Elliot Glass Coral Springs Insurance

Life Insurance Yes You Do Need it

2023-02-13

Who Needs Life Insurance?

If people in your life rely on you financially, life insurance can help support them when you’re gone.

Nerd Wallet

The question of who needs life insurance nags at many of us the moment we hear it.

A plan that pays out a sum of money when we die? Sounds like a nice thing to have. But do you need life insurance if you don’t believe you’ll die anytime soon?

There is rarely a one-size-fits-all explainer for whether you need life insurance. But your best bet is to review the basics of life insurance as well as the various situations that may apply to you.

Do I need life insurance?

The quickest way to know whether you need life insurance is to ask yourself one question: Would your death have a financial impact on the people in your life?

If the answer is yes, then you may want to consider life insurance.

Life insurance is a contract between you and an insurance company. You pay insurance premiums in exchange for coverage. If you die while the policy is in effect, the insurer pays out a death benefit to your beneficiaries. In most cases, this payout is equal to the face amount of the policy — so if you have a $500,000 policy, your beneficiaries will receive $500,000.

Life insurance beneficiaries — who could be your spouse or dependents, for example — can use the money to cover their financial needs, whether that’s paying household expenses or covering debts.

Who needs life insurance?

Here are a few examples of people who may need life insurance coverage.

Breadwinners

If your spouse or partner relies on your income to survive, your death could leave them without a way to support themselves. The payout for a life insurance policy can help them cover living expenses and pay off debts like a mortgage so they can maintain the lifestyle they’ve become accustomed to.

Stay-at-home parents or spouses

Even if you don’t earn a traditional salary, you may still need coverage. Stay-at-home parents and spouses provide services that can be costly to replace, such as cleaning, cooking and child care. A life insurance payout can help your partner cover the costs of these services during a difficult time.

Parents or grandparents with dependents

Minor children, unable to provide for themselves, could be put at a major disadvantage if your income disappeared. The same is true if you help cover college costs or provide support for someone with a disability. A life insurance policy can help cover these costs during the years that your dependents rely on you.

» MORE: How and why to set up a life insurance trust for your children

Small-business owners

Your business might struggle if you were to die, especially if you’re integral to its daily operations. A life insurance payout can help your business partners or heirs cover a variety of expenses, such as buying out your share of the company, covering office rent and employing additional help in your absence.

People who want to cover their final expenses

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is $7,848. Depending on your wishes for your funeral, it could cost more. With a burial life insurance policy, you could pay your own way, so to speak, keeping the burden off those tasked with executing your final wishes.

» MORE: Best burial insurance companies

Co-signers or co-owners of debt

In most cases, debt does not pass to other people. However, if another person co-owns or co-signs the debt, they could be left holding the bill. Spouses in community property states such as California and Texas may also be responsible for outstanding debts, even if they’re not co-owners or co-signers. You can use life insurance to cover your debts if other people would be responsible for them, helping to pay them off in your absence.

Who doesn’t need life insurance?

If no one in your life would be financially burdened by your death, you can likely put off buying a life insurance policy. For now, you may find that saving and investing your money in other assets is a better move.

Remember that the younger and healthier you are, the more affordable life insurance is. If you see major life changes on the horizon, such as marriage or children, it may be worth exploring your options to lock in a good price at the right time. It’s a good idea to compare life insurance quotes from a range of companies to get the best possible coverage at the lowest price.

» MORE: Average life insurance rates

What type of life insurance do I need?

Typically, life insurance falls into two categories:

Term life insurance is temporary — it lasts a set number of years, such as five, 10 or 20.
Permanent life insurance typically covers the insured person until the end of their life and includes a cash value component.

Both types of life insurance come in different forms, with different benefits and levels of coverage.

» MORE: Term vs. whole life insurance: Difference, pros and cons

Term life insurance

Generally speaking, term life insurance is the more affordable and flexible option, and thus it's the better choice for most people. You can tailor term life insurance to cover the years of your life when your death would most affect your loved ones and then reassess when they are able to support themselves.

Permanent life insurance

There are some situations in which permanent life insurance makes more sense, particularly if you want the policy to pay out regardless of when you die. Types of permanent policies include whole life and universal life. Whole life insurance is the most common type of permanent coverage, offering fixed premiums and guaranteed cash value growth. Universal life insurance is more flexible, offering adjustable premiums and death benefits.

How much life insurance do you need?

The amount of coverage you get depends on the type of financial obligation you’re covering. Use our calculator to find out how much life insurance you need.

What about life insurance through work?

You may be able to get life insurance through your employer, known as group life insurance. If your employer offers this coverage for free as a benefit, there’s little reason not to accept it, even if the coverage isn’t as robust as you would like.

You can also buy supplemental life insurance to go along with your group life policy. But you may want to shop around to see whether the supplemental life insurance policies you can buy through your employer are a better deal than what you could purchase on your own.

Your group life plan may not be enough to cover all your needs. Review what your employer offers and what you can buy in addition to that policy, and decide whether you want to combine that insurance with your own plan. Remember that you may not be able to take your group policy with you if you leave your job.

About the author: Eric is a former insurance writer at NerdWallet.

How Much Does an ER Visit Cost Without Insurance In 2022

2023-01-30

Any accident may occur, and people may feel severe health problems. There is the loudness of the ambulance from here and there. Then they are taken to the emergency room (ER) for treatment. Most people may opt for an emergency room as a better place to seek immediate recovery from any health problem. An ER visit is not just for accidental injury but for feeling severe health complications anyhow. In the same way, ER provides emergency services that are available there. There are skilled and dedicated doctors, nurses, and modern technology to make sure severe illnesses of the people can be prevented.

So the cost factor is one of the significant issues as ER visits are much higher than any other medical service. So it is important to know about such ER visits and also one should know how much does an ER visit costs without insurance in 2022. Here we are going to discuss a lot of issues on this topic to make sure you can know how ER visit works, the cost of an ER visit, and how you can limit the cost of an ER visit without insurance.

Emergency Department

When people get sick and ill, they are found to take treatment either at home or in the hospital. But the severity of the sickness and illness may be so high. When it goes high and people stay at home, there is the possibility of facing any danger in life. Then they might seek emergency hospitalization.

Emergency Department or Emergency room (ER in brief) is a department of the hospital and medical center where there is medical treatment on an emergency basis. Surely people may have different conditions of illness. It is just from low to severe. When there are life-risking factors and the family members think it is very crucial, they may think of the emergency department or emergency room. In this case, the patients and the people on behalf of the patients don’t have to take prior appointments. In most cases, people may be unsure about medical needs and don’t wait for a doctor’s appointment. These includes

Broken bones
Chest pain
Head and Neck injury
Serious burns
Stroke Symptoms
Uncontrolled vomiting
Vomiting with blood

How ER Visit Works

Surely emergency room is one of the most equipped and advanced rooms where people go for emergency treatment. In most cases, people may have a serious condition of heart, chest pain, head and neck injury, or serious burn. In this case, they don’t have any way to go for first aid treatment but feel the need to visit an emergency room. They rush on foot but it is common to see the loudness of the ambulance on the road as they are going to the emergency room.

Then the department or emergency room ensures initial treatment even it is a broad spectrum of illness and injuries as it is unplanned and unsure. When it comes to life-threatening, they go to immediate action in consultation with the higher consultants. But if it is seen that the patients are going to be well after taking initial treatment from the emergency room, they are not admitted to the hospital.

This type of department or room is open for 24 hours in hospitals and medical centers. There is fully equipped staff in the emergency room and they provide treatment according to the condition of the patients. But it may be seen that there is a long time waiting due to the number of emergency cases.

Now it comes to the cost and expense of the emergency room. Surely, many people may be surprised to see the higher cost of visiting an emergency room even if it is a minor case. The emergency room may be costly due to several reasons such as emergency standby doctors, higher quality of using medical supplies such as aspirin, bandages and these are provided there. There is also part of insurance and people may seek to reduce the cost by the part of the law and the cost may be so higher for the people who don’t have insurance.

Why Choose Emergency Room vs Urgent Care

When it comes to emergency treatment and medication, people seek immediate medical attention in the hospital. In this case, the emergency room is the most common issue and place to choose from. But there is another option which is urgent care. It is just about making a decision about which one can fit the best for the people who are in a bad situation.

There are still a lot of issues to know about emergency rooms and urgent care. Urgent care is a center that ensures primary care physician and emergency room services. When you need no appointment for the emergency room, you don’t need it in this care. But there is no major difference between emergency care and urgent care. Urgent care may not be available for 24 hours and some urgent care center closes at 9.00 pm or later. But the emergency care is open 24 hours and 365 days a year.

