October is a big milestone month for many people. It's the month
that we transition to the fall with cooler temperatures and even busier
calendars. We think about all things pumpkin, scarves and boots,
hayrides and haunted houses, and watching the leaves turn into the
beautiful rich colors of red, yellow, orange, and brown. Maybe even take
a moment to jump in them with our children. It's the month before the
big holidays sneak up on us, and not to mention the winter weather that
always catches us off guard. But aside from the fun and excitement and
beautiful weather, it's also often the month where people start thinking
again about their benefits.
Open enrollment.
For years, open enrollment for my family meant logging into my work
account, clicking the checkbox stating no changes to be made, and
submitting my information for approval. For 6 years we had done that
with not a single thought in mind---on my part. My husband tried to talk
to me about switching, but for some reason I was convinced that we were
in the best situation possible. Rates went up, policies changed, and we
even went through 4 different insurance companies. Yet, I never put any
importance at looking at researching and further understanding our
policy. Last year, we decided to look further into my husband's
employment insurance options, and after digging deeper, punching numbers
on the calculator, and comparing his to mine, we realized that we had
been making a huge financial mistake by continuing to click that little
box year after year.
In fact, because of this, I probably cost my family thousands of dollars.
I was surprised to find out that I was not one of the only ones
that has made this common mistake. A survey completed by Aflac on open
enrollment found that individuals, on average {41 percent}, spent 15
minutes or less researching their benefit options. Another 24 percent
spent 5 minutes or less. That was me. You know what other statistic I fell
into? The 90 percent that were commonly "auto-enrolling" year after
year.
We fixed that mistake quickly {not quickly enough}, and made sure
that every year we sat down as a couple and reviewed the options
available to us. Another thing we learned was that there were voluntary
policies, such as Aflac, to help eliminate the financial stress that
often times burdens families in medical situations.
Important Things to note about Aflac
A Fortune 500 company with individual and group voluntary insurance
that provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide with
accident, dental, life, vision, cancer, hospital intensive care and more
voluntary insurance policies.
It is available in all 50 states, including Puerto Rico.
Eight years in a row, Aflac has
been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most
Ethical Companies, and was included in the Fortune magazine list as one
of the World's most ethical companies.
Do you have questions about open enrollment? Click here for further information provided by Aflac WorkForces Report website.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Glad that you've gotten yourself a good insurance plan that works for your situation. That would often depend on the components of your condition with respect to budget and what not, and it's always wise to have one that will tend to the potential worries in both. It seems you've gotten yourself set up well, which is just about right and all. It's always good to have a lot of health plans available for your particular needs.
ReplyDeleteDonnie White @ Good & Associates Insurance Services