Work Related Head Injuries

The seriousness of injuries that occur in the workplace can vary dramatically from minor bumps and bruises to severe physical injury or even death. Although some vocations may place workers at higher risk of serious physical injury, the reality is that anyone can be hurt at any time, regardless of whether you work on construction sites or in a professional office setting.While injuries like sprains, bruises, and minor abrasions may not have long-term effects on the person involved in the accident, other incidents may affect the individual for a very long time. Head injuries are often the scariest incidents because damage to the brain can cause serious harm to the brain and other essential functions.Work-related accidents that may cause head injury often include:

Falls from elevation



Vehicle collisions



Items falling down on employees



Structure collapse



Slip-and-fall accidents
Persons who suffer serious damage to the skull or brain may be forced to undergo extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. They may be unable to work and support themselves and their families for the duration of treatment, and may find that medical treatment for brain injuries is very costly. Brain injuries may also cause long-term damage and may alter the person's memory, personality, and basic cognitive functions.Brain injury can change the fundamental personality of the individual and may have detrimental effects on his or her ability to relate to friends, family, and co-workers. He or she may be forced to re-learn basic skills like walking and talking, and the person's life may never be the same.It is the responsibility of employers and managers to provide a workplace that is safe from hazards that can cause serious brain injury. If an employee is injured while working, he or she may be eligible for compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and other financial expenses. Typically, worker's compensation may be able to cover such costs and will provide financial support to the injured worker during treatment and recovery.If you or someone you love has been injured in a work-related accident, it may be wise to consult an experienced worker's compensation attorney to make sure that you are fairly compensated for your medical claim. If your employer fails to properly compensate you or if they wrongly deny your worker's compensation case, you may be able to pursue legal options for gaining the financial assistance you deserve.For more information on brain injuries and worker's compensation, visit the website of the Pennsylvania worker's compensation attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C.

Salary Increases - 7 Ways to Increase Your Salary

As professionals, the salary we make is so often closely associated with our sense of value and self-worth.If you are one of the many professionals that feel overworked and underpaid, figuring out how to bridge that gap between where you are now and where you KNOW you should be can be both scary and daunting.But deciding to honor a well deserved salary increase also gives you the opportunity to feel more confident and satisfied in your career!When you take that step in acknowledging your value, it produces an interesting effect as you call to action the people and things around you to support your moving forward! Sound a little "woo-woo?" It's actually just common sense and the result of exercising of your own initiative.Here are 7 tips to get you quickly moving forward to securing a bigger salary:Tip #1 Quick...write out 30 benefits you bring to your positionTo achieve your salary increase, you may have to change companies. You may be surprised to find, though, that your current company may be willing to promote you or to offer you more salary.Either way, to make your case you are going to have to demonstrate (and fully believe) the 30 benefits you bring to your current position right now.Benefits are not what you do, but what you bring to your position. Notice that when most people begin to update their resume, they will only include a laundry list of current position "duties," without explaining what happens when they do what they do!Benefits show why a company should hire you, promote you or give you a raise.Tip #2 Keep adding to your listMost professionals are just so busy they don't even think about the benefits they bring to a company.Keep adding to your list because the more that YOU focus on clearly knowing and understanding the value you bring to a company, the more natural it will be for you to confidently see precisely WHY you should be commanding a higher salary!Tip #3 Create a value statement that distinguishes your workCan you describe your brilliance in just one sentence? My tagline is "Masterpiece marketing strategies to focus on, find and win YOUR dream job!"It's a crystal clear and confident message that captures the attention of professionals needing resumes and coaching services!So, what is your tagline?Tip #4 Own your increase!Most companies WILL respect your new salary parameters. Of course, your parameters are not, for the most part, 50 times what you are making now (though, I have seen some enormous salary increases!).Yes, defining and accepting and then ASKING for a higher salary can seem daunting at first, but after you fully accept you are worth it, I promise you that the confidence you'll feel will be contagious!Tip #5 ASK for moreGenerally, we put more value on things that "cost" more. So when you ask for what you are really worth, you will find yourself attracting the exact type of position or company that resonates with your new shift in perception. This is not any special law of attraction - this is simply exploring and defining a new belief and putting that new belief into motion.If you are questioned in an interview about the salary you want (compared to the one you currently have) there are several great responses readily available in most job interview and negotiating books. I personally recommend Jack Chapman's "Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a Minute."Tip #6 Do what you love, ditch what you don'tFocusing your time and energy on a position that you love but a company you don't is a big red flag that should inspire you to look for a company more in line with your professional goals and philosophies.Likewise, if you feel stuck in your position, but you truly respect and enjoy your company, then it is time to reassess your current role. Part of valuing yourself (via a salary increase) is honoring those urges to shift your focus to more harmonious environments. You also honor your co-workers AND your company when you do this.Tip #7 Making a choice to increase your salary is life-changingYou will feel a surge of confidence when you begin to take control of your career and its direction - including how much money you make.The newfound confidence this will give you will serve you in multiple ways, including a continuation of new goals and boundaries you can create in order to give yourself a platform to rise to the fullness of your professional potential.Most professionals that work for someone else believe they have little control over these matters. However, once you begin to understand that YOU are truly much more in control of your current circumstances than perhaps you once thought, you will start a positive chain reaction that can not only help, but also open doors to more work satisfaction, more potential to succeed and more money.

How to Find a Workman's Compensation Doctor

How to select a workman's compensation doctorIf you've been hurt on the job you no doubt have a lot of questions. Who do I tell about this? Will I get paid while off the job? When can I work again? And what doctor should I go to for this work related injury?Here are some steps to take when injured on the job:

When injured it is best to start the process of finding a doctor as soon as possible. This is because most companies put a ninety day cap on when you can file a claim after the injury. Contact your company's Human Resources department and fill out a "First Report of Injury" form to give to your immediate supervisor.



Next, ask for a list of pre-approved physicians specifically chosen for on the job injuries. The Office of Worker's Compensation Programs will usually have a list of doctors you can search by zip code. Then choose a doctor that works under the OWCP. It is your right to select any doctor on the ADL or approved doctor's list.



Sometimes people like to use their own physician. After the first ninety period you are eligible to use your own physician.



It is your employer's objective to maintain a record of your injuries, notify you of your rights, and monitor the time you have lost because of your work related injury.



You will also need to fill out a "Request for Paid Leave Form" and submit it to the HR department of your company if you need to take time off work because of your injury.



Rest up and get well!



Finally, when you feel you are ready to return to your job, you will need to again visit your workman's' compensation doctor to fill out a Work Status Report before you may return to work safely.


Contact UsIf you or someone you know has been injured on the job and is having difficulty attaining their workman's compensation benefits call the New Jersey workman's compensation lawyers at Levinson Axelrod, P.A., who can provide you with legal assistance. Contact us at 800-346-5529.

Insurance Agency eMarketing, Web Marketing And The Split Test

Insurance agency eMarketing and web marketing can be greatly enhanced and refined through the use of split test sends. Split tests offer insurance agency eMarketers greater control and flexibility when sending out targeted emails to both prospects and clients.What is a split test?Let's say your insurance agency is offering a seminar on advanced workers' compensation analysis. Your goal is to maximize attendance and you intend to do this by sending out an email announcement. You've considered two subject lines for your email. The first one is: Workers' Compensation Webinar - Utilization Of Experience Modification Factors and The Impact On Premiums. The second subject line your agency considered is: Web Seminar Tomorrow - Workers' Compensation and Advanced Calculations of X-Mods. A split test send would allow you to send both of these emails to small respective test groups and measure which email resulted in higher registration.How does a split test work?Think of an eMarketing split test in the same way as a wine tasting. A waiter pours a small amount of two wines into two glasses. You taste the first wine, and it tastes pretty good. You then try the second glass and find this wine tastes much better. The waiter then pours you a full glass of the 2nd wine, after you compared and contrasted both wines. A split test works in exactly the same way. Your insurance agency can sends out both versions of the emails to 20% of your target prospects. After the results are posted, your agency marketer measures the number of emails opened, total click through counts and total registration. If version one of your email resulted in greater registration, you can then send that email to the balance of your target prospects, or in this case, the remaining 80%.Why use a split test?Split test eMarketing offers improved performance for the same costs. It also offers greater insight into email marketing composition, subject line creation, open rates and delivery rates. The bottom line, however, is simply that there is no reason that you should not try this methodology for your eMarketing campaigns. For the same amount of money, and a modest amount of work, insurance agencies can quickly and easily improve their web marketing results.Insurance agency eMarketing is both an art and a science. Every insurance agent and agency should carefully comply with the CAN SPAM Act regulations. The CAN SPAM Act regulations can be found on the FCC website under the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau tab. Agencies should utilize multipart mime email formatting, and ensure their emails are composed to mitigate automatic spam filters from adversely impacting delivery rates. Split test eMarketing can help any insurance agency improve their web marketing with more effective and quantitatively accurate eMarketing.

