The open enrollment period is in effect through March 31^st, 2014. MHG Insurance Brokers would like to make you aware of specific deadlines that are approaching, as well as provide you with information on a topic that has been getting a lot of attention lately – shrinking plan provider networks on the ACA health insurance marketplace. Here are some notable dates to bear in mind:

• For government approved health plans effective March 1^st – enrollment deadline February 15^th, 2014
• For government approved health plans effective April 1^st  – enrollment deadline March 15^th, 2014
• Final Enrollment date to obtain a healthcare plan or off the exchange – March 31^st, 2014 for effective date of May 1^st, 2014

If you are looking to buy health insurance, use this time to evaluate and compare the many plans available that you will be presented with. There has been attention given recently to the sizes of the provider networks that are a part of the plans offered through the health insurance marketplace. It appears that these plans’ provider networks are smaller in order for the plans to provide affordability and be able to compete with other plans offered on the exchange. The ACA doesn’t set prices for these plans or for medical services provided to the consumer, the insurance companies do. Smaller networks with fewer provider choices means smaller premiums for the consumer. In order to be more affordable, these plans exclude the most expensive providers. 

While insurance companies decide which doctors and hospitals will be a part of a network, there are also doctors who will only accept higher fees before they choose to participate in some networks. This is typical behavior within a competitive market. It is important when weighing the benefits of plans you are considering to check what provider networks your current doctors are participating in. You may wish to only consider those plans if keeping your doctors is important to you. When you find networks that your doctors participate in, call your doctors to confirm the information before selecting a plan. This extra effort will pay off, as selecting a plan that your doctor may no longer accept could be a critical mistake, as you won’t be able to change your plan again until the next open enrollment period, or a qualifying life event takes place, such as a marriage, birth or adoption of a child, or divorce. 

One comforting fact to be aware of: no matter which plan you select, the law prohibits insurance companies from requiring higher copayments or coinsurance if you get emergency care from an out-of-network hospital. If you are traveling and an unfortunate accident lands you in a hospital emergency room that is not on your provider network, you do not need to get preapproval before receiving emergency services. This applies to all plans that were created or obtained before March 23, 2010. 

 As always, MHG Insurance Brokers is here to assist you with all of your insurance needs . Our in depth and current knowledge can help you navigate through all of the information and choices you will come across when shopping for a health care plan. Call MHG Insurance Brokers today at 954-828-1819 to learn more about the new healthcare plans available, or visit MHG Insurance Brokers online at mhginsurance.com . We look forward to protecting your health!

With the Affordable Care Act in full effect for 2014, Americans now have more options when it comes to choosing a health insurance plan than ever before. This makes it critical to comparison shop for the plan that will best accommodate your family’s health care needs. While more choices are always welcome, the process of shopping around can be overwhelming and somewhat confusing, as there is a lot of information to take in and dissect. The following factors are important to consider when in the market for a new comprehensive health insurance plan: 

• Under ACA, individuals and families are now able to get group like coverage. Group plans were generally more comprehensive, but now individual plans can be just as good. Before the ACA went into place, group plans offered health care that was less expensive, and was extended to employees with pre-existing health conditions. Now, having a medical condition is no longer an obstacle when purchasing health insurance . While these plans may be less expensive than other plans, it pays to compare the benefits of a group plan to plans you can purchase independently.

• When comparison-shopping, be sure to check the network of providers in each plan. If maintaining the same physician is important to you, be sure to inquire with your physician’s practice to see what insurance plans they accept. Also, check to see if the prescription medications you are currently taking are included on each plan’s approved prescription drug list.

• When considering the costs of each plan, remember that the lowest premium does not equal the cheapest plan. Other costs to the subscriber include the annual deductible, which is the amount you will have to pay out of pocket before your benefits kick in. There are also copayments, which are minimal out of pocket expenses that are due at the time of a doctor’s visit, and lastly, there are coinsurance amounts. Coinsurance is the amount that is usually expressed as a percentage and refers to the remaining balance owed for treatment after the deductible is paid. If the insurance company pays 80% of the balance due, then you will be responsible for the other remaining 20%.

