Local Phones: 623-435-5511 928-433-3181
520-365-3656 Fax 623-435-5522
Outside Maricopa
County: 888-543-5637 Fax 877-543-5637
e-mail june@arizonalifelines.com
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Arizona Life Lines has been in business since 1992, serving
customers throughout the state. We work with numerous carriers and provider
groups, and utilize various specialists to assist with specific needs
(disability, long term care, group, etc). In 1999, we were named
"Agent of the Year" by the Foundation for Medical Care (aka Maricopa
Foundation). We provide services in the following areas:
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Health (individual
and family) - we work both on and off the Exchange, with all carriers in
Arizona
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Alien and Non-Resident
Health (inside and outside the US)
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HSAs (Health Savings
Accounts - formerly Medical Savings Accounts)
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Life Insurance (term,
universal, whole life and variable)
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Disability (short
and long term)
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Supplemental Accidental
Injury
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Travel Plans (15
days to three years, US and abroad - including Executive coverage)
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Vision Services
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Short Term Health
(individual and family - one to eleven months)
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Dental (referral/discount
plans and true insurance; individual, family and group)
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Long Term Care (one
out of two people over the age of 70 will need this type of care - buy it early)
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Medicare Supplements
- all plans, most carriers
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Medicare Prescription
Drug Plans as well as Discount Services
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COBRA BENEFITS
We
also offer assistance to consumers in understanding COBRA. This is a confusing
area for consumers to understand, and as often as it might be the best bet when
coming off a group, just as often, it is a more expensive one. We are happy to
assist both customers and non-customers alike to understand their rights
associated with COBRA. The best way to reach us with questions in these areas
is by phone or through on our e-mail, at top of this page.
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NEWSLETTERS AND ARTICLES
On
a regular basis, we issue newsletters to the agents associated with AZ Life Lines,
updating them on products we work with, as well as recently passed laws. In
addition, we have published news columns and trade magazine articles related to
the basics of health insurance.
Recent
copies of these can be accessed at the end of this page.
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HOURS OF OPERATION
We
are open from 8:30 till 5:30pm, Monday through Thursday, closed at 2:30 on
Friday. Unless we are attending an off-site function, the office is
staffed at all times. If you call and get voice mail, do leave a message; it will be returned same day. We
have several in-coming lines (these are landlines, do not text) and try not to
put callers on hold unless absolutely necessary. Office phones are forwarded to
our cell, and voice mail is checked on a frequent basis after hours and on
weekends.
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MISSION STATEMENT
While
we make every effort, we are not able to help everyone to their satisfaction; unfortunately,
there are individuals who will not find the coverage they're looking for, given
their income, work or health-related circumstances. It is our goal to
help every caller, make calls in their behalf when possible and assist in
whatever way possible, with all means available, to find them the coverage
they're seeking or to provide an understanding of why the system cannot work
for them at this time and what any other options might be.
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RESPONSIBILITY
Your agent, whether us or someone else, is your first line
of defense whenever you have a problem with an existing health policy. He/she
earns a small commission (very small since the advent of the ACA) on your
business, and should be consulted whenever you have a problem with a claim or
with understanding your policy. Commissions paid to agents do not affect your
premium in any way, nor do they impact any subsidy you might be eligible for
under the ACA.
Never
buy a plan you do not understand or whose representative cannot adequately explain.
Don't let an agent tell you he or she cannot send or leave materials with you
so that you may think more about your purchase, if you wish. Any agent can fax,
e-mail or leave material behind; those who don't are using high pressure tactics
to make you buy on the spot.
Agents
cannot provide references as to who else has purchased a policy; that would be a
breach of confidence and a violation of HIPAA (privacy) laws. But feel free to
ask about the carrier, how long they have been in business, how long the
agent has sold their plans, plus any other questions about the plan and the
carrier.
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HELPFUL CONSUMER INFORMATION
(simply click on title of appropriate area of
interest)
SELF-HELP &
SUPPORT GROUPS
LIST OF PROVIDER
NETWORKS FOR MOST PPOs AND HMOs IN ARIZONA
OUR TEAM OF
SPECIALISTS FOR OTHER INSURANCE NEEDS
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The following articles were written by June Shaffer and are
reprinted with permission: (click on title to view article). Some of the articles will
indicate, at the top of the page, that these are for historical
reference only, as many things have changed since 2013. Very
pertinent is Article 9
1. Insurance: Risk and Responsibility
Overview of what you should expect from a
policy and what it should do
2. COBRA, Portability,
HIPAA???
The differences in these terms, what they
really mean and who is and is not eligible for plans under these terms
3. Upset with High
Premiums? Take Responsibility!
Take responsibility for lowering your rates by
changing your perspective on what different types of health insurance do.
Example: why pay more for co-pay plans if the savings with a non-copay plan is greater than the deductible for a co-pay
plan?
4. Self-Employed? Not
Necessarily a Problem
Being self-employed is absolutely not a
deterrent to obtaining good medical coverage. Read why being
self-employed is not the problem and what the laws are which govern this area.
5. HSAs Made Easy
Health Savings Accounts provide positive tax
ramifications, in that they are treated as an IRA. Available to everyone, the H.S.A.-compatible
plans offer coverage at competitive rates, for all ages under 65.
6. Short Term
Insurance: Is It Real?
Occasionally, an applicant may not be able to
afford a regular health plan, for whatever reason. Missing open enrollment is
usually the most common problem. Short term coverage meets these needs at very
reasonable prices. Covers anything new in the way of illness or injury, offers
a variety of deductibles and a minimum of $1,000,000 in protection.
7. Lost Your Group
Coverage? Now What?
If you've just lost your group coverage and
COBRA isn't available, you need to know immediately what your options are -
waiting can cost you your insurability if you are high risk, and cost money if
the unexpected should occur.
8.
MSA/HSA - Not Just for the Self-Employed
This article no longer available as MSA's are
now called HSA's and are available to anyone who can qualify (qualification is
based on health history - underwriting for an HSA is just like any other
medical plan). See Article #5, HSA'S MADE EASY for updated information.
9. It's All About the
Numbers
This is not your typical article on how to
view insurance - it shows you a different way of looking at coverage, what you
pay for it and why, and how to maximize your insurance dollars - keeping more of
them in your pocket and less in the insurance carriers, without sacrificing
complete and quality health coverage.
10. What Good is
Insurance if it Doesn't Cover Preexisting Conditions?
Just as you don't plan on currently having
asthma, you won't "plan" on later developing diabetes. Insurance covers
risks - things that you don't plan on and that haven't yet occurred.
11. Why Some People Can't
Get Insurance
Article withdrawn as
totally irrelevant under healthcare reform.
12.
Medicare Made Easy
Medicare is not as complicated as it seems! You have several
options for your supplements, in varying premium ranges. These two to three pages
summarize Medicare in just a few minutes!
13.
Provider Network Groups
Website addresses that allow you to access the provider groups
of various medical / insurance networks working with the various carriers in
Arizona
14.
Referral and Support Groups
Alcohol, bulimia, MS, diabetes... a list of various support
groups in the area as well as the resources by which you can access even more.
14-A Opening the Drug Dialogue with Youth
How to start the conversation with
your teenagers (and younger) about drugs, their use and influence today
14.B Healthy Coping Mchanisms for Dealing with Holiday Stress
Helpful ways of dealing with the stress and anxiety of the holiday
season
15. Team of Specialists
Most brokers utilize a team of specialists to assist them and
the people who call their office. No one agent can or should try to "do it
all." This is our list of specialists, from group to disability, long term
care to other insurances and naturopathic physician, along with their phone
numbers and e-mail addresses