Payment Options For the Traumatically Brain Injured - Part II

As we discussed last time, once the acute care period is over and the patient is stabilized, the resources available to the patient can substantially impact treatment and recovery. In a perfect world, every patient would have unlimited access to the best resources available to meet their needs. Ours unfortunately is not a perfect world.The consequences of a traumatic brain injury are far reaching. Not only are there treatment costs associated with the recovery from the acute injuries, but there are the costs of long term care and supervision, the lost support to the family unit that the injured party previously contributed, the increased physical demands placed upon the caregivers and family of the survivor to meet the needs of their injured loved ones, and the family having to step into the breach of the role that the injured person previously contributed to the family.This analysis will focus on governmental sources of funding for treatment and assistance to the traumatically brain injured.B. Medicaid Medicaid is health insurance that helps people who cannot afford medical care pay for some or all of their medical bills. Medicaid is available based on income, and applies only to low income individuals and families who fit into the eligibility group recognized by Federal and State law. Medicaid is administered on a state-by-state basis. Medicaid pays money directly to the health care providers.1. Medicaid Liens. Like private health professionals, Medicaid may assert a lien on any recovery for the monies which it has paid. However, to the extent that there are not enough monies in the recovery to pay every provider in full, Medicaid must share "pro-rata" with any unpaid medical providers pursuant to the requirements of N.C.G.S. 108A-57.2. Medicaid waiver North Carolina has instituted certain waiver services allowed by statute. These are commonly known as Medicaid Waivers. The Waivers tend to be aimed at different target populations.a) NC-Community Alternatives Programs. This provides case management, respite, adult day health, in home aids, delivered meals, waiver supplies and home mobility aids to AIDs diagnoses for persons thirteen and older, HIV seroposivity and CDC classification of category A, B, or C for children aged 2 to 12 and HIV seropositivity for children up to age 2.b) NC-CAP Choice. This waiver provides adult day health, respite, personal assistant, telephone alert, home delivered meals, in-home health aids, home mobility aids, waiver supplies, consumer designated goods and services, care advice, and financial management services to individuals elderly and disabled.c) NC-Managed Behavioral Health Care Waiver This Medicaid waiver provides managed behavioral health care to the piedmont region.d) NC Community Alternatives Program for Children The program provides case management, personal care services, respite care, nursing services, home mobility aids and waiver supplies for disabled children aged 18 years or younger.e) NC-Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults. Provides case management, respite (in home and institutional), adult day care, day health care, home modifications, PERS, attendant care, waiver supplies and home delivered meals.f) NCMR/DD This Medicaid waiver provides case management, personal care, respite habilitation (day and in-patient), environmental modifications, transportation, specialized medical equipment and supplies, PERS, family training, in home aid, vehicle adaptations, crisis stabilization, developmental day care, therapeutic case consultation, supported living, augmentative communication, live-in caregiver and interpreter services to individuals with MR/DD.3. North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult ServicesThe North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services has many programs to assist older adults and persons with disabilities. The benefits extend to the patient and their families through community-based systems of opportunities, services, benefits and protections. Many of these services extend to brain injured individuals who also meet the definition of "persons with disabilities".4. Short Term/Long Term Disability InsuranceIf the injured person was employed at the time they acquired the brain injury, they may also be eligible for short term or long term disability coverage through their employer. It is not unusual for employers to offer group disability coverage to their employees. While this benefit may not directly pay for medical services, employees typically are eligible to receive a percentage of their base pay as their disability benefit. A typical plan has short term coverage for a period of three (3) months where the employee is paid roughly 80% of their base pay and after that period if they are still unable to work and they apply for long term disability, the employee is then paid a lower rate - often 60% -- of the base pay for an extended period of time.1. Many people also purchase disability coverage's on mortgages and other financial obligations. Caregivers should consider inquiring with any lending institution to which the brain injured is obligated for the possibility of such coverage. These benefits range from a suspension in the repayment obligation during the period of disability to a complete payoff of the loan.5. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes) that is designed to help aged, blind and disabled people who have little or no income. SSI benefits are intended to meet basis needs of food, clothing and shelter. The standards of disability differ between whether the person is over or under 18 years of age.1. If the person is under 18 years of age, "disabled" means a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which results in marked and severe functional limitations; and can be expected to result in death; or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.2. If an individual is over 18 years of age, "disabled" means he or she had a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which results in the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity; and can be expected to result in death; or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.6. Social Security Disability In addition to SSI, Social Security Disability insurance pays benefits to the injured person and certain members of that injured persons family if they are "insured" (meaning that they have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes). To qualify for benefits, a patient must have first worked in jobs covered by Social Security then have a medical condition that meets Social Security's definition of disability. The definition of "disability" is consistent with the definition of SSI disability stated above. Social Security Disability is not based on income but the benefits can phase-out based on the earned income which the disabled individual receives. Disability payments from private sources, such as private pension or insurance benefits typically do not affect Social Security Disability benefits. However, Workers' Compensation and other public disability benefits may reduce the Social Security Disability benefits.7. Special Needs Trust To qualify or continue to receive SSI, Disability, Medicaid and other need based assistance programs there are strict limits on the value of the assets a disabled person may own. This can pose a problem when the family or relatives of a brain injured person try to provide for their long term needs by way of inheritance, life insurance benefits or other asset transfer. Often the receipt of such an asset would disqualify the person from eligibility until the asset is depleted. Once the asset is depleted, the disabled person has to requalify and go through all of the eligibility periods. The effect of this is often to frustrate the intention of the family or the giver of the asset. One way to preserve a person's eligibility for the assistance programs while also putting assets aside for their long term care is a special needs trust. A special needs trust is a special kind of instrument which holds title to the property for the benefit of the disabled individual. A special needs trust has substantial limitations on the expenditure of income or assets. In essence, the trust can provide for certain "special needs" of the individual when such items are not being provided by any public or private agency. Some expenditures which may be allowed include treatment or therapy not covered, training programs, transportation expenses, life insurance and certain comfort items such as TV's, CD players, computers, vacations, ball games or movies.8. Workers' Compensation If the person was injured while on the job, they likely qualify for Workers' Compensation benefits. Workers' Compensation provides payment for all covered medical expenses and includes cash benefits to workers who are injured or become ill as a direct result of their job. Workers' Compensation also provides benefits for dependents of the workers who are killed because of work related accidents or illnesses.9. Vocational Rehabilitation The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation promotes employment and independence for people with disabilities through partnership with community businesses. The Asheville Office of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is located at 8 Barbetta Drive, Asheville, NC 28806, (828) 670-3387.Traumatic Brain Injuries are often referred to as the silent epidemic. A person's life can be substantially and dramatically affected by a brain injury. Those of you serving on the front lines want the best outcome for their patients and loved ones. By securing all available funding, our loved ones can focus on their recovery.

Workers Compensation Law - A Quick Glance

The law states that in Oregon every employer must have workers compensation insurance. There is a common misconception that a company only needs this type of coverage if they operate in certain field (such as construction) or have over a certain numbers of employees. While that is true in some states no such waiver in Oregon exists. Every company must have it and show visible proof of it to their employees (poster in the break room is most common).If you are at work and get legitimately hurt on the job then you have the right to draw workers compensation benefits. That is the law. You will receive reimbursement for medical costs, treatment, time off to heal, and a portion of what you usually get paid.How bad the injury is will determine how long you are able to be off from work and your average weekly pay will determine how much you your "time-loss" payments are. Generally your pay while you are unable to work will be set at 2/3 (60%) of what your AWW, or average weekly wage is.When you get hurt on the job you need to file a form 801 with your employer. They in turn have five days to file the claim with their worker compensation provider. Your employer cannot prevent you from filing a claim nor can they fire, demote, or punish you for doing so. While it is extremely difficult to prove in court a person was let go because they filed a workers comp claim the civil consequences are severe if it can be proved they did.From the time the provider gets the claim they have sixty days to either approve or deny the claim. If they approve it then your benefits should start within three working days. If they deny it then you have the right to appeal it.It may take some time for the provider to approve your claim. A person usually does not want to wait sixty days for treatment. Go get the treatment you need and tell the doctor you go to that you have been injured while at work and have filled out a form 801. When it gets approved then the coverage will pay for any medical bills even ones that are retroactive. If it gets denied then your regular health care provider will have to pay for it (keep in mind you can appeal it).Also note that it is foolish to lie about your situation. Many workers compensation providers routinely hire the services of private investigators to see if you are really injured. They employ state-of-the-art surveillance techniques which allow them to check on people claiming to be "gravely" injured. There have been many cases where someone actually got injured at home or while playing sports and said it happened while at work. For this reason every claim, true or false, is checked for any irregularities.

