Wavehelp Insurance Blog

Lost My Job Insurance

2009-03-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

When you have lost your job and the group health insurance that you had with it, there are three options you can use to remain insured.
1. If your former employer was large enough, they are required to offer you continuing medical insurance under a federal law called COBRA. Ask the HR department about it. The problem with COBRA is that it can be quite expensive because YOU will be paying all the premium instead of having your employer share the cost. COBRA lasts for 18 months.
2. You can buy your own conventional major medical insurance if you have no pre-existing conditions that make you uninsurable. It can be as expensive as COBRA but it does put the control in your hands because it does not expire and you alone decide if you will keep the insurance. All you need to do is continue to pay the premiums; you can't lose it by being fired or having your company close it's doors, your insurance company cannot decide to stop insuring you because you have been costing them too much.
3. You can buy short term medical insurance. This temporary health insurance can be good bridge insurance to your next group plan. It is much less expensive than COBRA or conventional major medical insurance but it does have a limited time of coverage - up to six months or up to twelve months depending on your state of residence. You can request a rewrite if you need coverage for a longer time.

To explore your options on-line at no cost and no obligation, go to www.wavehelp.com.

Layoff Health Insurance

2009-02-23T15:07:00.000-08:00

The contraction of our economy has caused many good jobs to disappear - at least for a while. What should you do about medical coverage when you are laid off or between jobs. You know that you should not go without health insurance but it can be so expensive. Many people who are temporarily out of work will find short term medical insurance to be just what they need. By acting as bridge insurance to cover their medical needs until they are called back or they get a new job, temporary health coverage provides inexpensive peace of mind. Check out more information at http://www.wavehelp.com/short-term-medical-coverage.htm

Indiana Medical Insurance

2009-01-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

We have had a large increase in inquiries to our web site from Indiana. It seems that IN, MO, IL, PA, and other states have experienced exceptionally severe effects from the current economic recession. As a result, many workers have lost their jobs and with that change have lost their group health insurance as well. So, we have seen a high number of Internet searches from; IN health insurance, PA medical insurance, IL health plans, and MO medical coverage. If you are among those who are seeking help and answers, I can offer a place to look for help. It will give you a fuller understanding of your search for medical coverage with no tricks and no obligations. Go to http://www.wavehelp.com/short-term-medical-between-jobs.htm

Is There a Drawback to Short Term Medical Insurance?

2008-11-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

As with nearly all decisions, there are factors that argue FOR the decision and those AGAINST.

In the case of temporary medical insurance, the factors that argue for it include:
...much less expensive than conventional insurance,
...available as early as tomorrow morning rather than after a time-consuming underwriting process that can delay issuance for two weeks or more,
...allows policy holders to receive services from any doctor, any hospital, any pharmacy,
...policy works anywhere in the US.

The factors that can be viewed as negative are:
...the policy will not cover any pre-existing conditions,
...the policy does not pay for a well-patient checkup,
...the policy ends at a specified time even if you are under care at the time (there is usually a limited continuation of coverage),
...if an accident or illness while covered creates a pre-existing condition that prevents a rewrite (a subsequent short term health insurance policy to extend coverage) or issuance of a conventional health policy, future coverage is out of the question.

So, the purchase of short term bridge coverage is a balancing act - just like nearly everything else. Get more details at www.wavehelp.com/temporary-medical-features.htm

How is Short Term Medical Coverage Different

2008-09-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

For most people, there are three major categories of health insurance: group plans at work, conventional individual or family medical insurance, and individual or family short term health coverage. Each of these categories of health coverage have company-to-company differences within them. They also can have similarities between them. So, what makes short term health insurance different? The clue is in the name, "term".

In this discussion, when I use "term", I mean time period. Group plans and conventional health insurance share a characteristic. They are perpetual; that is, they remain in force until the insured person or family decides the coverage should end.

In contrast, short term medical insurance is temporary; that is, a policy lasts no longer than a specified time. At the end of that time (typically six months or twelve months) the coverage is over - whether the insured person would like it to continue or not. It is this characteristic of the short term policy that contributes most to the much lower rates that are usual with this kind of medical coverage.

Most insurers allow a covered person to request another short term policy and the new policy can usually begin on the same day as the old policy expired.

Short term insurance can serve a real need. There are more details at http://www.wavehelp.com/temporary-medical-features.htm

Laid Off Insurance Options

2008-08-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Many employees are getting caught in the cutback caused by our slowing economy.

Without a group plan that is at least partly paid by their employer, health insurance can be a heavy burden. Affected employees have less income which is bad in itself and they also have more expense for medical coverage. It is a budget buster.

COBRA is an expensive option required of large employers. But, if the employer is small (and not required to offer continuation of group medical coverage) or the expense of COBRA is too high, laid off employees have another solution.

