ABE Rep Charlene Stubbs

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2010-04-30T08:15:00.001-05:00

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Perfect Complements

2010-04-29T10:01:00.000-05:00

Members often ask me if there are other ABE-sponsored insurance plans they should consider to help ensure they have adequate insurance protection. Many times members have not considered what we call supplemental plans. Supplemental group insurance plans such as the ABE-sponsored Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and Hospital Indemnity Insurance (HIP) can be a perfect complement to ABE-sponsored Group Term Life and Disability plans. With ABE-sponsored HIP, you collect up to $500 a day for each covered hospitalization. This daily cash benefit can be used to help pay co-pays on your basic medical insurance or other expenses not covered under your basic medical plan. ABE-sponsored ADD provides benefits of up to $500,000 for covered accidental deaths. These benefits are paid in addition to the benefits your family may receive from an existing life insurance plan. What’s more, both of these plans are guaranteed acceptance! This makes it easy to supplement your existing life and disability insurance coverage. Call me at 1-800-621-8981, extension 6419 or visit www.abendowment.org to learn more.

Exclusively Supporting Your Family…

2010-04-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

If your employer-sponsored coverage doesn’t allow you to include your dependents, we may be able to offer you a solution. ABE-sponsored insurance is exclusively for ABA members but most ABE-sponsored plans allow you to apply for dependent coverage at the time you are applying for coverage, increasing the financial stability you may need for yourself and your family. Call me to learn more.

The Tax Man Cometh...

2010-04-15T09:22:00.000-05:00

Tax time can be stressful for many but it can also be a reminder to properly watch over financial affairs. It can be a time to reflect on how expenses are paid and if cash flow needs are planned for appropriately. As an example, in a review of expenses and cash flow, you may find that it would be helpful to pay an expense in smaller regular payments rather than paying annually in a lump sum. If this financial planning tactic is something that appeals to you, you might want to consider the ABE’s Automatic Payment Plan as an option for budgeting your insurance premiums. When using this option, the 12-month insurance premium is divided by 12 and paid in smaller monthly payments; there are no “service charges” added because you pay monthly. These monthly payments are then automatically deducted from the savings or checking account you designate instead of sending a check through the mail. Not only is this a way to save time and postage, but it’s an easy way to manage your finances. If you would like more information, call me today (312) 988-6419.

I want to help protect my practice...

2010-04-08T10:15:00.000-05:00

“What is professional overhead expense insurance?” an ABA member asked me today. I told the member that this type of plan is not always available through insurance agents or brokers and can be one of the most valuable insurance plans a solo or small firm lawyer can purchase. Although the name may be odd, the ABE-sponsored Group Professional Overhead Expense Insurance plan helps cover your office expenses if you are disabled and unable to work. For many solo and small firm lawyers, it is a necessary supplement to personal disability insurance, because it pays your share of office expenses for up to one year while you are disabled. The monthly benefits paid by this plan can help your office continue to stay opened and functioning while you are recuperating from a disabling illness or injury. Solos and partners in firms with up to five attorneys can purchase Professional Overhead Expense insurance in amounts from $500 a month to $10,000 a month. If no one but you is responsible for your overhead, read more about whether this type of insurance is right for you at our website or give me a call to find out more.

Spring Into Great Medical Coverage

2010-04-01T08:36:00.001-05:00

If you have Medicare or Medicare Supplement coverage, consider adding our Excess Major Medical Plan II. It’s an important supplement to your existing coverage because there are maximums and limits to Medicare and to even the most comprehensive Medicare Supplement plans. With a discount pharmacy benefit, this affordable coverage can provide the additional coverage you may need. Depending on the deductible you select, rates can be as low as $30/quarter. That’s an inexpensive way to ensure you have the coverage you need if you run into maximums and limits on your other plan(s).

