Kathleen MacAller Insurance Services

If you know someone without health insurance who missed the Open Enrollment deadline, there is short term medical insurance available. There are also other types of insurance, available year round, like dental and vision.

We are in the last 5 days of enrollment for a January 1st effective date. Word of advice: Do not pick the cheapest just because it's the cheapest. Cheapest = catastrophic with very little to no coverage. It's like having car or homeowner's insurance where you pay the monthly premium but never seem to benefit from the insurance (unless you have a catastrophe). Also, the cheapest may mean you can't go to your local hospital because they are not in network with the plan you chose. Ventura County people should know this for those of you who can't go to Los Robles Hospital because you're on the wrong plan.

It's been awhile since I last posted. I have new options for consumers unhappy with their current insurance (network?) or looking to lower premiums. Medicare eligible? Are you a business looking for employee benefits? Email me at [email protected] or call me at (805) 530-6320. Remember, working with a broker doesn't cost you a penny. I represent carriers that will work with an agent which is most of them. Give me call or email me!

Open Enrollment ends 1-31-2018 in California. If you have not purchased individual insurance for 2018, now is the time to do so.

It's vacation time. That means many of you will be traveling outside the country. Keep in mind that your major medical policy covers emergency only and is quite limited outside the U.S. Read the attached story about astronaut Buzz Aldrin and how a travel policy saved him. They are very inexpensive and take less than 15 minutes to purchase and receive the policy online. Contact me to see how I can help you travel with peace of mind.

These last few weeks my family has been dealing with an ailing parent (who happens to live with us). His last two weeks in the hospital and move to skilled nursing today made me re-evaluate my long term care insurance. He fortunately has a policy that will help should he need longer term coverage...it's only $100/day. But that is $3000/month. When added to his Social Security benefits, this is a significant monthly benefit. While I wish he had more, we are grateful for w...hat he has. LTC insurance gets more and more expensive the older you get. We all know someone with an ailing relative and often it's too late for those people who are frantically trying to find a way to pay for their relative's care and who do not want to wipe out all of their savings, assets or potential inheritances to pay for care. Start early. Get something now, even if it's just a $100/day benefit. Something is better than nothing. See more