Qualifying events provide an opportunity to gain health insurance coverage

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50532983_SGetting married? Becoming a parent? Turning 26 and no longer covered under a parent’s health insurance plan? Getting divorced? Losing your job and health insurance coverage? Big changes in your life can provide you with an important opportunity to make changes to your existing plan or purchase a new one outside of the open enrollment period that starts in November.

In health insurance lingo, these big changes are called ‘qualifying life events’. If you plan on purchasing health coverage after a qualifying life event, you must meet certain criteria. For example, those who are moving must be ‘permanently’ moving to a new address outside the coverage area of their current health plan. A temporary relocation or extended vacation doesn’t count. You also must act quickly. Typically, you have only 60 days from the life event to enroll.

Questions? We’d love to help! We can help you understand the new special enrollment period rules — and make sense of all of the changes coming to the world of health insurance. Our goal is to help you make informed choices that are right for you and your family. Call or visit us anytime if you have questions about your coverage. We want to be your health insurance resource.

Can exercise help you be more productive?

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47134984 - businesswoman walking passageThink you don’t have time to exercise? Think again! If you want to be more productive, whether at home or at work, then you may want to make time each day to exercise. In fact, studies show that regular exercise can help boost productivity while a sedentary lifestyle can make people less productive in all areas of their lives.

One study of workplace productivity found that employees who added moderate exercise to their daily routine showed “a significant improvement in all aspects of employee psychological well-being (such as confidence, self-esteem, sleep and concentration levels) and a significant reduction in all types of stress.” Many employees who added exercise to their daily routine also experienced lower blood pressure and weight loss. But physical exercise also has mental benefits. Even short periods of exercise can improve brain function and memory.

Try walking for thirty minutes a day, even if you have to break it into smaller time spans throughout the day. Over time, try to sneak more exercise into your day.