All About Construction Accidents

Construction sites are notoriously dangerous places to work. There are a number of different risks to contend with, which makes the possibility of an accident happening quite high. Construction workers often have to deal with dangerous equipment and work with hazardous and unsafe materials. In many cases, the workers have to be physically fit to contend with the demanding work and strain of working on a construction site; any health impairment could lead to an accident.Other potential hazards on a construction site involve working at a height where materials could fall, failure to carry out appropriate safety measures as construction work progresses and working with heavy machinery and lifting procedures. All these procedures require special training, risk assessment and safety precautions to ensure that accidents and injuries do not happen.As each construction site will have its own specific risks and it is the responsibility of your employer and site manager to carry out a duty of care towards you and your fellow employees. This involves providing correct, suitable and up to date safety equipment and advice. If, for any reason, this duty of care is neglected they are then running the risk of a construction accident claim and putting the safety of the employees in danger.Strict safety regulations have been set out by the Government's Health and Safety Commission, and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that all construction sites are run properly and potential risks are reduced.As with any work place, accidents can happen anywhere on a construction site, and not just in the places you would expect. In fact, most accidents occur when moving around the construction site or simply walking around the area. It is essential to take regular breaks as prescribed by the law when working on a construction site to ensure that accidents don't occur due to lack of concentration. Regular breaks could be the difference between an accident happening, and being avoided.Another reason for construction accidents is faulty equipment. All equipment needs to be tested by the equipment manufacturers to make sure it is safe to use, as even the smallest problem could cause an accident. If any equipment is faulty it is the responsibility of the employer to replace it.When it comes to injuries on construction sites, the problem is that you might not notice the damage you have caused until later on in life. Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and can be potentially deadly and is why it is essential to use the correct equipment, wear the right protective clothing and follow procedures at all times.If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a construction work accident then the best thing you can do is to collect all the evidence about exactly what happened. This will help you to potentially win your case; so get names and addresses of witnesses if possible. You will then need to get independent specialist advice about making a construction accident claim.Following your accident you may be too ill to go to work resulting in loss of earnings; therefore you may be entitled to compensation. You may also be left out of pocket for medical fees and expenses.If you think that you might be entitled to compensation following a construction accident then contact Accident Consult who have a team of specialist personal injury lawyers on hand to help you with any compensation claim you may have.

Workers Compensation Health Insurance - Protecting Workers

Workers' compensation health insurance is coverage provided by an employer for injured workers. The laws regarding this insurance vary greatly from state to state and not everyone qualifies for benefits. Many states have difficulties balancing the interests of employers and insurers against the needs of injured workers. The process of keeping costs low while providing benefits to injured workers has proven to be a very complex and difficult problem. The laws regarding this are generally very complicated and change frequently. Since each state's law differ so greatly from one to another it is important that you find out what the requirements and allowances are for your individual state.Workers' compensation health insurance is an insurance policy which employers are required to provide in order to provide compensation and care for injured employees. While the employer is responsible for the premium, it is generally believed that the consumers the eventually pay for it in the end by the resulting higher prices for health care. The benefits paid out to an injured worker also vary from state to state. The general requirement is that in order for the injury to be covered it must have resulted from an activity that is related directly to his or her job.In many states employers are required to provide workers' compensation health insurance if they have at least four employees. The coverage does not extend to volunteers or independent contractors. The employee must have been doing an activity required by his job or have been at a function which was work related in order to qualify for coverage under these plants. Because fraud drives up the costs of insurance so much many employers may be reluctant to provide workers' comp coverage until they have fully assessed the cause of the employee's injuries. By being diligent about the events surrounding claims, employers are able to keep their costs down.The benefits available to an employee from workers compensation health insurance generally includes whenever reasonable care is deemed medically necessary. This will include any necessary medical supplies. Employees are often eligible to receive a portion of their lost wages. It is usually required that employee miss at least seven consecutive work days in order to receive 80% of their wages. This insurance also may provide a level of financial compensation for any employee suffering from a permanent handicap. The employee's dependents or spouse may also be entitled to benefits if there is a death because of a work related injury.If you need assistance in locating particular coverages at a pre-determined price, we can help save 50% on health insurance.

Workers Risking Their Car Insurance

There are many professions that require you to drive and be mobile as a part of your job. These professions could include anything from traveling to another office in the company to being a traveling representative for a company. Many companies recognize this element of employees work and provide company cars or compensate their workers for the extra money spent in petrol.The problem is that if your employer does not offer a company car suitably insured and you have to use your own car instead then you are putting your car insurance at serious risk. Under normal car insurance cover you are permitted to drive to your place of work or to the train station car park, if you use your car for anything more than that with regards to your occupation then you need to apply for extended cover in the form of declaring the car will be used for business too.If your car is not covered for Business Mileage then the insurance company may not cough up when you make a claim whilst using your car for work. This means that if you go on a training course or transport the day's takings to the bank then you could be putting yourself at extra risk.So why are people not being offered company cars for work? Well in a growing number of cases where companies offer company cars the workers are declining them due to issues over tax to be paid on them. For a long time now over two thirds of workers have claimed back mileage allowance from their employers, but employers have not informed employees that they need to include business use in their car insurance.All insurers will ask when applying for car insurance quotes what kind of usage the vehicle will be involved in whether it's personal or business and this is a factor that is fairly inexpensive to add to your current policy, in some cases it doesn't add anything extra. In future make sure that no matter how frequently you use your car for work you remember to add business use to your car insurance as well as letting your employer know that they should inform all employees using their own cars needs extra insurance cover.

Nonprofit Payroll - How to Pay Your Staff

Payroll for nonprofits is a complex issue. Certain rules and exceptions apply that are different than what applies to for-profit payrolls. As if that complication isn't bad enough, many nonprofits seem bound and determined to create their own rules and exceptions that are categorically incorrect...and destined to get them in hot water with the IRS and/or their state. This article is going to focus on two big issues: 1) payroll classification and, 2) types of payments.Payroll classification. This is a biggie...and it gets asked about by clients of ours on a weekly basis. That is, "Should I pay my staffers as employees or independent contractors?" 95% of the time, the answer is employee, regardless of any other extraneous information that gets tossed into the mix. It is a widely-held belief that an employer has the choice under which status to pay its workers. The most common justification is the savings the NPO will experience if it doesn't have to cover payroll taxes. The problem is, it is not your choice. Even if your staffer agrees to be treated as a contractor, it is still contrary to IRS and state regulations. The IRS, in determining whether or not a worker is a contractor or employee, looks at several factors. They are:

Behavioral: Does the company control or have the right to control what the worker does and how the worker does his or her job?

Financial: Are the business aspects of the worker's job controlled by the payer? These include things like how worker is paid, whether expenses are reimbursed, who provides tools/supplies, etc..

Type of relationship: Are there written contracts or employee type benefits, i.e., pension plan, insurance, vacation pay, etc.? Will the relationship continue and is the work performed a key aspect of the business?
The IRS also uses a 20-point test to evaluate such classification issues, but the above gives you the basic idea.So what are the consequences of improperly paying employees as contractors? Plenty! If the IRS reclassifies your workers from contractors to employees, your NPO will be held liable for both the employer's and employees' share of payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), plus very expensive penalties and interest. Then the state comes along to take their chunk. This type action, especially if it applies to multiple years, can put any business out of business.Type of payment. By type of payment, we mean things like straight salary or wages versus bonuses and commission. The IRS calls the latter non-linear compensation...and it isn't too fond of it in a 501(c)(3) setting. For-profit organizations can do this all day long. But for nonprofits, the IRS considers this an open door to unreasonable compensation. For example, Charity, Inc. hires two employees who will be in charge of managing fundraisers. They will be paid a small base salary, plus a percentage of the money raised at the event. Sounds reasonable, but the IRS says, "No...not reasonable!" Employees should be paid according to the job description of the position. Not only is non-linear compensation usually unreasonable by IRS standards, it also opens the door to potential fraud, or at least improper conduct, as the employees have everything to gain by pushing the limits on fundraising.This discussion barely scratches the surface. There are so many other critical issues from workers' compensation insurance to employee benefits to hiring practices. Frankly, it makes a lot of sense to trust a competent professional to assist with your organization's payroll. It is a really good form of cheap insurance.

Personal Injury Attorneys

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of personal injury is you injuring yourself, somehow, on accident. What this really represents is when someone else personally injures you due to an accident, or even maliciously. An attorney specializing in these types of cases can help to tell you if you indeed have a case, and can help explain what type of compensation is really owed. The most common types of personal injury cases are automobile accidents, medical malpractice, insurance litigation, wrongful death, and nursing home negligence.We will start with the most common and most popular types of personal injury cases. This type of case involves an automobile accident that has the fault of another driver. If you are at fault in an accident, and get injured, you do not have a case to pursue other parties. Once you know you were not at fault, and you are injured due to another person's negligent driving, you should go to your trusted lawyer that specializes in this type of case to discuss what action you can take. Often time's insurance companies will not pay out the proper amount which is why you will need representation against them or against an individual.Medical malpractice is also a very common suit that people take. Many people feel like their doctor has mistreated them, or has not properly diagnosed them despite you paying them for their expertise. This is where you might have a case. Insurance for doctors is high for a reason, because of all of the malpractice suits. You trust your doctor to properly take care of your well-being and to not prescribe you anything that has a chance of causing more medical complications. As soon as that trust has been broken, and you feel like you were mistreated, contact your attorney immediately, because like many cases, this is time sensitive.Wrongful death and nursing home negligence are both serious type of cases that no one really wants to be in the middle of. Wrongful death can range from working for an employer, to an accident, to everything in the middle. Essentially what it means is someone has passed away that really should not have died. Unfortunately, nursing home negligence cases are popular, and the mistreatment of a loved one should not be tolerated. Both of these types of cases are very sensitive and you want to make sure, like any other case, that you have the proper representation to combat both.

