What You Deserve

o I was sitting here thinking about the countless stories that I hear about the lack of or loss of health insurance. I hear from people what they "want" for their coverage. It is kind of like requesting a meal.

“ I want a medium rare steak, but it has to be broiled not fired and oh...I want caramelized onions and then the gravy (not to watery) from the steak and the onions has to be poured on my very whipped potatoes, but the potatoes must be from Idaho not Ohio because the potatoes from Idaho are the real deal. Then I want the chocolate cake that has the rum filling with the real dairy whipped cream on top (not the fake stuff that has all the preservatives in it), and then I will be happy. But wait, I need an espresso at 301 degrees with a light foam on top but I will need room for cream…uh…use the real cream, ok?”

That is what I hear when I am told by people what they want in their health insurance plan. Wow...wow...we have become so spoiled and fat. I will be the first one in line to say that I need to trim all things down in my life. But I do not have the "normal" health insurance plan so co pay, drug cards, wellness benefits, those things are really not the "norm" anymore.

Please take the time before the New Year is here and write your list on what you want, what you can afford and what you deserve. I will ask you this questions once more. What is your health insurance for? I have the answer do you? Please write to me @ mack.margie@gmail.com and the one that gets it right gets some homemade banana bread made by me sent to you.
Peace, Margie

T.I.P.S.

This past Wednesday I had the opportunity to speak to about 30 insurance agents (some new and some not so new) regarding how we present out products. I decided to start the class with a very funny youtube piece that I found the morning of my class. The comedian's name is Tom Megalis, a live on the edge freelance performer/animator guy who nailed the experience on obtaining individual health insurance on its roaring head! All you have to do is go to www.youtube.com and type in the search engine either health insurance or his name and let me tell you he was so funny (somewhat risqué) but all the same I felt like I knew his "pain." The T.I.P.S. I gave to them was to please be quiet and listen to all of you. I also reminded them that you as a public will tell us what you want in your health insurance coverage, and I as the “Insurance Lady” as one of my client’s son call me would tell you what you deserve. Harsh? You betcha! There is no reason (unless you are truly sick or are a hypochondriac) to have unlimited doctor office co pays of $10, $20 or $30 dollar a visit. There is no reason to have a low deductible of under $5000 because there are benefits that we can add on to pay for your entire out of pocket in case of any accidents or critical illnesses that may occur. If we are trimming our use of all environmental issues to save the world, cutting back on credit card spending and excessive rewards being paid to high paid executives then it is time to do the same with our health care or we will not have it any longer. It is a dying breed. So please, call me, email me, send me a pigeon with a note but at least respond. You have asked for solutions and I have them! Peace, Margie

THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR

This is my list for things I am thankful for. It is the time where in our great country, struggling as she ( I think our country is a she because she is “Mother Earth”) is that we have so very much to be thankful for. With the insurance industry changing and as an agent, I am thrilled to see the new benefits that are coming for the American public. So here is my list of things I am thankful for.
1. Progressive and inventive insurance companies such as Assurant Health and Golden Rule for me to work with. They are proactive in restructuring the once detestable term “Insurance Agent” into a much more sweet taste in our mouths then what it has been in the past.
2. Products that are new and exciting such as "The Decreasing One Deductible" which comes with an actual plan that will decrease your deductible twice a year with credits that you earn for being healthy.
3. Two and three year rate freezes. That is right! The plan’s that I offer not only decrease your deductibles it also gives you the peace of mind knowing that you will not be facing the increasing premiums as you do with other company's plans. These plans actually stop you from having the increase’s because the industry says you have to.
4. $25 million dollars in lifetime coverage! WOW! This is amazing. No other company has the foresight to do this for our clients. The costs of all goods including medicals costs are skyrocketing so they have had the wonderful idea to give you more for your safety.
5. With large deductibles we now can cover that deductible with a benefit that will actually pay for your entire out of pocket in case of accidents or critical illnesses that happen in life. The best thing is that it is not a limited benefit. In fact, it doesn't pay only once, it is per person per occurrence. Life is too unexpected and no one plans to be hurt or sick, right? So why be punished for the unexpected things? You need to be smart and choose the plan that will protect you and your family.
6. Tel-A-Doc: first in the country to have this benefit where you can call in and actually speak to a doctor in your time of need for the minor things in life. The "just incase you can't get to a doctor and you have the chills, fever, sneezes, I am sick feeling" you call, he calls you back and you are fine. You can even get refills on medications in case your doctor is not available.
7. The new Patient Care program. This is great. You call a number tell them that you need a certain test done and that representative will actually check around and get you the repiced cost and let you know what your out of pocket will be and what will go towards your deductible and co-insurance. The same rep will help you find a doctor in network or if you are traveling. The same rep will help you get the best cost on your medications or help you will a claim. The list is endless.
8. A company like Assurant Health that is over 150 years old, a steady company that pays its claims and is considerate with its clients.
9. Golden rule gives us the co-pays that some of you need, with an affordable amount to pay along with the ever valuable "wellness" that we all need each year to make sure we are here next year.
10. Most of all I am thankful that I have a chance to be the change that I want to see in the world that the world so desperately needs, now, not in the future, but right now.
I send you my friends (I consider my clients my friends) a wonderful Thanksgiving and the opportunity to enjoy this chance to give back, to stop and listen to what the world is trying to tell you. I may not always be here, but I will always be sending you peace, Margie Mack

