Health Care Reform Bomb

I ran across this little image while surfing today.  I think it sums up our dilemma over the Obamacare debacle quite nicely.  While I'm not 100% for or against the law, the way it has been implemented has never felt all warm and cozy.  There are many provisions in the law that I like; under 26 can stay on parents plans, the idea of no pre-existing conditions, and allowing states to offer competing companies.  However, if you allow a federal mandate to purchase insurance, then people run for the hills.

There has to be some sort of tort reform so that doctors can manage costs without fear of malpractice lawsuits IMO.  Or you could regulate what doctors and hospitals can charge without increase and then the cost of insurance would steady.

Is the ruling going to blow back in the face the administration?  Many think it will.

The Insurance Business in 2011 vs 2012

Last year was freaking amazing.  I never thought that I'd do as well as I did.  My goals were met and I actually learned something too.  On New Year's Eve I found myself wondering, what will 2012 bring.  I am optimistic about my role as an insurance producer, but insurance as a whole will probably see some bumps along the way.

I often tell folks when they ask what I do that insurance is not the most exciting thing in the world, but it's necessary.  The conversation often turns to politics and I try not to upset their political feelings but I really enjoy building this business though.  I enjoy meeting with and talking with people to find the best suitable coverage.  It's a great challenge at times but when I find it, and get a, "Thank you so much", it feels good.  I feel like I really helped someone.  Everyone wants the best for the least and my role is to find it.  

While personally I did well, the Health Insurance industry is kinda in limbo.  Everyone is waiting to see what will happen with Obamacare with a Supreme Court ruling this year.  I am not really sure what to expect here.  Obamacare has allowed for kids under 26 to stay on their parents plan which is good.  We've actually seen an increase in uninsured policy since the passing of this law.  Certain aspects haven't taken effect yet like allowing pre-existing conditions on all policies.  This is still up in the air too with the ruling from the Supreme Court.  To me it seems like this legislation is trying to gain on the insurance agencies profits.  So while the law is making it easier for people to get coverage, we as agents might be losing in the long run and this is why I'm split on this issue.

My group business grew too.  When I say group I mean installing a coverage plan to business's.  I must say that this area is not as easy as I once thought it was.  There are so many moving parts to providing this service to a business.  A company has only so many options and ways to give coverage to their employees and with costs rising it's tough.  I want to improve this area in 2012 more than any other.  The lessons I've learned last year will serve this well in 2012.

Life insurance is an area I'd like to expand in too.  I didn't kill it this year with these policies yet there seems to be room to grow.  I've seen many studies on this and from what I've experienced, people are not that interested in talking about dying.  People need it though, and I need to find a way to access those who do want it.

I do expect my business to double again.  It did last year so why not this year.  That's my goal.  If there was one sentence to describe this business I'd have to say "The short term it looks bright".  I don't know how it will all play out but I hope for the best.

The Infinite Banking Concept

The Infinite Banking Concept is a process and not a product. It has nothing to do with investing but everything to do with financing. However, when this strategy is combined with a product that gives you control over your money, it will beat any investment system.
Consider this concept: You finance everything. This simply means that you either pay interest to someone else (bank or other financing institution) or you give up interest you could have earned otherwise.
This is why this process is so powerful. It helps you accelerate your wealth by you becoming your own banker and not giving up interest earning potential.

For more information please contact me at my email.

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The Spine is Not Designed for Sitting Around

A familiar argument against intelligent design is the one that is based on observations of supposed bad design in nature - inept, unintelligent or in other words nonexistent design. Interviewer Claudia Dreifus asks Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman. "People with bad backs often blame evolution for their pain. They say, 'My back aches because man was not meant to walk on two feet.' Are they right?" Answers Lieberman: "If that were true, natural selection would have its toll and we'd be extinct. 


What is more likely is that many people sit in chairs all day, get no exercise, and thus have weak backs. We did not evolve to sit in chairs all day." Lieberman makes the case for learning from evolution how best to care for our bodies. Of course, what he calls evolution could just as well be termed design. 


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Frequent Flyer Diseases

A century ago - before jet planes - it took new diseases months to travel around the world, and many pathogens probably never made it out of their isolated rural stomping grounds. But now no place is truly isolated, no matter how remote. 