They can get Short Term medical insurance. Almost always, this temporary health insurance is less expensive than COBRA or conventional health coverage. The good news is that it is very robust health insurance allowing the covered person to get medical treatment from any doctor, any hospital, any pharmacy. There is no need to obtain a referral. Get more information at http://www.wavehelp.com/short-term-medical-cobra.htm

Short Term Insurance for Students

2008-08-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

Many students who graduated from high school a few months ago are getting ready to start their college career. Others are returning college students.

Short term medical insurance can be a smart choice for these young adults. It allows them to go to any doctor, any hospital, and any pharmacy. It simplifies medical care in this transition time when they are getting fully accustomed to living away from home. Rather than being restricted to "participating providers" they can go to a nearby provider who may have been recommended by a friend. Doctor services, hospital services, and prescription drugs are covered with just one ID card.

Though short-term health insurance is very comprehensive, it is also simple to use. Just go to the appropriate health care provider (no referral is needed) explain your symptoms and receive treatment. The provider will bill the insurance company directly (there is no office co-pay).

There is a wealth of additional information at http://www.wavehelp.com/frequently-asked-questions.htm and you can get a quote or apply on-line by clicking on the yellow rectange in the upper right corner.

Short Term Medical Insurance - Who ELSE is it for?

2008-07-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

Last time, I discussed the importance of short-term health insurance to people who are between jobs. But there are many others who can benefit from bridge insurance even if it is not a job change situation.

For example, some people are seeking to insure their child or children only (not insuring the adult family members) and want an inexpensive health insurance plan. Short term health insurance can be just the solution. You might ask, "Why would parents want a health policy that covers only their children?" Well, sometimes the group plan at work is a real bargain for the employees but is structured so that it is quite expensive for the dependents. In that case, private medical insurance can be appropriate. Or, if there is no group plan available and money is tight, parents might need to make the tough decision to insure just their children in order to stay within their budget.

Self employed persons or owners of small businesses frequently find temporary health insurance plans attractive. They may not have enough employees to qualify for a group medical plan but they need to save money. Short-term medical insurance can fill the need by providing excellent health coverage at a lower price.

Another kind of business is that which uses contract associates. Perhaps the business is cyclical and only needs help seasonally. Or, the business leader prefers the flexibility of using part-timers and cannot qualify for a group plan. Either way, temporary medical insurance can provide the coverage to the workers and save money at the same time.

What if timing is an issue. Perhaps you know that conventional health insurance can take a month or longer to issue. Short term health insurance is available as early as tomorrow morning - no waiting.

More details are available at http://www.wavehelp.com/short-term-medical-coverage.htm

Short Term Medical Insurance - Who Is It For

2008-07-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

Everyone has a life-long need for medical insurance because no one knows when they will need care. Since it is not possible to predict exactly WHEN we will need care, the smart thing to do is to ALWAYS have health insurance coverage. Temporary health insurance can help.

The majority of Americans receive their health insurance coverage through a group medical plan at work. If they make a smooth transition from one employer with a group health plan to another employer with a group plan, they will be continuously covered. But, what if they have a gap in employment? COBRA is a federal law requiring large employers to offer to departing employees the right to keep their coverage under the group plan after they leave. Such employees need to pay the employer THE FULL COST of the plan plus an optional administrative charge. Usually this is much more expensive for the employee because the employer-paid portion is not paid by the former employer any more. Many people in this situation do not know that they have another option - Short Term Health Insurance or Bridge Insurance. Usually, it is much less expensive than the full premium cost of a group plan (under COBRA) even though the coverage is very broad.

If you are between jobs, I urge you to check it out. You can read more at http://www.wavehelp.com/short-term-medical-cobra.htm

You can get a no-obligation quote at http://www.wavehelp.com/free-quote.htm

How to Customize Short Term Medical Insurance

2008-03-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Short Term Health insurance is a flexible kind of coverage. There are several choices you can make to fit it well into your situation.

One choice you can make for the short term coverage is to decide when you want it to begin. Most times, you can have medical coverage as soon as tomorrow morning (at 12:01 AM). You can also delay the beginning of health coverage for 30 or 45 days if you wish to do so.

Another choice you can make is the way in which you pay for your temporary health coverage - that is, you can pay a month at a time or you can pay for the entire coverage period all at once. Usually, people who want to have bridge insurance to cover them while they are between group health insurance plans know exactly how long they will need the coverage and can select to pay all at once. This is a way to save money on bridge health coverage. But, if you don't know how long you will need the coverage, paying monthly can be better because you can cancel the health insurance before the term is up if you want to and you will only have paid for the bridge health insurance for as long as you need it.