This One's For You

Hello my name is Margie and I have a health care plan that everyone should consider! It is called a one DECREASING deductible. This plans deductible decreases every January and July with good health, the first plan ever to offer this! This policy has multiple deductible options that fit according to ones budget. All applications that are turned in before OCTOBER 26TH WILL HAVE THE DEDUCTIBLE LOWER BY 10% IN JANUARY. It has 25 million dollars worth of coverage per person! The only policy in the market to offer this! A $100.00 dollar accidental injury deductible that can make your plan a zero deductible plan if get hurt. It has GUARANTEED RENEWABILITY! This is the most valuable element in healthcare! What happens if I get sick on the plan? Will they cancel me or raise my rate so high that I cannot afford it! I can help you avoid this scenario. Take a look at this website and see what I mean www.healthupdates.biz ! Call or simply email me if you would like a personal quote to see what the rest of the market is protecting themselves with!

25 million dollar policy, 24 hour worldwide coverage, $100.00 dollar accidental injury deductible, dental and vision! Oh and we can lock in your rate for 36 months if your tired of rate increases! The plan also works with pre-existing conditions.
Free Application Process that takes 15 minutes!

You can also go to my website and build the plan yourself and complete the application process! http://margaretmack.besthealthagent.com

I HAVE AN IDEA!

October 18, 2008
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Margie Mack and I am writing to you about a subject idea that is very important to all people in our country. I am an insurance broker who has worked in the private health insurance industry for about 7 years and I work with people every day that are scared and confused and angry about their current coverage and what it does and doesn’t so for them.
I have the ability in most cases to help that client rectify the plan that they are in by finding them better coverage whether or not if it is within their current company or not. What I have been dealing with for the last five years has grown progressively worse. I pride myself on being an insurance guru of sorts because if I can’t fix it I will find someone who will.
If I could get on the air and answer questions and then explain just how workable the plans that we have offered to us can work I feel that it would be a great benefit to the general public because most of the agents that they use are not in the positions to actually fight for their clients like I am.
The great opinion in the world is that all insurance companies are “bad” but I beg to differ. Actually the insurance companies that I work with make it very clear on what they will do for the client and what they will not do for the client. I have found out that eighty percent of the time it is the “agent’ that has lied to the client in order to get the sale. I am currently finishing a book entitled “Belly to Belly, the real truth about your health insurance.”
Did you know that there is a plan for individuals that will actually pay their entire out of pocket deductible in case they get hurt or critically ill? Did you also know that there is a company that gives you a $25 million dollar lifetime, and also a 36 month rate freeze so you do not have to fear the impending premium increases that plague us like there is no tomorrow? Education for all my clients is the key. If I do not take the time to educate them and help them not become a statistic as my husband I have with no coverage then who will help them? On a whole the general population doesn’t have a clue on what they can actually do within their plans.
I would like to rectify that problem. I want to be the “voice” the “Susie Orman” of the health insurance industry. I have references of clients that I have helped through very serious situations. Thanks for listening and I do have a blog, but the last few months have been so busy with clients that I haven’t posted in a while but am updating it this weekend. Thanks for listening to a woman who just wants to help others as she would have liked to been helped.

