InsurancePricedRight Blog

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:55:12 -0800

In April 2009, the Treasury Department decided to allow life insurance companies to apply for bailout money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). In order to qualify for the funds, an insurer had to own a federally chartered bank. Although several companies, including Prudential Financial, Lincoln National, and Hartford Financial, did own such banks and had applied for TARP funds in 2008, the government did not give them any funds at that time, instead focusing on other industries. After the initial announcement, the shares of several life insurance companies rose broadly. This trend indicated that TARP funds would stabilize the life insurance industry, which had suffered severe losses over the past year. Though 12 companies initially applied for aid, just two — Hartford and Lincoln National — ultimately decided to accept the money. Some companies were not eligible to receive the funds, and others decided against accepting the aid. http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com

Are you on Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed or LinkedIn ?

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:56:33 -0800

If you have lived in a glass bubble for the last 2-3 years - there are new ways to prospect for business. Traditional Cold Calling methods are now a thing of the past. Many people are using a program called ShareThis.com to post pages from their website to other Social Network pages. Now you can take a page - click on Share This - and it will post the URL of that page to your Social Network Try it - you might like it!

Is your Insurance Agent Dead, Retired or no longer in the business ?

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:52:56 -0700

If your Insurance Agent is Dead, Retired, out of the business or just simply - you can't get any type of response from him/her - then you can KEEP your current Insurance Policy and Replace your Insurance Agent with a New One for FREE!For more information - call Robert J Russell, Russell Insurance Agency, Inc. - http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com - 972-679-9029 and I will show you just how easy it is to Change Agents and Keep your Current Insurance!

Aetna Health Reform Weekly

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:05:34 -0700

A weekly compilation from Aetna of health care-related developments in Washington, D.C. and state legislatures across the country Week of June 8, 2009 President Obama once again jumped into the Congressional health care reform process last week when he met with key Senators on health care and then sent Senators Kennedy and Baucus a letter outlining his priorities for health care reform. In the letter, the President says he is open to an individual coverage requirement, as long as the poor are excluded from the mandate. His position is very similar to that adopted by Aetna several years ago. But if some were energized by the letter, others were disappointed. President Obama calls for any reform package to include a public health insurance option alongside private plans, an idea that many Republicans strongly oppose. Based on the response of some to the letter last week, the process this summer (see below) could become a contentious one. The President has asked the House and Senate to finish legislation by early August so that he can have a package to sign in October. Voting is now underway for Modern Healthcare's online poll to determine the "100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare," and Aetna's Chairman and CEO Ron Williams once again is nominated as one of the finalists. To vote, click here. Federal The pace of health care reform is accelerating as both the House and Senate sense the public is anxious for action, the President is anxious for action, and the number of legislative days left before the August break is dwindling. The Senate Finance Committee met last week to review its three options papers (Delivery, Coverage and Financing) and will dive further into the details this week. The Committee hopes to release its most specific document to date on June 17 and could begin its mark-up the week of June 22, a process that could take 2-5 days. The HELP Committee is on a similar schedule. It released/leaked a 171-page (one-third of the whole bill) document on coverage, with quality and wellness/prevention still to come. This document may be well short of the final product, but it does provide some insight into the Committee's direction on coverage: Individual and employer coverage mandate; aggressive rating reforms (e.g., no gender or health status allowed); no annual/lifetime limits; a cap on non-claim costs; state-based exchanges; and a public plan. HELP will hold a hearing this week and will begin its mark-up around June 17, which might take ten days. All of this is designed to get a merged Finance/HELP bill to the Senate Floor by the last two weeks in July. The House is on the same pace. The Energy & Commerce Committee has publicized a rough outline of the House bill (a public plan, national exchange, soft individual mandate, national minimum benefit package), which will be marked-up by three House committees in early July in time for a House floor vote in late July/early August. States CONNECTICUT: The House did not take action on an amended Senate bill limiting offsets for disability premiums by the end of the regular legislative session on June 3, in effect killing the bill for this year. The State Senate had passed the amended bill one week earlier. The original bill prohibited any social security offsets, potentially increasing disability premiums by an estimated 40 percent or more. Aetna testified at the hearings, launched a legislative outreach for plan sponsors, and met with key members of the Insurance Committee extensively. The original bill was defeated in Committee. However, Sen. Edith Prague revived her bill and after many meetings and proposed compromises, insurers and plan sponsors succeeded in getting the prohibition on offsets limited to SSDI paid to or on behalf of dependent children. MAINE: The legislature passed a bill repealing the savings offset payment (SOP) mechanism used to fund subsidies for the state's Dirigo health plan and replaced it with a flat 2.14 percent assessment on paid claims. The SOP has been the subject of repeated litigation since its inception in 2003. Health plans were able to get the effective date moved from July 1 to Oct. 1, 2009. The new flat tax applies to claims paid on or after September 1, 2009 and establishes the payment date as 30 days after the end of each month. MICHIGAN: The House of Representatives and Senate are continuing discussions on their respective health care reform packages. The House is using two work groups to prepare its bills for consideration by the House Health Policy Committee this week. The Michigan Association of Health Plans is participating in the work groups, trying to move House Democratic leadership away from a package of legislation that would harm the individual insurance market. The Senate Health Policy Committee held a single meeting on its reform package. Senator George has announced a public hearing in Detroit on June 15 to hear public testimony on the package. There is considerable opposition to Senator George's plan for covering all of the state's uninsured up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level through payment in lieu of taxes from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a hospital tax that would be matched by federal funds and a 1.8 percent paid-claims tax that would be paid by insurers and self-funded health plans. NEBRASKA: The Nebraska legislature recently adjourned after passing several significant bills, including: a bill that amends the Health Insurance Access Act to allow an uninsured access coverage plan to include prescription drug and preventive care coverage, and that removes income as a criterion for eligibility; a bill that amends the state's autism treatment program to require that for every $2 of funding that comes from the state, the program must generate at least $1 in matching private donations; a bill that amends the medical assistance program statute to increase the income eligibility requirements for children under age 19 from 185 to 200 percent of FPL; and a bill that extends the maximum age on sickness and accident policies of an insured's dependents to age 30, up from 23. In addition, several important bills died this session, including one that would have established a commission to develop a comprehensive plan for affordable health insurance with an individual mandate and guaranteed issue as components. NEVADA: The Governor signed legislation requiring health insurers to cover screening and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for covered persons until the age of 18 or, if enrolled in high school, age 22. The bill also includes coverage limitations for autism treatment, and provides for licensure of behavior analysts and certification of certain autism treatment providers. Beginning January 1, 2011, all group plans would be required to provide coverage, while individual policies will be required to offer a benefit rider to subscribers. OKLAHOMA: The legislature adjourned May 27, ending a session marked by the early defeat of a controversial autism coverage mandate bill known as "Nick's Law." Ultimately, the only autism-related bill to travel to Governor Brad Henry's desk was a measure regulating autism service providers and establishing an applied behavioral analysis research pilot project. The legislature passed a bill that would establish the Health Care for the Uninsured Board (HUB) to work with the insurance commissioner to certify health insurance programs, educate uninsured consumers about choosing coverage and utilizing medical care, and help qualified individuals become enrolled in a subsidized plan. The bill also authorizes carriers to offer people under 40 a benefit plans that lacks state-mandated benefits providing disclosures are in place. Finally, the bill authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to add to the premium assistance program, the option to enroll in a high-deductible health plan compatible with a health savings account. Several pieces of significant legislation were killed, including one that would have required health benefit plans to cover all health care services that were deemed by the provider to be medically necessary. TENNESSEE: The health "Silent PPO" bill, which Aetna helped amend earlier this year, has passed the House and will likely continue to move forward. The Workers' Compensation Advisory Council will review the proposed "Silent PPO" bill related to workers' compensation this week. Aetna continues to work with the sponsor on language and a possible summer study, but he still insists the bill be heard this year. To do so, he must ask the House and Senate to re-open their committees, which have been closed for the year. TEXAS: As a result of partisan political wrangling, the legislature adjourned this week after failing to pass any legislation that would continue the life of the Texas Department of Insurance. The agency is now scheduled to go into "wind down mode" beginning September 1, 2009. The Governor will likely call a special session to resolve this issue and other issues left undone during the regular session. He could also enter an Executive Order moving the TDI's functions to other agencies temporarily. The legislature did manage to pass some significant bills, including one that would codify a balance billing dispute resolution process. Another bill expands the state's autism mandate from age 6 up to 9 and includes the state's employee group. Other bills provide rules regarding ranking of physicians by health plans (consistent with Aetna's current process); allow the direct employment of physicians by hospitals, which should help eliminate the state's balance billing problem; and require all public colleges and universities to sponsor their own health plans for students. Bills defeated included the Texas Medical Association's omnibus "Code of Conduct" bill. Also, 13 separate bills relating to MLR all died, as did the Speaker Pro Tem's "Silent PPO" bill, which also attempted to regulate self-funded plans, was voted down on the Senate floor. WASHINGTON: Small employers now have an additional tool to help mitigate the costs of rising health insurance premiums. With the passage of recent legislation, small employers willing to develop and implement an outcome-based employer wellness program can negotiate modest premium reductions with insurers if the employer is able to meet the goals established for the program. Program goals could focus on, for example, increasing the percentage of employees receiving age-appropriate health screenings, increasing the percentage of employees receiving flu shots, or setting a target for the number of employees who stop smoking. Resources Transforming Health Care in America America's Health Insurance Plans http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com

Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of subsidiary companies. Those companies include Aetna Health Inc., and Aetna Health Insurance Company.

Twitter: What Does the Future Hold?

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:55:33 -0700

There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday about Twitter, the darling of the social media world, and the future of the site. Here's a link to the full article, "Twitter Trips on Its Rapid Growth" - I recommend you read it. No, the article was not a doomsayer, predicting a failing. But it did raise the question of what lies ahead in Twitter's future in terms of their ability to mange growth and their business model. Twitter is a business. And like any company it has a business model...well, sort of. Like so many start-ups it may be more concept and visionary that a real model The problem for Twitter, and one which the owners/founders must wrestle with in the near term, is financial. Like many start-ups, especially on-line, Twitter has had amazing growth in its first years of existence. I don't know how it compares to some of the other on-line businesses that has sprouted up, but with about 32 million unique users now (per the article), and only 3 years old, the growth rate has been phenomenal. Perhaps that exceeds the growth rate of the Googles of the world. The problem for Twitter is revenue stream. There is none. Hmmm, reminds me of AR in its earlier days. As we all know that has changed, in ways that I think many feel are positive. Oh, Twitter has money, having found financing from venture capitalists, a common strategy with start-ups. And the article goes on to say how they are exploring alliances with other companies. But Twitter is not generating income from the site as it currently exists since they don't sell advertising. The investors will, certainly, be looking for some return on their investment The other growth-related issue is infrastructure. Twitter has employees, but not many considering how rapidly it is growing, and the growing pains - server issues, product development - will likely continue without bringing on more employees to deal with the running of the business itself. And further development, I suspect, will be hindered. According to the article plans are in the works to bring on more staff. The challenge, as I know well from being in an Internet start-up, is finding the folks with the business acumen but who also fit the corporate culture and the vision. That can be a significant challenge for some founders. Will Twitter continue to exist in its current form? Unlikely. A revenue stream must happen at some point for Twitter to remain viable, as has happened with other Internet companies, unless they can secure more VC funding. And certainly the question of being sold has arisen - no doubt of interest to the VCs. Time will tell on that issue. Will Twitter continue to attract users? Undoubtedly. But how many of its users are, and will continue to be, active? (We know from recent reports that about 8% of AR members are active). And won't new product offerings be necessary to meet the changing needs of devotees? And provide income, in addition to the potential of advertising becoming a part of the Twitter landscape. The popularity does not seem to be waning, but 2009 should be an interesting year. Would you pay to belong to Twitter? Would you advertise? And are there other product offerings that could provide Twitter with a revenue stream. We'll see.

More Services we offer !

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:32:21 -0700

Benicard Discount Card Provides discounts for Medical & Physicians, Hospitals, Clinics, Dental, Prescription, Vision, Hearing, Chiropractic, Travel Assistance, Emergency Rescue, Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements, Medical Discount Dental Plan POS Dental Plan, provides access to over 62,000 dental offices, with participating providers nationwide. Members may visit any participating dentist on the plan and change providers at any time. Discount Medical Plans Offers a variety of discount dental plans, vision plans, and Rx to provide individuals, families and groups with choices. Identity Theft Protection Over 10 million Americans will be victims of identity theft this year. LifeLock is the leader in proactive identity theft protection, protecting over 1 million members nationwide. Preferred Vision Care Covers all family members for one low price Prescription Drugs $10 co-pay Rx Cards Short Term Health Insurance Medical insurance for those who are: unemployed, self-employed, in between jobs, recent college graduates, in need of an alternative to COBRA. Standard Security Life Dental Dental Plans for Individuals & Families Travel Insurance Travel Insurance - Overseas Health Insurance

Group Insurance for the Real Estate Industry!

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:36:40 -0800

Group or Individual Insurance ?

