Newsletter

Are you one of the people who think you don’t need life insurance? Please think again. Life insurance provides real security for those you care about. Life insurance benefits can provide financial security and resources for your family or loved ones after you are gone. Let’s look at a few of the reasons to consider life insurance:

Payment on Debt– If you have any outstanding debt (mortgage, credit cards, etc.) at the time of your death, it does not go away. Your estate will still be responsible to settle all accounts. Life insurance can provide financial resources to cover the debt.

Continuation of Income- Life insurance can provide the funds to replace your income upon your passing. Family income will certainly diminish with the loss of an income earner, which means your family will experience a lower standard of living. The death benefits of a life insurance policy can prevent this from happening, or at least keep the impact to a minimum, by replacing income lost with the demise of the breadwinner.

Unpaid Medical Expenses- It is highly likely that you will incur medical expenses prior to your death. Some of which may not be covered by health insurance. Adequate life insurance proceeds ensure that these final expenses are covered.

Funeral Expenses- Most people don’t plan for, or fund, funeral expenses. Again life insurance is there to help.
The good news is that life insurance rates are low and there are many different kinds of products to select from.

One question we often get is, “How much life insurance do I need”? The answer to that depends on your individual situation, but the general guideline is, a life insurance limit of at least ten times your annual gross income is a start. For example, if you earn $50,000 per year, your family would need to replace somewhere close to that amount. A $500,000 life policy could return $45,000 to $50,000 annually, depending on interest rates.

The most cost-effective type of policy is term insurance. Term insurance provides protection for a specific, limited amount of time, usually in five-year segments, such as for 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. Typically you pay annually and the premium is locked in for that period of time.
 

During this time of home confinement, it is important to get plenty of exercise. Here are a few tips to help you stay fit.

• Lie flat on your back with your knees bent. Place your hands behind your head with elbows pointing outwards. Support your neck with your hands. Keep your neck in a straight line with your spine. Flex your waist to raise the upper torso from the mat. Lower yourself until the back of your shoulders touches the mat.
• Lie on your back. With your hands at a 90-degree angle to the floor, lift your body off the floor to form a straight line, a sort of a bridge, from the shoulders to the knee. The position should resemble a table … your hands and legs as the legs of the table and your upper body to your knees as the surface. Hold this position for two seconds. Squeeze your gluteus (butt muscles) and then lower yourself.
• Lie on your back with your hands on your sides. Keep your knees bent. Bring your knees towards your head, till your hips come slightly off the floor. Hold this position for a second, and then lower your knees.
• Get your hands and knees and raise your knees like a starting block sprinter. Run in that position, supporting your upper body with the palms of your hands. Keep your back straight.
• Stand straight. Now, drop to a crouch position. Immediately thrust your legs out straight behind on your toes, in push up position, now jump to pull legs back to the chest, in crouching position, then stand up straight.

 
 

Every spring, North Americans gear up their grill, stock up on the meat, and prepare for many mouth-watering barbecues. But how much do we really know about the art of barbecuing? From the familiar pastime's origins to surprising tips and tactics, this list will provide you with all the information you need to wow your friends at the next neighborhood barbecue!

1. Barbecues originated in pig-pickings, feasts that were common in the Southern United States prior to the Civil War. Whole pigs were cooked and eaten by the crowd.
2. Smoking was used as far as 6000 years ago in order to make meats safe to eat and store. The meat was exposed to smoke and low heat in order to prevent bacteria and enzymes from growing.
3. In Australia, a barbecue is commonly referred to as a barbie. The famous statement Ill slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you, which appeared in Australian tourism advertisements, is often used to refer to the country.
4. What most North Americans partake in today isn't actually barbecuing. Barbecuing is cooking at temperatures around the boiling point of water (180-220*F) for a longer time period, in order to make the meat tender while preserving its natural juices. Today, the method most commonly used is, in fact, broiling: cooking at 475-700*F in much less time.
5. According to the Barbecue Industry Association, half of all marshmallows eaten in the U.S. have been toasted over a grill.
6. For an easy way to check how much propane you have left, bring your bathroom scale outside and weigh the gas tank.
7. The origin of the word barbecue is unclear. Some believe it came from the American-Indian word barbacoa for a wood on which foods were cooked. Others say it came from the French words de barbe queue, meaning whiskers to tail.
8. To add a smokey flavor to your gas-grill-cooked foods or foods cooked inside the house, use liquid smoke. A condensation of actual smoke, this product can be easily added to your barbecue marinade or sauce.

9) Brisket, the extremely hard cut of meat taken from a cow's chest, takes one to two hours per pound to barbecue. That's an average 12 hours on the grill for a basic 8-pound piece!
10) Kansas City, Missouri, Texas, and Lexington, North Carolina, all claim to be the barbecue capitals of the world. Memphis, meanwhile, stakes a claim to being the pork barbecue capital.
Now you're set to impress!

All of us at Columbia River Insurance Services thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you. Happy BBQ'ing!

Millions of Americans are without a job and health insurance.  We can offer some solutions for you, so give our office a call today, and let us go to work for you.  In the meantime, here are some suggestions of things you can do to help your situation:

• Sign up for COBRA.  COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) allows you to retain your employer health coverage for up to 18 months.
• Get added on to your spouse’s plan if they are still employed.
• Buy an individual plan in the health insurance marketplace.  You are generally entitled to apply for a new plan if you lose your existing health coverage, even though the annual open-enrollment period to sign up for a marketplace plan has passed.
• Find out if you qualify for Medicaid.  You need to be a very low-income household to qualify, and eligibility rules vary from state to state.  However, if you are unemployed and have no household income, it pays to see if you qualify.

We specialize in health insurance, so we know the market and can find you a plan that fits your needs.
 

We often get questions about Medicare cards. Sometimes they get lost, you have a name change, or you may be getting ready to receive your first one. Here are some of the basics regarding Medicare cards.

New to Medicare?
You will receive your Medicare card in the mail 3 months prior to eligibility. The Medicare card will include your name, Medicare claim number, the type of coverage you have (Part A, Part B, or both), and the date your coverage starts.

Lost Your Card?
If you lose or damage your Medicare card, you can obtain a replacement card from Social Security one of the following ways. You can order a Medicare card by Phone or Online.

• Your last (exact) payment amount or the month and year you last received a payment if you have received benefits in the last 12 months.
• Your phone number in case we need to contact you about your request
• Your e-mail address (optional)
• Your Place of Birth
• Your name as it appears on your Social Security card
• Your Social Security Number
• Your Date of Birth
• Your Mother's Maiden Name (to help identify you)

If you need proof right away that you have Medicare, contact your local Social Security Office or call the toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213.