If Anyone Knows About Details…

2010-03-25T10:50:00.000-05:00

It’s our ABA lawyer members. We are constantly amazed at how detail-oriented our members are and in fact, several provided us with some tips from their insurance application experience to help make the underwriting process simpler and quicker:

Carefully read and complete the entire application and then sign it (it sounds simple and the process is simple when you cross every “t” and dot every “i”).
When you answer “yes” to any health question(s), be sure to give full details even if that means attaching a separate sheet of paper (don’t forget to sign that separate sheet as well!).
Provide full contact information for your doctors. You wouldn’t believe how many physicians have the same name and live in the same city.
Do not hesitate to contact your physician to urge them to sign the Attending Physician Statement, if this form is required as part of the underwriting process of your application. Many applications are delayed while waiting for this statement, and many times you can help your physician remember it is on his or her desk!

There you go; suggestions from your ABA lawyer colleagues who have succeeded in the application process!

Check Check Checking

2010-03-18T07:51:00.002-05:00

A recent national study told of the decline in the use of personal checks, going so far as to predict that paper checks as we know them may disappear completely within the next 10 years. Even with this prediction, we at ABE happily accept checks as a payment option. So when a member called recently to ask why we cannot accept checks for monthly premiums, he was surprised at our answer. One of our goals is for your insurance to stay in force and, if our busy members forget to write that monthly check, their insurance will lapse. If your coverage does lapse, it might be reinstated if you act quickly and your health has not changed, but you take a risk. What if you let coverage lapse and something unexpected happens? Signing up for our Automatic Payment Plan allows your payments to be automatically debited from your checking account each month and is an easy way to save a little bit of time and postage while ensuring there is no lapse in coverage due to non-payment.

The Best Part of Tax Season

2010-03-11T08:31:00.002-06:00

Most people say the best part of tax season is “when it’s over”, but we know one of the best parts is finding ways to reduce your tax liability through charitable giving. Do you wish you had given more and paid less in taxes? Check out the ABE’s Charitable Gift Fund (Donor Advised Fund) at http://www.abendowment.org/charitable/. Also, remember that when you participate in ABE-sponsored insurance programs, donating your annual dividends to ABE makes you eligible for a charitable contribution deduction on your income tax return. (Dividends are not guaranteed.)

Giving Back is the Hallmark of ABA Members

2010-03-04T09:07:00.002-06:00

As we tabulate ABE insured contributions for 2009, once again we find that approximately 85% of you are donating your annual dividends to fund the good works of the legal profession. Kudos to you! You are one of the reasons more than 200 legal public service, educational and research programs exist. Thank you for contributing! To find out more about dividend donation, visit http://www.abendowment.org/

Going Green with Auto Pay

2010-02-25T09:57:00.000-06:00

Recently I’ve had several members ask me if they can stop paper billing of their premium notices and go green by either paying by credit card or with another automatic payment plan. We are so glad to be hearing you want to “go green”!! Currently we do not have a credit card payment option, but we do offer an Automatic Payment Plan. Our paperless Automatic Payment Plan allows you to deduct your monthly premium from your bank account on the first day of each month (if the first falls on a weekend or a holiday, your account will be debited on the next business day). If you want to sign up for this convenient method of payment, click here to download an Automatic Payment Plan form. Comments on going green with paperless billing? We would like to hear from you!! Just post a response to my blog.

President's Day

2010-02-18T10:29:00.002-06:00

President’s Day was Monday, February 15! At ABE our offices were closed, and while it was nice to have the day off, the reason made me think of the word “leadership,” and then I can’t help but think of ABA members – so many of you are leaders in your field. Every day I speak with you and learn how true leaders of the profession protect themselves and their families with insurance. I’ll admit I didn’t always think this way – and many people still do not. It’s an invaluable lesson in leadership to understand that insurance is the building block for a solid financial plan and a stable life.

Love is in the air.

2010-02-11T08:29:00.000-06:00

As Valentine’s Day approaches, cupids and arrows will start to show up as grocery store decorations and candy hearts will make their appearance at welcome desks. Valentine’s Day always makes me think about love and about what will make my heart happy. Well, if your heart is healthy (at least medically-speaking), now may be the time to apply for ABE-sponsored insurance for yourself and your loved ones. Not only is the gift of insurance an important (and we think romantic) thing to do, if you apply when you are younger and probably most healthy you will likely have an easier time navigating the underwriting process and maybe even have lower premium rates! Be sure that your loved ones are protected with quality, competitively priced insurance. ABA members have access to a wide variety of plans that are customized for lawyers.

