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ABE insurance reps Charlene and Nancy are waiting to hear from you!
Smile More. Live More.
Growing up, your parents probably stressed the importance of brushing your teeth (twice) daily as the minimum care you provided for your oral cavity. If you were afforded the opportunity to visit a dentist often, s(he) encouraged you to floss as often as you eat, rinse with fluoride, and stay away from foods loaded in sugar as they are leading causes for cavities.
Since then, you may have developed one or two cavities while other people may not have developed any, even with inadequate oral health care. While cavities are clear indicators that you have neglected your teeth, some dental issues are not as obvious as cavities and can lie dormant for years before you figure out that something is wrong.
Here are a few reasons why you should put more effort into your oral health routine:
- Regular dentist visits (once or twice a year) can tell dentists a lot about your overall health, including whether or not you may be developing a disease like diabetes.
- According to the Academy of General Dentistry, there is a relationship between gum (periodontal) disease and health complications such as stroke and heart disease.
- Other research shows that 90 percent of all systemic diseases (ex: Leukemia, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease) have oral manifestations, including swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth, and excessive gum problems.
As a rule of thumb, if you look good on the inside, you will look good on the outside, and feel good overall. What better accessory to complete your outfit than a smile? The healthier your teeth are, the more likely you are to smile, and more approachable you appear to those around you. So, smile more; live more!
Consider dental coverage today with ABE’s for-profit subsidiary American Bar Insurance Plan Consultants Inc. and help yourself to a healthier, happier you.
Sources: http://www.deltadentalins.com/oral_health/dentalhealth.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-30940701/the-importance-of-a-smile/
It’s Not Just About Premiums…
Let’s be honest, insurance and the insurance industry as a whole, does not have the most favorable reputation. With millions of Americans uninsured, insurance is viewed as a luxury, afforded only to those with full-time jobs, a vast amount of disposable income, or both. However, when we reflect on the benefits of not having to pay for health care out-of-pocket and having emergency cash (from plans like ABE’s Hospital Money Plan) when “life” happens, we know that ABE-sponsored insurance policyholders realize the importance of insurance and consider it a necessity.
We scoured the news today and found that the insurance industry may be more beneficial than many think; even for uninsured persons. Take a look at these top stories.
- “Insurers Boost California’s Economy by $34.7 Billion”
With the U.S. and global economy at their most stagnant points, it is good to know that this “unfavorable” practice – insurance – can make a positive impact on a greater number of people whether insured or uninsured. - “Insurers Pay Out $1.13B for Joplin, Missouri Tornado Damage”
Unlike response rates to Hurricane Katrina, government and insurance companies’ reactions to the May disaster in Joplin had a quicker turnaround than expected.
Even across the pound, insurers are doing what they can to make charitable contributions in the same way the ABE does (through donations of your experience credits or dividends): “Annual Trade Credit Industry Dinner Raises £15,000 For Education Charity.”
So, the next time someone engages you in a conversation about the “awful” insurance industry, remind them of the personal and philanthropic benefits you and your family have been afforded through having ABE-sponsored insurance. It really is not just about the premiums.
To Give or Not To Give?
The season of friends, family, overeating, drained checking accounts, maxed out credit cards, and GIVING is nigh! Although this is the season of overindulgence, the stagnant economy may force most people to limit their holiday spending and give less. However, with that in mind, do not let that stop you from giving to those who need your help most.
As you may know already, any excess premium (dividends and experience credits) remaining from your ABE-sponsored insurance plans is donated to the Endowment, who distributes them as grants to the ABA’s Fund for Justice & Education (FJE) and the American Bar Foundation. This grant money is then used to fund public service, research, and educational projects in the field of law.
The money you donate helps to make a difference in the lives of underserved – children, seniors, victims of domestic violence, or those who do not have the money to hire a lawyer to defend them, making your dividends and experience credits the best gifts one can ever give!
So this year, forgo your dividends and experience credits to help a person who does not have everything like that one person on your gift list who actually has everything, or who needs a gift as opposed to that person on your list who said (s)he does not want anything at all. Allow a little to go a long way this holiday season!
To learn more about where your dividends and experience credits go, visit the “Dividends at Work” page on the ABE’s website.
The Easiest Way to Quit…
On August 29, 2011, Illinois governor, Pat Quinn, signed into law a mandate that requires insurance providers to offer coverage for services meant to get smokers to kick the habit. Backed by the American Lung Association of Illinois, this new law is expected to help thousands of smokers who want to quit but cannot afford the various programs out there that can help them. While it may take a while for all Illinois insurance providers to implement these new services, help is still available for those struggling to kick the habit.
It is no mystery that the core substance in cigarettes – tobacco – is the root cause of addiction. Tobacco naturally contains large amount of nicotine, a bitter-tasting compound that if ingested excessively, can lead to poisoning. Although nicotine poisoning is rare with adults, acute nicotine poisoning usually occurs when young children accidentally chew on nicotine gum or patches.
