3 Ways to Shift Your Mindset & Embrace Change
Article By: Sharon Little
Office Manager, Insurance Trust
Change comes in many forms and can be especially difficult if you had your heart set on something that didn’t turn out the way you had hoped. However, if we look back at the changes we’ve experienced in the past, we often find that things worked out okay or often better than what we thought at the time. As the saying goes, “The only thing constant, is change,” so if we must change, we may as well embrace it and make it work for us instead of against us. Sometimes managing our mindset and positivity about change can come from a seemingly unrelated or unlikely place, like changing up your daily routine. The following are 3 tips to consider that have helped me to shift my mindset to embrace change; I hope these may be helpful to you as well.
Make a Little Time to Exercise
If possible, schedule a little time during the day for a brief workout, even if it’s 5 minutes. Working out in the morning has helped me to feel more awake and super-charge at the beginning of my workday. There are some great free apps available to help get your blood pumping (such as Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer iOS | Andriod ). You can alternate walking, running, weights and stretching throughout the week to keep your body guessing and use all your muscles. If your job changed to work from home, you’ve likely found that your step counter is more idle, so doing a little extra and using that prior drive time may just be enough to stave off gaining a little weight, especially through the colder seasons.
Meal Prep & Meditation
If your schedule is busier now than it used to be, you could consider meal prep. Prepping your lunch and dinner meals on Sunday night can help with healthier options for the week to come and free up some of your daily lunch hour for a little meditation. I know it may sound silly, but meditating is a great way to help improve your frame of mind and calmness throughout the day. There are many free meditations of various lengths online (such as Calm and Headspace). There is no wrong way to meditate, even if thoughts come in… just let them back out and move on without judgment. Did you know that when one person meditates, it changes the vibe of those around them by 20%? I love the idea that meditating can help make life a bit easier for my loved ones, co-workers and even the community.
Eliminate Clutter
If you work at home and look at the same four walls every day you can tend to get pretty frustrated at unfinished projects, piles of household papers and too much stuff. I’m guilty there and have been doing a lot of cleaning out over the last few months. Since I’ve cleaned out, I find I have more room to think, focus and enjoy the good things that life holds. The idea to change was much harder than the actual change in this case. Try it and see what it can do for you; maybe your space just needs a refresh to feel pleasing to you.
Easing into change takes many forms, and it turns out that those forms have beneficial outcomes. Change is good, change is beneficial, and change is necessary to get us to recognize what we have. Life is good if you take responsibility for it and keep up on your home and body maintenance. Change helps you be more resilient to new situations in the future. I think it’s worth it to embrace where you are, declutter your home, meditate with your family and go for a walk every day. Embrace what change comes to you and act on what you discover to fuel your future growth and wellbeing.
2021 Auto Market Trends
Article by Paul Michaud
Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Trust
Consumers looking to purchase a new or used vehicle this year may not see the auto rates drop as drastically as the previous year, but rock bottom interest rates will soon be here. The National average rate for a 60-month term for a new auto loan started 2021 at 4.24% and dropped slightly to 4.18% halfway through the year (Bankrate Data). Correspondingly, 36-month used vehicle loans began at 4.53% and decreased slightly to 4.49%. Helping with this low-rate environment is the Federal Reserve, which is making it a point to keep rates consumer-friendly for the remainder of the year and even looking through 2022. Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, says, “amid the recovering economy, the Federal Reserve is still going to keep the interest rates low and new car loan rates are currently the lowest since early 2015.”
The problem for car buyers this year is not the interest rates, but the lack of inventory that we are seeing at our dealerships across the country. The current global chip shortage has tremendously impacted the supply availability of new cars in North America. North American inventory at the end of May 2021 was roughly 1.5 million vehicles compared to 2.6 million at the end of May 2020 (National Automobile Dealers Association). This is projected to drop to as low as 1.3 million vehicles by the end of August. Thus, creating a further problem with high consumer demand for low inventory.
