April 2009 Newsletter from Brokers Health Insurance

Great Lakes/Brokers Health offers a world-class quiver of products and services to assist our agents with unparalleled support. Let us know what we can do to increase your book of business in any way. Thank you!

Great Lakes/Brokers Health values your privacy so we will never share your email address with anyone. Contact us anytime with any questions, comments or ideas you may have - Thank you.

Group Medical Savings with the Delphi Card

AGENTS - if you haven't heard about this revolutionary new product broadcast in recent emails by Great Lakes/Brokers Health, click here for an overview. If you already have, let us show you specifically how the Delphi Card can work for your groups today.

Are your group renewals going up?
Do you want to save 15%?
Have you heard of the Delphi Card?
Great Commissions available.

Contact the Great Lakes/Brokers Health Team today for more information on how agents can benefit from this revolutionary new product.

Assurant Health

Contact us today to learn more about:

Short Term Medical

Agents call Assurant Health's STM Insurance plan "affordable with a simple application process". It's one of the reasons why they are a leader in STM sales. The other reason is they listen to agents who sell it - they've run their business that way for the last 35 years. Let Great Lakes/Brokers Health show you the STM benefits, flexibility and how they compare to what you now sell TODAY! Helpful brochures and enrollment forms, among other Assurant Health materials available upon request.

Starting March 1, Short Term Medical plans will include TelaDoc Medical Services for convenience, savings and quality. Clients contact TelaDoc from anywhere - home, work or on the road - and let a doctor come to them. TelaDoc physicians diagnose routine, non-emergency medical problems, recommend treatment and even prescribe medication when appropriate. Plan highlights include:
- Choose your own doctors and hospitals
- A lifetime maximum of $2 million
- Pay one deductible for all covered family members
- Ambulance service to the nearest hospital able to treat condition
- Skilled nursing facility care and rehab covered
- Access to TeleDoc physicians 24/7
The following changes, effective March 1, will help you bring the reliable, affordable protection of Short Term Medical to even more clients when they need it the most!
- Expanded customer base
  - Non-US citizens with US addresses not eligible for coverage
  - Interscholastic sports participants now eligible for coverage (intercollegiate sports still excluded)
- Continued focus on affordability
  - To make health care and STM protection even more affordable in these difficult times, the following changes apply to new STM policies.
    - Access to doctors - at a lower cost - 24/7 through TelaDoc (not available in OK)
    - Patient Care services, the $5 million lifetime maximum buy-up option, and Medco prescription discounts have been discontinued (prescriptions will still be covered subject to deductible and coinsurance).
Assurant Health Star Performers
- You could earn any of three exciting trips when you and your writing agents sell Assurant Short Term Medical - EVERY STM sale brings you closer to qualifying!

From Assurant Regional Sales Director Dave Staley:

Patient Care
- To bring to your attention again the benefits of Patient Care to all Assurant insured with policies dated 7-1-08 and later. Brokers Health/Great Lakes can provide you with materials to refresh yourself on the advantages to your insured to find the greatest discounts on services needed and also information on generic verses brand name drugs for additional savings. Remember this benefit is offered to ALL policy holders 7-1-08 and later on all individual, short term and small group plans. *There is no additional charge for this benefit.*
17-47% Rate Reductions and One Decreasing Deductible
- If you missed the February 5th Webinar, let us know and we'll be sure to invite you to the next one.

Assurant Health Small Group

is committed to your success with products to fit your clients' needs and support to fit your business.

Introducing the 2009 Sales Incentive Campaign:

Earn $1,000 for every 3 cases sold in 2009!

Earn $250 for your first Small Group case issued in 2009
Sell another two cases*
Earn an additional $750 for a total of $1,000 for every three cases sold!

Throughout 2009, earn $1,000 each time you issue three cases, up to the $30,000 maximum payout. Plus - earn an extra $100 for every high deductible plan sold! Design a flexible and affordable health insurance plan for your clients and see how our commitment can lead to your success. START QUOTING TODAY! Contact us for campaign information and rules.

Please let Great Lakes/Brokers Health know if you'd like more information.

Online Health Quote in Two Easy Steps!!

Great Lakes Insurance Management/Brokers Health Insurance Services has added the functionality to our website to give visitors health insurance quotes in two easy steps. By filling in basic info and a personal profile - all industry best secured - numerous quotes are provided. UPDATE - we have upgraded the interface to make it even easier to get and review quotes - try it today!

CLICK HERE to see this quoting engine now.

