Health Insurance Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos, CA

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

Health Insurance does NOT have to cost you a fortune!  It really doesn’t.  There are many plans out today that are not only affordable but comprehensive.  If you are a business owner, the choices are even more broad, and we have money saving strategies that will probably increase your benefit design as well!

At Brauer Insurance, we are experts at Health Insurance and Employee Benefits in Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos and San Jose.  We have clients all over the Bay Area.  We are a NO fee, family owned, Independent agency specializing in Health Insurance for Families and Businesses.  We help companies reduce their Health Insurance costs with a unique strategy that I guarantee your current broker is NOT doing.  I promise you I can save you some money, without compromising your benefits.

At Brauer Insurance Services, we have developed a strategy that will help you “insure” your deductible.  Your employees benefit and you, Mr. Employer, pay less premium each month!

The old adage of “jack of all trades, master of none” is VERY true.  Many agencies offer Health Insurance and Employee Benefits, we specialize in it!  Health Insurance is a very niche market for insurance agents.  If a broker is trying to do Health Insurance and a bunch of other types of insurance they will never become an expert…..there is just too much to absorb and keep current with, to be an expert at everything!

For anything other than Health Insurance, we have referral partners that we trust sending clients to.  They in turn send up their Health Insurance clients because they know that we are the experts in the field.  We’ve built our business on this concept.

When I got into the industry about 10 years ago, I wanted to do one thing really good.  I picked Health Insurance and Employee Benefits.  I promise you my daughters and I will take care of you and treat you like family……family you like, that is!  We are truly a family owned and operated business.  I’m a retired Police Sergeant from Santa Clara who started a second career.

Steve Brauer-President…..   www.brauerinsurance.com

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Employee Benefits, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, CA

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

If you’re an employer struggling with the rising costs of Employee Benefits, we have a solution for you.  We offer a forward thinking, Employee Benefits strategy that many companies have found to save them money without compromising the employee’s benefits.

We help companies reduce their Employee Benefit costs with a unique strategy.  The strategy involves “insuring your deductible”.  Most brokers are telling their employer groups to either move to a cheaper plan or have the employees pick up the additional costs upon renewal……WE HAVE A SOLUTION!

If your broker doesn’t have a strategy to save you money and grief, ask them why not!  Any agent can show you plan and suggest you either absorb the yearly increase or pass it on to the employees.  That does NOT take any talent.  I have built our business on showing employers that there is a BETTER way to purchase your benefits.

At Brauer Insurance, we are a NO FEE, Independent, Family Owned agency specializing in Health Insurance for Families and Businesses.  Lots of agencies offer Employee Benefits…..we specialize in it!  Check out our Google reviews from some of our satisfied clients.  They were skeptical too, at first.  Frankly, I don’t blame them.  Being a retired Police Sergeant, I’m skeptical of most things too.  Employee Benefits do NOT have to cost a fortune…they really don’t!

Health Insurance for businesses, or Employee Benefits, can be very affordable.  Kaiser, Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, all have plans that employers can offer under $200 a month per employee.  The employer is only responsible for covering half of the single employee price.  Much less than most people think.  At Brauer Insurance we love to find companies with expensive Employee Benefit plans.  Our strategy works even better on those types of plans.  Kaiser Employee Benefits, Blue Cross Employee Benefits, HealthNet Employee Benefits, all work the same.

I guarantee we have a better way to do business, in terms of Employee Benefits.  Our strategy is actually being copied now by other large Employee Benefit firms.  I find that flattering…..

We have clients from San Diego to Truckee.  Our office is located in San Jose, but my daughters and I are all over the Bay Area, daily!

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

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Health Insurance, Family Health Insurance, Individual Health Insurance, CA

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

If you are looking for Health Insurance for yourself, your Family or Business, it does NOT have to cost a fortune!  It really doesn’t.  Health Insurance can be very affordable and easy to obtain, in most cases.  Individual Health Insurance can be as cheap as $65 a month, if you are in your 20′s, and not much more if you are in your 30′s and 40′s.  The only issue you may run in to is that you have to be able to get through the underwriting process.  That means you can be declined for having pre existing conditions that they feel are “risky”.  At Brauer Insurance, we can help you navigate these waters.  We have helped tons of people get through the process successfully!  Using our services are FREE.  We are a NO FEE, Independent, Family owned agency.

Broker commissions are built into the premium, you can “go direct” to the insurance company, the price is the same.  Using us means that you don’t have to talk to some person at an 800 number that doesn’t give a crap about you!  We help families and businesses get affordable Health Insurance.  Some agencies offer Health Insurance….we specialize in it!

At Brauer Insurance Services, Health Insurance is what we do….its all we do!  Health Insurance is a niche market, seriously!  When I started our business, I had the opportunity to do a lot of different insurances.  I decided that instead of doing a bunch of things good, I wanted to become an EXPERT at just ONE thing!  That’s what you get with us.  Both of my daughters are brokers in our agency too….I’m looking to hand the business off to them one day.  Maybe 30 years from now!

If you’re looking for Health Insurance, we are one of the Bay Area’s premier insurance agencies.  Like I said, the prices are the prices, no matter who you purchase from.  Why not let an expert help you!  Brauer Insurance Services is the Health Insurance experts.  We’re located in San Jose, but we have clients all over California, from Truckee to San Diego.  We’re at www.brauerinsurance.com   (877) 421-4325.

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

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Strategic Employee Benefit designs, San Jose, Bay Area, CA

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Brauer Insurance

If you are the owner of a company and you offer Employee Benefits to your employees, you’re a pretty good boss.  There is no requirement to offer Employee Benefits.  And if you do, I hope your broker has a “strategy” for not only saving you money, but getting the best bang for the buck.  Strategic Employee Benefits is what we do at Brauer Insurance……its all we do!  I’ve built my business speaking to employers about their benefits, only to find out that the Employee Benefits broker only speaks to them at renewal time!!  Shame on them….did you know that your broker is making between 7-10% from every dollar you spend on your Employee Benefits.  When I’m speaking to the company owner, I always like to tell them, “did you know your broker is making $X a month commission being your broker”, and then I follow with “are they EARNING it??”.

I was actually called one time by a broker who was angry with me.  He told me that he didn’t feel that revealing his commission was ethical.  My response to him…..”I think its unethical NOT to advise people”.  What are you afraid of?  If you’ve earned it, there should be no problem.

The problem lies with the brokers that are used to doing “business as usual”.  The  Employee Benefits landscape is changing.  You can either adapt, become creative, and find solutions for your employer groups, or get out of the way for creative, forward thinking, pro-active brokers!  At Brauer Insurance our Strategic Employee Benefit designs are cutting edge, and guaranteed to save companies money AND not jeopardize their Employee Benefits they currently have.

Employee Benefits should be strategized….PERIOD.  If your broker is not doing that, they should be fired!  There are too many ways to save groups money, and offer them services that they SHOULD be getting, like FREE cobra, EAP programs, HR Compliance Centers, etc…

Lots of agencies offer Employee Benefits….we SPECIALIZE in it!

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

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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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