Brauer Insurance Services, Individual Health Insurance, Family Health Insurance, San Jose

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

Individual Health Insurance and Family Health Insurance does NOT have to cost a fortune!  It really doesn’t.  There are many plans that are under $100 a month, if you are on the younger side.  Even someone in their 40′s can get a plan for just a bit over $100, if you have a good agent.  At Brauer Insurance Services, we sign up people daily that are completely confused with all the choices out there.  Even when you go to OUR website and input your data, about 50 plans come up.  If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you can get lost pretty easy.

At Brauer Insurance, our services are FREE.  We have NO fees, and you will pay the same price as “going direct” to the insurance company or E-Health or wherever.  People tell us that when they used E-Health or gone to the insurance company, they end up getting bounced around to different people and never feel like they “had their back”.  We’re a local company and know all of our clients.

Family Health Insurance can range anywhere from $200-$900 a month, depending on your age and what type of coverage you’re looking for.  Individual Health Insurance starts at $55 and goes up to about $400 if you want something super expensive.  With Individual Health Insurance, I usually advise people to go with a certain plan that is about $66-$150 again depending on your age.  The coverage is great and there are NO small print issues.

At Brauer Insurance, we SPECIALIZE in Individual Health Insurance and Family Health Insurance.  Many agencies OFFER it, as one of their lines of insurance.  That is ALL we do, Health Insurance for Families and Businesses.

Health Insurance is a “niche” product.  Meaning, there is a lot to it, in terms of knowledge and experience.  Most people find that agents that try to “do it all” when it comes to various types of insurance, never really become experts at any.  There is just too much to know about Life Insurance, Home, Auto, Health, Commercial, Fire, and the list goes on….When we go to seminars for Health Reform or Health Insurance, you can always spot the agents that “sell it all”.  They are just not in tune with the industry.  Farmers agents and Allstate agents are famous for that.  They try to do Health Insurance as a sideline…..it just doesn’t work out.

Like I said, the prices are the same, whether you hire an expert or a novice…something to consider.

Steve Brauer……President…..Brauer Insurance Services…..www.brauerinsurance.com…..(877) 421-4325

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Health Insurance, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, CA

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

Health Insurance does NOT have to cost a fortune!  It really doesn’t.  If you have an agent that knows what they’re doing, they should be able to find you a plan that would fit into your budget and NOT break the bank.  At Brauer Insurance, our services are FREE.  You will pay the same price with us, as you would going “direct” with the insurance company.  If you like calling 800 numbers and talking to someone that really doesn’t care about you or your family….I suggest signing up with the insurance company direct.  If not, let my daughters and I help you navigate the stupid crazy waters of the health insurance world.

Health Insurance is VERY confusing.  Plans that LOOK good, most times have issues that are hidden within the plan.  Case in point: the Anthem PPO Smart Sense plans.  They’re good plans, but when you look at the OOP (out of pocket maximum for the year), it appears to be a reasonable amount.  When you read the fine print……its actually that amount PLUS the deductible, which is considerably more than it appears.  That’s where having an agent that is on top of their game is worth a fortune.

Many agencies OFFER Health Insurance and Employee Benefits…we SPECIALIZE in it!  Being a retired Police Sergeant from a Bay Area agency, I’m skeptical of most things, so I understand that people are suspicious.  Especially of insurance people.  That’s why a lot of people prefer to have an Independent Broker working for them.  At Brauer Insurance, we can be totally unbiased, in terms of the pros and cons for each plan.  We’re Independent and work for our clients.

Health Insurance is a big purchase, and not something that you have to shop for very often.  Check us out on Google, or Yelp, you’ll see a bunch of satisfied clients and employer groups.  Like I said earlier…..many agents and brokers OFFER health insurance, we SPECIALIZE in it.  Its all we do!  We know the ins and outs of all the plans out there.  You can find us at www.brauerinsurance.com or www.911steve.com

Even if you have a plan currently, or don’t sign up with us, and you have questions….call us, we can help you.  If I can’t, I know where to send you!

