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April is Stress Awareness Month Take Time to Relax and Check Your Medical Benefits

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:39:50 +0000

This April marks the 20^th anniversary of Stress Awareness Month. What is making you stressed this year? For most Americans, money, job and health concerns top the list. It is a good time to discover what all this stress is doing to your body and brain and to learn a few simple things that can lower stress. You should also take a few minutes to figure out your stress issues and to make sure you have a quality health insurance plan with complete medical benefits. A quality insurance plan can help you with those health issues that are causing you stress or are the result of your stress. MHG Insurance Brokers has plans available for your complete coverage.

Many people have come to accept stress as just a normal part of their everyday lives. Stress is a silent and deadly epidemic that needs to be managed and recognized. The American Institute of Stress estimates that 75 – 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems. The American Psychological Association reports 77% of people regularly feel the physical symptoms caused by stress, such as fatigue, headaches, upset stomach, irritability and moodiness. Stress has also been directly linked to cancer, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorders, seizures, asthma, heart disease and stroke. These are the worst symptoms and illness that stress causes but there are less visible things happening to you.

“For one thing, stress makes you stupid,” says Carter Harkins, co-founder of MindLev.com, one of a handful of new companies in the growing Brain Training and Fitness market. “MRI scans of chronically stressed people often show parts of the brain in the process of atrophy. It’s well-understood that stress neurochemicals and hormones suppress cognitive brain function. It’s why you feel like you can’t make a decision, think clearly or remember things when you’re stressed all the time. Those negative thoughts and feelings are killing your neurons.”

There is good evidence to support such statements. Cortisol, one of the body’s stress hormones, has been observed in laboratory settings to actually destroy brain cells in the hippocampus region of the brain. The hippocampus is active in the consolidation of short-term and long-term memory, and is one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

“The damage to the brain caused by stress doesn’t have to be permanent,” Harkins adds. “The hippocampus is known for generating new cells and synapses, but you have to deal with the stress first. It all starts with triggering your brain’s natural relaxation response.”

Mediation is a key component of relaxation. Meditation reduces blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates. It reduces the levels of cortisol and epinephrine while increasing the levels of dopamine, serotonin, HGH and endorphins. If you can include daily mediation in your life you will feel less stress and reduce the harmful effects of stress.

If you just cannot fit in a meditation or yoga class at least take a few minutes for yourself every day. Embrace the morning. Ever notice that no matter how you felt when you were falling asleep, you wake up feeling calm and relaxed? This feeling only lasts a few seconds, but you can force yourself to control and hang onto it to the point where it permeates your entire day. Late in the day, take a walk a little peace and quiet and physical activity can go a long way in reducing your stress levels.

Make sleep a priority. It’s easy to spend the evening trying to fit in things you’ve forgotten to do. While it’s great to be organized and efficient, you want to be relaxed before hitting the sack. Write your list but be sure to choose a time to stop working and spend some time de-stressing before going to sleep.

During this Stress Awareness Month take a minute and, be sure to secure a quality health insurance plan. You do not need the added stress of not being able to pay for a hospital visit or doctor appointment due to stress related illnesses. MHG Insurance Brokers offers a variety of comprehensive medical insurance plans to meet the needs of each unique client. Whether you are looking for yacht crew insurance, individual health insurance plans, family health insurance plans or group health insurance plans, the experts at MHG have the resources to help you choose the ideal policy for your unique requirements. Contact us today at 877-278-7400 to learn more.

April is Stress Awareness Month Take Time to Relax and Check Your Medical Benefits is a post from: MHG Blog

Marine Industry Cares Foundation Names New Board of Directors and Appoints Executive Director

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:20:32 +0000

Fort Lauderdale, FL, December 5, 2011 – Marine Industry Cares Foundation (MICF), a non-profit charitable organization that raises awareness and funds for children’s and family charities, is pleased to announce its 2012 Board of Directors and the appointment of an Executive Director to help lead the group.

