[Still a few clitches with the newsletter vendor. If you did not get the previous edition and wish to read it CLICK HERE.]
Dear Everyone!
Nice to hear from so many of you about how much you enjoy this piece and how you have learned from it.
It's the 'dog days' of summer but I'm busy here at the agency preparing for the next Medicare Advantage enrollment period as well as working on new cases for Colonial Supplemental (which is what I call the 'better' Aflac!) We finished the enrollment for TAB - Office Planning Group in Rancho Cordova last week. (If you need to store medical, legal, tax, business or any other kinds of paper records this is the place to do it (call Lorraine at 638-2999).
Anyway, it's not only hot outside, but healthcare coverage if starting to heat up as an issue too.
-Al
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Does Blue Cross make sense to you?
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I mentioned in the last issue that wherever I go people ask my about my position on healthcare coverage. I reply that it doesn't matter what I think... or what you think... it's about what the big-money players think. And no one has more skin in the game than Blue Cross of California.
So what do they think? Well, they sent this letter to all of their agents this week asking us to join them in their crusade to stay in business. And you can jump on me if you wish, but their concept of "guaranteed access" vs. "guaranteed issue" DOES make sense... at least to a middle-of-the-road, political moderate like myself.
I just don't see how one-payor (government healthcare like Canada) is going to work in California... much less the USA. It's not so much the delivery system that is broken as it is the access to it that needs to be fixed, and I think the Blue Cross concept might be a good 'blend' of private enterprise and government regulation.
There is no 'perfect' plan. In a state as diverse as ours, we are not going to reach easy agreement. Compromise is what it's all about. And you are going to hear a lot of other "high-minded" phrases like that.
Guarantee issue sounds great... but NY, MA, and NY have it, and all three are by far the most expensive states for health insurance.
Why? Because no one buys coverage until they get sick. Thus is is not the pool of money created by premiums and investment income on those premiums to pay the claims! Thus the "entry fee" into the pool has to be high!
There are arguments pro and con for different plans. Please remember that it's all about the money. No one really cares what agents like me think or what people like you think. We're just pawns on the chess board. Whoever can afford to pay for the best PR and purchase the influential politicians will win. This is no different than water rights, Indian gambling, school vouchers, or any other high-stakes issue where huge dollars are at stake.
Do you want to write your legislator? Knock yourself out. But unless you can put a big check in the envelope, don't expect that anyone is going to give a damn.
As they said in the Watergate era: "Follow the money."
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| Do you have a 'crap' plan?
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Just like in anything else, in healthcare coverage there are good plans and there are 'crap' plans. While the large well-known carriers do have a few 'crap' plans, those are 'golden' compared to what some of the lesser-known 'association' plans contain.
For example, everyone talks in hallowed tones about the AARP. I would not put my dog on an AARP health or life plan. I won't say why as I don't want to be sued... but I simply wouldn't.
But what really toasts me are the companies that go around to self-employeed people and offer what look like solid-gold plans but are really just fools-gold. I won't mention the name of my most hated company, but I know some of you have a plan from this carrier or its parent.
Please, please, please read this short article from the Sarasota (Florida) Herald-Tribune.
I try not to be a pest. No one wants an insurance guy calling them three times a day bugging them. But when I speak with someone with a plan from the company in the article above that I simply KNOW will bankrupt them, I see it as a moral imperative to do what I can to get them to change. I don't care if they don't buy from me... as long as they buy something good... from somebody.
If you are self-employeed and you get a call from some association or 'alliance' offering what sounds like a 'perfect' plan at low cost, please call me about it. I'm not saying all of them are 'bad' but only an experienced agent will really know. You can read the policy and maybe you will 'grok' it... or maybe not. However I guarantee that I will... as I see them day-in and day-out.
Don't end up like the guy in the above article.
(End of sermon!)
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Did you hear a "quack" somewhere?
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People ask where are the 'new ideas' in healthcare coverage coming from. Well, that's easy to answer. They are coming from the voluntary-benefit arena.
You've head of the company with the obnoxious duck? I don't write for them.
I do write for a company with less (like zero!) name recognition but which is still #2 in the business... Colonial Supplemental.
Besides benefit communication and enrollment services, Colonial provides employee (sometimes employer) paid benefits that 'fill the gaps' not offered by the employer.
For example a small start-up company might offer major-medical group plan... but have nothing on the life, disability, or accident side. That's where the supplemental carriers come in. They can offer very reasonably priced coverage in these areas... and each employee can elect to take a disability and/or accident and/or life plan... and pay for it... or waive it. It's a win-win for the company as it cost them nothing (but will lower their FICA taxes) and they can offer their people a good plan. It's a huge benefit for the employee who will get individual and portable (if they leave their job) coverage at low 'group rates.'
I spent all day last Friday (8/3/07) at a Colonial seminar on a new Medical Bridge 3000 plan that will pay deductibles, wellness (Paps, Mano, ect.) benefits, and surgical benefits as a 'lump sums' to the employee. What's new? They will underwrite the employee on a GI (insurance lingo for 'guarantee issue') basis. They also will waive pre-existing conditions. This is HUGE! No one is even using the term "GI" when it comes to individual medical these days.
Now remember these are just 'gap-filles.' These are not a replacement for a major-med. But if your company has to scale down from a 'rich' HMO non-deduct plan to a PPO with a high deductible, voluntary benefit plans can fill those gaps by helping to pay the deductibles as well as costs not covered by the major-med plan.
If you work for a company with 10 or more employees, contact me and I'll be happy to put together a short presentation on how this IS a win-win for your company as well. (Yes, we'll do smaller groups... but we don't go searching for them... the truth being that rates are very low... so the commissions are very low... but I'll do them if I 'fall into them." I can't afford to prospect for them. Too much time for too little pay-back.)
Why doesn't Colonial advertise like Aflac? Aflac targets employees with one-size plans. That's fine. Colonial, however targets employeers with customizable plans. Both are good... but we're better :-)
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Well, that's a wrap for this issue. I hope you've found some of the info above useful and interesting. If you have questions about life or health coverage, safe-money annuities, or employer group benefits just give me a call or send email.
Sincerely,
Alan N Canton
Adams-Blake Insurance Solutions
InsuranceSolutions123.com
916-962-9296
CA License # 0F31110
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Al Canton, Owner
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I'm Al Canton, owner of Adams-Blake Insurance Solutions.
Everyone promises the best service, etc. So I won't bore you with that message.
Bottom line, I know health insurance, work-supplements, medicare, life, and annuities.
Most importantly, I'm honest. I will not put you in a product just for the money. I've been here 25 years and I've built my business reputation on integrity and honor.
It's that simple.
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