In many states, you can choose short-term medical insurance with a maximum term of either six months or twelve months. The temporary health insurance is less expensive if you select the six month plan. Of course, you don't need to use all six months - just as much as you need. The six month plan is cheaper because the health insurance company views it is a lower risk. They only need to cover you for a maximum of six months rather than a maximum of twelve months and fewer problems are likely if the time period of health coverage is shorter. If you know you will not need your short-term health coverage for longer than six months, pick the six month plan because it is cheaper. If you are not sure how long you will need short-term health insurance, pick the twelve month plan to maximize your flexibility. It is just a little bit more expensive.

You will also be asked to select how high you want the maximum lifetime limit to be. Of course, the higher limit costs more than the lower limit. I urge you not to fall into the trap of thinking, "What can happen in a few months?" In fact, what can happen ranges from "nothing" to "something awfully expensive". Choose carefully on this one.

Next, you'll need to choose your deductible. As with all insurance, the deductible is what you pay at the beginning before the insurance company begins to pay. Naturally, if you pick a higher deductible, you limit the exposure of the insurance company and they charge less. Many insurance professionals recommend that you pick a higher deductible if you have a savings account you can use to pay the initial charges. Pick what you can afford. It is not an especially good outcome to get all healed up and come home broke because you've had to empty your savings account.

Hand-in-hand with the choice of deductible is your last decision; what rate of payment do you want. Rate of payment describes the cost sharing that occurs for a while after you have met your deductible. Depending on the state and the deductible amount, you can get 100/0, 80/20, or 50/50 coinsurance where the lower number is percentage you pay up to the maximum out of pocket limit (which is usually fixed).

I hope this has helped. There is some more detail at http://www.wavehelp.com/temporary-medical-features.htm

What Is Short Term Health Insurance?

2008-02-15T14:26:00.000-08:00

Many people do not know that there exists a short-term medical insurance option. I'll spend a moment explaining this briefly so that you will know.

Conventional health insurance (also known as major medical insurance) is the kind that most people know about. Group health plans at work are usually of this sort. So are individual (or family) medical insurance plans. To get this kind of health coverage, you fill out an application disclosing your height and weight, your use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, and all your present and past medical conditions and send it in with a deposit. When the application gets to the insurance company, they carefully evaluate all the facts of your health situation and decide if they are willing to insure you and what they will charge you for health insurance; this process is called "underwriting" and can take as long as 30 days or more. They may accept your application as submitted or they may send you a counter-proposal offering somewhat different terms; you are free to accept the new terms or not. If you accept, you'll be insured. If you reject their proposal, they will give you a refund and you will not have health insurance from them.

Once the insurance company and you have reached agreement, you are in control. By that, I mean that the insurance company is stuck with you no matter how expensive it may become to provide you with the medical care you need. As long as you continue to pay the premiums, you will continue to have insurance.

The cost of conventional insurance reflects that you are in control. The health insurance company makes you pay for the privilege of forcing them to keep insuring you.

Short-term medical insurance differs in one major way. The policy has a time limit. At the end of the time limit, the insurance company can walk away from the deal. This is not calloused indifference on their part nor cruel. It is just part of the contract. Because they can rely on this method to limit their involvement and their costs, they offer this kind of insurance at much lower rates and this can be very good if you know you will be able to swing into another insurance plan before the time limit runs out.

More details next time or go to http://www.wavehelp.com/short-term-medical-insurance.htm for more details now.

Universal Health Insurance 101

2008-02-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

It has been interesting to observe how much TV airtime in 2007 and 2008 has been devoted to the concept of universal health insurance as the various presidential candidates jockey for your vote. There is no doubt that it is vital to have everyone covered by some sort of insurance for health care. However, universal coverage will not make the cost of healthcare cheaper for our society. It will probably be more expensive - maybe much more expensive.

How can I say that? Well, consider what insurance is on a very simplistic level.
1. Everyone tosses money into a pot in exchange for the right to draw from the pot to make payments for care.
2. Care is provided by medical professionals and facilities in exchange for payment from the pot.
3. A keeper of the pot manages the records and disburses the money from the pot.

If the group collectively (our insured society) is no more or less healthy than it has been in the past, there are only three reasons for the amount paid out of the pot to go up:
1. Medical professionals and facilities might demand more for the same work.
2. Medical breakthroughs might make it possible to treat more diseases or injuries so more work might be done by medical professionals and facilities resulting in more charges.
3. The keeper of the pot might demand more for the same work and/or might have to do more work in response to factor 2.

When any or all of these events occur, more money must be tossed into the pot to make up for the greater amount being taken out. At the simplest level, this is "medical inflation" and we have experienced it virtually every year.

So, if universal coverage is provided, it may actually cost us more collectively. Notice that I have not yet taken account of the persons who are presently uninsured. Putting them into the insured pool will make more outflow necessary - and therefore more inflow to the pot will be necessary -- or so it would seem.

