 |
|
|
|
Greetings! 
The insurance industry is currently buzzing with activity. Certain areas like life and disability insurance have seen increases due to a healthy review of family income, debt and expense protection needs. Other areas like health insurance and long term care have been in holding patterns, waiting for legislative guidance and clarity.
I can say that, personally, I recently switched our family health plans from the typical 80/20 PPO with the usual co-pays and deductibles to a Health Savings Account (HSA). This structure increases my deductibles and costs per doctor visit; however, it significantly reduces my monthly premiums and total out-of-pocket exposure for the policy year. If your family has the flexibility to change to an HSA (for example you are self employed or own your own company), call or e-mail me at danny@menshinsurance.com and I can help.
Overall, the majority of carriers remain financially healthy and fiscally sound. The top companies have reported solid earnings in the past few quarters, which is a sign of overall stability in our economy.
This month we'll be talking about prevention -- and how making healthy lifestyle choices can help you avoid chronic disease and live a happy, productive life!
Thanks for reading,
Danny
Danny Mensh
|
 H1N1: Finding Information Online, Plus the "Swine Flu Rap"
If you're concerned about H1N1 and want information and updates, be sure to look online. The government has a good web site about H1N1: www.flu.gov. By far our favorite, however, is "Dr. Clarke's Swine Flu Rap," which was recently featured on NPR. Kids like this too. |
Click here to see the "Swine Flu Rap with Dr. Clarke."
|
 Follow Mensh Insurance on Twitter and Facebook
Mensh Insurance is your helpful, friendly, independent insurance agency. And we're now on Facebook and Twitter. We're posting information on insurance, ways you can save money and steps to take to make sure your family is protected. There is so much happening in the insurance industry now, and  we want to make sure you are up to date. We now have more than 100 fans on Facebook and hope to keep on getting the word out about insurance and why it's important to plan ahead.
To go to our Twitter page and become a follower, click here. |
|
|
Our Web Site Has a New Look!
Visit our web site at www.menshinsurance.com and see our new look. You can get information on every type of insurance policy we offer and get free quotes. You'll also find some terrific information sheets that you can download, including: |
|
We hope you'll check it out today and give us some feedback. |
|
|
If you're a mom or dad, there's a very good chance that you don't have a whole lot of time to spend thinking about your insurance or your own wellness. But we can tell you from being in the insurance business for decades, it pays to take care of yourself and create a solid financial plan. Take 10 minutes to read our new printable "Don't Do It!" and see if you need to make some changes in your lifestyle.
|
 We are Specialists in Helping Families Plan for Children with Special Needs
If you are a parent with a special needs child, contact us to talk about how we can help you plan for your child's future. In most cases, families with special needs children will work with an accountant and an attorney to set up a trust. The trust can be structured to provide a plan of action regarding care and income.
At Mensh Insurance, we'll work with your estate planners to make certain that money is available to help pay for medical care, living expenses, caregivers, etc. It is very important to review these plans and for parents to consider all types of insurance from life to disability to long term care. Planning for the future of special needs children is crucial and should ideally take place when the children are very young. If you have questions, just e-mail Danny by clicking here. |
|
 The Big Picture -- "Why should we spend money on insurance when we need it for other things?"
Most of us are watching our money more closely than ever. So does it make sense to build your insurance portfolio when you're worried about the economy? One smart move is simply to make sure you've covered your bases. For example, health insurance is an absolute must. Without health insurance, one accident or major illness can leave you financially devastated. We also believe a smart insurance mix for anyone over age 35 with children includes life insurance, supplemental disability insurance and long term care insurance. Ask anyone who has had to tap into these insurance policies and they will no doubt tell you they were glad they made these investments. |
|
 In the News -- More Health Insurance Won't Necessarily Make Us Healthier
Health insurance is certainly a hot topic lately, with Republicans and Democrats arguing over policy and "the public option." But in a recent article on CNNmoney.com, Sean Forbes, President of Virgin HealthMiles, argues that having more health insurance isn't necessarily going to make America healthier and that companies should offer incentives for individuals who make smart lifestyle choices. |
| Click here to read the article. |
For Business Owners and CEOs
|
| Did you know that offering long term care insurance to your employees and their family members can save your business money in the long run? If you're a business owner, we'd like to come show you how offering this type of insurance benefit can help you retain and attract employees. To schedule an appointment, e-mail Danny at danny@menshinsurance.com. |
|
Prevention -- Dr. Ann's 4 Steps to Avoid Chronic Disease |
|
How can you minimize your risk of chronic disease? According to Dr. Ann Kulze, a physician who is nationally recognized as an expert in health and wellness, there are four relatively simple steps:
1. Avoid tobacco
2. Avoid obesity (BMI <30)
3. Exercise 3.5 hours a week
4. Eat a diet rich in plant foods and sparse in red meats
Dr. Ann's recommendations are based on a study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine (August '09). The study found that adhering to four lifestyle practices "slashes the risk of developing our biggest killers." The study included 23,000 adults between the ages of 35 and 65 whose habits were carefully documented between 1994 and 1998 and subsequently followed for up to eight years. The data showed that the study participants who followed these four practices reduced their risk of diabetes by 93%, their risk of heart attack by 81%, their risk of stroke by 50% and their risk of cancer by 36%.
Four Steps -- sounds easy enough, right? Well, according to Dr. Ann, "At this juncture, less than 10% of the population abides by all four practices." So most of us need to take note.
We love Dr. Ann's enthusiasm for healthy living. If you'd like to find out more about her and her smart ideas about how YOU can live a happy, healthy life, click here. If you'd like to receive Dr. Ann's free monthly newsletter with great articles about nutrition, healthy eating and tools for permanent weight loss, click here. |
|
Kids -- Not Enough Vitamin D |
| Millions of children ages 1 to 11 show low levels of vitamin D a study in the November issue of Pediatrics magazine says. This information was reported online on Medical News Today, October 26, 2009.
The study was led by Jonathan Mansbach, MD, at Children's Hospital Boston and offers the most up-to-date analysis of vitamin D levels in U.S. children.
How much vitamin D should your children get? Apparently, that's a hot debate. But because so many children show low levels of vitamin D, Dr. Mansbach and his co-authors suggest that all children take vitamin D supplements. A normal level of vitamin D improves bone health and prevents rickets in children, and recent studies suggest that it also may prevent a host of common childhood illnesses, including respiratory infections, childhood wheezing and winter-related eczema.
|
| THANKS FOR READING -- LET'S STAY IN TOUCH | |
Hope you are staying healthy and well this fall. If you need to schedule an insurance checkup, please give me a call. Or if you know someone who
has questions about insurance, please forward this e-mail to them. We are always so thankful for the referrals we get from our clients, family and friends.
My best to everyone,
Danny Mensh
Mensh Insurance Company
|
|
|
 |
|
Contact Info |
| Phone
336.631.5503
Fax
336.631.5504
E-mail
|
|
|
