Executive Benefits consist of Key Man Insurance, Buy-Sell Agreements and Bonus arrangements with Key Employees.  The purpose of these benefits is to protect the business and the owner(s).   Often a business will hire and spend a great deal of time training a professional to do a certain job.  This person becomes a highly valued employee and the business has spent time and money to get this person to feel and act like part of the team.   What if something happens to this employee?  Say a car accident of a heart attack.  The business will suffer the loss of this person's economic benefit and therefore the organization may want to insure this person for a given value.   Buy-Sell Agreements protect the partners in an organization from having to deal with spouses in the event of an untimely death of the other partner.  This assures both partners or multiple partners that they and their families are protected from the death of the other partner and that the business is valued accurately.   Executive Bonuses are a great way to add bonus compensation to an employee for a job well done.  There is no specific schedule of payouts and discrimination can be used.  A great way to reward professionals on highly profitable years.    Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | health insurance | Individual health | Disability Insurance Hits: 107 | Read more... |
| The Need For Individual Health Insurance |
| 2009.08.29 02:05:17 | |
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Tags: health insurance | Individual health | Tallahassee Coverage | Dental Plans Hits: 96 | Read more... |
| More Bad Economic News |
| 2009.08.25 16:07:57 | |
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With the ever increasing deficit, the rising unemployment rate and higher taxes coming down the pike, what are Americans to do?  The CBO predicts unemployment hitting 10.2% for 2010.  Many more Americans are feeling the strain.   Health Care, still Obama's top priority, seems very unlikely in its current form.  The Democrats still want the public option but America is saying no thank you.  At an estimated cost, at over $1.5 trillion.  Obama and the Democratic Congress is still pushing hard for the Government run plan.   Reform is necessary to insure all AMericans have access to care.  The more people that are covered and paying for their insurance, the better chance we have as a nation of reducing costs.  Many healthy people that can afford insurance, still elect not to purchase it.  We must encourage these people to participate.  Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | health care | dental care | health Hits: 108 | Read more... |
| ObamaCare |
| 2009.08.24 21:28:56 | |
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ObamaCare thus far...is written by a Committee that doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it, signed by a President that smokes, funded by a Treasury Chief that did not pay his taxes, overseen by a Surgeon General who is obese and financed by a country that is broke. Â ObamaCare...what else do you need to know? Â Would you please read the Bill! Â Â Tags: tallahassee | Health Care in Tallahassee | ObamaCare | Group insurance | individual health insurance Hits: 91 | Read more... |
| Congress and The White House |
| 2009.08.20 16:01:46 | |
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         Confusion and mis-steps is the only thing Congress can seem to do concerning health care reform. Some had said it might be easier to start over. The town hall meetings is adding a great deal of pressure to the House Memebers as they hear from their base.
         Reform that willl benefit the consumer without adding more cost would be a great starting point. Can Congress grasp this concept without all the pork and added cost. With the Stimulis plan, Cap and Trade, America is getting the idea that the only plan on the minds of Congrees is spending and control. Tags: Tallahassee Politics | Tallahassee Insurance | health insurance | Dental coverage | Tallahassee Benefits Hits: 94 | Read more... |
| No Public Option... |
| 2009.08.18 12:40:57 | |
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What is the Public Option?  This is where the Government takes over your choice of health insurance and the benefits that you qualify for.  It would also give the Government control over the Health Care system.   Many regular Americans have cried out in opposition to the Government run system.  They have been called everything from extremist to people who are misinformed.  The  American people have had enough.   Over 85% of people are happy with their private insurance.  They don't want to be told what to do, who to see and what is covered and what is not.  They don't want to have Government officials involved with end of care choices.  It is hard enough when a parent or spouse has to make very tough decisions, but at least today these are your options.   With all of this said, some reform in our current system would be beneficial.  Extended COBRA options, guarantee issue of both group and individual coverage, waiver of pre-x for those who stay covered from job to job, etc.  There is room for improvement in our current system.            Tags: Tallahassee health insurance | Disability Insurance | individual health insurance | health insurance in Tallahassee Hits: 100 | Read more... |
| Individual Health Insurance |
| 2009.08.18 00:05:35 | |