In fact, it is not known how much more providing coverage to the uninsured will cost. At present, uninsured people receive some substantial amount of emergency care from hospitals and clinics free of charge. If they don't pay for the care they receive, who does? We all do because the hospitals and clinics must increase the price they charge to those who CAN pay to cover the care provided to those who cannot pay. The same is true to a lesser extent for medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies. Where the cost WILL increase is in the care that will be provided to low income persons that they previously did not receive.

For example, if you have no insurance and awaken with a sore throat, you might "tough it out" instead of seeking care. It is not right that anyone should need to tough it out; they should be able to get care. It is the cost of this "new" care that defies estimation.

So, the overall cost to our society will go up by an unknown amount and we will all collectively pay the increased cost.

What has not been extensively discussed is the expected delay in receiving needed care. With the stroke of a pen, universal health care can be instituted. But, who will provide the care? More doctors and nurses cannot be similarly created by the stroke of a pen. It will take years to ramp up the educational institutions to turn out more medical professionals. In the meantime, the existing group is going to need to provide the higher amount of care. That means that some sort of triage system will be needed to ensure that the sickest and most treatable will be taken to the front of the line while those who CAN wait will be MADE to wait.

So, what should you do? If you can, get insured now and begin to establish a relationship with doctors (especially) and hospitals so that when the crunch comes you will have some claim for preferential treatment as a "regular customer". If you have pre-existing conditions that prevent your being insured presently, or if you simply cannot afford to buy insurance now, make your needs known. Get involved in the political process so that the lawmakers know what they need to do. Most of them have a fabulous medical insurance program and have no concept of what others may experience. Tell them. Don't make them rely of lobbyists (who have their own agenda) to get the information they need. Write letters or e-mails. And, show up at meetings.

We can do this.

When it is important, buy quality.

2008-01-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

There are two things important beyond price; your life and your health. When dealing with services or products directly affecting your life and your health, you cannot go wrong by selecting quality even if it costs more.

Here is what I mean. Say you plan on buying a new lawnmower. It is entirely reasonable to line up all the 21-inch, self-propelled, rotary lawnmowers and buy the one that is cheapest. If it turns out to be shoddy, all you will have wasted is a few bucks. You will not have risked your life or your health in making that decision.

But, if you plan on buying new tires, it is a different story. The tires are your only connection to the road; and sometimes at inherently dangerous high speeds. You cannot steer or stop without them and there may be a time when your very life depends on your ability to steer or stop. Furthermore, you do not want to risk having a blowout. Therefore, do not skimp on tires.

The difference between the effect of lawnmowers and tires on your life and health is clear - you might say it is black-and-white. But, as you know, most of life is more like grey than like black-and-white. In those plentiful grey areas, you need to use judgement rather than hard and fast rules.

As an insurance broker, I learn about the effects of health insurance decisions. People tell me good stories and bad ones. Even though the actual number of good stories far outnumbers the bad stories, I hear more bad ones than good ones because people are more inclined to share their bad experiences than their good ones. Yes?

OK. Here is what I have learned. Health insurance is more like tires than like lawnmowers. That is, it is wise to buy quality health insurance coverage rather than getting the cheapest you can find. Cheap health insurance is a really good buy only if you do not need to use it ... ever. When you do need to use your health insurance, you will be glad you paid a little more to get a good plan from a good company. Trust me on this.

It is a different world.

2008-01-03T05:47:00.000-08:00

"It's a different world." I hear that statement many times a week. Most often, it is voiced in frustration or anger over something that happened involving another person.

As a society, we do seem to have changed. Many goods and services are "personalized" now but not "personal". Do you remember stories of the 1940's and 1950's? The ice man showed up at our home and, chatting all the way, carried the heavy block of dripping ice to the ice box so we could have chilled foods. The mail man delivered on foot and brought the mail to the house. We knew him and he knew us. He asked about the events of our lives and reported on those of his but he did not gossip about what he knew of his other families on the route. The paper boy brought the paper to the house each morning and tucked it inside the storm door before we were awake so it would be easily available and dry for us to read. He collected in person every week for the cost of the newspapers. (I was a morning paper boy.) The insurance man came to the house and sat at the kitchen table to discuss our needs and what he could provide to help. Things like that have gone - replaced by more efficient delivery of the things that serve the same needs.

It is even true of us. We have set up our web site so that you can buy many kinds of insurance on-line without even needing to talk to us. If that suits your needs, we are glad to comply. But I also want you to know that we are available to talk. If you are near our home office in Saint Louis, you can drop by or we will come and sit at your kitchen table if you invite us. If you live too far away for that, we will be glad to speak with you by telephone and fully discuss your needs. We offer this because we still think of insurance in a very "personal" way and we care about each of our clients no matter where they live.

Give us a call. Let us prove what I say.

Check out who's offering; check out who's providing

2007-12-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

Health insurance and travel insurance are both highly competitive fields of insurance. Each kind of insurance is offered by many brokers. Likewise, each kind is provided by many insurance companies.