Guide to Emergency Eyewash Equipment

Quality personal protective equipment, compliance with workplace safety regulations, and well-trained employees all contribute to a safe workplace environment with a reduced risk of injuries. Unfortunately, accidents and injuries can occur no matter how many precautions you take, so the appropriate equipment should be available at all times in case of an emergency. Proper emergency response equipment includes eyewash stations that help mitigate damage if the eye comes in contact with chemicals or other harmful contaminants. Read on to learn about the importance of emergency eyewash, safety risks in the workplace, and factors to consider when selecting eyewash.Importance of Emergency Eyewash: Even with the highest quality safety glasses and eye protection, eye injuries are still a common danger in the workplace. Chemicals and other harmful particles that reach the eye can cause serious damage to eyesight, and they can also lead to hefty costs that result from workers compensation, disability benefits and lost production time. Convenient access to emergency eyewash stations allows workers to properly wash their eyes immediately in order to remove any harmful contaminants and prevent serious injury.Assessing Safety Risks in the Workplace: Before choosing emergency eyewash stations for the workplace, it is important to assess and gain a clear understanding of the safety risks in the workplace. Each work environment has a unique layout and different risks associated with the job. Consider the types of materials handled regularly, how harmful the materials are, and the likeliness of an accident. Reducing the risk of eye injuries involves the right personal protective equipment, such as safety goggles and face masks, while preventing serious damage after an injury occurs requires the right emergency eyewash. By identifying all the possible risks within the workplace, you can find the most appropriate eyewash products and determine the best type, location and safety strategy.Factors to Consider: One of the main factors to consider when choosing emergency eyewash is the location and accessibility. Effective eyewash is useless if it is not readily accessible to workers at all times. Install eyewash stations nearby areas that are at high risk of eye injuries, and make sure the areas are well lit. Clearly visible signs can help workers identify the station easily. Be sure that the area is free of additional potential hazards, such as slippery floors or protruding wall fixtures that can lead to even further injury. Training workers is also an important factor, making sure that employees understand how and when to use eyewash properly. Once an eyewash station has been installed, regular maintenance is crucial to keeping workers safe.

The Disability Insurance Trap

One out of every four Americans will miss at least 90 consecutive days of work because of an injury or sickness between the ages of 35 and 65. Disability insurance can help prevent such medical disasters from becoming financial disasters.However, disability insurance is usually obtained through deeply flawed group policies offered by employers. Employees with such group coverage often aren't adequately protected.Here's what to watch out for and how to get the best coverage...PROBLEMS WITH EMPLOYER PLANSThe employer-sponsored disability policies in which all or part of the premiums are paid by the employer, generally claim to replace 60% or 70% of an employee's income when he/she is disabled beyond the typical 90 or 180 day elimination (or waiting) period. However, these promises are empty and deceptive. Insurers are allowed to reduce the benefits they pay dollar for dollar for any benefits the disabled employee receives from his state workers' compensation program ... Social Security disability program... the state's disability program ... and even cash settlements received for pain and suffering if the employee was injured in an accident that caused his disability.Even worse: Any money these insurers pay out to group disability policy holders is taxed. Beneficiaries end up with only a small fraction of what they thought they were insured for.Other drawbacks...- An employer might eliminate its disability plan at any time.- An employee may not be able to take this disability policy with him if he quits or is fired.- If a claim is ultimately denied, an employee in the group plan must appeal the denial in a timely manner, then sue in federal court to recover only his past-due benefits, some interest and attorney fees if the court allows. The horror of group disability litigation is that there is no trial by jury, no recovery for emotional distress and no opportunity to seek punitive damages under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The carrier is required to pay only what it owed - this is like robbing a bank and returning the money years later without any penalty or jail time.ADVANTAGES OF INDIVIDUAL COVERAGEIt is best to purchase your own individual disability coverage through an insurance agent, whether or not you are covered through your employer's group plan. You will be given the maximum benefit you're owed, tax free, even if you get other forms of compensation for your injury ... you, not your employer, have control over the coverage ... and if necessary, you can take the insurer to court, get a trial by jury and seek not only the benefits owed but also punitive damages if your state allows.The downside is cost. A 55-year-old man in good health might spend $280 per month for a well-designed disability policy that replaces 60% of wages up to $4,000 a month after a 90 day waiting period. A 55-year-old woman might spend around $325 (women are more likely to become disabled, thus their coverage will cost more). For a 45-year-old man, the cost might be $199 a month. For a woman, it might be $281 a month.Two ways to cut the cost of your coverage...*Increase your waiting period from 90 to 180 days. This should reduce premiums by about 20% compared with a 90-day wait, but this strategy makes sense only if you can afford to live half a year without income. With a six month waiting period, you begin to accrue payable benefits in the seventh month and would get a check at the 225th-day (seven-and-a-half month) mark.- Women should ask their agents to check whether unisex policies are available. These might cost 10% to 20% less.MUST-HAVE FEATURESExpect an insurer to offer coverage for up to two-thirds of your current wages, not to exceed $15,000 per month.Three provisions that you also should insist on having...- "Own occupation" protection. Without this provision, your insurer could reduce benefits by the amount you're capable of earnmig, even in a line of work that doesn't appeal to you.Example: A stroke makes it impossible for a woman to continue her career as a surgeon. Without "own occupation" protection, her disability insurer might argue that she still could work as a janitor and then reduce her benefits by the $2,000 a month she could earn in that job. With "own occupation" protection, the woman receives her full benefit for as long as she can't perform surgery.- Noncancelable and guaranteed renewable to age 65. With this clause in the contract, your insurance company cannot terminate your coverage until you turn 65, even if your health deteriorates. Guaranteed renewable policies also have fixed premiums.- Total disability and partial disability coverage. Some individual policies provide for both total and partial disability benefits.Example: A woman has a heart attack but still can work 20 hours per week. If her policy covers only total disability, her insurer will not owe her a dime. With total and partial coverage, she will be compensated based on the percentage of her income that she has lost.RECOMMENDED FEATURES- Cost-of-living adjustments. This feature increases your monthly benefits after disability strikes to keep pace with inflation. It's highly recommended for those younger than 40 but not vital for those over 50 - inflation won't have as much time to deplete the value of their benefits. Expect a policy that provides an annual 3% to 6% increase in benefits to cost 8% to 12% more than the disability policy that doesn't provide such an increase.- Future increase option. It makes sense to add on more disability coverage over the course of your career to keep up with your increasing wages. A future increase option gives you the right to buy more coverage at the initial contract rate, even if your health declines. This provision typically isn't available past age 50.WHAT TO AVOID- "Except fraud" provision. If an "except fraud" clause is written into your contract, your insurance company can attempt to take away your policy at any time by claiming that you materially misstated your medical, financial or occupational status when you applied for coverage. Insurance companies sometimes use this clause to deny benefits to honest policyholders when they find the slightest hint of an error on the application.Better: Ask for a "two-year contestability policy" instead. After your contract has been in force for two years, the insurance company cannot contest any statements in your application.

Outsourced Vs In House Janitorial Services

If you own a business, you understand the importance of budgeting your operational and overhead costs wisely. While you understand the importance of maintaining your office or industrial building, you are not sure whether outsourcing or hiring in-house janitorial services is a better choice to keep your expenses low and your office sparkling. While the quality of services offered is always a concern, there are several other factors that should be considered to determine whether outsourcing or in-house janitorial services is best. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each and determine which method is most beneficial to your company's bottom line.In house custodial staff consists janitors that are directly employed by the company. Because they are part of the workforce, your company will be responsible for performing background checks to ensure that the candidate is qualified and trustworthy. Janitors have access to sensitive information and the personal belongings of your employees. Because of this, you must hire a trustworthy individual without a questionable criminal record.In addition to performing regular screenings of staff members performing your janitorial services, you must also carry workers compensation insurance in case the employee is injured during the course of work. Benefits are yet another factor that must be considered. If you offer benefits for other employees, you quickly begin to understand how costly this can become. While benefits are costly, you do have the power to set your own salaries for employees that may balance costs.Outsourcing janitorial services has become extremely popular. Commercial cleaning companies like Jani-King offer quality-cleaning services to offices and commercial applications around the world. Outsourcing your janitorial services eliminates the need for you to perform background checks and carry workers compensation insurance. In addition to this, you will not need to review benefits packages and come up with a comprehensive and pricey benefits package. While you will be paying what the commercial cleaning company ultimately charges, the benefits and savings in other avenues could ultimately outweigh the increased costs for services rendered.

