Hello?! Attention 50 year olds: Get a physical!!!
It seems like every week I sit down with someone, mostly men, who are over 50 years old and they tell me how healthy they are, “Why I haven’t been to the doctor in 20 years! I’m in great shape!” Maybe.
Pretty much every health insurance company insuring individuals requires someone 50 or older to have had a physical with bloodwork done in the last 2 years. No physical? Case closed. Period. No insurance. It’s too much of a risk for the insurance company. Plenty of these so-called healthy folks will drop dead tomorrow! Do you really have to think for more than a minute to come up with the face of a fifty something friend or c0-worker that “seemed to be in good shape”, that collapsed with a heart attack or stroke?
Geez, if you already have insurance, a preventive physical is FREE as a mandate of health care reform. And even if you forget the wise old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, if you are in the market for health insurance for yourself…you won’t get coverage without a physical!
So suck it up you wimps that fear all doctors. What? You’re TOO BUSY! Heart disease and cancer thrives on people who are just “too busy”. And stop being so self-centered, it’s not all about YOU. I have a hunch some people you know might also have an interest in you getting a physical. So what are you waiting for? Make that appointment!
Will You Live Long Enough To Retire?
The headline is a loaded question. Many ways to answer, but here’s what I’m getting at…
While waiting to have my oil changed I picked up today’s Lancaster newspaper. My wife Lori is a native of Lancaster County and has obviously influenced me…as I felt myself opening up to…no, not sports…no not the local section…but rather to the… obituaries section! All Lori cares about (being Lancastrian to the core) is who died, who got divorced and who had a kid. Period. Debt ceiling? What’s a debt ceiling?
Anyways, it sure seemed like a lot of “young” people in the obits today. Of the 19 listed, 8 were 63 or less. 63? My in-laws are that age. My sisters are already that old. Wait, aren’t we supposed to retire at 65? How can we die before we got to live the good life in retirement? Don’t men live to be 78? And women, 80? Of course those are averages. I am surprised at how many make up the “less than average” group. Now this is a small sample on a given day, however…
Last month I looked at 2 consecutive weeks of the Sunday paper, which reprints the obits for the whole week. 1 in 3 did not make it to age 70. Since that discovery, I mention it to every couple I meet with. I ask, “At what age do you think you will retire? How long do you think you’ll live?” Minus the jokes we all make, the retirement number is mid 60ish, and the life expectancy is 80+ (surprise, nobody thinks they are average!)
Statistically, 1 of the 3 of us at the customer’s dining room table will not make it to 70. Not a happy thought. This brings me around to life insurance again. That measly $26/mo. policy I just wrote for a quarter milliondollars for 30 years on a 31 year old guy, might just get paid out. I hope not! But…
So what age do you think you’ll be when YOU retire? Here’s hoping you make it! And here’s hoping you’re insured even beyond that.
Is Your Life Worth A Dollar A Day?
This message is relevant any day of the week, for any man woman and child across our great nation…
How sad is the story of Shannon Stone, the 39 year old firefighter who tragically died while reaching out for a baseball at a recent major league baseball game? Incredibly sad, especially as his 6 year old son was by his side.
I imagine through his work his son and other family members will benefit from his life insurance. Though often the only life insurance one has is through their employer. Do you know what a dollar a day buys in life insurance for a 39 year old man? It could be a million dollars in term life for a healthy non-smoker.
What’s a dollar a day to you? A coffee at Turkey Hill? A bottled water at Wawa? A candy bar from a vending machine? A scratch and win lottery ticket?
I’ll bet you don’t have to think to hard to come up with the name of someone you know who died unexpectedly. My gut aches when I see people doing fundraisers for a family that lost a parent too soon. God bless the goodness of those who sell subs, hold a car wash or set up a golf tournament to benefit the family. But really, how much can that do?
When you add up the final expense costs, medical bills, lost income and other financial obligations, like mortgages, college educations and consumer debt, the number is often well into high six figures or low 7 figures. Most families struggle to make ends meet with 2 incomes, how can they do it with one income? A dollar a day.
Everyone’s situation is unique, and maybe a dollar a day won’t buy a million dollar policy. What if it was only 100,000 dollars? That’s still enough to have enormous impact.