Please complete the following information so that we may determine which Plan of Insurance is best for your particular needs.
Contact Information
Name
Phone number
Fax number
Email address
Best time to contact you
Home Zipcode (Individuals ), Business Zipcode ( Groups )
Are you looking for Group or Individual	GroupIndividual
If Group, How Many Employees ?
If Individual, how many members in the family ?
Let us Design your plan by making your selection
Dr. Visits	Unlimited2-3 Per Year
Physicals Covered	Day 1After Deductible
Pap & Mammograms	Day 1After Deductible
Rate Increases	Stable - might be more expensive20-30% - I'll take my chance
Dental, Vision & Rx	IncludedOptional
Emergency Room Coverage	$250 co-pay up to $5000After Deductible
Critical Illness Rider	YesNoDepends on Premium
Disability Coverage	YesNoDepends on Cost
$10,000 AD&D	YesNoDepends on Cost
On the Job Coverage	YesNot Offered
Renewable	GuaranteeConditionally
Worldwide Coverage	YesNo - only U.S.
24 Hour Nurse Hotline	YesNo
Emergency Helicopter - Careflight	YesNo
Air Ambulance	YesNo
Rates Based on Group	YesNo - Individual Rated
Current Premium
Current Insurance Company
Last Years Approx. Medical Expenses such as: CVS, bandaids, cold medicine, dental visit out of pocket, check-ups, eye & dental exams, vision exams etc
Any person taking Medications	YesNo
Been Declined in last 6 months for Insurance	YesNo
* If your not sure what to pick, then we can discuss your options.

For more information: http://www.insurancepricedright.com

Do you have your Insurance License ?

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:45:24 -0700

Do you remember the Movie - The Godfather ? Marlon Brando was ' The Godfather ' and one of the most common lines from that movie was " Tell him we'll make him an offer he can't refuse " Well, if you have your Insurance License and you want to sell Life Insurance - we can help you. With over 50 Life Insurance companies to sell through, we can give you the best quotes and the best contracts to sell. Simply call Robert J Russell 972-679-9029 to find out how you can make money selling Life Insurance. Also if you want to compare what you have with what we can offer you - let me know. Here is a sample quotes :

Name	Age/Nearest	Gender	State	Amount	Health Class(es)
Your Name	47/47	Male	TX	$250,000	Preferred Best Non-Tobacco

Compare

Carrier

Product

Action

Total Premium(Monthly)

20 Year - $250,000

SBLI (Savings Bank Life Insurance Co of Mass) AM Best A+ S&P NR

	Level Premium Term 20 (guar 20)
	(Preferred Plus Non-Nicotine)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective Sept 1, 2008

$34.58

AIG American General Life AM Best A S&P A+

	AIG Select-A-Term (20 yrs)
	(Preferred Plus Nontobacco)
	Product Disclosure
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates Effective 01/07/08

$34.78

Banner Life AM Best A+ S&P AA

	OPTerm 20 (guar 20)
	(Preferred Plus Non-Tobacco)
	Product Disclosure
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective 2/25/08

$35.22

Genworth Life Insurance Company AM Best A+ S&P AA-

	Sure Term® 20 (guar 20)
	(Preferred Best No Nicotine Use)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective 8/11/2008

$35.66

North American Company for Life and Health Insurance AM Best A+ S&P AA-

	ADDvantage 20 (guar 20)
	(Super Preferred Non-Tobacco)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective 2/17/2007.

$35.66

ING ReliaStar Life Insurance Company AM Best A+ S&P AA

	TermSmart 20 (guar 20)
	(Super Preferred Nonsmoker)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: For substandard cases, please utilize ING's proprietary software, ING Presents. Rates effective 10/29/2007.

$35.88

West Coast Life AM Best A+ S&P AA

	Focus Term 20 (guar 20)
	(Super Preferred)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates Effective 01/14/2008Waiver of Premium is not available after Table 4

$35.88

Aviva Life and Annuity Company AM Best A+ S&P AA-

	Aviva 20 Year Term 2008
	(Premier No Tobacco)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective 8/18/2008

$37.60

Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company AM Best A+ S&P AA

	Trendsetter® Super 20
	(Preferred Plus)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates are effective April 14, 2008

$37.84

Hartford AM Best A+ S&P AA-

	Hartford Term 10, 15, 20, 30 (guar 20)
	(Preferred Best Non-Nicotine)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Actual Age 47
	NOTE: Efft 11/2/07-This quote is for general information only. To obtain a quote for a client with the proper Hartford Ins Co name, please contact The Hartford. Min. premium is $50/$15 for monthly.

$38.25

Prudential Financial AM Best A+ S&P AA

	Term Essential 20 (guar 20)
	(Preferred Best Non Smoker)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Actual Age 47
	NOTE: This quote is an estimate and may be different than the actual premium. Your actual premium will be determined after the underwriting process is complete and it may differ from this quote.

$38.48

MetLife Investors USA AM Best A+ S&P AA

	GLT (20 yrs)
	(Elite Plus Nonsmoker)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47

$39.96

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America AM Best A S&P AA

	Term 20 (guar 20)
	(Elite Select)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Actual Age 47

$44.29

Prudential Financial AM Best A+ S&P AA

	Term Elite 20 (guar 20)
	(Preferred Best Non Smoker)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Actual Age 47
	NOTE: This quote is an estimate and may be different than the actual premium. Your actual premium will be determined after the underwriting process is complete and it may differ from this quote.

$44.55

American National AM Best A+ S&P AA

	ANICO Select Term without ROP (20 yrs)
	(Preferred Plus Nicotine Non-User)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Actual Age 47
	NOTE: ANICO Select Term is a level premium term with guaranteed level premiums for the initial term period of 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. An optional ROP rider may be added at issue on qualifying plans.

$46.04

Transamerica Life Insurance Co - Family Markets AM Best A+ S&P AA

	Ultima Elite Term II (20 yrs)
	(Preferred Elite Non-Tobacco)
	Product Disclosure
	Underwriting Requirements
	Actual Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective 6/1/2006

$47.03

Lincoln National Life Insurance Company AM Best A+ S&P AA

	LifeElements (20 yrs)
	(Preferred Plus)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective July 2, 2007

$48.06

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America AM Best A S&P AA

	Term 20 (guar 20)
	(Super Select)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Actual Age 47

$49.45

Liberty Life Insurance Company (RBC Insurance) AM Best A S&P n/a

	RBC Level Term 20 (guar 20)
	(Preferred Plus Nontobacco)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rate effective 4/21/08

$50.93

Transamerica Life Insurance Co - Family Markets AM Best A+ S&P AA

	Ultima Elite Term II (20 yrs)
	(Preferred Plus Non-Tobacco)
	Product Disclosure
	Underwriting Requirements
	Actual Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective 6/1/2006

$52.06

AIG American General Life AM Best A S&P A+

	LTG-ULTRA C 20 (guar 20) (06004)
	(Preferred Plus Nontobacco)
	Product Disclosure
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47
	NOTE: Rates effective 03/23/2006

$59.28

AIG American General Life AM Best A S&P A+

	AIG ROP Select-a-Term (20 yrs)
	(Preferred Plus Nontobacco)
	Underwriting Requirements
	Nearest Age 47

$81.22

How many Millions of Americans are Uninsured ?

