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What to do When Your Employer Doesn’t Offer Insurance?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros Insurance NPN # 13379201

While many employers are looking at benefits as an affordable way to attract job candidates, some are finding it necessary to pull back on the type of benefits they offer to their employees.

If you find that a new employer doesn't offer insurance or your existing employer is changing how they provide this benefit, then it might be time to find a way to supply your own insurance benefits.

 

To start, you must determine what benefits you’re going to need. Employers offer workers compensation coverage, but they may not offer or short- or long-term disability for use with injuries obtained outside of the workplace which means you might need to consider getting that coverage on your own. Health and life insurance are two other types of insurance coverage that many employers offer, but yours may not.

Go through each of the different types of insurance plans you would expect an employer to offer and determine whether or not you need them.

 

Next, you need to find an insurance agent who can help you get the best policies with the most affordable premiums. Because the cost of insurance is variable, when paying for it out of your own pocket it's important to work with an agent who has access to many different insurance companies. Not only can this help you get the best potential rates but it can also help ensure that you work with the most flexible underwriting based on your individual situation while also securing coverage with insurance companies that are highly rated by A.M. Best.

 

Health insurance is one of the biggest concerns of employees. For some, a lack of coverage through their employer could mean that they buy an individual family plan, a high deductible plan combined with a health savings account, entrance into their state’s high-risk pool or, if they are age 26 or under, that they go back on their parents’ plan. Once again, this is a decision that your agent can help you make.

 

If you can't rely on your employer to provide insurance for you and your family, then you need to rely on an agent that you can trust.

 

Give us a call and we can help you determine which types of insurance coverage you need to invest in and assist you in finding the most affordable way to do so.

Posted by

 

Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Excellent information, Frank. Insurance issues can be so confusing and you have explained them very neatly.

Feb 23, 2013 09:41 PM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Good post Frank. I know that a lot of people in our industry struggle with insurance coverage for themselves and their families. 

Feb 23, 2013 09:57 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Toni, It can we try so hard to make it easy to understand and make affordable

Fred, Yes, right now it is a huge struggle for individuals and small business to get affordable insurance coverage

Feb 23, 2013 10:03 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Great post about a topic that is certainly on many of our lives. We do offer insurance for our employees, but not everyone can. It will be really interesting to effects of Obamacare over the next few years.

Feb 23, 2013 10:05 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Frank, with the cost of health care today, health insurance is something that families can not afford to be without no matter what the cost of the policy.  Like Joe, I am waiting to see the effects of Obamacare.  My guess is that it is not going to be good.

Feb 24, 2013 07:16 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Frank:  Fewer and fewer are getting insurance actually contributed to.  Obviously a big enough problem.  But so many companies are not even offering group insurance in which you can take part, even if you pay the freight.  I've been there.  Definitely a very worrisome problem.  Having a reliable insurance professional such as yourself ... on which you can rely and depend is invaluable ...

Gene

Feb 24, 2013 08:42 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Frank, I am thankful to have insurance through my husband's work. I know many that have none and is a scary thought.

Feb 24, 2013 02:01 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Joe, we'll have to wait & see how Obamacare plays out. it will very interesting to see

George, I am with you & Joe. I see it as another DC cluster F#%K....

Gene, There are many small companies that cant offer it as it is so expensive, and for individuals too

Debbie, Good for you. Having one spouse having heath benefits through work really helps.

Feb 24, 2013 07:37 PM
Al Raymondi
Ocean View Realty Group in Ormond By The Sea Florida - Ormond Beach, FL
Ormond By The Sea Florida - Home and Condo Sales

The high cost of health insurance keeps many from having the coverage they need Frank.

Feb 24, 2013 09:34 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Frank, many self employed agents are concerned with how to find some good health care insurance coverage. I was fortunate to have Tricare for Life, as a military retiree. 

Feb 24, 2013 10:49 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

As a self employed person, I have to say that one thing I certainly miss about living in Germany was the national health insurance for all!!! You only had to be a legal resident and since without being registered by the police, you could not rent an apartment or get a job, basically just about everybody was legal.

Feb 24, 2013 10:54 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Hope you are enjoying this fantastic weather we are blessed with this week.

Feb 27, 2013 04:31 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living
Frank, it doesn't seem that the most recent reforms have made it easier for people to get health care coverage or make it more affordable. Quite the opposite and as it turns out the insurance choices are getting more complicated every day, it would be difficult for many to find the best solution for them without a trusted agent like you.
Feb 27, 2013 07:36 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Al, Insurance is rising everywhere. getting Affordable Health coverage is always tough on people

Jerry, you are lucky to have the military benefits

Barbara-Jo, yes some of the other countries have some fantastic health benefits available

Silvia, It is much tougher for people to get coverage, we will see how Obamacare plays out....

Feb 28, 2013 12:39 AM
David Cole
David Cole CPA - Orlando, FL
David Cole CPA
So many companies are not offering health insurance. I see some of my clients participating in HSA accounts. It is an option
Mar 01, 2013 07:54 AM
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

I know a lot of agents who don't have coverage through a spouse so go without health insurance because the options are so limited for individual coverage and what is available is so expensive it is cost prohibitive. 

 

Mar 01, 2013 01:01 PM