Getting Health Insurance in Michigan

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Most people get their health insurance through an employer, though there are other health insurance plans that are available for those who don’t qualify or who are unemployed or self-employed. If you are shopping for health insurance, we can help. Call us at Shield Insurance Agency in Michigan to find out more about the types of plans available and more.

Health Insurance for the Self-Employed

Many people who are otherwise uninsured get a catastrophic health policy. This is an affordable plan that protects you against very high medical bills but that doesn’t cover lower ones. These plans generally have a very high deductible. However, some of these policies come with a discount for lower-priced medical bills. These policies are often chosen by those who are self-employed because they don’t get health insurance through an employer and regular health coverage can be highly expensive.

Insurance From an Employer

If you are a business shopping for health insurance for your business and its employees, we can help. We can assist with the shopping process by finding out what kind of coverage you need and matching that to health plans that are available in Michigan. We can help you to shop around for the best price as well. When it comes to health insurance, we are highly knowledgeable and ready to assist you with every step of getting health insurance for your business. Employees today have certain expectations when it comes to health insurance benefits, and we can help you to reach those expectations.

Get Your Health Insurance

Whether you’re unemployed, self-employed or you need a health plan for your employees, we are ready to assist you with the whole process. Shopping for health insurance can be complicated, and we can help you to make sense of it all. Give us a call at Shield Insurance Agency in Michigan.

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4 hidden ways erodes your culture (and how to avoid them)

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The Business Journal
By Heinan Landa  –  Contributing Writer | Aug 12, 2021, 4:05am EDT

More than a year after the pandemic turned much of the workforce virtual, fewer than 1 in 5 business owners intends to return to pre-pandemic office conditions, and the majority of U.S. workers want to maintain some regular telework schedule going forward.

Ultimately, most of us will settle into hybrid work where some employees are in the office and some are working remotely on any given day.

While hybrid work offers many benefits to our teams — and by extension our businesses — it also opens the door to a number of subtle culture killers that can do serious damage to engagement and retention.

Top 4 unexpected culture killers

1. Meetings

As tired as we may be of all-virtual meetings on Zoom or Teams, in this format each participant takes up the same amount of space, has the same means of contributing, and experiences that meeting the same way.

Now, consider a meeting where half the participants are in the office and half are at home. Can the remote participants distinguish who is speaking when? Do they have the same access to whiteboarding or visuals? How hard will it be for them to interject and be heard?

A return to the office also means a return to spontaneous chit-chat that snowballs into breakthrough ideas. Do you have a way to quickly pull more people into a conversation on the fly? Is collaborative note-taking an option?

2. Team-building

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10 Things to Know About a Home Appraisal

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HowStuffWorks.com | By: Dave Roos  |  Jul 1, 2019

Of all the people you’ll interact with when buying or selling a house, the appraiser is the one you’ll probably get to know the least. But he or she may play one of the most important roles in the sale or purchase of your home. What the appraiser finds can be the difference in whether or not you’ll get the house you want or be able to sell the one you don’t.

A property appraisal is different from a property inspection. The home inspector is looking for issues in the home that the buyer should be aware of before purchase (for instance, mold or a leaking roof). The appraiser is determining the dollar value of the home by looking at what similar homes in the area go for, as well as the condition of the actual property. If you’re borrowing money from a bank or other institution to purchase your home, you’ll likely have to get a home appraisal (the inspection is optional but buyers would be wise to get one.)

Here are 10 important things to know about a home appraisal, starting with why mortgage lenders require home appraisals in the first place.

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3 ways ransomware attacks can amplify liability risk for healthcare systems

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Liberty Mutual Insurance > Business Insurance > Insights > 3 ways ransomware attacks can amplify liability risk for healthcare systems

In 2020, more than a third of healthcare organizations in America experienced a ransomware attack. These events often fly under the radar, but that doesn’t make them any less devastating than incidents that make headlines, like the recent attack on the Colonial Pipeline. According to a study by Sophos, the average ransomware attack on a healthcare organization costs more than  $1 million — but ransomware attacks have more than just a financial impact.

“Hospitals, medical facilities, and their physicians have sensitive patient information on their systems,” says Monica DiCesare, chief underwriting officer at IronHealth®, a division of Ironshore. “That information is critical to protect, because it’s critical to ensure patient safety.” A cyberattack could put patient lives at risk and open the hospital to even more costly medical malpractice and liability claims. Here are three interconnected risks that healthcare organizations might face in the wake of a ransomware attack — and how they can help mitigate their exposure. 

