Besides talking to an agent to Ask About Insurance, our Agents work with local organizations to offer free and low cost educational services, including:
- Classes at Western Colorado Community College Community Education Center
- Consultation at the Grand Junction Business Incubator
- Community educational events on both the Eastern and Western Slopes (email us to learn when our next even is or to RSVP).
Our agents have also published books, available on Amazon.com in both paperback and kindle formats, as well as at your local library.
The vital role of insurance in the progress of medicine and engineering, globalized trade and the spread of democracy is best explored through the History, "How's" and "Why's" of health insurance, and the exemptions and exceptions to them.
From such distant history to the relevant present, learn how to understand health insurance options both at work and on the Exchange, calculate which plan will save you the most money, and even how to use health insurance as a retirement vehicle. Understand how many consumers are now saving money on prescriptions by discount plans and even importing drugs from Canada. Become familiar with options for health insurance if you miss open enrollment or special enrollment periods, and even the value (or lack thereof) in dental, vision, and life insurance supplemental plans.
Chapter 1: A Brief History of Insurance
Chapter 2: Qualifying for a Subsidy
Chapter 3: Special Enrollment Periods
Chapter 4: Understanding Basic Terms: Deductibles, Co-pays, Co-insurance, Out of pocket and coverage maximums - with practice examples
Chapter 5: HMO’s, PPO’s, EPO’s and HSA’s
Chapter 6: Using health insurance: Non-emergency care, Preventative care, Catastrophic care, Non-catastrophic emergency care, Deadly emergency, Special notes on travel insurance
Chapter 7: Supplemental plans: Metal Gap Plans, Indemnity Plans, Term Life Insurance, Disability Insurance
Chapter 8: Consultation fees
Chapter 9: Vision and Dental
Chapter 10: Claims
Chapter 11: the Agent
Choosing between bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans seems simple, but reveals a more challenging choice and not so obvious solution.
Understand not how you can make this decision for yourself this coming Open Enrollment…and whether this tiered system of insurance truly fulfills the intentions of the American Affordable Care Act.
Contents:
What are the Metal Tiers?
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
How to Choose
Do Metal Plans Actually Help American Consumers?
Are Bronze Plans Effective? What is Included in Preventive Care Benefits for Adults
Special Preventative Care for Women
Special Preventative Care for Children
Understanding Insurance Terms: Deductible, Copays, Coinsurance, and Out of Pocket Maximums
Deductibles
Co-pays
Co-insurance
Out of pocket and coverage maximums
Practice examples
Beyond Metal Plans: Plans of the Past and Future
Gap Plans
Indemnity Plans
Life Insurance
There are many reasons to get an HSA, but one reason why people don’t is because they are complicated to set up and use.
This book makes it easy and presents all you need to know about how to set up and use an HSA: complicated subjects like how to use an HSA to reduce your tax burden, how to use an HSA as a retirement vehicle, how to avoid tax penalties when using it, how to calculate your share of major medical expenses and what records to keep and how are presented.
The author is a licensed insurance agent in the State of Colorado, with additional State certification in the Insurance Marketplace and decades of experience who teaches on the subject at Western Colorado Community College.
Contents:
2 Kinds of HSA’s
Why Get an HSA? Tax Benefits
2 Kinds of HSA Bank Accounts
3 Parts of an HSA Insurance Plan
What Can You Spend Your HSA Money On?
What Happens When You’re Older than 65?
How Much Can You Contribute to an HSA?
What Preventative Care is Included for Free?
How to Use the HSA’s
Record Keeping and Tax Form
Where Can You Learn More About HSA’s?
Happily Ever After: Using Life Insurance Without Dying : Because Some Things Are Not Worth Dying For
Let’s face it. Some things are NOT worth dying for. And a large life insurance payout is not one of them.
But what if you could use life insurance to live a better life? To not only retire more comfortably, but achieve your dreams?
In this book, you’ll read stories about families who did just that. Even confirmed bachelors and bachelorettes who did just that. And along the way come to understand in easy to understand language the technical aspects of life insurance to help you make this difficult decision today.
Written by a real life insurance agent, you’ll gain decades of perspective to see why life insurance is very much a tool best used for living by those of us wanting to live fuller, happier lives.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction: Happily Ever After?
1. Story Time Examples! (Spoiler Alert: Everyone in These Stories Lives Because No One Wants to Hear ANOTHER Story About Someone Dying to Use Their Life Insurance!)
The Martinez Family Moves Across the Country to A Dream Job with a Universal Life Insurance Policy
The Li Family Survives Breast Cancer with an Protection Indexed Universal Life Insurance Policy
The Patels’ Repair their Home with an Accumulation Indexed Universal Life Policy
Benjamin Brown, a Bachelor with no Beneficiaries, Uses a Whole Life Policy to Enjoy His Life
Why the Kelly Family Chose to Convert their Term Policy
The Abara Family Saves for the Future with a Term Life Insurance Policy
Jane Suzuki Preserves Protects Her Fortune
Joseph Kohen Helps His Grandchildren
2. Understanding Exactly What Permanent Insurance Is: The Life Long and Long Life Option
Whole Life Insurance
Guaranteed Death Benefit
Cash Value Component
Different Types
Universal Life Insurance
Traditional UL
Indexed UL
Guaranteed Universal Life
Protection Indexed Universal Life
Accumulation Indexed Universal Life
3. Understanding Exactly What Term Insurance Is: the Temporary Option
Several Kinds of Term Insurance
Level Term
Decreasing Term
4. Typical Riders
What If You Don’t Die? You May Want A Return of Premium Rider
For Injuries, Sickness, Disease and Disability You May Want Living Benefits
Conversion
Long Term Care
5. How Much Coverage Do You Need? Making Sure You Are Not Overinsured or Underinsured
Conclusion: Everyone Can Use Life Insurance While Alive
Even Confirmed Bachelors and Bachelorettes can Use Life Insurance While They Are Alive
As an Investment
Tax Advantaged Emergency and Retirement Funding
Assisted Living (even at your own home!) and Nursing Homes When You’re Old
Self Sufficient to the End
Legacy
Babies and Children Need Life Insurance Too
Death or Disability of a Child
For When They Are All Grownup: Financial Independence
Don’t Forget Life Insurance for the Parents
Yes, You Do Need Life Insurance!