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:54:41 -0700

If you are looking for the Most Affordable Insurance Online - then you need to visit our website at http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com Shop for Health Insurance, Dental Plans, Vision Plans, Life Insurance, Discount Plans and Much More! We Represent only A+ and A Rated Insurance Companies - Shop Here with Confidence! Looking for Health Insurance? If you're planning to buy Health Insurance then you have picked the right website. This FREE and user friendly service is designed to help you establish which health insurance plan is best for you. Simply choose Health Insurance and fill out the requested information and you will be able to view easy comparable quotes that fit exactly what you are looking for based on price, coverage, deductibles and much more. You will also have the option to apply online without ever having to talk to an agent. Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to call us. Want a Quote for Life Insurance? If you are looking for Life Insurance then this is the easiest way to shop for life insurance in the comfort of your own home or office. Our quoting system will generate Online quotes based on the information that you provide and will deliver quotes to you literally in less than 30 seconds!

Better way to make calls !

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:25:06 -0700

"Mr. Watson, come here, I need you"...recognize those infamous words? I hope so, they are the words spoken by Alexander Graham Bell to his assistant, Mr. Watson (Is this the same guy that Sherlock Holmes called "Homey"?). History has recorded this as the very first phone call. From this point, we have evolved through countless upgrades, to today's "standard"... the PDA or Smart-phone. Yet, when discussing the concept of "Drip Marketing" it's the "lil brother" of the phone, the email, that first comes to mind! Imagine how tough that has been on the phone? "Hey, I've been here for like 100 years" (actually 93 yrs, and about 10 months, it was Jan 25th 1915)..anyway.."How come this lil punk, who's been around for like 30yrs, is gettin all the love?"... Well Pots(y) (play on words, ATT uses the acronym P.O.T.S. to denote Plain Old Telephone Service, not real inventive that company), today is your day!...Now there is DialMyCalls.com...Hurray!!!! Just a quick disclaimer, I'm not sure this is what DialMyCalls had in mind for this service, but I can't help but relate new technologies to Insurance. OK, so what is DialMyCalls.com? here's and excerpt from their website....

A Few Nice Features Of The DialMyCalls Service:
	Free To UseTry out our free service and send up to 1 group call per day to 25 people or less. Or, upgrade to our premium service to send unlimited calls to as many people as you wish!
	Record Your Own Voice Messages EasilyWith our 3 easy to use tools, you can create your own custom message in a couple of minutes. Offering your callers such a personalized touch is something they are sure to appreciate.
	You Control The Caller ID SettingsYou are able to have your own home, cell phone, or business phone number show up on your call recipients' Caller ID system. This is available on both the free and premium services, so everyone can take advantage of this great feature.
	Voice Mail DetectionWe are able to detect 99% of all answering machines & voice mail services. If your call ends up reaching an automated answering system, our system will know to wait and leave your message in its entirety.
	Email Your Voice Message To Your Callers AlsoIf you enter email addresses along with your contacts' phone numbers you can also have your voice message emailed to them. This is a popular feature and great for those people who do not answer their phone or check their voice mail often.
	Detailed Call ReportsWith every call you send, you will have access to a detailed call report with the results of every individual call. From there you are able to tell whether the call was answered live, went to voicemail, had an error, and many other specific call details.

OK, so now I want you to go to thi swebsite and imagine how you can use this service to create a "Drip Marketing" campaign that utilizes potential clients cell phones, and oh by the way, their emails TOO! Can you see it? I can! "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."Albert Einstein That's it for today Kiddies, go do something that makes a differne in your life, see ya next time...