1. Encrypted data and medical malpractice suits 

Doctors and nurses rely on technology to do their jobs — so when those systems go down, hospitals are at an increased risk of medical malpractice suits. “We’ve become so reliant on technology. When we don’t have that technology and data, we become inhibited. The physician can’t practice medicine to its fullest, which can later be construed as negligence, because they weren’t able to provide adequate or appropriate care,” says Dennis Cook, president of IronHealth. 

Lack of access to patient data is a major problem for healthcare providers. When bad actors encrypt critical patient data, like drug allergies or prescription information, healthcare workers are more likely to make a mistake that may harm a patient. Delayed lab reports and other critical information may cause hold-ups in treatment, which can have dangerous consequences. On top of that, ransomware attacks can also lock intake systems. That means that ambulances carrying patients in critical condition may be rerouted to facilities miles away — costing precious time that many patients can’t spare. 

“We’ve become so reliant on technology. When we don’t have that technology and data, we become inhibited. The physician can’t practice medicine to its fullest, which can later be construed as negligence, because they weren’t able to provide adequate or appropriate care.” – Dennis Cook, president of IronHealth

In fact, the first medical malpractice suit for a ransomware-related death is already on its way to the courts. In July 2019, ransomware paralyzed the systems at the Springfield Medical Center in Mobile, Alabama. Computers across the hospital failed, including data from fetal heartbeat monitors in 12 delivery rooms. The suit alleges this outage led to the death of a newborn baby. The outcome of the case won’t be known for some time, but the human cost of ransomware is undeniable.

2. Hacked medical devices and product liability 

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Medicare Advantage, The Pros, and Cons “Medicare Advantage: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – Prepare to Be Shocked!

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These popular Medicare Advantage plans may carry hidden risks. Here’s what to know.

By Penelope Wang
Consumer Reports | Published October 14, 2021, | Updated November 15, 2021, | Medicare Advantage

If you’re one of the 63 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, you’re probably being deluged by marketing pitches for Medicare Advantage plans, which offer managed care with low or zero premiums. 

Medicare’s fall open enrollment season starts Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, when you can switch your coverage between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, or make changes to your prescription drug plan. 

All that marketing seems to be working. Recently, 42 percent of Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Advantage plans, up from 31 percent in 2016, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Those numbers include 50 percent of Black and 54 percent of Hispanic enrollees vs. 36 percent of whites in 2018. By 2025, half of Americans are expected to be in Advantage plans.

It’s easy to see the appeal of Advantage. Original Medicare doesn’t cover all your medical expenses, while Advantage plans have cost-sharing requirements but then cap your out-of-pocket costs. Plus, you have low premiums and the simplicity of all-in-one coverage.

But there can be hidden risks to Advantage plans, especially for those with major health issues. 

“Some people in Medicare Advantage end up paying unexpectedly high costs when they become ill or find their network lacks the providers they need,” says Tricia Neuman, senior vice president at Kaiser.

Your alternative is to opt for Original Medicare and add a supplemental, or Medigap, a plan that covers your out-of-pocket costs and gives you a wider choice of providers. But you’ll pay additional monthly premiums for a Medigap policy, and unless you’re enrolling in Medicare for the first time, you could be denied Medigap coverage due to a preexisting condition. 

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7 Habits to Help You Make Dinner Without Planning At All, According to a Recipe Developer

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The art of improvisation in the kitchen can absolutely be learned if you reframe how you look at your pantry. Plus, three recipes for go-with-anything sauces that turn any ingredients into a meal.

FoodNetwork.com | November 05, 2021 | By: Dawn Perry | Make Dinner

For the past twelve years or so I have spent the bulk of my professional time writing recipes for busy working people, myself included. Focused on dinner solutions, I made promises about 30-minute meals, aimed to dirty as few dishes as possible, and put melted cheese and tomato sauce on enough things that I thought the kids might, at the very least, taste what I was selling.

Those solutions are all great on paper but they can only get you so far when you get home, tired and hungry, and faced with the task of putting together another meal you hope everyone might like.

A lot of people will tell you it’s all about meal prep. You make A, B, and C on Sunday and then reinvent them throughout the week. Which is great in theory, but I’m not interested in spending a whole Sunday in the kitchen chopping and simmering and packaging meals for the week ahead. Plus, rare are the times when whatever I had intended to eat on Wednesday still seemed appealing when hump day finally arrived.

I say forget meal planning. Instead, I exercise these habits to help make weeknight meals so easy it hardly feels like cooking at all. (And read even more of my tricks and recipe ideas, in my brand new cookbook, Ready, Set, Cook.)

