Last week I promised I’d share some of my “secrets” (they’re not secrets) as to how I keep my hair long and healthy. It’s something I get asked about a lot and sometimes I just want to say “IT’S EASY TO HAVE LONG HAIR, JUST STOP CUTTING IT” but there *is* slightly more to it than just ditching the scissors.

People will inevitably offer different advice when it comes to this sort of thing (“Get your hair cut every six weeks! No, get it cut once every six years! Condition it before washing! But not before you’ve made a mask out of avocados, honey and wishes!” Etc) but I can only speak from my experience of what works for me.

I’m not a hairdresser (although I have had the privilege of working with some of the best in the business) and my main experience of long hair is just, errr, having it. But I’ve had long hair for over a decade and I BLOODY LOVE LONG HAIR so hopefully a few of the tips below will be vaguely helpful.

I know that some of the points below will be non-negotiable for some women (avoiding coloring and avoiding heat especially!) so if you have to do these things then just be aware that they are inevitably damaging. You can, of course, have long healthy colored hair, but if you don’t want to ditch the bleach you’ll need to up the ante with conditioning treatments and so on. 

Here’s what I do…

1. Rarely use heat styling.

There are lots of heat protecting products you can buy these days but the protection they offer doesn’t compare to avoiding heat styling altogether. I straighten my hair perhaps twice a month at the most and when I do straighten it I make sure it’s completely dry before starting so I’m not “steaming” my hair.

I try to avoid drying my hair in general and whilst I may rough dry my hair once every ten days or so, I’ll rarely sit under the hair-dryer til it’s bone dry. Generally, after a shower, I just tie my hair up (wet) into a loose bun and let it dry naturally. (I am aware that for some people this would result in epic frizz!).

If you blow dry your hair every day then to cut back would probably feel really drastic, but if you can change when you wash your hair (at night rather than before work, for example) you may find it easier.

And of course, *always* use heat protectors on your hair before stepping near hairdryers, wands, curlers and straighteners! I really adore this Bumble & Bumble one (£20.50).

2. Only use thick fabric hair ties.

Hair elastics can put an enormous amount of stress on the hair, leading to breakage and even hair loss if you tie really tight. I only use thick fabric hair ties to put my hair up and I’ve noticed *such* a difference in breakage since I discovered them a couple of years ago. They don’t have any metal so individual hairs can’t get trapped and the thicker size means they’re much more forgiving on each delicate strand.

I pick them up wherever I see them and most recently have bought in Accessorize but they don’t seem to have them online. Claire's sold them in various colors though and on Amazon, they are ridiculously cheap. (£1.32 for 12 with free delivery!).

3. Only brush with a Tangle Teezer.

I assumed Tangle Teezers was a Dragons’ Den gimmick item until one was used on my hair in a salon six or so years ago. I bought one there and then and haven’t looked back. In fact, when I forgot mine on honeymoon (A MISTAKE I HAD NEVER MADE BEFORE NOR SINCE) I genuinely contacted local suppliers to see if there was *anyone* who could get a Tangle Teezer to Mauritius before I shaved my head in a comb-induced rage.

You have to try a Tangle Teezer to appreciate how gentle they are but if you have a lot of hair – be it because your hair is thick or long – then trust me when I say a Tangle Teezer will prevent your hair from going through a lot of unnecessary damage and breakage.

4. Brush hair in sections STARTING WITH THE BOTTOM.

Regardless of what you use to brush, it really makes a huge difference to your hair if you brush it in sections, starting from the bottom and only working your way up once any tangles at the mid-lengths and ends have already been dealt with. Brushing top down from the get-go will only make your hair more tangled and damaged.

5. Don’t bleach or color your hair.

I have regularly wanted to colour my hair and have had consultations about it only to be told that I will have to sacrifice the length if I want a new colour. Bleaching is not good for your hair – that’s just a fact – and whilst you do see blonde girls with long luscious locks, it’s not an easy thing to achieve. If you want to hit the bottle you need to be aware of just how much more care and attention your hair will need.

It can of course be done, but if you have fine hair then a drastic change of colour – especially if you’re going lighter – will require a lot of TLC to maintain. Don’t be fooled by celeb pics of long and healthy bleached hair (or at least be aware that they probably have a live-in hairdresser!).

6. Protect your hair from the sun.

It’s really easy to forget to protect your hair from the sun but if you’ve ever felt your hair whilst sunbathing on holiday, then you’ll know how incredibly hot it can get. I *always* protect my hair with a UV product in the summer and I haven’t yet found a product I like more than label.m’s Protein Spray. 

Yep, I’ve mentioned Protein Spray approx 100 times before in videos and on the blog but it really is a fantastic product for protecting from heat and the elements. Oh and it smells like HEAVEN.

