Title: Your State Insurance Departments Mission
1(No Transcript)
2Your State Insurance Departments Mission
- To protect the public interest
- To promote competitive markets
- To facilitate the fair and equitable treatment of
insurance consumers - To promote the reliability, solvency and
financial solidity of insurance institutions - To support and improve state regulation of
insurance
3Survey of U.S. Consumers
- Young singles
- Young families
- Established families
- Empty nesters/seniors
Young Singles
Young Families
Established Families
Empty Nesters/ Seniors
4Did You Know
- 20 of young singles say they would let their
auto insurance policies lapse to save money
- 18 would decline employer health insurance to
save money
5Did You Know
- Among young families
- Fewer than half have life insurance purchased
on their own foreither spouse
- Over a third do not see the importance of both
spouses havinglife insurance
6Did You Know
- More than half of established families do not
understand terms of health insurance continuation
under COBRA
- They have to pay the full cost of their premiums
- Coverage ends after 18 months
7Did You Know
- Only 12 of empty nesters/seniors think they are
likely to need long-term care
- They significantly underestimate the cost of such
care - Their annual estimate 35,000
- Actual annual cost 70,000
- Source MetLife Mature Market Institute
8Did You Know...
- Broad need for greater awareness about fake
insurance
- 45 of consumers not suspicious about policy that
costs significantly less than comparable ones
9Public Education Initiative
10(No Transcript)
11Get Smart about Insurance
Auto
Home
Life
Health
12Basics Tips
- Shop around
- Protect yourself against fake insurance companies
- Review your coverage annually
13Introduction to Auto Insurance
14Introduction to Auto Insurance
- Policy components
- Liability
- Bodily injury to others
- Damage to others property
- Uninsured motorists injury/damage to you
- Property damage
- Collision
- Damage to your car from colliding with object
- Comprehensive
- Damage to your car from other causes
15Introduction to Auto Insurance
- Premiums affected by
- Type/model/age of car
- Safety features
- Anti-theft devices
- Where you park
- Geographic region
- Weather conditions
- Traffic patterns
- Risk of theft
- Driving record
- Your claims history
- Deductible
16Introduction to Home Insurance
17Introduction to Home Insurance
- Homeowners
- Home structure, personal property
- Renters
- Only personal property
- Actual cash value
- Replacement cost
- Flood insurance
- Not included in home owners/renters policies
- Available via National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) - Tip Inventory your personal property
18Introduction to Home Insurance
- Premiums affected by
- Homes characteristics
- Age, type of structure, wiring, roof, garage
- Location, e.g.
- Proximity to a fire station
- Exposure to extreme weather
- Theft-prone area
- Home protective devices, e.g.
- Burglar alarms
- Smoke detectors/fire extinguisher
- Sprinkler systems
- Dead-bolt locks
- Homeowners characteristics
- Non-smoker
- Good credit history
- Previous claim history
19Introduction to Life Insurance
20Introduction to Life Insurance
- Term insurance
- Covers you for term of one or more years
- Pays death benefit only if you die in that term
- Generally offers largest insurance protection per
dollar - Does not build up cash value
- May not be renewable
- Permanent insurance (whole life, universal life,
variable universal life) - Provides long-term financial protection
- Typically combines both death benefit and cash
savings - Premiums tend to be higherÂ
21Introduction to Life Insurance
- Premiums affected by
- Age you purchase your policy
- Overall health
- Pre-existing/chronic health problems, e.g.
- Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, sexually
transmitted diseases - Poor health habits, e.g.
- Smoking, excessive drinking
- Dangerous hobbies, e.g.
- Skydiving, skiing, rock climbing
- Driving record, e.g.
- Accidents, DWIs, claims, tickets
- Your geographic area
22Introduction to Health Insurance
23Introduction to Health Insurance
- Types of plans
- Major medical plans
- Indemnity
- Preferred provider organization (PPO)
- Health maintenance organization (HMO)
- Point of service plans (POS)
- Limited benefit plans
- Provide coverage for particular health care
setting,ailment or disease, e.g. - Basic hospital expense coverage
- Accident only coverage
24Introduction to Health Insurance
- Additional coverage options, e.g.
