How I Spent My Spring Break

Dear Mom and Dad,



Spring Break is a blast, wish you were here. The ocean is just beautiful, and the water is so clear you can almost see the jellyfish before they sting you. Boy those little suckers really hurt! I think I might remember where I left my wallet, too. I sure hope so, cause for the past few days I have been existing on a diet of Chicklets that I purchased from one of the roadside natives here. I tell ya, people can be very friendly to tourists. Just yesterday, some people told me to take a hike. I thought that was very nice of them to suggest recreational activities. Unfortunately, since the airline lost one of my bags on the way down here, I didn't have my hiking boots, and when that lizard bit my ankle, it hurt almost as bad as falling down that hill afterwards.



Thankfully, my friends were able to assemble a makeshift stretcher to help me get back to the main road, and boy were we ever relieved when that nice man in the truck came by to give us a ride to the clinic. At least, I think it was a clinic. I mean, there were cots there with a bunch of sick people laying on them, and I really think that if we had waited just a little longer, someone would have assisted us eventually. I'm really not sure. I was kind of beginning to pass out from the pain and none of the people dressed like nurses spoke English. My buddy had his translation dictionary with him, and although he tried to get help, it seems the clinic wouldn't treat me unless I paid them first. Unfortunately, they did not accept Chicklets.



Don't worry about me though, my foot is still black but I am beginning to get the feeling back in my toes which is certainly a good thing when you're sleeping outdoors. There are some crazy insects around here! I sure wish the hotel wouldn't have lost my reservation.



You know what mom and dad? I've been thinking about how you told me to get trip insurance from Insurance Services of America. I guess I didn't think I would need it, but it sure would have been nice to have someone who could have gotten me a new hotel room, or some emergency cash when I lost my wallet, or bought me some new boots, or paid the clinic so they would treat me and get me back home safely. Just like you would have done yourself if you were here. For under 2 bucks a day, a travel medical plan could have protected me and given you peace of mind, too. But don't worry about me, mom and dad! I think I might be coming home soon. I found a company that does medical evacuations, and although it is a bit costly, at least I'll be safe. And I promise, I will totally pay you back the Fifty Thousand Dollars just as soon as I can.

See you guys soon,

Your Son.

Santa Claus to offer Short Term Coverage for Seasonal Workers

Check out this article I just read in the North Pole News:

For an elf, not having health insurance is risky business. Constantly crawling up ladders to hang mistletoe and candy canes, ice skating to work every day, racing snowmobiles on the weekends. Imagine their relief when Santa announced he would be offering short term medical insurance to his seasonal workers.

“We’ve always wanted to provide healthcare to these little guys when they come to work during the toy building season, but with their height to weight ratio and lack of social security numbers, we’ve just never been able to find a company to underwrite them," Says Albert Bates, CEO of Insurance Services of America. “Thankfully the HCC LIFE STM was the perfect plan for these folks. Just today we helped an elf submit a claim for an unfortunate slip and fall involving a narwhal horn.”

The elves have all expressed their gratitude and say they are very pleased with Santa’s decision to provide coverage for them. “Actually it was easy” Santa said. “We just applied online and everyone had ID cards in their teeny little hands within minutes.”

In addition to coverage for unforeseen sickness and injuries, the elves can also take advantage of a $50 Urgent Care co pay benefit that waives their deductible. The HCC Life STM also offers coverage to elves who have been declined for health insurance, as well as elfin child alone coverage.

According to Alabaster Snowball, the Human Resources Supervisor at North Pole Enterprises, Insurance Services of America has long been providing worldwide coverage for Santa during his International Travels and has been an integral part of extending that coverage to the rest of Santa’s crew. “Those guys are great,” Snowball stated. “When you call their office, they always answer the phone ‘Merry Christmas’. It’s nice to deal with a company who still calls it by the right name.”

Twas the night before Christmas and at the North Pole,

The Holiday hustle was taking it's toll.

The elves were all busy finishing the toys,

As Santa prepared to visit good girls and boys.