It is prudent to know some details about the brokers and the insurance companies before you plunk down your money.

Relatively speaking, the broker is much less important. The broker just offers the product. Once you have purchased the insurance, the broker is out of the picture. The policy is a contract between just two parties - you and the insurance company. However, brokers do offer varying levels of service and information - especially on the Internet. For example, check out our explanations about short-term medical insurance.

Obviously you do not want to deal with a broker who contorts the facts even slightly. We want our brand, www.WaveHelp.com, to stand for the highest level of honesty and service. So, from among all the insurers we could represent we have carefully chosen just a few known to be industry leaders and upstanding citizens. (By the way, I do NOT assert that they are the ONLY worthy insurers.) We would rather lose a potential sale than lose a client because of a bad result.

But, you should not take our word for it (nor the word of any other potentially biased source). You can easily check out the insurance companies using Internet capabilities. For example, the Department of Insurance in your state may offer a rating service for insurance companies. These "complaint index" kinds of services are a good source because the state has a fiduciary responsibility to be fair and complete in their reports. If you chose to use a search engine, like Google, to learn about insurers, be just a little skeptical about what you read. Some people take delight in overstating (or even fabricating) the story of some perceived bad treatment by an insurance company. Thus, such comments may not be of much real value to you as you decide which insurance company to use.

So, check out who's offering; check out who's providing - then buy with confidence.

How to Beat the Holiday Travel Crunch

2007-11-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

Holiday travel can be very difficult. Crowds mob the airport creating long lines, flights go out full so there are no empty center seats, which limits shoulder room. Passengers and service providers may be short-tempered and surly. We can't change the facts, but we can change the feeling.

All we want is tranquility and peace-of-mind. We do not want to feel hassled or herded or anxious. The trick is to trade time for peace-of-mind.

Standing in line to pass through security is bad enough. Fearing that you will not get through in time to board your flight turns an inconvenience into a hassle. Solve the problem by investing a little time. Bring along a good book and simply arrive at the airport two hours early. Doing so will not shorten the lines but it will eliminate the anxiety. You will be certain that you will be finished with security with time to spare.

Experienced travelers trade time for peace-of-mind by selecting flights departing early in the morning (before 7:00 AM). Typically, these flights are less crowded and are nearly twice as likely to arrive at the destination on time - even during the holiday crush. You will arrive at your destination fresher and in a better mood.

Another trick is to skip as many lines as possible. For example, many carriers allow you to check in by phone or Internet 24 hours early. Doing that lets you skip a trip to the check-in counter. Sometimes you can even score a side benefit. Some carriers release the choice exit row seats the day of the flight. You might be able to switch your seat assignment to something you prefer. Incidently, the best shoulder room is found in aisle seats. You may need to lean in from time to time to let passengers, crew, or drink carts to get past but otherwise you will enjoy that open space beside you.

Finally, check my posting of November 2006 regarding using lodging and rental car reservations to ease your anxiety level and give you precious options at a stop-over or connection city.

Happy Holidays

Passport for US Entry

2007-01-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

Many of our clients are travelers accustomed to quick, convenient service for travel insurance. We go out of our way to accommodate last-minute decisions. Passports are another thing altogether and many more people are going to require them this year.

As if we needed it, things are even more complex. Beginning January 23, 2007 it is not only where you are traveling FROM, it is HOW you are traveling that counts.

After that date, if you are FLYING from anywhere in the western hemisphere except Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you will need a passport to enter the United States. This includes citizens of all countries.

But, if you are traveling by ground or by ship, you will not need a passport for now. Photo IDs and birth certificates will suffice for US citizens. (THIS CAN CHANGE AT ANY TIME after January 1, 2008 at the discretion of US Homeland Security. Best advice, GET A PASSPORT NOW.)

Furthermore, it is your most recent departure airport that governs the need for a passport. For example, if you fly directly from Puerto Rico to (let's say) Miami, you don't need a passport. But, if you take a side trip to (let's say) the Dominican Republic, even if you do not deplane in Dominican Republic you will need to have a passport when you arrive in the US.

To get details or to confirm this information, go to the Travel Industry Association website at www.getapassportnow.com or the US State Department website at http://travel.state.gov/passport

U.S. passports cost $97 for adults and $82 for children under 16. All children (even newborns and infants) must have their own passport AND MUST APPEAR IN PERSON to apply. Unlike passports for adults, passports for children cannot be renewed. They must apply anew for a passport upon expiration. New passports for children do not NEED to be obtained before expiration (5 years) but travel industry insiders recommend getting a new passport if the child's appearance has changed materially. For example, if you took a newborn to Brazil on their own passport in February of 2004 and were planning a trip with the child to Mexico in February of 2007, you'd probably want a new passport to enable positive identification.

