Governor Jerry Brown, Insurance Agent

If you have employee sponsored health insurance, here's what will happen in 2014.

I'm curious to see if General Liability Carriers will begin quoting contact sports again (Only 2 markets remain), now that we ALL have health insurance... or, at least... should have.

I predict:

1. Massive Increase in sales of Supplemental Policies like VBA's 24h Accident Medical Cover.  The Feds will make you pay, deductibles, co insurance... got $5,000 lying around?
2. Prop-sized changes in Workers Comp, since everybody has Health Insurance, right?
3. Scrum-sized Increases in Health Insurance Premiums... sick people, old people.

I wouldn't be surprised if all Excess A&H (policies for sports leagues to provide EXCESS, not primary, health coverage for injuries related to the sport) disappear.

Where will you SCORE/GET HIT with Insurance Costs in 2013...

If you're looking to save money on Insurance this 2013, here's how:

1.  Consolidate all your personal lines with one carrier.  "Huh?"  Call me.
2.  Get a Rugby Supplemental/Accident Only plan.  Got $10,000 laying around?
3.  If you OWN a business:  General Liability and Business Auto rates are good right now... Again, Call me.

Where you're going to get HIT with Insurance Costs in 2013:

1.  Workers Comp:  Business Owners, the Prop will Fall on You...  Have you checked your ExMod lately?
2.  Health Insurance:  Expect either your employer to ask you for a bigger contribution, drop benefits entirely, or just a simple 30-40% increase... Yes, your LineOut Lifters just dropped you...
3.  OLD Ruggers:  Long Term Care insurance.  This is for the 50+ crowd.  Get it, NOW.

Tax-wise, $1,000,000,000,000 (that's 1 Trillion), gets taken this year by the Feds to pay for Obamacare, which doesn't technically start til 2014. Plus, your wages will get pinged another 2%.  So, you'll have less money in 2013 if all else stays the same. 

Your only recourse is to score multiple tries... Or, make more money. 

Obamacare, and the Rugby Player: Health Insurance Rates to Double in the next 2 years...

If you're under 40, and playing rugby, you're health insurance will DOUBLE in the next 2 years...

Now, if you're employer provides health insurance, and there are more than 50 employees in your company, expect benefits to either be dropped, your hours reduced, or people (maybe YOU) getting laid off.

But Wait!  Didn't Consumers see 1.5 Billion in tangible savings because of Obamacare?  Yes, they did.

That money came from somewhere... And, as long as insurance companies operate on a profit, that cost will either be passed on as future premium increases, or lower payments to medical service providers.  Also, the O-care rules force insurance companies to age rate at x3 instead of x5 for older people.  Thus, the young will pay for the old.


What can a Rugby Player Do?  Get a supplemental plan for Rugby if you have employer health insurance.  Do NOT rely on USA Rugby's program, as it's NOT designed to act as a primary health plan, and you'd only be screwing other rugby players who follow the rules.  (Yes, you should NOT be playing if you don't have primary health insurance...)  If you're pissed that your health insurance rates are increasing, well,... that's a political problem... figure that out yourself.

 

Rugby Player Surgery: How you get back on the pitch...

A Prop Falls On You.  You need surgery.  Here's what you need BEFORE the injury, to be in place:

1.  VBA's 24h Accident Medical Program:  $2,500 to $25,000 in CASH to cover deductibles and co-insurance right NOW...

2.  A surgery center NOT associated with a major hospital chain.  Watch this.  Hat tip:  Reason.tv

3.  Decent Chiropractor who understands sports injuries, rehab, and insurance.


NOTICE I DID NOT say PRIMARY HEALTH INSURANCE... here's why....

[Note:  RuckingInsurance.com started with just health insurance.  Was 85% of our revenue.  Now it's under 7%... why?  It's a pain in the ass to sell, maintain, and they've dropped commissions 67% LESS than when we started.  Ergo, not worth our time to deal with... We ONLY sell Kaiser now...  All other carriers suck.]

You ain't gonna have any very soon.  Any 1/2 brained employer is going to drop your benefits, or just throw you a few hundred a month to go get your own... Don't like it?  Tough. Also, do NOT lean on any EXCESS medical insurance you get from your sports association... USAR(FU)'s included.... Those programs are NOT designed to cover you as a primary...

If you do have Primary Health Insurance, your deductibles and co-insurance won't cover most of the charges in the Hospital anyway... lovely huh!?!

It's time to CHANGE... You want to play Rugby?  Hockey?  GAA sports?  Whatever?  YOU NEED VBA's plan... period...


We just want to see you in the Rucks....

$25,000 Accident Injury Coverage: Get your card ONLINE!!!

I'm a huge, Huge, HUGE fan of VBA's 24h Accident Medical Coverage...

Why?  Because every client who has ever used the claims process LOVED it, and they've never quit.  Retention in the insurance world means that the policy works.

Up to $25,000, for your family, for about $100/month?  Even a Prop realizes that's a good deal.

VBA just announced that you can get your cards online, instead of waiting the usual 4-6 weeks for the packet to come in the mail... (yes, I know... dinosaurs sent mail...)  The link is emailed after you enroll.