• Identify the benefits you must have. Although we cannot predict injuries or illness, we can look into our family’s history for some indicators. If your family has a history of heart disease or Diabetes, you may want to make sure that testing for these medical conditions, and receiving medications to treat them, are covered in the plan you select. If you want to start planning a family, you will want to make sure that the plan you choose has decent maternity coverage.

• Don’t buy more insurance than you need. If you are young and healthy, it may benefit you to choose a plan with a higher deductible and lower premium, as it could potentially save you money each month.

MHG Insurance Brokers wants our clients to be fully informed before selecting a health care plan. Let MHG Insurance Brokers assist you with the application process, determining your health care needs, clarify any confusing terminology, and introduce you to the most comprehensive plans on the market today that will work with your budget. Visit MHG Insurance Brokers online at  mhginsurance.com , or call and speak with an MHG insurance specialist today at 954-828-1819. Here’s to your good health!

As a business owner working in today’s litigious society, there are many different types of coverage that your company may need in place not only to protect your business but to protect your personal assets as well. Which type of insurance and the correct policy amount differs depending on your type of business.  It’s important to mention that your insurance needs will also change over time, as your business continues to grow. 

MHG can help you determine which insurance will most benefit your needs; here are the five most common commercial insurance policies that are essential to almost every business:

General Liability Insurance – General Liability insurance is the most basic form of business insurance available and protects you, the business owner, should someone suffer an injury and you are named liable. General Liability policies also provide coverage for property damage, advertising injury and personal injury, including slander. Should you be served with a lawsuit, this type of insurance could also pay defense costs and settlements even if the claims made against you are fraudulent. You should consider obtaining this coverage if you or your employees:

• Visit a client’s place of work or if a client visits yours
• Have access to a client’s equipment
• Write or speak about a client’s business
• Use third party locations for any business related activities

Commercial Property Insurance – Disaster can strike at any time. Commercial Property insurance can protect your businesses' assets and inventory against physical damage and loss of use due to theft, an accident or other means. If you are leasing office space or retail location, you may only need to purchase "contents" coverage to protect your fixtures, furniture, inventory, office equipment and supplies; however, if you've made 'improvements and betterments' to the space you're leasing, you may want to include those expenses in your insurance policy as well. No matter what size your business is you may qualify for a Business Owners Policy or a "BOP" which allows business owners to secure Commercial General Liability, Property Insurance and often, includes loss of income and extra expenses that you may suffer following a loss. 

Commercial Auto Insurance - Car accidents happen every day and as a business owner, you need to make sure you have the proper insurance coverage in place to protect you, your employees, your assets and get you back on the road as quickly as possible. As a rule of thumb, if the vehicle is used primarily for business purposes or is titled in the company's name, you should have a Commercial Auto policy regardless if you lease or own the vehicle. Commercial Auto policies may pay for damages or medical expenses sustained by you, an authorized driver on your policy, or a third party. Depending on the type of coverage you select, your company vehicle may also be insured against damage caused by a flood, fire, or theft. 

Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) – We unfortunately live in a very litigious society and it’s important for business owners to have the right coverage in place to protect themselves against frivolous and legitimate lawsuits made by current, former and potential employees. An EPLI policy protects the business, its directors and officers and employees against allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, emotional distress and wrongful termination among others.

Workers Compensation Insurance - As a business owner, you do your best to provide your employees with a safe working environment; however, accidents happen and it is important to have the proper protection in place. Workers’ Comp policies are mandatory for all businesses employing four or more people although contractors are required to carry a Workers’ Comp policy if they have at least one employee. Workers’ Comp covers medical expenses and some portion of an employee’s wages if they were injured on the job. Accidental injuries, occupational diseases, and even death arising from the employee’s employment are covered under this policy. In the marine industry, The Longshore Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (USL&H) provides similar Workers’ Comp benefits for employees working on navigable waters, on a dock, during a dry dock or other areas commonly used by vessels. Workers' Comp policies can be endorsed to offer coverage for the employee while working on land as well as for USL&H exposures.

