April 2008
Come Back & See Us Real Soon, Ya Hear?
In a separate article, I bashed surveys for a number of reasons.
To recap briefly, they’re unreliable, slow, unrepresentative of customer sentiments at large, and there are more direct ways of tapping into customer satisfaction.
One of the best ways of doing this is by asking a customer how things are going DURING the transaction, itself.
One of my law professors, who helped Subway to expand across country, said you have no business owning a restaurant if you’re too shy or lazy to walk up to customers and ask, “How’s your meal?”
It’s absolutely essential, he said, if you want to control quality, get valuable feedback right away, and show that you care about customer service.
And it’s incredibly simple, isn’t it?
There’s no paperwork to fill out, no forms to mail, nothing to tally, and it is done, one customer at a time. The CRM (Customer Relationship Management) folks make it seem as if they’ve invented a one-to-one interest in customers.
Baloney! That’s what existed before we tried to get fancy and bureaucratic about monitoring and managing customer satisfaction.
Another ideal time to tap customer satisfaction is before they leave the store, your site, or the telephone line. The folksy way of doing this was always saying, “Come back and see us real soon; ya hear?”
Saying the line is important, but even more significant is monitoring how customers respond.
One after another should be saying, “Will do! and “Sure thing! and “You bet!”
If they’re silent, avoid eye contact, or just grumble, you’re in big trouble!
I’ve written at length about the importance of generating customer recommitments. These are explicit pledges that customers are happy enough to return and are committing to do so.
“Will do! and “Sure thing! and “You bet!” are all recommitments.
If you want customer loyalty and an immediate signal of satisfaction, they are money in the bank.
Figure out how to agreeably ask for and get feedback in the here-and-now about how you’re serving and satisfying customers. It’s faster, cheaper, and more reliable than more “clever” means.
Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.
Fibre - Its Importance to Our Health
All About Fibre
We all know that having the correct amount of dietary fibre in our diets is extremely important. There are countless articles in the media, and reports from the Department of Health urging us to increase our fibre intake. From the moment we are born, we constantly flush our digestive tract with food. At three meals per day a 20 years old will have eaten 15,000 meals. It is important that the flow of foods be regular and that debris not plug up our intestinal walls and interfere with the nutrient transfer into our body.
But what is diatary fibre, what does it do and how do I get the right amount in my diet? This resource aims to answer these questions.
What Exactly is Dietary Fibre?
Dietary ibre is the roughage found in cereals, fruit and vegetables. It is basically the plant cell walls that give shape and rigidity to trees, shrubs, grasses and herbs. When plants are eaten, we gain a number of health benefits from the nutrients they provide, along with the positive effects of fibre within the digestive tract.
The fibre composition of plants varies based on plant species but, generally, all plants contain all kinds of fiber. The 2 main categories are:
- Water-insoluble, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin; and
- Water-soluble, including pectin, gums, and mucilage. Water-soluble fiber is considered the most health-benefiting type of fiber, especially mucilage fiber.
Insoluble Fibre
Wheat bran and whole grains, as well as the skins of many fruits and vegetables, and seeds, are rich sources of insoluble fibre. The outer fibre layer is often removed in food processing by milling, peeling, boiling or extracting and so people are often not eating enough insoluble fibre.
Insoluble fibre makes stools heavier and speeds their passage through the gut. Like a sponge, it absorbs many times its weight in water, swelling up and helping to eliminate feces and relieve constipation.
Soluble Fibre
Soluble fibre is found in oats, legumes (peas, kidney beans, lentils), some seeds, brown rice, barley, oats, fruits (such as apples), some green vegetables (such as broccoli) and potatoes.
Soluble fibre breaks down as it passes though the digestive tract, resulting in a gel that traps some substances related to high cholesterol. Evidence exists that soluble fibre may reduce heart disease risks by reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream.
Recent studies have found that people consuming high-fibre diets have lower total cholesterol levels and may be less likely to form harmful blood clots than those who consume less soluble fibre. A recent USA report found that, in sufficient amounts, fibre apparently reduced heart disease risks among men who ate more than 25 grams per day, compared to those consuming less than 15 grams daily.