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For those looking for affordable health insurance, who are not a part of a group, individual health insurance is available from several good brand name companies in Florida. Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Aetna to name two. Why purchase individual health insurance? Most people feel health insurance is a necessity. Many your men think they are invinable and often wait until they are married to get covered. At this age, insurance will never be more affordable. These men can lock in their health by selecting a good plan while they are healthy. Check with one of our agents to see how affordable helath insurance really is. We offer a wide variety of deductibles and Health Savings Plans to fit almost any budget.Â
Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | Capital City Insurance | health insurance | Dental Insurance Hits: 103 | Read more... |
| Once Again...The Uninsured |
| 2009.08.17 16:49:32 | |
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 Has anybody looked in to the real number of uninsured?  I mean, do the people in this group want to be insured?  The answers may surprise you.  The data is suggesting, that even those eligible for public insurance from the Government don't take the time or make the effort to enroll.  Take also men in their 20s.  They are single, working jobs that pay by the hour and would rather have the cash.  Should we put a requirement on them to be insured?  These are things to ponder while we consider the real facts...  Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | health care | health | Disability Insurance Hits: 93 | Read more... |
| What We Are Learning About ObamaCare |
| 2009.08.13 01:43:28 | |
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          What is hidden in the over 1,000 pages of the current Health Care Reform Bill? Has anybody in Congress read it? Is anybody in Congress going to read it beofore they vote for it?          As with the Stimulous Bill, reading the Bill was apparently optional. Partisan politics ruled the day when this Bill passed with flying colors. Some regrets by many have surfaced as Americans are asking why more money and why so little return on our hard earned money?          ObamaCare is riddled with gotchas. A health Pannel of Govermenent Beaurocrats may decide if your life is worth saving. Your aging Mother may not be worth the money necessary for that hip replacement. This is already happening in Oregon with their State run health system.          Let's make sure we tell Congress to just say no to this Bill.  ''Real'' reform, not a complete revamping of a very good system would make much more sense.
Tags: Tallahassee Insurance | Dental Insurance | Disability Insurace | health insurance Hits: 149 | Read more... |
| Group Life Insurance |
| 2009.08.11 14:10:05 | |
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 Employer provided life insurance is a very affordable way to say thanks to your employees.  MAny rank and file employees are not reached by life insurance agents to make available to them the coverage they need.  AFLAC and Colonial are a couple of companies that reach employees but typically they don't provide enough coverage.  Employer sponsored life insurance is a great benefit to employees for usually not more than $7-$15 per employee.   You can also package these benefits with your group health insurance.  Most of the health companied like Blue Cross, Aetna and United are glad to help out with these coverages.  Tags: Life Insurance | Group Life | Tallahassee Insurance | health insurance Hits: 125 | Read more... |
| What Are The True Costs? |
| 2009.08.10 20:05:16 | |
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 Obama and the Legislature seem to think that by adding nearly 2 trillion dollars to health care they are going to save money.  The only way they can do this is by reducing care.  Seemingly every committee in the House and Senate have had there go of it.  Around and around they go, but no one has a plan that saves money.  When asked about their health insurance and their care, over 90% of Americans are very happy with what they have.  After all, what they have is choice, there own choice.  We hear of people unable to get coverage or preexisting issues with current Employer sponsored coverage.  In Florida, this has not been an issue since Governor Chiles passed Small Group Reform.  These mandates are much simpler and more cost effective that a total revamp of a system most are satisfied with.  Tags: Tallahassee health insurance | health care | Dental Insurance | individual health insurance Hits: 131 | Read more... |
| Town Hall Meetings |
| 2009.08.10 13:26:02 | |
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 Why are people on both sides getting so upset?  Could it be Obama has finally reached a point where the people have had enough.  Health Care is near and dear to many Americans.  There have been plenty of articles on the problems and shortcomings of the Canadian style health care system.  America is paying attention.  AARP has also added fuel to the fire.  Who would have thought that the giant senior citizen organization could be for the Obmama plan.  With $500 billion in Medicare cuts, how could AARP endorse this kind of plan?  Many members have called only to get lied to and told half truths about their position.  The House and Senate Leaders are getting more than they bargained for.  Many have cancelled their town hall meeting for fear of violent outbursts on this heated debate. Tags: Town Hall | health insurance | tallahassee | Dental Insurance Hits: 156 | Read more... |
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