The most important issue to consider is that you need to visit the emergency room when you have life-threatening conditions like injuries and symptoms. On the other hand, it is only possible to get services when there is a non-life-threatening situation. Under urgent care, one may opt for minor cuts, back pain, minor burns, and so on. More importantly, the cost at urgent care center is less compared to an emergency room visit.

What Are The Cost Factors of ER

Surely the cost of the emergency room is much more and people may see it as horrific after getting emergency care. But it is important to distinguish between the emergency room and a normal hospital. Surely the services at the emergency room may not be possible to get at a normal hospital. On the other hand, people want to get an immediate solution to their illness and symptoms. So many people don’t even think of the cost factor. But it is also important to know why the cost of ER goes up.

The cost of an ambulance transportation

When people have a severe health problem, they call an ambulance equipped with life-saving medical equipment. It is common to see such an ambulance rushing to the patient’s home and getting them in the emergency room. For this, the transportation of the patient adds up more cost.

Emergency room costs

An emergency room is equipped with tools and instruments to make sure you can treat trauma. There are MRIs and Surgeries and high-quality supplies which are costly to treat the emergency patient for quick recovery. If you face an accident and you get trauma, it is possible to get to the emergency room, and it adds up the cost significantly. It is also important to note that the emergency room is open for 24 hours with trained and skilled staff, making the costs so high. More importantly, the emergency room needs to have uninterrupted electricity, water, food, and supplies along with medical care.

How Much Does An ER Visit Cost Without Insurance In 2022

When people get the bills after taking treatment from the emergency room, they fall from the sky. But it is important to know these costs as before so that there is a plan to reduce the cost. The ER cost may be higher compared to regular hospital bills. It is also important to note that the cost of the treatment may go higher than the fixed rate for the room when the treatment goes extensive. It can’t be said that there is a fixed cost of the emergency room but this visit may cost less than $2200. But there are different types of costs according to the type of treatment. But these costs come without insurance plans.

Chest pain may cost by $1000
Broken Bones with surgery may cost by $10000
Stitches for an accident may cost by $500
There are also some costs of the common conditions where these are treated in the ER visit and these includes
Acute Bronchitis may cost by $814
Sore Throat may cost $620
Low back pain may cost by $751
Attention to dressing or removal of sutures may cost $343

It is also important to note that this cost is not fixed for all medical centers and hospitals. There may be changes from low to higher and higher to low in different hospitals. Additionally, the cost may also be different in different states.

Recommended Post:

Average ER Visit Cost By State

The cost of an ER visit is a big issue for people who are low-income and it is important to know such cost before. Even if there is no insurance coverage, the cost goes higher and it may be sky-high for the people. This cost is also not static due to more advanced forms of treatment in the emergency room. According to a study and research, the ER cost in 2019 was found on average by $1220 without insurance. But this cost has gone up by $2200 and it may even be more by reaching $20,000 for extensive and critical care.

The cost of ER visits without insurance discussed above is just average and this can vary according to different states. So we are going to discuss the average cost of all states without insurance.

Florida: The average cost of ER visit comes by $3102 without insurance coverage.
New Jersey: The average cost of ER without insurance in this state is $3087.
California: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $2960.
Colorado: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $2886.
Nevada: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $2583.
Texas: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $2318.
Arizona: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $2283.
Idaho: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $2159.
Hawaii: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $2076.
Alaska: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $2070.
Virginia: The average cost of ER without insurance in this state is $1941.
Tennessee: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1883.
Washington D.C: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1879.
Nebraska: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1844.
Washington: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1841.
Illinois: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1818.
New Hampshire: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1787.
South Carolina: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1758.
Rhode Island: The average cost of ER without insurance in this state is $1750.
Kentucky: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1740.
Missouri: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1717.
New York: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1668.
Pennsylvania: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1645.
South Dakota: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1641.
Indiana: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1618.
Delaware: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1596.
Georgia: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1596.
North Carolina: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1589.
Mississippi: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1583.
New Mexico: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1574.
Alabama: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1496.
Wisconsin: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1496.
Connecticut: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1493.
Oklahoma: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1466.
Utah: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1464.
Minnesota: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1462.
Oregon: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1437.
Ohio: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1435.
Wyoming: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1411.
Vermont: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1386.
Iowa: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1377.
Arkansas: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1304.
Kansas: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1294.
Michigan: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1273.
North Dakota: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1245.
Massachusetts: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1200.
Louisiana: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1184.
Montana: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1138.
West Virginia: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $1127.
Maine: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $952.
Maryland: The average cost of ER visit without insurance in this state is $623.

What Happens If Insurance Coverage

ER visits may cost from $150 to $3000 in different situations and locations. Surely it is too much expensive for so many people. When you are visiting this ER, there is still available treatment for the patient. It is important to make sure this care is not cheap. So insurance is part of a law to make ER visits affordable. There may be health insurance plans with a lower monthly premium that you may go. This can help you get a cap of around $250 on emergency room expenses. In the insurance policy, there may be guidelines on coverage in terms of an ER visit. But it generally covers the most basic ER visits. More importantly, you should check your coverage where it is available based on in-Networks ERs.

How is the Cost Determined in the ER Visit by Level?

The illness, injuries, and symptoms may have different stages and this stage determines the emergency treatment process in the ER room. This stage is medically known as level and there are generally five levels from 1 to 5. This is important to know these levels for everyone who even didn’t go to the emergency room. The level is also explained as the emergency severity index scale or intensity of the illness of the people.

Level 1: Level 1 means life-threatening issues and it may be more extensive and critical treatment and care by the emergency room. The typical cost of such event may stand by $1450.
Level 2: Level 2 is not just like Level 1 but it is a severe problem that seeks urgent medical attention and evaluation. This cost may come by $870 on average.
Level 3: level 3 is not just about level 2 in which risk is a little bit low but treatment may be a good option in this case. Additionally, there is a chance of developing risk when treatment is not taken. The typical cost of such a level is $650.
Level 4: Level 4 is not just about Level 3 but people with illness in this level have less chance of death. But this type of level can’t be ignored for better health. The cost maybe $400.
Level 5: People have very limited and minor problems and the average cost of this illness may be $150.

How Can I Lower The Cost Of ER Visits

As said, ER cost is higher and it has legit ways to be high. Some low-income people may find it at a reduced rate. For there are some ways that can work to limit the higher cost of the ER visit. This includes

1. Discuss with hospital charitable programs

Surely every hospital is not for money-making and they also provide treatment for the poor people even it is higher. These hospitals do have ER but also have CSR policies. They have also a social responsibility to provide low-cost health care for low-income people. For this, you may discuss such charitable programs and get significant discounts on your bills.

2. See primary care physician

When some get injured and server symptoms, they should not opt for ER for the first time. They may seek primary care physicians that can be cheap and affordable in case it is not life-threatening issues. In this case, urgent care may be a good option indeed.

3. Try Telemedicine

Now that Telemedicine is one of the good ways to get treatment. It is a system to get treatment at home over the phone. The doctors over there are skilled and experts to hear your problem and provide solutions to your physical problem.

4. Seek free clinic

Surely there are so many free clinics and a low-cost hospital where there is also an emergency room. These free clinics charge less for low-income people. Everyone should know about these free clinics and hospitals before to make sure they can go there in their emergencies.

5. Do it right now

When we are healthy, we don’t think of our health for a single moment. But it is not right indeed. A smile health problem may be severe and one may go through a bad situation when they see the sky-high bill amount. For this, there are so many government programs like Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP that they can enroll in and get affordable health care.

6. Be prepared

When there is a serious moment, we don’t remember anything close to us that is low cost and cheap. Surely you may identify your root health problem and decide what to do. In case there is a serious health problem, you can go to an ER visit. If it is minor problem, you can go to urgent care at a lower cost. On the other hand, you should know before where there are low-cost offers and programs for ER visits near your location. This can be a good deal indeed to go for saving your money as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

So there are some questions to answer and most people seek these answers as information. So we have covered such answers to make sure you can know more.

What happens in ER visit?

An ER visit is an emergency visit that is meant as a serious health problem. When you go to an ER visit, A triage nurse normally who is the staff there will assess the condition. You may need to wait there according to their examination process and they may tell you to go to an exam room. Some doctors will review your test results and provide instructions for the next steps.

What is a Level 4 ER visit?

