Reasons Why You Should Have Health Insurance

When someone calls me and asks me for a quote I am very glad to help them.  It lets me know two things right away about the person calling.  1.  You don't have health insurance and 2.  The price is how you will determine which plan you will choose.  Insurance by definition means the transfer of risk in exchange for payment.  I have a continually growing list of people who call to get quotes and don't necessarily balk at the price but don't call back.  Here are the biggest reasons to have and keep health insurance.

A.  Health insurance helps to ensure that you and your family are protected against the financial hardships that may result from health care costs.  More that 60% of bankruptcies are due to medical bills.  Do not take the risk of going uninsured and having a truck take you out.  You cannot predict the future.

B.  Just by owning an insurance plan your costs will be less than individuals who do not have it.  Most providers and hospitals will negotiate their fees with the insurance company.  On average BlueCross BlueShield, South Carolina's largest network, can negotiate 48% lower fees than those without coverage.

C.  Health Insurance means healthier people.  If you have insurance you are more likely to see a doctor before the condition worsens and is more expensive to treat

D.  Hospitals can put liens on your home if you haven't paid your bills.

I think these are the most important reasons to have insurance.  Do your homework and see for yourself but if you have any questions see me here.

— 

Brandon Vincent
Alpine Agency

T: +843.532.8367 
F: +843.971.1813
http://b-nice-intime.blogspot.com
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Real Estate Market Snapshot of 1st Quarter

I have a brief video here for those of you curious about the shape of the Charleston area housing market.  Note, even CTAR doesn't want to speculate on what to expect after April 30.  My guess is that we will see lower numbers after this incentive but it shouldn't last too long since the summer months are coming and the market always does better then.  Check this out and don't be afraid to leave a comment or two.  Ciao

Gotta Get Dat

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

— 

Brandon Vincent
Alpine Agency

T: +843.532.8367 
F: +843.971.1813 
http://b-nice-intime.blogspot.com
Find me here too:

Posted via email from bniceintime's posterous

Objective failed

Didn't win the tickets but we came close.  There was only about 40 entries at the contest for the two concerts in Columbia this weekend.  Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride were both shows and the contest was at Wild Wing Cafe in Mt Pleasant.  It was a great evening with friends but no dice on the tickets.  We'll get em next time babe!

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Arizona Iced Tea Boycotted

So is this boycott/political rally really being that effective. This New York based tea company doesn't think so. I think this protest thing is a diversion, for what I am not sure but its still funny.

Arizona Iced Tea Boycotted Over AZ Immigration Law, But...It's In New York

objective

My next objective is to win my wife concert tickets this weekend.

— 

Brandon Vincent
Alpine Agency

T: +843.532.8367 
F: +843.971.1813 
http://b-nice-intime.blogspot.com
Find me here too:

Posted via email from bniceintime's posterous

7 Reason to buy Whole Life Insurance

So I've decided to give politics a break.  It has really heated up lately.  I don't remember things so polarized as they are right now.  I wish everyone could take a break to and go home.  Be thankful for this country and enjoy it for what it is.  Something tells me it won't be this way for long.

I would like to talk about life insurance.  Did you know that 56 percent of married couples believe that their current life insurance coverage is inadequate.  I know most folks like Dave Ramsey and I agree with most of his outline for becoming debt free but I do not agree with buying term and investing the difference.  I happen to believe that permanent life or whole life is a far better buy.  These points should shed some light on the subject.

Facts about Whole Life
1.  Premiums guaranteed for life- Once you enroll in a whole life policy it will last you your entire life.  The premiums will not increase.

2.  Death benefit is guaranteed for life- The face amount, or coverage amount is guaranteed.  Some policies will decrease in value as the client ages due to higher risk of death, but once whole life is in place, it is there to stay.

3.  Guaranteed cash value growth- The cash value in most cases, is guaranteed to increase which is better than mutual funds which cannot guarantee a growth.  Here is where Dave and I disagree.  He claims term is much cheaper and you can invest the difference in a mutual fund earning 12%.  Well show me a mutual fund that earns 12% and I will be all over that!  I have still yet to find these funds he speaks of.

4.  Liquidity through loans against cash value- You may take out loans on the cash value of your policy for the entirety of your policy.

5.  Can provide retirement income- If the cash value of the policy is high enough, then the client may take retirement from the cash value and retain the death benefit originally purchased.  Even some commentators in the news media are gaining an appreciation for the value of whole life, especially after the stock market downturn of late 2008 and early 2009.

6.  Not accessible to creditors- Whole life is an exceptional wealth building vehicle that not only protects, but builds wealth and no one can touch it.

7.  Income-tax-free death benefit- My favorite part about whole life is that Uncle Sam cannot touch it either.  He cannot touch the loans on the cash value, the death benefit, or the increases in cash value.  This product is not taxed period.

So here are a few reasons to get you started on your journey to whole life.  I have much more I'd like to write about, but maybe another time.  In the meantime check out  Nelson Nash's book on the Infinite Banking Concept.  It shows many ways to take advantage of whole life insurance.

Too much on the brain...

