Well, as anticipated by nearly everyone, the initial launch of the Exchange web-site was not an overwhelming success. For the first two days, the site seemed to be down more than it was up.  By Thursday and Friday things were more functional and stable but glitches were still to be found.

We are hopeful that the IT folks at the Exchange will be able to beef up the infrastructure and iron out some of the kinks they have experienced.

So, we have a favor to ask you. If you are going to be coming into our office to allow us to assist you in this process, will you first go to Sunny Farms and purchase a large bag of organically grown "PATIENCE".  We have found that the organic patience is so much more palatable than the GMO patience found in most other stores. If you bring your patience to your meeting it will make the process a lot more pleasurable for all concerned.

On Wednesday I had the pleasure to be working in Port Angeles with a number of groups and organizations and had planned to do training on how the site was working etc.  After my first meeting where I took my laptop into the meeting and was unable to accomplish what we intended to cover, I spent the of the day just sitting down and chatting with folks without the pressure of a malfunctioning web-site.

We have been surprised at some of the identification questions that the Equifax fueled portion of the application have asked. For example one that seemed too easy was what County do you live in. If anyone has entered a zip-code it is pretty easy to know the County.  A fair number of the questions were answered "none of the above".  I had thought that the questions would all have a correct answer included so it has been interesting to discover the scope of the questions.

It is still very early days and we are pleased at how the system looks and feels and think that when it has progressed past these initial teething problems will be a valuable tool for both the consumer as well as navigators and brokers.

Well, here we go again!  October 15th is rapidly approaching and as all good seniors know, it's time to shop and research you Medicare Part D Drug plan and your Medicare Advantage Plan.   We have been patiently waiting to hear how much of the gossip we've heard about the new plans is actually true.

We still have two companies offering Medicare Advantage plans here in Clallam County.  They are Group Health and Regence BlueShield.  Regence did announce that their top of the line plan will be withdrawn for 2014, but very few people will be affected by this change.  Both companies have raised their premiums by over 30%.  We are now very close to suggesting folks consider a change back to a Medicare Supplement and a stand-alone drug plan.

Let's start with the bad news, then we can always end on a high note with good news.

One of the most popular plans last year was the $28.80 plan from First Health Part D. It had no deductible and $0 co-pays for most generics at preferred pharmacies.  This year it has increased its premium to $47.60 per month and introduced co-pays of $1-3 dollars for generics.

The AARP Medicare Saver Plus program from United Healthcare had a $15.00 monthly premium with a $325.00 deductible has gone up to $29.50 with a $310.00 deductible.

If you are currently on either of those plans we do recommend contacting our office and requesting a free prescription drug plan (PDP) review packet.  This packet includes a sheet to list your medications as well as a required form we need signed before we can review your needs.

One of the new plans that appear a likely best seller is from Humana. They have once again undercut the entire market with a monthly premium of $12.60.  While it does have a $310 annual deductible, that deductible is waived if you purchase your medications at Wal-Mart, and only Wal-Mart. But wait, that's not all it gets even better your generic medications are $1.00 and this is BEFORE the deductible is met. For tier 2 and higher drugs the deductible of $310.00 must be met for coverage to begin.

We feel that this is a very good program for people that take all generics or only a few or no medications. If you fit this category, please call us.

The current Humana program priced at $18.80 is going up to $22.80, with a 310.00 deductible.  If you are happy with your current coverage, don't change.

Silverscript has had very minor changes.  If the plan has worked for you in 2013, we  recommend no change.  They did have some hiccups during the year but from all appearances, they seem to have things running smoothly right now.

We have the same recommendation for Wellcare.  It is a decent plan that is still popping up with regular frequency as a top contender.  We have never really had any complaints about Wellcare so we feel it's worth mentioning.

Here is the bottom line...  How has your plan treated you in 2013?  Did you review your annual notice of change (ANOC) to ensure all your expensive medications were still going to be covered?  We've found that companies don't really alter their formularies on covered drugs for the low cost generic's, but they regularly do for the expensive brand name drugs.

If you are satisfied, sit back,relax and enjoy.  Life is good!

If you are tempted by the hordes of candy in the stores this time of year, you're not alone!  With Halloween just around the corner, it's hard not to notice the costumes, candy and decorations in town.  You might be asking, "How in the world is James going to tie Halloween into an insurance article?"  I'd answer that question with a resounding "Quite easily!"

Halloween, and the candy that goes with it, pose more than just a danger to our waistlines.  Each year there is a small spike in claims across the country mainly stemming from this one night.  Kids wandering the street in the dark are obvious obstacles for drivers, but it's also a danger to all of those who own a home and auto.  Bigger "kids" roaming the street tend to be a bit mischievous, especially since they're likely to be in masks to hide their true identity.  Vandalism claims on homes and autos go up over the week surrounding Halloween.  Whether it's a smashed pumpkin on a vehicle or an egged house, something in the air inspires not the spooky but the naught to come out.

Some simple ways to help avoid these situations are to keep outdoor (and maybe even indoor) lights on throughout the night.  Well lit homes and driveways seem to stand a better chance. Park your car in the garage this night especially, even if that means rearranging that clutter you've been promising organize!  Last but not least, keep Fido on a short leash.  It's not just certain kids that are naught during Halloween.  With so many doorbells ringing during the evening, more pooches than normal wind up nipping.  This could end up biting YOU when it comes to your homeowner's claim history.

All in all, this is an amazing time of year where you get to see young families out enjoying our amazing community. Make sure to enjoy the festivities while resting assured that you have best prepared yourself for the big night!  If you are curious about more stats and claim information, CLICK HERE to check out this article.