Level 4 is the parameter to assess the condition of the health problem. Surely there are different types of injuries and symptoms of the health. These are categorized into different levels. So Level 4 is a type of problem that explains it is so severe. In this case, urgent evaluation is mandatory to treat the complication.

How much does an ER visit cost in Florida?

Florida is one of the most expensive states in the United States of America. In the same way, ER visit cost in Florida is a little bit high. But it is found that moderate to severe ER patients have to count a bill of on average $3102. This can be lower or higher according to a different location in Florida.

Final Verdict

Health is wealth and we need to ensure it. But there is nothing to do as an accident may occur in the blink of our eyes. Then people with injury or other health symptoms may need to go to an ER visit. There are so many hospitals and clinics in every location that provide emergency care in the Emergency room. You need to study and research this emergency room and visit the cost according to your location. Surely this can be helpful when you know much before facing a bad situation.

Florida Life Insurance

2023-01-12

A life insurance policy in Florida allows you to set aside money to provide financial security for your loved ones upon your demise. With this policy, you will be able to:

Replace lost income
Fund retirement plans
Pay for college tuition
Provide dependency income for your family members
Indemnify a loan in the event of premature death
Protect future insurability
Fund business or partnership buyouts at the demise of one of the business owners
Insure your life
Have free estate taxes for beneficiaries.

Life insurance policies in Florida typically come in two types: term and permanent life insurance. Term life insurance provides financial protection for a specific period, mostly 10 to 30 years, while permanent life insurance provides lifelong coverage. In addition, some permanent life insurance policies have a cash value component that allows insureds to build cash on a tax-deferred basis. Hence, federal income tax does not apply to the cash value. Generally term life insurance policies always come at lower rates than permanent insurance policies.

A death benefit is usually paid out to policy beneficiaries at the insured's demise. The policyholder decides whom to list as policy beneficiaries, but minors and pets are excluded from the list. The policyholder can designate a trusted adult that will be responsible for the children. The insurer immediately pays out the death benefit when the necessary documents are submitted after the insured’s death. Death benefits can cover daily expenses, mortgage, funeral expenses, and medical expenses. Insureds with living benefit riders can access their death benefits while still alive if they are eligible. They can add living benefit riders to their term or permanent life insurance policies, including whole life, universal life, and final expense insurance. Discuss with a Florida-licensed life insurance agent that can help you compare life insurance policies from multiple insurers to ensure you settle for an affordable option. Generally, insurance agents deal with individuals on a case by case basis, so you can be assured that your particular life insurance needs will be met with the best life insurance option.

How Does Life Insurance Work in Florida?

Life insurance is a good way to financially plan ahead for the future by ensuring your loved ones are financially stable after your death. In Florida, life insurance is a contract between an insurer and the insured that involves paying out a death benefit to policy beneficiaries when the insured dies. Policy beneficiaries are the people or entities you designate to receive the policy's death benefits. These beneficiaries can be your spouse, siblings, parents, adult children, charity organizations, business partners, or a trust. College tuition fees, funeral expenses, daily expenses, and payment for outstanding debts can be covered with the death benefit obtained from the policy.

Asides from death benefits, you can also take advantage of living benefits. With living benefit riders, you will be able to access the money set aside as your death benefit while still alive. For instance, if the insured has a terminal illness rider and develops cancer during the policy term, they will be eligible to take out the death benefit to treat it. However, the amount will be deducted from the final death benefit that would be paid to the policy beneficiary after the insured's demise.

After a life insurance policy is purchased in Florida, the insured is expected to pay premiums to ensure the policy remains active. Insurers use many factors like age, gender, medical conditions, type of policy, occupation, and coverage amount to determine premium rates. Generally, when purchasing life insurance options, it is important to consider the following:

The amount of death benefit you need
Which type of policy to purchase (term life or permanent life policy)
Premium cost
The type of riders to add to your life insurance policy
The difference between life insurance quotes for each available policy

Insurers do not just automatically pay out death benefits. They are paid when the insured dies, after which the policy beneficiaries are required to file a claim with the insurance company. They would have to provide a copy of the policy, proof of identity, and a certified copy of the death certificate along with the claims form. There is usually no deadline for filing a life insurance claim in Florida, but it is always better to do it as soon as the insured dies. Before their demise, insureds can decide how the death benefit will be distributed to their beneficiaries (that is, what percentage of the benefit goes to who). They can instruct that the insurer pays it as a lump-sum payment after their death or in installments throughout the beneficiary's lifetime or a specified number of years.

What Are The Main Types Of Life Insurance in Florida?

There are two basic types of life insurance options in Florida:

Term life insurance: Provides insurance for a specified period, such as 10 to 30 years, at a reduced cost. The death benefit of term insurance policies can be used to cover college tuition fees, mortgage, or end-of-life financial obligations like burial expenses and funeral costs.
Permanent life insurance: Provides lifelong coverage to individuals. A typical example of permanent life insurance is a final expense. Other permanent life insurance variations, including universal life, indexed universal life (IUL), and whole life insurance, typically come with a cash value component.

CASH VALUE LIFE Insurance

Cash-value life insurance offers lifelong financial coverage and a cash value (CV) savings component, which does just that - it builds cash overtime, similar to an investment account. Most permanent life insurance policies fall into this category. Cash-value life insurance usually has higher premiums than term life insurance because of the cash value component. A part of the premium paid by insureds is allocated to the insurance cost, and the remaining is deposited into a cash-value account. In addition, insureds earn tax-deferred interest on their cash value account that they can access via withdrawals, loans, or surrendering the policy. The common cash value insurance policies available in Florida are:

Whole life insurance: This type of life insurance plan provides financial protection throughout the insured's lifetime. The premiums paid by the insured do not change, and a death benefit is paid to the policy beneficiaries at the demise of the insured, provided the policy was still active when the insured died. In addition to paying a death benefit, whole life insurance also has a cash savings component where interest is earned at a fixed rate. Whole life insurers sometimes offer whole life graded benefit policies to reduce cost for unhealthy individuals.
Universal life insurance: This type of permanent life insurance comes with an investment savings element plus low premiums. One major advantage of universal life insurance is that it is very flexible. After accumulating a lot of money in your cash-value account, you can increase or decrease your death benefit and premium amounts to meet your changing needs. Be aware that altering your premiums may affect the value of the death benefit.
Final expense (FE) insurance: This is a type of whole life insurance policy with a cash value component that helps senior citizens cover end-of-life expenses like a funeral, burial, and medical expenses. Final expense insurance policies usually have affordable rates and are guaranteed because it has a small death benefit and does not require medical underwriting. This type of insurance is good for retirees who no longer benefit from employer-sponsored life insurance policies and do not have an individual life insurance policy. Seniors with health issues who want to help their families cover the expenses of their funeral costs can opt for final expense insurance.

While Whole life and Universal life are primarily designed for daily healthy individuals, Final Expense is considered the go-to life insurance for seniors in Texas, who likely have a pre existing condition or two, and are unlikely to qualify for more affordable options due to medical history or age.

TERM LIFE Insurance

In Florida, term life insurance provides financial protection for a temporary period ranging from 10 to 30 years. Death benefits are paid only if the insured dies during the policy’s term. Most term life insurance policies do not accrue cash value. Initial premiums for term life insurance are usually more affordable than permanent life insurance plans. An initial premium is an amount an insured pays at the inception of an insurance contract. Term life policy is good for parents of young children and individuals with large financial obligations because they can get reasonable death benefits at a reduced cost. Also, policy beneficiaries can get significant death benefits for income replacement.

Term life insurance coverage typically ends after the policy term. Insureds can renew their policies, but their premiums will increase with age because the older they get, the higher the chances for their insurers to pay out on their policies. Additionally, insureds can convert their term life insurance policies for permanent policies like whole life policies. Doing this will attract higher premiums, but the premiums will remain the same throughout the insured's life.

What Type of Life Insurance Does Not Require a Medical Exam?

Life insurance companies in Florida often require individuals to take medical exams to assess the risks they might incur by insuring them. This examination determines whether the individual is medically fit or has a terminal illness. Insurers are not obligated to provide coverage for high-risk individuals like tobacco users and people who engage in risky hobbies like skydiving, those who have a dangerous occupation, or those who have underlying health conditions. Hence, such individuals can opt for life insurance policies that do not require medical exams, such as:

Final expense: A medical exam is not required to be eligible for final expense, but you might be required to provide answers to questions about your health.
Group life insurance: This type of policy is mainly purchased by employers or organizations for their employees or members. Group life insurance in Florida does not require filling out a medical questionnaire or taking a medical exam. However, it may be required if the employees or members of the organizations want additional coverage.
Simplified issue life insurance: This type of insurance does not require a medical exam, but individuals might just have to provide answers to basic health questions.
Guaranteed issue life insurance: No medical exams or health questionnaire is required.