Why we need dietary fibre
Let’s take a good look at how fibre can help us:
Insoluble fibre:
- Delays gastric emptying time and the absorption of nutrients from the small intestine;
- Sweeps debris out of the gut, thereby improving nutrient absorption;
- Bulks stools;
- Accelerates colonic transit time;
- Regulates bowels better than other laxatives;
- Promotes colon health;
- Supports weight loss;
Soluble fibre has the following benefits in addition to the benefits above!
- Escorts cholesterol and triglycerides out of the body and inhibits their production in the liver;
- Assists with the elimination of toxins, and heavy metals in the body;
- Stimulates pancreatic enzyme release and activity;
- Stabilizes blood glucose by slowing down glucose absorption;
- Aids in weight loss by providing a feeling of fullness and reducing calorie absorption;
- Improves bowel regularity by absorbing water;
- Speeds the passage/elimination of waste from your system, by significantly increasing colonic transit time;
- Eases irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in some cases;
- Soothes our intestines;
- Helps to stabalise blood sugar levels: We have all experienced blood sugar fluctuations, which cause us, for example, to be fine one minute and exhausted the next. Soluble fibre from legumes, barley and oats can help to regulate blood sugar swings by delaying the intestinal absorption of sugar and so helps to maintain energy balance in the body;
- Protects against heart disease: Several large studies in America, Finland and Norway have found that people who eat relatively large amounts of wholegrain cereals have significantly lower rates of heart disease and stroke. It’s thought that a particular type of fibre called soluble fibre may be partly responsible as it helps to lower blood cholesterol levels;
- Reduces excess blood fats;
- Combats constipation;
- In the bowel, bacteria convert fibre into short chain fatty acids, which provide energy for the body and may help protect against cancer;
- Mucilage sooths irritated intestinal linings;
- Feeds friendly bowel bacteria;
- Escorts bile acids, toxins and cholesterol out of the body;
- Lowers the GI of carbohydrates by stabalising insulin function.
On the reverse side, not having enough fibre in the diet is at least partly responsible for a number of problems, including:
- Elevated cholesterol;
- Low and high blood sugar levels;
- Bowel stagnation;
- Colon cancer and other cancers;
- Diabetes;
- High blood pressure;
- Certain types of heart disease.
How Much Dietary Fibre?
The Department of Health recommends that you consume a minimum of 18 grams of dietary fibre per day, from a variety of foods whose constituents contain fibre. Although it does not differentiate between types of fibre.
Research suggests that 35-50 grams (1-2 ounces) per day brings optimum bowel health for adults, but the average person only gets about 12 grams per day.
Where do I get fibre? What are high fibre foods?
Foods from plant sources are the only ones that supply us with enough fibre necessary for health. Animal products lack fibre. High fibre foods include:
- Unprocessed seeds like flax, psyllium, sesame, sunflower and chia, and nuts (but not the oils from them);
- Wheat, oat, barley, and rice bran and other whole grains such as brown rice (but not the white rice or white flour made from them);
- Certain vegetables such as beets, asparagus, broccoli, artichokes, carrots, brussels sprouts, parsnips, spinach, and yams (excluding one-celled greens);
- Mucilaginous herbs like slippery elm;
- Several kinds of seaweed such as kelp or dulse;
- Legumes such as kidney, lima, pinto, navy and soy beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas;
- Pectin of some fruits such as apples, pears, prunes and raspberries;
- Supplements of concentrated fiber.
Diets deprived of fibre can be corrected by incorporating more of the fiber-rich foods (such as the ones listed above) into your diet, or by adding fibre supplements to fiber-poor foods.
Can fibre help with weight loss?
Fibre can be a useful ally on a weight loss plan:
- Most dietary fibre does not contain any calories, which means that fibre rich foods are often lower in calories than foods containing no/small amount of fibre.