Mrs. Claus in the kitchen had a list of her own

To make sure her husband would come safely home.

First aid kit, water, extra reindeer snacks,

A second warm jacket and red furry slacks

A map and a compass, chapped lip medication

His passport and visa, and documentation

But what was the most important thing in his sleigh?

His insurance card from the elves at ISA.

She thought it would be difficult, but found that it’s not,

Applied online and printed out her cards on the spot.

Santa told Rudolph, “Its time, let her rip!”

And took off for the night on his annual trip

They started in England, and worked through the night

On rooftops and chimneys, they continued their flight .

When suddenly out of nowhere it rose,

A star even brighter than old Rudolph’s nose!

It blinded the reindeer, they started to shudder.

Santa fell from the sleigh landing right in the gutter!

The reindeer were freaking, looking through Santa's sack

They found the insurance card Mrs. Claus packed.

With no change for the phone, (as one might expect)

they found a number on the card that said call collect.

ISA said, “Don’t worry, you’re in excellent hands”

Sometimes things happen that weren’t part of your plans~

We’re here to help you in any situation

Travel assistance, medical care, even repatriation.

Soon Santa recovered and was back on his way,

Thanks to the affordable travel medical

plan from his friends at ISA!

You never know when you might get injured or sick.

It can happen to anyone, even Saint Nick.

'Tis the season for Holiday travel, and this year travelers are preparing for a whole new hassle at the airport- The Full Body Scan.

Now some travelers are all for enhanced pat-downs and extra security. Others feel their rights are being violated and are flat out refusing to fly. Whatever your opinion, a little knowledge and advanced planning is in order. Prepare for the inevitable delays and make sure to leave your gel shoe inserts in your checked luggage.

Now for the updated list of airports with full-body scanners:

You will find full-body scanners at the following US airports:

· Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ)

· Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL)

· Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)

· Boise Airport (BOI)

· Boston-Logan International (BOS)

· Bradley International Airport (BDL)

· Brownsville-South Padre Island Airport (BRO)

· Buffalo-Niagara International (BUF)

· Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)

· Chicago-O'Hare Airport (ORD)

· Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International (CVG)

· Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE)

· Columbus International Airport (CMH)

· Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP)

· Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport (DFW)

· Denver International Airport (DEN)

· Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW)

· El Paso International Airport (ELP)

· Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL)

· Fresno-Yosemite Airport (FAT)

· Gulfport-Biloxi Airport (GPT)

· Grand Rapids-Gerald R. Ford Airport (GRR)

· Harrisburg International Airport (HIA)

· Honolulu International Airport (HNL)

· Houston-George Bush International (IAH)

· Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

· Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)

· Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

· Laredo International Airport (LRD)

· Las Vegas-McCarran Airport (LAS)

· Lihue Airport (LIH)

· Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

· McAllen-Miller International Airport (MFE)

· Memphis International Airport (MEM)

· Miami International Airport (MIA)

· Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (MKE)

· Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP)

· Nashville International AIrport (BNA)

· New York - JFK International Airport (JFK)

· New York - LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

· Newark-Liberty International Airport (EWR)

· New Orleans-Louis Armstrong International (MSY)

· Oakland International Airport (OAK)

· Omaha-Eppley Field (OMA)

· Orlando International Airport (MCO)

· Palm Beach International (PBI)

· Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

· Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)

· Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

· Providence-T.F. Green International (PVD)

· Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)

· Richmond International Airport (RIC)

· Rio Grande Valley-Harlington Airport (HRL)

· Rochester International Airport (RST)

· Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

· San Antonio International Airport (SAT)

· San Diego International Airport (SAN)

· San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

· San Jose-Mineta International Airport (SJC)

· San Juan- Luis Munoz Marin International (SJU)

· Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

· Spokane International Airport (GEG)

· St. Louis-Lambert International (STL)

· Tampa International Airport (TPA)

· Tulsa International Airport (TUL)

· Valley International Airport (HRL)

· Washington DC's Dulles Airport (IAD)

· Washington DC's Reagan Airport (DCA)

