Dear Mr. President

Dear President Obama;

My name is Margie Mack and I am writing to you because I am a health insurance agent and have to relay how I feel. I am proud of the fact that you are taking the issue of our health care here in this country seriously. I have been a health insurance agent for 7 years and what I have had to deal with would be something that could be a best seller. As an insurance agent you would think that my husband and I would be able to have coverage, right? But we don’t. Dan and I have not had health insurance coverage for approximately 9 years now.
What happened was I worked at Comcast 9 years ago and I was having trouble with the position I was in and opted to leave me job. When I got the conversion rate from the group policy I was on to the Cobra that was offered it was a staggering $832 a month and my husband was an independent furniture mover who did not carry the insurance for us. So, I figured I would find another job right away and get insurance right away so I canceled it. Big mistake for about 2 weeks after I cancelled it my husband had a heart attack.
Wow, what a wake up call. Not only did he have a heart attack but they insisted on doing heart surgery and the cardiac doctor told my husband that he was permanently retired from his line of work. That was all he knew how to do and he was a very hard worker. He would move 20,000 pounds of furniture in one day and feel great. When Dan heard this he broke, completely and well he was never the same man as he was before. He couldn’t get any disability because he was considered “re-educationable” and he never went passed the 9th grade due to a terrible injury he had at 13 years old. Life as we had known it had permanently changed for us. We had to file bankruptcy and I decided to find a job where I could make the difference and protect people from what I had been thorough.
So that is what I do. My daughter-in-law and I work as independent agents that work out of a MGA (Managing General Agency) and we help find new coverage, maintain old coverage and also manage our clients policy. We do not get a salary and we strictly on commission. It is a hard line but the return from our clients is wonderful. We have built a very good client base on trust and the fact that we will never let anything happen to them. It isn’t easy in our economy and there are many, many clients who have to restructure what they have. I have to become a parent to many of them and say “you have to trim the fat in your plan. Your insurance is only there to pay for the things that you cannot.” I have a blog that I send them to (not that they read it) Website:www.bellytobelly-margie.blogspot.com and unlike most agents, Jeannette (my daughter-in-law) and I fight to get the premium down with the most protection there is even though that doesn’t line our pockets.
We work primarily with Assurant Health because they offer their plans that actually protect our clients. What I hear is that almost all clients want doctor office visits, low deductible’s and wellness benefits as well as a low premium. That animal doesn’t exist if you are overweight, smoke, have illnesses such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol or any anxiety issues which we all seem to have now a days. So I show them how my husband and I take care of us without insurance.
They don’t always go for it and seem that they can get instant gratification elsewhere but they always seem to come back to me at one time or another. The plans that we see through Assurant health have $25 million in lifetime benefits, no premium increases for 36 months, wellness, drug card, and also a benefit that pays for the clients entire out of pocket in case of any accidents or critical illnesses that may occur (but a small $250 deductible applies to only the accident part of the plan. The premiums are competitive and most medical conditions are accepted or if not they have plans that actually help people that cannot get the “normal” plan.
I hope that I could someday have the opportunity to sit with you and actually share some of my ideas that I have. There is so much we can do to solve this issue and it won’t cost that much money if we all work together. I am not sure that you will even get this letter to read because I know that you are very busy man, but we need to be the difference that we want to see in the world, right? Please let me know if you would like to meet, I make great homemade banana bread and send it all over to my clients and friends. Thanks for listening; it feels good to tell someone that I feel that I can actually help.

Sincerely,
Margie Mack

Recession Proof

I am calling what I do "recession proof" because I am amazed at the amount of work I have to do to help people. When I get the call and request for help I move immediately after probing for details about health, physical stats and what the person wants from their insurance and what they can afford to pay.

Everyone that I talk to, and there are no exceptions, wants as much coverage for as cheap as they can pay for it. I keep talking you people over and over again that you must cut the benefits from your insurance so that you can afford to pay for the coverage that you need to have to protect what you own. Nothing else.

I know that we have covered this before and we will cover it again, but I am going to get down off my soapbox and write a letter to our new President. Peace, Margie

52 MONDAYS

There are 52 Mondays in 2009. There are 52 new Mondays that you can begin again. Have you ever heard the saying “someone has the case of the Monday’s?” That was from one of my favorite movies “Office Space.” All of us are guilty we face each week as something that we cannot control. We view each Monday as the beginning of an unending week, right? I am guilty so guilty of falling into this trap myself. But this year as we face uncertainty in our country with the loss of jobs, homes and benefits we can count on one thing. There will always and forever be another Monday that we will be able to begin again.

Take this Sunday and spend some time and map out your next course. You need health insurance. The insurance industry knows that you need health insurance. The health providers know that you need health insurance. The only one that is skeptical if you need health insurance is you. “I can’t pay for what I want,” well pay for the type of coverage that will protect what you own. “How do I manage paying for health insurance if I can’t have all the benefits that I want included?” Well, you can do like I do. There are minute clinics all over the place that will be a fraction of the cost of a doctor’s office co-pay that you would pay with your perfect health insurance. There are colleges that have dental schools that offer clinics that you can go for to have cleanings and x-rays and simple procedures. There are places like Vision Works, which are all over the country and offer an eye exam for $39.00 and 2 pair of glasses for $99.00.

Come one you can do it. We can do it! We have to save the Earth, save our country and most of all save ourselves. Call me, be the difference that you want to see in this world.

Peace,
Margie

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