     I have been doing a ton of research lately.  Most would think that means late nights at the library like I used to do in college but in this new age that we are in that means that YouTube, Wikipedia, and Google were my sources.  Come to think of it, can you site these websites as sources?  I think you would still have to go to the source of the source but I digress.

     I posted last week on the Tea Parties on the 15th or tax day and linked a site that I had come across that I think is really churning up some uncomfortable feelings both on and below the surface.  The site itself isn't all that edgy, but the message behind it is astounding.  I am not advocating the conspiracy theory but I am putting this out there to keep people at attention.  I felt something stirring when I watched it and if any of you know anything about the book of Revelation in the bible then this should strike a chord.

     The video is 2 hrs long so if you can sit through the whole thing like I did then more power to you.  If you can just get the basic idea there are more videos like it on YouTube.  Again I am not advocating anything in the movie, I am only trying to open a conversation about it.  Let me know what you think.

Real Estate Foreclosures Up

According to the Charleston Regional Business Journal, foreclosures have increased since last year. I have reported before on this blog that I thought the economy was turning around. Well it seems that it has according to my real estate sources, but there are still some lagging indicators. If foreclosures are up then that means the housing market is still slow to recover, less loans going out, less homes being built, and slower market recovery. So we are not out of the woods yet. Keep your hats on though, I think for Charleston, it is just around the corner.

Charleston Regional Business Journal | Charleston, SC

Tea Party in Charleston

One of these days I'm going to have to go to one of these rallies.  I would have gone today but like most affected by this recession, I had to work.  I have been amazingly busy these past couple of weeks writing health insurance policies for mostly individuals and families.  Some would not think that insurance would be a busy industry after the reform bill had past but it really has.

I have been following this Tea Party movement and I am very excited to see people standing up for individual freedoms that don't exactly line up with right or left ideologies.  I came across the Charleston Tea Party website and they met at the Custom House downtown today for the April 15 tax day rally.  They haven't posted any photos yet but I'm sure they did get some attention from some of the leadership today.

You see, the Tea Party is a movement that is tired of the way things have been going for so long and they are not lining up behind the GOP.  This movement is really rattling politicians cages and I love it.  One of the ways I think people can grasp where this party stands is by this image.

Click image to enlarge.

I posted a while ago on what it means to be a Libertarian.  I think this explains what I'm getting at.  Feel free to comment about what this means to you.

Watch out for Health reform scams!

     CCP is urging its customers to beware of phony telemarketers pitching health insurance deals.  In the wake of healthcare reform, buyers need to be wary of scammers who tell them they need to buy a new health insurance policy because of the new law. 

The pitches may come in the form of phony e-mails, fraudulent online ads, door-to-door or by way of pushy telemarketers.  The scams promise a variety of bogus benefits or enticements such as “medical discount” cards.  The consumer ends up making huge payments that entitle the buyer to nothing more than a piece of paper-- the benefits don’t exist.  Scams of this nature have been identified in other states.

We encourage you to warn your customers to be on the lookout for such scams and to contact you before making any changes.

If you have any questions, please contact your CCP sales representative, me.

Battery Breakthrough Technology Could Power Homes for Pennies Per Kilowatt Hour

I normally don't post on green topics but this caught my attention today. What if we didn't rely on the power company for electricity needs?

Battery Breakthrough Technology Could Power Homes for Pennies Per Kilowatt Hour

When you can't get insurance...

My wife found out today that she cannot get health insurance through BlueCross BlueShield.  They mentioned many conditions that she no longer has symptoms of and some she feels are mistaken.  She was taken aback and felt that she had done something wrong, but how can someone think that going to the doctor because your body is not behaving normally is something wrong.  In her situation I reassured her that she is eligible for Cobra and that we will be able to find some insurance that will cover her.  

I don't know if we can find another carrier that will insure her but I told her that and we will try to find one.  The reform bill will allow for pre-existing conditions, but that won't take affect until 2014.  There will also be a guarantee issue mandated then so I am not too worried.  She is though because she wants to try for another baby next year so this throws a wrench into those plans.  Our plan is to contact her doctor and see if he can update her file and possibly remove some of the undesirable, or incorrect diagnoses then maybe the insurance company will cover her.

   My thoughts go out to other families who didn't have a choice to go with Cobra, and their last option would be  SCHIP (SC health insurance pool) which is health insurance for folks who can't get insurance anywhere else.  The problem with the health pool is that it is really expensive because folks who are higher health risks are the ones who are in the pool.  Therefore, you have much higher rates.  So if we didn't have a choice for Cobra, we would have to get coverage under SCHIP and pay through the nose.  Many people have to go this route and this is what I see reform becoming.  A big giant pool of high risk health patients who like to go to the doctor more than usual.

     So you see the dilemma of the insurance company.  They have to make money to stay in business but the person without insurance is the one who suffers.  This is what reform was attempting to fix.  How well will it work, only time will tell and in the meantime I thank God for my health and pray my wife and child stay healthy.

Tea Party Gifts, T-shirts, Stickers and more - CafePress

For those of you who are Tea Party'ers, here's a site that I think you'll like.