The Insurance Specialists at MHG understand that every business is unique. We have the experience and resources to help you find and purchase the right insurance to meet the needs of your business. Let us help you protect your business, good name and reputation. 

Call and speak with one of our Insurance Specialists to discuss options to cover your company's risk appropriately at 954-828-1819 or visit MHG Insurance Brokers online at  https://mhginsurance.com/ to learn more. 

Your vacation is just around the corner! As a Captain, Officer or Crewmember who has been working 12-14 hour days onboard for many months, you’re looking forward to your much deserved time off. Whether you’re heading home to relax and spend time with family and friends or are going off traveling, it’s important to keep your health in mind and purchase a vacation health insurance plan .

The Shoreside Health Insurance Plan, or SHIP, is an excellent solution for Captains, Officers and Crew who are looking for health insurance coverage while between contracts or on vacation. The opportunity to spend some time exploring foreign lands is priceless, but an accident such as a broken leg or motorcycle accident can quickly turn your dream vacation into a financial nightmare! 

SHIP is designed specifically for Captains, Officers and Crew working in the cruise industry and provides up to $500,000 in medical benefits for costs arising from an accident or an illness. Plans are surprisingly affordable, starting at just over $2 a day making vacation health insurance one of the smartest uses of your money! 

Coverage is available to all nationalities from 60 to 180 vacation days per year. Any unused days can be carried forward to your next sign off within the same policy year. Online enrollment is also simple and next day coverage is available, eliminating the danger of uncovered accidents as you wait for your policy to go into effect. 

SHIP also takes into account the outgoing and adventurous spirit that led you to a career traveling the world and offers an optional Adventure Sports Rider for the boldest adventurers. 

No matter where your vacation takes you, consider the cruise industry’s premier vacation health insurance policy to protect you during your next sign off period. Looking for a full-time international health insurance plan instead? Speak with an Insurance Specialist at MHG Insurance and we will help you identify the right solution for your particular circumstances. 

Additionally, MHG offers a full range of individual and group insurance plans  for marine professionals including marine crew insurance disability income , life insurance and travel insurance among others. Whether you are setting off on an adventure-packed vacation, exploring or scuba diving with your shipboard friends, or are heading home to spend some quality time with your loved ones between contracts, an accident or illness can happen at any time and leave you facing medical expenses that could decimate your hard-earned savings. Be prepared with a vacation health insurance plan.

For more information about marine vacation health insurance and other marine insurance coverage, call us at +1 954 828 1819 or +44 (0) 1624 678668 or visit us online at mhginsurance.com .

Have you ever jumped out of a plane? Climbed a mountain? Gone scuba diving? Relocating to a new country can evoke many of the same feelings and emotions. But, isn’t that what life is all about? Living it to the fullest? The fear and excitement of the unknown? That’s why it’s great to be an expat! An expat, otherwise known as an expatriate, is someone who lives outside of their native country. Did you know there are a staggering 50.5 million expats living and working around the world?  That number is expected to increase to 56+ million by 2017! Maybe you’ve been considering packing your bags and moving halfway across the world for your dream job, but aren’t quite sure if you’re ready to uproot your life. So for those that are on the fence, MHG would like to share some advice from our own expats that will hopefully encourage you to jump and take that leap of faith.

A New Start

New start, clean slate! Becoming an expat can allow you to leave your baggage and drama behind and give you the opportunity to, make new friends, have an exciting new job, and who knows, maybe meet your significant other.   

Language

Depending on where you go as an Expat, you may need to learn a new language. Learning a new language isn’t an easy task, however, it allows you to learn more than just some words, it can force you to learn the culture as well. You wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn a new culture by just visiting or vacationing somewhere.  By living there and having to make an effort to adapt is when you really get to experience new cultures.

