Online enrollment helps you save time during benefits enrollment and ongoing management by eliminating paper forms, reducing errors, and creating digital files. The value here lies in the fact that less time is spent collecting and reviewing forms, determining eligibility, and communicating benefit details. For employees, they can easily compare their benefit options and select the ones best suited to their specific needs. Online enrollment deepens your relationships with your employees by giving them and their dependents 24/7 access to plan details and educational resources regarding their benefits. Research shows that the more educated employees are about their benefits, the … Continue reading

VAST recently announced that they have been recognized as a Top Insurance Workplace for 2020 by Insurance Business America (IBA). This is the third year of IBA’s Top Insurance Workplace list and the third year VAST has been named. IBA’s Top Insurance Workplace nomination process is heavily dependent on an anonymous employee survey. A minimum number of employee responses, and an 80% or greater employee satisfaction rating determines the Top Insurance Workplace recognition. VAST is just one of 67 companies on IBA’s 2020 Top Insurance Workplace list that includes other insurance agencies, brokers, and carriers from around the country. “We … Continue reading

Being involved in a non-profit organization is a rewarding and meaningful commitment. Many times these positions are not paid; people are volunteering their time to better their community and support organizations they strongly believe in. However, in today‘s world it is also important to be sure you are protecting yourself and your organization. Most people don’t realize that as a board member they may be held personally liable for the actions of the organization. Let’s start with the basics. What is a Directors and Officers Liability insurance policy? Directors and Officers insurance is coverage for the directors and officers of … Continue reading

Over the past five years I have discussed disability insurance with hundreds of individuals and businesses.  I believe that there is a problem with how these types of benefit programs are being presented.  I know that cost matters, but I firmly believe consumers should be making an informed decision.  The spreadsheet is an example of what many consumers are presented with to make their decision.  It answers a few questions, but mainly shows what the cost will be.  How will the consumer know which program will perform best if the only difference is cost? THE DEFINITION OF DISABILITY IS THE … Continue reading

Much of my energy as an advisor is focused on the long term care discussion.  Why?  Because people are asking the questions!  If you think Long Term Care is a problem best left to discuss when you’re in your 60s-70s, then you better think again.  More and more Americans are living longer, more productive lives.  They are accumulating wealth and want to protect that wealth for themselves and their families long into the future.  One of the biggest threats to this is the cost of funding their elder care.  I’m here to tell you that proper planning on the front … Continue reading

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and therefore I have dedicated this month’s blogs to education and debunking myths about Life Insurance for the healthcare community. Life insurance is a flexible tool that can strategically used to help a physician, practice or hospital protect against risk.  However, there are often myths that are not always true today.  For example, we often hear statements that start with “20 years ago in residency I was told…” or “15 years ago the senior physician of our group said…”   Much like the delivery of healthcare, life insurance companies and the products they sell have … Continue reading

Recently a team of six employees from VAST participated in an event called the Bell Bike Race.  This event hosted by Bell Hospita lin Ishpeming, Michigan is an annual fundraiser for healthy lifestyle awareness.  The event put teams of six people together with a stationary bike.  Each team member had the responsibility of pedaling as “far” as they could in a 25 minute time frame.  At the end, all six distances were added together for one grand total “miles pedaled.”  During the event, teams showed their support for each other by dressing in costumes, making banners, yelling and encouraging others … Continue reading

Spring is almost here.  It’s the time of year when people are done recovering from the holidays, looking for ways to spend time outside and more importantly getting their taxes done.  What happens to that tax return money – do you spend it on a vacation?  Buy a new dishwasher?  How about investing it for your future? That last option is where we can help.  When taking the time to decide where best to place your tax return dollars, consider an annuity.  Many people plunk that money into a CD where it’s bound to sit on a shelf earning a … Continue reading

By now, we know that national health care is here to stay.  It will change and adapt as the year progresses, but it will stay.  There are two components of the new national health care law, the individual and the group.  Due to an increase in client questions regarding the individual marketplace, we will focus on that segment here. The Background What is an Exchange anyway?  In its most basic form it is a set of government-regulated and standardized health care plans from which individuals may purchase health insurance. Each invidual state has the option of 1.) joining with the … Continue reading