You will find full-body scanners at the following Canadian airports:

· Calgary International Airport (YYC)

· Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

· Halifax-Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)

· Kelowna International Airport (YLW)

· London International Airport (YXU)

· Moncton International Airport (YQM)

· Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)

· Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier Airport (YOW)

· Regina International Airport (YQR)

· Saskatoon-John G. Diefenbaker International (YXE)

· Toronto City-Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ)

· Toronto Pearson International (YYZ)

· Vancouver International (YVR)

· Victoria International Airport (YYJ)

· Winnipeg International Airport (WYG)

You will find full-body scanners at the following international airports:

· Amsterdam-Schipol Airport (AMS)

· Gimhae/Busan International (PUS)

· Gimpo/Seoul International (GMP)

· Jeju International (CJU)

· Lagos-Murtala Muhammad International (LOS)

· London-Heathrow (LHR)

· Manchester Airport (MAN)

· Milan-Malpensa International Airport (MXP) **No longer in use

· Moscow-Sheremetyevo International (SVO)

· Palermo International Airport (PMO) **No longer in use

· Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

· Rome-Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino (FCO) **No longer in use

· Tokyo-Narita International (NRT) *Trial period

· Venice-Marco Polo International (VCE) **No longer in use

Insurance Services of America

800-647-4589

Healthcare Reform in a Nutshell

Have you read the health care bill yet? I sure haven’t- the dang thing is 2000 pages long! Thankfully, the fine folks at Reuters have created a summary of what is to be expected. Obviously there’s a lot more to it, but this is a good start.

Healthcare reform within the first year

• Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick.

• Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.

• Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

• Young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ health plans until the age of 26 instead of being dropped at age 19, or when they finish college.

• Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.

• A temporary reinsurance program will be created to help companies maintain health coverage for early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. This also expires in 2014.

• Medicare drug beneficiaries who fall into the “doughnut hole” coverage gap will get a $250 rebate.

• A tax credit will become available for some small businesses to help provide coverage for workers.

• A 10% tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps goes into effect on July 1.
Healthcare reform in 2011

• Medicare will provide 10% bonus payments to primary care physicians and general surgeons.

• Medicare beneficiaries will be able to get a free annual wellness visit and personalized prevention plan service.

• New health plans will be required to cover preventive services with little or no cost to patients.

• A new program under the Medicaid plan for the poor goes into effect in October that allows states to offer home and community based care for the disabled that might otherwise require institutional care.

• Payments to insurers offering Medicare Advantage services will be frozen at 2010 levels. These payments are to be gradually reduced to bring them more in line with traditional Medicare.

• Employers will be required to disclose the value of health benefits on employees’ W-2 tax forms.

• An annual fee will be imposed on pharmaceutical companies according to market share. The fee will not apply to companies with sales of $5 million or less.

Healthcare reform in 2012

• Physician payment reforms will be implemented in Medicare to enhance primary care services and encourage doctors to form “accountable care organizations” to improve quality and efficiency of care.

• An incentive program will be established in Medicare for acute care hospitals to improve quality outcomes.

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the government programs, will begin tracking hospital readmission rates and puts in place financial incentives to reduce preventable readmissions.

Healthcare reform in 2013

• A national pilot program will be established for Medicare on payment bundling to encourage doctors, hospitals and other care providers to better coordinate patient care.

• The threshold for claiming medical expenses on itemized tax returns will be raised to 10% from 7.5% of income. The threshold will remain at 7.5% for the elderly through 2016.

• The Medicare payroll tax will be raised to 2.35% from 1.45% for individuals earning more than $200,000 and married couples with incomes over $250,000. This tax will also be imposed on some investment income for that income group.

• A 2.9% excise tax will be imposed on the sale of medical devices. Anything generally purchased at the retail level by the public is excluded from the tax.

Healthcare reform in 2014

• State health insurance exchanges for small businesses and individuals will open.

• Most people will be required to obtain health insurance coverage or pay a fine if they don’t.

• Healthcare tax credits will become available to certain income groups to purchase coverage on the exchange.