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Building Resilience and the Interconnectivity of Risk

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Source: BusinessInsurance.com Building resilience | Building Resilience | Business Insurance

Businesses large and small have ongoing challenges – from labor shortages to social inflation to environmental, social, and governance issues, and these risks are interconnected. These risks range from workplace illnesses and injuries to greater liability exposures to reputational damage and litigation over business practices. In this video series from Liberty Mutual Global Risk Solutions, David Perez offers insights to help risk professionals cope with these interconnected risks and improve their organization’s resilience.

Building Resilience in Labor Shortages

There are many factors behind the current labor shortages, from the pandemic to workers’ shifting attitudes on remote working, but all of these factors are combined to create risks for businesses. The impact of labor shortages goes beyond the ability to serve customers. Filling roles with new or inexperienced employees increases the need for training and an emphasis on safety in the workplace. In addition to retaining talent, businesses also should focus on building safety cultures, advises David Perez of Liberty Mutual Global Risk Solutions in this Business Insurance video.

Impact of Social Inflation

While not new, social inflation has become a major concern today for businesses and their liability insurers. A long-term trend, social inflation refers to shifting perspectives among plaintiffs and jurors, who are more willing today to seek or award outsize judgments. Higher jury awards and settlements mean increased costs and greater liability exposures for businesses. Learn how to mitigate the impact of social inflation in this video from Liberty Mutual Global Risk Solutions.

Environmental, Social, and Governance

Customers, investors and regulators are placing a growing importance on businesses’ environmental, social and governance programs. Business practices are facing more scrutiny and, increasingly, litigation. As businesses transition their operations to reflect ESG values, there could be risks. Learn more about how companies can retain customer confidence and protect their reputations in this video from Liberty Mutual Global Risk Solutions.

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Life Insurance and How to Protect Your Family

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Shield Insurance Blog | Life Insurance |

If you’re debating getting life insurance and you live in Michigan, let the team at Shield Insurance Agency provide you with some details on why this insurance policy is a wise investment for you and your family’s future. 

Life insurance provides your family with the financial support they will need should you pass away. It can be a sensitive subject because no one wants to imagine this possibility, but it’s more important to make sure that your loved ones are well cared for in the event that you are no longer with them. 

Life insurance can cover things like funeral costs and other end-of-life expenses. Your beneficiaries can use the money for everyday living expenses, like bills, groceries, household essentials, and more. They can use the money for college and other educational expenses, like books and room and board. 

Most financial support and security you provide now are things that can be covered using a life insurance policy. 

Whether you have children, a spouse, or other family members you take care of — life insurance is a beneficial way of knowing they will be taken care of should anything happen to you. While it’s uncomfortable to think about, you can rest assured that your loved ones won’t struggle financially with you gone. And that’s a worthwhile cause. 

For any Michigan residents looking to invest in life insurance, Shield Insurance Agency is here for you. Be sure to contact us with any questions or concerns about life insurance and what it can offer you and your loved ones. We’re confident it’s a great investment to ensure your family is well cared for in the event of your death. Contact us today! 

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Holiday Shopping Tips: How to Get Around Delays and Shortages

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Instead of fighting the crowds, be creative and do things differently this year
By Penelope Wang, Octavio Blanco November 10, 2021

You’ve heard all the warnings. Shipping delays and supply chain glitches are going to make holiday shopping even more difficult this year. 

Some of the biggest delays have been with large appliances, laptops, and some types of cars. But supply chain problems have led to spot shortages for a broad range of products.

Those concerns have prompted many shoppers to start their gift buying early. As a recent report by Bank of America (PDF) found, 65 percent of consumers had started preparing for the holidays by early October, with one-third having already purchased a seasonal gift.

That said, there are still products available for the holidays, especially if you’re flexible, and Black Friday deals have already begun. Check CR’s deal coverage, including bargains on top-rated laptops, mattresses, and ranges.

Even so, unless you started buying presents before Labor Day, you may feel like you’re already behind. But there’s no need to feel stressed. Fact is, there are plenty of options for gift-giving that don’t involve close monitoring of package tracking alerts.

Instead, consider supporting your local merchants, where you can find a wide variety of gift choices. You can also provide holiday cheer by making thoughtful online purchases, such as giving tickets or paying for services, rather than buying items that may get stuffed into a closet or tossed on a shelf.

“Purchasing local handcrafted items or the gift of an experience, such as a concert, can be more personal and more fun,” says Deborah Small, professor of marketing and psychology at Wharton Business School.

Here are some suggestions:

Go Local

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