I HAVE THE SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM

I recently told a client that I felt like the dreaded IRS knocking on their door. The scenario goes like this; when I first contact the client they are either surprised and relieved or they are suspicious of what I want and who I am. Why would I want to save them money?? Why do I care that their premiums go up and up and up?? What am I gaining from helping them?? Where have I been until now??
I am so sick and tired of pleading with people to let me help them that I wish that I could get on the radio or on OPRAH and yell "WE HAVE A CRISIS HERE IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE COMPANY THAT I WORK FOR HAS A PLAN FOR EVERYONE!" " WE HAVE THE SOLUTIONS TO YOUR INSURANCE PROBLEMS!" Tonight I took work home with me and worked and called and emailed and faxed. So far I was regarded with distrust and what is it that I really want...not your first born because I have four of my own thank you!
If you are 60 years old and smoke and are overweight, guess what, I can help you. If you are a non smoker, and not overweight and young or old, I can help you. Even if you do not have your Social Security card yet, I can help you. But the questions really is...do you want me too? Let me know, peace, Margie

BEING IN THE NOW!

I love being in the "now." I have been reading that book by Eckhart Tolle and this has redirected the path I was on to a new path. I know, I know we all get enthused and then all of a sudden it just drifts away....to come back to us in another form, another speech,a book, a song or radio program. But, I really think that with this knowledge of what I have read so far that I can apply this to my current situation. I do not have any problems, I have only situations, that I have to handle.
For the last week the song "Time After Time" by Cindy Lauper has not only been stuck in my head but has played everyday on one radio station or another. I think that the universe is trying to tell me something, but I am not sure yet. All I know is that with regards to how I help you, my love my family, friends and clients will always be here.
I will be waiting, time after time, peace, Margie

The Last Word

So, where did we leave off? Oh, I remember;
1. Retiring elderly couples will need $200,000 in savings just to pay for the most basic medical coverage. Many experts believe that this figure is conservative and that $300,000 may be a more realistic number. (I don’t have that money set aside and I am in my 50's. Do you?)

2. According to a recent report, the United States has $480 billion in EXCE$$ SPENDING each year to comparison to Western Europe nations that jave universal health insurance coverage. The costs are mainly associated with EXCE$$ ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS and POORER QUALITY OF CARE.

3. The United States spends six times more per capita on the administration of the health care system than its peer Western Europe nations.

To sum it all up; policymakers and government officials agree that health care costs must be controlled. But they disagree on the best ways to address rapidly escalating health spending and health insurance premiums. Some favor price controls and imposing strict budgets on health care spending. Others believe free market competition is the best was to solve the problems. Public health advocates believe that if all Americans adopted healthy lifestyles, health care cost would decrease as people required less medical care.

There appears to be no agreement on a single solution to health care's high price tag. Many approaches may be used to control costs. What we do know is if the rate of escalation in health care spending and health insurance premiums continues at current trends, the cost of inaction will severely affect employer’s bottom lines and consumer's pocketbooks.
Well that sounds depressing like everything else that is happening I our world such as, gas prices, loss of jobs due to outsourcing, the pollution and the need to educate all of us on helping our environment, taking back out political rights so when we vote it COUNTS, the failure of our Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae ( I think they should be married) and the general state of affairs of health issues and now obesity. Yes I can talk about that because I have that disease and I am fighting to remove it. Let’s get some feedback. I want to know what you see as a solution to these issues.
Email me @ mack.margie@gmail.com and let me see what you come up with. After all we have to be the change that we want to see in this world…and it is the only world we have, right?

The Impact Of Rising health Care Costs

National surveys show that the primary reason people are uninsured is the high cost of health insurance coverage.
Economists have found that rising health care costs correlate to drops in health insurance coverage.
Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of the uninsured reported changing their way of life significantly in order to pay medical bills.
In a Wall Street Journal-NBC Survey almost 50 percent of the American public say the cost of health care is their number one economic concern.
In a USA Today/ABC NEWS survey, 80 percent of Americans said that they were dissatisfied (60 percent were very dissatisfied) with high national health care spending.
Rising health care costs is the top personal pocketbook concern for Democratic voters (45%) and Republicans (35%), well ahead of higher taxes or retirement security.
One in four Americans say their family has had a problem paying medical care during the past year, up 7 percent points over the past nine years. Nearly 30 percent say someone in their family has delayed medical care in the past year, a new high based on recent polling. Most say the medical condition was at least somewhat serious.
A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out of pocket medical debt for those who filed bankruptcy was $12,000.00. The study noted that 68% of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses. Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem.

