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Hello ,
Welcome, May is the last full month of spring and down here in Kingsland, GA, we have finally gotten a little relief from the drought. We are not out of the woods yet but hopefully we will get the much needed precipitation. Since May is a spring month, why not take a look at where you are and see if you have all the key components to safe guarding your retirement and financial investments? We have some interesting videos on our website that can answer your questions. Simply click here to watch these videos and browse other media resources.
The Supreme Court has heard the final arguments on Obamacare back in April. You can access the audio clips from the hearing which cover the questions and answers the justices received from the various parties. Our newly added Healthcare Reform 2010 page pulls together various video clips, online resources, and articles that we think will be helpful for you to stay up to date with the latest developments. Next month, the court will make its decision, so we will see what happens.
A special message to our Veterans: Thank you for your service. In appreciation to your service, Humana and all their agents have a special Preventive Plus plan for your consideration. This is a plan primarily focused on dental coverage but also offers other programs and savings on prescription drugs, vision, hearing and more. Give us a call if you would like additional information or would like to sign-up for this program. Be sure to check out our newly added Military Page on the website with more information.
And lastly, how would you like to double and triple your money available on an extended care plan? We offer StateLife insurance solutions which has some very unique extended care programs. For more information, check out our feature article below. Also, feel free to visit the website for additional information by clicking here.
May you have a great month of May!
John V. Stewart, MSM, CDHC
Our contact phone numbers and information:
Visit Our Website or Get a Quote
Email: stewartsinsure@yahoo.com
122 Bryce Ryan Cir., Kingsland, GA 31548
Camden County, GA 912.434.2090
Metro Jacksonville, FL 904.729.4025
Metro Indianapolis, IN 317.570.1271
Metro Cincinnati, OH 513.868.0040
Nationwide 866.203.5097
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 Unique Extended Care Plans For You | 
StateLife Insurance Company, which is one of the companies we represent, offers various extended care programs you can take advantage of. These plans can double or triple the money you put into them to be used for extended care purposes.
So, lets say you have a CD, life insurance policy, or an IRA which you were planning to use on extended care needs. We have plans where the money from these accounts can be put into an asset-based extended care plan that will double or quadruple your funds. For example, a State Life Asset Care whole life insurance plan funded by you at $100,000 will double to $200,000 available for qualified extended care needs. An Annuity Care plan funded at $100,000 by you will provide $400,000 in qualified extended care benefits. Self-funding may be the right choice for you. Our website provides information on some of the types of asset-based solutions for extended care. Click here to visit that now. Below is a video that is also accessible on our website that provides as an introduction and brief understanding:
 | | Extended Care Video |
Please give us a call or email us if you would like more information or have any questions on extended care plans. To check out other educational videos, click here. |
Study Finds Alarming Number of Boomers Lack Basic Understanding of Medicare Program... |  The latest study released by Bankers Life and Casualty Company reveals that 56% of middle-income America admits to knowing very little or almost nothing about the Medicare Program. The study of 400 pre-Medicare Boomers in ages from 47 to 64 and 400 older adults between ages 65 and 75 with income between $2 and $75,000 found that barely three fourths (72%) did not know that Americans on Medicare pay a monthly premium, copays and deductibles.
Nearly two thirds (62%) of the boomers and even those on Medicare for a few years do not understand what their benefits will be for doctor visits and hospitalization once they are on Medicare. Pre-Medicare boomers (78%) do not understand their dental care, 82% did not understand their hearing care and 83% did not understand their vision care. Further, eight out of ten (86%) under age 65 do not know if Medicare covers extended care or overestimate its extended care coverage.
In many cases boomers looking at retirement wait for Medicare. They are taking Medicare eligibility into consideration in determining when to retire. Nearly half (45%) of the working boomers age 47 to 64 are waiting to retire until they are eligible for Medicare and almost one fourth (24%) are still not decided if they will retire without the safety net of Medicare's health benefits. The decision to wait to retire until they are eligible may be financially a sound move since medical bills are one of the leading causes of bankruptcy among 65 and older adults. The CSR study does report that a little over one in ten (12%) are living with medical debt. |
Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) identifies 2,262 state health mandates. |  If you have wondered why major medical insurance costs keep rising here is one of the reasons why the cost keeps going up. CAHI has been keeping track of the health mandates that have been legislated in the states since 1992. At present there are 2,262 mandates up 100 nationwide over 2010. Back in 1992, there were only 850 mandates in all the 50 states total.
With the ever rising number of mandates, this is putting in jeopardy the state's ability to deliver on one of the key promises repeatedly made by supporters of the new federal health care law. Health and Human Services guidance allows the states flexibility to craft affordable benefit packages suitable for their populations. However, those states that adopt their current small employer major medical plan for this purpose is already overloaded with mandates with the addition of the federal mandates of the new law will drive up the cost for everyone. Thus, this will actually worsen than fix the problem with major medical insurance.
