Posts Tagged ‘insurance facts’

Gen Y Consumers, Love Entrepreneurship, Prefer Tech Savviness

January 19th, 2011 by Iris | Comments Off | Filed in insurance facts, insurance news

It’s no big surprise that more and more people are turning to the ‘net to shop for and purchase their insurance coverage, but the latest Employers Small Business Opinion Poll shows confirms that members of Generations X and Y are adamant about wanting their insurers to interact online.

The survey showed that almost half (46%) of those polled who fell into Generation Y say they plan to start their own businesses in the next five years. Even in the middle of uncertain economic times these results show that the 18-25 year old Gen Y segment represents a greater than average entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, 8 percent have already started a business.

Similarly Gen X (ages 26-45) respondents shared the desire to create new businesses in the same time frame, to the tune of 35%, though the inclination to start a business in the next five years is markedly lower among Baby Boomers (ages 46-65) at 21% and nearly non-existent among members of the Silent Generation (those over 66 years old).

Following this trend, the Gen Y and most of the Gen X survey respondents also said they feel that being tech savvy is an important feature of an insurance company. In fact, 70% of Gen Y-ers (oh whom 67% are active users of social media sites) felt that way, and 86% of them want online insurance quotes, while 83% want online customer service, 81 percent believe online policy management is a must, and 79% are feel that online payment options are essential.

According to the Insurance Journal, “The Small Business Opinion Poll commissioned by Reno, Nev.-based Employers sampled 1,258 consumers. Data was collected through telephone interviews from June 24 to June 27, 2010 at the 95 percent confidence level. The survey was conducted by Infogroup | ORC.”

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In Brief: USAA Clients Targeted by Internet Scammers

November 8th, 2010 by Iris | Comments Off | Filed in insurance facts, insurance fraud

While internet scams abound, the latest involves USAA, an insurance and banking company that caters to military personnel.

The company is currently investigating an email scam that attempts to gathering personal information from its customers.

The scheme in question is directed at a wide range of people, some of whom may be USAA clients, said a spokesperson for the San Antonio, TX-based insurer. Like other “phishing” scams it asks victims to visit a fake website designed to mimic USAA’s own website.

In a notice on the real USAA website, the company reminds customers that it never asks for personal information, including account information, by email. If you receive an email message from a site purporting to be USAA, and don’t believe it’s real, you can forward it to Abuse@USAA.com.

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Flu Shot FAQ

November 2nd, 2010 by Iris | Comments Off | Filed in advice and how-tos, health insurance, insurance facts

It’s November, which means red cups at Starbucks, holiday decorations everywhere, and lots of people coming down with the flu. The first two things can be avoided if they don’t suit you, but the flu is pretty much a given…or is it? Newer, better flu shots are available. If you’re considering one, here’s what you need to know:

How Much do Flu Shots Cost?

  • If you have insurance, check to see if shots are covered, if they are (Blue Cross Blue Shield and CIGNA are among those providers who cover them), they’re usually part of your wellness or preventive care benefits.
  • If insurance covers your flu shot, you may be able to skip the usual co-pay by going to a local pharmacy. If you go to your regular physician, the usual co-pay will apply.
  • No insurance? No problem! The typical price range for the flu shot is between $5 and $30, but varies by location.
  • Drugstores often offer discounts of $5 (or more) for flu shots.
  • Some employers provide free or discounted flu shots to their employees.

What Comes With the Flu Shot?
Flu shots are usually injected into your upper arm. They contain inactive virus for the three strains of influenza expected to be most common in the year the shot is given. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publish a FAQ about flu shots.

If you’re over the age of 65, have a chronic illness (including both types of diabetes) or any kind of immunosuppression, you may want to consider a pneumonia vaccination as well. These are covered by health insurance if you fall into any high-risk category, and otherwise range in price from $10 to $40. Anecdotal evidence points to the pneumonia vaccine as also helping people avoid bronchitis, but this is not proven data.

Flu Shot Shopping Tips

  • You can get a flu shot from your doctor or local health clinic, as well as from many drugstores, supermarket pharmacies, and even some community organizations.
  • Don’t like needles? If you’re healthy, not pregnant, and between the ages of five and 49, there is a nasal flu vaccination.
  • While vaccinations are available to anyone who wants to reduce the likelihood of getting the flu, those people who are at risk for flu-related complications, and anyone who cares for or lives with them are strongly recommended to get the flu shot.
  • If you are allergic to eggs, have had an allergic reaction to a flu shot in the past, are ill, or have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome, consult your doctor before getting your flu shot.
  • Side effects of the shot may include soreness or redness at the injection site, a low-grade fever, aches and pains, and (rarely) allergic reactions.

