Newsroom

January 21, 2013

Health Care Reform (ACA)

Some key issues employers should know about health care reform (ACA) and the changes which will occur in the next few months. 1. Which employers are affected most? All employers need to review the changes but large employers who qualify under the large employer – 50 FTE formula must be especially aware. For purposes of the penalties under the employer shared responsibility mandate, full-time is defined as an employee that works an average of 30 hours or more a week. Small businesses with less than 50 FTEs will be exempt from the employer coverage “mandate”. A small employer is eligible for the tax credit if it has between 10 and 24 “full-time equivalent employees” with respect to any taxable year. Small businesses are eligible to receive up to 35 percent of their contributions toward their employees’ health insurance premiums if they contribute at least 50 percent of the total premium cost. 2. What is the large employer 50 FTE formula? […]
January 9, 2013

New HR Updates at Our ClientConnect Portal

HR and BenefitsEssentials, the content provider for the ClientConnect benefits & HR library, is now called HR360. In addition to their new name, HR360 has made several content changes that are reflected in the ClientConnect benefits & HR module. A list of those changes is provided below. Broker Resources/HR & Benefits Content The HR & Benefits content page, located under the broker resources tab, has been redesigned to match the new HR360 library content. These changes include the addition of many new content links as well as two new content groups called Termination and Recruitment & Hiring. The Financial Planning group has been removed. HR & Benefits Default Client Home Page Sections Outlined below are the changes to the HR & benefits default client home page sections My HR Library • Benefits Post Employment is now titled Post Termination Employer Responsibilities • Mandated Benefits & Voluntary Benefits have been merged together under Benefits Overview • Life Insurance is now included […]
December 18, 2012

UNICO and Midlands form Strategic Alliance

Lincoln, Nebraska –UNICO Group and Midlands Financial Benefits are pleased to announce a strategic alliance to provide employee benefits, group insurance, retirement plans and commercial liability insurance for the Midwest region.  The new company will be operating under the name of UNICO Midlands. “This approach will allow us to leverage our combined resources from decades of industry expertise, our dynamic human capital and advanced technology to better serve the changing needs of current and future clients. The leadership teams from both firms are excited to build a cohesive force, one that exemplifies our continued commitment to provide client based solutions. This new team will provide our individual and business clients with additional services to address today’s challenges,” explained team leaders Tom Champoux from UNICO and Ryan Swinton from Midlands. UNICO Group, Inc. is a multi-line insurance broker serving clients in more than 30 states. The team of professionals provides expertise to analyze business and personal exposures to financial loss and […]
October 9, 2012

Strictly Business Press Release

Check out our latest press release about new UNICO team members at: http://strictlybusinessomaha.com/news/personnel/unico-group-expands-with-new-insurance-team-members/
October 5, 2012

Preventing ID Theft

No matter how many precautions you take, identity thieves can find a way to steal your identity. But there are precautions you can take to minimize your risk for identity theft and help you catch identity theft quickly. 1. Place passwords on bank, credit card, and phone accounts: Don’t use a password that could be easily guessed, such as your pet’s name or your birth date and choose a password that mixes random numbers with letters. 2. Don’t carry your social security card: Don’t even carry the number on you. Don’t use it as your driver’s license number either. Keep the card in a safe place and use the number only when necessary. 3. Order a copy of your credit report: Order a copy from each of the credit bureaus each year. A credit report contains information on where you live, where you work, how you pay your bills, whether you’ve ever been sued, arrested, or ever filed for bankruptcy, and what credit […]
August 22, 2012

Value of Long Term Care Insurance

Long Term Care insurance (LTCi ) has been very confusing to most people. A recent headline on CNBC stated the “premiums are expensive” and at first glance you might say, I agree. But as in all things it is always best to ask “Compared to what?” Phyllis Shelton wrote an article in a recent trade publication and pointed out “Long-term care insurance premiums are a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the type of care this valuable insurance pays for.” Shelton is the president of LTC Consultants, Nashville, Tenn., a 21-year-old consulting company that specializes in long-term care insurance consumer education and agent training. If you want to read her article you can find it at- http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2012/07/25/is-ltci-worth-it-get-real#.UCEN0sgROp4.email The LTCi market is certainly going through some changes. Carriers are dropping out of the market and product features have changed, even in the past few months. As you consider how LTCi fits into a retirement plan it is best […]
August 9, 2012

Distracted Driving

Happy Halloween. What’s the scariest thing you might see on the highway today? Zombies, vampires, the devil, Angry Birds? Not for me. The most terrifying thing for me is actually distracted driving – it plays a big part in a number of auto accidents on the road today. 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA). Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). (NHTSA) In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving. (FARS and GES) The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA) Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times […]
August 9, 2012

Uninsured Motorists

The Insurance Research Council estimates that one in seven drivers on the road today could be uninsured. During difficult economic conditions many people simply cannot afford to pay for car insurance. So what can you do to protect yourself? Here are a few things you may not know about your automobile insurance policy and uninsured motorists: What are Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance? Uninsured motorist insurance provides coverage to a policy holder when the at-fault party does not have auto insurance. Who does it cover? It provides coverage not only to the occupants of your vehicle but also to any family member residing in you home when they are injured in a motor vehicle accident. Even if they are a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, a bicyclist, pedestrian or in the event of a hit and run accident. What losses are covered? Uninsured motorist insurance is intended to compensate for your financial losses such as medical expenses and loss of […]
August 9, 2012

Late Payments and Coverage

Bills. We’ve all got them to pay each month but one of the most important bills to pay on time is your insurance premiums. It is critical to make your insurance payments on time to avoid a potential lapse in coverage. If you let your policy lapse it can have big, long-term consequences. Missed payments and a lapse in coverage can lower your credit rating significantly, making it more expensive to get car insurance in the future. What’s the worst case scenario? Driving without insurance is also against the law and you will be personally liable if you have an accident. You can lose your home and your future earnings could be effected. I recommend having your insurance taken out each month by automatic draft. This way you never have to worry if you are late or forget to pay.  
June 21, 2012

Equipment Maintenance Program

UNICO Group is one of the only insurance agencies that can provide options for you to improve your equipment maintence program. You can see a video here.. The Maintenance Value Plan (MVP) is an alternative Asset Management Program available to a variety of industry groups. MVP utilizes a self-insured approach, helping clients save anywhere from 15% to 40% or more, while allowing them to choose who performs their service and when they want it performed. Maintenance Value Plan not only saves monies, but tracks these savings in a real time environment that gives clients finger tip access to all aspects of their equipment maintenance program! We can show you not only how to save hard dollars on your current program, but to improve cash flow to your facility, while maintaining the level of service you expect! MVP can provide you an overall program of protection and capitation, allowing substantial advantages when compared to traditional OEM or Third Party Service Contract […]
June 13, 2012

Wellness Program Benefits

Carl Zeutzius, Director of Sales and Marketing of UNICO Group, was featured in the  Lincoln Business Journal in June 2012. You can view the article below: Lincoln Business Journal – Carl Zeutzius
June 4, 2012

Six Benchmarks to Ensure RTW Program Success

Return-to-work (RTW) programs have long been recognized as a best practice for effective cost control in businesses.  However, in today's challenging economic climate, even these programs are under scrutiny. As organizations strive to stay competitive and improve efficiency, it's crucial to assess the value of RTW programs.
April 30, 2012

Professionals to speak on safety programs

Carl Zeutzius, Director of Sales and Marketing of UNICO Group, was featured in the  Lincoln Business Journal. You can view the article below: Lincoln Business Journal – Carl Zeutzius