We live in a world that's more connected than ever before, one where humans - and the viruses hitchhiking inside us - can circle the planet in a day. As a result, we're at greater risk from new infectious diseases than ever before. But there's an upside to our interconnectedness as well. 


Thanks to the Internet and cell phones, we can know what's happening in nearly every corner of the globe almost instantaneously - and that's a boon for epidemiology. 

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Coolest Images of Charleston

I have a couple of the coolest photos and pics from Charleston.  I know this site is normally about insurance but I decided to go into something that I find fascinating and that is the town I live in.  I am a sucker for history and old records.  I have a couple of old maps that are incredibly interesting.  Keep in mind that Charleston is one of the oldest cities in the country so the history behind this town goes a lot further back than insurance.

Charleston's Trademark

 This is basically Charleston's signature image.  When it was completed in '05, there was one of the best fireworks shows I've ever seen.  It lasted for over 30 minutes and it was synchronized with music and it really hit Charleston with a bang.

Arthur Ravenel Bridge

Here is another view of it.

Charleston Peninsula

I had to blow this one up big so that you could see some of the streets.  Keep in mind that the reason much of downtown floods is because it is originally marsh and wetlands.  I love old historical photos and maps like this.

Charleston Peninsula 2

You might have to click on this one to see it well. Check out the location of the Citadel and now its over near what's labeled as the Washington Race Course.  Does anyone know what this is or was?

Shem Creek

This is the creek that winds up behind my house.  It is a signature location for Mt Pleasant which is just east of Charleston.  In fact, the bridge, pictured above connects Charleston to Mt Pleasant.

 

Mt Pleasant

This is a picture of the sunrise in my backyard on Shem Creek.

Alhambre Hall

This is a park in Mt Pleasant that is stunning at sunset.  In the distance you can see the bridge.

Old Mt Pleasant

This is one of the only old maps I could find that actually said Mt Pleasant on it.

I normally stick to insurance but I thought this would be a neat post for a change.  Let me know your comments and if you have any other cools maps to research.  I love to discuss and find old records too so comment away.

Short Term Insurance...the Most Affordable, Lesser Known Health Insurance

When this product first came out, many thought it would flop because it didn't have all the moving parts of a major medical policy.  Short Term health insurance is no joke.  If you have just been hired, just been fired or not even employed, this is a great policy to check out. 

When one gets hired, normally there is at least a 90 day waiting period before the benefits kick in and that can be an anxious 90 days.  You might find yourself walking on eggshells or at least thinking of them until that health insurance policy kicks in. You might drive a little safer and take a few less chances until you get that insurance policy in your hands... right. 

 Well now you have a policy that can fill the gap.  it's called a Short Term Medical Policy.  This is a great policy that is so cheap.  I'm talking less than a hundred bucks a month.  There are some short falls and I will cover that shortly but I want to emphasize keeping creditable coverage until getting full benefits from the bossman.

The other reason to have Short Term medical coverage, is when leaving that job.  I speak with so many folks who say the only reason they stay at a job is because of the benefits.  Well don't!  I've always followed my heart when it comes to work and if you are not happy with what you are doing your performance will show.  Now you can quit that sucky job and keep creditable coverage until you find another job.  Granted its not gonna be the same quality but again, it fills the gap. 

And you don't have to pay those ridiculous premiums of COBRA.  These are outrageous costs to anyone who has left an employer and needs to maintain coverage.  Well look no further your fairy godmother is here and she is in the form of Short Term medical coverage... haha.

I want you to picture starting up your own business.  Now keep in mind you are doing what you love and you feel motivated and passionately inspired by your work but now you have responsibility that you've never had to think of before and that's benefits for your company.  Well to start you'd only have to insure yourself and that can easily be a short term policy becasue we all know that starting a busines there won't be a whole lot of extra cash laying around.  Then once business picks up you can move onto an individual or group policy.

Now most Short term products do not carry co-pays or drug coverage, but there are built in features that discount those services and you still have the major medical aspect if there were a major event that required emergency care or hospitalization.  We can even combine coverages to coordinate policies that pay only co-pays and drug coverage. They are also considered short term because they do not normally cover more than 2 years.

Its not that hard determining your options as long as you have a dedicated insurance agent who can advise you on you benefits.  Short Term policies aren't new, but they have sure come up a lot in the past couple of years especially when considering today prices.  So pick up the phone, or shoot an email to your local agent.  You'll be glad you did.