Just one more reason...

VBA INCREASES limits to $25,000!!!!! Rugby Included!

Attention Rugby Players who think they can't afford REAL insurance:

For $100 a month, you can have up to $25,000 in Accident Injury coverage through VBA!!!  (I love VBA.  I have hockey players, GAA cats, Rugby, Brazilian Judo... you name it!  as clients...)


So, let's say you play year round... for $1,200 a year, you're covered for $25,000 in injuries, accidents, both sports and any other incidents... ($275 deductible, I believe...).

This plan will work with USAR(FU)'s coverage, and is PERFECTLY suited to supplement a primary health plan, individually owned, or through work....

Who's in?

USA Rugby's new insurance program

As expected, USA Rugby's Accident Medical Excess program switched carriers, from Zurich to Nationwide, and have made other changes.

Remember, THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE PRIMARY HEALTH INSURANCE.

Can't emphasize that enough... leaning on USA Rugby's program is not fair, to USAR, and to your fellow players.  IMHO, Zurich bolted due to high claims. 

Please note the following:

• Deductible increases:  $1,500 with primary health insurance, $3,000 with no primary health insurance
• Sanctioned Events Only:   I have no clue what this means for USA Rugby.  I know how other sports associations define sanctioned events, so research needed here.
• Many Exclusions
• What's a pre-existing condition for this plan?  If you've already injured your knee, and you pop it this season playing, no coverage?  I don't know. 
• Dental?  Real weak here...
• Physical Therapy, Chiropractic?  Not expressly excluded on the website.  Time will tell.
• Play only?  Unclear here.  All actions during training, does that include running sprints?

• Claims Process:  Again, another area for curiosity, as I know that most Medical Service Providers hate dealing with Excess Coverage Plans

Now, KUDOS to USAR for even offering this coverage.  And, they kept the dues at $45, which is impressive.  Again, don't screw around and think that just because you're CIPP'd you have health insurance.  You do NOT.  Protect USAR and Rugby by getting yourself covered.

Next post:  How to cover these deductibles...

VBA Hurls into the GAA!

My favorite Accident Medical Plan is VBA's 24h Accident Medical Cover.  $10,000 in cover for under $60/month for individual. Add $10 and you can include the Kids and the Spouse!

Some examples:

Rugby #8 dislocates elbow:  Ambulance, ER, MRI, Reset, and PT.  His health insurance deductible was $2,500, and he bought just $2,500 in cover (Cheap Irish!).  Anyway, his total out of pocket was $250!  All for under $40 a month!

Hockey Family:  4 out of 5 in the house play Hockey.  They've all filed claims, never once been canceled or rates raised for over 2 years! Each incident was a $275 deductible, but that's better than their $12,000 health insurance deductible that they'd be forced to cover with VBA!

Kick the ball to us for more details.

Best Accident Plan EVER lowers rates for Individuals!

Starting June 1st you can get $5 to $10 off per month enrolling as an individual for VBA's (Soon to be NEA) 24h Accident Medical Coverage!

Yes, the pay me to sell it...

Only tough part of this is that the Claims are on YOU.  I'll help you with that, of course!

How to Set Up a Youth Sports Program

Two amazing sources colluding to tell you the truth.

Read.

RuckingInsurance.com started with Chartis 6 years ago with a small youth program in LA. 

Now we Ruck Nationwide.

VBA's 24h Accident Medical Coverage: Steadiest Scrum in the Rugby Universe!

Amidst all the changes to Health Insurance and Travel Insurance Cover, one plan has been scrum-stable for over 7 years:

VBA's 24h Accident Medical Coverage!

They cover organized sports.  NOBODY does that anymore... Except these guys... They don't even play rugby!

$10,000 in cover, $275 Deductible, under $70/mo... A Tight-Head Steal!

Concussion Coverage: SEPARATE from Sports GL and AME

Concussions... Please note this doom and gloom statement regarding the NFL:

There's a lot less money in the sport, and at first it's "the next hockey" and then it's "the next rugby," and finally the franchises start to shutter.

I will do whatever it takes to keep Rugby safe, and legally insured.

Consider ADDING a concussion program to your current Sports General Liability and Accident Medical Expense coverage.  Why?

• Loss Prevention:  Kinda like having a safety program at work to contain Workers Comp costs
• Baseline Information:  Gotta have a scan of the Players Noggin' PRE-Season, for comparison
• Awareness Education:  Getting Coaches, Players, Volunteers and Moms'n'Dads information that could save a Player's life.  
• Extra Money in the healthcare kitty:  Aflac has been selling cancer policies for years.  Why a concussion policy? 

Need more info?  Call us:  800-605-5024

Rugby Player uses Supplement Accident Injury Cover for Car Crash

Center buys VBA's Accident Medical Expense program:  $67.95/month for $10,000 and a $275 deductible so that the Center could continue to score TRIES!

Except in June, acting like a prop, a car crashed into the Center.  Guess who paid $10,000 towards the Center's injuries?

VBA. Value Benefits of America...to be exact.