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Most Doctors Don’t Use Email with Patients, Survey Says

October 12th, 2010 by Iris | Comments Off | Filed in health insurance, insurance facts

A new study released recently by the Center for Studying Health System Change shows that less than 7% of office-based physicians routinely use email to communicate with their patients, even though such communication does much to improve patient satisfaction. The study involved a survey of 4,258 doctors (not including pathologists, anesthesiologists, etc.), and was done in 2008.

Of those surveyed, only 34.5% said that their offices were equipped to use electronic communication for “clinical issues” with their patients, and of those that were so equipped, only 19.5% of them said that they regularly emailed their patients.

Why don’t doctors use email? Some of the reasons given included:

  • Lack of reimbursement
  • Concerns about increased workload
  • Maintaining data security and privacy
  • Avoiding increased liability

While the vast majority of doctors won’t use email, that doesn’t mean they don’t use other forms of information technology, the survey said. 76.6 of those physicians surveyed said they had electronic access to lab, radiology, or other diagnostic tests, with 61.8% of them using it on a regular basis. 56.8% had electronic access to patient notes, “problem lists” or medication lists, and another 42.2% had access to online prescription tools.

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Georgia to Decide New Insurance Commissioner

August 10th, 2010 by Iris | 1 Comment | Filed in insurance facts, insurance news

Georgia voters head to the polls today to participate in a runoff election in which they must choose between two Republican candidates for state insurance commissioner.

The two candidates, Maria Sheffield and Ralph T. Hudgens, are the two survivors from last months Republican primary, which included nine candidates. In that vote, each of the two received about twenty percent of the vote.

Last week, both Sheffield and Hudgens tried to distance themselves from John Oxendine, the current insurance commissioner, whose term is clouded by questions about his ethics. He has just failed at running for governor, during which campaign he took contributions from insurance companies.

Hudgens said Oxendine has done a good job as commissioner and he was not going to “pass judgment” on Oxendine actions in the gubernatorial campaign, while Sheffield said that ethics in government is “extremely important” to her. She also tried to prove that Oxendine and Hudgens had a relationship that included a $500 donation from Oxendine to Hudgens when the latter was running for re-election to the Georgia General Assembly two years ago.

A major issue in the insurance commissioner race is federal health care reform. Sheffield, an attorney who has worked in Georgia’s Department of Insurance, says she’ll work to mitigate the affect of the new federal laws on her state. Hudgens, who currently chairs the Georgia Senate’s Insurance and Labor Committee, maintains that the insurance commissioner has no authority over the new mandates. He says the position is merely administrative.

The winner of this Republican run-off will face Democrat Mary Squires in the November election.

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Five Bizarre Things People Insure

July 1st, 2010 by Iris | Comments Off | Filed in insurance facts, insurance news

It’s a new month, so we’re taking a break from talking about BP and healthcare and instead offering a lighter topic. We’ve all heard of insuring homes, cars, and boats, but what really odd things do people insure? Here are five:

  1. Specific Body Parts: We’ve all heard of concert pianists insuring their hands, but last December, pop singer Adam Lambert supposedly took out a $1,000,000 policy on his crotch, because the pelvic thrusts he does so often during his concerts can apparently lead to lower back issues and penile arthritis. (We suspect it might have been less expensive to hire a different choreographer.)
  2. Abuse by Ghosts: While bed and breakfasts here in the states – in cities like Charleston and New Orleans – advertise their ghosts, the Royal Falcon Hotel insures against them. Their policy (which smacks of a publicity stunt) protects employees and guests from improper poltergeists.
  3. Hunting Trophies: According to AXA Art, those of you who are big game hunters can actually insure the stuffed lions, tigers, and bears (oh, my) you’ve been collecting, in case they’re damaged or destroyed. Presumably you can also itemize them on your homeowners policy, as well, in case of something mundane, like theft.
  4. Wedding Insurance: Okay, we understand the concept of “Bridezilla,” but rather than insuring your wedding (sorry, it doesn’t find you a new groom if he backs out; it just covers any deposits and such), maybe you should consider having a back-up plan. Or save money, and elope.
  5. Alien Abduction: Apparently about 20,000 of your co-earthlings have taken out insurance policies in case they’re ever abducted by aliens. This might be wise – after all, flying saucers probably don’t have liability insurance – but we suspect it would be smarter to skip the insurance and invest in lots of aluminum foil. Less expensive anyway.

This list was fun, and all of these policies really exist, as well as many others. You can pretty much assume that if someone thought of it, someone else insured it.

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