By JM 12/8/09

We at HCCMIS believe that customers are people first and are constantly looking for ways in which we can connect on a more personal level with both our current customers and those interested in our services. In order to achieve this “personal touch,” we have taken the road formerly less traveled by companies in our industry.

In a recent article in the Houston Business Journal titled, “Old-line companies turn to social media for marketing,” HCC Medical Insurance Services (HCCMIS) is noted for engaging our clients in a more contemporary method – through the use of social media.

HCCMIS is currently active on Twitter, Facebook, FastPitch, Linkedin, and our blog. We are also working towards becoming more active on You Tube and Wikipedia.

Rather than just pushing you, the consumer, to “buy, buy, buy” through our social media accounts, we’ve opted to use them as a tools to update you on news and fun facts in both the travel and health sectors. We feel that engaging and following up with our “fans” and followers allows us to get in touch with what you want and need first, then work on finding the most appropriate policy to match those needs.

We’re also using social media as a way to connect with you on a service level. If any questions or issues arise, we want you to feel comfortable talking to us about it. Some people feel more at ease doing this in the world of social media, so we are doing our best to comply with that.

We hope that our efforts in spending more time conversing with you through these methods will both enhance your experience with HCCMIS and allow us to focus on assisting you with your true needs.

By: JM, 11/19/09

Many of you have been there: you’re ready to finally learn about this product or that and take the next step in actually purchasing it. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, who has time to go and meet with someone to go over ALL the options? You figure, “I’m a smart person; I can read and make my own decision….right?” Well, when the websites you depend on to give you that decision-making information are mere mazes to try navigating through, you may often times just give up. Or, you turn to an “easier” source, which may be not be the best option for your needs. We feel your pain!

With the recent launch of our new website, HCC Medical Insurance Services (www.hccmis.com) clearly understands the endeavors of online consumers. We specialize in international travel medical insurance and US domestic short-term health insurance.

While most individuals may not find any topic containing the word “insurance” very exciting, it’s nice to know when you need information on these products, there is a place to go to get answers to the questions most asked by other consumers who have been in your shoes. We’ve also added a great tool to use to find agents in a specific area who can assist with applying for the policy you’ve chosen or to even suggest the most appropriate policy.

Whether you’re in the market for insurance or not, check out our new site to see what we think every company should boast: user-friendly features.

Posted by KT 11/18/2009

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  For many people, it will kick off the holiday season- but for some it means a big decision looming in the near future.  In February of this year, lawmakers signed a bill, which temporarily discounted COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) health premiums for laid-off workers to alleviate some of the burden while they searched for work. 

While this subsidy has been a blessing to thousands, the benefits were limited to nine months.  Unfortunately, many people who were laid-off earlier this year are still struggling to find jobs.  Those who took advantage of this government subsidy program when it first became available in March will soon need to either begin paying the true cost of COBRA, 102% of their total health premiums, or look into alternative options.  According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “an average family who is eligible for the subsidy, monthly premiums will jump to $1,078 a month from $377.”

What does this mean?  For many individuals, the entire COBRA premium, without the subsidy, will prove to be too high while on a reduced budget.  So what alternatives are available?  An article in USA Today discussed a couple of alternatives, one of which is purchasing short term medical insurance.  Traditionally, short term medical policies are used to fill temporary gaps in coverage for individuals in transition between jobs, recent graduates, or new employees waiting for group coverage to begin.  Many short term medical policies offer next day coverage and have limited underwriting requirements.  Depending on the carrier, coverage may be purchased for periods as short as 30 days and up to 6 months or, in some states, up to 12 months! The ease and flexibility typical of short term medical products can help give you peace-of-mind — perhaps allowing you to better focus on job hunting.    