Plan ahead. Passports take six weeks or so to obtain with normal handling. You can get expedited service at higher cost to get your passport in about two weeks. Your most convenient source is probably your local Post Office if you live in the USA.

Winterize Your Air Travel?

2006-11-30T06:24:00.000-08:00

Many of our clients at the website are travelers buying travel insurance. This time of year (winter), there is heightened interest in policies that protect against monetary loss if travel providers are unable to deliver the purchased service - especially flights that are delayed or cancelled due to bad weather.

Travel insurance is a good way to protect against the financial costs of such delays and cancellations. But, what about the personal or physical costs. No one wants to spend a night in an airport waiting area. That is definitely not comfortable. I have been in the unfortunate situation of completing one leg of a trip and being unable to continue outbound on the next leg due to bad weather. Regrettably, I was one of the later persons arriving at the affected airport and prior stranded travelers had occupied all the available lodging rooms and rented all the available rental cars. I was stuck. I had no options at any price.

As I was discussing this recently, someone floated the idea of making "preventive reservations guaranteed for late arrival" with car rental companies and hotels/motels at each stopover or connection airport in an itinerary. The idea is that if the onward journey seems to be unchallenged the preventive reservations can easily be cancelled via cell phone at no cost before boarding. But, if the onward leg is shut down for any reason, the reservations will be available to the traveler who can use them to maintain a bit of comfort and sanity in a difficult situation.

It seems like it might be an attractive idea because it amounts to "free insurance" against spending a night in an airport lounge. But, it may put a burden on the lodging and car rental companies if it were widely adopted. They would be making and cancelling additional reservations at potentially additional administrative cost. However, there may be some offsetting no-cost revenue from people who forget to cancel the reservation (thereby incurring the credit card charge) but do not use the room or car. I'm writing this looking for feedback from car rental agencies and lodging providers as well as from travelers.

Good idea or not?

Prepare for the FLU - in capital letters.

2006-10-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here we are, entering a new flu season. Generally, experts judge that flu season begins about now in late fall, peaks in about January or February and then ends gradually. Each year, flu (short for influenza - a viral infection of the respiratory tract) is a serious concern. It is estimated that 36,000 Americans died last year due to flu.

So, as a broker who urges his clients to take care of themselves and get good health insurance, I urge you to do the same. Check with your doctor and, if he/she advises it, get a flu shot. I get one each year because I am getting old enough that flu is more risky for ME and I spend a fair amount of time with my grandchildren for whom flu is also a major risk. Flu always hits the younger and the older hardest.

Normally, flu shots are inexpensive, readily available, and effective protection. But this year is different. Experts are speaking with alarm about the "real possibility of a pandemic of avian flu."

To us, regular people, that means they are concerned about a worldwide spreading of the lethal bird flu that has arisen in Asia (known as H5N1). So far, it has spread from birds to birds and from infected birds to people but not much from people to people. If (when) it mutates so that it is able to be spread from person to person OUR LIFE WILL CHANGE! Millions and millions of people will die! Hospitals, doctors, all social services will be overwhelmed. There won't be enough drugs to help those infected, there won't be places to get the drugs, there won't even be gasoline to fuel your car to go somewhere for help. There won't be food in markets. Even public utilities like water, natural gas, electricity may be unavailable.

NO KIDDING - THIS IS SERIOUS! AS MANY AS 75% OF INFECTED PEOPLE MAY DIE!

Make preparations. You might turn out to be entirely on your own. Stock up on everything you will need if you literally need to stay cooped up in your home for weeks or months to save your life. Here is a website where you can read about this more and where you can get advice about how to prepare.

Go to http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html

Customize Your Insurance

2006-10-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, there has been renewed discussion about customized insurance or personalized insurance. Of course, we have always offered ways for you to create custom insurance by selecting from among the options we make available on our website. Don't be afraid to experiment a little when you seek a quote on our website by changing the factors and observing the effect on the premium cost.

There is no chance that you will be charged when you do multiple quotes. When it comes time to purchase, we will clearly let you know that you are about to create a charge to your card. Meanwhile, feel free to look around at the factors that can personalize insurance to exactly meet your needs.

On our website, go to http://www.wavehelp.com/frequently-asked-questions.htm to see some discussion about the various factors. We all must live within a budget. The objective always is to get the best VALUE by getting the most benefit for the lowest cost.

