Blog - Henderson Insurance Services

Not Getting Paid and Frustrated with the Bureacracy

May 20, 2015 by nanette

When Agents attended their training in order to sell health insurance through Covered California, they were told they would be paid $ 58.00 for each Medi-Cal Application. This was welcome news as it would provide Agents with the resources to accommodate thousands of people seeking help with their applications.

In 2014 no money was distributed to Agents for Medi-Cal applications submitted. We find out it was because the “Contract” Agents were required to sign did not have specific wording in it which would permit the Department of Healthcare Services to distribute those funds. Talk about incompetent! They made promises they intended not to keep.

Here we are May 2015, many Agent have not received any money for the hundreds of applications they submitted on behalf of Medi-Cal beneficiaries. When our office reached out to Covered California, The Department of Healthcare Services and our legislative representatives, we were told no one really has any substantial answers to this problem and the Department of Health Care Services is working diligently to get agents paid.

I wonder just how diligently they would be working on this issue if it affected their paychecks?!

Tis the Season for Graduations and Weddings

April 14, 2015 by nanette

Decorated table with glassware and cutlery

Not many people think of purchasing insurance for a Special Event, like birthday, anniversary, baby showers, and graduation parties. If you are planning on organizing a party it would be wise to consider purchasing a Special Event Policy. Unfortunately, the unforeseen happens which could leave you in a difficult position with your guests should someone be injured or become ill.

A Special Event Policy not only provides liability protection for injuries or illness it can also help with covering non-refundable deposits, cancellation fees. These policies are very affordable. These types of policies are designed to protect the host against lawsuits related to bodily injury and property damage and can include Liquor Liability protection.

Let’s face it we live in a society where lawsuits are on the rise so it would be prudent to protect yourself from the what-if’s, unforeseen events that can happen.

Why Dental Insurance?

April 13, 2015 by nanette

Dental plans are offered as Stand-Alone plans and do not require a Medical Policy. Dental plans do not adhere to open Enrollment guidelines and are available to all ages all year long.

There are options to choose different coverage levels at any age including 65 and older. Some prices starting as low as $10 per month for preventive plans. There are other options available with the ability to waive the waiting periods for some procedures with proof of 12 months prior dental insurance.

You may be asking yourself, why should I buy Dental Insurance? Most plans provide benefits for at least 2 annual exams and discounts for fillings, root canals and other major procedures. Its buying peace of mind should you need major work.

The hard part is trying to select a plan that fits your specific needs, that’s why you want to do your research before purchasing. Waiting to purchase dental insurance when you need it most can prove to be complicated in a sense you need to pay attention to the waiting periods. Most dental plans will have 3 – 12 month waiting period for some procedures and services.

What does “MEDICAL” Coverage provide on an auto insurance policy and why get it?

April 8, 2015 by nanette

You may have seen this and think it is not needed since I already have health insurance. You could be right, but let me explain what it does provide. It may provide coverage for you the insured along with your passengers. It may provide coverage to insured drivers who like to walk, or bicycle. It may provide coverage if you as the insured are a passenger in someone else’s vehicle and are injured. If you as the insured need dental work after an accident or require extended nursing services or hospitalization or other rehabilitating services.

You may think, although you might have great health insurance you don’t need this added coverage, but having Medical coverage will help not only you as the insured it will also help your passenger’s as well.

More information on understanding your auto insurance coverage;

http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_understanding_auto.htm

Did you know?

April 2, 2015 by nanette

Most customers who purchase insurance do not read their policies, not that we could blame them. Even for seasoned insurance agents, the policy contract can be complicated. However, there are coverages in a policy which require special attention. One of those would be your personal property coverage.

Personal property is handled differently than your valuables such as jewelry, artwork, and other high valued items. Personal property is defined as possessions you own other than real estate or buildings. It is movable and includes tangible (movable) items like, appliances, furniture, jewelry, electronics, clothing, etc. Not all of your personal property is covered and there are limits to how much your policy will cover. This is one of the coverages most customers do not pay attention to until they need to file a claim where they are surprised to discover they did not have enough coverage. They expected their agent to know what they needed. Please do not make this mistake, Agents only know what you tell them.

