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Final expense life insurance

Because the costs for funerals can add to the stress of losing a loved one, Final Expense life insurance may be a good choice to provide financial relief for your client’s family. Crowe and Associates offers agents contracts with several of the top final expense carriers who offer level, graded and guaranteed issue types of plans.

Final expense carriers

Crowe is contracted with top Final Expense carriers in all 50 states.  A few of the carriers we offer are: AIG, Foresters, Mutual of Omaha, TransAmerica, Cigna, Baltimore Life, Columbian Life, Royal Neighbors, and Gerber.  We offer agents the best rates for all types of FE plans.  Plan types include, single pay, level and graded as well as guaranteed issue.

Free quote site

Crowe agents have access to a free web-based quote site.  This site can quickly quote and compare final expense plans.  Just add in some basic information (state, age and desired benefit amount) and see plan costs and benefits side by side.  Additional information: our quote site is powered by FEX Quotes.

Watch a quick YouTube video on how to quote Final Expense and Medicare Supplements

Quote all carriers in one place

We give our agents access to a quote site that quotes all final expense plans we offer at no cost.  This includes immediate death benefit plans, graded plans and guaranteed issue plans.

Choose the carriers you want to start with

It is usually a good idea to start with a few carriers. The cost of a policy is a good place to begin, however, many plans ask beneficiaries underwriting questions. It is important to consider your client’s health and their ability to pass underwriting.  You may want to contract with a well-priced immediate death benefit carrier and a couple well priced GI issue companies.

Take a look at our product guide to see which companies you may want to start with.  The product highlight sheet provides plan benefits for several companies that include; maximum face value, commissions and underwriting.

Click here to view our FE highlight sheet. 

Contracting

Because many carriers are “same time contracting” you don’t have to wait for your contracting to be processed before you write a policy. Once you submit your first application, the carrier processes your contract.

Click here to join the team at Crowe.

Crowe agents who want to add Final Expense carrier to your existing contracts – click here.

Commissions

Many of the carriers we contract with offer starting commissions of 115%.  Some carriers offer advance commission payouts for agents with good credit.  All our agents receive both new and renewal commission payments directly from the carrier.  In other words, our agents own their own book of business.  Agents have access to all carrier incentive programs.

Contact our office for a username and password to start quoting today.

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Medicare sales and cross selling

If you are selling Medicare, you should think about how to meet all the coverage needs of your clients. That is why Medicare sales and cross selling go hand in hand.  Before you try and do this, be sure you have the necessary product knowledge on anything you intend to offer.

A great way to get insight into your client’s potential needs is with a client needs assessment.  Each agent should tailor the assessment to include the applicable product lines they are licensed to sell and have a good knowledge of.

If your client understands that you are able to offer them coverage for all their personal insurance needs, they will be inclined to call you when they decide to add to their current coverage.  It is best to take care of their most urgent concerns before talking about additional items.

Watch our quick YouTube video on cross selling during AEP

Medicare sales cross selling – be aware of underlying health issues

If you conduct a needs assessment or spend enough time speaking with your client, you will probably find out if your client has any illnesses that will prevent them for obtaining some types of coverage that they will not qualify for.  If you ask about any recent claims they have had, this may be an indicator if they are a good candidate for some types of coverage.

Some other things to find out from your client

Is the client or their spouse presently working?  If the answer is yes, do they have any employer benefits and if so, what are they?

Have they ever served in the military (are they a veteran)?  Sometimes veterans receive benefits.  You need to find out if they do and what those are.

Medicare sales cross selling – Cancer, Heart attack and Stroke coverage

Because many people have a family history of either cancer, heart attack or stroke, this product is not difficult to sell. This product is sometimes called critical illness insurance.  Be sure you understand the client’s budget before you show them quotes from companies that will fill their coverage need.

Cross selling – Long Term Care Insurance

Most people do not have long term care coverage. Although LTC has changed over the years, there are still some good coverage options available.  There are some short-term care policy options that include home health coverage.  There are also some life policies that include an optional LTC rider.  You can ask your client if anyone in the family has needed home health or nursing home care. If they have, ask them if they know how it was paid for. Do they have a way to pay for it if they need it?

Cross selling – Life Insurance

Life insurance is not like LTC coverage because many clients have at least some life insurance coverage.  If you want to start a discussion about life insurance, you need to find out if the client already has coverage and if so, how much.  Once you get the answer, you can ask questions to determine if they have enough to cover what they need it for.

Here are some reasons people purchase life insurance:

To replace income lost due to the death of a family’s financial provider.

If they want to cover their final expenses.  If they have a policy in place, it may not be enough to cover their final expenses.  This means they may want to consider purchasing a policy that provides a bigger benefit amount.

Policies can help pay any outstanding debts owed by the policy holder.

In some cases, the policy holder wants to leave a financial gift to their chosen beneficiary.

If they do not have a policy, you may be able to help them decide if a policy could benefit their loved ones.

Cross selling – Final Expense

Final expense insurance is a kind of life insurance.  If the client does not have life insurance in place, this type of policy can help family members pay for their final expenses and avoid leaving them with a large bill after you are gone.