Of course in the midday sun you should really protect your hair (and face!) with a wide brimmed hat, but I am not ready to morph into my mother and tell you that just yet.

7. Either trim regularly or be prepared to take off a decent amount when you do get a haircut.

There are two camps when it comes to growing hair – those who say you need to trim regularly for your hair to grow and those who say just leave it for as long as possible. I fall into the latter and I don’t get my hair trimmed regularly,  but I did have about six inches off.

I can “get away” with leaving my hair for a longer time between cuts because of the fact I do all the other things in this list, but you’ll be able to tell when your hair is looking scraggy or you need a cut simply to bring some shape back into your style again.

Once your hair *does* look like it needs a cut, don’t delay it or split ends can lead to breakages which is the opposite of what you want for long healthy hair. And always take off at least the minimum amount your hairdresser advises, there’s no point only asking for half an inch off and expecting it to be healthy.

8. Use decent products to wash your hair.

Perhaps this goes without saying, but find the right hair products for you and *your* hair. Everyone is different, (If you don’t want to watch the video just read the text in the video description for a list).

9. Treat yourself to hair masks.

I’d like to say I use a mask every week but it’s probably more like once every ten days. Yep they smell heavenly and leave your hair superbly soft, but the long lasting effects are important too and a decent mask really will make a noticeable difference to your hair’s overall condition.

10. Protect hair when swimming.

If you swim in chlorinated water, you *need* to protect your hair. Swimming caps aren’t for protecting your hair, they’re for keeping hair off your face and making your stroke more streamlined. Before putting your swimming cap on you need to saturate your hair with freshwater as this will help prevent your hair from absorbing as much chlorine, then at this point you can also put in a protection creme or a leave-in conditioner.

I rarely bother putting a special product in to be honest, but I *always* make sure my hair is really wet with fresh water from the showers before I step foot in the pool.

11. Don’t wash hair everyday.

If you do a lot of sweaty exercise then I can see why this wouldn’t be an option, but as somebody who obviously doesn’t spend much time working up a sweat (lol) I only wash my hair a couple of times a week. When I do wash it I always shampoo twice to make sure my scalp is super clean. I also only use warm water rather than searingly hot water. A healthy scalp is important for healthy hair.

12. Don’t be tempted by extensions.

I’ve never had hair extensions, but I know enough people who have had them and seen enough dodgy disasters to know that they’re a bad idea if you want to grow your own hair.

If you really can’t grow your own hair then I can see why extensions would be alluring, but just remember that shortcuts nearly always come with pitfalls. It’s no different to nail extensions or eyelash extensions, inevitably some damage will occur to what’s naturally there to allow the extensions to stay in place.

13. Make sure you’re in good health and getting the right nutrients.

If your hair is thinning or breaking more than what’s normal for you, it’s always worth investigating with a doctor in case something else is going on. All sorts of things can cause problems for your hair, from thyroid issues to anaemia to fungal infections.

I take omega 3 supplements because I’m vegetarian and I’m always very aware that I miss out on the fatty goodness that most people can get by eating fish.

These aren't your average makeup tips and tricks.

1. Turn a pencil eyeliner into a gel formula with the help of a match or lighter.

Hold your black, green, burgundy, etc., kohl eye pencil (which typically creates a thin, harder-to-apply line), under the flame for one second, let it cool for 15 seconds, and then watch the consistency change right before your eyes. Finally, glide on your newly made gel liner for an instantly smudgier formula.

2. Cover your eyelid with white liner to make any eyeshadow shade pop.

To make a sheer or less pigmented eyeshadow appear more colorful on your eyelid, take a white eyeliner pencil, like makeup For Ever Kohl Eye Pencil in White, and run it over your entire eyelid. 

3. Draw your cat-eye first, and then fill in the open space for a perfect winged liner application every single time.

4. Use a spoon to create the perfect winged liner.

Holding the stem of a spoon against the outer corner of your eye, draw the straight line as the first step for your cat-eye. Then, flip the spoon so it's hugging your eyelid, and use the rounded outer edge to create a perfectly curved winged effect.

5. Draw a slanted hashtag at the outer corner of your eye, and then blend it for an instantly smokey effect.

To create a super-easy smokey eye, draw a hashtag symbol right before the outer corner of your eye and then blend it out with the smudger at the other end of your eye liner.

6. Use that same spoon to avoid mascara marks on your upper eye lid.

Hold the spoon so it's hugging your eyelid, and then apply your mascara like you normally would. As you sweep the mascara wand against your lashes and back of the spoon, watch as the residue coats the back of the utensil rather than your skin.

7. Add saline solution to a flaky mascara formula to re-wet it.

You're only supposed to keep mascara for three months, because beyond that point, it can collect bacteria and lead to eye infections. However, if your mascara dries up within those three months, revive it with a couple drops of saline solution.

