Tag Archives: Insurance
What Role Does Your California Health Insurance Agent Or Broker Play?
What Role Does Your California Health Insurance Agent Or Broker Play?
First, what is the difference between a broker and an agent?
These terms are often interchanged in conversation. Officially, an Agent is an individual or company that acts on behalf of the carriers to market, sell, and service insurance. The Agent has a contract with the carrier in order to transact this business. A broker is person who also contracts with carriers but officially acts on behalf of the client. In practical terms, they are not that different when dealing with California health insurance.
For example, Goodacre Insurance Services is a California agent but our goal is to find the right plan for a individual or company across the major carriers. If Blue Cross has the right option and better pricing for a given person or company, then that’s where we will go. We are independent agents which is important because we do not have interest in pushing one particular company or plan. We do have knowledge from dealing with the carriers every day in terms of which companies are easier to deal with, more stable, or better priced. There are dozens of plans on the market so this can really be important. Just looking a rate quote and benefit summary is only half of the story when choosing health insurance. Some plans exclude certain benefits or apply caps to other types of coverage. We know the lay of the land and I would personally not want to purchase health insurance just based on a rate quote.
Some companies (though not the majors) use “captured agents”. This is a person who sells only one carrier’s insurance plans. They are essentially employees for that company. I would avoid such companies as they may not have the best interest of the client at heart. If a company cannot quote multiple carriers, beware. The major carriers in California are Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Pacificare, and Kaiser. Beyond these five, we do not feel very secure about the others.
How are agents or brokers paid? Agents are paid a commission by the carriers for policies issued and in force. The commission tends to be about the same from carrier to carrier. This commission does not affect the rate. The insurance rate you will get through an agent/broker is the same as you would get going directly through the carrier. The benefit of the agent relationship is that they navigate the carriers to expedite processing, help with service issues once enrolled, and act a third party. Again, a carrier’s main interest to keep you enrolled as policy subscriber but your interest may actually lie with another carrier or plan. An independent broker can help bridge the two at no additional cost to you. Also, the carriers are big companies. Some of the reps are very knowledgeable and others are…let’s face it…newer. By dealing with California health insurance daily, we are a wealth of information and guidance that you may not get by going directly.
What to expect from your broker/agent and especially Goodacre Insurance Services?
Goodacre Insurance Services provides service across three main areas.
California health plan selection.
This really is the most difficult part and it is the reason that people put off getting health insurance. There are many plans and the language is pretty technical. Most people glaze over when they see the brochures or instant quote results. Let’s face it….health insurance is not a common purchase. Typically, people have not needed to shop health insurance in years…if ever. Goodacre Insurance Services has been dealing solely with California health insurance for over a decade now. I can guarantee that with a few targeted questions, the plan selections can be narrowed down significantly. We want you to be informed. On a daily basis, we hear from our clients that they wish they would have called earlier rather than try to navigate the volumes of information provided the plans. Let us help. We do not sell. We listen, advise, and then it’s up to you what you wish to do.
California application and enrollment.
The health application is one more reason that people procrastinate. There are sections in there are mandated by law but which are thoroughly confusing such as the HIPAA qualification. Small Group can be equally difficult in terms of qualification for Small Group health coverage in California. We are happy to walk you through the application once a plan has been decided on. This is also the time to ask about the process, payment options, cancellation options, time table for enrolling in coverage. Based on your situation, we can give you a benchmark of what to expect for a normal processing.
Health Insurance Service and Membership.
Once the plan is in effect, we are your point of contact for membership issues, claims, and future changes. We go in at the end of each month and make sure that faxed changes, additions, and requests have been processed correctly. The carriers are pretty good but 1 out of 100 requests do not show in the system. You do not want to be that one with such a critical issues as health insurance. We can also advise for ways to reduce costs when the rate increase occur based on your changing health insurance needs.
Keep in mind that you can always contact the carrier directly if you choose but why would you? Let us do the work for you since there is no additional cost to you.
Agents and brokers are required to have a license and continuing education by the California Department of Insurance. You can always research an agent’s history, carrier contracts, and other information through them. There are different types of licenses. The two most common are Life/Health which is used to transact California health insurance and Property and Casualty is used to transact insurance such as auto or home insurance. Some agents do both health and P&C but it is increasingly difficult to this well and keep up with the ever-changing industries. This is why we choose to concentrate on health insurance solely. We know the carriers, the plans, and changes in the market. This makes us invaluable to you.
As we say on the phone here at Goodacre Insurance Services…”How can I help you out”.
Find The Life Insurance That You Really Need
Find The Life Insurance That You Really Need
In the world of life insurance, it is important to make sure that you have the best coverage for you and your family. That is where smart life insurance research comes in handy. Follow these tips to find the perfect policy for you without sacrificing coverage or losing money on a bad policy.
