1. State Licensing Requirements
All licensed agents must complete 24 continuing education credits every two years to maintain their state license, ensuring we stay current on regulations and best practices.

2. Medicare Training
For agents servicing the Medicare market, we complete an annual federal course through AHIP (American Health Insurance Plans), taking 6 hours for experienced agents and 8-10 hours for new agents. We also undergo training from each Medicare carrier we work with, totaling an additional 8-10 hours yearly. The focus is on regulations, product development and best practices.

3. ACA Market Training
Agents working with the ACA (Individual and Families) market also complete an annual federal course and exam, ensuring we're up-to-date on the latest coverage options and federal regulations.

4. Ongoing Education
Learning doesn’t stop there. Agents attend conferences, seminars and webinars throughout the year, staying informed on new products and market trends. We also monitor regular updates from federal and state sources, as well as insurance carriers, keeping us in the loop on any changes that affect you. Some specific examples of what your Doran Team is doing includes holding membership in and participating in nationally recognized groups like NABIP (National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals) and attending their 4-day national conference in Washington DC. There is also a 4-day annual conference dubbed Medicarians which we are attending this spring to stay on top of health & life insurance developments that will affect our clients.

Conclusion
At Doran Independent Insurance, we take our responsibility to our clients seriously, and continuous education is key to maintaining our ability to serve you effectively. By fulfilling mandatory requirements, staying on top of industry trends, and regularly seeking out new learning opportunities, we ensure that our agents are always ready to provide you with the most accurate, relevant, and up-to-date insurance advice. .

When a client chooses to participate in the annual Advisory Agreement, internally we refer to that client as “VAC”: Value Added Client. Our “VAC” clients enjoy the peace of mind knowing we will reach out to them whenever there is something new that may impact them. We provide reminders so they do not miss any important deadlines. We search networks so they can save money using in-network providers. We also assist with premium billing challenges that may arise with the insurance carrier avoiding unintended lapsing of policies. We also help with the billing from the health care provider via claims resolution. And – we guarantee our “VAC” clients an appointment (phone, Zoom or in-person) during the limited and critical timeframes of Annual Open Enrollment. In the Fall of 2023 Open Enrollment we performed in excess of 1,000 appointments in 9 weeks.

In the recent past we helped a “VAC” client save over $180,000 in medical claims he otherwise would have not been equipped to navigate. Annually, we save numerous “VAC” clients more than $1,000 on prescription costs by re-shopping their prescription coverage and navigating the changes in the formulary for their plan. At renewal time, prescription drug insurance Carriers send members annual notices of premium changes, but this does not provide information about any other options and often the financial savings are in the hundreds in premium costs alone, just by finding a lower premium plan that covers their prescription needs; In 2024 there are dozens of plan options. Ambulance claims are also a common topic we’ve helped navigate, saving many clients around $5,000 each.

Please call us at (603) 569-6464 and speak to a licensed agent to learn more about this added security for your insurances with us.

Protection is most valuable when established BEFORE a need arises.

If the answer is No, we will instruct your provider to resubmit the claim to your insurance company with the correct information.

If it went through your insurance, things we will investigate:

• Is the provider in your plans network?

• Was it a covered service? We will review your Summary of Benefits For Medicare Clients – Does Medicare cover this service?

• Have you met your Part B Deductible?

• Did it process correctly?

• Was it coded correctly?

If we/you have tried unsuccessfully to resolve the billing dispute or denied claim informally through phone calls or written letters, we/you will have to file a formal appeal with your health insurer. Each plan handles appeals differently, so we will need to review how your plan for the appeal process.

When out for walks, it's unsafe to assume that every dog is open to meeting new friends. Many dogs are selective about their companions, just like humans. This is where the concept of 'dog selective' behavior comes into play. Owners who are aware that their dogs fall into this category often invest time and effort into training to ensure enjoyable walks for both themselves and their pets.

However, this effort can be undermined if other dog owners allow their dogs, whether on or off-leash, to approach strangers' dogs without consent. To promote harmony during encounters with other dogs while out and about, consider the following guidelines:

1. Always seek permission before approaching a stranger's dog, even if you don't have your own canine companion with you.

2. If your dog is off-leash, ensure they have a reliable recall command to bring them back to you when needed.

3. If encountering another dog, maintain control by either keeping your dog close to you in a heel position while passing by or moving to the side of the path and asking your dog to sit and stay.

4. If both owners agree to a doggy introduction, monitor the body language of both dogs closely and be prepared to intervene if necessary. A reliable recall command is essential to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the interaction for both pets.

By adhering to these principles of dog etiquette and understanding the nuances of canine sociability, we can foster positive experiences for dogs and their owners during shared outings.

Winter Health and Safety Tips

• Be sure to use arm clothing and layers when going outside.
  • Hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves.

• Shoveling/Snow Blowing
  • We don’t want ice to form under the snow if not removed.
  • When shoveling bend your knees and try not to lift too much snow at once.

• Check heating systems.
  • This is a good time of year to make sure your heating system is up to date and serviced if needed.

• Keep gasoline tank filled.
  • The roads can be dangerous, and you don’t want to run out of gas in the cold weather.

• Protect against dry skin weather.
  • It’s the dry season and important we take care of our skin.
    • Oil-based moisturizers are recommended to use in the winter.

• Exercise
  • Exercise is a great way to warm up when you are cold (just don’t get too sweaty) and staying limber can help prevent injuries.

Items to keep in your car.

• Mini shovel

• Scraper

• Extra clothes

• Hat

• Mittens

• Snacks