Cross selling – Annuities

These days many people want a safe place to invest their savings due to low interest rates at banks and stock market volatility. Simply ask your client if they are happy with their current rate of return on investments. Let them know a fixed indexed annuity can provide a dependable place to invest savings and a better return rate than many CDs.  In many cases, you can offer them an annuity product that will provide a better return that what they currently have.

Now that we have given you a few products to consider adding to your portfolio, it is up to you to decide what will be the best value add.

Click here to contract with Crowe or add carriers to your current contract

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How to Get Life Insurance with Pre-existing Conditions

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths about life insurance, even among people who are otherwise informed about the insurance industry. One of these recurring myths is that people with health issues or pre-existing conditions cannot get life insurance policies because of those conditions. This is not the case. While having a pre-existing condition does make it often more difficult and more expensive to get life insurance, there are policies out there designed to cover people with this experience. There are several factors to consider:

Which Pre-existing Conditions Matter for Life Insurance?

How much a pre-existing condition will affect the price or availability of the life insurance policies depends on several factors. One of those factors is severity. If a person is otherwise healthy, they will likely have multiple options to choose from at more competitive prices. If the pre-existing condition significantly impacts their daily function, however, they may have fewer policies to choose from and the prices will likely be higher. Term life insurance policies may not be an option for those dealing with more severe conditions. The following conditions have a high impact on insurance premiums:

• Cancer

• Diabetes

• Epilepsy

• Heart disease

• HIV

• Obesity

• Smoking or tobacco use

The following pre-existing conditions have a low impact on premiums:

• Anxiety

• Asthma

• Depression

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Sleep apnea

How to Shop for Policies

There are several things people with pre-existing conditions can do to make their policy options greater. One of those is to manage their health condition. Any documentation of effective treatment could help them secure a lower premium on a life insurance policy. Additionally, working with a broker or insurance agent can be helpful, as they know the ins and outs of the industry and can work on finding a policy for the client’s unique needs. Lastly, buying life insurance sooner rather than later can be vital. As people age, and as their health worsens, premiums go up significantly, even for people without pre-existing conditions. There are many options out there, and one need only look in the right places.

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Comparing Life Insurance Products

One of the most common issues that faces people as they age is this question: how can I provide for them after I am gone? The answer for many has historically been by purchasing a life insurance policy.   For many beneficiaries as they age, they take comfort in the knowledge that their families will receive a sum of money to cover things like funeral costs, any outstanding debts, and even life essentials like groceries while they are mourning. Agents need to be well versed in all the different options for life insurance in order to present their clients with a cohesive picture of their options.

Much of the time, people think of life insurance as two-fold: people are either able to purchase term life insurance or whole life (permanent) insurance. However, there are three different options for the type of policy that is available. The following presents a comparison of these three types: fully underwritten, simplified, and guaranteed issue life insurance policies. Each one has their benefits and drawbacks.

What are the Three Types?

Fully Underwritten – Comparing Life Insurance Products

Fully underwritten policies are typically for term life insurance, meaning that coverage is for a certain time frame, such as ten years, and then the beneficiary has to reinstate the coverage when that time is up. This is a policy in which the beneficiary’s medical history is completely disclosed, and most often requires a visit from a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional in order to have the application accepted. The approval process for fully underwritten policies is the longest; it can take up to several weeks to get approved. However, there is no specified maximum coverage amount. These policies are recommended for individuals in good health.   They have no complex medical history.

Simplified Issue – Comparing Life Insurance Products

Simplified issue policies are also typically for term life insurance. The largest difference in the application process between simplified issue and fully underwritten is that the simplified issue application has far less medical history disclosure required. There is no visit or exam necessary by the medical professional, and, as a result, the premiums are often higher than fully underwritten policies. Approval of applications is quicker because of this, as well, with approvals in several hours to several days. The maximum amount of coverage differs by carrier, but is typically up to a million dollars in coverage.

Guaranteed Issue – Comparing Life Insurance Products

Guaranteed issue life insurance policies are for whole life, or permanent, policies. These are the most expensive premiums by far.  No medical questions.   (Hence the “guaranteed” part.) Approvals can come within a few hours. Because of the guaranteed aspect of the policy, the coverage is usually limited to between $25,000 and $50,000 per policy. These policies work best for people with a complex medical history.  These individuals may not receive coverage otherwise.

Knowing the basics of which situations require which policies can help agents successfully enroll more clients and maintain more working relationships.

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Comparing Life Insurance Products isn’t all we offer.

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Myths About Life Insurance

Life insurance is one of the most misunderstood types of insurance policy.  Misconceptions and partial truths circulate in the public imagination. Here are the top five myths about life insurance, and the real information:

It is Expensive

Many people are surprised by how affordable term life insurance can be. Price policies vary from person to person, which is why people are encouraged to shop around when they apply. Different companies may offer different costs for a plan. But, the average yearly cost of a $500,000 policy (20 year term) for a 30 year old female is $252 a year. That calculates out to less than $25 a month.