Following is a very brief discussion of many of the factors you can change to customize your insurance:
MAXIMUM COVERAGE - This is the maximum cumulative amount the insurance company will pay during the entire time you have the coverage. Pay close attention to this factor because many medical procedures are very expensive and you don't want to run out of coverage just when you need it most. Sometimes, the maximum coverage is different for different perils. The higher the maximum coverage, the higher the premium.
DURATION OF COVERAGE - Some kinds of insurance are perpetual; that is, the insurance will continue in force until you do something to end it. Other insurance is for a limited period of time. The longer the coverage period, the higher the premium.
DEDUCTIBLE - This is the amount that you will pay before the insurance company begins to share in paying for your care. Deductible is applied annually or to the length of time you are covered if that is shorter. Deductible usually re-sets on January 1. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
CO-INSURANCE - This is the cost-sharing feature of many plans. You will see it expressed sometimes as a fraction such as 80/20 or 85/15. In the fraction, the lower number represents the percentage of costs you will pay after you fulfill your deductible. The lower that percentage is, the higher the premium. There is a second part of co-insurance to be aware of. Co-insurance can be limited to certain amount of costs, or it can be unlimited. For example, you might have a policy that specifies "80/20 of the next $10,000". What that means is that after you meet your deductible, you will need to pay 20% of the next $10,000 of costs or $2,000. After that, the insurance company pays for all covered costs up to the maximum coverage. Co-insurance is applied annually or to the length of time you are covered if that is shorter. Co-insurance usually re-sets on January 1. The lower the total co-insurance you are responsible for, the higher the premium.
CO-PAYMENT - Some insurance plans are set up with this feature that requires you to pay a certain amount each time you visit a care provider such as a doctor. Usually, it is an amount less than $50 per visit but sometimes emergency room co-payments are substantially higher. The lower the co-payment, the higher the premium.
MODE OF PAYMENT also known as FREQUENCY OF PAYMENT - If you pay for your insurance up front, the insurance company can put that money to work investing it to earn interest. In that case, they usually give you a break on the total premium for the period of coverage. For example, if you pay the total annual premium for a year's coverage, you will probably pay less than four times the quarterly premium; and, four times the quarterly premium is usually less than twelve times the monthly premium.
EXTENT OF COVERAGE - Sometimes you will have the option to pay more so that pre-existing conditions are covered.
COVERAGE FOR DEPENDENTS - Many policies allow you to include coverage for dependents on your plan. When this option is available, it is usually less expensive to have one policy that covers everyone instead of having a separate policy for each person.

Some things we do for the utter joy of it!

2006-10-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I provided a lot of words and some things to think about. This time, to make up for that, I'll send you to a spot where you can just enjoy yourself. Visit a pilot and photographer who really knows how to put together a trip at http://silvairehair2.home.comcast.net/072806/

REVISION - as of 12/04/07 this link is no longer active.

For our clients who are cruisers

2006-09-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

As you know, usually my posts are short. I try to refer you to useful on-line destinations. This one is longer because I am importing something I found in print.

Many clients of our website are travelers. Many are specifically cruisers or want to go on their first cruise. But, how to get the best experience ...

Well, one of life's lessons is, "Pay attention to the experts." And Arthur Frommer is a genuine travel expert. When I read what follows in a major newspaper, I knew I wanted to pass it along. So, naturally, I looked on-line to see if I could give you a hyperlink to get you there. Unfortunately, until now it has existed in print only. It is my honor to make available what I am sure will become classic advice from Arthur Frommer. Read on.

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September 24, 2006, St. Louis Post Dispatch, page T2

"And still they come:
"Ever larger cruise ships

"By: Arthur Frommer

"The stubborn, headlong rush toward the creation of more absurdly large ships continues without letup. Last month, Norwegian Cruise Lines announced that it has contracted with a French shipyard to build at least two -- perhaps three -- 150,000-ton vessels, each capable of carrying at least 4,200 passengers.

"In a statement accompanying the release, the president of NCL, Colin Veitch, strongly implied that henceforth, all of the company's new ships will be of at least that size.

"Several passenger liners carrying 3,100 passengers apiece are already in existence, and they are soon to be eclipsed by the "Genesis" project of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, a ship planned to carry upwards of 6,400 passengers. Increasingly, the would-be cruise passenger looking for a moderately priced sailing will have no alternative but to book aboard these immense structures filled with crowds. Ships of 150,000 tons are so large that they will not be able to dock in about half the port cities of the world. They will need to park themselves far out to sea and take their passengers ashore on small barges navigating choppy seas. They will be packed with such crowds that you will rarely find a quiet deckchair where you can simply sit and gaze at the ocean or quietly read a book. Most of the modern ships have only two or so open decks, and those blessedly airy spaces are covered with people.

"The new, humongous ships present their shows in auditoriums the size of the largest of metropolitan movie theaters. Their passengers rarely know a moment that is free from crowds. They dine with crowds, join long cafeteria lines for breakfast, swim with crowds, shop in enormous malls and join crowds in fitness rooms and bars.

"If you prefer, instead, the traditional quiet pleasures of a cruise -- including intelligent lectures, high-quality cultural performances and the absence of crowds -- in all probability you'll have to book one of the far more expensive smaller ships, those of the so-called premium lines like Regent, Silversea, Seabourn or others of a far more costly type. The wealthy traveler will enjoy the maritime experience, while the medium-income American will be aboard ships so large and enclosed that you might as well be on land and not on sea. Indeed, why will it be necessary for these gigantic ships to leave the dock or their home port? How many of their passengers would even realize they are not at sea?