- Disability
- Long-term care
- Medicare supplemental
- Non-insurance options
- Discount plans
- Non-licensed risk-sharing plans
25Introduction to Health Insurance
- Controlling your costs
- If both spouses have employer-provided coverage,
carefully compare costs/benefits
- Regularly review your specific needs and adjust
coverage options - Stay in network as much as possible
- Obtain referrals, as required
- Comply with pre-certification requirements
- Hold onto receipts, should you exceed your
deductible - Participate in flexible spending account, if
offered by your employer - Consider combining a high-deductible catastrophic
plan with an HSA, if offered by your employer
26Pop Quiz!
- Which of the following actions may help reduce
- your auto insurance premiums
- Completing a defensive driving refresher course
- Dropping collision insurance if your car is older
- Raising your deductible
- Parking your car in an indoor garage or locked
parking lot - All of the above
27Pop Quiz!
- Which of the following actions may help reduce
- your auto insurance premiums
- Completing a defensive driving refresher course
- Dropping collision insurance if your car is older
- Raising your deductible
- Parking your car in an indoor garage or locked
parking lot - All of the above
28Pop Quiz!
- You have the option to insure your home and
belongings - for their replacement costs. Which of the
following - statements is TRUE?
- Replacement cost coverage takes into account the
amountof time you have owned the home or your
belongings. - Replacement cost coverage provides payment to
replace or rebuild your home or repair damages as
you please,without restrictions on the kind or
quality of materials used. - Replacement cost is the amount it would take to
replace or rebuild your home or repair damages,
without deducting for depreciation.
29Pop Quiz!
- You have the option to insure your home and
belongings - for their replacement costs. Which of the
following - statements is TRUE?
- Replacement cost coverage takes into account the
amountof time you have owned the home or your
belongings. - Replacement cost coverage provides payment to
replace or rebuild your home or repair damages as
you please,without restrictions on the kind or
quality of materials used. - Replacement cost is the amount it would take to
replace or rebuild your home or repair damages,
without deducting for depreciation.
30Pop Quiz!
- Which of the following definitions of term life
insurance - is TRUE?
- Term life insurance is coverage that typically
ends at the age of 40, while whole life insurance
covers you until you reach the age of 65. - Term life insurance is coverage at a guaranteed
rate for a specified period of time, while whole
life insurance covers you for as long as you live
if your premiums are paid. - Term life insurance is a flexible policy that
lets you vary your premium payments. - Term life insurance allows you to borrow against
the policy.
31Pop Quiz!
- Which of the following definitions of term life
insurance - is TRUE?
- Term life insurance is coverage that typically
ends at the age of 40, while whole life insurance
covers you until you reach the age of 65. - Term life insurance is coverage at a guaranteed
rate for a specified period of time, while whole
life insurance covers you for as long as you live
if your premiums are paid. - Term life insurance is a flexible policy that
lets you vary your premium payments. - Term life insurance allows you to borrow against
the policy.
32Special ConsiderationsYoung Singles
33Auto 101 Car Driver
- Stay on your parents policy, if possible
- Dont let coverage lapse
- Control costs prudently
- Consider how insurance rates vary with
type/model/features of car
- Dont go overboard with liability coverage
- Consider dropping collision coverage for older
car - Raise your deductible
- Commute via public transportation
- Suspend coverage if youll be traveling or
deployed in military - Take defensive driving course
- Maintain good driving record
- Maintain good grades
34Home 101 Living Single
- Understand renters insurance
- Whats covered, whats not
- Whos liable
- Owning your own policy
- Control costs prudently
- Install smoke detectors/place fire extinguishers
in key locations
35Life 101 Lessons for Life
- Weigh costs/benefits of purchasing at a young age
- Permanent, term
- Servicemans Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
- Control costs prudently
- Understand impact of
- Pre-existing/chronic health problems
- Poor health habits
- Smoking, excessive drinking
- Driving record
- Dangerous hobbies, e.g.
