Articles of Interest

There’s a big problem in the Medicare space today, especially if you are a Baby Boomer like me. The problem is a heavy reliance on technology to determine your future. Most folks my age are reasonably savvy with the Internet, as we’ve grown up with computers. The problem is not with the Internet itself, but when we try to solve our Medicare plan dilemmas using online research alone. This problem is magnified when we go to our friends of the same age for their “sage”advice. This causes further confusion for you, since everyone always has an opinion and one person’s plan often does not suit your specific needs. There are so many nuances and variables with Medicare plans. This is why applying online often leads to picking the wrong plan. If this happens, you will find yourself locked in that plan for a year or more waiting on Open Enrollment before you can change. You might believe that the Medicare seminars around your town would also be helpful. Unfortunately, most of these seminars are held by individual Medicare companies and their “captive” agents. Naturally, these agents and companies are extremely biased towards their own products.

Most Health Insurance and Medicare policies do not come standard with any dental coverage, unless the dental work is related to a disease or accident. But like everything else in the medical world, dental costs have soared in recent years. At Smart Health & Life Insurance Agency, our goal is to save you serious money on your dental care by giving you the freedom to compare and choose from the leading dental plans in the country! We believe everyone should have access to affordable dental care, and the opportunity to easily compare the savings offered by the dental plans in your area. Do not hesitate to contact us to privately discuss your dental needs and we will help you select the right plan for you. Dental Discount Plans are the most popular plans available because of the affordable cost and large availability of in-network dentists. These kinds of plans offer: NO waiting period NO yearly dollar cap amount NO waiting period for Basic or Major Services NO Deductibles ever NO age limit – excellent choices for seniors on Medicare NO Premium increases due to age Pre-existing conditions are ALWAYS covered – no waiting period, immediate treatment available Orthodontic treatment is available on a limited basis depending on plan selected – call for details Save 10% to 60% on most dental services Choose from 30+ discount dental plans

Three Reasons You Must Plan for Final Expenses If a death occurred in your family today, what would you be worried about tomorrow? Would you be worried about money or your loved ones? See why planning is vital. What you do now can determine whether your thoughts will be focused on paying for the funeral or helping your loved ones cope with a loss. Funeral bills often represent the largest single expense an average family will ever have excluding a house or an automobile. Most people are totally unprepared; have no experience making final arrangements and all the time emotions cloud reasoning, causing unnecessary expenses to rise. The costs associated with a funeral add up quickly and according to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging**, the average cost of a funeral is approximately $8,495 and can easily exceed $10,000 or more. Extra’s like flowers, obituary notices, burial liners or vaults, limousines, acknowledgment cards – they all add up to a major expenditure, right at a time when you least expect it. Doesn’t the government help cover these expenses through Social Security?  The sad reality is that Social Security will only pay out a Lump Sum Death Benefit of a whopping $255* if you qualify for it! This fact is one very big reason to plan ahead. It’s important to take your time when deciding on the funeral service. Don’t let yourself be pressured into buying goods or services you don’t want, and then end up having to spend years paying off the funeral. Planning ahead will save you money Planning ahead gives you the ability to comparison shop which will help you save money and that’s why planning ahead makes sense. It’s a “when” strategy, not a “whenever”. A simple, low cost final expense plan unburdens family members from many of the mundane and confusing decisions that need to be made quickly when there is an unfortunate loss of a family member. It clarifies your wishes, creates a way to pay the bills, and relieves unnecessary stress. Less Stress When you plan ahead and have a final expense plan in place before it is needed, you are reducing both the financial and emotional stress that is all too common. Give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind by becoming an informed consumer now that you know the three reasons you must plan for your final expenses. These reasons are: Social Security death benefits are little help. You can save money by shopping around and planning ahead. You will reduce stress at a time when things are very stressful for loved ones. *According to Social Security Rules and Regulations 404.390 ** U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, May, 2001 Contact Smart Health & Life Insurance today to start planning ahead.

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Today’s Health Insurance Marketplace 

Choosing the right dental plan can be quite challenging for the individual or family that does not receive benefits from their employer. There are dozens of choices ranging from low-cost Dental Discount with Vision and Pharmacy discounts to very expensive PPO and DHMO plans with long wait times and annual caps rarely exceeding $1500 per person. Very often the choice is made for you by the plan or very often the lack of plans that your particular dentist will accept.  Long established private dentists with many repeat patients typically take very few plans, usually employer-based plans or PPO/DHMO plans, which are often treated as “out-of-network”. Yes, they will file the claim for you, but the actual savings can be minimal. Subsequently, the savings per procedure may not even off-set the annual cost of the coverage. Due to the rising cost of all medical and dental care, many dentist choose to consolidate into large practices that can handle a significant volume of patients. Many plans will be available including the very popular Dental Discount plans, with the aim to attract as many new patients as possible. But, the bottom line is this: if the plan you choose does not save you more than what you would pay for it on an annual basis, then it may be time to shop for an alternative or even another dentist who accepts a larger array of dental plans. Smiles are free, but they are worth a lot. Invest wisely!

Well, the time has come and you are faced with the inevitable. Your loved ones are aging and you need to discuss long term care and the final expenses. This is an emotional time in your family’s lives. Why make it any more stressful than it already is? Insure yourself and your loved ones for peace of mind.

Some folks just do not want anything to do with the Government or Obamacare controlling their Health Insurance choices. If you make too much money for a subsidy, are healthy with few Pre-Existing conditions or just do not want to pay exorbitant “on-exchange” premiums for so-so coverage then there are excellent alternatives. Typically called “STM’s” or Short Term Medical policies, they offer a solid alternative to Obamacare at about half the price. By adding Accident and Critical Illness riders it is possible to get a near 100% coverage plan for a very reasonable premium. Be aware that you might have to settle up with the IRS at the end of the year if assessed with a penalty, but even with the penalty you will typically still save money and receive better coverage. Call us at 813-994-5399 for more information or simply go to this quote link to check out prices and product brochures or simply enroll online here .