8. Hit your eyelash curler with a hair dryer to heat it up, so your lashes curl easier.

Blowing hot air on your eyelash curler will help your lashes curl easier and stay curled longer; it works the same way heat changes the pattern of your hair and holds a curl with a curling iron. To do it, hit the lash curler with your blow dryer until it heats up, wait until it cools slightly but is still warm (you want to be sure not to burn your eyelid), and then clamp down on your lashes to curl them.

9. Dust on translucent powder in between coating on mascara to plump up your lashes.

10. Apply eyelash glue to false lashes with the tip of a clean bobby pin. 

Use the tip of a bobby pin to evenly disperse the glue along the base of your falsies. Then, wait a few seconds for the glue to get tacky and apply!

11. For long-lasting lip color, swipe on your shade, lay a tissue over your mouth, and then dust translucent powder over it to set the color.

This process may seem extensive, but the payoff is worth it. Not only does the translucent powder set a bold shade, making it instantly long-wearing, but the tissue acts as a shield to your lip color, protecting it from lightening or losing it's vibrancy. 

12. Mix loose pigments with a salve or petroleum jelly to make your own custom lip gloss.

If you have loose eyeshadow pigments that you're obsessed with and want to wear as a lip shade, blend it with a little bit of a salve, like VMV Hypoallergenics Balm, or petroleum jelly in a spoon and swipe it onto your lips. Voil!

13. Perfect your Cupid's bow by drawing an "X" on your upper lip first as a guideline.

To make the Cupid's bow part of your pout look perfect, the easiest and quickest way is to take a lip liner in the same shade as your lipstick and create an "X" at your Cupid's bow. Then, apply your lipstick as you normally would and voil!

14. Conceal dark circles and puffy eyes the right way by creating a triangle with your cover-up.

You might be a fan of dotting on your concealer in the spots you need it, but the best way is it to actually apply it in a triangular formation with the base of the triangle directly under your lashline and the point toward the bottom of your cheek. This shape helps conceal any redness at the bottom of your eye and at the sides, and then instantly creates the illusion that your face is lifted, since the brightest point is the most intense under your eye.

15. Make contouring look more natural by using a pencil, pen, or makeup brush handle as your guide to finding exactly where your cheekbone is.

Not everyone's face is created equal, so where your BFF might be applying her bronzer might not be the best place for you to contour. To tell where you should be dusting on bronzer, roll a pencil, pen, or makeup brush handle right below your cheekbone (directly in the pocket underneath the actual bone) to find the right angle for your face. Once you've found the correct placement, dust some bronzer on your face using a contouring brush, and then diffuse the color so it looks natural. (Tip via makeup artist Lauren Cosenza.)

16. Map the contours of your face with a gel eyebrow pencil, since it's easier to apply precisely and blend in.

After you've applied your base, mark the areas you want to contour — the hollows under your cheekbones, your temples, along your hairline, jawline, the sides of your nose, the tip of the nose, and the crease of your eyes — with a deeply colored brow gel pencil, like IT Cosmetics Brow Power Perfector Gel Pencil in Auburn. Brow gel pencils are really concentrated, yet very smudgeable, and it's easy to control the placement of their dark pigment, making them perfect for contouring. Next, use an all-over cream highlighter, like Mac Cosmetics Cream Colour Base in Luna, on the tops of your cheekbones, on the center of your forehead, the bridge of your nose, the center of your chin, and on your Cupid's bow. (Tip via makeup artist Lauren Cosenza and this tutorial.)

17. Blot your face in a pinch with a clean toilet seat cover.

Initially, yes, this sounds gross, but both blotting papers and toilet seat covers are made out of similar fabrics and will help sop up excess oil on your skin. So, if you're in a pinch and headed to the bathroom to freshen up anyway, grab one of these covers and pat it over your skin to decrease any excess oil on your face.

For the first time ever, more Americans have employer-provided life insurance (108 million) than have individual life insurance coverage (102 million), according to a new LIMRA study. And while that statistic sounds good, it actually hides a few important facts you should understand.

1. There’s more to the stat than meets the eye. When you dig a little deeper into the study, you find that households that have life insurance coverage through their employer is actually down to 46%, from a peak of 54% in 1984, so the fact is that the percent of employers offering coverage is declining.

2. If you have it, it’s most likely not enough. Most employer-provided life insurance coverage is one to three times your salary. So if you make $50,000, having up to $150,000 of life insurance sounds like a lot, right? But if you try to put that money to work in today’s interest rate environment, you’ll soon find out it doesn’t go very far. And if your family needs to spend $50,000 each year, what are they going to do after the third year?