Effective Workplace Safety Programs

As a Safety Professional, I have two major objectives in mind; injury prevention and compliance. It's possible to have few injuries and poor compliance or a lot of injuries and excellent compliance. It takes a concerted effort to have both. This is an area where a lot of companies have difficulty. A company, no matter how large or small, must have an effective workplace safety program with a vision of greatness, commitment and involvement by all to achieve a high level of injury prevention and compliance with federal and state laws and company policy. From a management perspective, which one is more important?From a personal perspective, injury prevention is more important. A good injury prevention program reduces absenteeism, improves employee morale and ultimately increases the bottom line by increasing production and reducing costs. Employees are the most valuable resource any company has. If an employee gets hurt, it takes valuable time to take care of the injured person, do investigations and complete the paperwork. Production always slows because people come to look or help. If the injured person is disabled, there are workers' compensation costs and reduced production that has a negative impact on profitability.So, the question is; how do you get a good injury reduction and compliance safety program? There's a lot of help available from OSHA, state governments, and most insurance companies that is free or low cost. A lot of consultants are available and companies like JJ Keller and BLR offer assistance in developing a safety program. Few offer help in implementation and follow-up though. The following steps are things I consider to be essential in the building an effective program:1. Do an evaluation of the company processes, procedures and products to determine which safety standards apply. There is a guide to OSHA requirements at ehso.com/safety.php. It's a free site and easy to use.2. Conduct a fact finding tour. An audit must be completed, either by a third party or in-house (using a good audit checklist), to determine where you're at. This audit must identify and record hazards and unsafe conditions and practices that lead to injuries and non-compliance situations. The auditor should make recommendations for eliminating hazards and correcting non-compliance issues. It must also include federal and state record keeping requirements. This audit will help in identifying policies and procedures that can be part of the written safety manual.3. Develop and document a safety vision and establish attainable goals. These steps should involve all stake-holders in the safety process, including upper and lower level manager and supervisor representatives. The vision will provide the direction for the safety program and provide corporate level support for the changes that may occur in the implementation stage of the program. Including managers, supervisors and employee representatives at all levels will help ensure buy in by all employees when the program is implemented and changes are made in the workplace.4. Write a site specific safety manual. The manual should define the safety program and the policies and procedures that will be implemented in the workplace. If there are multiple locations, write a core manual with attachments that define site specific requirements for each location.5. Conduct a peer review of the manual, with managers and employee representatives. Incorporating recommended changes that make sense will help ensure that the program is implemented with as little resistance to change as possible. The finished manual should be a fluid document that responds to changes as new products and procedures are introduced in the workplace.6. Implement the safety program. Provide and document training for all employees on the new policies and procedures. Make sure the employees are aware of the need for changes as well as what the changes in policies and procedures are.7. Provide follow-up activities to ensure that the new safety program is implemented as intended. Use a 90-day evaluation period to make sure that documentation is being provided to the safety department or human resources. After six months, evaluate the safety program to make sure it is in alignment with the vision and that the goals are being reached. Make any adjustments necessary to the program.A successful safety and health program will include the steps listed above. It must have the commitment and support of corporate management and should be directed by a person with vision, enthusiasm and a passion for safety. Buy in at all levels is necessary to ensure that behavioral changes are made in the workforce. Employees will "own" the program, work toward the established goals and the business will have fewer injuries, reduced workers compensation costs and enjoy a corresponding increase in production and profitability.

Injuries That Constitute Workers' Compensation Coverage in Ohio - How to Start a Workers Comp Claim

Under Ohio law, a worker who is injured or contracts an occupational disease "in the course of and arising out of" his or her employment is entitled to workers' compensation. Ohio workers compensation is payable whether or not an injured worker was negligent (i.e., "at fault") with regard to the injury. Compensation may include, but is not limited to: wage compensation (e.g., "temporary total disability compensation" and "wage loss compensation"); payment of medical, chiropractic, psychological, psychiatric, or physical therapy bills; awards for violations of specific safety requirements; and compensation for permanent disability. Further, if an injury or occupational disease causes the death of an employee his or her dependents are entitled to compensation.What Exactly Constitutes A Workers Injury?The term "injury" includes, but is not limited to: sprains, strains, broken bones, lacerations, bruises, amputation, loss of use, disfigurement, loss of hearing and/or sight, herniated or bulging discs, and aggravation or acceleration of pre-existing conditions. "Injury" does not always arise from a specific accident or a particular incident. Sometimes, compensable injury can result from repeated minor injuries or repetitive trauma such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, or even torn muscles or ligaments or tendons. "Injury" may include psychiatric or psychological conditions, including depression, arising from an injury, occupational disease, or even from the anxiety and feelings of despair that may arise from being unable to work due to injury.The First Step of Filing A Workers Compensation Claim In Ohio.In addition to seeking immediate medical attention, injured workers should make sure to file a "First Report of Injury" (FROI -or "FROI-1" for self-insured employers) with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), as well as an incident or accident report with his or her employer in accordance with the employer's guidelines. The filing of a FROI starts the workers' compensation claim process with the BWC.DISCLAIMER: This article and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

Travel Nursing Benefits

Travel nursing gives you the right opportunity to satisfy your medical aspirations. With travel nursing jobs, you can choose the most stressful and fulfilling process of serving people, located in various states of the United States. All you have to identify a good placement agency where your dreams can be turned into a reality.There are many traveling agencies who recruit travel nurses to place them in different hospitals and medical facilities in order to fulfill the shortages of medical personnel in different parts of the US. However, the compensation package, accommodation and utilities of each placement agency vary from each other. Being a new phenomenon in the healthcare sector, travel nursing is seen as the bright future for women going for full time nursing career. Normally, traveling nursing jobs are set up for a short term basis but it can be extended after the mutual agreement from both the employer and nurses part.This can be chosen for many reasons. One of the main reason is this job can fulfill your traveling desires. You gotta see different geographies and feel their difference and exclusive beauty. Secondly, you can experience the working of nurses in different cities or states of the United States. Besides these, you will be awarded with a good and well furnished home, attractive salary package, other allowances and benefits to enjoy a great and high standard of living. Above more, it is the duty of travel agency to help nurses to get their passports, work licenses and other documents in order to work comfortably.These jobs also offer other advantages including above market payment rates to live and work in a new place or area. It also includes provision of certain utility services, health, dental and workers compensation as well as payroll benefits. Many times a traveling nurse agency also offers 401K and other retirement plans. A travel nurse is paid by the agency it contracts with and the mode of payments is generally by direct bank deposit checks.So if you are a nurse, trying to make a good career, opting for travel nursing can give you some of the added advantage.

Metrics Implementation and Worker Cooperation

Once metrics are obtained, it does not mean that those concerned will automatically cooperate. This may well be the most frustrating aspect of performance measurement, evaluation, and management. Not many individuals are skilled in the conduct of a proper metrics implementation program, and even fewer individuals know how to even apply such a program.The most usual query being asked regarding the implementation of metrics is the availability of incentives or benefits in favor of the workers, for them to consider and actually pay attention to the metrics that have been set by the management. If this question is explored further, there may be a need to really provide a good incentive program for the workers to also consider attaining the objectives of the company. As an answer, some companies already offered incentives, such as cash bonuses or paid privileges, for the individual workers, groups, or departments that are able to attain the desired objective of the company. Eventually, this became a routine activity for the management and the employees. Employers should also be aware that a possible problem could result if only the most productive individuals, groups, or departments get to enjoy these benefits, which almost become unfair.Since the concept of giving rewards for the attainment of objectives based on metrics was basically a bad idea, probably, the answer still lies within the workers' sense of dedication to the company's cause. If their morale with the company is high, the tendency is that they will strive to attain the objectives of the company, whether or not there is an added benefit or privilege. On the other hand, the same workers would not even lift an extra finger if it means saving the company thousands of dollars; if they feel no personal connection with the same.Thus, managers may appeal to the worker's sense of dedication to their trade. The workers must be made to know and understand the nature of their work and the nature of the relationship the metrics have on their work. Also, they must understand why the metrics are being used in the first place. If they are truly dedicated to their trade, then they will surely see that the nature of their work is not merely production and compensation. There is a standard to which their work must compare to, and that it is their duty both to the company and to themselves that this standard must always be maintained and pursued.The workers must also see that metrics reflect the performance of the company itself, which is creditable to the performance of the workers. Thus, good metrics mean good performance. Bad metrics reflect bad performance. In either case, the worker must understand that the results of the metrics are the direct results of their performance. This will also appeal to the worker's sense of pride, since good metrics will give them the idea that they are doing their job well and that the company is doing well because of them.Workers can always be made to cooperate for a successful metrics implementation. All that has to be done is for them to understand what it is they are striving for and that they are always considered integral parts of the company.

