Health Insurance Crisis

How you can save money and get the best plan!

Everyone in America is feeling the changes in health care and health insurance. With the advancement of medicine and legal suits the costs of health care is at an all time high and in turn health insurance rates have skyrocketed.

The average household cannot afford the low deductible prime benefit plans any longer. Insurance companies in the past couple of years have continued to modify their plans to offer coverage to try and fit the financial limitations of their clients.

From year to year clients have looked at the main carriers and usually have a hard time staying with one carrier if another has a better plan for a more competitive rate.

At Dickinson Insurance we work with the major carriers in Idaho to assure you are getting the best choices and a variety of plans to help secure the coverage your family or employees need at an affordable rate.

What should I look for in a health care plan? You will need to evaluate your health care needs and examine what your health insurance budget is and what you could afford out of pocket for medical expenses.

The variety of plans offered range from a low deductible plan with small co-payments for doctor visits and very little medical up front cost. These types of plans tend to also be the highest in insurance premium and provide you with the best coverage with the lowest out of pocket expense for up front coverage.

Another option is to select a higher deductible plan but still have the options of a small co-payment for doctor visits. This helps lower the overall insurance premium and still provides you with your doctor visit coverage and if something catastrophic occurs you would be able to look to your plan for coverage. This will offer you lower premium although your upfront out of pocket expense will be higher than the first option should you have something major occur.

The next option is to choose a high deductible plan with no co-payment option. This plan means that you would cover all costs medically until your deductible is met. From there you would, depending on the plan, have a 50 to 80% coverage for your major medical needs and once a maximum limit is met then the insurance carrier may then provide up to 100% of coverage - again varying by the plan you choose. This plan is one of the lowest insurance premiums although is the highest on the upfront costs for your out of pocket medical expenses.

As a newer plan that became more readily available the last couple of years are Health Savings Account plans. This plan allows you to set up a tax deductible account and choose a coverage plan that ranges in deductible and benefit options to fit your needs. This plan is affordable in insurance rates and, depending on the plan, can vary on out of pocket costs. As the added bonus it allows you to take your medical expenses as deductions for tax purposes. (for additional information talk to your tax accountant on the deductibility of a health savings account)

As part of a comprehensive review our Benefits Manager, Kelsey Woolverton, can help you figure out what is the best plan for you, your family or employees. Kelsey's experience and extensive training gives her an understanding of the market place and her client's needs. Call her today for a free evaluation and quote! Don't hesitate - Start SAVING Today!

Kelsey Woolverton, Benefits Manager: 208-773-0504 or check out our website www.dickinsononline.com and submit for a quote online.

What Will You Do When Disaster Strikes?

Plans and Supplies Every Business Should Have When Disaster Strikes

Let's play "what if" for a moment. What if your business faces an emergency-flooding, a power outage, fire, a hurricane-today? How well prepared are you to face an emergency?

Unless your answer to the last question is "very," you need an emergency plan and supplies. Unfortunately, many businesses found this out the hard way last year with all of the hurricanes. Fortunately, it doesn't take much time or cost much money to create a plan and buy the supplies you need.

Your Emergency Plan

Your employees need to know how to evacuate the building on very short notice. Also, at least two people on your staff should know CPR and be familiar with basic first aid. Be sure you review your emergency plan-evacuation procedure, etc.-with your staff at least every six months.

Keep a List of Emergency Phone Numbers

As part of your emergency plan you should compile a list of key telephone numbers and post the list in prominent places throughout your company. Your list should have the following numbers:

• Local fire department and police department
• Nearest hospital and ambulance service
• Building security and manager
• Insurance agent
• Utility companies
• Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Small Business Administration
• Local media (to assure your customers that you are still in business)

Emergency Supplies: Have These on Hand!

You should have smoke detectors, which need to be tested periodically, fire extinguishers, burglar alarms, locks on every door, and NOAA weather radios. In addition, you should consider purchasing a multi-KV generator to use when there is a power outage. The generator should be pre-wired to the building's essential electrical current.

Finally, you should have a disaster kit, which costs less than $100 to assemble. The kit should include the following:

• First-aid kit and blankets
• Flashlights and batteries
• Pencils and pens
• Paper Towels and waterproof plastic bags
• Camera loaded with film and extra film
• Tool kit (at least: wrenches, socket set, gloves, crowbar, screw drivers)

The Top 10 Signs Your Workers Comp May Have Big Trouble:

1. You have no idea as to what you can and cannot do during the hiring process to keep problem employees out of your company.
2. You get a big premium audit bill after the policy ends and you don't understand the rules that drive up your work comp costs.
3. You have a suspicion that some of your employee injuries are over-exaggerated... even possibly fraudulent.
4. You have difficulty getting your employees back to work in a timely manner after an injury.
5. There is too much attorney involvement with your employees' injuries. (Believe me - any attorney involvement is too much)
6. You have employees that you wish you had never hired, but they're still working for you.
7. You are not 100% certain that your Experience Modification Factor is correct. (If it isn't, hang on to your checkbook!)
8. Even if it is correct, are you aware of the specialized ways it can be managed and driven down to the lowest number possible?
9. You have never seen a detailed report which outlines each injury and its impact on your Experience Modification Factor.
10. You don't have a clue about how open injury claims affect your Experience Modification Factor. (Hint: It's not good!)

Contact our Workers Comp Specialists to help solve these dilemmas and be sure your get the best rate for your company!
Jim, Tonya, Ryan or Carrie
208-773-0504
Or check us out on the web:
www.dickinsononline.com and www.quotecontractors.com

Spotlight Coverage: Umbrella Insurance

Massive Protection for Pennies a Day

Because it is designed for those really rare rainy days, umbrella insurance is cheap. It is also versatile. Umbrella insurance provides additional coverage not only for your auto policy, but also your homeowners or renters policy. Further, umbrella insurance covers things auto, homeowners and renters policies don't.

Contact Our Agency for this vital coverage. Don't wait another day - It could cost you millions if you don't get this protection.

CALL 208-773-0504 Ask for LaDonna or Lindsay

TIP OF THE MONTH

Energy Saving Tips

Use your ceiling fans in the winter, too! Reverse the direction of the blades (use the switch on your fan) to send warm air down to the lower areas. Make sure you use it on the lowest speed