Life Skills

Living in a new country can also force you to learn some basic skills such as cooking, fixing a car, performing maintenance around the house, etc. While living in your home country, if you didn’t know how to do something, you may have had the option of calling someone to come help you or fix it for you. That may not help in a new country.

Job Opportunities 

Many people become expats because of the work opportunities. Maybe you have been eyeing that dream management job which is just out of reach at home but more attainable overseas. In addition to the job opportunities, expats find compensation packages to be very enticing which can include a competitive salary, international health insurance, housing, annual tickets home, car and school tuition for the kids to name a few.

See the World

What better way to see the world than by becoming an expat! Expats will tell you from first-hand experience the only way to  truly experience a country’s culture, tradition, and language, is to live there for an extended period of time. Living like a local will allow you to see the sites and taste new foods. Before you know it, you will be involved in and partaking in things you never thought you would have. Getting to experience things that you wouldn’t have gotten to experience by just visiting. You may also develop an admiration for the traditions, and find yourself really loving your adopted country, maybe even more than “home,” and possibly want to have this same experience at a new location. 

Before relocating to another country, trying to find expatriate health insurance coverage on your own can be a daunting task. Many of us at MHG are expats ourselves and we understand the global insurance needs of international businesses, and individuals and families living and working around the world. Our Insurance Specialists have the experience, knowledge, and access to multiple international insurance carriers to find you the most suitable plan based on your budget and future plans.

At MHG Insurance, our commitment to your well-being does not end once you have purchased a plan; through our “Concierge Broker Service”, we will continue to assist you with questions about your policy and provide assistance throughout the claims process. Call MHG Insurance at +1 954-828-1819 or +44 (0) 1624 678668 or visit us online at mhginsurance.com for help finding expatriate insurance coverage for you and your family or business!

Do you remember what life was like 10 years ago? How about 5? It’s hard to think of a world without Social Media and Smartphones, and even harder to remember that these things didn’t even exist a decade ago. Five years ago, having a smartphone was a luxury, not the norm. People were still using Myspace, Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn were fairly new or unknown to most, and Instagram and Google+ didn’t even exist yet. Today we live in a world where information is everywhere, and all we have to do is reach into our pocket to unlock it all. Social networking has impacted us in many ways. For one, it has made this gigantic world seem a bit smaller, with all the ways that people can keep in touch, share pictures, and make those close to us feel like they aren’t missing the big moments in our life, just because they are living elsewhere. From a business perspective, it is an essential medium for communicating with clients, and can also be utilized for customer service, lead generation, and relationship building. 

1. Relationships 

People like and communicate with others who are similar to themselves. For instance, parents connect with other parents, college students connect with other college students, doctors connect with other doctors, etc. Social media has changed things by flipping the marketing funnel upside down. Instead of trying to reach the masses in order to gain a few customers or followers, you try to connect to a few, who will then reach the masses for you. Which is why it is important to post material your followers or customers will feel connected to. By building a relationship with a customer he or she may feel like you understand their needs, and may feel inclined to share your material to their friends who are similar to themselves. Which is very important because that can expose your business to others who may have never heard of you and who may feel connected to you as well. For example, every few days Cigna will post an article with healthy lifestyle tips, or State Farm will have a safe driving contest, or best of all, MHG Insurance Brokers will post a Motivational Monday picture. These simple actions engage with customers and give them an incentive to follow you, interact with you, share with others, but most importantly that you care about and value them. 

2. Customer Service 

Social Media has also impacted the way customers are able to contact you. Rather than picking up the phone to dial their broker, they can now use social media to communicate with them in a quicker and more efficient way. Plus, social media gives customers an avenue to give you feedback or vent to you about a problem they are experiencing in your business. This makes it easier and more convenient for the customer, rather than having to call your customer service hotline and be kept on hold for an extended period of time. However, this new way of customers contacting you to give feedback and complain can give you a reason to be on your P’s and Q’s. Before social media, whenever someone had a complaint, they would call your customer service hotline and deal with the issue directly. They say that a person tells 10 people about a complaint, which could hurt your business if the information spread. Now the complaint is posted in a public forum for the world to see, which means it is critical that the issue is handled quickly and the customer is taken care of, or possibly millions can have a reason not to do business with you. 