When buying your life insurance policy, use a financial adviser rather than a broker. You will only pay one fee for the services of an adviser, but a broker will charge you a commission, which usually adds up to be more money. Brokers may also be motivated to try and get you to choose an expensive plan so that they will get more commission.
Consider your family’s long term needs when choosing life insurance policies. You will probably want to provide for your estate for at least a couple of years. Buy a life insurance policy based on a two year average of expenses. Take into account the health of your family members as well.
When purchasing life insurance be sure you trust the people you are buying from. Selling insurance is very lucrative and regulation is relatively slim. Be sure that you have done your research about a company and the individual before you purchase a life insurance policy from them. Do not become a victim.
Find the lowest rates on life insurance. The easiest way to get the best life insurance rates is to research the companies available to you and then compare prices. Know what policies you need quoted, as well as your current rates before you call. You may also be able to check their websites.
As your life progresses, continue to make needed changes to your life insurance policy. Family and individual needs change and this can affect the coverage you will need on your life insurance policy. You may want to look at switching up coverage levels or even the type of life insurance policy itself.
Find the right type of life insurance policy for your needs. The three basic types are, whole life, term life and variable life. Whole life policies will be the most expensive, but they operate much like a savings account, meaning that you can use it as an asset in the future, if it hasn’t been used.
Purchase whole life insurance to build cash value. Whole life insurance not only protects you through your lifetime. It also builds cash value. Using policy loans, you are able to access the cash value for a number of things, including education costs and retirement income. Remember that whatever you borrow from the insurance policy will reduce the final death benefit, and you will be charged interest. This type of policy is renewed every year regardless of health.
As you can see from the previous list of tips, purchasing life insurance can really make a difference in, well, your life. It takes a lot of research, a lot of budgeting, and a lot of asking questions, but it is all worth it in the end to have a life insurance policy that works for you.
Home Owner’s Insurance Tactics That Will Make You An Expert (2)
Home Owner’s Insurance Tactics That Will Make You An Expert
We purchase homes, in order to raise our families and keep them safe. If you own a home without having a home owner’s insurance policy, your family has no protection at all. If there’s any type of disaster, you will be out on the streets with no hope of getting back into your home. So make sure that you use these tips to get a great insurance package at a fair price.
When choosing a home owner’s insurance policy, look into the quality of the company. The company that holds your policy should be able to back it up. It is good to know if the company that holds your policy will be around to take care of any claims you may have.
When you are looking into homeowners insurance there are things that you can do to help with the costs of your premium. One of the things that you can choose to do is to make your deductible higher. It will lower your premium but you should keep in mind that smaller things such as a broken window may have to be paid out of pocket by you.
Review the value of any collectibles on a regular basis to make sure your coverage is appropriate for current value. Many items increase in value over time and you may need to increase the amount of contents coverage on your home owner’s insurance policy to make sure your collections are fully covered.
Installing a home security system can help to reduce your homeowner’s insurance premiums. This is true if the alarm system is monitored by a central alarm center or connected directly to a police station. You need to give your insurance company a copy of your bill or contract to get your insurance discount.
When you are dealing with homeowners insurance keep in mind that some insurance companies will actually lower your premium if you get your mortgage paid off. They will think that since you own the home outright you are more likely to take better care and pride in your home.
If possible, pay your home insurance premiums annually. When you spread your payments over monthly or quarterly installments, insurance providers will normally charge you an admin fee and interest. By paying your home insurance in a one-off payment at the start of the year, you can avoid these extra expenses.
Don’t consider buying homeowner’s insurance; just do it. Without homeowner’s insurance, you are completely without recourse in the case of fire, natural disaster, or theft. If you have a mortgage on your home, you may not even have a choice about buying homeowner’s insurance; it’s probably required by the terms of the loan.
It’s all about our family when it come to purchasing homeowner’s insurance. It’s easier to pick up and move on when you’re alone, but when you have people relying on you, they need a roof over their heads to provide shelter and safety. Use the tips you just read to purchase an affordable, high-quality insurance package for your home.
How To Get The Most Affordable Health Insurance In Ohio
How To Get The Most Affordable Health Insurance In Ohio
Affordable health insurance in any state is usually obtained through an employer who offers a health benefits package – Ohio is no exception. However, not all employers offer health benefits packages to their employees, and they aren’t legally required to. Also, some people work one or two part time jobs and aren’t eligible for either employer’s health benefits packages because they don’t work enough hours. In other words, they aren’t full time employees, so the employers don’t feel they are important enough assets to insure.