American Community Field Bulletins

American Community has been busy updating agents and brokers - In case you missed some important ones:

AC's 2009 Bonus Program
- Individual New Business Bonus
  - Earn cash based on the number of policies you sell. There's a 15 policy activation minimum to qualify, but there is NO MAXIMUM. Your cash bonus will be determined by the number of policies (excluding Short Term and replacement business) activated from January 1 through March 31, 2009. Contact us today for more information.
A Shortened Application for Re-writes AND A Simplified Process!
- States: AZ, AR, IL, IN, IA, MI, NE, OH, OK, TN, TX, WI
- Effective: IMMEDIATELY
- American Community now offers an abbreviated Re-write Application for our individual health products. This shorter, simplified application will ease the process for in-force/certificate holders who request a product or benefit change.
- Applying for a New Health Insurance Product or Different Benefits, Effective Date Guidelines for Re-writes, Where to get Re-write applications - Contact us today
Website Passwords Just Got Easier

Relaxed criteria simplifies your connection to AC
All you need are seven characters to log on to the secured section of AC's website.

Please call or email us for more detailed information on any of the above items.

Brokers Health is your senior products expert!

ATTENTION INDEPENDENT MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT & MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PRODUCERS

WANTED Looking for the seasoned, self motivated, and disciplined Professional Insurance Agents!!!

Brand New Companies
Top Contracts
Top Rated Carriers
Trips, Bonuses, Incentives

Please contact Great Lakes Insurance Management/Brokers Health Insurance Services, 800-782-8190 or email: Bev@BrokersHealth.com

World Insurance E&O Coverage Notification

Effective May 2, 2007, all agents appointed and/or contracted with World Insurance Company are required to carry Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance with a minimum coverage requirement of $1,000,000.

As you may know, World Insurance offers a company-sponsored program through Continental Casualty Company, a CNA Company that is administered by NAPA Benefit Services. The E&O program from CNA provides agents with several benefits including:
- Monthly payment options
- An easy on-line enrollment option
  - Inclusion of mutual funds and variable products in the program

Contact Great Lakes/Brokers Health today to get a brochure detailing many of the policy highlights.

Rule 151A Adopted by SEC

From: American Equity Marketing

To: All American Equity NMO's & Agents

As many of you know, in December the SEC adopted Rule 151A which purports to classify most fixed indexed annuities as securities subject to federal oversight. If allowed to stand, the rule would apply to indexed annuities issued on or after January 12, 2011, and would require these products to be registered with the SEC as securities and sold by securities licensed individuals. Great Lakes/Brokers Health would like to share and discuss American Equity's full statement with you upon request.

OTHER INSURANCE NEWS YOU CAN USE:

ATTENTION Medicare Advantage sales professionals

Health Care reform and Medicare beneficiaries

As you may know, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its projected Medicare Advantage payment rates for 2010. These projections reflect a 21% cut in Medicare physician payments, and overlook a payment fix that is assumed in President Obama's budget. As proposed, these rates will result in a reduction in payments to Medicare Advantage plans in 2010, potentially leaving your clients and other Medicare beneficiaries to endure substantially higher out-of-pocket costs for the same level of benefits they presently receive. Faced with higher costs, your clients may opt to receive less care than needed, or they may forgo care entirely.

UnitedHealthcare

COBRA Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Congress has passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("The Act"), and the Act has been signed by President Obama. This communication describes the provisions in the Act that affect COBRA continuation coverage and similar state continuation coverage.

IMG - International Medical Group

Highlights from the latest email broadcast:

Business in Florida - We're licensed and ready to resume business.
Product Training Webinar - perfect for the new producer
2008 Sales Contest Winners are....
IMG SelectaPlan Link on YOUR website
Web Site Tips - improve your presence
Getting to Know Us - Keith Bunkin

Obama, Reid take dead aim at Medicare HMOs

By Jeffrey Young - 1/14/09

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had no qualms expressing his low opinion of private health insurance plans in Medicare. READ ON....

Oxford Life Insurance Company

Message from Don C. Smith, CLU
Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

"Greetings Agents, the state of Michigan has enacted Senate Bill Number 1401 to amend Public Act 423, section 1239 in regards to producer licensing. The amended section addresses the abilities of the Insurance Commissioner to suspend, probate, revoke or levy fines against producers for certain actions...". For the rest of Mr. Smith's letter and the full text of the laws and regulations, please contact us.

MyBlue Product Changes

The team here at Great Lakes/Brokers Health recently completed an informative workshop on the significant, widespread changes to the MyBlue individual products. Some of these include:

Closed enrollment to:
- IC Blue
- Flexible Blue Individual (1500 & 2500)
- Flexible Blue Dental
- Young Adult Blue Traditional
- Value Blue Traditional
- Value Blue PPO
New enrollment:
- IC Blue Plus (GC not avail.)
- Flexible Blue II
  - 1500 (GC no avail.)
  - 2500 (GC avail.)
  - 5000 (GC avail.)
- Flexible Blue Dental Plus

Further details or to answer any questions you may have, please CONTACT US today.