- Skydiving, skiing, rock climbing
36Health 101 I Got a Joband Health Insurance Too
- Even though youre young/healthy, never forgo
coverage - Know your familys health history
- Understand when
- Parents/school coverage ends
- Employment coverage begins
- Weigh health coverage in assessing job offers
- To control costs or cover interim period,
consider - High-deductible major medical policy
- Catastrophic health coverage
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- For physically demanding jobs, consider
disability coverage - Provides lost income in event of injury that
prevents you from working
37Pop Quiz!
- At this stage of your life, you might be
considering buying - your first car. Which of the following aspects of
your - vehicle does NOT affect your auto insurance
premiums? - Make and model of the vehicle whether it is an
SUV, convertible or an economy car etc. - Theft-ability Factor Whether the vehicle you
are considering is prone to theft more than the
others - Safety devices installed in the vehicle
- Fuel efficiency of the vehicle
38Pop Quiz!
- At this stage of your life, you might be
considering buying - your first car. Which of the following aspects of
your - vehicle does NOT affect your auto insurance
premiums? - Make and model of the vehicle whether it is an
SUV, convertible or an economy car etc. - Theft-ability Factor Whether the vehicle you
are considering is prone to theft more than the
others - Safety devices installed in the vehicle
- Fuel efficiency of the vehicle
39Pop Quiz!
- What is renters insurance?
- An insurance policy aimed at covering the
landlords possessions or property - Insurance on a rented car or rented boat
- Insurance that protects the insureds belongings
and provides liability coverage against damages,
losses and accidents that occur in a rented
residence - There is no such thing. If you rent, you and your
possessions are covered under the property
owners insurance.
40Pop Quiz!
- What is renters insurance?
- An insurance policy aimed at covering the
landlords possessions or property - Insurance on a rented car or rented boat
- Insurance that protects the insureds belongings
and provides liability coverage against damages,
losses and accidents that occur in a rented
residence - There is no such thing. If you rent, you and your
possessions are covered under the property
owners insurance.
41Pop Quiz!
- Often the health insurance coverage you have from
your - college or under your parents policy ceases when
you - graduate. Which of the following is the LEAST
desirable - option to obtain interim health coverage until
you get - coverage through an employer?
- Using interim coverage offered by some colleges
to their recent graduates - Purchasing the policy with the lowest premiums
regardless of the coverage - Purchasing catastrophic health coverage as a
short-term measure - All of these are good, risk-free options
42Pop Quiz!
- Often the health insurance coverage you have from
your - college or under your parents policy ceases when
you - graduate. Which of the following is the LEAST
desirable - option to obtain interim health coverage until
you get - coverage through an employer?
- Using interim coverage offered by some colleges
to their recent graduates - Purchasing the policy with the lowest premiums
regardless of the coverage - Purchasing catastrophic health coverage as a
short-term measure - All of these are good, risk-free options
43 44Special ConsiderationsYoung Families
45Auto 201 And Baby Makes Three
- Consider increasing liability coverage as you
transport children - Consider adding umbrella policy to protect your
growing assets - Understand insurance costs of stepping up to
larger vehicle - Control costs prudently
- Merge separate spouse policies
46Home 201 Owning Up to Your Home
- Understand why homes insured value will likely
be less than its market value - Insuring home/possessions, not land
- Alert insurance company to major home
improvements - Typically 5,000
- Understand your legal liability
- Consider increasing liability coverage for
backyard hazards, e.g. - Pool, trampoline, swing set
- Consider rider to cover special valuables, e.g.
- Jewelry, antiques, art
- Control costs prudently
- Consider raising deductible
47Life 201 We are Family
- Consider coverage for both spouses
- Consider child care costs in determining coverage
amounts - Weigh costs/benefits of purchasing whole life vs.
term - Update policies to name children as beneficiaries
- Consider naming trustee for underage kids
- Consider benefits of purchasing policy for newborn
48Life 201 We are Family
- Control costs prudently
- Seek discounts for healthy lifestyle improvements
- Smoking cessation
- Lowering cholesterol
- Apply for Servicemans Group Life Insurance
(SGLI), if eligible - Understand impact of
- Pre-existing/chronic health problems
- Poor health habits
- Driving record
- Dangerous hobbies, e.g.
