| Stay Healthy and Save! |
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One of the easiest and most obvious ways you can help lower your health insurance costs is to make a renewed effort to stay healthy. By having to visit your doctor's office less often, you'll significantly reduce your out-of-pocket health care costs.
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| Help Us Support the "TOYS FOR TOTS" Annual Holiday Campaign |
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Brooker Insurance Agency is a proud supporter of the annual "Toys For Tots" Campaign. The Brooker Building is a designated drop-off location. Please stop by with your new and unwrapped toy donation. You'll help brighten the holiday of a needy child in our community.
Thank you for your support...we wish you a very happy holiday!
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| BROOKER INSURANCE AGENCY |
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For more than three generations, Brooker Insurance Agency has operated with a commitment to excellence and the goal of providing service that surpasses the expectations of our customers. We stand strong in our commitment to helping you, our loyal customer, and we are proud of our reputation.
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| Grange Insurance Customers Can Now Pay Online |
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Grange Insurance is now providing an option for online premium payment. Just click
to connect to the Grange Insurance website. Click on the "Pay My Bill" icon for a fast and convenient way to pay your premium!
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Individual v. Group Health Insurance Plans: Which is a Better Option for You? 
For most workers, it's open enrollment season, and that means taking some time to select your benefits for the coming year. Given the difficult economic climate, many employers are having a tougher time shouldering health care costs, and are shifting a bigger share of the costs to their employees. Employees will likely see plan offerings with higher employee contributions, higher deductibles, or both, or may even see fewer coverage options being offered.
If you, your spouse and your children are healthy with few risk factors, you may want to investigate the option of enrolling in an individual health insurance plan. You may be able to get a lower monthly premium because the risk assessment is based only on the individual and not on the pooled risks of the group members. Under an individual plan, you may also have the ability to customize coverage to your exact specifications.
If you have health issues, sticking with an employer sponsored group plan may be the best option. You will likely get a better deal than you will be able to get on your own. Under a group health plan, you cannot be rejected because of your health history or risks. You can still shop around for coverage options for your healthy spouse or dependents.
To remain competitive in the marketplace, insurance companies are introducing new plans all the time. To investigate whether an individual health insurance plan may be a viable option for you or your family members, contact Karen Potozcak, Health Benefits Manager, at (440) 238-5454. It doesn't hurt to compare your options, but remember, you should never drop your group policy before guaranteeing that you have obtained coverage elsewhere. |
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Health Insurance Options for the Unemployed 
Loss of a job can send you scrambling for health insurance coverage. When an employer sponsored health care policy is lost, there are several options for maintaining health insurance coverage for you and your family.
If your spouse is employed, you may want to investigate the option of signing up for coverage through the spouse's employer sponsored plan. If this is not an option, you may be eligible to continue health benefits through COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). Under COBRA, a terminated employee may maintain the same health care coverage they enjoyed while employed, but the cost is now paid out of pocket. Although the cost for COBRA coverage is very expensive, the federal government, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is currently providing a subsidy of 65% of the cost of health insurance for most recently unemployed individuals and their families for up to 9 months after loss of employment.
You can also investigate the purchase of an individual health insurance policy. To save on monthly premiums, there are affordable low cost, high deductible plans available. You also have the option to select a plan with scaled back coverage for only your most essential needs, until you are employed again and have the option to upgrade your coverage or join in an employer sponsored plan.
Finally, if loss of employment has left you with little or no income to pay for health insurance, Medicaid may be an option for you. Medicaid is available only to people with limited income, and there are certain requirements that must be met in order to qualify. Even if you and your spouse do not qualify, your children might.
Call our Health Benefits Manager, Karen Potoczak, for help in finding an affordable health insurance plan that works for you and your family. |
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5 Ways To Lower Your Health Insurance Out-of-Pocket Costs 
Consider these options for reducing your health insurance costs while still maintaining the best coverage possible:
1. Consider raising your yearly deductible - raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can save you hundreds of dollars every year.
2. Consider a H.S.A. Major Medical Plan - this higher deductible major medical plan is cheaper and also offers a tax advantaged savings account that can be used to pay for medical services that are not covered or cost less than the higher deductible amount.
3. Compare plans - if you and your spouse both have employer sponsored group insurance plans, compare those plans to see which is the best plan with the best coverage, and choose that plan for all members of your family.
4. Shop around for a new policy - If your employer offers group plans, take the time to investigate whether individual health insurance coverage is a better option for you, your spouse or your dependents.
5. Practice preventative medicine - make every effort to live a healthy lifestyle. You'll reduce your need to visit the doctor, and as a result, you and your wallet will both stay healthy! |
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Tips to Help Protect You and Your Family from Seasonal and H1N1 Flu 
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has projected that this flu season could be more severe than past years, partly due to the presence of the new and different strain of influenza known as H1N1 or "Swine Flu".
The following tips will help protect you and your loved ones during the upcoming flu season:
1. Take time to get a flu vaccine - Getting the flu vaccine is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including children, pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions.
2. Wash your hands frequently - this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to ward off those flu germs. Use soap and water to wash your hands, or if soap is not available, use an alcohol based hand rub.
3. Cover up - be sure to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have one, use your upper sleeve, not your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
4. Avoid close contact with sick people - if a family member is sick, remember to wash your hands frequently and use disinfecting sprays and wipes to clean common surfaces such as door knobs, phones and remote controls.
5. If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home - the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
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The Brooker Bulletin