Additionally, in Florida, term life policies come with a convertibility feature that can allow you to exchange your policy for permanent life insurance without taking a medical exam. Also, no medical exam is required when you need to extend your term life insurance policy upon its expiration.

What Can you Do with Life Insurance?

In Florida, there are many things you can do with life insurance policies, depending on the type of life insurance option you purchase. Some common things you can use your life insurance for are:

Paying final costs: Life insurance policies like final expenses can help reduce the stress your loved ones might face after your demise by paying for end-of-life expenses. Such expenses may include medical bills of the insured, cover funeral expenses, such as funeral service, burial or cremation, or other immediate expenses after death.
Minimize your taxes in retirement: Life insurance can be used as a pension/retirement savings tool where you can have an ongoing stream of tax-free money in retirement. If you purchased a life insurance policy with a cash value component, you could borrow against it to pay for expenses during your retirement years.
Paying off debts: Leaving large debts behind without making provisions for how they will be paid can make your loved ones suffer financially after your demise. However, having life insurance will help your loved ones receive death benefits that can be used to pay off any outstanding debts.
Providing financial support for your loved ones after your demise: With the death benefit from life insurance policies, your loved ones would not have to worry about their living expenses after your demise. This is because the amount received from the insurer would be able to cover daily expenses, college tuition fees, and mortgages.

The common idea shared between all life insurance coverage options is that you need to figure out how much life insurance is enough coverage to match your needs. Discuss your specifics with a state-licensed life insurance agent.

What is a Premium in Life Insurance?

Premium in life insurance is the amount you pay an insurer to provide life insurance coverage. In Florida, you can pay your premiums in installments or upfront using any of the following payment options:

Regular premium payment: This requires you to pay periodically or regularly, which could be monthly, quarterly, or yearly based on your agreement with your insurer.
Single premium payment: With this option, you will have to make a one-time full, upfront premium payment
Limited premium payment: You are expected to pay your premiums for the entire policy term within a specific period, such as 20 years, while the policy provides a lifelong coverage

Insurers use several factors like age, gender, tobacco usage, pre-existing conditions, claims history, and occupation to determine monthly premium life insurance rates. For instance, the younger you are, the lower your premiums. Conversely, the older you get, the higher your premiums.

What is a Death Benefit in Life Insurance?

A death benefit in life insurance is the amount of money an insurer pays out to the policy beneficiaries after the insured's demise. The insured can decide how the money will be shared before dying. Insurers are obligated to pay a death benefit only if the policy was active before the insured's death. A typical death benefit in Florida is usually tax-free.

When is Death Benefit Payable?

A death benefit is payable in Florida after the demise of the insured. Insureds should share life insurance policy information with beneficiaries after buying it to make it easier to receive death benefits. This is because there is no national insurance database or other central location that provides policy information. This might make it very difficult for policy beneficiaries to file a claim after the insured’s demise because they are not even aware that the life policy even exists in the first place.

After the insured's death, the policy beneficiary is required to file a claim with the insured’s life insurance company. The policy beneficiaries will need to fill out death claim forms stating the insured's name, policy number, Social Security number, and date of death. After filling out the form, the beneficiary will have to submit the death claim form with a certified copy of the death certificate. If the insured named multiple beneficiaries in their policy, all of them would have to complete a death claim form to receive the death benefit that accrues to them.

What is a Living Benefit in Life Insurance?

In Florida, living benefits insurance is a type of rider that an insured can add to their life insurance policies to access some of the money set aside as their death benefit while they are still alive. The amount paid to the insured would be deducted from the final death benefit that the beneficiaries are meant to receive after the insured's demise. Common living benefit riders in Florida are:

Accidental death rider
Terminal illness rider
Critical illness rider
Long-term care rider

The percentage that insurers permit insureds to access from their policies’ death benefits as a living benefit varies depending on the type of policy. For instance, insureds can use up to 20% of their death benefit for end-of-life medical care, and those with critical care or chronic care riders can get up to 35% of their death benefit. Insureds with tax-free retirement as a living benefit can borrow against nearly all cash value, as long as the policy remains paid and active once they turn 65 years old. The more insureds borrow, the less their death benefits become (since the death benefit will be used to pay off the loans at death). Insureds may be required to provide proof of life expectancy from a medical provider before access to death benefits can be granted.

What is MEC in Life insurance policy?

MEC is the acronym for a modified endowment contract. In the 1970s, insurers took great advantage of the tax-free growth of cash value policies by offering life insurance products with substantial cash value growth features. Such that insureds could borrow from their cash value tax-free. This way, they could minimize their tax obligation, and the government responded to these limitless benefits by introducing MEC.

MEC is an overfunded life insurance policy that has exceeded legal tax limits. When your life insurance policy is relabelled as a MEC by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you won't be able to withdraw from your cash value tax-free because the money is treated as ordinary income. Your life insurance policy will change into a MEC if it was purchased on or after June 20, 1988, or if it fails the "seven-pay" test. The IRS uses the seven-pay test to determine whether your life insurance policy is overfunded.

A comparison is usually made between the total premiums you paid in the first seven years of the policy with what you would need to pay in full. If your payments exceed what is needed, your life insurance policy will be designated a MEC. However, life insurance policies purchased before June 20, 1988, are not subject to these premium limits except if the policy needs to be renewed after its initial policy term and the renewal took place before June 20, 1988. Therefore, policies that are renewed after June 20, 1988, might face the seven-pay test.

What is a Rider in Life Insurance?

Life insurance riders in Florida are optional add ons that insureds add to their life insurance policies. Some riders allow insureds to access their death benefits while still alive. It typically covers life events that a basic life insurance policy does not cover and often comes with additional costs. There are many kinds of life insurance riders available in Florida, and they vary by insurer. Some of the most common are:

Accidental death rider
Guaranteed insurability rider
Family income rider
Waiver of premium rider
Accelerated death benefit rider
Long-term care (LTC) rider
Return of premium rider
Child term rider

Why are Riders Important in Life Insurance?

Riders are important in life insurance because they help you enhance your coverage by allowing you to tailor your insurance policy to meet your specific needs and access benefits that your basic life policy doesn’t offer. You can add riders to a life insurance policy at any time, during purchase or post-purchase. Riders also help you save costs because they are cheaper than buying individual insurance policies to cover specific insurance needs. For instance, adding a $10,000 child rider to your term life policy can cost $4 to $4.20 per month, while a stand-alone child life insurance policy might cost $40 to $50 per month.

There are different types of riders available in Florida, and each rider offers specific benefits. Hence, before purchasing a rider, ensure you consult with a Florida-licensed life insurance agent. They can recommend good riders that will meet your unique needs.

What are the Top 8 Most Important Life Insurance Riders?

The top 8 most important life insurance riders in Florida are:

Accidental Death Rider: This rider is also called a double indemnity rider. If an insured with an accidental death rider dies during an accident, an additional amount of death benefit will be paid out to policy beneficiaries. The additional amount is usually equivalent to the death benefit of the policy, which makes the policy beneficiaries get twice the amount of the policy. This type of rider is good for individuals who are the sole providers of their families because the double benefits will take care of the needs of their loved ones.
Guaranteed Insurability Rider: Purchasing this rider with your life insurance policy allows you to have extra insurance coverage without the need for further medical examination, even if your health declines with age. You would not also need to do medical checkups when you have to renew your policy after it expires. A guaranteed insurability rider is good for individuals with medical histories.
Family Income Rider: This rider provides a regular monthly payment of income to insureds' family members at their demise. This amount is usually equivalent to the insured's monthly income. At the point of purchase, insureds must state the number of years their families will receive the benefits. This type of rider is beneficial to individuals who are the breadwinners of their families.
Waiver of Premium Rider: This rider allows your insurer to waive all future premiums if the insured loses their income source due to an injury or illness or becomes permanently disabled before a specified age. This waiver is usually in force until the insured can work again. The waiver of premium rider is good for individuals who are the sole breadwinners of their homes.
Accelerated Death Benefit Rider: Insureds with terminal illnesses that will shorten their lifespan can get this rider so they can have access to their death benefits while still alive. The amount received by the insured would be subtracted from the death benefit the insurer will pay to the policy beneficiaries at the demise of the insured. Many insureds who choose this type of rider have less than two years to live and use the money for medical expenses, drugs, and other expenses. Accelerated death benefit rider is good for individuals with chronic diseases, terminal illnesses, or individuals who need long-term care.
Long-Term Care (LTC) Rider: With this rider, insureds can receive a portion of their death benefits monthly to pay for long-term care costs. LTC is beneficial for individuals with stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease who have to stay at a nursing home or receive home care. To be eligible for an LTC rider, a medical professional will have to attest that the insured is:
- Unable to engage in a minimum of two activities of daily living; or
- Is cognitively impaired and would need a lot of supervision to protect their health and safety
Return of Premium Rider: Insureds who have this rider and outlive their life insurance policies are reimbursed all or some of their paid premiums over the years. However, full premiums are paid to policy beneficiaries if the insured dies during the policy term. A return of premium rider is good for anyone, especially those in good health and those who have the tendency to outlive their policy.
Child Term Rider: This rider is a term plan which parents can add to their life insurance policies for their children. They can convert it to permanent insurance without medical examination when their children mature, which is often by age 25 but may vary by insurer. However, if their children die before the specified age, a death benefit will be paid to them (parents). Child term rider is good for married individuals with children and single parents with children. Generally, individuals who have dependents should consider getting this rider.

Is There a Deductible in Life Insurance?

No, there are no deductibles in life insurance policies because they are considered personal expenses.

How Do Life Insurance Companies Operate?

Life insurance companies allow people to transfer risks to them in return for paying premiums. As a result, high-risk individuals like people with health conditions or construction workers are charged higher premiums. Life insurance companies’ business model is designed to assume and diversify risks by pooling risks from insureds and redistributing them across a more extensive portfolio. When a claim is filed, the insurer is expected to pay out claims to the beneficiaries as soon as possible if the necessary documents are complete.

Mutual vs. Stock Insurance Companies

The goal of every insurance company is to sell insurance policies to customers, but they differ based on ownership structure. For example, some insurance companies in Florida are mutuals, while others operate as stock companies. Mutual insurance companies are owned by their policyholders, while stock insurance companies are owned by their shareholders, which can be either publicly traded or privately held.

The main goal of mutual insurance companies is to maintain enough capital to meet policyholders’ needs continuously. Therefore, policyholders of mutual companies are considered co-owners of the company and can have a say in the company. In contrast, stock insurance companies seek to maximize profits for their shareholders. Hence, policyholders have no control over a stock company’s management unless they are investors as well.

If there are surplus profits, stock insurance companies can use the money to invest, pay outstanding debts, or distribute it to shareholders in dividends. They can also issue shares of stock to generate more income. On the other hand, mutual insurance companies can keep surplus profits in exchange for discounts on premiums or distribute them to policyholders in dividends. Mutual insurers cannot issue shares of stock to generate income like stock insurers. They might have to increase premiums or take loans if they need extra income.

How Can Life Insurance Companies Afford to Pay Out the Claims?

Life insurance companies in Florida can afford to pay out claims because they benefit from premiums paid by the insured. While profiting directly from premiums, insurers can also make more money by investing those premiums in bonds or stable blue-chip stocks. Insurance companies benefit from lapsed policies and expired term policies (permanent or term life policies lapse when the insured stops paying premiums). This is because they are not obligated to pay out death benefits in such situations. However, it can also lead to lost revenue because premiums will no longer be paid, and cash value can not be invested in the case of permanent life insurance policies.

How Do Life Insurance Companies Make Money if Everyone Dies?

Life insurance companies will still make money even if everyone dies. The business model of life insurance companies is all about risk prediction and diversification. This model allows individuals to provide financial protection for their loved ones in exchange for a fixed amount, commonly known as a premium. The most common ways insurers generate revenue is through premium payments and reinvesting those premiums. For instance, if an insurer receives $1 million in premiums and looks for safe, low-risk, short-term assets to invest it in, it can generate extra interest revenue for the company while it waits for possible payouts. Insurers also make money from investing premiums paid by the insured in bonds or stable blue-chip stocks. For instance, in 2020, life/annuity insurance companies made about $186 billion of revenue from premium investments after collecting about $143.1 billion for insurance premiums.

What Does Life Insurance Cover in Florida?

Life insurance coverage in Florida fall under two categories:

The cause of death: Almost all deaths are covered under life insurance policies with a few exclusions. Insurers will pay out a death benefit if the death of the insured is caused by:

Natural causes such as old age or illnesses known to the insurer
Accident
Suicide (if it occurs within two years after purchasing the policy)
Homicide (except the policy beneficiary is involved in the murder)

Death benefit expenses: Policy beneficiaries can spend their death benefit on anything they want, including daily expenses, outstanding debts, funeral expenses, or children's tuition fees.

Who Needs Life Insurance in Florida

Everyone needs life insurance in Florida, especially:

Parents with young children: The arrival of a baby should spur you to get a life insurance policy, especially if you are the sole provider in the home. This will cater for expenses like food bills, mortgage, and daycare at your demise. If your children are older, you can get a term life policy that can cover their college fees
Adults with private student loans: You don't have to be married with children before you get life insurance policies. Singles who have private student loans can also consider getting it. They can consider getting a term life insurance policy that can last the duration of the loan repayment
Spouses who provide most of the income: If your spouse would not be able to handle household and day-to-day expenses after your demise, then get a life insurance policy to provide a safety net for them after your demise. This helps to enhance their financial stability. Consider getting a policy with a large death benefit if you know your spouse is financially vulnerable
Parents who have dependents with functional needs: About 4,967,863 adults in Florida have a disability which is equal to 28% or 1 in 4 adults in 2021. If you have children of adults with disabilities and require specific care, your life insurance death benefit could ensure they continue to receive that care after your demise
Older adults without enough savings: The estimated population of Florida residents in 2021 is 21,781,128, with about 20.9% of them age 65 or older. Retirement-age adults without a large amount of savings to draw on can get final expense insurance to pay for funeral or cremation expenses when they die
Business owners: If you own a small business, you can get a life insurance policy that you can use as part of a buy and sell agreement among your business associates. Your business partners can take out a policy on each co-owner and use the death benefit to purchase the deceased owner's share of the business

Who Should Buy Life Insurance?

Consider buying life insurance if you have people who depend on your income and might suffer financially if anything happens to you. With life insurance coverage, you will be able to financially protect your loved ones in the event of your demise. There are different life insurance products you can choose from in Florida, depending on your needs. For instance, you can purchase term life insurance if you need coverage for a specified number of years. However, permanent life insurance will be a better option if you want lifelong coverage with a cash value component. If you are an older adult and you are ready to make an end-of-life plan, you can get final expense insurance to cover your funeral costs. Generally, you should consider buying life insurance if:

You are a parent with dependents
You are a business owner
Your funeral will be a burden
Your spouse relies on your income
You have debts that your family will have to pay at your demise
You want to meet your financial goals

Who Can you Buy Life Insurance on?

You can only buy life insurance with a person's consent and with whom you have an insurable interest. You will need to prove to the insurer that the person will suffer financially at your demise. The beneficiary must be involved in the entire application process, providing details of their medical history, hobbies, signature, and medical exam may be required. You can buy life insurance on your children, spouse, parents, sibling, business partner, and trusted employee.

Who Can you Not Buy Life Insurance on?

You can not buy a life insurance policy on another person without their consent. You also can not buy a life insurance policy on a stranger or even someone you just know casually. According to Florida law, you cannot buy a life insurance policy on your ex-spouse because entering a Judgment of Divorce automatically makes an ex-spouse’s beneficiary designation on insurance policies invalid.

Who is the Owner of a Life Insurance Policy in Florida?

The owner of a life insurance policy in Florida is the person who has full control over the policy while the insured is still alive. Most times, the policyholder is the same person as the insured, while other times, the insured will appoint a different person to be the policyholder. The policyholder can change the policy beneficiary, surrender the policy, sell the policy, or gift it to a relative, child, grandchild, or charity by transferring full ownership of the policy to them.

How to Choose a Beneficiary for Life Insurance?