- Skydiving, skiing, rock climbing
49Health 201 I Do! Health Insurance for Two
- If both parents are working, compare health
insurance policies to see which best meets
familys needs - Take advantage of flexible spending account, if
available - If planning to start a family, fully familiarize
yourself with coverage options, exclusions - Be aware of deadlines/requirements for covering
newborns, adoptions
50Pop Quiz!
- Why do you need to inform your insurance company
of - backyard items, such as a swing set or
trampoline? - These items will attract more visitors to your
home. - These items are more likely to cause accidents on
your property. - These items are expensive and will therefore
raise your premiums. - These items are removable and can be stolen.
51Pop Quiz!
- Why do you need to inform your insurance company
of - backyard items, such as a swing set or
trampoline? - These items will attract more visitors to your
home. - These items are more likely to cause accidents on
your property. - These items are expensive and will therefore
raise your premiums. - These items are removable and can be stolen.
52Pop Quiz!
- What are the benefits of purchasing a whole life
- insurance policy for a healthy newborn?
- Their insurability is high, and the premium costs
will be low - If health issues develop for your child later in
life, he/she may not be eligible for life
insurance coverage - A whole life policy is also an investment vehicle
- All of the above
53Pop Quiz!
- What are the benefits of purchasing a whole life
- insurance policy for a healthy newborn?
- Their insurability is high, and the premium costs
will be low - If health issues develop for your child later in
life, he/she may not be eligible for life
insurance coverage - A whole life policy is also an investment vehicle
- All of the above
54Pop Quiz!
- At this stage of your life, you might find
yourself driving - additional children in your car while carpooling.
What - action might you consider taking in order to
protect your - assets in case of an accident?
- Increase your liability insurance
- Purchase a more expensive car
- Increase your deductible
- All of the above
55Pop Quiz!
- At this stage of your life, you might find
yourself driving - additional children in your car while carpooling.
What - action might you consider taking in order to
protect your - assets in case of an accident?
- Increase your liability insurance
- Purchase a more expensive car
- Increase your deductible
- All of the above
56 57Special ConsiderationsEstablished Families
58Auto 301 Car Wars!
- Be prepared for sizeable increase as you
addteenage drivers - Female 50
- Male 100
- Consider increasing liability coverage as you
transport more children - Consider adding umbrella policy to protect your
growing assets
59Auto 301 Car Wars!
- Control costs prudently
- Carefully compare costs for new teen drivers
- Consider how insurance rates vary with
type/model/features of car - Encouarge child to maintain good grades
- Explore discounts if child away at school
- Seek discount for safe driving record
- Consider taking defensive driving course
60Home 301 Home Growth
- Add coverage as you add possessions
- Furniture, computers, stereos, TVs
- Alert insurance company to major home
improvements - Typically 5,000
- Understand your legal liability
- Consider increasing liability coverage for
backyard hazards, e.g. - Trampoline, pool
61Home 301 Home Growth
- Consider rider to cover special valuables, e.g.
- Jewelry, antiques, art
- Check whether your insurance covers possessions
of child away at college - Know whats not covered, e.g.
- Water/septic line break
62Life 301 Life Line
- Regularly review/update your policies
- Consider your childrens college education costs
in determining coverage amounts - If considering an annuity, explore
- Types
- Single premium
- Multiple premium
- Fixed
- Deferred
- Variable
- Access to principal
- Penalties
- Fees
- Tax treatment
63Health 301 Growing Pains
- Review coverage options with this life stage in
mind, e.g. - Pregnancy-related services
- Consider flexible spending account for items not
typically covered, e.g. - Allergy tests, braces, eyeglasses, retainers
- Know your COBRA rights/responsibilities
- Carefully, consider costs/benefits of long-term
care insurance if youre over 50
64Pop Quiz!
- In general, which gender teenage driver is likely
to raise - your auto insurance rates the most when you add
- him/her to your plan?
- Male
- Female
65Pop Quiz!
- In general, which gender teenage driver is likely
to raise - your auto insurance rates the most when you add
- him/her to your plan?
- Male
- Female
66Pop Quiz!