Is your salary and retirement income protected if you become disabled?

2010-02-04T08:40:00.000-06:00

I was talking with a member the other day and he asked if there were other ABE-sponsored disability plans he should consider in addition to his ABE-sponsored Group Long-Term Disability plan. We discussed the fact that the Long-Term Disability plan protects his regular income, but he didn’t have coverage to make sure he had continued contributions towards his retirement income. If you become disabled and have a 401k or similar plan, contributions to those plans may stop when your income stops. Retirement Contribution Disability Insurance helps you meet that need by continuing to provide contributions into your savings for retirement while you are disabled and no longer receiving a salary. Additionally, if you practice in a solo or small firm, you should consider some form of professional overhead insurance protection. The ABE-sponsored Professional Overhead Expense can provide monthly payments to help pay the expenses of running your practice in the event of a disability, including: office rent or mortgage, utilities, payroll taxes, non-attorney employee salaries, and more. This plan may provide that extra layer of protection to enable your practice to keep running even if you are not working due to a disability. Comments on insurance coverage if you become disabled? We would like to hear from you!! Just post a response to my blog.

Looking for a One-Stop Shop?

2010-01-29T12:57:00.002-06:00

Recently an ABA member called to discuss her ABE-sponsored group insurance options. As the discussion progressed, she was glad to hear about the various insurance plans she is eligible to apply for as an ABA member. With programs including Group: Long- and Mid-Term Disability, Term Life, Excess Major Medical, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Hospital Indemnity, and Professional Overhead Income Expense, ABE sponsors the plans that may help protect you and your family. Unsure of what coverage you should consider? Take our Online Needs Assessment to see the insurance plans available at your current life stage. Or view a full list of all programs available for ABA members.

Premium Notices – How They Work and How I Can Help

2010-01-21T11:01:00.000-06:00

Several members have asked me why the return envelopes provided in our premium notices say not to send any correspondence with your payment. I wanted to share some information with you that may be helpful. All premium payments using our return envelopes go to ABE’s bank payment processing center so that the checks are credited as quickly as possible. Any correspondence you send with your payment goes directly to the bank where it is separated from your payment. If you send a note with your payment, the bank will separate it from your check and payment stub and is supposed to send it to ABE but there will be a delay. This can be frustrating for our members. To avoid this frustration, PLEASE call, email or fax me with your request and I'll help you right away.

Did We Tell You About our New Dedicated Phone Line for Solos/Small Firm members?

2010-01-14T13:30:00.002-06:00

If you are a Solo or Small Firm Practitioner, we added a new, dedicated 800 number – 877-621-7676 -- just for your questions. We know that as a solo or small firm attorney your time is limited. We also know that you need to be sure you have adequate insurance protection. Our new, dedicated toll-free line makes it easy to learn more about the ABE-sponsored insurance plans exclusively for ABA members. All ABE-sponsored plans provide ABA members with quality, affordable insurance from trusted insurers. Call us today so we can help you better understand the ABE-sponsored insurance plans that can provide the coverage you may need to protect you, your family and your practice.

A Free Gift for the New Year

2010-01-05T12:07:00.000-06:00

Recently, we sent a mailing to ABA members offering a FREE planning tool – the Secure Life Planner -- for your personal financial and insurance assistance. If you have not requested your Planner, please call me at 800-621-8981 ext. 6419 or request yours online. In addition to helpful information about the how life and disability insurance can be the cornerstone of a strong financial plan, each Planner comes on a 1GB flash drive to give you lots of room to store your important insurance information.

Holidays, Thankfulness and Resolutions

2009-12-30T11:26:00.001-06:00

During the holiday season, our thoughts often turn to gifts, giving, gratitude and all we are thankful for. Our members continually tell us how thankful they are for the protection they receive from ABE-sponsored insurance for themselves and their families. In addition, members participating in ABE-sponsored insurance plans have an easy way to give back to the good works of the legal profession. In the rush of the holidays, we shouldn’t forget to keep ourselves and our families protected with quality, affordable insurance from trusted insurers exclusively for ABA members. As you plan your New Year’s resolutions, make a note to review your insurance protection. It is one of the most important things you can do in the New Year. After you make your annual review, give me a call at 800-621-8981 ext. 6419 to discuss your current ABE-sponsored insurance and, if your needs have changed or you currently don’t have ABE-sponsored insurance, which ABE-sponsored plans might best meet your insurance needs.