P/C insurance: An oasis in the desert of financial woes

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:25:59 -0700

There is a Chinese curse that states: "May you live in interesting times." If these times are not interesting enough for you, you've probably not been paying attention. With the turmoil in the financial markets, the federal government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, the sales of Washington Mutual, Wachovia and Merrill Lynch, and the collapse of overseas financial markets, you are definitely living in interesting times. Based on the information that is coming out in the press, part of the explanation for the financial meltdown was that very smart people with lots of money to invest were investing in products they did not understand. The products became so complex and complicated that the risks were kept out of sight. So, this is a long way to point out the value of some old-fashioned education and learning. There is just no substitute for understanding and finding out about what you are getting yourself into. Fortunately, most of the financial problems in the news for insurance companies are not occurring with the property and casualty insurers. So, learning about the property and casualty industry is like an oasis in the desert, a calm in the eye of the storm. So, isn't it good to know that in such eventful times, there is a course that is not the financial equivalent of extreme sports but rather is a relatively peaceful retreat from the vagaries of the market? The course that is not a curse is AIC 33 (Associate in Claims): Claims Handling Principles and Practices. While insurance companies are sorting out the claims for their guarantees on subprime mortgages, this course deals with the more familiar kinds of claims from homeowners, auto and business insurance. In assignment one, the authors provide a brief history of the regulation of the insurance industry. As of the writing of this article, I am wondering whether this course will need to be revised for the second edition. There may be a new chapter on regulation of the insurance industry if it becomes as frayed as with the investment banks. The history of insurance can be traced back to early Babylonia, but, for more modern times, is traced to England after the Great Fire of London. In the U.S., insurance was developing power and the industry was controlled by the states. The power of the states was upheld in Paul v. Virginia in 1869 -- the states could tax and regulate the insurance companies. The power of the states held until 1944 when the Supreme Court decided that insurance companies were subject to federal antitrust regulations in the United States v. South-Eastern Underwriters Association (SEUA). This case led to the McCarran-Ferguson Act in 1945. While the SEAU Supreme Court decision held that insurance was interstate commerce and fell under federal antitrust regulation, Congress delegated authority to the states on the basis that insurance was best regulated by the states. The federal government could still step in to regulate insurance when the state failed to do so. Any guesses on ways the government will step in to re-work the insurance industry regulation in the months to come? The history of insurance leads us next to an understanding of the current insurance policy. Assignment two includes a copy of the Homeowners 3 Special Form. A claims person would do well to know exactly what is and is not covered by this policy. The coverage analysis that a claims representative must complete requires knowledge of: what is covered, what the policy period is, what causes of loss are covered, what the policy limits are, what exclusions apply and what other insurance may be available. A later chapter in the course delves into good-faith claim handling, but a large part of the basis for good-faith starts right here. What the claim representative knows and how he or she handles the claim will determine good or bad faith. A great part of good-faith claim handling is excellent customer service. Common sense tells us the claim should be acknowledged in a timely fashion. Good communication skills come into play here and in the documentation of the claim. The claim rep must identify the policy for which the claim is being made. If you are looking for a good example of lack of good faith in claims work, you might take a look at the John Grisham novel, The Rainmaker. The main character Rudy Baylor has just recently passed the bar exam, his first law firm was purchased by a larger firm, and he lost his job. Through a volunteer project to a community center Rudy is assigned a client who has a rare form of leukemia and is denied the opportunity to have bone marrow transplant from his identical twin brother, which would be guaranteed successful. Rudy takes on the big insurance company and gets inside information that for 1991 the company had a scheme to deny every insurance claim submitted. It may not be reality for insurance companies, but it could provide a great class discussion for bad-faith. Assignment two includes a wonderful resource in Reading 3-1: Interview Techniques. This special reading provides many questions that the claim rep will want to ask in order to collect all of the information needed. The answers to these questions will determine the direction of the investigation. Claims are concluded when the parties reach an agreement, when the claim is denied, when the parties participate in alternative dispute resolution or in litigation. In most cases, the claim representative reaches an agreement on the amount of the claim through negotiation. The AIC 33 course contains an entire assignment on negotiation. For those people who are not adept or well-practiced at negotiation, this chapter is important training. For most of us, the only major things we negotiate in life are the purchase of cars and houses, so we may not be good at negotiating. This chapter will help you hone your negotiating skills. Negotiators are often taught to aim for a "win-win" outcome. Unfortunately, some people interpret a "win-win" situation to mean taking advantage of insurance companies by means of fraud. In Assignment four, the authors make clear that the purpose of insurance is to help people to be returned to the state they were in before a loss (minus applied deductibles). Some people do not feel they have won until they have received more than what they had prior to the loss. And, according to the text, at least 10 percent of insurance claims are fraudulent. This may mean the entire claim is bogus, or it may just be padded (e.g., the claimant listed more jewelry than she ever owned after a theft). Hollywood has given us a terrific example of insurance fraud in The Fortune Cookie with Walter Matthau ("Whiplash Willie" Gingrich -- the sleazy lawyer) and Jack Lemmon (Harry Hinkle). Harry is injured while taping a professional football game. Willie convinces Harry to pretend he is terribly injured to collect from the insurance company and to win a girl (did I mention there is a love interest, too?). Through careful investigation, it is proved that Harry is not injured, making this film a classic for a good claim investigation. This movie is also relevant to the issue of good-faith claim handling. The pressure to investigate and to act appropriately is on the insurance company. Because the insurance company is more powerful than the typical individual, there is uneven bargaining power. The claims person must know what he or she is doing or he or she could put the insurance company in jeopardy. In interesting times, how does the claims person really know what he or she is doing? He or she enrolls in the AIC 33 course and completes all four of the courses to earn the AIC designation. By Henrietta NyeKeir Educational Resources

Report: Both candidates increase health coverage

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:16:52 -0700

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 37 minutes ago WASHINGTON - John McCain's health plan would reduce the ranks of the uninsured by about 21.1 million people if fully put in place by 2010, while Barack Obama's would reduce the number by 26.6 million, an analysis predicts. <script type="text/javascript"></script> Some previous reviews of the presidential candidates' health plans indicated that Republican McCain's proposals would amount to little more than a wash when it comes to the number of uninsured, now at about 45 million. But The Lewin Group, a consulting firm, drew a more optimistic scenario about the overall number of people who would get health coverage under the Republican nominee's plan. McCain's plan was projected to cost more than $2 trillion from 2010 through 2019, while Obama's would cost $1.17 trillion, according to the analysis released Wednesday. Neither candidate provides specifics on how to cover the total. McCain has proposed a tax credit of $2,500 for individuals or $5,000 for a family that buys health insurance. The credit would replace the tax break people now get for obtaining health coverage through their work. He also wants to let people shop across state lines when buying insurance; that would bypass states where insurance is more expensive and comprehensive. The Lewin Group agreed that many workers would lose their employer-sponsored health coverage under McCain's plan. That is because some companies would discontinue coverage if most workers could use the tax credit to get coverage elsewhere. In all, about 16 million would lose coverage, the firm said. Some businesses would begin offering health insurance for the first time, partially offsetting those losses. In particular, companies with younger workers would benefit from McCain's proposal to let them shop in other states, said John Sheils, the firm's senior vice president. They would find that lower premiums made it possible to offer a health insurance benefit. Also, nearly 24 million people would use the tax credits McCain has proposed to buy coverage directly from insurers through the individual market. Kenneth Thorpe, a professor at Emory University who conducts similar analysis and advice for Democratic candidates' health plans, said he disagreed with the firm's estimate for McCain's plan. More than half of the workers who would lose employer-sponsored coverage have a chronic health condition that would price them out of getting insurance in the individual market. "They pulled the same overestimates for Bush last time with a similar bill," Thorpe said. About half the uninsured adults are age 19-34. They are the youngest and cheapest to cover, and the ones who generally would gain coverage under McCain's proposal, Sheils said. "The people who are sick are going to have a lot of trouble affording coverage, even with the credit," Sheils said. Sheils said Obama's plan is friendlier to those with chronic health conditions. It will cover about half the uninsured with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Meanwhile, McCain's plan will cover about a quarter of the uninsured with a chronic condition. Obama's plan would expand health insurance coverage through public programs such as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. He requires all children to have health coverage. In all, about 16 million people would gain coverage through those programs. An additional 10 million would use government subsidies to buy insurance coverage. Neera Tanden, domestic policy director for the Obama campaign, disputed several aspects of the report. In particular, she said gains in coverage under Obama's plan would come primarily from people using the tax credit to buy private insurance, not through the expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP.

