January 23, 2008
There are a lot of pseudo health insurance companies out there selling fake plans to employers and individuals. The Wall Street Journal reports that some 200,000 businesses have been taken in by these kinds of rip-offs.
Small businesses crushed by high premiums are very susceptible to the lure of cheaper health care. But when somebody gets sick, the insurance card comes back as a fake and all the bills go unpaid. This has been happening in state after state.
Insurance is regulated by the states, not the feds, so the rip-off artists can just bounce around from state to state pulling their scams. What do you need to know to stay safe?
First off, be wary if you get a pitch for a great deal with drastically lower premiums. But don't let your skepticism stop there. Contact your state insurance department and ask if a prospective company is licensed to do business in your state. Make sure the name matches exactly because sometimes the rip-off artists will use a name that's very similar to that of a legitimate business.
Seniors also have to be especially careful of fake prescription plans. Once again, call your state insurance department to verify if a health insurance salesperson represents a legitimately licensed company. Preventative steps are the best medicine for your wallet.
January 11, 2008
Clark loves companies that put the focus on the customer. To name just a few, there's Costco, USAA, Amica Mutual and Southwest Airlines. It's as if these elite companies get up every morning and think, "How can we please our customers?"
Amazon.com is another company that also puts the customer first -- yet it has become the Rodney Dangerfield of Wall Street. Analysts have always taken issue with the company's offers of free shipping. But you have to create a level of trust with the customer and this is one way to do it.
Similarly, USAA and Amica don't earn trust with low premiums; they do it by really helping customers when they have claims.
As a counterpoint, Allstate suffers from low public opinion. This insurer spends a lot on imaging ads, but doesn't always deliver a good customer experience. Management is trying to turn that around, according to The Chicago Tribune.
Meanwhile, Amazon's management has been pleasing customers from the beginning. So it's no wonder their stock is up 140 percent over the last year; company size is up 35 percent; and revenues are at $15 billion year.
Companies know they should treat their customers well, but how many realize that the way to do it is by treating your employees like gold?
January 8, 2008
It's no secret that people are feeling squeezed and living on fumes during these slow economic times. This has been an ever-present issue among the presidential hopefuls.
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September 7, 2007
On his recent book tour, Clark met a gentleman who was about to become a refugee from corporate America because of downsizing.
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August 21, 2007
Many people want to do part-time work at home, especially when they have a newborn. But a lot of work-at-home offers are scams. One stat has it that for every legitimate offer you may see, you're going to come across 42 scams.
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