- Fibre also takes longer to chew, which automatically slows down your eating speed. By doing this it gives your brain longer to register feelings of fullness, so you are less likely to overeat.
- Fibre rich foods also act like a sponge and absorb and hold onto water as it is chewed in the mouth and passes to the stomach. Fibre rich foods will swell up in the stomach and help you feel full.
- Fibre stays in the stomach longer, keeping you full and less likely to want to snack between meals.
How can I supplement my diet with fibre?
Udo’s Choice Beyond Greens
Some fantastic products exist to boost the amount of soluble and insoluble food in your diet. Beyond Greens provides both kinds of fibre; especially rich in water-soluble mucilage. As well as fibre, Beyond Greens also contains:
- 50 super foods, food concentrates, and plant extracts;
A rich blend of greens from 9 different sources: organic alfalfa, barley, rye, and oat grass powders; spirulina; chlorella; broccoli; parsley; and kale; - Omega 3 and 6 essential fats from organic flax, sunflower, and sesame seeds, as well as pumpkin seed, and rice and oat germ;
- Protein from seeds and greens;
- Both kinds of fiber; especially rich in water-soluble mucilage;
- Phytonutrients and antioxidants from many herbs to support the functions of inner organs: immune system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, liver, kidneys, and pancreas;
- Concentrates of the best vegetables: carrot, tomato, beet, kale, and others;
- Low carbohydrates and therefore good for weight loss and glucose stability;
- A completely vegetarian meal;
- A food free of dairy, wheat, yeast, and other common allergens; and
- Taste enhanced greens with natural flavors.
HUSK Natural Fibre
Brand new to the UK, HUSK is made from the husk of the Psyllium seed. It has been clinically proven to help IBS sufferers and carries a herbal medicinal license to prove it! HUSK is ideal for those wishing to ensure their daily intake of fibre. 100% natural and backed by a medicinal herb license, HUSK takes the pressure off dietary fibre intake.
If you have any questions regarding fibre, supplements, or any other nutrition guides, please do not hesitate to contact us at Energise for Life
Our Aim - To provide you with every health and nutrition resource you need to achieve optimal health and energy. We aim to provide a one-stop-shop for all of your health and vitality needs within a 100% customer focused environment.
What We Do - We provide a fantastic range of health products from suppliers such as Innerlight, Udo Erasmus and Bioforce. Our commitment to offer you the greatest possible choice ensures that you are able to reach your health goals regardless of budget or taste.
Why We’re Different - At Energise for Life we bring you all of the nutrition advice you need to make the most informed decisions about your diet and lifestyle - our focus on the alkaline diet approach makes us unique in the health market.
Lack Funds to Buy a New Car? Take a Car Loan
Gone are the days when cars were included in the list of luxury items. Cars have become a necessity nowadays. With a remarkable increase in the living standard of people, cars have become an inalienable part of our lives.
A car gives you the independence to commute at your own will. There are a large number of people who use cars for different purposes such as Office-goers, businessmen, students, small merchants, doctors, engineers and other professionals etc.
But everyone is not satisfied with the car he/she possesses. Your car may be old and you want to replace it with a new one. Most of us want luxurious cars these days fitted with state of the art technology. But, the problem arises when many of such people willing to buy new cars fall short of finances. Taking a CAR LOAN is a wise option in this case.
A CAR LOAN is specifically meant for your car-buying requirement. You may choose from among a variety of cars available in the market and apply for a car loan accordingly. When you want to avail a car loan you have two options. Either you can avail a secured car loan or an unsecured car loan.
A secured car loan is provided against collateral, which is usually your house. But, in case you don’t have your own house or you don’t want to risk your house, take an unsecured car loan. In a secured car loan you will be charged with low interest rate. The monthly installment will also be small and the repayment duration will be short. Whereas, in case of unsecured car loan the interest rates are a bit higher. The monthly installments are bigger and the repayment period is shorter.