3. Advertising and Marketing 

Social Media has billions of users, millions of whom use it on a daily basis. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have given insurers the power to advertise to individuals across the world, for FREE. So many companies spend millions of dollars a year on advertising for commercials, magazine ads, radio ads, etc. These ways of advertising also have limits to the amount of people that can see them. For example, they may not have a commercial in Europe that they do in the United States. Or if I don’t have a subscription to the magazine that you put an ad in, I won’t see it. Social Media does not have the limitations and constrictions that other forms of advertising and marketing does. However, there is a catch. In order to market to someone, they either have to be following your page, or already searching for you. Which, as stated before, is why it is important to build connections with people who will then share your content to their friends and followers. It is crazy to think how a post made in Miami, Florida can be seen in Sydney, Australia in a matter of seconds. 

Social Media has made the world a smaller place. Information is more accessible than it has ever been before. The world is in your pocket. Mobile phones are no longer just a communication device, they are a business device. Are you looking for relevant insurance information that isn’t boring? Whether you are looking for a competitive Marine Crew insurance plan, the latest updates on the Affordable Care Act , business insurance news or travel insurance tips, check us out on social media! Follow MHG Insurance on most Social Media platforms to see informative posts, fun content, and get to know us!

At MHG Insurance Brokers, we make sure that our yacht crew clients are insured in the event of a medical issue or an accident, but we also take an interest in the everyday health and safety of our clients. Today we would like to provide a round up of information from our friends and partners that are experts on Yacht Safety Drills. If you have a story or comment about onboard safety drills, including ways to make a drill fun or memorable, please leave us a comment or join the discussion on our Facebook page .

1. Make drills fun. 

A common discussion in yacht captain forums is how to run safety drills. As one commenter in YachtForums.com mentions, anything that breaks up the monotony of daily tasks is usually a welcome break, but making a safety drill fun and competitive will not only help get crew involved, but also makes it easier to recall the procedure under times of stress, when you really need it.

We have an annual contest to see who can get into their survival suit the fastest- you'd be surprised how fast those times are when there is an iPod or $100 (plus bragging rights) on the line for the winner.

To read this discussion in full, click here

2. Spread the knowledge. 

Our second point is a reminder that all crew need strong safety skills, even those skills that may not usually fall under their responsibilities, and it comes from Dockwalk's article on Safety Drills.

Know your stuff. Throughout your yachting career you will receive varying levels of safety training from sea survival to first aid, but keeping these skills fresh could prove to be invaluable in an emergency. “Recently, I was running a drill during which the crew role play. [In this drill,] a lot of the crew had been seriously injured, including the boats medical officer,” says Capt. Nick. “Our allocated deputy [medical officer] had to step up to the mark. I asked her to talk me through the CPR procedure. It was fairly obvious that she had forgotten much of the basics and I realized that refresher courses should be part of our training schedule.”

To read this article in full on Dockwalk's webpage, click here. 

3. Consider the learning styles of your crew when going through drills. 

There are three types of learners: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. In other words, we all commit things to memory using sight, sound, or touch. In order to help all crew remember procedures, consider testing them in using each of these ways. For example, demonstrations will help visual learners, asking crew to repeat information will help an auditory learners and hands-on practice will aid kinesthetic learners.

4. Consider security drills as well as safety drills.

According to a recent article in The Triton by megayacht stew Alene Keenan, safety is just one important drill that should be considered part of crew responsibilities.