Report: Both candidates increase health coverage

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:12:45 -0700

Report: Both candidates increase health coverage

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:09:53 -0700

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 37 minutes ago WASHINGTON - John McCain's health plan would reduce the ranks of the uninsured by about 21.1 million people if fully put in place by 2010, while Barack Obama's would reduce the number by 26.6 million, an analysis predicts. Some previous reviews of the presidential candidates' health plans indicated that Republican McCain's proposals would amount to little more than a wash when it comes to the number of uninsured, now at about 45 million. But The Lewin Group, a consulting firm, drew a more optimistic scenario about the overall number of people who would get health coverage under the Republican nominee's plan. McCain's plan was projected to cost more than $2 trillion from 2010 through 2019, while Obama's would cost $1.17 trillion, according to the analysis released Wednesday. Neither candidate provides specifics on how to cover the total. McCain has proposed a tax credit of $2,500 for individuals or $5,000 for a family that buys health insurance. The credit would replace the tax break people now get for obtaining health coverage through their work. He also wants to let people shop across state lines when buying insurance; that would bypass states where insurance is more expensive and comprehensive. The Lewin Group agreed that many workers would lose their employer-sponsored health coverage under McCain's plan. That is because some companies would discontinue coverage if most workers could use the tax credit to get coverage elsewhere. In all, about 16 million would lose coverage, the firm said. Some businesses would begin offering health insurance for the first time, partially offsetting those losses. In particular, companies with younger workers would benefit from McCain's proposal to let them shop in other states, said John Sheils, the firm's senior vice president. They would find that lower premiums made it possible to offer a health insurance benefit. Also, nearly 24 million people would use the tax credits McCain has proposed to buy coverage directly from insurers through the individual market. Kenneth Thorpe, a professor at Emory University who conducts similar analysis and advice for Democratic candidates' health plans, said he disagreed with the firm's estimate for McCain's plan. More than half of the workers who would lose employer-sponsored coverage have a chronic health condition that would price them out of getting insurance in the individual market. "They pulled the same overestimates for Bush last time with a similar bill," Thorpe said. About half the uninsured adults are age 19-34. They are the youngest and cheapest to cover, and the ones who generally would gain coverage under McCain's proposal, Sheils said. "The people who are sick are going to have a lot of trouble affording coverage, even with the credit," Sheils said. Sheils said Obama's plan is friendlier to those with chronic health conditions. It will cover about half the uninsured with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Meanwhile, McCain's plan will cover about a quarter of the uninsured with a chronic condition. Obama's plan would expand health insurance coverage through public programs such as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. He requires all children to have health coverage. In all, about 16 million people would gain coverage through those programs. An additional 10 million would use government subsidies to buy insurance coverage. Neera Tanden, domestic policy director for the Obama campaign, disputed several aspects of the report. In particular, she said gains in coverage under Obama's plan would come primarily from people using the tax credit to buy private insurance, not through the expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP.

Report: Both candidates increase health coverage

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:03:27 -0700

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 37 minutes ago WASHINGTON - John McCain's health plan would reduce the ranks of the uninsured by about 21.1 million people if fully put in place by 2010, while Barack Obama's would reduce the number by 26.6 million, an analysis predicts. Some previous reviews of the presidential candidates' health plans indicated that Republican McCain's proposals would amount to little more than a wash when it comes to the number of uninsured, now at about 45 million. But The Lewin Group, a consulting firm, drew a more optimistic scenario about the overall number of people who would get health coverage under the Republican nominee's plan. McCain's plan was projected to cost more than $2 trillion from 2010 through 2019, while Obama's would cost $1.17 trillion, according to the analysis released Wednesday. Neither candidate provides specifics on how to cover the total. McCain has proposed a tax credit of $2,500 for individuals or $5,000 for a family that buys health insurance. The credit would replace the tax break people now get for obtaining health coverage through their work. He also wants to let people shop across state lines when buying insurance; that would bypass states where insurance is more expensive and comprehensive. The Lewin Group agreed that many workers would lose their employer-sponsored health coverage under McCain's plan. That is because some companies would discontinue coverage if most workers could use the tax credit to get coverage elsewhere. In all, about 16 million would lose coverage, the firm said. Some businesses would begin offering health insurance for the first time, partially offsetting those losses. In particular, companies with younger workers would benefit from McCain's proposal to let them shop in other states, said John Sheils, the firm's senior vice president. They would find that lower premiums made it possible to offer a health insurance benefit. Also, nearly 24 million people would use the tax credits McCain has proposed to buy coverage directly from insurers through the individual market. Kenneth Thorpe, a professor at Emory University who conducts similar analysis and advice for Democratic candidates' health plans, said he disagreed with the firm's estimate for McCain's plan. More than half of the workers who would lose employer-sponsored coverage have a chronic health condition that would price them out of getting insurance in the individual market. "They pulled the same overestimates for Bush last time with a similar bill," Thorpe said. About half the uninsured adults are age 19-34. They are the youngest and cheapest to cover, and the ones who generally would gain coverage under McCain's proposal, Sheils said. "The people who are sick are going to have a lot of trouble affording coverage, even with the credit," Sheils said. Sheils said Obama's plan is friendlier to those with chronic health conditions. It will cover about half the uninsured with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Meanwhile, McCain's plan will cover about a quarter of the uninsured with a chronic condition. Obama's plan would expand health insurance coverage through public programs such as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. He requires all children to have health coverage. In all, about 16 million people would gain coverage through those programs. An additional 10 million would use government subsidies to buy insurance coverage. Neera Tanden, domestic policy director for the Obama campaign, disputed several aspects of the report. In particular, she said gains in coverage under Obama's plan would come primarily from people using the tax credit to buy private insurance, not through the expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP.

5 questions: Why AIG matters to you

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:30:55 -0700

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- American International Group is the world's largest insurer and at the moment, Wall Street's biggest worry. The insurer is struggling to raise cash while economists and investors debate whether or not it should get a government bailout. Despite the company's importance, the average American is probably not sure how, or why, its problems will affect them. Here are five key questions and answers about AIG's current woes and what they mean to you. I have insurance through AIG. How worried should I be about the problems at the company? At least in the short term, you probably don't need to be worried at all. The problems are with the AIG holding company, not the individual insurance company subsidiaries that you do business with, according to a source with New York State's insurance regulator. Even if AIG's holding company is forced to file for bankruptcy court protection, there's a good chance that the subsidiaries will continue to operate normally with no disruption in claims payments. That has happened in the case of other insurance holding companies' bankruptcies in the past, such as Conseco (CNO). What guarantees that my claims will be paid? Typically, if an insurance company falls into financial distress and is at risk of having claims that exceed the assets it holds to make those payments, the insurance regulator in its home state will take control of the firm and make payments. The state regulator will not only use the firm's own assets to make those payments but, if necessary, can also make payments out of a state fund into which all insurers in the state are required to pay. This guarantee applies not just to traditional insurance policies but also to retirement products that have a promised payout, such as annuities. But there are limits to the payments that will be made to customers that vary depending on which state a particular AIG subsidiary is based, according to Joseph Belth, professor emeritus of insurance at Indiana University and editor of The Insurance Forum, a newsletter often critical of the industry. Should I be thinking about changing my policy away from AIG to another insurer? While credit rating agencies downgraded debt held by AIG (AIG, Fortune 500) on Monday, AIG's ratings are still considered investment grade and the company's insurance subsidiaries are considered to be secure, at least for now. Belth said changing insurers is not a simple decision. "A lot depends on what kind of insurance you talk about," he said. "If you're talking about life insurance, you have to think about whether you can qualify with a new insurer, if your health has changed. But it's something you have to consider if the ratings decline into the vulnerable range." Why should I care about problems at AIG if I'm not a customer? AIG is by far the world's largest insurer and its stock is found in many mutual funds, including any S&P 500 index fund. It is also a component of the Dow Jones industrial average. All by itself, it's been responsible for dragging the Dow down more than 400 points so far this year. AIG is also active in the business of credit default swaps, complicated financial instruments used by investors to protect themselves from bond defaults. Lehman Brothers (LEH, Fortune 500) was another major player in that field. If both go away, it would create a tighter credit market for consumers and businesses trying to get loans. For this reason, there is a debate about whether the Federal Reserve will agree to lend the company the tens of billions of dollars it needs to cover its short-term funding needs or if the Fed will try and get private firms to assist AIG instead. AIG is an insurer, not a lender. Why do I keep hearing about its problems with subprime mortgages? All insurers take money they collect in premiums and invest them in different forms of assets. The idea is to make money on those investments so that the insurer can keep their premiums low and attract more clients. But AIG made a bigger investment into securities that were backed by subprime mortgages than most other insurers. As defaults and foreclosures of those loans rose, the value of those securities fell, creating big problems for the firm. In the past nine months, AIG has reported net losses of more than $18 billion, largely due to its exposure to bad mortgages. First Published: September 16, 2008: 12:19 PM EDT AIG shares plunge again in cash scramble Time to toss AIG from the Dow Ex-CEO's missteps still haunt AIG