One half of workers in the lowest compensation jobs and one half of workers in mid range compensation jobs either had problems with medical bills in a 12 month period or were paying off accrued debt. One quarter of workers in higher compensated positions also reported problems with medical bills or were paying stability of the whole family.

If one member of a family is uninsured and has an accident, a hospital stay, or a costly medical treatment, the resulting medical bills can affect the economic stability of the whole family.

A new survey shows that more than 23% said that housing problems resulted from medical debt, including the inability to make rent or mortgage payments and the development of bad credit ratings.

A survey of Iowa consumers found that in order to cope with rising health insurance costs, 86% said they had to cut back on how much they could save, and 44% said that they have cut back on food and heating exspenses.....think...about that one.

Part three of The health Care Crisis

Premiums for employer-based health insurance rose by 6.1 percent in 2007. Small employers saw their premiums, on average, increase 5.5 percent. Firms with less than 24 workers, experienced an increase of 6.8 percent.

The annual premium that a health insurer charges an employer for a health plan covering a family of four averaged $12,100 in 2007. The annual premiums for family coverage significantly eclipsed the gross earnings for a full-time, minimum wage worker ($10,712).

Workers are now paying $1400 more in premiums annually for family coverage than they did in 2000.

Since 2000, employment-based health insurance premiums have increased 100 percent, compared to cumulative inflation of 24 percent and cumulative wage growth of 21 percent during the same period.

Health insurance expenses are the fastest growing cost component for employers. Unless something changes dramatically, health insurance costs will overtake profits by 2000.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in the United States have been rising four times faster on average than worker's earnings since 2000.

The average employee contribution to company-provided health insurance has increase more than 143 percent since 2000. Average out-of-pocket costs for deductible, co-payments for medications, and co-insurance for physician and hospital visits rose 115 percent during the same period.

The percentage of Americans under age 65 whose family-level out -of-pocket spending for health care, including health insurance, that exceeds $2000 a year rose from 37.3 percent in 1996 to 43.1 percent in 2003-a 16 percent increase.

National Health Care Spending part two

1. In 2007, health care spending in the United States reached $2.3 TRILLION, and was projected to reach $3 TRILLION in 2011. Health Care spending is projected to reach $4 TRILLION by 2016.

2. Health care spending is 4.3 times the amount spent on the national defense.

3. In 2005, the United States spent 16 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health care. I is projected that the percentage will reach 20 percent by 2016.

4. Although nearly $47 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens.

5. Health care spending accounted for 10.9 percent of the GDP in Switzerland, 10.7 percent in Germany, 9.7 percent in Canada and 9.5 percent in France, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

I had intended to do this is four parts but it may be a bit more and next will address the Employer and Employee Health Insurance Costs, stay tuned, peace Margie

Facts on Health Care Costs

This is what my boss grant Born gave to us in our Monday morning meeting to help us understand what is happening in the health care crisis so that we can help all of you more efficiently;

By several measures, health care spending continues to rise at the fastest rate in our history. In 2007, total national expenditures were expected to rise 6.9 percent -two times the rate of inflation. Total spending was $2.3 TRILLION in 2007, or $7600 per person. Total health care spending represented 16 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

U.S. health care spending is expected to increase at similar levels for the next decade reaching $4.2 TRILLION in 2016, or 20 percent of GDP.

In 2007, employer health insurance premiums increased by 6.1 percent-two times the rate of inflation. The annual premium for an employer for single coverage averaged over $4400.
Experts agree that out health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, excessive administrative expenses, inflated prices, poor management, and inappropriate care and health issuance for employers and workers and affect the security of families!

Stay tuned for part two of this four part series on health care and what you need to know to protect yourself.

POSITIVE DISCONTENT

I got this phrase or description from my son Michael Mack. He explained that when you want to change your current situation whether it is for health, employment, financial or personal reasons and you do it in a positive way then you are displaying a "Positive Discontent" attitude. I thought about this description most of the night (couldn't sleep at all) and realized that this is an attribute that many people who are in "sales" or have their own business seem to emulate. Here are a few of my own;

1. currently I share a home with five family members. We are all adults, we enjoy each others company and we strive to make our home a better place. But we have outgrown this town home and are expressing to move to a bigger and better home as soon as possible. We love this town home but we have chosen to display a "positive discontent" about our living arrangements.