Some essential parts of owning a life insurance policy in Florida are choosing an appropriate beneficiary(s) and keeping those choices up-to-date. For instance, your initial choice can change due to different factors like the birth or adoption of a child, marriage, or divorce. Hence, it is important to always review your named beneficiaries as life events change. Here is how you can choose your beneficiaries:

Consider the purpose of purchasing the policy and make it the driving force for determining your beneficiaries.
Be specific about whom you choose as your beneficiary, and ensure you state how the death benefits will be distributed in the case of multiple beneficiaries.
Avoid choosing pets and minor children as life insurance policy beneficiaries because children under 18 years lack the legal capacity to manage wealth, and pets do not have account numbers.
State a trusted adult that will be responsible for your minor children and pets when you are gone.

Who is a Beneficiary in Life Insurance?

A life insurance beneficiary is a person or entity you designate to receive your policy's death benefits. Possible beneficiaries include relatives, spouses, children, and charity organizations. Insurers pay the death benefit of insureds who refuse to name a beneficiary to their estates. Life insurers recommend that insureds should have both primary and contingent beneficiaries. The death benefit is paid to the primary beneficiary at the insured's demise. However, if the primary beneficiary is missing, directly involved, or an accomplice to killing the insured, or is dead, the death benefit will be given to the contingent beneficiary. If upon investigation, the insurer discovers that the contingent beneficiary is involved or an accomplice in the death of the primary beneficiary, the death benefit will not be paid out.

Who Chooses the Beneficiary?

Policyholders are responsible for choosing beneficiaries for their life insurance policies.

How to Change a Beneficiary?

Changing a beneficiary is easy, especially if you have a policy with a revocable beneficiary. In such a case, you can change the beneficiary at any time without telling them. In contrast, you need the beneficiary's consent if you have a policy with an irrevocable beneficiary. Follow the following steps to change your policy’s beneficiary:

Reach out to your insurer
Request a change of beneficiary form
Fill out the form
Ensure you accurately spell out the full names of all your beneficiaries and provide their Social Security numbers
State how you want the death benefits to be distributed if you name multiple beneficiaries
Submit the beneficiary form to the insurer

Who Should I Name as my Life Insurance Beneficiary?

Be careful when deciding who will receive your death benefit from your insurer because you will not be around to change your beneficiaries after your demise. You want to ensure that your loved ones are well taken care of when you die. Hence, do your due diligence to list reliable adults as beneficiaries. To leave money behind for your minor children, ensure you name trustworthy trustees and custodians who will cater to them. Also, you can designate a caretaker as one of your policy beneficiaries who you can trust will take care of your pets. Furthermore, you can list a charitable organization as your policy beneficiary.

Who you Should Never Name as your Beneficiary?

You should never name the following as your policy beneficiary:

Your estate: Listing your estate as your life insurance beneficiary can prevent your loved ones from getting a full death benefit payout. This is because the amount you leave behind will be subject to probate, where a judge determines your outstanding debts. Your loved ones can only access the death benefit after your creditors have been settled.
Minors: Listing a minor as your policy beneficiary complicates the death benefit payout process because the person is not of legal age. The court might be forced to appoint a guardian to hold on to the funds until the minor turns 18.
Your pets: Your insurers would not have anyone to pay your death benefit to if you list your pets as your policy beneficiaries because they do not have bank accounts and can not manage money. You can name a caretaker as one of your policy beneficiaries that would be responsible for your pets when you pass away.

How Can Life Insurance Work as an Investment in Florida?

Life insurance policies are not investments, but some of them, like whole life insurance and universal life insurance, only have an investment component that allows you to build a tax-deferred wealth. Hence, life insurance policies can be seen as an investment because of their tax-free benefits. Another way life insurance works as an investment is in retirement planning. This involves depositing huge amounts in your cash-value account such that during your retirement years, you can borrow against it as a source of income.

Is Life Insurance an Investment Vehicle?

Generally, life insurance should not be used as an investment tool, but there are several similarities between life insurance and savings accounts. For instance, some life insurance policies have a cash value component. This cash value is an investment account that allows you to build cash over time, and you can borrow against it while you are still alive. The cash value you accumulate on this insurance policy is usually tax-deferred. In addition, some life insurance policies accumulate interests and pay dividends over time like savings accounts.

What is Credit Life Insurance?

Credit life insurance is a type of insurance associated with loan indebtedness such that it helps the insured pay their loans if they die before completing repayments. Prior to October 1, 2008, the maximum amount of credit life insurance in Florida was $50,000 per creditor, and the maximum policy tenure was 10 years. However, after October 1, 2008, the amount and the duration of the indebtedness became the maximum amount of credit life insurance. Florida Seniors over 70 years of age are not eligible for credit life insurance, and existing policies typically end when the insured clocks 71.

When Does Life Insurance Mature?

Maturity dates are based on the insured's age, and it differs depending on when the policy was issued. Typically, the maturity date of all life insurance policies is after the insured's demise. However, it can also be when the insured reaches age 121, depending on which Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality (CSO) table was used to determine their probability of dying in a given year. When a life insurance policy matures, the insurer pays out the policy's maturity value, and coverage ends.

Does Life Insurance Cover Suicide in Florida?

Life insurance in Florida covers suicidal death as long as the policy was purchased two years or more before the insured's demise. After that, the insurer will pay death benefits to the policy beneficiaries. However, suppose the insured dies during the first two years of the policy, and the insurer, upon investigation, discovers that the cause of the death was suicide. In that case, it will not pay the death benefit to the policy beneficiaries. Instead of the death benefit, policy beneficiaries will get a refund of any premiums paid, and in the case of a permanent insurance policy, some cash value may be paid.

Cryonics and Life Insurance

You can use life insurance to achieve your cryonics goals by purchasing a sufficient amount of life insurance policy that covers your cryopreservation costs and additional expenses. In addition, ensure you designate any cryonics organization or cryonics trust as the beneficiary. This will enable the cryonics trustee or organization to have access to funds to pay for your suspension and perpetual maintenance at your demise. Therefore, your life insurance must have enough death benefits to cover your cryonics expenses and ensure that your policy does not lapse.

Is Life Insurance a Good Investment?

Permanent life insurance is a good investment because it has a cash value you can use to build cash. Also, the tax benefits that come with it make it a good investment tool.

Always discuss your life insurance needs with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed life insurance agent that works with multiple insurers. They will help analyze your specific needs and recommend the best life insurance options to meet them.

IMPORTANT information to get your affairs in order??

2023-01-11

Make sure all bank accounts have direct beneficiaries. The beneficiary need only go to the bank with your death certificate and an ID of their own.

TOD = Transfer On Death deed if you own a home. Completing this document and filing it with your county saves your heirs THOUSANDS. This document allows you to transfer ownership of your home to your designee. All they need to do is take their ID and your death certificate to the county building and the deed is signed over. Doing this will avoid the home having to go through probate.

Living Will: Allows one to put in writing exactly what you want done in the event you cannot speak for yourself when it comes to healthcare decisions as well as other final decisions.

Durable Power of Attorney: Allows one to designate a person to make legal decisions if you are no longer competent to do so.

Power of Attorney for Healthcare: This document allows one to designate someone to make healthcare decisions for them.

Last Will and Testament: Designates to whom personal belongings will go to.

Funeral Planning Declaration: Allows one to say exactly one’s wishes as far as disposition of the body and the services.

If the above documents are done, you can AVOID probate.

If all the above is not done, you have to open an estate account at the bank. All money that doesn’t have direct beneficiaries goes into this account. You have to have an attorney to open the estate account. The attorney also has to publicize your passing in the newspaper or post publication at the county courthouse, to allow anyone to make a claim on your property. - It’s a complete PAIN.

Make a list of all banks and account numbers, all investment institutions with account numbers, lists of credit cards, utility accounts, etc. Leave clear instructions as to how and when these things are paid.

Make sure heirs know where life insurance policies are located.

Make 100% sure SOMEONE knows your Apple ID, bank ID account logins and passwords!

Make sure you have titles for all vehicles, campers, etc!

Set up a TRUST for intended beneficiaries, especially those that are too young, and appoint a trustee of said trust.

MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!! - Talk with those closest to you and make all your wishes KNOWN. Talk to those whom you’ve designated, as well as those close to you whom you did not designate. - Do this to explain why your decisions were made and to avoid any lingering questions or hurt feelings.

Hope this helps! Hope this lights a spark to encourage all your friends and family to take care of these things to make it easier for those we all leave behind!

My hope is that the above list at least helps you start an important conversation with your loved ones...