I would also add that while your salary may be $50,000, what about your other benefits like health insurance? Employers pay an average of $19,000 a year for health care for an employee with a family of four. What if your family had to pay for their health insurance from that $50,000, too?

3. It’s a benefit, not a guarantee. Most Americans believe employers should be required to make life insurance coverage available (73%, according to the same study), but the fact is employers are not obligated to offer it. And remember that just because your employer is offering it now, doesn’t mean they will next year—or at any point in the future. A lot of companies are in cost-cutting mode, and benefits like life insurance can disappear without notice.

4. It doesn’t protect your insurability. Think about what would happen if your health changes while you only have employer-provided health insurance, but then they drop the coverage and you’re no longer able to get life insurance? Or what if you lose your job, or change jobs and the new employer doesn’t offer life insurance as a benefit?

Typically, employer-offered group life insurance is not portable, meaning you can’t take that coverage with you when you leave a job. Some have the option to convert it to permanent life insurance, but what if you can’t afford that option? Buying an individual policy prevents this because it’s something you own.

The bottom line, then, is that it’s good to have employer-provided life insurance, but don’t ignore the larger need you may have for individual life insurance coverage, too.

Use an online calculator like this Life Insurance Needs Calculator to get a working idea of what you need. Then if you need help to figure all this out, reach out to an agent. They can help you get the most coverage for your budget—something that you know will be there in case the worst were to happen. If you don’t have an agent, you can use this Agent Locator to find one near you.

We live in a fast-paced world. Internet access and mobile technology have made immediate gratification the new standard. Social media allows us to follow news and world events in real-time, stay in touch with family and friends and publish our thoughts and experiences with the touch of a screen. Online shopping and next-day shipping are expected, demanded even.

We’ve come to expect things to happen quickly and on our terms. And the term life insurance industry has taken notice.

Many companies have developed new term life insurance policies to fit the demands of today’s consumer. They are designed to move applications through the long, traditional process quicker. The goal is to reduce processing time and get a new policy into your hands sooner.

These new policies go by a variety of names like no-medical exam life insurance, simplified issue life insurance, accelerated underwriting life insurance, and others. For simplicity, we’ll just call them accelerated underwriting life insurance as that’s the common end goal.

As a group, these products have the same basic goal of speeding up the process. Individually, they attempt to do this in different ways. It’s important for you to understand these difference so your expectations are realistic and you don’t end up frustrated with a process that’s not what you thought it was.

Types of Accelerated Underwriting Products

• No Medical Exam Life Insurance

  The name says it all. With no medical exam term life, you are not required to complete a exam to apply for a policy. From there, the process can vary from completely online/electronic, to a telephone interview, to a paper application. Because of these differences, the process can range from as little as one day to several weeks. So, although you will not need an exam, you may still have a long process on your hands.

• Simplified Issue

  Products with a simplified underwriting process often have requirements removed from the traditional underwriting process. One of those may be the exam. Some companies will require them and others will not. Medical record review is another requirement that companies may remove. Eliminating the need for medical records can save weeks, even months, from the application process.

• Accelerated Underwriting

  Speed is the primary focus of accelerated underwriting. Companies typically do not remove underwriting requirements from the process to speed it up. Instead, they may create dedicated teams or internal processes that move applications along faster. These teams may have a smaller case load to work with, or they may only process applications with fewer requirements. Companies may also screen applications initially and assign some to the accelerated teams and others to the traditional groups.

The Truth About Accelerated Underwriting

We should clarify some myths, or misconceptions, about accelerated term life insurance products.

• Myth – You will not need to complete a paramed exam.
• Reality – This is not always true. You may not have to take an exam initially to apply. However, if you don’t qualify due to medical history or something else, the company may move your application to a more traditional process and ask you to complete an exam.

• Myth – Term life insurance without an exam is easier to qualify for. After all, no exam, right?
• Reality – Quite the opposite is true. No medical exam policies are harder to qualify for. The underwriting guidelines are stringent because the company is limited in what it can review. For example, the application may ask if you have high blood pressure, but the company cannot see how high it is without an exam. Or you may have diabetes, but the company cannot confirm your current A1C level. These restrictions force the company to be more strict with its underwriting.

• Myth – Accelerated means I will get my policy faster.
• Reality – This is always the goal and only sometimes the case. Even though your application is on a faster track, there’s always the chance something could derail it. For example, an item on your motor vehicle report may require additional review, including a written explanation from you. Or, a previous application with another company may appear on your MIB report showing recent tobacco use. This could force the company to order medical records from your doctor and require you to submit a urine sample.