AIA Executive Defends Credit-Based Scoring for Auto Insurance

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:43:02 -0700

Written by U. S. Insurance News

Monday, 18 August 2008

Despite plenty of evidence showing its benefits, credit-based insurance scoring is still under attack. So an American Insurance Association (AIA) executive vice president has penned an article in its defense. Debra Ballen, an executive VP for public policy management, has published an article on the Web site of the Washington Legal Foundation that examines a year-old report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on credit-based insurance scoring-and refutes its critics. In 2007, the FTC issued a congressionally mandated report in order to determine the impact of credit-based insurance scoring on the availability and affordability of personal automobile insurance. Congress also asked the FTC to examine the effects of insurance scoring on members of various racial and ethnic minority groups. The FTC confirmed that the use of insurance scores is a valuable and accurate risk-assessment tool and may benefit consumers. The commission was not able to develop a model that predicted risk as effectively while narrowing the differences of scores among selected groups.Despite this report, credit-based insurance scoring still has its detractors. In her article, Ballen tackles some of the assertions that have been made over the past year, many of which are "based on misunderstanding regarding the equity and efficacy of this proven risk-assessment tool," she writes. The most controversial area of the report is the issue of the proxy effect. Opponents of credit-based insurance scoring contend that the use of such models leads to an increase in insurance rates for members of certain minority groups. Ballen points out that the results of the analysis conducted by the FTC left room for only a one percent proxy effect for race or ethnicity. Furthermore, experts who have examined the report say this is most likely a result of an error in data analysis or methodology.Another contended aspect of the report is the FTC's data collection and analysis. According to Ballen, critics are focusing on the FTC's data collection and analysis procedures because they are "unable to refute that credit-based insurance scores benefit the insurance marketplace." The chairman of the FTC and other commissioners dismissed these attacks on the procedures when the report was released last year.Finally, the FTC was asked to evaluate alternatives to credit-based insurance scores that would continue to predict risk while decreasing the differences in scores among racial and ethnic groups. The commission was unable to construct a model that would produce this desired effect.The results of the FTC study have done little to pacify the critics."While the issue of credit-based insurance scoring will likely remain a volatile political issue, policymakers should not lose sight of the significant consumer benefits that these scores have brought to the insurance system," Ballen writes. "To disallow this beneficial underwriting tool would elevate political expediency over sound actuarial analysis and economics, to the ultimate detriment of the very consumers the politicians claim to serve."

Identity Theft 101 - Part 1

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:41:27 -0700

Your Identity's Been StolenFinding out your identity has been stolen is a shock. Everyone finds out the hard way. You may apply for a loan only to be turned down because your credit - which you thought was immaculate - is in shambles. Or you receive a past-due notice from the IRS for thousands of dollars on wages you never earned.It doesn't matter how you find out. When you realize your identity has been stolen you'll experience every emotion known to man. It starts with shock and quickly graduates to anger but before it's over you'll feel downright defeated and probably ashamed, too.There's no reason to feel ashamed. But most people do, because they have no idea how their identity was compromised. For example, a news anchor in Nashville, TN learned his identity had been grabbed more than a decade before he found out about the crime. And the only reason he found out was because the illegal immigrants that were using his name and Social Security Number fell on hard times and couldn't pay the bills they had created using the false information.Imagine someone using your identity for more than 10 years without your knowledge. It's a tough fact to learn, but it happens more often than any of us would like to think.It's More Than Simple Credit Card FraudThe problem with identity theft is that in most cases, it takes a while to learn your identity has been nabbed. True identity theft - when someone steals your personal information for the purpose of creating or taking over accounts that belong to you or even to become ‘you' - is a crime that can take some time to complete. Thieves must first acquire the right information about you, and then the accounts have to be changed or established.What you hear called identity theft most often is actually credit card fraud. That's when someone steals account information with the purpose of using your credit accounts for fraudulent charges. Credit fraud might show up on your credit card statement within hours of the actual theft happening. But with identity theft, it can take 30 days to 10 years or longer for evidence that your identity has been compromised to become evident.That's because an identity theft has a different purpose in mind. The thief isn't looking for a quick buck. Instead he or she is looking for a long-term pay-off on what can sometimes be a time consuming investment.The long-term advantage to identity theft can be pretty impressive. A thief gathers identifying information about you which can then be used to secure mortgages, open new credit accounts, set up utility accounts, and even land jobs. Most often, this type of identity theft is used to supply illegal immigrants with new, legal identities in the US. And since most immigrants really want to be honest, upstanding citizens, they'll use your information responsibly.It's usually some unexpected problem that outs the theft - loss of a job, a misunderstanding of tax laws, legal problems, or even a tragedy that leaves unpaid bills in your name. But the methods used to gather your information are the same as those used for credit card fraud, which is why the two crimes are usually lumped under the heading ‘Identity Theft.'How Identity Theft HappensAt the core, identity theft and credit card fraud are both results of the same actions. It starts when a criminal gains access to your personal information. That information includes your full name, date of birth, Social Security Number, address, telephone number, and the names of your family including parents and children.In today's world, a lot of that information can be gained with little more than digging through your trash and even engaging you in conversation in the grocery store line. For example, identity thieves will go through your trash and gather credit card statements, bank statements, and personal correspondence. This documents usually contain nearly everything they need.To get the last few bits of information, a conversation at the grocery store or even a telephone call to your home usually works. These criminals are great con artists. They know what questions to ask and how to phrase those questions to get you to spill your guts. Before you know it, you've told someone you don't even know your whole life story.After that, all that's left is to begin the process of creating another you on paper. They create new accounts, order copies of your Social Security card and birth certificate, and secure a new job in another state. And it's done. Someone else who looks nothing like in you in real life is your exact duplicate in the paper and cyber world.Of course, that's not the only way to get your information. Phishing emails, spoofed web sites, telephone surveys, and even old-fashioned breaking and entering or purse/wallet snatching are also methods that identity thieves use. Even your medical records and employee records at your place of employment put you at risk.Most concerning is the places that aren't obvious where your identity can be snatched without notice. Remember the news anchor from Nashville? After a lot of investigating on his own, he eventually learned that his identity had been stolen when he applied for a private pilot's license.Others have learned that family or friends sold their identifying information. And many never figure out what happened. The one consistent factor in every case of identity theft is that it happens when you least expect it, usually in a place where you feel safe.By Jerri Ledford, About.com