Only the Elderly and Parents Need Life Insurance

Another common misconception: the beneficiary of a life insurance policy does not have to be a child. Parents are not the only people who need life insurance.   Partners can be beneficiaries, as well as anyone else who depends on the policyholder. And, the sooner one applies for a policy, the cheaper the policy is likely to be. The one factor that determines how much the policyholder pays is their health; health is likely to decrease as a person ages.

It’s Difficult to Apply for Term Life Insurance

Like many other things, the internet has changed how people apply for term life insurance. In the past, people may have needed to see a doctor in person to qualify for term life insurance policies. With the rise in telehealth accessibility, the vast majority of companies have ways of applying for policies over the phone or online.

My Employer Offers Me Enough

For those people who have access to a life insurance policy through their work, the coverage is still likely to not be enough for their family. The median workplace life insurance policy is approximately one year’s salary. It is best to consider workplace life insurance a supplement to a life insurance policy rather than the entirety of the coverage. Online tools exist to calculate how much coverage your family may need, but one guideline is to aim for five to ten times the policyholder’s annual salary.

I Only Need Life Insurance If I’m Working

Even if a policyholder isn’t employed outside the home, the value of the labor they provide in the home is enough reason to consider a life insurance policy. Despite life insurance typically being thought of as a replacement for lost income, it can be vital to pay for childcare or housework, especially if the policyholder is the one performing those tasks now. Plan coverage with all of the family’s contributions in mind, not just working benefits.

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Vantis Life offers a 100% guaranteed issue life insurance policy called Guaranteed Golden.  The GG product is the lowest cost guaranteed issue plan available for brokers to sell.  Rates and applications are available in this post. The Guaranteed Golden Product offers the following features

• 100% Guaranteed Issue (No questions)
• Cash value build up
• permanent policy- rates never change
• Face amounts of $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000
• Ages 50 to 80
• Incredible rates!

Some applications are included in the links below but you can call or email us if you need an application for any state.   Office number 203-796-5403 or email: pena1976@att.net

Vantis Rate Sheet 2014

Vantis GG premium form NY

Vantis GG premium form

VAntis GG app NY with replacement form

Vantis GG application FL

Vantis Application other states

Vantis Replacement Form

Please note that the application for NY and FL is different than the one used for other states.  All three are available here.    Applications may be faxed or emailed to Crowe and Associates.  Fax number is 203-567-6235 or email at Edward@Croweandassociates.com

Are you an agent or broker looking to get appointed?   If so  CLICK HERE

Vantis Guaranteed Golden offers a 100% guaranteed issue life insurance plan with the lowest rates in the country.  The plan does not have health questions and does not have a phone verification call.  The offering is 100% guaranteed issue regardless of any and all health conditions.  

Face amounts of $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000 for people ages 50 to 80 are available in nearly every state.  The plan is also available in tough states such as NY and NJ.  This plan has lower rates than the mail in only plans you see on TV.

Crowe & Associates offers individual and Agency contracts.  We can create a hierarchy for agencies and down line agents as well.

For more information, contact Edward Crowe:   email Edward@croweandassociates.com  or phone 203-796-5403

Vantis Life has the best guaranteed issue product on the market today called Guaranteed Golden. The rates are incredible for a guaranteed issue plan, there are no health question and the policy will build a cash value.  This plan is the perfect final expense plan and is even approved in states like NY and WA.  Writing a Guaranteed Golden is low hassle because the application is only 2 pages.

Crowe and Associates offers both individual and agency contracts with a hierarchy for down lines. This contract is ideal for Medicare and final expense brokers as it can be written for clients from age 50 to 80.

Brokers that want to sell Vantis Life Guaranteed Golden, can call Ed at Crowe & Associates at 203-796-5403 or email at Edward@Croweandassociates.com

There are hundreds of life insurance products out on the market for brokers and agents to sell.  This post will provide a high level list of the best plans in each category: Term, UL, IUL (Med Exam Required), Term, UL, IUL (No Med Exam), Guaranteed issue Life and Final Expense (simplified issue). Read more

There have not been many options for brokers or agents looking to offer affordable guaranteed issue life insurance plans to their clients.   Now they have the ability to offer the lowest cost guaranteed issue plan available through Vantis Life. 

Vantis offers a true guaranteed issue plan without health questions or a phone interview.  Rates are simply the best available in this class of plan with a better price point than major competitors such as AARP/NY Life, Gerber, Mutual of Omaha, and others.

The plan is available in most states including NY.  Face amounts run from $5,000 to $20,000  for people ages 50 to 80 in most states. Individual producers may can fill out the attached contract to be appointed. Agencies may establish a higherarchy with sub agents assigned to them.  Agency contracts have been attached as well.  Both agencies and individual agents must complete and submit a background form which is attached.

Completed contracts may be faxed to (203) 567-6235 or emailed to Edward Crowe at Edward@croweandassociates.com

Vantis Rates

Vantis Background Check Mandatory all contracts

 Vantis Agency Contract NY

Vantis Agency Contract All Other States

Vantis Individual Broker Contract All States