Since availing a secured car loan involves time consuming affairs like valuation of your house and paper work attached with it, more people go for unsecured car loans. This is also because they want to repay their debt in a short span of time and they don’t want to risk their homes. In the UK, there has been a marked increase in the number of people who avail unsecured loans rather than secured loans.
The process for getting a loan has also become easier with the advent of internet. Now, you can get a car loan sitting at home by just filling an online loan application form. You no more need to run after brokers or visit finance companies.
About The Author :
The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Ask4Loan as a finance specialist.
For more information please visit at:http://www.ask4loan.co.uk
Generate Revenue with Hotel Call Accounting Software
Communication services are essential to the majority of
hospitality guests. Many business executives and travelers
demand efficient facilities that can keep them in touch with
home base. It is imperative for sophisticated hotel billing
software to account for telephone charges, Internet usage,
equipment fees, surcharges and taxes in real time.
Virtually every major hotel has some form of call tracking or
call accounting software. The declining cost of telephone calls
has seen a decline in revenue. Gone are the days when hotels
could command huge margins for simply picking up the telephone.
At one time, it was not uncommon for hotels to mark up telephone
calls 80 to 100 percent. Sometimes your telephone charges could
account for a larger cost than the room rate.
In the past, a decent hotel call accounting system would
generally been left in the back room logging long distance call
records from a PBX serial port. The system would apply
exorbitant rates and post them to the property management
system. Tariff updates from the manufacturer were usually
ignored (since the updates usually contained lower billing
plans).
Hotel telecom revenues are now declining at a steady rate of 3
to 6 per cent per year. Hotel general managers and comptrollers
are forced to become more creative to meet bottom line
objectives for communication. The traditional call accounting
system cash cow now needs to be fined tuned to adapt to new
technologies and market competition. The answer lies in the
creative use of new call accounting modules or more
appropriately a communication management system (CMS).
The proper utilization of a hotel call accounting system can
still derive huge benefits. Guests that get busy signals will
find alternate ways to make telephone calls. It is of utmost
importance for properties to track the number of busy signals,
overflow or blocked calls. This can be accomplished through the
use of traffic reports that identify grade of service and peak
calling hours. These reports often recommend the proper number
of trunks or lines for the property to run smoothly.
Long distance calling has been declining for years. However
local and toll free calls have been fairly steady. The use of
billing thresholds can help increase revenue. Certainly a guest
that talks for thirty minutes on a local call could be charged a
small amount for facility usage. Some hotels have turned to
adjusting room rates a fixed amount to compensate for lost
telecom revenue.
The rise of internet usage has forced many hotels to provide
free internet access. This has compounded the problem for the
telecom department. Many guests and business travelers have
found other convenient means of communication (IP services,
instant messaging, email, cellular phones) that are not part of
the infrastructure of the hotel property. The advent of flat
rate VoIP providers has given the business traveler the ability
to bypass toll charges. A modern communication management system
should be capable of adding internet usage charges into guest
folios.
Proactive hotel properties use call accounting reports to
determine calling patterns that show where guests are calling.
These statistics help the hotel target marketing and negotiate
better tariff plans. Night auditors have always been asked to
reconcile daily transactions. However most failed to reconcile
the transactions against the actual telephone bill. Examining
telephone company records versus the call accounting records
helps to ensure that all calls are being recorded, billed and
appropriately surcharged.
Many hotel call accounting systems are missing critical
information. Often extensions are not identified correctly as
guest rooms, conference rooms, VIP or administrative. This can
result in inaccurate billing and lost revenue. Properties should
ensure that their call accounting system is loaded and
configured properly on a monthly basis. Most banner properties
have a preset tariff table that is deployed among all
properties. System administrators should ensure that all
properties follow the same guidelines.
As more communication facilities are offered by the property,
the communication management system will be required to account
for hotel cell phones, calls made with authorization codes,
internet service, hand held devices and other guest amenities.
Discover more about call accounting, internet usage, hotel
billing and telephone reporting from Resource Software
International Ltd. (RSI).