VBA was the first company outside CA to contract with RuckingInsurance.com 

You can get your own VBA plan here.

Covering the deductible of an insurance plan with a Supplemental

To reduce costs, many people opt for a higher deductible for their health insurance.  Do you have the cash on hand to cover that in case a prop falls on you?

A simple and cheap way to fill the deductible "space" is with a supplemental policy from VBA.  Be sure to enroll before the beginning of training, and then cancel, if you like (I'd keep it, since it's good for non-rugby too!) after the season ends.  Rates and Benefits vary, but you can enroll here.

[Note:  There is a small deductible for the VBA also:  $195 to $275.  But that's still nicer than $2,500!!!]

Rugby is about putting the ball into space for your teammate to run onto it.  The gap can be tiny or huge, and timing is the key.  For $35-65/mo extra, you can have the cash(the ball) to go into the space (deductible), and having the timing just right.

Accident Medical Expense Insurance for Adult Contact Sports: Damn, that's Expensive...

Bob plays Prop.  Scrum falls down.  Bob gets hurt.  Who pay the medical bills if Bob has no health insurance?

Every sports league in America DEMANDS that each participant carry primary health insurance.  However, the truth is that many players simply lie, sign the waivers, and play without health insurance. 

Accident Medical Expense, sometimes known as Accident & Health Excess is a typical requirement for an athletic association or league.  It's designed to provide EXCESS coverage, to fill in the gaps that regular health insurance doesn't cover, such as co-insurance.

AME is also a requirement of most General Liability policies, because they don't want someone stranded with medical bills, and then suing the league or team.

Getting quotes for adult contact sports can be done.  However, it's up to the league to ensure that all players are insured outside of the Excess that the league carries.

Even a simple $10,000 VBA plan for $65/month would do wonders for claims.  $65 a month kids...

Interestingly, that rate is in line with most Excess Programs...

Oh, and remember, with EXCESS, the claims process is on YOU.  You do the claim form, and the follow up.  Of course, if you work with me, I'll do that with you...

Bob gets fixed.  Rucking Insurance helps fill out form.  Bob, the Prop, is happy.

Getting Serious Regarding Concussions

Check this out.

Rucking Insurance is co-marketing with aHEAD of the GAME.  Please let us know if you'd like to try this valuable service for your youth rugby team or league.

Concussions: Getting knocked the F#*) Out!

The Concussion injury, IMHO, is the most dangerous injury in Sports.

A few resources:

• rugbylaw.blogspot.com
• theconcussionblog.com

Now, my major Accident & Health carrier, Chartis, is developing a concussion awareness and prevention program for it's youth sports products.  (Remember, Chartis is the ONLY carrier that provides both Abuse Molestation Cover on it's GL, but also gives the insureds access to Praesidiuminc.com)

As youth rugby EXPLODES, we must, MUST prevent this horrible, life-altering, injury in any way we can.

RuckingInsurance.com will do it's part.  Will you?

Health Agents Leaving the Health Insurance Business

It has begun...

RuckingInsurance.com will more than likely scale back to CA only for individual and group health insurance. This is part of the website redesign. We will continue to offer Accident plans throughout the US, where available.

We will always provide services for Teams and Leagues. (GL, Supplemental A&H, Auto for the vans, etc. etc...)

IMHO, if you don't have at least VBA's 24h Accident Medical Coverage, you deserve the care you get. (If you have a pre-existing, I've written extensively on how to get coverage.)

Relagation and Promotion: Bad and Good Rugby Clubs

I like forcing good teams up, and bad teams down. Keeps leagues fresh, and forces a long term vision for any decent rugby club.

I don't like forcing rich people up, and poor people down. But that's where we are headed with Obamacare in it's current form.

Hey, I've already joined a Health Care Boutique. I carry a very High Deductible Health Savings Account qualified insurance plan, and supplement that with an accident plan. All told, I'm out about $200/mo, not including the funding of my HSA.

But I can afford that.

If you can't, you'll be getting your stitches at the Post Office. You'll wait for your broken clavicle surgery at the DMV.

Health Insurance premiums will continue to rise, as long as no one addresses costs.

Will you be relegated, or promoted?

Have's and Have Not's: $$$ will determine your level of health care

I'm a big believer in Medical Concierge's like OneMedical here in San Francisco.

A few doctors are taking that kind of initiative, one to the tune of $5,000 per year!

Why? Costs.

Business are intended to make a profit. Too expensive to deal with insurance companies? Go concierge. Too much trouble dealing with all the little claims? Sell High Deductible HSA-qualified plans. Remember, the reimbursement system FAVORS specialists, not primary care physicians. The whole point of the Concierge System is to restore, economically, the neighborhood doctor relationship.

Basically, if you have money:

• Join a Concierge practice
• Buy a high-deductible HSA-qualified plan
• Buy an accident indemnity plan

If you don't have money:

• Rely on the State/Feds to take care of you... good luck!

If you're in between:

• Buy a high-deductible HSA-qualified plan (gotta cover surviving a bus hit, or brain tumors)
• Hope that the state medical system gets your knee fixed within 18 months of injury

Sorry, but that's the reality.