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stockfresh_2753643_medical-and-gavel_sizeS-300x300When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness, their loved ones are often left to make difficult decisions about their care. A living will provides guidance for these decisions and helps to ensure that medical treatment preferences are carried out. The living will allows families to make it through challenging and stressful times.

 

What It is and What It Does

 

A living will is a pre-paid legal services benefit many group legal plans offer. It is also known as an advance directive, and it specifies a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment if a person cannot communicate them to a healthcare provider because of an accident or terminal illness. Continue reading

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stockfresh_636353_stethoscope-laying-on-stacks-of-money_sizeS-300x200When faced with a large medical bill, the first instinct may be just to pay it. But if you are like most people, you cannot afford to pay for healthcare out of pocket. That is where medical bill negotiation comes in. By negotiating your medical bills, you can reduce the amount that you owe. Here are some tips on how to negotiate those medical bills.

 

1. Know What You Owe

 

The first step in negotiating your medical bills is to know what you owe. This may seem like a daunting task, but it is essential to have a clear understanding of the charges you are facing. Next, you can request a detailed bill from your provider, which will list all of the services you received and the associated costs. Once you have this information, you can begin to negotiate. Continue reading

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stockfresh_7251761_consultant-showing-document-to-couple_sizeS-300x200Employers should encourage employees to have their legal documents reviewed by an attorney. This is a cost-effective way to ensure that employees know their rights and responsibilities. The documents most commonly examined are wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies. Having these essential documents in proper order can help reduce stress for the employees and their families in the event of an unexpected death or illness.

 

1. The Importance of Reviewing Legal Documents

 

It is vital to review legal documents carefully before signing them. This is because once a document is signed, it becomes a binding contract. This means that both parties are legally obligated to uphold their respective obligations under the contract. If either party fails to do so, the other party may sue them. Continue reading

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stockfresh_479551_house-in-hand_sizeS-300x200If you are a first-time house buyer, congratulations! Buying a house is one of the biggest—and most exciting—milestones you will ever reach. That said, it is not without its challenges. A lot can go wrong, from producing a down payment to dealing with unexpected repairs. These issues might affect your financial wellness. There are four common problems first-time house buyers face.

 

1. Coming Up with a Down Payment

 

One of the first-time buyers’ biggest obstacles is producing a down payment. The standard down payment can be as much as 20% of the purchase price, which can be difficult—or even impossible—to scrape together, especially if you are already saddled with student loans or other debts. In addition, paying such a hefty sum will impact your financial wellness. Continue reading

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stockfresh_1262970_doctor-holding-stethoscope-to-piggy-bank_sizeS-300x200According to a recent study, nearly 60% of Americans have struggled to pay medical bills in the past year. With the inflated cost of healthcare, it’s no wonder so many people are struggling to keep up with their medical expenses. If you are one of the millions of Americans who are struggling to pay your medical bills, do not worry—you are not alone. Here are some tips on how to manage your medical expenses on a budget. Continue reading

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stockfresh_1627257_estate-planning-word-cloud-concept_sizeS-300x300Inheriting a loved one’s estate can be a complex and emotional process, made even more complicated when the deceased does not have a will. This situation is known as intestate succession, which can create challenges for the person overseeing the estate. If you find yourself in this position, you should know a few things.

  1. The State Decides.

The first thing to understand is that, without a will, the state in which the deceased lived will dictate how the estate is divided. This can often lead to situations where the deceased’s wishes are not honored and loved ones may end up with nothing or less than they expected.

  1. Multiple Heirs Create Multiple Headaches.

Continue reading

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sad-dollar-300x129In today’s world, protecting your financial wellness is more important than ever. Financial health means being in control of your money and having the ability to meet your goals. You can do many things to protect yourself from sudden emergencies.

Some Ways to Do It

  1. Review your expenses and make changes where necessary:
  2. Make a budget and stick to it.
  3. Invest in yourself by taking courses and learning about financial planning.
  4. Stay disciplined with your spending.
  5. Have an emergency fund to cover unexpected costs.

Continue reading

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stockfresh_3279849_costs-benefits_sizeS_e3a3fc-300x200Group legal plans offer a variety of services to clients and their employees. Sometimes, these benefits are helpful, but unfortunately, there are situations where the services come up short. The difficulty lies in needing more help. The secondary benefits inherent in a group legal plan add superior quality to good assistance. Such additional aid is not window dressing; it gives substance to the employee’s benefit.

 

Providing a Comprehensive Benefit Continue reading

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stockfresh_469655_road-to-recovery-words-on-pavement-up-arrow_sizeS-300x300The prospect of a bankruptcy filing can be a major shock to the system. People are justifiably worried because of the consequences to their financial wellness of having to go into bankruptcy. It is a sobering situation, but it does not mean you cannot survive.

An individual must be mature about the situation. However, there are some steps to take to successfully survive financially.

  1. Understand the process

The first step in surviving bankruptcy is to understand the process. Bankruptcy is a legal process that allows individuals or businesses to reorganize or liquidate their assets to repay their creditors. The bankruptcy process can be complex and confusing, so it is vital to seek out the advice of an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Continue reading

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background_service_warranty-300x215Warranties are intended to help consumers. These are agreements where repairs are covered for a certain amount of time. Warranties ordinarily cover big-ticket items such as washing machines. Automobile warranties are offered at the time of purchase, and a buyer is encouraged to consider purchasing one for their new car. These can cost thousands of dollars, and the buyer must be careful. A warranty is not always what it appears to be.

A warranty is ordinarily suggested at the end of the sales transaction. That person might be agreeing to an auto service contract without realizing it.

So, What is the Difference? Continue reading