Alaska Paddling Vacations
Paddling vacations are romantic getaways from busy city life. The vacation is an adventurous scenic cruise, thus making it a pleasurable way to understand nature and its magnificence.
Fox Island, one of the best places for paddling in Alaska, has a magical mix of temperate rain forests, sculpted cliffs, long pebbled beaches and protected coves. Sea lions, sea otters and whales are a common sight in the waters of Alaska, adding a touch of grandeur to paddling. It is a great place to learn or refine your paddling skills while becoming familiar with the ecosystem.
Kayaking is one of the most talked-about summer paddling activities in Alaska. Paddling is the most favored vacation option for most people, because of the many miles of coastline that the state has to offer. During the summer months, visitors can see orca whales. One of the most exciting aspects of an Alaska kayaking expedition is the opportunity to see abundant marine wildlife at close range.
Experienced sea kayakers and educators often overlook paddling exercises. Some of the tour operators hire environmental scientists or biologists as guides. The traveling groups are restricted to small sizes, thereby ensuring the safety of each traveler.
Alaska has unpredictable weather, and it is always advisable to dress in layers. This allows people to stay warm and dry if the temperature drops; they can also cool off by removing layers when the temperature spikes. People should carry adequate warm clothing, rain gear and extra sets of clothing. It is also wise to carry a first-aid kit while traveling.
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Alaska Vacations provides detailed information on Alaska Vacations, Alaska Fishing Vacations, Alaska Vacation Packages, Alaska Paddling Vacations and more. Alaska Vacations is affiliated with Alaska Cruises and Ships. |
Choosing Dish Network
Dish Network is a satellite TV service that brings hundreds of channels directly into your home. This includes a wide selection of news, movies, sports, comedy, romance, and action. Dish Network is a low cost way for your family to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment.
When you choose to use Dish Network, you can expect to have quality digital content delivered to your television screen. The images you see will be encoded digitally, and will arrive to your screen the way it was programmed to arrive.
Basic cable services generally use analog technology in which the images are fuzzy, and tend to distort with static. Many of these cable companies don’t bother to inform their customers that when they upgrade to digital cable, only a portion of the channels are digital. Many of the channels are still analog.
But Dish network isn’t just about providing you with better pictures. There are many other technological advantages Dish Network has over standard cable companies. You have the opportunity to upgrade to high definition TV for low prices. High definition television offers you the sharpest images available on the market today.
You can also upgrade to DVR (Digital Video Recorder), giving you the ability to have more control over what you watch, pausing live shows or recording them without a tape. Using DVR you can also replay images and skip any commercials, which are recorded.
As of the beginning of 2006, 12 million people have chosen to use Dish Network. Its popularity has greatly increased, and it offers excellent prices in comparison to other cable companies. If you decide to choose Dish Network, it may be helpful for you to ask about any promotions they may be offering.
Some promotions allow you to get 30 days of free programming you if choose to sign up within a certain time period. You can also get free installation if you choose to purchase Dish Network under certain promotions.
The primary reason for Dish Network’s rising popularity is the type of programming they offer. With the dozens of services they offer, many other cable companies simply cannot compete. In addition to the excellent image quality you will experience with Dish Network, you will also be amazed by the digital audio quality of the shows you watch.
Dish Network is the first company in the world with the new HD receiver, which uses a MPEG-4/DVB system. They also operate their own satellite, and plan to launch more in the future. They manufacture their own hardware, which is state of the art. Dish Network gives its customers unprecedented control over the channels they watch.
Customers are also allowed to create their own programming packages, giving them more control over what channels they choose to view. Dish Network also operates an installation service, which is professional, and is located nationwide.
If you want a satellite TV service that offers you the best value at the lowest prices, Dish Network is for you. They have 15 years of experience in satellite television and installation. Dish Network will give you quality service, and quality programming.
Mansi Aggarwal recommends to visit Dish Network.