Challenges with new car inventory are only making prices higher for the consumers, therefore placing an even larger emphasis on ancillary protection than ever before. The estimated average transaction price for a new light vehicle in the United States reached $41,263 in May 2021; this is a steep 5.4% increase from the same time last year and up 1.2% from April 2021 (Kelley Blue Book).
Historically it has always been true that by buying a used car a borrower can save money and depreciation. Used vehicle prices typically tend to be much more affordable, but with the lack of new vehicles, we have seen this number drastically increased. At the end of the second quarter of 2021, the average used vehicle price is up to $25,410, from $20,842.00 (JD Power).
What are the next steps for borrowers? With manufacturing and chip shortages caused by COVID-19 related shutdowns, we will continue to see an impact on both new and used car prices. Consumers willing to be patient and wait out the challenges may be able to acquire better deals on car purchases. If you are a consumer who is intent on purchasing a vehicle now, plan to expand your monthly budget and pay about 12.7% over the MSRP or sticker price; this is an increase of 3.8% year over year (JD Power).
As one can see, with a challenging rate environment and auto market, it is imperative that financial institutions are maximizing ancillary protection benefits and providing online auto lending platforms as more consumers are buying vehicles across state lines. Over 90% of consumers are starting their car buying experience online which is up 55% from only a few years ago. This spring, Insurance Trust launched an online auto buying concierge service to help credit unions answer the call for a member online auto buying experience. As the market changes so do consumer habits and spending.
If you would like any more information on the auto market or Insurance Trust solutions for your credit union, please contact Chief Operating Officer, Paul Michaud. pmichaud@insurancetrust.us | 207-333-7093
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Financial Wellness Tips for Medical Expenses
Article by Amber Hollo
Accounting Manager, Insurance Trust
Medical expenses can be extensive and aren’t always easily accessible. Below are several suggestions to help you use your money wisely and still get the care you need. Please note, that you may be able to get additional savings through programs with your health insurer or prescription company.
Ways to Save on Medical Expenses:
- Contribute the maximum allowable to your HSA if you have an HSA compatible plan.
Remember these are pre-tax dollars! More and more items are becoming HSA eligible, including many supplements, OTC medications and supplies.
- Shop lab pricing.
- I found Ulta Lab to be quite a savings for bloodwork
- compairmaine.org is a great tool for comparing lab and medical procedure costs in Maine
- maine.gov/bhr/oeh provides a list of independent lab locations in Maine. A search returns the provider name, site name, address, and county for each option.
- Apply for Care Credit.
They offer multiple years of interest-free payments. I’ll give you my personal example – Lasik eye surgery 2 years ago after a discount for having Anthem insurance: $5000.00. I did not have enough in my HSA to cover the procedure. So, I opened a Care credit account. I put the entire amount on the card and set up payments for 24 months interest-free. I linked that payment to my HSA. I was able to pay the whole amount using HSA pre-tax dollars. As a result, I paid just $5000.00. Say I pay about 20% in taxes. If I had used post-tax dollars from savings/checking, it would really have cost me $6000.00. If I had used a credit card at 25% interest….it would have cost even more.
- Have a savings account for medical expenses.
Ideally, this should have enough to cover a yearly out-of-pocket maximum after HSA total contributions. If you are someone who uses all your HSA yearly, having a savings account for the remainder of your yearly out-of-pocket maximum would mean
no putting medical expenses on your credit card.
- Work with medical practices in establishing payment plans.
If you call their accounting department, many providers can allow/set up a payment plan with you. It’s not usually something advertised, but many do allow it. I’ve done it myself through Firstlight/Mercy and this allows for interest-free payments, either through personal funds or HSA funds as they become available.
- Submit your reimbursements for wellness screenings.
If you have voluntary benefits, they often provide an annual benefit for certain wellness screenings.
Obviously, not everyone has the same circumstances, but the point is, put in a little effort and make your dollars, not you, work harder. I hope you find this helpful!
Should You Offer a DCFSA (Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account) to your Employees?