It’s Open Enrollment Time – Do you have the right benefits?

2009-12-21T08:51:00.002-06:00

This is the time of year when many employers offer open enrollment for benefits. If your employer is changing or reducing the benefits you had in the past, you may find yourself either underinsured, or in some rare instances, uninsured. As your Personal Insurance Representative, I want to make sure you know about the ABE-sponsored coverages that can protect you, your family and your practice. If you would like to discuss your employer’s benefit changes and how you might supplement your coverage with ABE-sponsored insurance plans, please call me at 800-621-8981 ext. 6419.

The Importance of Insuring Children at an Early Age

2009-12-09T15:33:00.000-06:00

An insured called me today to add her newborn baby to her ABE-sponsored Excess Major Medical insurance plan. I congratulated her on the birth of her child and applauded her for realizing the importance of insuring children as soon as possible. If you are currently insured with the ABE-sponsored Excess Major Medical insurance plan, your newborn is automatically insured for the first 31 days, but you must notify us in writing if you want to add them to your policy. No underwriting is required if you notify us within 31 days of birth, and your newborn will be covered immediately. Make sure you have the peace of mind knowing that your children will have supplemental medical coverage in case of a catastrophic accident or illness as soon as possible. Leave your comments about child insurance coverage here.

Your Needs Assessment

2009-12-03T10:00:00.003-06:00

Have you been considering additional insurance coverage for you and your family, but are unsure of which insurance plan to choose or how much coverage you need? ABE has made it easy to research your ABE-sponsored insurance options online, at your convenience with our new, free online needs assessment tool.

Simply answer a few questions regarding your current insurance needs, and you can navigate through the ABE-sponsored plans that may meet those needs. (Our primary goal is your privacy, so we do not store your information online. Please read our privacy policy.

Just enter your information into the online needs assessment tool and review the ABE-sponsored plans available. Once you’ve viewed all the plan information (including features, costs, eligibility, renewability, limitations and exclusions), you can even download and print the online application.

Have questions about coverage available exclusively to ABA members? Call me or post your comments here.

Too Young for Insurance?

2009-11-25T14:30:00.000-06:00

I have heard some young members say they don’t think they need insurance protection. I was recently speaking to a member who was applying for ABE-sponsored Disability insurance at the young age of 31. While he said he was healthy and didn’t plan on needing to access the disability benefits for years (hopefully decades) to come, he had recently watched a colleague suffer financially after experiencing an injury and being unable to work. His firm provided some disability insurance, but after seeing the reality of his friend, he wanted to make sure a larger portion of his income was secure in case something similar happened to him. Plus, by applying when he was young and probably the healthiest he will ever be, he felt comfortable that his application would go through the underwriting process swiftly and easily. Have thoughts regarding apply for insurance coverage at a young age? Post your comments here.

Requesting More Insurance Coverage? We Have Good News!

2009-11-19T14:07:00.001-06:00

Were you recently approved for ABE-sponsored coverage and now want to apply to increase that same coverage or purchase coverage under a different plan? Great news! When you apply for additional ABE-sponsored coverage within 6 months of your most recent approval, you could decrease the normal 6-8 week underwriting period to as little as 2-3 weeks, and may not have to provide new lab work (blood and urinalysis). If you are reevaluating your needs and are considering additional insurance coverage, your application process may be shortened if you were recently approved! Contact me to discuss your current situation at 800-621-8981 ext 6220.

Have Three Minutes to Spare?

2009-11-11T15:21:00.001-06:00

If you have three minutes, you have enough time to listen in to one of our ABE-Town podcast episodes. Tune into our old-time radio drama, as we listen in on Aaron Fields and all the lively characters living their lives, and talk about ABE-sponsored group insurance, in ABE-Town! It’s an entertaining way to learn about insurance exclusively for ABA members. Listen online or download to your mp3 player for later enjoyment.

Tell us what you think! Post your comments here!