Joining the following founding directors of MICF Mole Telfer of Rob Price Services, David Reed of The Triton, Sabrina Farmer of IMA Yachts and Peter Hult of MHG Insurance Brokers are several other South Florida business and community leaders:

Bradley Briggs          – MTN Satellite Communications
Peter Brooke            – Blue Interactive Agency
Jerry Hamilton         – Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel LLP
Lisa Morley               –Maritime Professional Training
Gregory Oram          – ClubCorp / Tower Club
Lisa Scott-Founds    – Winterfest, Inc.
Karen Short               – S3GC
Louise Steynberg      – MHG Insurance Brokers

Appointedas Executive Director of MICFis Gordon Connell. He previously was Director of Association Services for Marine Industries Association of South Florida, currently also works with Houck Anderson P.A. and has established Connell Communications, an association management, public relations and marketing firm.

Mole Telfer, Chairman of MICF said, “We’re extremely pleased to have such a strong group of accomplished business and community leaders on the Board and at the helm of Marine Industry Cares Foundation.” He added, “We are still young as an organization, but through our Spin-A-Thon we have had tremendous support from the marine industry and local business community and we’ve managed to raise over $200,000 for Kids In Distress. With our new Board I know we will build on the past success!”

About Marine Industry Cares Foundation

The Marine Industry Cares Foundation mobilizes the generous spirit of the maritime community to benefit children and families in need. Founded in 2010 by marine industry leaders in South Florida motivated to make a difference in their city, the foundation seeks to build a lasting relationship between the marine industry and the local community. Marine Industry Cares Foundation is the organizer of the Annual Spin-A-Thon which is headed into its fourth year and will be held on April 20, 2012 at Esplanade Park in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Marine Industry Cares Foundation Names New Board of Directors and Appoints Executive Director is a post from: MHG Blog

MHG Insurance Rides for KIDs in 3rd Annual Spin-A-Thon

MHG Sponsors 2011 Fort Yachtie Da International Film Festival

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:32:30 +0000

Proud Sponsor, Fort Yachtie Da Film Festival

The 4^th Annual Fort Yachtie Da International Film Festival is being held this weekend at Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale. Once a year, luxury yacht crews produce short videos designed to showcase their creative talents in a competition to win in one of six categories: Comedy, Action, Documentary, Sponsor Infomercial, Yachtie Lifestyle and Best Overall.

Produced by Crew Unlimited, a Professional Yacht Crew Placement Agency, the Fort Yachtie Da International Film Festival invites yacht crew to write, direct and film the videos, which are then uploaded to FortYachtie-Da.com to compete. Crew Unlimited’s Owner, Ami Ira, states their mission as “To reduce crew turnover, thereby improving the yacht ownership experience, by encouraging creativity, commitment and healthy competition, creating an everlasting bond amongst the crew.”

Leading up to the Awards Ceremony, viewers can watch online, read about the Producers and Actors, rate the videos and make nominations for the Finalists. “The Awards Ceremony [emulates] the Academy Awards’ Oscar Celebration,” says the Fort Yachtie-Da website. Attendees gather for a formal event to watch the nominees on the big screen, culminating with the announcement of the grand prize winner of the Oscar Fish Trophy. Cash prizes will also be awarded.

This year’s theme is the Great Gatsby, set in the 1920s post-Prohibition. Yacht crews will gather their finest Zoot Suits and fedoras to create one-of-a-kind films in hopes of winning the coveted Oscar Fish Trophy. Attendees will be given two drink tickets good for beer, wine or champagne, as well as a delicious gourmet buffet, passed hors d’oeuvres, hours of entertainment and their very own Swag Bag filled with gifts from the event’s sponsors.

MHG Insurance Brokers is extremely excited to be a sponsor for this event for the very first time! We can’t wait to show our support of and celebrate with all yacht crews involved in the competition. MHG provides yacht crew insurance to protect men and women who spend their days on the open sea. We have a wide range of international medical plans to meet the needs of any yacht crew member. For more information, contact MHG today. And don’t forget to stop by and say hello if you’re attending this weekend’s film festival!

MHG Sponsors 2011 Fort Yachtie Da International Film Festival is a post from: MHG Blog

MHG Insurance Brokers,Marshall Islands & Ocean IndependenceHost Annual Office Party Hop

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:12:02 +0000

Each year, MHG Insurance Brokers teams up with Marshall Islands and Ocean Independence for the annual office party hop to celebrate with good food, drinks and fun with area businesses. This year’s event was held October 19^th from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., and members of the local business community came to kick off the 2011 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.