If you are looking for a competitive short term medical policy, check out HCC Life Short Term Medical (STM).  HCC Life STM is underwritten and administered by HCC Life Insurance Company, a leading insurance company rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company.  The HCC Life STM policy boasts a wide range of deductible options, as well as a choice of overall policy maximums and coinsurance.  The plan also features a unique $50 co-pay option in place of the deductible for visits to an urgent care center.  Online fulfillment is also available so you can download and print ID cards and all relevant insurance documents immediately for coverage beginning as soon as the next-day.  For a free quote, click here.

Have some peace in knowing that there are options available if COBRA no longer makes sense for you and your budget.  Hopefully, with these options you’ll have something to be thankful for this year after all!

Posted 1/7/09 by Irene

I feel it is so important to note that even during tough times when every penny counts, health insurance is one thing we should not give up. Think about it. It may seem like an expense you could do without for a short period of time, say until you get a new job or your business improves, but that short time can easily turn into a very long extended period. And unfortunately, accidents and illnesses do not wait patiently on the sidelines until you have health insurance once again.
I remember one time when we had no coverage of any kind. With my husband being self-employed, and me not working outside of the home, we are guilty of foregoing the insurance coverage from time to time to “save money.” My daughter was taking karate lessons and as fate would have it, one day in class she broke her arm. Between the emergency room visit, X-rays and orthopedic surgeon, our lack of health insurance ended up being one costly mistake we will never make again.
So if you are in between jobs, just out of college, or simply stretching your dollars every which way you can, please do not let you and your family go without health insurance. You can get a free insurance quote for even short-term medical insurance. If you need a place to start, MultiNational Underwriters® (www.mnui.com) has a short-term medical plan, called Amigo, which is an affordable alternative to COBRA. This could be perfect for those that are newly hired and waiting for their insurance benefits, self-employed with no insurance and those looking for a new job.

Posted 12/25/2008 by R. Rosales

In the midst of all the merry-making, I got to thinking about the year to come. What’s in store for me? As a stay-home mom, I don’t have any benefits. I don’t have the privileges of bonuses, car plans, salary loans, and health or medical benefits. That’s why some kind of health insurance would be my top priority for next year.

One can never be too sure of the future. It’s better to be safe than sorry. So the first thing on my to-do-list for next year would be to get a FREE medical insurance quote. Amigo is a short-term policy which is more affordable and flexible than Cobra. I’ll definitely inquire about this and check Multinational Underwriters at www.mnui.com to look for the best insurance and I’m hoping next year would be a better year for me and my family.

Posted on 12/19/08 by K. Hatter

Our faltering economy is having far-reaching effects on many people. One such effect is on the health insurance coverage of people (and their families) who have lost their jobs. These people are either ending up uninsured, or are forced to pay for expensive COBRA coverage.

There is an affordable option, however. MultiNational Underwriters has a short-term medical plan called Amigo. This is an alternative to COBRA that is affordable and will help keep individuals and their families covered.

Please visit  www.mnui.com for a free insurance quote today.

January 17, 2008 by Jill Anderson

The insurance industry continues to evolve.  New products are introduced… some succeed, some fail.  One product, however, that continues to survive the cyclical nature of the industry is short term health insurance.

Perceived as probably one of best values in health insurance short term medical insurance offers an affordable solution for many consumers and situations.  Some of the more common needs include college students and recent graduates, young adults who are no longer eligible on their parents’ plan, employees transitioning between jobs or waiting for group health benefits to kick in, those seeking an affordable alternative to COBRA coverage, individuals not yet eligible for Medicare coverage, and part time employees.

Recently MultiNational Underwriters, an Indianapolis based company, has created a new category that may be added to this list… new residents of the United States.  This company very recently started marketing a plan called Amigo Medical.  The design of this plan provides anyone who is legally residing in the United States to apply for coverage without providing proof of citizenship, and without restrictions on prior length of established U.S. residency.

In the past I have talked with many consumers who did not have an option for health insurance because either they had not lived in the U.S. long enough to meet the residency requirements of health providers or because they did not yet have a security number.  This innovative short term medical plan also offers a copay benefit which is virtually unheard of with short term medical plans.  Click here for a free quote and to learn more.