What about you? Do you have life insurance? Do you own some outside of work? Do you have enough? Can you spare a dollar a day?
Father’s Day 2011
It’s Father’s Day 2011. I became a father a week short of my 37th birthday. In my mind, a man at 37 is probably fairly well established in his chosen profession, and secure in all things financial. Three months after Kate was born, I was let go from my chosen field, little did I know at the time that I’d be out for good. Staying in broadcasting would likely have meant a move out of town, probably out of state. Been there, done that, and didn’t want to do it again, especially with a family in tow.
Unemployment gave me 6 months as a Mr. Mom and a special introduction to fatherhood. I certainly wouldn’t trade that time for another meaningless 6 months in radio.
12 years later a recurring theme is readily apparent. 12 years of work, selling beds, cars, loans and insurance have been fun and occasionally fruitful, but really…almost meaningless. Suffice to say I haven’t changed the world. All of the above was a means to an end, supporting a household.
Decisions on employment could be second guessed eternally, but the underlying consideration in all judgments was my kids. I wanted flexibility and freedom to be an active and willing participant in their lives. I work hard and enjoy work, but I am not a workaholic. After losing my own Dad at 13, I couldn’t bear the thought of being the guy who looks back on his life and wishes he spent more time with his children.
Those 3 am feedings and changing poopie diapers was not just for Lori. Bathtime and bedtime were playtime. If it was the straw that broke the camel’s back, it will be the piggyback rides that do me in. There’s pages of stories in my noggin between peek a boo and training wheels, and just as many from that first bike to the first lacrosse practice just 3 months ago.
I’ve made mistakes as a parent and would welcome some do overs, but that’s life. I guess my most sincere hope is that I’ve set a good example, as they learn so much more by seeing and experiencing than they do from hearing me lecture about life.
In 6 months I’ll turn 50. By then I’ll have a teenaged daughter and a 9 year old boy. Exiting college I imagined great things for a 50 year old Bri. I’d have logged decades ruling the radio dial from behind the mike in some major market. Perhaps I’d have retired triumphantly and gone into station ownership.
Alas, I’m just a guy making a living in Anywhere, USA. Yet I feel wealthy as hell, because I AM LUCKY TO BE A FATHER, SO BLESSED to have Kate and Nathan. Time invested in them always brings great returns. They are my pot of gold. So greetings from the end of the rainbow on another great day, that just happens to be called Father’s Day.
No More Pennsylvania Adult Basic!
As of 2/28/11 the state of Pennsylvania ran out of dollars to fund its’ Adult Basic health coverage. About 40,000 individuals across the Commonwealth are scrambling to get something in place. The options are many, the affordable options are few. I may be able to help. Give a call: (717) 468-0130.
Ephrata Christmas Light Show
Garman Homes new home community near the Green Dragon on State Street has wired their model home for interactive Christmas lights that flash in sync with the music. Not sure of the hours. Probably like 6 to 9 each night.
Kate Adopts a Puppy!
After months of begging, pleading and saving her own money…this morning we traveled to Bethlehem (of all places!) to adopt one of two recent pups rescued from the streets of NYC. She named this lab mix Oliver. We loved him immediately!
Vision Insurance
This is the best deal in the business! For $3/mo for one person or $7/mo for the whole family you can have really affordable coverage for eye exams, glasses and contacts. Wathc the video, send me an e-mail (broweems@ptd.net) or give me a call (717-468-0130).
Do You Have Dental?
When I talk to prospective clients for health insurance, about half the time the question, “Do you have dental?” comes up. There are no really fabulous dental insurance plans and you can probably imagine why. An insurance company makes money when they don’t have to pay claims. Most people are very healthy and rarely have a claim, so the insurance company is making $$$. But give someone dental insurance and they’ll go as often as they can! That COSTS the insurance company money. Nonetheless, they are some possibilities. Watch the video, send me an e-mail (broweems@ptd.net) or give me a call (717-468-0130).
Am I Paying Too Much for Health Insurance?
Whether you are looking at your pay stub and looking at the deduction for your health insurance, or looking at your bank statement and seeing the autodraft of another month’s health insurance premium…from time to time you wonder if you are paying too much for health insurance. What should you do?