BOSTON (PRWEB)
November 04, 2019

Seven out of ten Massachusetts workers who get their health insurance through their employers want to know the price of a healthcare procedure before they obtain it, but most of them do not how to obtain such information, even though much price information is already available through their insurers’ cost estimator tools, according to a new poll commissioned by Pioneer Institute and conducted by DAPA Research.

Massachusetts consumers rarely seek out the price of healthcare procedures before undergoing them, but they are very interested in price and quality information and in obtaining cash back for finding lower priced providers.

The results of this poll, along with recommendations, will be released on November 4th at 1:30 pm in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House before a large audience of healthcare policy makers, business interests, patient advocacy groups, employers, health law attorneys, and public officials.

The event marks the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the transparency provisions of what is known in Massachusetts as Chapter 224. The event is also sponsored by the Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver General, Deborah B. Goldberg; Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Undersecretary, Edward Palleschi; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans; and the Massachusetts Division of Insurance.

“One reason patients don’t seek price information is because they don’t know how to do it, and sometimes don’t even realize it’s available to them,” said Pioneer Institute Senior Fellow in Healthcare Barbara Anthony. Anthony added, “This survey shows that the public wants transparency in their healthcare prices, but easy access to such information is not yet a reality.”

Only one in five Massachusetts consumers has ever tried to find the price of a healthcare service in advance of obtaining the service. This is at least in part because more than two thirds are unaware that their insurance carriers offer a cost estimator tool.

The poll finds that:

•     Seven out of ten consumers would like to know the price of a procedure before undergoing it.
•     Eight in ten are interested in a website that displays out-of-pocket costs.
•     More than seven in ten are interested in cashback opportunities for choosing less expensive services.
•     Three quarters would like to know the price insurance companies pay providers for the healthcare services patients receive.

Other poll findings include:

•     75 percent of consumers with commercial insurance are very satisfied or satisfied with their current health insurance.
•     Insurance companies and doctors are the most trusted sources of price information, with 40 percent of respondents trusting one or the other.
•     Eight in ten people are interested in a website that displays doctor and hospital quality ratings.

The survey also included some counterintuitive findings, such as the fact that there was little correlation between income and decisions to obtain expensive healthcare services.

As a result of this poll, Pioneer recommends a number of actions:

•     Though hospitals were not at the top of the list for people seeking price information, hospitals and doctors need to be more innovative and assertive in offering price information in consumer-friendly formats.
•     Insurance companies and employers must work together to educate members and workers about the availability of pricing information to better manage healthcare costs.
•     The Commonwealth should make better use of the bully pulpit and assert greater leadership in promoting price transparency and in educating businesses, consumers, insurers, and providers.
•     Overall satisfaction with current health insurance means there is a significant opportunity for insurers to educate and incentivize cost consciousness among their customers.

A summary list of findings and recommendations is available on Pioneer Institute’s website.

The poll of 500 Massachusetts residents has a margin of error of +/- 4.4 points and a 95 percent confidence level.

About Pioneer

Pioneer Institute is an independent, non-partisan, privately funded research organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts through civic discourse and intellectually rigorous, data-driven public policy solutions based on free market principles, individual liberty and responsibility, and the ideal of effective, limited and accountable government.

State Officials and Health Insurance Companies Praise Price Transparency Efforts

“It is critically important that Massachusetts residents receive transparent and accurate pricing information. I applaud these consumer protection efforts that have empowered people to make more informed financial choices when making decisions regarding their healthcare,” said Deborah B. Goldberg, Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver General

“MAHP and our member plans are committed to promoting the value of cost transparency for Massachusetts consumers. When consumers are able to access cost and quality information, they are able to make more informed healthcare choices. Health plan cost estimate websites are important tools for consumers to help them understand the true cost of their care,” said Lora Pellegrini, Esq., President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans

“Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is committed to making sure our members have the tools they need to find high-quality, affordable care. While we’ve made significant progress, such as investing in our Find a Doctor and Estimate Costs tools, we know there is more to be done. We look forward to collaborating with the health care community as we look for ways to enhance transparency efforts.” Statement issued by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

“For consumers to be empowered they must be informed, which is why transparency in health care costs is essential. Having this information helps consumers make better decisions because it allows them to weigh multiple factors when they decide which medical specialist or facility to visit,” said Edward A. Palleschi, Undersecretary for the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

“Significant progress has been made in improving the state healthcare delivery system but more can be done to ensure that Massachusetts residents know about and use available tools to make informed healthcare choices. Transparency in healthcare costs and knowing how to use this information allows Massachusetts residents to feel confident in their healthcare decisions,” said Gary Anderson, Massachusetts Commissioner for the Division of Insurance

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PHILADELPHIA (PRWEB)
November 04, 2019

EndDD.org (End Distracted Driving) is delighted to announce that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. has become a sponsor and part of EndDD.org’s solution to eliminate distracted driving on our nation’s roads.