To get the coverage you need to protect your valuables, take a good look at your current homeowners, renters or condominium policy, chances are you might need to add what we call “scheduled items” to your policy. You may also want to consider purchasing a “Personal Articles” policy for high-valued items.

Why is Life Insurance Important for a Single or Young Person?

March 5, 2015 by nanette

Some would ask why purchase life insurance if you have no one to leave it to? Not sure that would be true, most people have someone in their life who they love and value. So perhaps the bigger question is why purchase life insurance regardless of marital status or age?

With some certainty death would have a financial impact regardless. So why burden loved ones with not only the impact of losing someone they care about but also with the expenses. After all, the end of life expenses can be overwhelming and life insurance is a great way of leaving tax-free money to your loved ones, or favorite charity.

Did you also know, life insurance can protect your future as you get older? We all know purchasing life insurance when you are young is cheaper, however purchasing a policy early in life can eliminate putting you in financial crises later on in life.

There are ways to use a life insurance policy for future investments, tax savings along with term care. This can be an immeasurable security feature especially if you are single.

Have a life insurance through your employer is not the best way to protect yourself as it is probably not one you can take with you when you leave the company, so purchasing your own policy will provide you protection wherever you go.

Life insurance is worth your time after all, bad things can and will happen and a life insurance policy is one of those essential items that will be there when you and your loved one most need it.

Deadline Extension for Covered California Enrollment

February 19, 2015 by nanette

After individuals and families rushed to meet the deadline date to enroll onto a health insurance plan, the government decides it is again going to extend the deadline date to February 22, 2015. Now this is after agents have been telling perspective clients they could not enroll after February 15, 2015. This brands agents as incompetent and ill-informed. It was not until mid-afternoon on Wednesday, February 18th that Covered California send out the notice to agents. So this is our way of apologizing to those individuals who called our office asking to apply for health insurance after February 15th.

Now with the new deadline, from what we have been told, it does not apply to the insurance companies only if an application is submitted through Covered California. You are not permitted to make a plan change. This extension is only for those who did not apply prior to the February 15, 2015.

Truly, we do not understand the mindset of those making these decisions. After all, a deadline date should be a deadline date and not an anticipated extension date.

Why Use a Licensed Agent for Covered California Health Insurance?

February 2, 2015 by nanette

Why not call Covered California or even consider using an unlicensed person to sell you health insurance?

If I did not know better and listened to what the media puts out along with the marketing Covered California has done over the past year and half, I would have probably called Covered California and submitted my application through them. After all, they know what they are doing, right?

Answer to that question is, NO, they have no idea how to “sell” health insurance to people. Covered California is simply an exchange to get the government subsidy. Most of them are not Licensed Insurance Agents and certainly do not have the interest of the client in mind.

So why would anyone trust their health insurance with someone who does not have a license to sell health insurance? Not to mention the years of experience in the health insurance industry.

We have had clients call Covered California where the representatives will take the liberty to start a new application for one of our clients without telling them they will no longer have their agent on the new policy once the application has been submitted. This leaves the client without an agent and therefore must deal with the insurance companies on their own. Having 2 applications in Covered California will create so many complications with the insurance companies not to mention how it will affect the client. Like I said, they do not have the client’s interest in mind.

Having an agent or broker, at least one from our office, does not cost the client additional money. The premiums are the same with or without an agent/broker. We do all the follow-up with the insurance company, handle billing problems, and assist with finding a doctor and more.

What we recommend; do not contact Covered California or submit your application on your own without first speaking with a licensed insurance professional. We have our clients best interest in mind and not our bottom line.

Be Proactive When it Comes to Insurance

September 16, 2014 by nanette

Just the mention of the word Insurance can cause you to push the issue aside and deal with it later. Many people either do not understand how Insurance works or, the idea of having to spend their hard-earned money on something they are either forced to have or see it as a waste of money.