"Increasingly, over the years to come, smart travelers will heavily depend on those cruise brokers who ferret out the bargain-priced unsold cabins and other "distress merchandise" of the expensive, smaller ships -- and let me point out that a ship carrying fewer than 2,000 passengers is now a smaller ship! Even the most upscale of the smaller ships have occasional vacancies, and thus the need to discount many of their cabins. A number of cruise brokers, like Vacationstogo.com, Cruisesonly.com, Cruisewizard.com and Cruisebrothers.com make a point of bringing such values to your attention.

"If you agree with my own aversion to the new gigantic megaships, then you'll vote with your feet. You'll make every effort to avoid the 3,000-, 4,000- and 6,000-passenger liners, and give your patronage to those of sensible size."

Write to Arthur Frommer in care of King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10019, or e-mail afrommer17@aol.com.

Things that go wrong on trips.

2006-09-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

On our website, we have a page containing a list of ten things that can go wrong on a trip. Here is your chance to tell us of other things YOU know of that can go wrong.

Our list includes things that can be helped by having travel insurance from a leading company (naturally). Some problems are directly helped by the insurance policy. Some of them are helped by extra services provided by the insurance company free of charge as part of their cutomer service ethic.

But your additions do not have to have that constraint. Please share your wisdom; if you propose a problem that is not helped by having insurance or that customer service I mentioned, please tell us how to avoid it altogether or how to reduce its effect. Also, if you have a suggestion of another way to help solve or prevent one of OUR problems, please post that too.

Here is our list (compliments of Travel Guard International, one of the companies we represent):

1. You could lose money you've invested for your trip, such as nonrefundable deposits, if bad weather conditions cause delay or cancellation of your trip.

2. You may have to cut your trip short and return home for an emergency such as an unexpected illness or death in the family forcing you to lose the remaining pre-paid portion of your trip and pay a ticket change fee for your return travel arrangements.

3. Your luggage could be lost, delayed, or stolen, forcing you to purchase additional clothes, essentials, or even prescription medications.

4. The airline, cruise line, or tour operator with which you're scheduled to travel suddenly ceases operation or goes on strike leaving you with no option but to cancel your trip with no recourse for reimbursement.

5. Many major health plans in the U.S., Medicare, and Medicare Supplements offer little or no medical expense protection outside the U.S. (Medicare and Medicaid provide no coverage outside of the U.S.)

6. Due to an accident or a sudden illness, you or a family member may require emergency medical evacuation while traveling. Over 70 percent* of U.S. health plans, including HMOs and PPOs will not cover emergency medical evacuations.

7. You could run into major travel delays forcing you to miss a portion of your trip or cruise and be forced to pay additional lodging expenses while you wait.

8. You could be forced to evacuate your resort due to a predicted hurricane or other weather conditions, cutting your trip short with no recourse for reimbursement for the remaining portion of your vacation.

9. You could lose your important travel documents, stranding you while traveling abroad.

10. You could be involved in an accident with your rental car and be responsible for thousands of dollars in damages.

Things NOT to skimp on - insurance

2006-09-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

As you have gained life experience, like me you have probably discovered that there are some things you should not skimp on. Among them are these:

Don't skimp on expressing affection to those you love - like you, they need to hear it ... often.

Don't skimp on the tip you give to servers at breakfast - think of what they must get up early to endure.

Don't skimp on tires and brakes - they are your car's only connection to the road and your only way to avoid accidents.

Don't skimp on medical insurance - hopefully your premium payments will be a total waste of money because you won't ever need to use the coverage. In that case, you win!

BUT!!! If you do need to call on the coverage, you need GOOD coverage. Good coverage will let you make choices that allow you to get immediate care from the very best providers and get treatment early so that a real cure can be obtained without bankrupting yourself or your family. Believe me, you never want to even vaguely have this thought, "I think I'll wait and avoid the out of pocket expenses. Doctors (or hospitals or prescriptions) are so expensive and we don't have any extra money."

On our web site, we only offer GOOD coverage from industry leaders because we don't want you to wonder if you should make a purchase here. And we don't want you to worry.

Get yourself covered!

Genuinely Low Airfares

2006-09-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

I know that writing this post is a bit like shooting myself in the foot. I found this site and value its ability to get really low, "unadvertised sale" seats for me. Annnd, the more people who know about it, the more difficult it will be for me to act quickly enough to snag the seat.

Nevermind. These folks deserve the publicity. It is a great concept and a flawless execution by them. This link will take you to a special page explaining why they AND I feel they are different and worthwhile http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/AboutOurFares/tabid/145/Default.aspx

After you read that, you'll want to go to the home page and sign up just as I did.