This year, we enjoyed a great turnout – in addition to local business professionals, chairmen and CEOs from charities like Kids in Distress (KID), Children’s Diagnostic Treatment Center and the Marine Industry Cares Foundation were also in attendance.Guests mingled while sipping wine, beer and a variety of tasty hors d’oeuvres and decadent desserts. Each office chose a theme, and this year, MHG dressed up as doctors and nurses, Ocean Independence came as high-rolling casino gamblers and Marshall Islands got groovy with disco.

MHG was very excited to co-host the party hop with Marshall Islands and Ocean Independence, as we joined together with other marine industry professionals for a show of goodwill to the local community. Marshall Islands provides administrative and technical support to the Republic of the Marshall Islands maritime and corporate registries. Ocean Independence is a full-service yacht brokerage company covering all aspects of owning, chartering, buying, selling, building and managing private or charter yachts.Weallfeel very privileged to be a part of, and have friends within, such a great community.

MHG Insurance Brokers specializes in insurance plans designed specifically to meet the needs of marine officers, crew and contractors, expatriates and US residents and business owners. If you are interested in yacht crew insurance, regular health insurance plans, life insurance, travel insurance or even commercial insurance, MHG would be delighted to help you find the right plan for your unique needs. For more information, contact us at the location nearest you today.

MHG Insurance Brokers,Marshall Islands & Ocean IndependenceHost Annual Office Party Hop is a post from: MHG Blog

Retirement 101: Why You Need to Start Saving Now

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:11:14 +0000

You’ve heard it a thousand times throughout your life, whether it be from parents, grandparents or that guy who does your taxes– save your money! But not many of us really heed this advice, especially in troubling economic times like these. While it may seem impossible to save a single penny in today’s rough financial times, you should still consider the benefits of contributing to your savings account or investing in a retirement savings plan.

Most experts recommend making small monthly contributions to your savings account, ranging from 10 to 15 percent of your salary. As a rule of thumb, you should put aside an amount equal to 10 to 15 percent of your income to be able to retire and continue with the same lifestyle that you enjoy while you are working.

Ideally, you should start saving in your 20s. Consider this: If you started putting away $100 a month at age 25, assuming an 8 percent rate of return, you would have $356,705 by the time you turned 65. If you started the same monthly payments at age 35, you would net $152,057, a difference of about 57 percent! At this age, you’ve got something on your side that older Americans envy: time. Thanks to the power of compounding and dollar-cost averaging, saving even small amounts can mean big bucks later on. But don’t worry, if an illness, job loss or other challenging circumstance has prevented you from saving in your 20s, there are steps you can take at any age to ensure the solidity of your financial future.

Other facts to consider are that the length of retirement is growing longer. In 1970, people lived on retirement income for an average of 7 years. By 2020, that number is projected to be an average of 20 years, as life expectancy is increasing due to medical advancement and healthier foods. The day you stop working, you should have accumulated enough funds to live off of for another 20 years.

For more facts on retirement and why you should start saving now, click the International Savings Plan page on the MHG Insurance Brokers site. MHG works with well-known international investment companies that offer a wide selection of investment funds and products. For more information, fill out the form on the Individual International Savings Plan page.

Retirement 101: Why You Need to Start Saving Now is a post from: MHG Blog

Affordable Life Insurance for Today’s Tough Times

Planning for Long-Term Care: Why You May Need More than Medicaid

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:34:45 +0000

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70 percent of people over the age of 65 require long-term care services. Most Americans mistakenly believe that their Medicare coverage will pay for most of their long-term care, or that they will qualify to receive Medicaid – but most do not. There are also other federal public programs like the Older Americans Act or other state-funded programs, but as with many federal aid programs, they target those with the greatest functional and financial need. So how can you start planning for long-term care services now?

There’s a good chance you will have to supplement the payments for long-term care with your personal income and resources, and this can be particularly difficult – “Even if you have a modest need for assistance at home with personal care, say a visit from a home health aide 3 times a week, based on 2008 average costs, you would have to pay about $18,000 a year for those services,” says the HHS long-term care website. To formulate the best strategy for planning, you need to know what services cost, what public programs you’re eligible for and what they cover, what private financing options are available and which ones work best for you and your unique circumstances.