Sponsorship of EndDD.org demonstrates a commitment to changing attitudes about safe driving behavior. The Hanover’s support will allow EndDD.org to reach even more middle school, high school and college students across the country and to provide educational resources to supplement the presentations, all without cost to the schools.

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the U.S. The company provides insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agents, The Hanover offers standard and specialized insurance protection for businesses, homes, automobiles, and other personal items.

“We are pleased to have The Hanover on board as a sponsor of our organization,” said Joel Feldman, founder of EndDD.org. “This company works to protect drivers and passengers in a variety of innovative ways. The Hanover’s support helps us all continue the fight to stop preventable deaths caused by distracted driving. We are proud of this partnership.”

The Hanover’s sponsorship of EndDD.org is just one way the company is working to save lives on our nation’s roadways. In 2018, The Hanover launched its SafeTeen program to educate new drivers about responsible driving and offer savings and rewards for teens and their parents. The company provides its agent partners a full suite of education and discount options to offer customers who add teen drivers to a policy. SafeTeen’s driving safety course is designed to help inexperienced drivers improve their driving skills and help reduce crashes by up to 30 percent once completed. Parents can also monitor their teen’s driving behaviors through the SafeTeen mobile app. Through its partnership with ADEPT Driver’s teenSMART® program, The Hanover offers discounts on customers’ auto policies when teen drivers successfully complete the program.

“Casey’s story has touched us at The Hanover, and we are committed to preserving her legacy by doing our part to end distracted driving so other families don’t have to go through the same tragedy,” said Daniel C. Halsey, president of personal lines at The Hanover. “Teen drivers are especially vulnerable, as they are new to the road and are more likely to be distracted. We are passionate about this cause and are very pleased to partner with EndDD.org to bring education and research to teens across the country.”

EndDD.org is grateful for The Hanover’s generosity and commitment to promoting safe, distraction-free driving across the country.

About EndDD.org

EndDD.org (End Distracted Driving) was founded by Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson in 2009 as a project of the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation. Casey Feldman, 21, was struck and killed by a distracted driver in July 2009 in Ocean City, NJ. The mission of EndDD.org is to save lives from distracted driving through advocacy, education and action. Since its inception, EndDD has amassed a network of 500 volunteer speakers and provided science-based distracted driving presentations to hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.

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LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
November 04, 2019

Millions of students descend upon college campuses each year on a journey to discover their career path. The things they learn won’t just come from textbooks and lectures – life experience also plays an important role in their transition to adulthood. Unfortunately, not all life lessons are pleasant ones.

Consider, for example, the stress, panic, inconvenience and financial strain the two of you might experience if their belongings were stolen, or damaged in a fire while away at school.

“Most college students don’t think about protecting their belongings with insurance because, until this point, they’ve lived under their parents’ safety net,” said Chris O’Rourke, Vice President of Property Claims for Mercury Insurance. “Parents have a million other things running through their heads when their kids leave for college, like whether they’ll go to all of their classes, keep up with their assignments and act responsibly given their new-found freedom. Talking to their children about insurance needs isn’t necessarily at the top of the list.”

Replacing property – like a stolen or damaged laptop – can be vital, but the expenses can add up very quickly. Luckily, Mercury Insurance offers a few different ways to make sure your student is covered.

Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance exists to protect your property against unexpected losses. An added benefit of having this coverage is it can extend to property outside of the insured dwelling. Full-time college students under the age of 24 who have moved away from their parents’ home can still be covered under their parents’ homeowners policy. Homeowners policies provide coverage for damaged personal items, any damaged school property and any medical bills that could ensue if another student is injured in your child’s dorm room. Personal belongings stored in your student’s car are also protected against theft or damage, such as a backpack stolen out of the backseat of their vehicle.

Student Away Endorsement

This optional endorsement can be added to a preexisting homeowners, renters or condo insurance policy to extend the same homeowners coverage to students who live away from home during a standard university school year and are enrolled part-time in school or over the age of 24 (or 21 if they are in your care but not related to you). This policy endorsement can be applied to students living either on-campus or off, in shared residences. This is a hassle-free, inexpensive – as little as 30 cents a day – option for parents who wish to easily cover their students without having to take out a renters insurance policy in the student’s name. Each university student under your policy has to have a separate endorsement.

Renters Insurance

Students renting a house or apartment for the school year may prefer to take out a renters insurance policy as it may be required by some landlords. Renters insurance is inexpensive – as little as 35 cents a day – and will cover financial reimbursement for personal property damaged in fire, theft or vandalism, as well as liability insurance so your student is protected if someone is injured in their house or apartment. A separate endorsement policy can be added to cover any roommates in the shared space.

