History of Social Security Disability Insurance Advocacy

The History and Future of Social Security Disability Insurance Advocacy

By Matt Jensen, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Integrated Benefits, Inc. This post tells a story about a benefit available to most people living and working in the United States – Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain family members if you are unable to work due to a medical condition…

Financing medical bills and health expenses

Four Ways to Finance Medical Bills and Health Expenses

When you are living with a medical condition or disease that requires regular visits to various doctors, or have a sudden health concern that needs to be addressed quickly, medical bills will begin to pile up. While your medical insurance likely covers most of your normal expenses, when it comes to specialty issues, insurance companies…

Protecting loved ones

What the Pandemic Has Taught Us About Insurance

As unwelcome as it has been, the pandemic has been a great teacher. It’s revealed a lot about ourselves and the world we live in. Some lessons have been very difficult, while others have proven fruitful. We’ve all been impacted profoundly. Insurance is one area where your perceptions may have changed in light of recent…

Helping Employers Increase Participation in Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance Plans

Helping Employers Increase Participation in Voluntary Long-Term Disability Plans

Recently, I was on a call with a prospective client company’s human resource department along with representatives from a national employee benefits firm. The purpose of the call was a ‘finalist presentation’ for a voluntary Guaranteed Standard Issue (GSI) program for the executive class of employees. I provided the framework for an interesting ‘ask’ from…

The pandemic's affect on Social Security

COVID-19 and the Social Security Administration

Though COVID-19 threatens everyone, the elderly face the greatest peril, including – possibly –the United States Social Security Administration. SSA turned 85 years old in August 2020, and it is time to check in on how the pandemic is affecting the department.   Social Security administers retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance, survivor, Supplemental Security Income…

Your Benefits Enrollment Choices Can Strengthen Your Holistic Well-Being

Your Benefits Enrollment Choices Can Strengthen Your Holistic Well-Being

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact millions of employees across the United States, nearly half of workers say open enrollment is more important this year. In fact, 75 percent of employees indicate there are benefits they are more interested in this year than last year, according to MetLife’s 2020 open enrollment survey.   There…

Bipolar disorder and disability benefits claims

Bipolar Disorder and SSDI

Bipolar disorder – sometimes known as “manic depression” – is a disorder of the brain. People with this disorder will often experience extreme shifts in levels of activity, mood and energy. Such extremes are referred to as manic and depressive episodes. Out of all bipolar disorder cases, 83% are classified as severe. Most cases of…

Disability insurance is income protection

Three Lessons I Learned Through Postpartum Depression

By Diane Russell, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, Lincoln Financial Group If you have children, you know there’s no shortage of advice from family, friends and sometimes even strangers. Yet, mothers dealing with postpartum depression often feel like they have no one to talk to about what they’re going through. At least, that’s…

Man making pharmacy purchase using his HSA account

Open Enrollment: What Your Employees Should Know About HSAs

For most people, October means pumpkin spice lattes and candy. But for HR people, it means “open enrollment” season. As you put together your educational information to introduce your team to their different options, one you might pay particular attention to is the use of high-deductible health plans (HDHP), specifically the ability to pair them with…