• Health plans will no longer be able to exclude people from coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

• Employers with 50 or more workers who do not offer coverage will face a fine of $2,000 for each employee if any worker receives subsidized insurance on the exchange. The first 30 employees aren’t counted for the fine.

• Health insurance companies will begin paying a fee based on their market share.
Healthcare reform in 2015

• Medicare will create a physician payment program aimed at rewarding quality of care rather than volume of services.

Healthcare reform in 2016

• An excise tax on high cost employer-provided plans will be imposed. The first $27,500 of a family plan and $10,200 for individual coverage will be exempt from the tax. Higher levels will be set for plans covering retirees and people in high risk professions.

So what do YOU think of the new Healthcare reform? Sound off in the comments section below:

Insurance Services of America

800-647-4589

On the Road Again...

One of my favorite things about road trips are the fun new restaurants you can try along the way. I would never eat at a chain restaurant when I am in a different town; I like to sample the local ingredients and regional favorites. However, when you're in a different place, you can sometimes be taking a gamble. The best thing to do is ask the locals. They are going to know about those off the beaten path places with the best grub and the cleanest kitchens.
I am a planner. I love to plan my vacations cause it kind of feels like they begin earlier that way, and I have a couple favorite websites I visit before taking a road trip.

Where the Locals Eat lets you search by state to find the best eats in the area. You'll probably even find something in your own back yard that you haven't tried yet.

Road Trip America is an awesome planning tool that lets you search by area or route. You can even print out points of interest to read along the way and annoy the other people in the car with you.

Get Trip Insurance from Insurance Services of America. Since I am taking a road trip, I use the zero trip cost feature, which gets me all the coverage of the regular plan minus the airline benefits- for a fraction of the cost.

Here are a some other very useful road trip tips from our friends at Uptake.com:

1. Get the oil changed and your fluids checked before you leave.

Make sure your vehicle is road trip ready before you leave. Have the oil changed, fill up on windshield wiper fluid and make sure you have your license, registration and insurance up to date – and actually in the car with you.

2. Go with someone you love. Or like. A lot.

Good companionship can make all the difference on a road trip. The longer the trip, the more compatible you better be with the person you plan to be confined in a car with for hours on end.

3. Take turns driving.

It’s nice to get a break from the driving. It’s also nice to get a break from just sitting and watching out the window and trying really, really hard not to say anything when the other driver gets really, really close to the car in front of him. I mean, you know, for example. Don’t be afraid to do some of the driving.

4. Bring your own music.

Do you remember in the 80s when you had mixed tapes for everything? First Date Mix. Prom Night Mix. Ode To My Love For You Mix. A road trip is the perfect excuse to revive the mix (although it will probably take the form of a burned CD or a playlist on your iPod).

5. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen.

Sunglasses will prevent squinting and eye strain. Sunscreen will prevent an embarrassing sunburn on one half of your body. And cancer.

6. Avoid stupid traffic tickets.

Wear your seat belt. Use your turn signal. Don’t speed (or if you do, at least go with the flow of traffic). You’re going to get stuck in the exact same traffic jam due to construction as everyone else a few miles down the road anyway. (And the fines are double there.)

7. Bring your own food and drinks.

Convenient store food is fine up to a point, but if you’re going to be spending hours (or days) in a vehicle, plan ahead and bring food that doesn’t suck. I load up on water bottles, cans of pop, juice boxes, crackers, pre-made sandwiches, fruit and other travel friendly snacks.

8. Bring garbage bags.

If you’re going to be in the car for hours, chances are you’re going to be eating in the car. And drinking in the car. And chewing gum that comes in itty bitty gum wrappers in the car.
A well organized, decluttered road trip is a happy road trip.

Insurance Services of America

800-647-4589

Take a STAYCATION for free this weekend!

This weekend, Smithsonian Magazine is offering it's annual free pass day to almost all museums nationwide. This is a fantastic opportunity to see some of the more expensive exhibits you've been longing to see but unable to budget.

Click here to download your free pass!