Other than purchasing an individual health insurance policy in Ohio, which is usually always more expensive than buying into a group health insurance policy such as those offered by employers, or seeking state assistance for health insurance, there are two other options for obtaining affordable health insurance, or at least medical cost coverage, in Ohio.
One option for obtaining affordable health insurance in Ohio is to purchase major medical policy with a high deductible. Of course, these kinds of health insurance policies usually don’t cover regular doctor’s visits, but they will cover major medical expenses such as emergency room visits, hospitalization, and surgeries. Plus, because of the higher deductible, they are more affordable that a regular health insurance policy.
Another option for obtaining affordable health coverage in Ohio is to set up a Health Savings Account, also referred to as HSAs. HSAs aren’t health insurance policies per se, but they do allow you to save money along the way should you need to visit a doctor, be medically treated, or pay for any other health service.
Obtaining affordable health insurance in Ohio – or any other state, for that matter – is no easy feat if you aren’t offered a health benefits package through an employer; however, don’t give up. Aside from purchasing an individual package or seeking state assistance, you can purchase a major medical policy or start an HSA to cover some of your health costs.
Car Insurance Policy – What To Know About Car Insurance Before You Shop
Car Insurance Policy – What To Know About Car Insurance Before You Shop
The car insurance policy has a lot of legal language that most of us do not begin to understand. The essential parts of the car policy are found in the declarations page that you receive when your policy renews. Car insurers are always competing for each other’s policyholders. Every car insurance company uses actuaries and underwriters to help determine the rates.
Rating Territory – Whether you like it or not, your neighbors and friends in your community help determine the rates in your area. These areas are called rating territories by the insurance companies. If there are high losses and frequency in your area then your rates are going to be higher. The opposite is also true.
Liability Insurance – Liability insurance protects you when you are liable in an automobile accident. This is valuable protection for you because this is the portion of the possible that insures you against the highest risk and financial loss. Liability claims because of death and injury are by far the largest. Don’t cut yourself short in this area.
Physical Damage Insurance – This portion of the car insurance policy pertains to your vehicles. It is a good idea to self-insure in this area by purchasing this coverage with high deductibles. Low deductibles no longer warrant the high premiums for the protection afforded. High deductibles will save you thousands of dollars over the life time of a policy.
Car Insurance Discounts – There a number of discounts in car insurance, Vehicles with air bags, seat belts, anti-lock brakes, and anti-theft devices all have discounts. Senior drivers can receive retirement discounts. Young drivers with driver training education receive discounts. Some companies give good student discounts for the young driver with a 3.0 grade point average.
It’s also important to have certain information available when shopping for car insurance. The vehicle identification number for all vehicles, the driver’s license number for all drivers, and your current insurance information will make your shopping easier.
Insurance For Your Laptop Notebook or Computer
Insurance For Your Laptop Notebook or Computer
Insurance seems to be a financial strategy often forgotten in our hustle and bustle electronic world. We spend countless hours scouring the shops for the best notebook computer deal, installing the best computer software and churning out quality product. But how often do we believe that our laptop or notebook will be stolen, or that we might suffer data loss. Do you ever think of an insurance company in relation to your laptop notebook or computer.
Over 600,000 laptops were stolen in the USA alone in 2004.
Have I got your attention? Insurance for your laptop now seems worthwhile looking into. There is the standard financial insurance for your notebook which is similar to an itemized entry in your household insurance. Great for desktop computers that go nowhere, but problematic for your laptop or notebook. Portability is the reason we own them. There are many insurance companies that supply insurance for electronic goods and a quote from a company that you find in your internet search would be a good place to start.
Computer theft-recovery software is the latest insurance for your laptop or notebook. You may well get reimbursed for the cost of the computer, but what about those countless hours you have spent on your projects that only live in your laptop because you meant to backup to disk but never quite had enough time. A quick search on the net will highlight theft-recovery software companies that work in several different ways.
Several insurance companies offer a track it back sticker type of system that enables a good samaritan to call an insurance company that will contact you. The philosophy is that you should never personalize your computer with a phone number or address as they may be combined with other personal info in your laptop to do all sorts of underhand things.
Another insurance against data loss or misuse is software similar to what a company like Orbicule might provide. This type of insurance for your notebook is ingenious indeed. When a thief accesses the internet with your stolen laptop, it silently sends screenshots at regular interval to your insurance headquarters. The concept is that ultimately the thief will be entering perhaps some personal information into an email when that screenshot is sent, thereby identifying the thief’s address. If that fails, another type of software will emulate a software failure that ultimately renders the computer useless.
In conclusion, I suggest that you should definitely check out the insurance cover from your household insurance to see what cover you already have. Secondly a call to your electronic insurance broker for a quote would be worthwhile. If you do carry sensitive data, looking at some of the anti theft software available may also prove to be valuable insurance for you notebook computer.