• Myth – All no-medical exam life insurance policies are the same.
• Reality – Life insurance companies put limitations on these policies. Restrictions include:
  • Coverage amount – This can range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000. Most companies max out around $500,000.
  • Term length – Policies are available for 10 – 30 years, but some companies only offer up to 20-year policies.
  • Age – Most policies are only available to applicants age 65 and younger. A limited number of policies in smaller amounts are available for older applicants.
  • Rating Class – Some companies make these policies available only for people who qualify for the best rating class. This means if you have a medical condition, family history, or anything else that disqualifies you from the Ultra-Preferred class, you won’t qualify and will have to go through full underwriting.

• Myth – The cost is the same.
• Reality – In general, no medical exam policies cost more. Companies often charge more because they take on greater risk with these policies. But sometimes the difference is small. Make sure you review your quotes closely.

Tips for Choosing a Policy

1. Figure out what’s most important to you. Is it speed? Convenience? Cost? Are you willing to sit for an exam if it will save you money? Or would you rather skip it, even if it will cost you more?
2. Once you know what you want, find a company that offers it. Look closely at the product descriptions and talk with one of their representatives, if you can.
3. Be realistic. You’ve done your homework, and you know what to expect. There shouldn’t be any surprises, but if there are, work with your agent or company representative to keep your application moving along.

Simplified underwriting policies are here to stay. Although these policies are new, life insurance companies will continue to figure out what works best and how to price it so you will buy it and they will make money. Expect to see new offerings roll out periodically and, if they are consumer-friendly and competitively priced, we’ll add them to our website. Because a faster, easier process is good for all of us.

Build your life with love. Protect it with life insurance.

We work hard for the good things. The security. The comfort. The joy. The premium channels and the soft toilet paper. We work to buy houses, and we work to make sure they feel like homes for the people we love. We work to help things grow…our knowledge, our careers, our experiences, and our families.

From the Ground Up

The bigger and better things get, the more important it becomes to protect them. It’s easy to convince yourself, in the warm glow of a good life, that love is all you need. Love is a perfect foundation (and if you’ve ever bought a house, you know how important the foundation is), but without the walls you build upward and the roof above it all, it doesn’t offer much protection.

Every good decision you make contributes to the strength of those walls. The degree you earned. The career you’ve built. The money you invest. The relationships you’ve established. The tough questions you’ve asked, and the tough answers you’ve gritted your teeth and accepted.

These reinforcements are ultimately what hold things together when they might otherwise come crashing down, and insurance is your roof, extending to every edge to make sure you’re covered.

Life insurance means that nothing, not even the very worst thing, can blow that roof completely off. It means that your love, bolstered by careful planning, will always provide shelter, even after you’re gone.

Choosing a Blueprint

There are a lot of options to consider when you’re looking for the right insurance policy, and that’s why we’re here to help guide you. There are two main types of life insurance to consider, and that’s a good place to get started.

TERM LIFE INSURANCE

Term life policies might be the way to go if…

• You’re looking for the most affordable life insurance rates
• You’re not ready to commit to a lifetime policy
• You want the simplest, most straightforward option
• You’re in good health right now and have a relatively clear family medical history

This type of policy covers you for a finite period of time (usually 10, 20, or 30 years). Because of its temporary nature (and therefore the decreased likelihood that a payout will take place), premiums are generally much lower, especially if you’re young. Once the policy term is over, it’s over…just like car insurance, no matter how long you’ve been insured in the past, if you’re not insured at the time of an incident, it won’t help. So with term life, you’ll need to renew (usually at an increased rate as you grow older) or convert to a whole life plan at some point for continued coverage.

WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE

A whole life policy may be the best route if…

• You can afford a higher premium in your monthly budget
• You like the idea of paying for coverage that you know will help your loved ones in the future
• You love the idea of only having to shop for life insurance once
• You’re in good health now, but may be at higher-than-average risk for future health concerns based on family medical history

These policies typically cost more up front, but the upside is that they provide lifetime coverage (so you don’t have to worry about shopping again) and typically offer level premiums, which can help you keep your monthly budget on track, especially when the kids start begging for the latest gaming system. Whole life insurance typically combines death benefits with cash value. In some cases, the policy owner can access this cash sum to use if they should need it…so while peace of mind and security for your family are still the primary motivation, you know that it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to get it.

Savvy Shopping

As you decide which option is right for you and your family, here are a few tips to help you keep costs as low as possible while still getting what you need:

• Get multiple quotes from different providers to find the most competitive pricing. Whether you’re looking for the best term life insurance policy or you’re more interested in whole life insurance quotes.
• Watch out for unnecessary riders. Riders are add-on provisions to the basic policy. Sometimes they’re things you might actually need, but sometimes they’re just things that sound good. 
• Identify your specific needs and priorities. Life insurance, unlike your buttery soft leggings, isn’t one size fits all. If you’re on a tight budget, maybe you just need basic life insurance that will help to get your family through if you pass away sooner than you would hope. 