Steve Brauer-President…..Brauer Insurance Services LLC…(408) 421-5555….3150 Almaden Expwy, Suite 203, San Jose, CA 95118

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Health Insurance for families, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, CA

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

If you are in the market for purchasing Health Insurance for yourself or your family, there are a ton of options available.  Most of the plans have a somewhat higher deductible, but offer really comprehensive coverage.  The only downside to these plans are that you have to qualify for them….meaning you can’t have any pre-existing conditions or taking any expensive medication.  That will hopefully change in 2014, but for right now, that’s the world we live in.

At Brauer Insurance Services…..Health Insurance is what we do, it’s ALL we do.  Many brokers and agencies OFFER Health Insurance, we SPECIALIZE in it!!  The prices for Health Insurance for Families and Individuals are set by the State, so going “direct” to the carrier will not save money.  In fact, the broker’s commission is embedded in the price of the plans, if you go direct or don’t use a broker, the insurance company keeps the commission….and you get to talk with an 800 operator every time you have a question or issue.

Brauer Insurance Services LLC is an Independent, NO fee, family owned agency.  Because we ONLY do Health Insurance for Families and Businesses, we are the experts!!  This industry is just too complicated for brokers to be able to sell ALL kinds of insurance and become an expert.  I learned long ago, you can’t be an expert at everything!!  I would rather be an expert at one thing than just be OK at many things.

Let my daughters and I find the best plan for you and your family.  Honestly, there are only about 10 plans that most people find that fits their needs, out of the hundred out there.  The most popular plan is probably either the Blue Shield HSA 3500 or the Anthem Blue Cross Smart Sense plan.  Both of them are comprehensive and not very expensive.  They are all age-rated, meaning that the 20 somethings are cheap and the 50 somethings, like me, are more expensive.

Check out our website at www.brauerinsurance.com, or email me at steve@brauerinsurance.com.  I will email you the plans and you can decide for yourself.

Steve Brauer….President….Brauer Insurance Services LLC…..(877) 421-4325…3150 Almaden Expwy, Suite 203, San Jose, CA 95118

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Medicare Supplements, San Jose, Santa Clara, Los Gatos, CA

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

If you are close to age 65 and are going to be looking for a Medicare Supplement plan, we are the agency to help you.  I’m sure you’ve been bombarded with mailers, calls and agents trying to sign you up.  At Brauer Insurance we can cut through all the BS and show you exactly the most comprehensive way to move into Medicare with a Supplement plan attached.

At Brauer Insurance, we can help you with every aspect of Medicare, signing up, requirements, everything that is attached to it.  Being a retired Police Sergeant, I know that there are many agents and brokers out there that are hunting for business, its hard to know who to trust!  If you are looking for the right plan at the right price, we are the brokers to help.

Medicare can be very confusing, we have all the contacts to make sure that you’re taken care of.  Usually people that are signing up for Medicare Supplements in San Jose, Campbell, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, prefer the Plan F.  Plan F is the most comprehensive and affordable plan out there.  The price is $119 a month, but that is without the prescription drug plan.  The price is set, whether you use a broker or not, going “direct” to the insurance company will not save you any money.  You just need to find a broker that you trust….that broker will be in charge of your health, so choose wisely!

Medicare Supplements are all the same when it comes to the letter, meaning Plan F with Blue Cross or Blue Shield is the same plan.  You basically have to decide which insurance company you want to go with.  I prefer Blue Shield, mostly because Shield is a not for profit company, AND I have some fantastic connections within Blue Shield to make sure that any issues that arise are handled very swiftly.

Call us if you would like some advice.  I would be happy to help you.

Steve Brauer…..President….Brauer Insurance Services LLC…..(877) 421-4325, 3150 Almaden Expwy, Suite 203, San Jose, CA 95118

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Employee Benefits, Affordable Benefits, Benefit Strategies, San Jose, CA

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

Employers that are tired of the double digit percentage increases for their Health Insurance and Employee Benefits, need to find a broker that has a strategy.  A strategy that will allow the employer to not only save money, but be able to forecast their benefits budget on THEIR terms, and have more control of their Benefit Investments.

