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TImes Like These

In the last few months, we have seen and felt the impact of rising health insurance costs. These increases have come at the hand of many factors, and we don’t try to point fingers in any one direction. The fact is… it’s complicated. We have sat with many people and solved many problems over these last few months and truly, things have just begun to shake loose. We are so grateful for the patience and trust of our clients and just wanted to extend that thanks and keep the invite extended for all of our family and clients to reach out and share the fears and concerns on their minds. It’s in times like these that we grow closer to our clients, and it seems more like family now than ever before. Please feel free to call us as things unfold and as the changes take effect. Thank you and we look forward to hearing and helping soon.

Joseph Doppe (Agent/Owner)

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Take the Time

As we turn the corner into the last month of Open Enrollment, many people find that the options offered to them through the state or federal exchanges just don’t fit them, their family, or their current situation. This could be due to the cost, the coverage, the timing their lives, OR some combination of those realities and others.

It would be a mistake to come to your Health Insurance planning with the understanding that a one size fits all approach is the best way to move through the process. This is just not true. The benefit of having an insurance professional walk out this journey with affords you the opportunity to see all of your options. This might be a traditional option through the typical exchanges, with the options that you are used too. However, many clients are opening up their eyes to the growing number of options and comfort that comes through designing a custom approach to their needs and the needs of their family,

If you are dissatisfied with the options provided to you this year, please take the time to learn about other options and opportunities that you most likely have access too. If you unhappy with price, deductible, out of pocket maximums and any other issue, please voice those things to your insurance professional and see what else is out there. Solutions are just around the corner for those who seek them.

We hope your 2024 health insurance planning has been fruitful and that you have put plans into place that actual serve you and your family. Remember, you are the customer! You should understand what your year is going to look like and what you’re signing up for. You should have support throughout the year, not just during enrollment. If you have any questions at all, reach out to your insurance professional and get answers. We would love to answer any of your questions here at Seek First Financial. Even if you don’t have coverage through us, please call us and get the comfort and support you need. If we don’ talk to you before Christmas, Merry Christmas!

Why use an Insurance Broker?

When it comes to putting coverage in place for yourself or for your family, you may be wondering why you would choose to work with a broker as opposed to a “captive agent.” A captive agent is an agent who specializes in and works exclusively with one company or insurance carrier. They offer all or most of the products that that one carrier offers, and they cannot offer you anything outside of that range of products. There are times and places when this makes sense and when it leads to the best deals for you or you and your family. For instance, there are sometimes products that carriers only allow their own captive agents to offer. They may have brokers they work with, but they do not allow these brokers to offer some of these exclusive products. If you would benefit from one of those products, then it would make sense for you to work with a captive agent that can meet that specific need. I have on multiple occasions, referred a client to work with a captive agent to get this sort of service when I could not offer them what they needed.

I am a broker and love being an insurance broker. That simply means that I am not a captive agent and I offer many different companies’ products, services, and plans. I think this serves people better in most cases because I can shop around for the client, after finding what their need is, and find something that meets that need and is the most affordable of all the options. I am also able to help clients with varying degrees of health for this same reason. While some of my options have more strict guidelines when it comes to health, I have other options for clients with companies that specialize in or simply offer products to higher risk clients. This helps more people get the coverage that they need. There are many more reasons I like to have options but what someone needs all depends on their specific situation. Make an APPOINTMENT today so that we can work through the needs and find the perfect fit for you and your family.

Joseph Doppe