The National Safety Council says the annual cost of injuries in the US is $753 billion. This includes medical costs, lost wages, and damages. Each year 1 in 8 people will receive medical care due to a non-fatal injury, and accidents are the cause of 33% of all ER visits. Workers comp does a good job of covering accidents at work, but 70% of accidents occur outside the workplace. While most people have Health Insurance, we have found that one of the biggest gaps in both Group and Individual policies, even with the new Health Care Reform, is the ER deductible and co-pay. You can obtain an affordable Accident Policy that helps with these costs for as little as 50 cents a day. Give us a call at 877-740-8683, or visit www.freedomfreequote.com , for a free quote today.
Category: Group Insurance
June is National Safety Month…Are you protected?
June is National Safety Month. According to the National Safety Council, 1 in 8 Americans received medical attention for a non-fatal injury in 2010. About 67% of emergency room visits are the result of accidents, and the annual cost of injuries is more than $730 billion. This figure includes medical costs,lost wages, and damages. An interesting fact is that about 78% of accidents happen outside the workplace. The top 5 causes of accidental injuries are motor vehicle accidents, poisoning, falls, choking and drowning. While many accidents can be prevented, they can happen to anyone, at any time. Many of our customers choose to purchase an Accident Policy, to help protect against the sudden, unexpected expenses that can occur after an accident. For more information, call 877-740-8683, or visit www.freedomfreequote.com .
Medicare Part B and COBRA
Over the years we have found there is a lot of confusion concerning Medicare Part B and COBRA. Many people think that as long as they have COBRA, they don’t need Medicare Part B. Unfortunately, the special rule for delaying Part B is based on current employment(either you or your spouse). COBRA is not considered current employment coverage. Most people are able to delay enrolling in Part B, as long as they are still working. Once the employment ends, however, the clock starts ticking. You will have 8 months to sign up for Part B without a penalty. If you wait for COBRA to end, or go past the 8 months, you can be subject to a penalty of 10% of your Part B premium for each year that you were not enrolled. And that penalty stays with you as long as you have Medicare. Even more important, if you miss that deadline, you would have to wait until the next General Enrollment Period(from January 1st until March 31st each year), and your Part B coverage wouldn’t start until July 1st. This could have devastating consequences if a serious illness were to strike during that time. Another important thing to remember is that your Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins when you are both 65 and enrolled in Part B. This is a one time opportunity to purchase a Medicare Supplement policy, regardless of your health conditions. Some people go back to work, or get on a spouse’s current employment coverage, after enrolling in Part B. At this time, you may be able to disenroll from Part B, and enroll at a later time(such as when that employment ends), without a penalty. This can sometimes be a good strategy, but it is important to remember that your Medigap Open Enrollment doesn’t re-start. With more people working longer, delaying Social Security, or Part B, it more important now than ever to have good advice on your Medicare choices and deadlines. Please call at 877-740-8683, for a personal review of your situation.