Employee Benefit Strategies is what we specialize in.  I’ve built our business on finding employers that had brokers that only showed up at renewal and did NOT provide a solution to the rising cost of Employee Benefits and Health Insurance.  Why?…..because I end up taking it away from them.  When you have a broker that only helps you complain about the constant price increases and does nothing about it, they end up losing their account.  Strategy is the name of the game, and if you have a workable solution….you are worth GOLD!!  Employee Benefits are only going to increase in price….they’re NOT going to go down!

At Brauer Insurance, our strategy is fairly simple, and any business can use it.  Small, medium or large companies are wildly successful with it.  The biggest compliment I’ve ever received in my insurance life, came from a CEO of a larger company that I was giving a presentation.  About halfway into explaining my “strategy”, the CEO and the HR Director looked rather bored.  You could almost hear him thinking, “oh man….another Employee Benefit presentation”.  Then suddenly the “light” went on with the CEO.  You could see it in his face….he understood what I was saying and explaining.  He turned to his HR Director and said “why hasn’t OUR broker showed us this?”  The HR Director looked a bit befuddled and really didn’t have an answer for him.  When the CEO looked at me, I calmly said, “you should probably ask him” (referring to the other broker.)

One week later, I took over the account.  Why?, because the other broker was used to BUSINESS AS USUAL!

At Brauer Insurance, we help businesses strategize the “financing” of their employees healthcare.  Affordable benefits are out there…..you just need to know where to look!!

Steve Brauer….President….Brauer Insurance Services LLC…..(877) 421-4325

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Employee Benefit Strategies, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, CA

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

If you are looking for a more progressive way to approach Employee Benefits at your company, we may have the answer.  Business Health Insurance can be very affordable and can help you attract and retain good employees.  Employee benefits can be expensive if you don’t have a strategy.  At Brauer Insurance, we have a way for you to optimize the money you spend on Health Insurance.  It involves helping you “insure” your deductible.  It’s a very forward thinking, progressive way to administer benefits.

San Jose Employee Benefits, Sunnyvale Employee Benefits and Santa Clara Employee Benefits can have a workable strategy to mitigate much of the cost.  Most employers don’t know that there IS another way to obtain good, comprehensive Employee Benefits for their employees.  At Brauer Insurance we are experts at Employee Benefits and Health Insurance…..its ALL we do.  When I started our family business back in 2003, I decided to focus on one area of insurance.  I just figured, you can’t be an expert at everything, so why try to do it all!!

At Brauer Insurance, we are top producers for many of the insurance carriers in the industry.  We are, because we help a lot of companies with their Employee Benefits.  I’ve had more than one HR Director or CFO look at me during a presentation and ask “why hasn’t OUR broker showed us this type of strategy?”.  My response: “I don’t know, you’ll have to ask them!”  Much of our business we have, came from companies that had brokers that didn’t know what they were doing, or did not have an Employee Benefit Strategy to offer their customers.  Simply showing them plans and commiserating about the high prices, don’t cut it anymore.  Business owners and employers demand more…..and they should.  We make a good commission, we need to earn it!!

Brauer Insurance also had many FREE added value services that most agencies do not offer.  Like I said, we make a good commission, there’s no reason we can’t give back!

Steve Brauer…..President……Brauer Insurance Services LLC…..(877) 421-5555…..3150 Almaden Expwy, Suite 203, San Jose, CA 95118

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Employee Benefit strategies, Business Health Insurance, San Jose, CA

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

There are ways that businesses can not only save a ton of money, but actually increase their Employee Benefits at the same time.  It takes some forward thinking and…..a strategy!  At Brauer Insurance we have a proven strategy that is guaranteed.  I have been in countless companies, speaking to CFOs, CEOs, and HR Managers showing them our system.  EVERY one of them tell me the same thing: “why hasn’t our current broker shown us this?”  My response, “maybe you should ask your broker”.