Workers Compensation Claims - A Part of Doing Business

Common principles do exist when it comes to all forms of insurance. In fact, when people think of insurance, they tend to think of the same things regardless of what kind of insurance you're talking about. Harm might occur to you, your property, or your loved ones, and having an insurance policy in place to protect you from such unfortunate incidents is not only a good idea, it can literally save you financially.Most people understand this basic idea behind insurance and even accept it as part of modern life. What they sometimes don't understand is the extent to which not only just about everything can be insured, but certain things have to be insured when it comes to running your business.We've all heard of examples where, say, a Hollywood celebrity had their legs insured, or even a super-model had their body and face insured. As easy as it might be to laugh of such notions, these people are in fact engaging in good business practice. They have assets that are vital to their flow of income. If anything unfortunate may happen to such assets that would jeopardize that flow of income in any way, they could literally face financial ruin. Protecting the loss of those assets, even if we're talking about legs or faces, is just smart. It's why these people get insurance.There is absolutely no reason why this principle shouldn't be applied to things like small business insurance, for example. In fact, when focusing on small businesses, the need for insurance is probably that much more vital. A Hollywood star will probably still have financial means at their disposal even if they didn't have insurance in the event of a disaster. Most small businesses simply don't have that luxury. If something happens, and you don't have small business insurance to cover yourself, don't count on Hollywood or anyone else to bail you out. You'll be on your own.Now, there are various things that a business owner needs to be aware of when tying to get properly insured. There are the basics -- things like coverage of your property and assets such as office equipment and even accounts receivable. There are things that are not so basic, such as liability arising for causing injury or harm to someone who will end up suing you for all their trouble. There are even things that get more complex such as errors and omissions insurance and professional liability, where just the perception of a wrong done can cost you in dollars and reputation.It's not just about the wisdom of getting insurance. It's often about legally being required to getting insurance. This is where something like workers compensations kicks in. Yes, that's right -- workers compensation. It might be comforting to think that it's something the big companies have to give out to their employees. It also might be comforting to simply not know about it, even if it is the particular law in your jurisdiction. Yet, the risk of not addressing this aspect of insurance can not only put a huge dent in your bank account, it can even potentially put you in prison. It's why workers compensation insurance is something every small business owner has to look into before they start hiring people. The consequences of not doing so are significant.Indeed, workers compensation forms a critical part of the history of insurance. Long before the host of Entertainment Tonight made news for insuring her legs, governments in the industrialized world were putting into law requirements that employers insure their workers in cases where they're responsible for injuries or harm done on the job or premises. It has been a significant step in the history of insurance, one which has had a great impact today for those seeking small business insurance, too.It's why it's so important for managers and business owners to be aware of the issues involved when someone makes a claim. Generally speaking, there exist a whole range of things for which the employer is responsible under workers compensation guidelines. Even if you had absolutely nothing to do with a person getting sick, you're still responsible for compensating that person for time lost as a result of that illness. It's why a good small business insurance package needs to take these things into consideration in order to be considered the right policy for you.There is a whole range of other things for which you could be responsible for as well -- under the law. As with so many claims regarding insurance, you may not even have ever dreamed of the possibility or have foreseen certain things coming. But that's why a proper insurance package that includes workers compensation is necessary. These kinds of packages would cover injury, illness, mishaps, accidents -- even off premises but done in conducting work for your business. Getting yourself fully insured in this regard is absolutely vital.Another reason it's vital is, as already alluded to, you might not even see some of these claims coming. You can prepare for the worst when it comes to how you conduct your business. But you simply cannot account for all the things that can happen to people related to what you do. Somebody might even show up one day with a cast on their foot and say it happened while they were at work. They didn't report it at the time, you didn't think it could happen, but they've got a doctor's report that says the opposite, and you could be stuck with the bill. Without small business insurance that includes workers compensation, it's a scenario you won't be prepared for, and could cost you dearly.

Top Ten Things to Consider When Hiring a Tree Company

Who to Hire for a service professional to provide work at your residence can be a tough decision. There are many variables and factors, especially when it comes to tough and sometimes dangerous work such as tree service. This article explores a Top Ten list of things to consider when hiring a tree service company. These items are very informative and important to know when obtaining estimates for tree work.1 - SafetySafety is the most important aspect of tree work that needs to be considered when hiring a tree company. With the dangerous nature of our business, a culture and tone of safety first in a tree company is critical. Make sure that the tree company you hire has a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional on staff, follows industry safety standards, safety policy, and the company holds regular safety meetings.2 - Certified, Licensed, and Fully InsuredAnother important thing to look for in a qualified tree care company is that the company is fully insured with workers compensation and liability insurance. The tree company should have a minimum of 1,000,000 each occurrence and 2,000,000 general aggregate for General Liability, and 500,000 for workers compensation. It is not wise for a home owner to hire a tree service that is not insured for many reasons, the most important is - do you value your house, car, and belongings? If so, then make sure to hire a company that is fully insured!Being licensed and certified are both equally important. Most of the time, it is ok for a tree company to hold a business license in the City or County where they are located, but some cities & counties require licensing in their jurisdiction as well. For certification, both the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) and TCIA (Tree Care Industry Association) certify individuals in Arboriculture. A tree care company that you are hiring should have a ISA Certified Arborist on staff, and a TCIA CTSP Certified Tree Care Safety Professional.3 - Reputation & LongevityAny service company that performs work at a residence should have a good reputation. There are "so called" tree professionals out there that will take your money and run. Never pay a tree service up front for a job, not even a deposit. Deposits are frowned upon by the true professionals in our industry. To determine whether the company you are considering has a good reputation some good questions to ask are these: How long have you been in business? How many certified arborists do you have on staff? Can you provide references? Do you own your own equipment, especially your crane? Another way to determine the reputation of a company is to check out websites such as Angie's List or Consumer Checkbook. The best way though is to talk to your friends and neighbors - chances are they have stories to tell, both good and bad! A company like JL Tree Service Inc who has been in business for over 35 years and has worked for both homeowners, businesses, and municipalities is most likely going to provide quality tree service.4 - Equipment We all remember the old expression; it is not the arrow but the Indian! Well, this is definitely true since tree work takes a special talent. However, good equipment is absolutely necessary to get the job done efficiently and safely. Make sure that a tree company has equipment such as bucket & chipper trucks, chippers, flatbeds, chainsaws, etc that are relatively newer and well maintained.5 - EmployeesAsk how many employees a tree company has. Since tree work is very dangerous, and takes special talent, it is critical that the right guys are there to do the job right. Who wants an amateur or unskilled laborer taking down a huge Oak tree over their house? Not me! A good and reputable tree company should have at least a few top climbers with over 2 years experience in large removals. A company like JL Tree Service Inc has over 18 top tree climbers with many years of experience in large removals and crane removals, 3 certified arborists & 1 certified safety pro on staff - this is what you want to look for.6 - LocationHow far a company is to your location may not seem very important, but it is. A tree company estimator must figure in the cost for travel time as a portion of the cost. If the company is close to your residence, naturally the cost should be better since travel time is less. A tree company located within 10-15 miles of your home is probably sufficient. We all know fuel prices aren't cheap these days!7 - Industry StandardsThe tree care industry has OSHA and ANSI standards to follow as guidelines for safety, general work procedures, tree pruning, and more. Make sure that the tree service you hire follows ANSI standard pruning. There are many tree men that improperly prune trees and recommend poor tree maintenance. There are many different tree species, and each tree responds differently from a diverse set of tree pruning methods. Make sure a certified arborist, or tenured professional provides their professional opinion. Topping and cutting back trees too hard are examples of improper tree care.8 - Accept all forms of paymentBe careful of who you hire. Some tree cutters who drive by asking for your business most likely are not insured, only accept cash, and are not professional. Many tree companies will provide a free estimate. If you receive 3 or 4 estimates, they will range greatly. For example, you may receive a low bid for $1800 and a very high bid for $4000. A few others will be close and in between around $2800 and $3200 - these are most likely the two companies you will want to highly consider. It is not best to always go with the lowest bid for tree work, as there are many factors as discussed in this article. Look closely at all bids and ask questions! A company like JL Tree Service Inc accepts all forms of payment including all credit cards.9 - Services offeredIf you are a customer with a good amount of tree work to be completed, make sure that you are hiring an actual tree company. There are many 'tree cutters' out there, who do not have the correct insurance for tree work. Be careful of who you hire, especially for the larger and more dangerous trees. Most of the professional and reputable tree companies provide services related to tree or landscaping, such as emergency tree service, tree removal, tree pruning, tree stump grinding, tree fertilizing, tree planting, tree preservation, landscaping, grounds maintenance, snow plowing, etc.10 - Recycle wood & debrisI can't tell you how many times I have received a phone call from a customer or municipality saying - "Can you go give me a price to haul the debris that a contractor left on the curb?". Yes, a random tree cutter cut down a tree and did not include hauling the wood and debris with their price but did not tell the homeowner - that is why the price was so good! Now the home owner has to deal with removing the debris because the City or County will not pick up debris that a contractor leaves behind. Make sure that hauling or leaving the wood & debris is clearly and written on the proposal.

