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Travel Insurance: Is It Worth the Cost?

Patti Dukes on March 4, 2022

Travel can be one of life’s greatest gifts. But how important is it to protect your journey with travel insurance?

Simply put, travel can pose financial risks that you may not be willing to take. Travel insurance can reimburse you for certain pre-paid, non-refundable expenses if the unexpected happens.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan may include coverage for trip cancellation, delays like those due to weather, medical emergencies and even natural disasters.

Beyond this standard package is Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. It costs more but can cover trip cancellation within two days of your departure, including due to COVID-19 illness.

Shop around

For standard travel insurance, expect to pay 4% to 10% of the overall cost of your trip. CFAR coverage costs about 40% more than standard insurance.

In 2021, the average cost of a plan was $297, or $357 for international travel, according to insurance comparison site Squaremouth. These numbers can be impacted by the length of your trip, your age, and the types of coverage you choose.

To find your best option, use online comparison tools to shop for quotes and read what each policy covers. You can buy from a travel insurance provider, through a travel agent, or from a travel reservation site when you book.

Before you buy

Before you decide to purchase travel insurance, check your existing options. For example, your homeowners or renters policy may cover your be- longings for loss or damage.

Check your health insurance plan too — if you’re traveling within the U.S., chances are it will cover any medical expenses you incur. But your existing health plan, including your Medicare coverage, won’t be valid if you become sick or injured in an international locale.

If you already have a life insurance policy, or an accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) policy, you may not need to purchase additional coverage for your trip. And some credit cards offer built-in travel insurance or rental car coverage.

Reviewing your current coverage limits and deductibles can help you decide if you need travel insurance.

Visit lgfcu.org/#creditunion for more good ways to manage your money.

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Enroll in E-Statements with SECU

Patti Dukes on March 4, 2022

Make the switch to go paperless and view your State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) account statements online with E-Statements.¹ It’s easy to sign up and can reduce the risk of identity theft from lost or stolen mail.

E-statements also help save the environment by reducing the amount of paper, ink, and other resources used to print paper statements. Quicker access to your statements and the option to download them for safekeeping are other great benefits. To view even more and learn how to enroll, visit www.ncsecu.org today!

¹To sign up for E-Statements, you must consent to the terms of SECU’s E-Sign Agreement prior to your enrollment in Member Access.

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What Your Ears May Be Saying About Your Heart

Patti Dukes on March 4, 2022

Could a hearing loss be trying to tell you something about your heart’s health? Listen carefully, because a growing body of evidence – based on six decades of research – points to a connection between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease.

In fact, several prominent experts call the ear a “window to the heart.”

“The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible any abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted here earlier than in other less sensitive parts of the body,” explains David Friedland, MD, Ph.D., of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Friedland has been studying the hearing-cardiovascular connection for years.

Conversely, a healthy cardiovascular system (heart, arteries and veins) may positively affect a person’s hearing.

Another study, involving nearly 5,000 Icelandic citizens, indicate that a hearing impairment and dual sensory impairment (involving both vision and hearing) in older men are associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease and other causes. Researchers also observed that men and women who used hearing aids had significantly lower mortality risk compared with hearing-impaired individuals who did not use hearing aids.

Find out what your ears may be saying, simply call 877-806-7054 to request an appointment for a professional hearing exam with an Amplifon Hearing Health Care provider at a clinic near you. Our Patient Care Advocates will answer your questions and guide you through the entire process.

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Humana Neighborhood Centers Welcome NC State Health Plan Members

Patti Dukes on March 2, 2022

Humana Neighborhood Centers, both in-person and online via the Virtual Neighborhood Center, offer special events, programs and activities designed to educate on physical and mental health. Many services can be used by anyone, including those who are not Humana members, at no cost. Each location offers a unique calendar of in-person or virtual events, programs and activities.

In-person locations are operating with limited capacity and by appointment to ensure the safety of visitors. Humana’s Virtual Neighborhood Center offers daily online classes on learning to manage health conditions, cooking healthy meals and learning to improve mental and physical health at home.

There are five Neighborhood Centers in North Carolina: Asheville, Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. The centers offer classes and events and customer care specialists are onsite to answer plan benefit questions. Licensed Humana sales agents are available to help eligible non-members choose and enroll in Humana plans. Beginning in May, Humana Neighborhood Centers will host North Carolina State Health Plan (NCSHP) educational events at all five centers each month in 2022.

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