Business Health Insurance is expensive…no doubt about it.  But it does NOT have to cost a fortune, it really doesn’t.  If you look at Employee Benefits like an investment, you’ve taken on a different mindset.  Wouldn’t you have a “strategy” for your investments??  Why should this be any different?  Employee Benefit Strategies are out there, you just have to know where to look.  Enter Brauer Insurance.  We can typically save companies between 15%-55%, and in most cases increase your Employee Benefits!!

Business Health Insurance can be Kaiser, Anthem Blue Cross, HealthNet, United, Cigna, Aetna, Blue Shield, etc.  Business Health Insurance can be a husband-wife home based business or a medium sized company with 100 employees.  Our Employee Benefit Strategy works with ALL companies.  The more employees you have, the more savings you have!  The Brauer Insurance Employee Benefit Strategy can be used with HMOs, PPOs or any type of plan you currently have.

Occasionally I see the smug, larger brokerages at some events gloating that they have some really big accounts and all the commission they collect.  It’s pretty funny when I end up taking one of their companies away from them when I show the management our strategy.  Hey, if they want to keep doing business as usual……they better move over!

I don’t blame you for being skeptical.  After 28 years of police work, I’m pretty skeptical too.  My philosophy is simple.  Give me 30 minutes and I will give you examples and plenty of testimonials.  If it’s not a “fit” for your business, that’s OK, really!  I won’t bug you or try to “close” you or do something most sleazy sales guys would do.  I probably hate them more than you!!

Steve Brauer….President-Founder…..Brauer Insurance Services LLC….3150 Almaden Expwy, Suite 203, San Jose, CA 95118…(877) 421-4325

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Affordable Employee Benefits, Affordable Group Benefits, California, San Jose

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

There is a good chance you are overinsuring your employees, especially if you have a portfolio of expensive plans WITHOUT a strategy attached.  Every company can have affordable group benefits if they have a broker that is a “specialist” in Employee Benefits.  To have a strategy takes work….hopefully work on your broker’s part, NOT yours.  Hey, they get a commission each month, anywhere from 5-7% of every dollar you spend!  Did you know that?  Is your broker working for their money??  Probably not!

Each year at the Employee Benefit renewal, most brokers will advise their clients to either switch to a different plan to keep pace with the cost increase, or have the employees pick up a larger share of the cost.  I say SHAME on them!!  There is a better way.  Affordable Employee Benefits can be had.  At Brauer Insurance, we believe that having a calculated strategy can make all the difference in the world.  We believe that brokers should be in the business of helping their employer groups finance their employee’s healthcare, much the same way other “investments” are handled.

Our strategy is very easy, works with any major medical plan like Kaiser, UnitedHealthcare, HealthNet, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, etc, and typically saves companies anywhere from 15%-50%.  The richer the plan you have now, the better it works.

When I started our business in 2003, I decided that I wanted to set myself apart from other brokers and do one thing really good.  I chose Employee Benefits and Health Insurance.  I could have sold many different types of insurance with my license, but I figured I would never master any one type, trying to do them all.  I am an expert in Affordable Employee Benefits and Affordable Group Benefits.  We are an Independent, NO fee, family owned agency helping small, medium and large companies all over California to find Affordable Employee Benefits and Affordable Group Benefits.

I would be skeptical too….28 years of police work made me a skeptic as well.  My philosophy is simple; when I do a presentation, our strategy is either a “fit” or it isn’t.  If it’s not, no big deal….seriously!  I can show you examples of success stories, and testimonials. You make up your own mind.

Steve Brauer…..Brauer Insurance Services LLC…..(877) 421-4325……3150 Almaden Expwy, suite 203, San Jose, CA 95118

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Employer Health Insurance, Employee Benefit Program, Group Benefits, CA

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

Employer Health Insurance and funding an Employee Benefit Program does NOT have to cost the company a fortune!  With the Brauer Insurance “strategy” companies have been wildly successful with implementing benefit programs for much less than was expected.  If you have an Employee Benefit Program in place now and you think you’re paying too much, you have to ask yourself, “what is my broker doing to help me save money, what is their strategy.”  If the answer is that the broker suggests that you go to a cheaper plan, or pass the cost increase on to your employees…..it may be time to look for a new broker.  A broker that has a plan.  A strategic plan.  At Brauer Insurance we can show you a very creative way to put YOU in the drivers seat, in terms of controlling costs and increasing benefits for your people.

