FleurINS

07/15/2022

Health insurance premiums take up 10.69 percent of the average American’s annual salary, the highest living expense after rent and childcare.

“As health insurance is so important for safeguarding your wellbeing, as well as being such a large monthly expense for many people, we wanted to find out just how affordable it really is,” the researchers explained.

Healthcare premiums take up a large share of Americans' living expenses.

10/19/2020

What have you checked off the list this fall? You can't get life insurance when you need it. Call me at 504-710-0536 for a free quote.

09/30/2020

Burial costs can be scary if you’re unprepared. Don’t make your loved ones turn to a crowd-funding site - get life insurance. | data via 2019 Life Insurance Barometer study.

09/17/2020

Insure what matters most and keep your promise to protect your family financially.

08/20/2020

How Life Insurance Shopping Has Changed During The Pandemic - Forbes.com 8.9.20

The pandemic got a lot of people thinking about how to increase the financial security of their families, now and in the future. And life insurance moved to the top of many to-do lists.

A survey conducted in May and June 2020 by Life Happens, an industry-funded education group, found that 67% of Americans say that the pandemic has been a wake-up call for them to examine their finances. And 30% say that life insurance has been one of the top topics for dinner table discussion.

“It’s unfortunate it takes an event like this to remind us that we’re all mortal and just one unforeseen event away from needing that policy. Things happen—accidents happen, pandemics happen—and it’s important we are protected,” says Brooks Tingle, president and CEO of John Hancock Insurance.

If you’re wondering if the pandemic is a good time to be buying life insurance, it is. In fact, because some companies have started raising prices, now is the time to snag a good rate before prices are higher across the board.

It’s also a prime time to make an application that won’t require a medical exam. In the past, buying a no-exam policy usually meant paying more because the insurer had less information on you to assess their “risk” in selling you a policy.

“The labs, doctors’ visits, documentation and in-person meetings made the whole experience lengthy and cumbersome,’ says Tingle of John Hancock. “The pandemic made all those steps impractical, if not impossible.”

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/life-insurance/buying-during-pandemic/

For more information about your Term or Whole Life Insurance options and to see if you are under-insured, contact me at 504.710.0536 or [email protected]

The pandemic got a lot of people thinking about how to increase the financial security of their families, now and in the future. And life insurance moved to the top of many to-do lists. A survey conducted in May and June 2020 by Life Happens, an industry-funded education group, found that 67% of

07/23/2020

New benefits trend? Combining dental and health insurance -- BenefitsPro.com July 6, 2020

Is the traditional model of separate coverage for dental and health about to be a thing of the past?

The combination of dental and health insurance plans is increasing, according to a new West Monroe study, as health plans offering adult dental benefits have more than doubled since 2018. Many health plan executives prefer offering consumers a single, bundled dental/health product.

“It is becoming apparent that the health and dental insurance industries are on the verge of convergence, threatening to upend the standalone-dental business model. This survey reinforces the call to action for dental plans,” said Will Hinde, managing director and West Monroe’s Healthcare & Life Sciences practice leader.

The study found, there is clearly a desire for “bundling.”

Of the 20% of health insurers who do not offer dental benefits, more than half of them are likely to offer it in the future, according to the study. Likewise, about half of dental respondents foresee partnering with a health insurer by 2025.

https://www.benefitspro.com/2020/07/06/new-benefits-trend-combining-dental-and-health-insurance/

Is the traditional model of separate coverage for dental and health about to be a thing of the past?

05/04/2020

Don’t be afraid to give employees what they want in a workplace. Think about what you’re able to offer. Not only can employee benefits reduce turnover, but they can also give your business a surge in productivity.

Not required to offer health insurance? Well, your employees will likely be glad if you do anyway. You might even be able to snag a great tax credit (the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit) in the process.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikekappel/2020/04/16/what-an-employee-wants-6-benefits-youve-got-to-be-offering/

Do you know what kind of benefits workers really want? From flexible schedules to remote work opportunities, find out how you can attract and retain talent.

03/27/2020

Here’s how to find health-care coverage if you’ve lost your job - CNBC.com

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a program that extends your current health insurance plan for up to 18 months after you lose your job.

Typically employers with at least 20 full-time employees are required to offer COBRA coverage, and it’s generally available to former employees and retirees, as well as their spouses, former spouses and dependent children if they were originally covered. Some states have expanded coverage, so if you’re not sure, ask your HR rep, or reach out to your state’s labor office.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/how-to-find-health-care-coverage-if-youve-lost-your-job.html

-19

The Economic Policy Institute estimates that the U.S. is likely to lose 3 million jobs by summer. This could be a major problem, considering the U.S. is in the midst of a health crisis and 49% of Americans get health insurance through their employer. Here's how to find health insurance if you've rec...

03/17/2020

$0 Online Doctor Visits with BlueCare

Do you have a fever? Stomach bug? Rash? Skip the waiting room and get treated anywhere, anytime – now with no cost sharing – with BlueCare!

BlueCare is Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Louisiana’s telehealth service for 24/7 online visits with U.S.-trained, board-certified physicians.

Effective March 16, Blue Cross will pay all claims associated with BlueCare online visits.

This means all Blue Cross customers and any dependents covered on their plans can use BlueCare with no cost sharing. This includes all individual and group customers (fully insured and self-funded) and any dependents covered on their plans.

www.BlueCareLA.com

03/03/2020

How HR Can Bring Customer Experience Techniques To Benefits - Forbes

Some companies depend on an open enrollment meeting where they distribute printed benefit booklets, provide lunch, explain the benefits over the hour and then leave their employees to navigate their benefits on their own. With a poor customer experience like this, it’s no wonder healthcare costs are nearly $15,000 per employee for companies.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2020/03/03/how-hr-can-bring-customer-experience-techniques-to-benefits/

At its core, you can think of CX as what someone feels about your brand when they are interacting with it. An outstanding CX makes everything easy and enjoyable — for both customers and employees.

01/30/2020

Learn the Ins and Outs of Paying Small Business Employees - Business.com

Sometimes a good insurance package can compensate for a lackluster salary. Employers can help employees pay for their healthcare by giving them money for their insurance. There are two ways to do this: a tax stipend and a tax-free reimbursement arrangement.

A tax stipend is when employees receive money, regardless of whether they buy health insurance, from their employer. The employer's monthly contributions are added to workers' paychecks. When the year ends, employees must fill out a form that reports the amount of their stipend, which they should classify as income on their personal income tax return.

A tax-free reimbursement arrangement is when employees are given a fixed amount by their employer to repay themselves for health insurance and medical charges they have incurred. Once employees incur a qualified expense, they're given the money.

https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-pay-small-business-employees/

As a small business owner, you must decide how to pay your employees. Learn about the various ways you can compensate workers and how to set up payroll.

01/15/2020

Are you looking for a secure, anonymous way to safely get rid of unused, expired or leftover prescription medication?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana partners with Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators and law enforcement offices throughout the state to install drug drop boxes.

These boxes are a secure, anonymous way for people to safely get rid of unused, expired or leftover prescription medication, which can prevent it from being stolen or misused.

Safely disposing of unused or leftover opioids or other prescription drugs can lower risks of abuse or misuse and keep these drugs from falling into the wrong hands.

Click here to locate a Louisiana safe drug drop
https://www.bcbsla.com/safedrugdrop

For more information on opioids and what you can do to lower your risk, visit www.EndTheEpidemicLA.org.

Find a safe place in Louisiana to return your unused prescription drugs.