Long Term Care and Disability Insurance

Critical Illness Insurance for the Small Business Owner

Presented by Tim Dreher What kind of an illness or injury would it take to keep a small business owner at home and away from their business?  A bad case of the flu or a broken arm, probably not.  Most business owners got where they are today by being diligent hard workers who have shown up every day to get the job done.  It would take something more than a little illness or injury to keep them at home.  However, an event such as a heart attack, stroke or a cancer diagnosis probably would. Critical illnesses are striking more Americans every single year.  Some 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer (American Cancer Society) annually.  An estimated 785,000 Americans will have their first heart attack and some 600,000 Americans will experience their first stroke (American Heart Association), and with new advances in medicine, the vast majority will survive. The financial consequences of surviving a critical illness are something few people are prepared for.  A lot of the cost associated with caring for someone with a critical illness is covered by most health insurance plans.  But approximately 67% of all costs associated with a heart attack, cancer and stroke are non-medical costs.  Also, most high-deductible health plans have deductibles and co-pays that can easily run into thousands of dollars and yet they would still need to continue to pay their premiums. Suggest purchasing a Critical Illness policy.  This specialized insurance provides a lump-sum, tax-free payment upon diagnosis should a policyholder suffer from certain specific critical conditions. What a difference a cash payment of $10,000, $25,000, $50,000 or even $100,000 would make to a client when their covered condition is diagnosed. The money could be used to:
  • Pay off a mortgage, or just make the monthly mortgage payments, credit card debt or other loans
  • Supplement lost income as a result of waiting periods, elimination periods or deductibles
  • Find alternate medical treatment that may normally not be covered by most health insurance plans such as experimental treatments
  • Make modifications to their home in order to accommodate different health conditions
  • Or even just to take some time off to heal and not have to worry about their business but instead concentrate on getting well again.
Having a lump sum payment from a critical illness plan paid to your client just might make the difference of the business surviving. Contact your Critical Illness marketing specialist at Financial Brokerage at 800-397-9999 to get additional information about this highly important form of protection.
Life Insurance

Back to the Future

Presented by Gary Peterson   Following is a concept that can generate life sales into the future.   When you sell a term plan to your clients, prepare them for the next sale by discussing their needs for permanent insurance.  One of our carriers offers Return of Premium on their Universal Life product in addition to a Chronic Illness rider.  Another carrier has the option to make the change from a Universal Life to an Index Universal Life.   The approach would be:
  • Sell the term
  • Prepare clients for conversion to a Universal Life in a few years
  • In 20 years, get refund of premium or exercise the Chronic Illness rider for Living Benefits (if desired)
OR
  • Change the Universal Life to an Index Universal Life to build potential supplemental retirement funds
Call me at 800-397-9999 for more details on these potential solutions for your clients.  Remember, don’t just sell for today!  
Long Term Care and Disability Insurance

Help your Clients Understand the Financial Pitfalls of a…

Presented by Leonard Berthelsen   Most consumers would be hard-pressed to explain what their real out-of-pocket costs would be if a major health issue occurred.  Deductibles, co-pays, primary doctor vs. specialist, generic vs. name brand are just a few of the costs and decisions that come up.  Then there are those expenses not really talked about or covered in their health plan such as travel, lodging, experimental drugs and procedures, not to mention time off work. Critical Illness and Cancer/Heart Attack/Stroke coverage can be a tool that financial professionals use to bridge the gap created by these out-of-pocket expenses.  Having a lump-sum check arrive while your client is undergoing cancer treatment or recovering from a heart issue can be a huge relief to them and their families. As their health plans have increased deductibles and co-pays in order to keep premiums down, this results in only “kicking the can down the road” because eventually the cost is going to come back to your clients in the form of payments for those higher deductibles and co-pays. Many people have limited disability coverage at work, if they have it at all, and it may only pay a portion of their salary or wages.  That loss of income potentially poses a huge financial risk to your client.  Having a critical illness plan can soften the blow from reduced or stopped paychecks. Critical Illness and Cancer/Heart Attack/Stroke coverage can be tailored to your clients’ exposure and are designed to have affordable premiums.  In addition, they potentially will pay for those expenses not covered by their health insurance plan.  These products have limited underwriting and great compensation. Contact your Financial Brokerage Sales Manager today at 800-397-9999 to find out how Critical Illness and Cancer/Heart Attack/Stroke coverage can help your clients weather the financial risk from a health crisis!
Long Term Care and Disability Insurance

Have you asked unsettling questions that may be vital…

Presented by Donna Ries   No one likes to think about purchasing Critical Illness insurance whether it be for personal or business reasons.  Learning how to ask alarming questions may help your prospects realize the need for coverage.  Critical Illness coverage gives you another opportunity to get in front of your existing clients.  Using these powerful techniques called “disturbing questions” will help your prospects see the problem. View Ken Smith’s, Assurity Life Director of Health Product Sales, brief video blog on Critical Illness and Disturbing questions. Mr. Smith points out how Critical Illness insurance can be a solution for business owners.  He has examples of how to ask disturbing questions to identify the problem, then use stories to present the solution.  As he states, “It’s not about the product, it’s about what the product does” that may lead to Critical Illness sales.   Contact your Financial Brokerage marketer today at 800-397-9999 to help you with your next Critical Illness prospect sales solution.
Long Term Care and Disability Insurance

Protection for the stay-at-home spouse?

Presented by Donna Ries   Few carriers allow disability income insurance protection for the homemaker due to lack of income.  Another alternative to consider is a critical illness plan. In the case of a major event such as cancer, heart attack or stroke, a lump sum payment may help the family cope with such a situation.  To qualify for critical illness, there is typically limited income restrictions, limited occupational analysis and an easy solution to a huge potential financial burden on the family. The hidden cost of major health crisis is something we don’t give much thought to.  Transportation, housing and time off of work all become big issues if care is being received away from where a person lives.  Health insurance policies don’t pay for the non-medical cost of care. “Cancer, heart attacks and strokes happen at all ages and most people are not prepared for either the emotional or financial cost,” explains Jesse Slome, Executive Director of the Industry Trade Organization.  “Nearly two-thirds of U.S. bankruptcies are the result of medical expenses and 78 percent of those filing for bankruptcy had health insurance when they were first diagnosed.” A lump sum payment may be the answer to help the affected spouse to concentrate on recovery.  Your Financial Brokerage marketer is here to help you place more of this business.  Give us a call today at 800-397-9999 to discuss the plans available.