When it comes down to it, Insurance is necessary and prudent, not only as a homeowner or a business owner; it is prudent in many aspects in protecting your financial assets and your loved ones. Just take a moment and listen to the local news reports, hear is one you hear all too often; a car slams into a house, then the driver of the car is an 18yr old with no apparent assets and no income to pay for the damages to your property. You may be able to sue but good luck in trying to recover money. He had auto insurance but it was the states minimum which will barely cover ¼ of the damage he caused. Let’s say you were injured severely in the accident and were placed on disability for an extended length of time, does your homeowners insurance cover this or do you even have enough insurance? This may be an extreme example, but this is why you have insurance, for the unforeseeable events in our lives. No one foresees getting sick, your belongings stolen, your home destroyed by a fire, your business sued, and the list can go on and on. Here is another scenario,; you are driving home at the posted speed limit and you just turned onto your street then suddenly a child appears out of nowhere and you hit the child. The child is severely injured. No doubt you will be sued and having the states minimum coverage it just not enough. You could loose everything.

As insurance brokers, it is our job to help our clients obtain the insurance that best meets their needs. Yes, we do look for the best price, but the best may not be the lowest. So, when shopping for your next insurance policy, whether it is for your health, home, auto, life or business, be proactive and ask yourself some questions like these:

How valuable it the thing you need to protect?
Do I have enough for my family to survive on?
Are by Business Insurance policies adequate should a loss or suit occur?
If I have a Home-Based Business, does my homeowners insurance provide the coverage I need?
If I provide a service do I need just Liability insurance or do I need Directors or possibly Errors and Omissions insurance?
Do I have Uninsured Property Damage on my auto policy?
Do I have enough Liability coverage on my auto policy and what does that cover?
How much would it cost to rebuild my home, do I have enough coverage?
Why do I need to purchase Renters Insurance?

To have the most comprehensive coverage requires you to understand what it is you need to protect. Take the time to be proactive, write down everything and everyone you want to protect including yourself. Call your insurance broker, schedule an appointment with him or her and get started today with being proactive and taking charge.

How Insurance Brokers Coped (or didn’t) with Covered California

September 10, 2014 by nanette

insurance-brokers-covered-california Change is nothing new for Insurance Brokers.

Everyone is or should be familiar to changes in life; some are positive changes and others not so positive. However, change is a fact of life and how we deal with those un-welcomed changes is what’s separates the average broker from the exceptional broker.

In the insurance industry, change is way of life for brokers. Changes occur in every aspect of our business, from the way a premium payment is handled to the underwriting of policies and etc. There are so many changes going on it makes your head spin. So, when health insurance brokers were faced with the changes implemented by the Affordable Care Act, we met this change head-on. Brokers attended seminars and read article after article with the latest information on the changes that were to occur.

In the fall of 2013, brokers were required to attend an 8 hour face to face training and then take tests to become certified in order to sell through Covered California.

By October 2013, brokers were prepared to start working with Covered California. When the time came to start submitting applications to Covered California, brokers were faced with the inconceivable…website crashed! There was no way to submit the application electronically. Then we were instructed to fax them, we did and guess what? We were told there was no way for Covered CA to process all of the paper applications.

I could go on and on but I think you get the point. It was a mess to say the least and took months to get our clients enrolled.

Then, we had to deal with the Insurance Companies, and to our surprise, the communication between Covered California and the Insurance Companies was nothing short of incompetent.

So here we are in September 2014, and the communication between Covered California and the Insurance Companies has not improved much. Open enrollment is just 2 months away and the uncertainty Brokers have in dealing with Covered California still lingers.

You see, change is something exceptional Brokers embrace and are not afraid of. We were all thrown into this mess, like it or not, and we will work hard to embrace the upcoming challenges. After all, this is what we do… assist our clients with their health insurance needs.

Just a thought…things would have probably run much smoother if Covered California had solicited the help from Brokers in the design and implementation of the application process and their website.