The importance of security training is finally being recognized and is now mandatory for all crew on ISPS-compliant yachts. Many young crew think the STCW code consists simply of the four modules of Basic Safety training required to get our first yacht job. Perhaps we don’t think about the relevance of security awareness training unless security issues touch us individually. For me, the relevance of this came about as a direct result of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. I was the new chief stew on a yacht based at Chelsea Piers on 23rd street. We saw it all happen. We were not able to move the vessel because our engines were disabled and so we ended up volunteering. Security drills are mandatory and best practices have been formulated to mitigate risks of a security breach. Ship security plans detail the procedures to follow in the event of an incident. But on that morning, we did not know what to do or what to expect.

To read Alene's article in full, click here.  

5. Take responsibility for yourself. 

Regulations and drills are one thing, but when it comes down to it, safety is everyone's responsibility. If you are a chef onboard and cannot tie a knot, you may come to regret not taking the time to learn basic seamen skills. No matter what position you are in, ask questions, grasp as much familiarity with the boat and the tasks that each mate manages, and consider the additional learning not only a resume builder, but a potential lifesaver.  

When it comes to international yacht crew insurance, being as open and forthcoming as possible, both before and during the time you are insured, can be critical to having a successful insurance experience. When you ask people about their medical status, the most common response is “I’m fine”. Unfortunately many people often... shall we say... “overstate” how healthy they are.  Normally, this will not bode well once a claim against insurance is made. 

Let’s review the 5 most common pitfalls: 

1. Non-disclosure of a past medical condition

Not only can this be a dangerous situation for you and your fellow crew, but it also sets up a scenario where in a worst case, your insurance could be cancelled. Insurance enrollment forms are a contract, and misrepresentation or incomplete information can render your insurance policy void. It’s important, no matter how minor it may seem, to disclose your entire medical history (and keep a file).

2. Non-disclosure of an ongoing medical condition 

Accurately representing your health to the insurance company (and even your insurance broker) is really important. Many people don’t realize that taking a regular prescription drug is significant in the eyes of the insurer.  When the claims start coming in for the cost of those medications, the insurer is most certainly going to start asking questions and that’s likely to take you down the path of having your claims denied. With all of the necessary information, we can provide you with personalized support that works for you.

3. Overstating the recovery of a previous illness or injury 

It’s important to be careful about saying, “I’m fine” after recovery from an illness or injury. This is particularly important with back, shoulder and neck injuries.  With the work that you do, we often see crew returning to work before they really should and that doesn’t always give the body time to fully recover. Not being in pain, may not mean you are fully recovered.

4. Non-disclosure of all the facts at the time of claim

If you have an injury or illness and you need to make a claim, it is important to fill out the claim form completely with as much detail as possible surrounding the circumstances.  This may include an incident report, or possibly a police report(!) along with your own personal narrative, which can be valuable.  Withholding information usually will simply result in your claim being delayed or otherwise declined.

5. Waiting until you have insurance to see a doctor    

This is the most critical item of all the pitfalls, when it comes to your wellbeing.  Do not delay seeking medical attention until you have health insurance. Not only are you putting your health at risk, but once you do see the doctor, the insurance company will probably not pay your claim because you had the condition prior to purchasing insurance. This is a standard clause in most international insurance plans, the language says something to the effect that treatment should have been sought previously by a prudent person. So please be prudent! The key to a successful insurance experience starts from the very beginning and goes all the way until you are no longer in need of health insurance. 

The MHG team looks forward to seeing you at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and will be on hand to answer all of your questions about yacht crew insurance, US health insurance, sick pay / disability income, life insurance and travel insurance. See you at booth 727B located in the USSA Pavilion located in the Yachting Tent! If you’re not attending the show and are still interested in learning more about the different types of insurance that we offer, please call MHG Insurance Brokers at +1 954 828 1819 or +44 (0) 1624 678668 or visit us online at mhginsurance.com to find the insurance plan that perfectly meets your needs. 

First, let's define Commercial General Liability and Marine General Liability. 

Commercial General Liability Commercial General Liability policies protect business owners against claims of liability for bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury (slander and false advertising). 

Marine General Liability Marine General Liability policies are the same as General Liability policies except they are designed specifically for those who work at sea. These policies include coverage for Marine Contractors and others who work on or near water.