A Functional Customers Guide on High-Definition Television’s
In the region of about a decade ago the suggestion of a wall-hung television can have been seen like a wishful thought. It was out of the reach of the majority of electronic consumers, with remarkably high charges that demanded taking out a 2nd mortgage to secure these particularly silky TVs. Although, over a period these astonishing TV sets reached the point of attainability. Nonetheless, still not something you can just go out and purchase, it has in recent time little by little become much more of a chance. Costs for these flat panel High-Definition Television sets are at this present time declining faster than new residential house values, and have made the electronics vision a reality.
Now there are 2 competing flat-panel technologies: plasma and LCD. Though each type delivers a bright picture & these television sets do look the same from the front, the equipment on the inside is appreciably dissimilar. And thought LCD tellies have been limited to 37-inches and smaller, sets with the liquid crystal display technology are at this moment in sizes as huge as plasma. Numerous Plasma TVs can be found on offer online at Digital Direct
Although, in spite of that, loads of customers believe plasma to offer quite a lot of central selling points over LCD TV’s. The biggest benefit is that plasma television sets in general comprise of deeper black levels-meaning that the blacks are in truth black & not barely a dark gray. This in turn means that the colours are much more spectacular and convincing. The newest models from Bush and JVC have really taken the black levels to unimaginable depths, and in consequence have engineered the greatest images we have watched to date.
Regardless of the rumours that plasma TV sets “needs to be recharged” after 8,000 hours, nothing can be further from the fact. Today’s flat panel plasma tellies would often run for sixty thousand hours or more, awarding you years of wonderful TV viewing. Although there has been a concern over problems like that of burn-in (rightly so, as this may well ruin that expensive plasma television), the most up-to-date televisions consist of components to address picture retention, giving pixel shift methods that gradually move the complete screen and more critically, take-away any ghosting should static images essentially “stick” the image. This consists of a white wash mode plus an inverse mode to eliminate all burn-in.
My Dad Wears Polka-dotted Socks! - Review
“Bright colored sheets just inside the sturdy book cover
certainly set the mood for this excellent book geared for
children between the ages of 4 and 8.
The main character is a young boy who is desperately
fretting over the class reaction to his strange family. He
dreads the day the children in his classroom are due to
present their portrayals of their families. Much to his delight,
he realizes his family is not so strange after all. Parents and
teachers will certainly find the yoga-loving dad with orange
polka-dotted socks is sure to get the giggles rolling. The
impressive illustrations hold attention to the page.
As youth, we are often fascinated by other family’s doors
and what lays beyond them. When we discover that all the
quirks and differences reside in everyone’s family, it makes
it easier to accept our families and our place in them. This
is a valuable life skill that would certainly help to ground little
people at this age.
Educators and caretakers may find this book useful in
social and family studies.
Children are encouraged to personalize the book on the first
page and create a list of their family and their personality
traits on the last page - thus making this book more
interactive.”
ISBN#: 0974430722
Author: Kristin Joy Humes
Illustrations: Loel Barr
Publisher: Merry Lane Press
~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry.
http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit
Network Marketing Does not only Build Serious Business, It Also Builds You…
Network Marketing is an easy way for an ordinary person to build
a massive worldwide business. The business you build is just
like any other business but with many of the hassles removed.
You have a group of people who work directly and indirectly for
you but they are not employees, you have many products or
services for sale just like in any other business type and you
continue to market and advertise your products just like in
other business types.
The only difference is that in network marketing business you
are free from warehouse, payroll, huge capital investment,
office rent and other hassles traditional type of business can
bring. You are left with a pure and practical way of building a
successful business very fast. All you will ever need to bring
to the table is…YOU.
Even though the company may supply you with the best tools and
systems in the industry, without the ‘YOU’ factor you will not
succeed. It starts from within. You have to beleive in the
industry. You have to believe in yourself that you can be
successful in the industry.
The ‘YOU’ factor is the most important ingredient you can take
to any business. In network marketing, if you lack qualities of
an entrepreneur/leader, your sponsors/uplines are always there
to help you to build the ‘YOU’ factor. Network marketing
business is a business where people help one another to succeed
in life.