No Time Like RIGHT NOW

Here’s the best advice we can give: DON’T WAIT.

The younger you are, and healthier you are, the less your insurance will typically cost. And the sooner you work it into your budget, the more it will start to blend in with all your other important expenses, like electricity and lattes.

The real reason not to wait, though, might be sitting right next to you on the couch while you read this. Or sleeping upstairs on the top bunk. Or the bottom bunk. Life insurance gives you a chance to take care of the people you love for longer, and that’s worth an awful lot more than your monthly premium will be.

In May we celebrate and thank Mom for everything she does.  In June we celebrate and thank Dad for everything he does.  In July we celebrate and thank them both!  Did you know that the fourth Sunday in July is National Parents’ Day?  Parents deserve thanks every day, but three national holidays dedicated to them is a good start.

I imagine that being a parent is the most challenging, yet rewarding, experience you can ever go through.  When you have your first child, you realize the world is bigger than just you.  As you make decisions in life you think “How will this affect my kids?”  Buying life insurance is one of these important decisions.  “If I die and don’t have life insurance, what happens to my kids?”

There are all kinds of parents:

• Married spouses who co-parent
• Divorced individuals who co-parent
• Unmarried partners who co-parent
• Single parents
• Stay-at-home parents

No two parents are the same, but you know what they all have in common?  They all need life insurance to protect their loved ones should they die prematurely.  Term life insurance is affordable and provides many benefits.

Term Life Insurance for Married Parents

There is a gender gap in life insurance.  Fewer women than men have life insurance and, in addition, own less coverage on average.  If you have children and you both bring home a paycheck, you both need life insurance.  If you have children and only one of you brings home a paycheck, you both still need life insurance.

Is it written somewhere that dad is more likely to die unexpectedly than mom?  No.  You never know what life may bring – both parents need to own life insurance.

Married same sex couples need life insurance as well.  Same sex couples raising children need to think about what would happen if one or both of them should pass away.  With same sex marriage being legal across the U.S., same sex couples won’t have any issue purchasing life insurance on one another or naming each other beneficiary.

Term Life Insurance for Divorced Parents

In most cases, divorce doesn’t change the fact that you both love and care for your children.  Both parents need life insurance.  In fact, in some divorce cases the court may order the parents to buy life insurance policies to ensure the financial futures of the children.

In amicable divorces, some choose to leave their ex-spouse as their policy’s beneficiary still trusting that they will put their children’s needs first.  Others choose to change their beneficiary to their children.  However, if the children are still minors then an adult custodian would need to be named instead.

Term Life Insurance for Unmarried Parents

On average, today couples are postponing marriage, but not necessarily postponing having children.  You don’t have to be married to buy life insurance on each other, but it’s easier to prove insurable interest this way.  (Insurable interest exists when you would feel financial consequences upon the death of another person.)  However, having children together is proof of insurable interest.

You could also opt to own your own life insurance and name your partner as a beneficiary.  Be sure you name a contingent beneficiary whom you trust to use the policy benefit for your children in case both you and your partner die at the same time, such as in a car accident.  If you both pass away and you named no one else as a beneficiary, the policy benefits are then added to your estate and held up during the probate process as a court decides what to do with the money.

Term Life Insurance for Single Parents

Arguably, single parents have the greatest need for life insurance.  There is no other parent for your children to fall back on if you should pass away.  Making a plan to protect them financially if you are suddenly no longer around to provide is essential.  You’ll want enough life insurance coverage to replace your income, pay for child care, and cover your final expenses.  It’s also critical that you choose a responsible guardian who is willing and able to care for your children should you die.

Typically couples will name each other as beneficiaries since they hope one will survive to care for the children, single parents should consider creating a trust and naming it as the beneficiary of the policy.  Minor children cannot receive life insurance death benefits so a trust can be set up to ensure the death benefit is distributed and used according to your wishes.

Term Life Insurance for Stay-at-Home Parents

Term life insurance is always explained as “income replacement” so if you don’t provide an income, then you don’t need life insurance, right?  Wrong.  A stay-at-home parent may not generate an income, but this allows a family to save money by not hiring out for various responsibilities such as child care.  According to Care.com, child care is the largest annual household expense, averaging $18,000 for U.S. families.  If a stay-at-home parent were to suddenly pass away, would the surviving parent be able to find an extra $18,000 per year to hire someone to care of their children while they were at work?  What about someone to clean the house or transport children to and from school and extracurricular activities?

It’s a mistake to think that life insurance is only for breadwinning parents.  Unless the family is considerably wealthy, the mortgage is paid off, and there is a substantial amount in the savings account, a stay-at-home parent needs life insurance too.

How much does term life insurance cost for parents?