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Most Mandated |
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Least Mandated |
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Rhode Island |
70 |
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Idaho |
13 | |
Virginia |
70 |
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Alabama |
19 | |
Maryland |
67 |
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Michigan |
23 | |
Minnesota |
65 |
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Hawaii |
24 | |
Connecticut |
63 |
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Utah |
26 |
So when these mandates are layered on top of the federal mandates the cost of major medical insurance will not be lowered but will be increased. With the complaints of the high cost of major medical insurance, some of the blame rests with the state legislators who keep adding mandates. Hopefully you will contact your state legislators and have them think twice before voting our sponsoring more medical insurance mandates. |
CDHPs...Opportunities for Voluntary Coverages |  The Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act appears not what is has been presented to be. With the growing mandates from both federal and state sources, extending the ages of children to the age of 26 on their parent's major medical plan and excessive use of emergency room and other medical services by-passing the primary care physicians has all led to these demands for higher cost compensation. A recent Towers Watson survey of employers, 88% found are intending small to moderate changes in their major medical plans this year. A substantial number are adopting the High deductible consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) with Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA) or qualified Health Savings Accounts (HSA) designed plans. 2010 was the year that employers were offering CDHPs ranged from 14% for employers with 10 to 49 employees to 51% with employers of 20,000 or more. For 2012 there have been increases of plans in the 10-49 employee of 18%, and 58% in the 20,000 and larger group major medical plans. Of all employers, nearly half (45%) expect to rethink their long range strategy this year for major medical coverage.
One major interest is in providing more comprehensive financial protection for employees and their families. The use of voluntary coverage plans as supplements to their major medical plan such as short-term disability, accident, cancer and especially critical illness insurance. Another method employers are looking into is to raise the employees out-of-pocket spending as a means of reducing the cost of major medical insurance. Consequently the need for voluntary supplements will grow to close the employee's financial gaps. The CDHP will demand more from employees by providing incentives to consumers to make better and more informed medical care decisions since they are going to have a greater financial stake. CDHPs promote the use of wellness programs such as health screenings for cancer and other diseases. This allos the employee to get the necessary treatment before the condition becomes critical. By the employee accepting more of the responsibility it is felt the overall cost of coverage can eventually come down. Two of the voluntary supplement lines which go hand in hand with CDHPs are accident and critical illness plans. Employers are aware that the bottom line has to be watched but also have a concern for employee's welfare and engagement levels. This is especially true since 61% of American workers say they live paycheck to paycheck. |
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The Retirement Confidence Survey | 
Here are the key points at a glance:
1. Confidence in the ability to retire confidently is stagnant at historic low levels. 14% are very confident that they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement. 2. Employerment insecurity looms large. 42% identify job uncertainty as the most pressing financial issue. 3. Worker confidence of having enough money to pay for medical expenses and extended care in retirement remains well below their confidence level for paying basic expenses. 4. Many workers report they have no savings or investments. 60% report that their total value less the value of their primary home and defined benefit plan is less than $25,000. 5. 25% report that the age they expect to retire has changed. In 1991 the survey reported 11% expected to retire at age 65 while in 2012 that has grown to 37%. 6. Regardless of the age expectations, half of the current retirees left the work force unexpectedly due to health problems, disability, or changes at their employers. 7. Those in retirement tend to express higher levels of confidence than current workers about several key aspects of retirement. 8. Those already in retirement report they rely more on social security as a major source of their retirement income than current workers expect to be. 9. 56% of workers expect to receive benefits from a defined benefit plan in retirement, only 33% report they and/or their spouse currently have such a benefit with a current or previous employer. 10. 56% of workers report they and/or their spouse have not tried to calculate how much money they will need to have saved by the time they retire. 11. Only a minority of workers and retirees feel comfortable using online technologies to perform various tasks related to financial management. Few use smart phones or tablets to manage their financial affairs. 10% say they are comfortable obtaining advice from professionals online. The question is how to improve one's finances to achieve a greater comfort level in today's world of ever changing conditions. Taking the proper steps before retirement is essential to strengthening the financial condition for retirement. As this survey points out, there seems to be a disconnect between reality of retirement and the conditions of today, being more reliant on social security as a source of retirement daily living funds. Funding retirement using social security as a key component may not be the best route to take. There are many instruments to use to fund retirement from annuities, life insurance, extended care coverage, investments in hard assets to stocks and bonds. Choosing the right combination is important to achieving a higher comfort level about retirement. |
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Contact Us Today!
John Stewart, MSM, CDHC
Company President
Jami Daliege
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Newsroom
9 in 10 Would Pay for Disability Insurance, if Only They Knew What it Was
PropertyCasualty360.com
Click here to read
Medicare to run out 5 years earlier, trustees say
Washington Post
Click here to read
Implementing Health Reform: Amidst Turbelence, Federal Work Goes On
Health Affairs Blog
Click here to read
Health care apps soar in popularity
Dayton Business Journal
Disability Insurance Observer: Growth
LifeHealthPro
IRS announces 2013 HSA limits
BenefitsPro.com
When to Buy Term-Life Insurance
Fox Business
Check out more articles at the Newsroom on our website.
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What's New On the Website
Updated Individual & Family Health Insurance Page. Are you looking for coverage? Do you know what type of plan you want or need? Do you know what coinsurance means or what a deductible is? Check out our website today to learn more.
New videos have been added to our Video page under the Media Resources section. Ever wonder how exactly life insurance works? Want to learn more about extended care? Watch these videos today to learn more.
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Understanding Life Insurance
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Extended Care
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