Insurance providers typically consider cigarette smokers risks and may opt out of providing coverage to them or cover them at higher premium costs. The main reason for this is that terminal cigarette smokers are more likely to develop lung or throat cancer and other diseases brought about by smoking, requiring them more medical attention than their non smoking counterparts.
Here at the American Bar Endowment, we know that you are as concerned about the health of your loved ones as we are concerned about providing you the best coverage that we can. If you know someone who is trying to give up the habit [and lives in Illinois], inform them of the new law and let them know that help is available for them. If their insurance provider does not cover costs of services that help them quit smoking, visit www.smokefree.gov, a government website that offers smokers and former smokers alike free resources to help them quit.
Remember, quitting is hard, but not quitting is even worse.
Sources:
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/poison/nicotine/overview.html
Things to Know About Life Insurance
When you are young and “immortal”, you can never validate the need for a term life insurance plan. Besides the fact that your last hospital visit was likely the day you were born, or to get a cast after you bust your kneecap while riding a moped on your recent summer vacation, nothing drastic has happened to you for you to feel inclined to invest in a life insurance plan. Unfortunately, life happens… and with life comes the unexpected, so why not prepare for the unexpected?
Here are three things that you should know about life insurance:
- The older you get, the more likely it is for your health to not be in the same shape as it was in your 20s or 30s. Therefore, you are encouraged to purchase when you are healthy, as older people and those not in the best health oft pay higher rates.
- Younger people tend to rely on the life insurance provided by their employers to cover their insurance needs. However, this coverage is usually not enough to adequately meet your insurance needs. Further, group life insurance plans through your employer are not portable, which means you lose coverage in the event that you become unemployed.
- It is okay for you to start out with a life insurance plan that is offered at a smaller amount, for example: the 5-Year Banded Term Life Plan. If you cannot afford all the insurance you need or would like to have right now, plans like this are always available.
If you were thinking of getting life insurance, but were unsure of its benefits and if there is a plan suitable enough to meet your current needs, give us a call at 1-800-621-8981 ext. 6419/6420 and we will be happy to discuss different life insurance plan options with you. Remember, life insurance is not the beginning of the end; rather, it is a start for a secured future.
Avoid The Thirthieth Percentile!
September is life insurance awareness month, so the American Bar Endowment wants to make sure that you and your loved ones are prepared for the inevitable but sometimes unexpected slap of death.
There is a common misconception that life insurance is meant only for older persons – this could not be farther from the truth. Life insurance is not a guarantor of death; rather, it is a safety net. It gives you peace of mind that should death arise, you and/or your family can grieve instead of worrying about how hospital bills, loans, and other debts left behind by loved ones will be paid for.
Life insurance benefits survivors in many ways: it can pay off mortgages – keeping your loved ones in their home, fund or pre-fund a child’s college education, provide the capital needed to keep your law practice going; the list goes does not end. Knowing this, why have you not covered yourself yet?
Research statistics provided by a LIMRA study shows that 30 percent of US households have no life insurance at all. What does this mean? This means that in a group of 10 breadwinners, three of them would likely leave their families struggling with financial debts when they are deceased. Do not be a part of that 30 percent! Obtain life insurance today from trusted insurers that will cover you and your family even when you are no longer around to do so.
Sources:
http://www.lifehappens.org/life-insurance-awareness-month/
Children Need To Be Covered Too!
School is back in session! The new school year may mean several things for you as a parent depending on the age of your child. For parents with kids who started the first grade, this is likely an emotional time; for parents with pre-adolescent children, the new school year has likely brought great relief, as you no longer have to worry about babysitters and finding activities to keep your child occupied while you are at work.
Parents of college-bound students probably experienced something entirely different because their children, who were first graders one time ago and required babysitters at some point of their lives, are now adults; soon to be [financially] independent. However, that moment of complete financial independence has not arrived yet, which means, you still need to do whatever you can to make sure your child is taken care of and covered… and what better way to cover your child than to make sure he or she (and their property) is insured?
A common misconception among parents of college-age children is that their insurance policies will cover their children while at college; unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many homeowner policies will cover a student’s possessions in the event of theft, fire, and vandalism, but only if the student resides in a school-sponsored dorm.
For students residing in off-campus housing, coverage by existing homeowner policies is even more difficult. It is not too late for parents to obtain renters policies to cover their children’s belongings in the event that property is stolen or damaged due to fire, theft, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Although classes have resumed, you should still insure that your child is covered while in school and away from your watchful eyes. Be sure to visit our website to learn more about the various plans we offer that will provide you and your children coverage and peace of mind.
We Are Switching to WordPress!
After two years of blogging via “Blogger”, the American Bar Endowment has decided to switch to WordPress! The process will take a few weeks, so we appreciate your patience as we try to make your interactive blog experience worthwhile.
We look forward to your comments, questions, and even suggestions.
For smartphone users, be sure to download WordPress to your mobile devices so you can view our blog whenever you want; where ever you want.
In the main time, please continue to visit our old blog until the move is complete.
Thank you for your continued patronage!
American Bar Endowment