GET YOUR FREE WILL BY CLICKING THE BUTTON BELOW

Use Code: 072PN Email address: elliot@elliotglassinsurance.com

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Florida Blue Health Insurance from Elliot Glass Coral Springs Insurance

2023-01-03

Blue Cross Blue Shield Products – Blue Cross and Blue Shield products are among the most innovative and cost effective available. We have the full complement of Blue Cross Blue Shield products to meet your needs. As an independent agent, we represent our clients and provide you with guidance and advice as to the most cost-effective coverage for your specific needs and budget.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Health insurance you buy on your own is called individual coverage. It could be right for you if you are:

Self-employed, a small-business owner or have a home-based business
In between jobs for more than three months
Not covered through work or you're unable to get affordable coverage through your employer
No longer covered by a parent's health care plan

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR PERSONALIZED UNDER 65 HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTE!

CLICK HERE FOR INFO

WHAT IS IT?

A contract that requires a health insurer to pay some or all of your healthcare costs in exchange for a premium. A health insurance contract may also be called a “policy” or “plan.”

Health insurer - A company that sells health insurance plans/policies.
Benefits - The healthcare costs (e.g., medical services, treatments and supplies) covered by your health insurance policy.
Premium - The dollar amount you pay to an insurance company for the benefits and coverage of an insurance policy. This is usually paid monthly, and most experts advise that it be paid through a MBD (Monthly Bank Draft) to make sure that coverage does not lapse.
Policy - The health insurance coverage purchased by an individual and provided by a carrier. Also referred to as a plan.

In other words, you buy a health insurance plan from a health insurance company. That plan is a contract that requires the insurer to pay a certain amount for certain types healthcare expenses you incur.

WHY SHOULD I BUY IT?

Like auto insurance, health insurance is a service you pay for but hope you will never need. It's there for the unpredictable, unexpected and fundamentally uncontrollable problems that come up in people's lives.

Most consumers want and value health insurance, but they are confused about the current laws, how health insurance works and what options are available to them. This is why most experts recommend using a licensed insurance agent to assist in the process.

Consider these consequences of not being covered by health insurance.

You risk the chance of financial ruin. Unpaid medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcies in the United States.
You severely limit your access to high quality health care providers.
You risk your insurability. In other words, if your health changes in the future you may not be able to obtain health insurance on your own.

Ask Elliot Glass Coral Springs Insurance about Life Insurance Policies

2023-01-02

WHAT DO WE USE IT FOR?

Income Replacement
Final Expenses
Legacy Planning
Financial Help for Education
Living Benefits
Chronic, Critical and/or Terminal Illnesses
Medicaid Spend Down
The Deferment of the Process

WHO IS IT FOR?

If someone you love will suffer financially when you die, chances are you need life insurance because it provides cash to your family after your death.

This cash, known as the death benefit, replaces your income and can help your family meet many important financial needs like funeral costs, daily living expenses and college funding. What’s more, there is no federal income tax on life insurance benefits.

WHAT IS IT?

A life insurance policy is a contract with an insurance company. In exchange for premium payments, the insurance company provides a lump-sum payment, known as a death benefit, to beneficiaries upon the insured's death.

Typically, life insurance is chosen based on the needs and goals of the owner. Term life insurance generally provides protection for a set period of time, while permanent insurance, such as whole and universal life, provides lifetime coverage.

TYPES OF LIFE INSURANCE

TERM LIFE INSURANCE

Term life insurance is designed to provide financial protection for a specific period of time, such as 10 or 20 years. With traditional term insurance, the premium payment amount stays the same for the coverage period you select. After that period, policies may offer continued coverage, usually at a substantially higher premium payment rate. Term life insurance is generally less expensive than permanent life insurance.

UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE

Universal life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance designed to provide lifetime coverage. Unlike whole life insurance, universal life insurance policies are flexible and may allow you to raise or lower your premium payment or coverage amounts throughout your lifetime. Additionally, due to its lifetime coverage, universal life typically has higher premium payments than term.

WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE

Whole life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance designed to provide lifetime coverage. Because of the lifetime coverage period, whole life usually has higher premium payments than term life. Policy premium payments are typically fixed, and, unlike term, whole life has a cash value, which functions as a savings component and may accumulate tax-deferred over time.

WHY SHOULD I BUY IT?

Life insurance is one of those things that just about everyone needs but far too few people actually have. It’s easy to put off purchasing a policy when you’re young and relatively healthy. But the longer you wait, the greater the chances of something happening before you get yourself coverage. Here are the reasons why every responsible person should consider carrying the appropriate amount of life insurance protection.

1. REPLACE LOST INCOME

Life insurance works to provide financial security to your loved ones after you pass away. You have to consider what would happen if you were to die suddenly. This is especially true if your loved ones rely solely on your income. Get yourself adequate coverage. That way, you won’t leave your loved ones helpless when the monthly bills come around.

2. COVER BURIAL EXPENSES

Sadly, even a basic funeral service can run upwards of several thousand dollars. While it’s possible to pre-pay your funeral, people don’t often think that far ahead. Pre-payment can ensure everything is in place for your loved ones after you die. However, there are risks to pre-payment. Life insurance can give you and your beneficiaries more of a guarantee, lifting a burden off of them as well as yourself.

3. PAY OFF DEBT

Just because you die doesn’t necessarily mean your debts will disappear. Your spouse may become entirely responsible for repayment of the mortgage loan on your home and any and all other loans that the family has. Life insurance allows those you leave behind to continue their standard of living even though the main bread-winner is not around any longer.

4. COLLEGE PLANNING

There are a number of ways to save money for your child’s education. You may not have thought that a life insurance policy would be a viable option. But insurance payouts can actually provide a good supplement to your savings. Also, life insurance can provide for the college education that you always wanted for your children in the unfortunate event of your premature death.

5. BUILD CASH VALUE

Whole life insurance provides permanent coverage that only ends if you cancel the policy. This type of life insurance allows you to build up cash value over time, an attractive prospect for many people. That cash value acts as an extra cushion that you can tap into at any time. This may come in handy if you have a financial emergency down the road.

6. DIVERSIFY INVESTMENTS

Some people also use life insurance as an investment tool with universal life policies. These policies are tied to a specific investment product. Then policyholders receive dividend payments based on the product’s performance. Before you dive into this type of insurance, you’ll want to read the fine print. That way you’ll know the potential risks and returns before you commit.

7. BUSINESS PLANNING

If you own a business, it’s vital that you have life insurance. This covers your obligations, so your hard work doesn’t go to waste. Are you involved in a partnership with someone else? You should both have coverage. That way, if one of you dies, the other isn’t left holding the heavy financial bag.

8. ESTATE TAXES

When someone passes away, their heirs often face estate and inheritance taxes on any assets they receive. If you’re worried about your loved ones getting hit with a big tax bill, a life insurance policy can help cover these added costs.

9. COVERAGE IS AFFORDABLE

One of the excuses people tend to make for not buying life insurance is the cost. But truthfully, coverage often ends up pretty affordable for most people. Term life tends to be less expensive than whole or universal life. Plus, the younger and healthier you are, the lower your premiums will be. Unless you smoke or have a pre-existing health condition, you could find coverage for as little as $1 a day.

10. PEACE OF MIND

No one can truly predict the future. But having life insurance means you and your loved ones can prepare for any eventuality. Even with a small policy, you may find yourself sleeping a little easier at night knowing that your family has protection in place should something happen to you.

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Happy Holidays from Elliot Glass Coral Springs Insurance

2022-12-22

WHO WE ARE

Elliot Glass Coral Springs Insurance

Anyone can learn to sell insurance once licensed, but not everyone learns to be a good insurance agent.

It’s those who have the natural ability to work quickly and accurately, effectively listen, anticipate the needs of your prospects and clients, keeps their composure, and easy going that become proficient in their industry.

Servicing AL, FL, GA, MI, NC, SC, OH, and VT. Elliot Glass has a methodical strategy for working efficiently and approaches each prospect/client with a good attitude and great enthusiasm.

I recognize that needs and priorities change over time, so I am dedicated to being there to protect and serve you with integrity every step of the way. Not your once-a-year insurance guy, I am your full-time insurance adviser so don’t be a stranger. Assisting individuals, families and businesses in both healthcare and wealth management since 2012.

LEARN MORE

VIEW OUR INSURANCE PRODUCTS

HEALTH INSURANCE

MEDICARE

LIFE INSURANCE

VIEW ALL OUR SERVICES

OUR MEDICARE

Typically senior products are designed to benefit those people who are 65 and older. Many of these people are at or near retirement age and their needs for health insurance and life insurance change drastically. Most experts recommend using the services of a licensed insurance agent when seniors are faced with these new challenges.