Health Insurance Money Saving Strategies - Why Pay So Much For So Little Health Insurance Coverage

Why are people paying so much money for one health plan? What is more disturbing is the number of people looking for that "golden egg" health policy that will pay every medical expense. These plans do not exist! Successful business owners know that it is not how much you spend but how much return you receive on what you spend that really matters. There is no difference in the realm of health insurance. As a business owner or individual looking for insurance, nothing matters more than a well-structured health insurance portfolio.Unfortunately, not many business owners are aware of how to create a well-structured health insurance portfolio. It often comes down to the mindset that the best investment is a single policy that delivers the most coverage for the least amount of premium. These policies often fail to cover key areas of health care costs that many people often overlook. There are five key areas a health insurance portfolio should cover for a business owner:
A Basic group or individual medical plan with a high deductible and coinsurance.
Medical Gap plan that pays your deductible and coinsurance.
Dread Disease plan (Cancer, Critical Illness, etc.) to supplement your medical plan for critical illnesses.
Accident and Disability plans that supplement your medical plan in the event you are injured as a result of an accident or become disabled.
Whole Life Insurance that includes an Accelerated Benefits Rider. This pays you a portion of the cash value of your life policy in the event of a terminal illness.
What should interest people most about this portfolio structure is the return on your monthly premium. Consider a typical scenario for a mechanic with his own business. While the mechanic has assets, he most likely does not have readily available funds to pay for a serious health problem. He seeks a health insurance plan with a low deductible and co-insurance to protect him against this contingency. But when his child is diagnosed with Leukemia, this single health plan will not cover enough of the expenses. The significant portion of radiology expenses alone may not be covered by his health plan. This is serious for the mechanic, whose assets are tied up in his business. Not only is the mechanic at risk, his business is at risk as well. He is paying into a single plan that does not account for a majority of contingencies he and his family could face. How does he avoid this?First, instead of a low deductible, high premium plan, this business owner should investigate high deductible, low premium plans. His options for covering the high deductible are a Health Savings Account or a Major Medical Gap Supplement Plan. His Cancer Supplement coverage would pay in addition to his basic medical insurance plan, leaving a small amount, if any, leftover for him to pay. Even if the mechanic suffers an accident at a later point in time, he has the protection from his Accident Supplement policy and health plan combined to cover a significant portion of the medical expenses.For about the same amount of premium per month as a single, low deductible health plan, this mechanic can have the protection of as many as five plans. This follows the logic of insurance, the principle of sharing risk. The return in coverage is greater as this risk is shared among more companies, and the costs associated with these plans are much lower than a single, low-deductible health plan. This is the solution for the business owner looking for the best value in health insurance. Several policies with specific functions and coverage are better than one policy that promises more than an insurance company can afford to pay.Trends in health insurance have changed, and most individuals and families looking for private health insurance should be aware of these trends to protect their assets when a severe medical condition strikes. Health Insurance Money Saving Strategies is a 10-week campaign to spread the word to self-employed individuals and their families looking for private health insurance. Stop paying too much for so little health insurance protection! Learn how to improve your coverage and save money on health insurance by visiting http://www.edgeoninsurance.com right now. Take action today because it will make all the difference in how much money you spend on health insurance in the coming years.

Affordable Health Insurance in the U.S.

Health insurance policies differ from country to country. Many affordable health insurance companies in the U.S. are very competitive, and this competition is beneficial for consumers. For selecting an affordable health insurance plan, you can rely on online quotes that are easy and fast. Privacy is the major issue for many consumers who prefer affordable health insurance quotes online. Most online insurance quote websites in the U.S. provide links to others, thereby hampering your privacy. Ensure that the personal information requested online by a health insurance company is used only to determine the customer?s benefits and options.Most health insurance plans available in the U.S. are designed for individuals and families currently residing in America. Green card, H1, H4, F1 and F2 visa holders are also eligible for U.S. health insurance plans at affordable rates. The maximum limit of a U.S. health insurance policy is $8 million. The coverage options of U.S. health insurance plans include prescription drugs, dental, vision, pregnancy and child birth benefits. There are different individual health insurance plans to meet the needs of employers, labor unions and professionals, and the premiums for these plans are much lower than other policies.Health insurance in the U.S. is flexible, affordable, guaranteed and renewable. Many insurance companies in America offer affordable health insurance plans and they allow consumers to choose their doctor, hospital and specialist. Many of these companies also provide high-quality health care insurance coverage. Most affordable health insurance companies in the U.S. only provide individual policies and not group or association owned plans. These health insurance policies provide lifetime benefits and financial protection.

Tips to Finding the Right Health Insurance Quotes

If you've never shopped for health insurance quotes until now you are probably not aware of all the options available to you. One of the ways buying health insurance can be made easier is by getting the right quotes to fit what you need most. Unfortunately, many people don't know where to begin. Because the lack of health insurance in the United States continues to grow many people can be intimidated by the prospect of purchasing private health insurance as well.Know Your Health Insurance Budget Health insurance can be costly if you aren't prepared for the costs and fees associated with good health insurance coverage. One of the first things you should do before shopping for health insurance quotes is to know what your monthly budget is. Most people already have a figure in mind. However just to be sure you should crunch the numbers to see how much you can realistically afford to spend on your out of pocket expenses as well as your deductible and premium costs.Decide What Your Insurance Needs AreMany health insurance companies now can tailor their policies to fit a member's needs. This means you can customize your health insurance so that you are only paying for what you will use. If you are someone who regularly has prescriptions filled make sure that is part of the required services when shopping for health insurance quotes. If you have small children you will want to also receive quotes from companies that offer routine well child checkups as part of their policy package.Shop Around for Heath Insurance QuotesNow that you have a basic idea of what your needs are and what you can afford, you can begin searching for health insurance quotes. At this point, it is never a bad idea to obtain two to three quotes. If you only go out looking for one health insurance quote you will be limiting yourself by what one company has to offer. Taking the time to apply for multiple insurance quotes will net you with more options to choose from.It can take a little time to get health insurance quotes but the time spent will be worth it once you have the insurance coverage you need. Should a medical emergency ever arise, realizing you found the right health insurance quote can add security and the safety of knowing you are protected.

Basics of Health Insurance

Everyone agrees that health insurance is something that is needed by all. But, what type of health insurance do you need? There are so many plans out there from which to choose and every time you turn around somebody is trying to sell you the latest "new and improved" health plan on the market. So how do you know which is the plan you should have?Let's look, first, at the different kinds of health plans and the major differences in each of them.Our first health plan is the HMO or Health Maintenance Organization. This is probably the most restrictive type of health insurance plan. You pay a "membership fee" to belong to an HMO and you can go to any of the healthcare providers who are part of the HMO for reduced healthcare expenses. If, however, you require services from a physician or hospital that is not a part of the HMO that you subscribe to you may find yourself high and dry without a health professional for the services you may need. Likewise, you have no benefits from your health plan if you go outside of the Health Maintenance Organization for services. If you're traveling or away from the service area of your HMO then, again, you may find yourself without health insurance just when you need it the most. Still, if you don't travel and only want a basic health plan the HMO might be right for you. If you are considering an HMO health plan then you need to do your research and make sure you have access to the healthcare professionals that you may need not just now but at some point in the future when you may or may not need the services of a specialist.Next is the PPO or Preferred Provider Organization. These are the plans which are probably the most popular and well known. They are similar to an HMO in that you get lower costs if you use the provider members of the PPO with which your insurance company has contracted. Most health insurance companies contract with more than just one PPO so that you have a broader range of healthcare professionals from which to choose. Most health insurance plans with a Preferred Provider Organization will still pay benefits if you go out of the PPO but with reduced benefits and higher deductibles.Health insurance plans were originally "indemnity" plans. These plans allow you to choose any doctor or other healthcare provider that you want to use. Benefits are paid directly to the insured person or they may be assigned to the healthcare provider if you so choose. Many indemnity plans being sold today also offer a PPO network that will help both you and the insurance company to keep expenses down to a more manageable level.Then we also have the "limited pay" plans. These plans are not major medical plans. They typically pay for doctor visits and/or hospital expenses but the amount that the insurance company will pay for any covered expense is specified in the insurance contract. If they pay for doctor office visits, for example, they will normally limit the number of visits that they will pay for in any calendar year and after that you will be responsible for the entire amount of the bill. While these plans are not major medical plans, they usually will pay in addition to any other plans you may have.Other types of health insurance include, critical illness plans, disability plans, Medicare, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans. These plans will be covered in other articles since they should be explained individually and in depth.