2. Recently my daughter-in-law Jeannette and I left a place of employment that we had been at for approximately 6 years. After many discussions about what would be more beneficial for us and our clients we put into force the "positive discontent" regarding this problem and have moved on. It was the positive thing to do!

3. An on going battle for me has been my weight loss. I have lost approximately 170 pounds ( it has taken me 3 years) and I have all sorts of reasons why I have plateaued like I had a cold, the flu, strep throat,bronchitis,blocked ear tubes, and that the hostess cupcakes kept somehow rolling down my throat into my gullet! So I have address this blockage in my life and have applied the "positive discontent" benefit that I have learned now from my son Michael and have reweighed in at Jenny Craig and am back on track with my eating.

So what I am getting at is that all of you who bother to read this and actually have a handle on what you health insurance does and doesn't do for you should take a "Positive Discontent" attitude when you are contacted by someone like myself who is working hard to help you strive for better coverage to protect you and your family.

We have to be the change that we want to see in the world, right? Positively Discontent, Margie

LEAVING ENTRUST!

I quit my job! Six years of working for a place and I went and quit! All I can say is that it was liberating. When personal relationships and private behavior become an obstacle in your work effort it is time to move on. But I was prepared and saw this coming. I have a great new job, I am still you insurance agent and now that I am free of that person and place I will be letting you all in on some trade secrets.

That is right! My book that I have written "Belly To Belly" (the truth about your health insurance) is finally able to be finished and I am sending it out to a publisher as a Mothers day gift to myself! This book will help you learn how to control the very system that all of us are held hostage by.

Also, free quotes and health insurance information is now available to you just email me at my new email address of http://www.mack.margie/@gmail.com.

You must be the change that you want to see in this world!

Peace out, Margie

April Showers brings mud

Hi all, it has been a long hard five weeks. That is how long I have been sick with this runny nose, blocked Eustachian tubes, sore throat, chest congestion and basic feeling like something the cat ate and then threw up! I had to go to the doctor three times and also the clinic and the emergency room, all without INSURANCE! This sucks!

So I have decided to become a healthy human being. Ridding myself of unwanted chemicals, food, material items and junk email and mail. No more sickness for me! I have had enough for ten lifetimes!

I am going to give you all a treat. I have a letter to post that is from our representative of insurance going over the details of the types of plans that they suggest verses what we offer. It will make you laugh because the very plan that I brought to them that our great President Bush signed off on was something that he had no knowledge of and even wondered if it was legal. Ha!

So I will work on this tonight and I promise that this week it will be out there for all of you to read.

By the way, if you get sick take a teaspoon of sea-salt and dissolve it in an 8 ounce glass of hot water and then once cooled enough drink that down. Do that once a day for a month and you will feel great!

peace out...Margie

Moving Forward

Spring is upon us and with house cleaning comes life cleaning. You need to pullout that dusty health insurance policy and give it a once over cleaning. Remove those unnecessary benefits that you "think" you will need and protect yourself with added on coverage to actually PAY you total out of pocket. Please contact me @ margie.entrust@ gmail.com and I will help you do that! Peace, Margie

Thank-you

Hello Margie, I just wanted to let you know ho much we appreciate your expertise! At this point I believe our claims have all been settled and all of the providers satisfied. Thank you very,very much for all that you did.
Sincerely,
Kathrine & Peter Krause & family

This is just one of the many letters I get from people who I have helped manage their health insruance. This makes it all worth it! Peace, Margie

62 DAYS!

Yes it has been 62 days since I was here and so much is happening. Insurance is the same but I am not. I am still selling, managing and helping my people with the health insurance. I have called, answered called and accepted others clients issues until I am blue in the face. You may not like what I have to say but WAKE UP PEOPLE! You must if you do anything else ASK questions and help yourselves. Get those phone numbers, make a friend at the insurance company and ask how you can get the help you need. Your insurance agent is not being paid to do this for you. That's right I do it for free! But for now, I am working on my life, securing my health protection and if you need me email me otherwise start doing it and if you do not know how PLEASE ask! Peace, Margie

Assurant Health

I have been selling Assurant Health for about seven years now and I love representing this company. Everything that they offer if presented honestly and correctly to the client is absolutely true. If you have to have individual health care call me, you will not be sorry!1-800-265-7977 ext 1115 or email me at margie.entrust@gmail.com, peace, Margie