Term life insurance is quite affordable and the term length and coverage amount can be customized to fit in most budgets.  A term policy can ensure your family is able stay in their home, provide funds for college tuition, and pay for your final expenses should you die unexpectedly.  How much life insurance you need depends on your individual situation.  Consider the following questions.

• Do you have debt you want life insurance to pay off? For example, a mortgage, student loans, credit cards, or car loans.
• How much monthly income does your family need? The amount your paycheck provides is a good place to start.
• How many years do you think your family needs that monthly income before they are financially stable?

Remember: term insurance is structured to only last a specific period of time – typically when your family is most financially vulnerable.  How long you want the term insurance to last depends on a few factors such as how young your children are, how much time you have left on your mortgage loan, how close you are to retirement, and what your budget is.  For example, if your children are teenagers and you only have 10 years left on your mortgage, you probably don’t need a 30-year term policy.  However, if you just had your first child and want to make sure your child will have the funds to go to college, and recently purchased your first home, then you’ll want to consider at least a 20-year term policy.

Let’s take a look at some numbers to get an idea on how much life insurance costs.

If you’re covered by Medicare, now is the time to make changes to your health plan and prescription drug coverage. Medicare’s annual open-enrollment period is open until December 7th.

With so many plans to choose from, shopping for a new Medicare Advantage and/or Part D prescription drug plan can seem like a daunting task.

Here are five things to consider when shopping for your Medicare coverage options:

1. NOT shopping can cost you.
Each year, cost and benefit details of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D drug plans change – even if just a little.

Those changes can be costly.

According to a recent survey of 49,000 people using eHealthMedicare.com to compare Medicare plans, people who switched to a new Part D drug plan saved nearly $ 700 in 2015. In addition, they were 20% less likely to hit the prescription drug coverage gap.

The bottom line: Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, shop your options during this open enrollment period to make sure you still have the plan that best meets your needs.

2. Look beyond premiums.
A plan with a low monthly premium may be more expensive in the long run if doctor visits or prescriptions come with high out-of-pocket costs throughout the year.

To get a true sense of what you’re healthcare costs are likely to be, look beyond your monthly premium to understand each plan’s deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance.

3. Make sure your drugs are covered.
Expect to pay more when you fill your prescription drugs next year. Across the board, Part D plan deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses are rising.

Confirm that the medications you need are covered by your plan. And, check on the details of cost-sharing tiers, which are very common in most plans. Generics on the lowest tiers cost the least, while brand-name and specialty drugs on the highest tiers come with the highest out-of-pocket costs.

Finally, don’t forget to check which pharmacies participate with your plan, and which tiers the plan has placed them on. Prescriptions cost less when you fill them at a pharmacy identified as one offering “preferred cost sharing.” And beware: Not everyone lives near a pharmacy with preferred prices.

4. Is your doctor in-network?
Making sure your doctors participate with your health plan is one of the most important parts of picking the right policy. Out-of-network care can be very expensive. In fact, a recent report by America’s Health Insurance Plans found that out-of-network providers charged patients on average 300% more than Medicare rates for certain procedures and treatments, such as MRIs and chemotherapy.

5. Check star ratings.
Medicare has a quality rating system in which plans are ranked from one to five stars, with five the highest. Try to choose one with no less than 3.5 or 4 stars. 

Have you been diagnosed with diabetes? You’re not alone – figures from Diabetes Australia show this medical condition affects 1.7 million Australians.

It is a serious condition that can cause blindness, result in the amputation of limbs, and even increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes if not managed correctly.

In light of this, you might be wondering if you are still able to obtain Life insurance if you have been diagnosed. The answer is yes.

If you take the right steps to obtain Life insurance you and your family can be covered regardless of your diabetes diagnosis.

What is diabetes?

According to Diabetes Australia, having diabetes means you are unable to maintain healthy glucose levels in the blood because of difficulties with regulating the hormone insulin.

There are three types of diabetes:

1. gestational diabetes,
2. type 2 diabetes, which is commonly controlled with dietary changes, and
3. type 1 diabetes, where sufferers need to inject themselves regularly with insulin.

Alarmingly, there new cases of diabetes developing at a rate of approximately one person every five minutes.

How you can protect your family if your are diagnosed?

Although a diabetes diagnosis may mean that you can’t necessarily purchase a life insurance policy at standard premium rates  your individual circumstances would need to be considered and terms tailored to your personal situation. This means your cover would be fully underwritten and the terms offered would apply to the full term of your cover.

What this means is that your medical history would be fully assessed regarding your diabetic status.

Underwriting means no surprises

Once you have disclosed your health condition, an underwriter will make a detailed assessment of your health and other risks you are facing. The underwriting process means that your Life insurance policy is tailor-made to suit your needs and circumstances.