- A scheduled personal property endorsement (also
- known as a personal article floater) provides
broader - coverage than is typically included in your
regular home - insurance policy for specific expensive items.
Which item - would NOT need to be covered by a floater?
-
- a diamond ring
- a laptop computer
- an antique armoire
- a fur coat
67Pop Quiz!
- A scheduled personal property endorsement (also
- known as a personal article floater) provides
broader - coverage than is typically included in your
regular home - insurance policy for specific expensive items.
Which item - would NOT need to be covered by a floater?
-
- a diamond ring
- a laptop computer
- an antique armoire
- a fur coat
68Pop Quiz!
- Which of the following statements is TRUE about
your - right to continue obtaining health coverage under
COBRA? - Under COBRA, you and your family can elect to
continue to be covered by your former employers
group health plan for typically up to 18 months
after your employment situation changes,
providing you pay the premiums on time. - Under COBRA, you can negotiate better insurance
rates with your next employer or when you set up
your own coverage for your new business. - Under COBRA, your former employer must continue
to pay your health insurance premiums typically
for 18 months if you want to remain on the
employers group health plan.
69Pop Quiz!
- Which of the following statements is TRUE about
your - right to continue obtaining health coverage under
COBRA? - Under COBRA, you and your family can elect to
continue to be covered by your former employers
group health plan for typically up to 18 months
after your employment situation changes,
providing you pay the premiums on time. - Under COBRA, you can negotiate better insurance
rates with your next employer or when you set up
your own coverage for your new business. - Under COBRA, your former employer must continue
to pay your health insurance premiums typically
for 18 months if you want to remain on the
employers group health plan.
70 71Special ConsiderationsEmpty Nesters/Seniors
72Auto 401 Traveling On
- Take advantage of age-related discounts
- Mature driver
- Limited mileage/daytime only driver
- Long-term employee
- Alert insurance company if your children have
reached18 and left home - Consider taking a senior driving refresher
course, e.g. - AARPs 55Alive
- National Institute of Highway Safety
- AAA
- Consider adding umbrella policy to protect your
growing assets - Consider dropping collision insurance for older
car
73Home 401 Small is Beautiful
- Take advantage of discounts for retirees that
spendmore time at home - Consider increasing liability coverage
- To better protect your retirement assets
- To cover home-based business
- Understand your legal liability
- Review whether coverage limits are in line with
replacement costs in todays market
74Home 401 Small is Beautiful
- Consider increasing rider to cover appreciation
of special valuables, e.g. - Jewelry, antiques, art
- Consider insurance cost benefits of renting vs.
owning at this life stage - Consider consolidating coverage of primary home,
vacation home, boat with single company - Notify insurance company if youve paid off
mortgage
75Life 401 Late-in-Life Insurance
- Inquire about converting group life insurance
intoindividual policy - Review your policies to determine whether you can
decrease coverage - Spouse living?
- Home paid off?
- Other financial assets?
- Children financially independent?
- Impact of debts, estate taxes on heirs?
- Update beneficiary designations
- Consider pros/cons of diverting cash value into
long-term care policy
76Life 401 Late-in-Life Insurance
- Consider pros/cons of withdrawing funds
penalty-freefrom your 401K or IRA and purchasing
an annuity - Types
- Single premium
- Multiple premium
- Fixed
- Deferred
- Variable
- Access to principal
- Penalties
- Tax treatment
- Fees
- Carefully evaluate pros/cons of selling policy
for life settlement - Understand limits of final expense policies
77Health 401 Happy, Healthy Hip (Replacement)
- If your child is a full-time college student,
determine whether he/she can still be covered
under your employers insurance - If you retire before eligibility for Medicare
- Know your COBRA rights/responsibilities
- Consider high-deductible major medical policy or
catastrophic health coverage
- Be wary of discount health cards
- Call state insurance department to determine
legitimacy - Consider whether you still need disability
insurance - Before purchasing long-term care insurance,
carefully analyze whether you can afford premiums
for extended period of years, understand benefit
triggers
78Medicare Coverage
- Traditional Medicare plan
- Part A (hospital bills)
- Paid for via your working lifetime contributions
- Part B (doctors bills)
- Monthly payments
- Medigap policy
- Incremental cost
- Covers medical/hospital expenses, deductibles not
covered by Medicare - Medicare Advantage plan
- Private plans with more choices/benefits
- Eliminates need for Medigap policy
- Incremental cost
79Medicare Coverage
- Medicare Part D (prescription drug benefit)
- Federal government subsidized private plans
- Considerations
- Will you save money vs. plans premiums/deductible
s
- Which plan best suits your needs?