READ ON

TESTIMONIALS

Thanks for your continued support.

MARK GRAY / PEMBROKE PINES, FL
Thanks for all you have done and the information provided. Also, Thanks for getting back with me and for contacting Florida Blue on my behalf. Success!!!!! I received a Letter, yesterday's mail, from Florida Blue which fixed the errors with CMS and Social Security. Well, Thank You for alerting, guiding and assisting me with this strange odyssey.

ALEX KARPIS / COCONUT CREEK, FL
When it comes to getting insurance, I haven’t had any anybody as good as Elliot help me find exactly what I needed. His customer service, skill and communication level is the best that anyone can ask for. I highly recommend.

ROLANDO TORREIRA-HERNANDEZ – BROOKSVILLE, FL
Thank You. I appreciate you.

BELEN AUSBURN / PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL
Thank you for going the extra mile regarding prescription issues with my plan. It’s really comforting to know that I can just call you and not have to deal with 1-800 randoms at member services. Again, thank you!

TIM MASTERSON / CORAL SPRINGS, FL
Thanks for your continued support.

MARK GRAY / PEMBROKE PINES, FL
Thanks for all you have done and the information provided. Also, Thanks for getting back with me and for contacting Florida Blue on my behalf. Success!!!!! I received a Letter, yesterday's mail, from Florida Blue which fixed the errors with CMS and Social Security. Well, Thank You for alerting, guiding and assisting me with this strange odyssey.

ALEX KARPIS / COCONUT CREEK, FL

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ACA / Marketplace Information

2022-12-16

FEDERAL POVERTY LEVELS FOR 2022 HEALTH COVERAGE48 CONTIGUOUS STATUS AND D.C.

SUBSIDY / TAX CREDIT -- CONTACT US TO SEE HOW MUCH YOURS WILL BE!

Persons in Household	100%	150%	200%	250%	400%
1	$12,880	$19,320	$25,760	$32,200	$51,520
2	$17,420	$26,130	$34,840	$43,550	$69,680
3	$21,960	$32,940	$43,920	$54,900	$87,840
4	$26,500	$39,750	$53,000	$66,250	$106,000
Each additional person	add $4,540	add $6,810	add $9,080	add 11,350	add $18,160

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FEDERAL POVERTY LEVELS FOR 2023 HEALTH COVERAGE

This is an outline of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) income ranges that will qualify for financial assistance for enrollment in 2023 coverage On Marketplace. Updated for rules under the American Rescue Plan.

Household Size	100% FPL	150% FPL	200% FPL	250% FPL	400% FPL
1	$13,590	$20,385	$27,180	$33,975	$54,360
2	$18,310	$27,465	$36,620	$45,775	$73,240
3	$23,030	$34,545	$46,060	$57,575	$92,120
4	$27,750	$41,625	$55,500	$69,375	$111,000
Each additonal person	$4,720	$7,080	$9,440	$11,800	$18,880

Florida did not expand Medicaid. Therefore, tax credits may be available as listed above for people with incomes above 100% of FPL
Household incomes below 100% FPL do not qualify for federal financial assistance to obtain health insurance coverage1
Household incomes above 100% FPL may qualify for Advance Premium Tax Credits to offset premium costs
Household incomes between 100 – 250% FPL may also qualify for Silver with Cost-Sharing Reductions (lower out-of-pocket costs)
Access to Silver Cost Share Reduction plans is not affected by federal decisions to fund the Cost Share Reduction program
Applicant cannot be enrolled in or eligible for government sponsored Minimum Essential Coverage (e.g. certain Medicaid or Medicare)
Applicants eligible for group plans through their employer, or through a household family member who is offered employer coverage, may still qualify for a financial assistance on the
Marketplace if the group plan is not affordable (the employee’s con

For example: As of Jan. 1, 2023, a fix for the “family glitch” will establish separate affordability tests for the employee (based on the cost of self-only coverage) and dependents (based on the cost of family coverage). These tests will use the same percentage of household income (9.12% in 2023), so it is possible that coverage could be considered affordable for the employee but not for dependents. In that case, the dependents in the same tax household would potentially be eligible for a premium tax credit in the Marketplace, but the employee would not

DOWNLOAD THE FORM

Need Vison Insurance? Contact Elliot Glass Coral Springs Insurance Today

2022-12-15

Using an Individual Vision Plan is easy. First, pick the plan that’s right for you and the payment option that best fits your needs. Then, visit an eye doctor, (going in-network will help you get the most from your benefits) to receive a comprehensive eye exam. If corrective vision is needed, your eye doctor can help pick glasses or contacts to best fit your style. You pay your copay at the doctor’s office along with any options outside of your plan coverage, and the doctor will take care of processing your benefit claims.

WHY IS VISION INSURANCE IMPORTANT?

Your eyes should always be a priority and come first. Whether you’re off to college, on a new business adventure, or ready to enjoy retirement, put your eyes first and stay covered!

Eye exams help detect serious health conditions such as diabetes which is why you need to have your eyes checked annually.

A good vision plan covers an annual comprehensive eye exam, frames or contacts, and lens enhancements. Other things to consider are how often you want new glasses and your overall frame allowance. Some plans may highlight low rates, but provide an overall low frame allowance, or don’t provide a lot of savings on lens enhancements (where costs can really add up). Make sure the doctor network includes convenient locations. Read the plan details to ensure you’re getting the right plan for your needs.

If you got two good eyes but you still don't see, then call me!

INDIVIDUAL VISION PLAN

You and your eyes deserve to be healthy and happy. At Elliot Glass Coral Springs Insurance, we know you have many options when it comes to your vision coverage. That’s where we come in. With an Individual Vision Plan from VSP® you’ll get quality vision care from a doctor you’ll love, personalized care at low out-of-pocket costs, and stylish eyewear you want!

Why choose VSP:

Savings you expect. VSP members save on eyewear and eye care with a VSP network doctor. You’ll also have access to Exclusive Member Extras, like savings and special offers, that can save you more than $2,500.
Choices you deserve. With an average of five VSP network doctors within five miles of you, it is easy to find a nearby in-network doctor to get the most out of your vision coverage.
Styles you’ll love. You’ll find frames for the whole family with hundreds of stylish options. Plus, get an extra $20 to spend on featured frame brands and save up to 25% on lens enhancements! *

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR PERSONALIZED VISION QUOTE

Dental Plans Offered by Elliot Glass Coral Springs Insurance

2022-12-14

Dental health is a vital component of your overall well-being. Tooth decay can be a contributing factor in a number of ailments, from gingivitis to heart attacks. It's crucial you don't shortchange your teeth - or your health - by opting out of viable dental coverage. We have a couple of plans available to match you with the quality dental care you deserve.

Why purchasing dental insurance is a good idea:

Preventive benefits ensure that problems are found early. Regular dental exams and cleanings are critical to identify issues before they require major, costly procedures. If tooth decay goes unnoticed and untreated, you could be spending a lot of money for a root canal down the road. Most dental plans cover preventive visits at little or no additional cost.
You’re protected from financial risk. Even with proper preventive care, sometimes major dental health issues arise. You have insurance against risk for your health, your car, and your home — don’t forget about your mouth.
The best rates possible are available to plan members. Dentists who belong to Florida Blue’s network have a contract with us to provide you with services at a set fee. That means your out-of-pocket cost is less than if you were to walk in for treatment.
Dental health can affect your overall health. Researchers continue to identify links between oral and overall health. Problems of the mouth can lead to harmful levels of bacteria that worsen medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease if it enters the bloodstream.

HMO DENTAL HEALTH PLANS & INSURANCE CAN PROVIDE VERY COST EFFECTIVE COVERAGE. THE HMO REQUIRES THE USE OF AN IN-NETWORK DENTIST IN ORDER FOR THE PLAN TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES.

A Preferred Provider Organization dental plan combines great rates with flexibility.

One of the primary benefits of a PPO Dental Plan is the flexibility it offers. Like a HMO plan, a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) has a network of dental providers. However, a PPO plan offers more options. PPO networks tend to be broader, providing more options to find a dentist that fits your needs.

Dentists in a PPO network contract with the PPO for set prices for services. Often preventative services such as cleanings are 100% covered. You will be responsible for co-insurance costs and deductibles.

Some PPO plans allow for out-of-network visits. However, the co-insurance and deductible amounts for these visits are generally significantly higher than visiting an in-network provider.

Don't delay - speak with our dedicated agent today.