If your insurer is fully aware of your medical status, in the event that you or your loved ones need to make a claim on the policy, there will be no difficulties in processing it because of what may be considered a ’surprise condition’.

Insurers who do not require you to provide an upfront medical assessment may exclude any claim down the track because of a pre-existing condition which they were not aware of.

Financial peace of mind with NobleOak

Being diagnosed with a serious condition such as diabetes can be devastating. However, it is important that you’re not discouraged from applying for Life insurance to protect your loved ones.

Contact NobleOak today to arrange a Life insurance policy which takes into account your pre-existing medical condition, and gives you and your family peace of mind.

Your health insurance ID card. It’s a tiny piece of plastic that sits in your wallet. It may go largely unnoticed (aside from during doctor appointments and other medical services), but that little card is packed full of some very valuable information about your health insurance plan – information that can help you navigate the world of health care and ensure that when you receive medical care, it’s covered and billed correctly. And that’s a large part of what CDPHP^® is about: As part of our Health Care Decoded initiative, it’s our mission to empower you with the tools you need to understand your health insurance.

Let’s start with a closer look at your health insurance ID card and some of the key pieces of information that it contains. Please keep in mind these are general categories of information. Your card might vary, depending on your health insurance company and the type of health plan that you have.

The Basics

First and foremost, your health insurance card contains some straightforward identification information:

• The name of your health insurance company and possibly contact information (website, phone numbers, etc.)
• Your name
• The name of the subscriber or policyholder, if it’s not you. This may appear if you get your health insurance through another family member’s employer (e.g., spouse, parent)
• The names of other covered family members (e.g., spouse, children) may also appear here

Member ID

Each member of a health plan is assigned a unique ID number, which allows doctors and other health care providers to verify your health insurance coverage and eligibility. If you have a question for your health insurer, this information will allow their customer service department to bring up your account to view your claims and benefits, and to answer any questions you may have.

Group Number

A health insurer also assigns a unique ID number to each employer that purchases one of its plans. This is called the group number, and you’ll see it on your ID card if you receive your health insurance through an employer. It identifies the benefits of your specific plan and your doctor’s office will use it, along with your member ID, to submit claims.

Plan Type

There are many different types of health insurance. The most common plan types you’ll see listed on your ID card are HMO insurance plans (health maintenance organizations), PPO insurance plans (preferred provider organizations), EPO insurance plans (exclusive provider organizations), and HDHPs (high deductible health plans). Each plan type is defined by its specific requirements regarding referrals, in- and out-of-network providers, and how out-of-pocket costs are calculated.

Payment Information

Most health insurance cards will show how much you will be expected to pay (your out-of-pocket costs) for common services like visits with your primary care physician (PCP), specialist visits and urgent care and emergency room visits. This may be listed as a flat rate (a copay) or a percentage of the total cost of the service (coinsurance). If two numbers are listed, the first represents your cost at an in-network provider, and the second is your cost at an out-of-network provider.

Prescription Benefits

Formulary

A formulary is a list of prescription drugs that your insurance company will cover. Some insurers have several formularies. Each CDPHP member will have one of three formularies listed on his or her ID card – Formulary 1, Formulary 2 or the Medicaid Formulary. If your CDPHP member ID card does not have a formulary listed, you have Formulary 1.

Prescription Costs

Formularies are commonly divided into three tiers. Your card may list the price you’ll pay at each tier level when you use a participating pharmacy.

Pharmacy Network

Some insurers have different pharmacy networks for different plans. A CDPHP member has one of three pharmacy networks: Premier (for all CDPHP plans offered through an employer), Value (for CDPHP individual health plans) or Medicare.

Rx BIN (banking identification number)

Your pharmacist will use this number to process your prescription. It indicates which company will reimburse the pharmacy for the cost of the prescription and where to send the claim for reimbursement.

Medical Network

Your insurance company may provide out-of-area coverage through a different health care provider network. If so, this will be listed here.

The Back of the Card

The back of your health insurance ID card is where you’ll be likely to find additional information, like important telephone numbers and addresses for doctors and hospitals so that they can verify eligibility, file claims, get pre-authorizations, etc. It might also provide hotlines and other resources for a variety of specific situations (e.g., chemical dependency services number, fraud hotline).

And there you have it – a breakdown of the most common pieces of information that you’ll find on your health insurance ID card. Now you know why that little piece of plastic is so important. And if you’re a CDPHP member, you can access your ID card online through our secure member site, or have it with you everywhere your smartphone is with the My CDPHP Mobile app!

Does your ID card have something we didn’t explain? Check out more of our Health Care Decodedhealth insurance explanations, or let us know in the comments below! Or, call the customer service number listed on your card for further explanations on the details of your plan.