- How will enrollment affect retiree benefits you
currently receive? - Key enrollment dates
- May 15, 2006 (current year)
- November 15, 2006 (for 2007)
80Pop Quiz!
- You may qualify for lower premiums on your
- homeowners policy because
- As a retiree, you are more likely to be around
home more of the time and can therefore watch
over your home and possessions. - You have consolidated your homeowners and auto
policies at the same insurer, thereby
qualifying for a multi-policy discount. - Now that your children have left home, you decide
to sell your older home and buy a new home,
smaller in size. - All of the above
81Pop Quiz!
- You may qualify for lower premiums on your
- homeowners policy because
- As a retiree, you are more likely to be around
home more of the time and can therefore watch
over your home and possessions. - You have consolidated your homeowners and auto
policies at the same insurer, thereby
qualifying for a multi-policy discount. - Now that your children have left home, you decide
to sell your older home and buy a new home,
smaller in size. - All of the above
82Pop Quiz!
- You are about to retire, and your only life
insurance is the - coverage provided by your employer. Which of the
- following statements is TRUE?
- You can definitely keep your life insurance
coverage as long as you pay the premiums. - In some cases, you can convert group life to
individual coverage. - You can never convert group life to individual
coverage. - You are out of luck because people over 65 dont
qualify for individual life insurance.
83Pop Quiz!
- You are about to retire, and your only life
insurance is the - coverage provided by your employer. Which of the
- following statements is TRUE?
- You can definitely keep your life insurance
coverage as long as you pay the premiums. - In some cases, you can convert group life to
individual coverage. - You can never convert group life to individual
coverage. - You are out of luck because people over 65 dont
qualify for individual life insurance.
84Pop Quiz!
- If you are on Medicare, you cannot be covered by
a health - maintenance organization (HMO). True or False?
- True
- False
85Pop Quiz!
- If you are on Medicare, you cannot be covered by
a health - maintenance organization (HMO). True or False?
- True
- False
86 87Fight Fake Insurance
88Fight Fake Insurance
- Annually, 1,000s of consumers defrauded by fake
insurance companies - Collect premiums
- Dont pay claims
- Fake health insurance
- 144 fake insurers
- 200,000 bogus policies
- 252 million unpaid claims
- Source General Accounting Office, 2000-2002
report
89Fight Fake Insurance
- Protect yourself!
- Before signing up for policy or writing check
- Stop, call your state insurance department
- Confirm whether insurance company is licensed in
this state
- Warning signs
- Aggressive agent or broker
- Significantly lower premiums (15-20)
- Unlisted phone
90Fight Fake Insurance
91Fight Fake Insurance
- Embed PSA or screen grabs
92Pop Quiz!
- To protect yourself from buying a fake policy,
what is - your best source of information to ensure that
the - company with which youre dealing is legitimate
and - licensed to sell insurance in your state?
- Your parents
- Your friends
- The insurance agent selling the policy
- Your state insurance department
93Pop Quiz!
- To protect yourself from buying a fake policy,
what is - your best source of information to ensure that
the - company with which youre dealing is legitimate
and - licensed to sell insurance in your state?
- Your parents
- Your friends
- The insurance agent selling the policy
- Your state insurance department
94Get Smart About Insurance Resources
- www.InsureUonline.org
- Get Smart about Insurance online curriculum
- Order forms for consumer booklets
- Consumer Information Source
- Search complaints for individual insurance
companies - Online fraud reporting system
- Report suspected insurance fraud
- www.floodsmart.gov
- Official site of the National Flood Insurance
Program - Senior Health Insurance Information Program
- Available in every state
95(No Transcript)