Number of uninsured Americans declines modestly By Will Dunham - Tue Aug 26, 2:22 PM PDT

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:37:19 -0700

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fewer Americans went without health insurance last year for the first time since President George W. Bush took office as more people received government coverage, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The official U.S. poverty rate remained stable even as a higher percentage of children were classified as impoverished, while U.S. median household income rose a bit in 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau also reported. It said 15.3 percent of Americans had no public or private health insurance in 2007, down from 15.8 percent in 2006. A total of 45.7 million were uninsured, reduced from 47 million. Health care is a key issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, with both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain proposing to fix what both call a broken system. The percentage of people covered through their jobs fell slightly, but the number getting coverage through the Medicaid state-federal program rose by 1.3 million people, the same figure as the total drop in uninsured people. "A lot of the fall is due to the increase in the health insurance from public health insurance," David Johnson, who heads the Census Bureau's housing and household economic statistics division, told reporters. In 2007, 8.1 million or 11 percent of children under 18 were uninsured, down from 8.7 million and 11.7 percent in 2006. Real median household income edged up 1.3 percent from 2006 to 2007, reaching $50,233. POVERTY RATE STABLE The official U.S. poverty rate in 2007 was 12.5 percent -- almost the same as the 12.3 percent reported in 2006, the Census Bureau said. In 2007, 37.3 million people were in poverty, up from 36.5 million a year earlier, it said. The poverty rate for children rose to 18 percent in 2007 from 17.4 percent in 2006, the agency said. The poverty threshold in 2007 was defined as annual income of $21,203 for a family of four, $16,530 for a family of three, $13,540 for a family of two and $10,590 for individuals. White House spokesman Tony Fratto saw the report as positive. "The long period of strong economic growth we were in had a positive impact for most Americans," he said. Others disagreed. "To take one ounce of comfort from these statistics would be deluding yourself," said Sister Carol Keehan, who heads the nonprofit Catholic Health Association of the United States. McCain favors a $5,000 tax credit per family to help buy insurance and ending tax breaks for employer-provided coverage, saying this would cut the number of uninsured people. He said in a statement, "Today's announcement reminds us that Americans are suffering in a struggling economy. Too many of our neighbors are living in poverty, too many can't find a job, and too many are living without health insurance." Obama favors expanding public programs and a program to allow individuals and small businesses to buy health care similar to that available to federal employees. Obama used the new data to criticize Bush as well as McCain, who he said would continue Bush's economic policies. "Another 816,000 Americans fell into poverty in 2007 -- including nearly 500,000 children, bringing the total increase in Americans in poverty under President Bush to 5.7 million. And on Bush's watch, an additional 7.2 million Americans have fallen into the ranks of the uninsured," Obama said in a statement. Bush twice vetoed legislation that would have expanded a popular children's health program that covers millions of children in low- and moderate-income families. Bush last year signed a temporary extension of the program, leaving its fate in the hands of the next president and Congress.

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Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:06:24 -0700

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Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:06:03 -0700

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CIGNA Named "Best Managed Health Care Organization "

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:22:00 -0700

CIGNA Named "Best Managed Health Care Organization" and "Best Employee Assistance Program" in Business Insurance Magazine's 2008 Readers Choice Awards BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Readers of Business Insurance Magazine have chosen CIGNA as offering the nation's best health plans and employee assistance program in 2008. Now in its fourth year, the Business Insurance Readers Choice Awards recognize the companies that the magazine's subscribers believe offer the best combination of quality, service, value and innovation. "Business Insurance is considered the professional bible of employee benefits producers and customers. Their readers' naming CIGNA as best for both health plans and assistance programs is an important validation of CIGNA's strategic direction as a health service company," said David Cordani, CIGNA president and chief operating officer. "The Business Insurance Readers Choice Awards demonstrate that the marketplace recognizes CIGNA's commitment to providing the support, tools and services that improve health, well being and sense of security." Noting that CIGNA's employee assistance program has earned the top honors for all four years of the Business Insurance Readers Choice Awards, Cordani said: "This impressive string of wins reflects the passion and commitment of CIGNA's expert team of professionals, whose members have an average of 23 years of clinical experience in working with individuals to assist them managing life's complexities." Looking ahead, Cordani said CIGNA is continually seeking ways to improve: "We're actively listening to our customers to develop new ways to make health care simple and personal; prevent disease and keep people well; improve health care quality and cost; and make our services available to more people in more and different ways." Business Insurance is a weekly publication and Web site providing news and information to senior-level executives from business and industry, government, associations, unions and educational institutions who are responsible for the purchase and administration of corporate insurance/self-insurance, risk management and employee benefits programs. Business Insurance developed its Readers Choice Awards as a means to recognize industry leaders for service, value, quality and innovation. The top industry companies were chosen in different categories relating to risk management and employee benefits. About CIGNA CIGNA (NYSE:CI) provides employers with benefits, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and security of their employees. With approximately 47 million covered lives in the United States and around the world, CIGNA's operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits and group life, accident and disability insurance. www.cigna.com Contacts CIGNAJoseph Mondy, 860-226-5499joseph.mondy@cigna.com Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/topix/20080818005633/en

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Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:26:14 -0700

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Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:51:54 -0700

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Dental - Vision & RX Plans

Insurance CEO (InsurancePricedRight.com) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:28:53 -0700

Dental, Vision & Rx Plans Online Click on the Insurance Companies below to get online quotes and apply online.Rx-Pay Card - Prescription Drugs $10 co-pay $20 Preferred co-pay for Brand Name DrugsDental Plans - Shop for Dental Plans through companies like Aetna, GE Wellness, Dentemax Discount Dental, Dental Network of America and many many more ! Individual, Family & Group Rates Available. Shop by Zip Code !Standard Security Life Dental - Dental Plans for Individuals & FamiliesPreferred Vision Care - Covers all family members for one low price