I’m sure you’re skeptical, I would be too.  Being a cop for 25 years made me skeptical of most things…..including sales people.  So, now that I’M a sales person, I understand the distrust.  But I will promise you, neither myself or my daughters (both agents), will try and trick you, sell you something you don’t want, or be sleazy in any way.  What we do is a simple strategy that we’ve designed to help any size business fight the high cost of major medical plans, like Kaiser, Anthem Blue Cross, HealthNet, United, Aetna, Blue Shield, etc.

Employer Health Insurance and Employee Benefit Programs are usually ridiculously expensive, and that’s how we’ve built our business.  Showing companies a more progressive way to administer excellent and comprehensive Employer Health Insurance or Employee Benefits is what we do.  Time and time again, I’ve done presentations in front of CEOs, CFOs, and HR professionals that are skeptical.  They have been programmed to doing Employee Benefits a certain way, so it took some time to “absorb” the concept of what we do.  Once they do, and the light bulb goes on, they become instant Brauer Insurance fans.

I can show you examples, and give you testimonials of satisfied Employer Groups we stole from other brokers that are doing “business as usual”.

Brauer Insurance Services LLC…….Steve Brauer……….President-Founder….(877) 421-4325.  3150 Almaden Expwy, suite 203, San Jose, Ca 95118

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Employee/Group Benefits, Group Insurance, San Jose, Bay Area

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Brauer Insurance

If your broker suggests that you accept the Health Insurance increase OR pass the increase on to your employees….THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB!….Employee/Group Benefits do NOT have to cost you a fortune.  If you do not have a “strategy” in place to reduce your costs and increase benefits, you need to call us!

At Brauer Insurance Services, we are a NO FEE, Independent, family owned, Employee Benefits agency.  We are experts at Health Insurance and all the related benefits associated with comprehensive packages.  We believe in strategizing your Employee Benefits and Group Benefits to maximize your investment.  Our philosophy is to help companies “finance” their healthcare.  If you view it as an investment, it takes on a whole new look.  With your finances, you have financial planning……the same should be true of your benefits investment.

Employee Benefits/Group Benefits do NOT have to cost a fortune.  They really don’t!  Yes, they are expensive, there’s not getting around that, but you don’t have to ride the premium increases year after year.  You do have some control of your company’s investment money in terms of what you spend on Group Benefits.  Our employer groups have been wildly successful with our strategy and have told us “why haven’t the other guys told us about this” (referring to the larger big broker houses).  My response is….”I don’t know, you’d have to ask them!

The Brauer Insurance strategy typically saves companies between 15%-50% from their Employee Benefits/Group Benefits bill.  We do all this AND we usually increase the benefits at the same time.  Our presentation is about 30 minutes and may open your eyes to come progressive ways to mitigate the high cost of Group Benefits.

I’m a former Police Sergeant in the Bay Area.  So, by nature, I’m skeptical.  I’m sure you are too, and I don’t blame you.  I hate smarmy sales people with their big phoney smiles, white belts and shoes and fast talk.  I’m just a guy that started a second career about 8 years ago, brought my daughters into the business and have not looked back!  If our strategy is not a fit, no big deal!  Its probably not for everyone.  But it may be worth a look!

So what I’m saying is that if your agent or broker just commisserates with you about how high the prices of Employee Benefits and Group Insurance are and they are not doing anything about it…..fire them!  There IS a better way to do it.

Steve Brauer…..President-Founder….Brauer Insurance Services LLC…..(877) 421-4325….3150 Almaden Expwy, Suite 203, San Jose, CA 95118

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