Health Insurance Ensuring A Good Health Prospect

There are various options for cheap medical insurance. You'll always benefit from them when you take time to discover how they work. It's really imperative to be adequately insured with a reliable company. The vicissitudes and dynamic nature of life make it possible for anything to happen. If you're not properly insured, you may end up suffering in the long run. Insurance for pre-existing conditions is one of the affordable insurance options that can benefit you and your family. Let's discuss this.What is a Health Insurance for Pre-existing Conditions? This is a unique insurance option for people who are having all kinds of dangerous health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, blindness, asthma and so on. Oftentimes, people with such conditions are usually turned down when they approach an insurance company for health insurance. However, there are some other companies that offer health insurance to people with such conditions. Some companies do offer such insurance policies after a period of waiting while others do deny that from the scratch.The Problem with Health InsuranceThe problem most people have with this kind of insurance option is that of getting the cheaper options. This is because many insurance companies don't offer such options to their clients. Other companies that offer such policies usually have high quotes and rates. However, you can always locate affordable health insurance for pre-existing conditions by following the tips below:Take Time to Shop AroundThis is where the secret lies. You need to take time to search for insurance companies that do offer health special insurance for pre-existing conditions. There are many of them online. With the help of the internet, you can easily locate them any moment. In most cases, companies that offer guaranteed Issue Health Insurance are known for helping people with pre-existing medical conditions.Compare the Terms and ConditionsWhen you locate various companies that offer special type of insurance, take time to compare their terms and conditions. Some companies have some limits on what they can cover while other may require you to pay an addiction premium. Some others may wait for some period of time before agreeing to accept you in the offer.Check Group Health Insurance PlanYou can easily obtain cheap medical insurance through group health travel insurance plan. Oftentimes, such group polices like those provided to employees of a company usually accept every member of the group irrespective of any pre-existing conditions. If for instance, you belong to a professional association that is well insured by a reliable company, you may likely be covered irrespective of your pre-existing condition.Finally, you can also obtain health insurance for pre-existing conditions through your state. Most states in the US for instance have state insurance fund that cover people with some deadly conditions. You only need make proper inquiries.

Health Insurance Policies

Health care has become very expensive these days. Health care insurance helps to provide security for any future health care expenses that may arise. Here, the insurer pays the medical costs of the insured that arise from illnesses or accidents. Health insurance has become necessary today. Health insurance covers health care costs but also helps to keep the cost of health care low. Health insurance is generally sought by people who have bad health records or addictions like alcohol or smoking, or who are likely to have future health problems.There are many health insurance policies to suit all kinds of people and their requirements. Insurance can be purchased either privately or through an insurance broker certified by the state. The basic categorization is private and public health insurance. There are certain accusations against private health insurance companies: the premiums are set differently for different people, the companies do not announce premiums more than a year in advance, some companies do not address claims properly and may even deny payments, and experimental treatments are not covered by their policies.When selecting a health insurance policy, make sure you understand the various terms, like the kind of premium to be paid, the coverage provided, the limits of liability, the policy limits, benefits, deductibles and the term of insurance. There are also other aspects, such as: co-insurance, co-payments, out-of-pocket, exclusions, lifetime maximum, waiting period, coordination of benefits, grace periods and more. The choice of doctors, specialist care, pre-existing conditions, emergency and hospital care, regular physicals and health screenings, prescription drug coverage, obstetrician/gynecologist coverage, costs and additional services should also be contemplated. Also get to know about the policy's stand in relation to planned hospitalizations as well as emergency care.Other aspects to be taken into account while choosing a health insurance policy are how the plan handles medical care like physical examinations and health screenings, vision care, and dental services; what is the care and counseling for mental health; what are the services for drug and alcohol abuse; is there ongoing care for chronic and long-term diseases; does it cover physical therapy and rehabilitative care; does it cover nursing home, home health and hospice care; does it cover alternative medical care like acupuncture; does it cover experimental treatments and therapies, and other factors.There are many insurance companies that are offering attractive deals on all kinds of health insurance. You can contact an insurance agent for getting the right health insurance policy. The Internet is also a very good source for obtaining quotes, comparing various policies and deciding on the best one.

Affordable Individual Health Insurance - Five Ways to Find It

It's true that one of the main perks of a job is the health benefits package. Despite this fact, not all employers offer health insurance, and they aren't required to. Often employees are left to fend for themselves when it comes to health costs. Those who are self-employed also face the same dilemma. With the rising costs of health care, having no health insurance is virtually not an option.One alternative for people who aren't able to purchase health insurance through their work is to purchase an individual health insurance policy. The good news is that you can get an affordable individual health insurance plan.Below are a few tips to get you started looking for an affordable individual health insurance plan:1. Look for an independent insurance agent. They are registered with your state department of insurance, so you will be able to search from a list.2. Compare insurance companies. Look for information online, and compare the specific information of each side-by-side. Look at companies and policies that are going to meet your specific budget and health needs. Make sure you are informed of the exact coverage and price.3. Find policies that guarantee renewal and won't cancel.4. Ask about ten-day recession periods. With these recession periods, you can cancel during the first ten days of coverage and be refunded your premium if you decide the policy isn't right for you.5. Take advantage of tax deductions. Remember, if you are self-employed, most of your health insurance premium will be deductible when tax season rolls around. Always make your tax preparer aware of your premiums.Admittedly, even the most affordable individual health insurance policies could be more expensive and more difficult to obtain than other insurance policies, but these factors should not discourage you from searching for health insurance for you and your family. Everyone needs health insurance, and using these tips will make your search easier.

Apply Online for Temporary Health Insurance

There are times when you'll find yourself temporarily without health insurance. You may be between jobs, just starting a new job or a student who is no longer covered on your parent’s health insurance. Temporary health insurance purchased online can help provide gap coverage for those times when regular health insurance isn't a possibility.Short term health insurance is one of the easiest types of insurance to purchase online. It is meant to cover major emergency medical expenses for people who are temporarily without other health insurance. Sometimes referred to as catastrophic health insurance, it is not designed to be your primary health insurance. It won't pay for preventive health care, routine office visits, and prescriptions for pre-existing health conditions like asthma and diabetes, or treatment for pre-existing conditions. Many temporary health insurance policies also have a list of illnesses and injuries for which they limit coverage. Be sure to check the plan you're considering carefully to be sure that it will cover what you might need it for.Depending on the deductible you choose, your age and your health condition, temporary health insurance can be very affordable. For instance, $30 to $50 a month will purchase a policy with a $250 deductible for a healthy male in his early twenties.What will that buy you?Under the terms of most temporary health insurance policies, if you're involved in an accident that lands you in the hospital with a $50,000 bill, you'll pay as little as $1,250 for treatment. Before you pshaw at that, consider this: treatment for a broken leg can easily top $10,000 once X-rays, casts and follow-up visits are factored in.Short term health insurance is meant to be temporary, so there are limits to the length of time that you can be covered by a temporary health insurance plan. Some companies will allow you to renew your plan once at the end of the term of coverage. Others will make you apply again, but only once.When you apply for temporary health insurance online, most companies will cover you within 24 hours of your application. Many policies will issue you a policy immediately. You can find many web sites that offer comparison tools and online applications for temporary health insurance. Once you decide on a plan that meets your needs, you can have up to ten quotes for health insurance premiums in minutes, and have health insurance coverage within 24 hours.To view our recommended health insurance companies: visit,Recommended Health Insurance Companies [http://www.ezerk.com/articulos.php?category=53].

How Health Insurance Is Priced and Why

Health insurance is probably the most important insurance all of us need, since sooner or later, we or a loved one, are bound to need the services of a doctor or stay in hospital.Without a health insurance, it is unlikely that you will find a specialist doctor or obtain treatment for illness or injury where and when needed unless you have deep pockets. This is particularly a common case with developing countries. Without a health insurance you could be turned away in a private hospital emergency room, unless it is a life-or-death situation. In short, health insurance is vital to the health and welfare of each one of us.Health insurance does not come cheap. The main reason for this is the high cost of healthcare. A major illness or injury requiring a couple of weeks in the hospital is enough to flush out of your life savings down the drain and into the hands of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and medical laboratories. The medical field presents a paradox concerning the cost and technological innovation. Whereas the latter is considered the source of cost saving in the remainder of the economy, medical innovation translates to increased cost. In essence, therefore, technological innovation is viewed as mixed blessing by many health insurers, in particular, sighing whenever there is an announcement of development of new medical technology.The reason is simply that higher medical costs mean that the insurance premiums have to be adjusted upwards. The general trend of claims, of course is critical actor of health insurance pricing. But there are other underwriting criteria used by health insurance providers such as the following:Age: The older you are the more likely you are to get sick; therefore the higher you health insurance premiums.Number of people covered: Many people would buy family packages rather than individual policies. This means that their will be adults as well as minor children protected by the same plan. Most insurers charge based on the size of the family.Health history: Insurance operates on statistical probabilities. If you have had a poor health history, statistically you are more likely to have a more expensive health care feature. This, in turn, means that you will pay higher premiums- that is if you get cover at all.Occupation: The more you are likely to suffer injury or illness because of the work you do the more likely the health insurance industry will be to charge excessively for the benefits. In this respect beware health insurers who could have a tendency to stretch the concept into areas that have nothing to do with inherent danger of the work. Those who do this may be trying to avoid the likelihood of paying for treatment of certain diseases that may be contracted because of the nature of the work.Lifestyle: In your proposal or application for health insurance, you will be asked questions about your personal habit. Your answers will have a lot to do with the cost of your premiums. If you smoke or drink to excess, you will probably pay for more for your cover. If you are known to be under great deal of stress, you are likely to be charged more for your medical cover.The greater likelihood that your lifestyle will make you sick, the greater the likelihood that you will need medical care and thus the more expensive your health insurance will be.These are the factors that are considered when pricing health insurance cover. Increase in premiums normally follows claims experience but the escalating costs of medical treatment play a significant role in setting this trend. You now know, so when you apply for a cover or have one do not blame the health insurers.