Tea Party Gifts, T-shirts, Stickers and more - CafePress

2 revealing articles about where our country is headed

     I went to a Riverdog's game last night and stood for the national anthem. I take this moment very seriously and with the wind blowing the flag, I take a moment every time and thank God for our country and all freedoms that it allows for.

     I served in the military, my father served, and my brother is serving now.  I believe that America is the best country in the world and God has blessed it.  But I am not respectful of things of late.  Glenn Beck has shed some light on our president that has disturbed me greatly.  His program on Is Obama a Socialist has really set me back a bit.  I was that Glenn refers to as the person who said, "who cares its not that big a deal", and it has shaken me.

     I was disturbed by our lack of leadership in our government and I wanted a change.  The republican side of politics had been a big let down and the democrats have never really lined up with my opinions but something had to give.  I just had no idea Obama was influenced in this way.  The second article that really struck me was one on "natural law".  This article was very enlightening as to where the tea parties are coming from.  I never fully grasped what their approach was until I read this article.  It does not mention a tea party, democrat, or republican, but it identifies a free man's logic and what justice should encompass.

     I am not one to campaign for one candidate or the next, but I do know what my values and opinions are.  Simply put, socialism is not the path to success or greatness.  It is not what our fore fathers had intended and these ideas are poisonous to our liberties and freedom we know and cherish.  I don't like what I have seen referring Obama as a socialist so I have to step back and reexamine my opinion of him.

As far as what this means for health insurance we may never hear the end of it.  I have a feeling the health insurance system will resemble that of a Tricare system with the efficiency of medicaid and social security.  Which means long lines and waits and little reliable service.  It will be more affordable, but the quality of coverage and service will diminish.

Jaw Dropping video of How we Surf the Internet

Or how the internet surfs us.  For all you who think social media like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are just fads, think again.  If you do anything on this blog watch this video, it will open your eyes.

Fun widget-- link to Glyde.com

My favorite dvds

Here is a link to Glyde.com where I have all my DVD's, and books for sale.  Check it out it may be a good way for you to sell some of your old stuff too.  Or you can go to my collection here.

9 big changes to look for from Health Reform

Many folks have been asking, "What has changed now that Obama has signed the bill"?  Well to be honest, not much... so far.  We just had a conference last Thursday on what we, as agents can expect to see change now, this year, and 4 years to come.  Here is a list of what to expect in chronological order.



1.  National risk-pool will be created 90 days from enactment- this is the pool that is created that will add to the state level risk pools already in place.  It allows people who can not attain insurance, a pool to enroll into and gain coverage.  This should be a temporary fix for now that will allow more to get insurance until the major changes in 2013 or 2014 take place.

October 1, 2010
2.  Prohibits lifetime benefits limits- you will see all health insurance carriers prohibited from using lifetime benefits limits.  Most carriers rarely see this limit reached but some carriers who are not able to negotiate rates with doctors and hospitals and issue guaranteed policies will be affected.

3.  Dependant coverage up to age 26 is mandated- Coverage for dependents is extended to help young  people to retain their parents coverage.  Although it is not free, this will help those young dependents who have not yet attained health coverage from employers.

4.  Internet portal to facilitate consumer and small employer shopping- I find this addition very interesting because this levels the playing field for all the insurance companies.  I don't know how efficiently this will be implemented by October, but this will make a big difference.

5.  Pre-existing condition exclusions for dependant children (under 19 years of age) are prohibited- Anyone older than 19 will have to wait until 2014.  So those policies issued with riders or exclusions on children 19 or under will be cleared as of October.

As you can see most of these changes will only affect the insurance companies.  The changes you see here actually help the client, you, more than anything.

January 1 2014

6.  Health insurance exchange is established- this give individuals, families and small employers a chance to shop the competition as well as give them a public health option.

7.  Policies will be guarantee issue- no more denying coverage.  Again this is great for the client but bad for the company.  In the long run it will raise prices.

8.  Now we see Pre-existing conditions exclusions prohibited- for all ages.  Again I don't like the idea of what will happen to prices.

9.  Multi-state qualified health plans are created and offered through the Exchange- I like this change because it reaches across state boundaries.  This should have been done a long time ago.  This creates competition for insurance companies which means better prices for clients.  We will also see the government mandate that health plans develop and file new health rates.

And there you have it.  These are the most profound changes but the whole health insurance industry as a whole has been turned on its head.  This wasn't health care reform, it was health insurance reform.  The issues with the hospital services is not well addressed in this bill.  I don't know why the insurance companies were made out to be villains, other than they believed they have monopolistic traits.  Anyhow we see many major changes coming all that I have mentioned to this point may be reordered in the timeline.

Remember, we the agents may not have all the answers, but we do have the tools to find them.

What is a Libertarian?

I came across a great video of an interview with John Stossel, a self acclaimed Libertarian, and thought that I'd share it.  I lean towards these views as well and try to avoid the conservative label.  I do not agree with all conservative views, although I do agree with pro-life and believe in the institution of marriage of the opposite sex.  Libertarian is explained in the interview and I think we all could learn more about what it is we want from the American government by watching it. After the 3rd minute it starts to go off on a tangent so you don't have to watch past that.