Costs for personal care beyond what family can provide, disability support, and more extensive services in a facility can add up quickly, and vary based on the type and amount of care you need, the provider you use and where you live. “Home health and home care services, provided in two-to-four-hour blocks of time referred to as “visits,” are generally more expensive in the evening, or on weekends or holidays,” reports the HHS. The cost of adult day service and other community programs are often provided on a per-day rate, and can vary based on overhead and programming costs. Although some care facilities offer “all-inclusive” fees, many charge extra for services rendered beyond the basic room-and-board charge.

For more information, like what care costs bases on where you live, visit the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information website. MHG Marine offers a variety of comprehensive long-term care insurance plans to help you finance care services. Medicaid covers a fraction of these costs, and many people cannot afford to draw from their personal income or resources to cover the remainder. Securing quality long-term-care insurance is a great way to ease the financial burden of long-term care costs. Contact an expert at the location nearest you to learn more about long-term care medical insurance.

Planning for Long-Term Care: Why You May Need More than Medicaid is a post from: MHG Blog

Guide to Understanding and Buying Individual Health Insurance

The Value of USL&H Insurance

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:25:24 +0000

Most of us are familiar with Worker’s Compensation, also referred to as Worker’s Comp or Workman’s Comp. This insurance provides for your employees’ medical expenses and some portion of their wages if they are injured on the job.

The Longshore Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act, often referred to as USL&H, provides the same type of benefits to employees working in the maritime industry. USL&H provides compensation to an employee in the event an injury or death occurs on the navigable waters of the United States, on a dock, during a dry dock or other areas commonly used by vessels of the U.S. This Act was initially passed by the U.S. Congress in 1927, and provided coverage for these workers, where state Worker’s Compensation laws did not apply.

The Longshore Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act is federally mandated. Penalties for not securing coverage are severe and include criminal penalties, costly tort judgments and perhaps the most severe is that employers and officers may be held personally and severally liable for judgments that may accrue under the USL&H Act. In the unfortunate event that an accidental injury occurs while working on or near the water, you will be thankful you made the decision to invest in a USL&H policy!

MHG Insurance Brokers offers Worker’s Compensation insurance, as well as USL&H benefits. At MHG, we understand the unique environmental conditions of working on the sea, as well as the accompanying challenges. We strive to help marine workers find the best, most affordable marine insurance plans to suit each and every employee. To find out more about USL&H and other Worker’s Comp insurance, please visit our user-friendly website, or call the location nearest you.

The Value of USL&H Insurance is a post from: MHG Blog

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MHG Insurance Brokers Launches New Website

admin — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:27:58 +0000

MHG Insurance Brokers, a company based in Fort Lauderdale with offices in Germany, UK, France and the British Isles, has recently debuted a brand-new website at http://www.mhginsurance.com. The new website features a more user-friendly interface and offers detailed information about all of the various types of insurance plans and options available.

The new site is fully search-optimized and contains information about MHG at the top of the home page for quick and easy access. The site also has an overall more appealing design and clearer navigation. Now users can more easily locate details on either individual insurance plans or group insurance plans, whether it be medical, disability, life, travel, retirement or business insurance. ”We are very excited about the launch of our new website. We feel that it enhances our corporate image, while also providing our clients an easy way of deciding which insurance plan may be suitable for their needs,” says Peter Hult, Vice President of MHG.

Group Plan Members also enjoy a secure login to view their benefits plans online. Links are provided to view company shows and events, and visitors can also get instant quotes and apply online. A blog has been incorporated as well as links to all of MHG’s social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter. Don’t forget to “Like” MHG on Facebook and follow on Twitter @MHGinsurance!

About MHG Insurance Brokers

MHG Insurance Brokers specializes in insurance plans designed specifically to meet the needs of marine officers, crew and contractors, expatriates and U.S. residents. With their extensive market relationships, MHG is able to offer sound, independent advice as to which insurance and financial service providers and products are best suited to address the needs of individuals and employers.

MHG Insurance Brokers Launches New Website is a post from: MHG Blog

MHG Website Gets A Facelift!