Auto Insurance

Students bringing their car to school should review their auto policy – they’ll need to adjust their coverage if attending an out-of-state university. Consider keeping your student’s car on your auto insurance policy if they choose to leave the vehicle at home during the school year. It may still be at risk for collision or theft even if they won’t be driving the car regularly, and you’ll want it covered when they return home during semester breaks.

“Discuss with your Mercury agent what option is best for you and your student,” said O’Rourke. “It’s important to recognize the significance of insurance before something happens – a little smart planning now could ultimately end up saving you a lot of money down the line.”

Note: This article was originally published on https://blog.mercuryinsurance.com/insurance/time-to-ace-college-insurance-101/.

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BOZEMAN, Mont. (PRWEB)
November 07, 2019

WealthVest continues to grow its team of wholesalers by hiring Leslie Grant, who will cover the Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin territories, helping advisors with retirement planning utilizing fixed and fixed index annuities. WealthVest demonstrates traditional face-to-face wholesaling as the #1 independently owned distributor of fixed and fixed index annuities in financial institutions.

Leslie Grant joins WealthVest in 2019, bringing nearly a decade of experience in advising financial professionals and risk-averse retirees on how to plan a successful and secure retirement portfolio.

Prior to joining WealthVest, Leslie was the Great Lakes Regional Vice President for ICON, an investment advisory firm. Leslie joined ICON in 2015 as an Internal Sales Associate and has been in the financial services industry since 2010. Leslie began her career as an internal wholesaler with Jackson National Life, working cross-channel and presiding over a variety of regions.

“WealthVest is very excited to have Leslie join the team. She brings a ton of experience, industry knowledge and value to her clients,” said Marc Rogers, National Sales Manager. “Leslie has an unbelievable work ethic and we are very excited to learn from her. All who work with Leslie will find success in implementing her marketing strategies!”

Leslie received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She holds FINRA 6, 7, and 63 registrations.

Outside the office, Leslie enjoys spending time with her daughter, reading, and kick boxing.

WealthVest is excited to add Leslie to the team of over 80 wholesalers and WealthVest looks forward to the value she will bring to the organization and the advisors she supports.

About WealthVest

WealthVest is a financial services firm specializing in the distribution of high-quality fixed and indexed annuity products from top-rated insurance carriers. WealthVest designs, markets, and distributes these essential products throughout the nation and is squarely focused on developing products with the highest consumer value.

WealthVest was founded in 2009 by former CEO of American Skandia, Wade Dokken, and former CEO of Hartford Life Limited, Europe, Lincoln Collins. From the beginning, WealthVest has provided financial professionals with thorough coaching, effective face-to-face sales training, marketing collateral, and thought leadership on retirement planning concepts and products of the highest consumer value – offering principal protection and lifetime guaranteed income.

WealthVest’s Video Library: https://wealthvest.com/video-library/.

WealthVest’s White Paper Library: https://wealthvest.com/white-papers/.

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SAN DIEGO (PRWEB)
November 07, 2019

ICW Group Insurance Companies, a group of property and casualty carriers, announced today that the A.M. Best Company (A.M. Best), has affirmed its Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) for the company. The rating was also accompanied by a “Stable” outlook.

A.M. Best’s ratings reflect the company’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The rating process by A.M. Best is a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of a company’s balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile. According to A.M. Best, an “A” (Excellent) rating is assigned to companies that have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.

“We’re extremely proud of our A.M. Best rating and the solid financial performance it represents,” said Kevin Prior, president and CEO of ICW Group. “It’s important that agents, brokers and policyholders have a high degree of confidence in their carrier’s financial stability, and this rating and positive outlook confirms ICW Group’s strength in this area. Additionally, we believe it further reassures our agent and broker partners that recommending ICW Group is advice their clients can trust.”

According to A.M. Best, “The rating affirmation is reflective of ICW Group’s continued strong operating and underwriting results, driven primarily by favorable loss experience in its leading line of business, workers’ compensation. Additionally, the rating reflects solid risk – adjusted capitalization, a comprehensive reinsurance program and a fairly conservative investment portfolio.”

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world’s oldest and most authoritative objective insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit http://www.ambest.com. To learn more about the ICW Group ratings, read the full A.M. Best news release.

About ICW Group

Based in San Diego, ICW Group Insurance Companies is the largest privately held insurance company domiciled in California. Quoting more than $3 billion annually, ICW Group represents a group of Property, Auto and Workers’ Compensation insurance carriers, including Insurance Company of the West and Explorer Insurance Company. ICW Group is recognized nationally as an industry leader in helping policyholders achieve fewer and less costly claims, and is committed to meeting the needs of its policyholders and elevating the trusted agents and brokers who advise them. More information is available at http://www.icwgroup.com, http://www.twitter.com/ICWGroup, http://www.linkedin.com/companies/icw-group and http://www.facebook.com/ICWGroup.

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