Ask anyone that has been in the business for a long time and
they will tell you that the most important benefit of network
marketing business is that it can build a new ‘YOU’, It can make
you a person that succeeds in any venture in life. Once you are
built into a strong, positive and optimistic person, you can
assure yourself of success whatever you do. That alone is more
than the monetary benefits of network marketing business.
The weekly/monthly training, the success news you get through
newsletters, weely goals setting, time management training,
financial training, leadership training, and so on can make YOU
a better person. Once you learn how to get out of your comfort
zone few times, you’ll notice how massively your life has
changed. You’ll not only notice within you, but also on your pay
check 
So if you are still considering joining network marketing
business, i suggest you go for it for this benefit alone. Take
it as your life training school and very soon you’ll thank
yourself for making that decision.
You may subscribe to my newsletter here to receive tips to boost
your home based business.
Aliyu Odumosu
The top 5 Goverment Approved Whistle Blowing Tips Next Time You Go Shopping For Low Cost Health Insu
So, you’ve decided to renew or purchase a health insurance
policy. Shop Carefully Before You Buy. Policies differ as to
coverage and cost, there are many companies and they differ as
to service. Do your homework, contact several companies and
compare their premiums before you make your final purchasing
decision.
1. Don’t Buy More Policies Than You Need. Duplicate coverage is
expensive and unnecessary. A single comprehensive policy is
better than several policies with overlapping or duplicate
coverage. Federal law prohibits issuing duplicative coverage to
Medicare beneficiaries even if both policies would pay full
benefits. The law generally prohibits the sale of a Medicare
supplement policy to a person who has Medicaid or another health
insurance policy that provides coverage for any of the same
benefits.
Similarly, the sale of any other kind of health insurance
policy is generally prohibited if it duplicates coverage you
already have. When you buy a replacement Medigap policy, the
insurer is required to obtain your written statement that you
intend to cancel the first policy after the new policy becomes
effective. If you are on Medicaid, insurers may not sell you a
Medigap policy unless the state pays the premium. Anyone who
sells you a policy in violation of these anti-duplication
provisions is subject to criminal and/or civil penalties under
federal law. Call 1-800-638-6833 to report suspected violations.
2. Consider Your Alternatives. Depending on your health care
needs and finances, you may want to consider continuing the
group coverage you have at work; joining an HMO, CMP or other
managed care plan; buying a Medigap policy; or buying a longterm
care insurance policy.
3. Check For Preexisting Condition Exclusions. In evaluating a
policy, you should determine whether it limits or excludes
coverage for existing health conditions. Many policies do not
cover health problems that you have at the time of purchase.
Preexisting conditions are generally health problems you went to
see a physician about within the 6 months before the date the
policy went into effect.
4. Don’t be misled by the phrase “no medical examination
required.” If you have had a health problem, the insurer might
not cover you immediately for expenses connected with that
problem. Medigap policies, however, are required to cover
preexisting conditions after the policy has been in effect for 6
months.
5. Beware of Replacing Existing Coverage. Be careful when
buying a replacement Medigap policy. Make sure you have a good
reason for switching from one policy to another–you should only
switch for different benefits, better service, or a more
affordable price. On the other hand, don’t keep inadequate
policies simply because you have had them a long time. If you
decide to replace your Medigap policy, you must be given credit
for the time spent under the old policy in determining when any
preexisting conditions restrictions apply under the new policy.
You must also sign a statement that you intend to terminate the
policy to be replaced. Do not cancel the first policy until you
are sure that you want to keep the new policy.
Further thoughts that you may have not yet considered…
Policies to Supplement Medicare Are Neither Sold Nor Serviced
by the State or Federal Governments. State insurance departments
approve policies sold by insurance companies but approval only
means the company and policy meet requirements of state law. Do
not believe statements that insurance to supplement Medicare is
a government-sponsored program.
Above all take your time. Do not be pressured into buying a
policy. Principled salespeople will not rush you. If you are not
certain whether a program is worthy, ask the salesperson to
explain it to a friend.