Article by: Elizabeth Ingram
Vice President of People Strategy, Insurance Trust
A DCFSA is an account that allows employees to pay for childcare (under age 13) expenses pretax. As an employee, although they’ll need to provide invoices or proof of expenses to the DCFSA provider, there are tax savings. Reimbursements cannot be made until after services have been performed, so if the daycare requires payments at the beginning of the week the employee cannot get reimbursed until the end of that week. However, it’s a nice way to keep some extra funds in the employee’s pocket throughout the year, but that doesn’t mean it makes fiscal sense for the employer.
Generally, DCFSAs are administered by third parties (your broker can help you with this if you don’t have a relationship yet) which means there is a cost associated with this benefit. An annual cost is typical, and some third parties have other fees as well. But there are 2 easy ways to determine whether those fees are worth it.
- If you aren’t worried about the expense ($500-$1000/year for a small business) and it makes your employees happy, it may pay for itself in happy, productive employees.
- If you want a hard number comparison, gather your annual costs and take a few minutes to play around in your payroll system. Payroll systems typically allow you to run what I call dummy paychecks through a paycheck calculator. Run 2 calculations on each employee enrolled in the DCFSA; one with their current withdrawal and one without a DCFSA withdrawal. Now, calculate the difference in the employer taxes and multiply it by the number of pay periods per year. If the savings in employer taxes are more than the cost of your DCFSA administration, it’s saving you money. Remember this may change from year to year.
Some benefits you offer may benefit the whole team, while others don’t. But a willingness to consider employee-requested benefits shows you care.
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Consumerism – What does that actually mean?
Article by: Pam Huntington
Employee Benefits Specialist – Insurance Trust
In relation to healthcare, it’s defined as, “transforming an employer’s health benefit plan into one that puts economic purchasing power—and decision-making—in the hands of participants”*. It’s about supplying the information and decision support tools you need, along with financial incentives, rewards, and other benefits that encourage personal involvement in altering health and healthcare purchasing behaviors.”* It’s safe to say we’re good consumers when we’re shopping for our next vehicle or the items we put in our carts at the grocery store but are we good consumers when it comes to shopping for our medical procedures and prescriptions? We often go to the medical facility recommended by our providers and grab our prescriptions from the most convenient pharmacy, but is this the most cost-effective? With the increase in health insurance costs and high deductible health plans, now more than ever, we need to shift our mindset around healthcare and begin to take control of how and where we spend our hard-earned dollars.
Check your Carrier portals Register for your carriers’ portals. Not only will you have access to your electronic ID cards, plan, and claim information, but you may also be eligible for additional programs and add-ons. Many carriers offer wellness initiatives with rewards and discounts.
Comparing Bills with Explanation of Benefits It’s important to take the time to compare your provider invoices with the explanation of benefits (EOB) you receive from your insurance carrier. The EOB will show your financial responsibility, which should match the bill you receive from the provider. Don’t just pay without completing this key step. Overpayments can take 60 days or more to be refunded, and if you underpay you may be subject to an unexpected charge down the road.
Comparison Tools Most insurance carriers provide cost comparison tools to help you “shop” diagnostic procedures and lab testing. Being a savvy consumer can save you a significant amount of money in your out-of-pocket health insurance expenses. See the below examples from Harvard Pilgrim. Same procedures, but the cost difference can be substantial. Many of these programs offer additional reward incentives for choosing lower-cost facilities. Taking a few minutes to shop for your next procedure or lab test can save you money and put extra cash back in your wallet.
Prescription Resources The convenience of picking up our prescriptions at the same time we grab our groceries seems like a no-brainer, but this might not be the most cost-effective option. Did you know you can “shop” your prescriptions? GoodRx offers a website and mobile app, specifically designed for this purpose. Simply by entering your prescription and zip code information they’ll show you the cost of your prescription at all pharmacies in your area. PLEASE NOTE if you utilize a coupon through GoodRx this will not count towards the deductible/cost-sharing of your medical plan. This is something to consider before using one.
Another tool is to research your drug manufacturers’ websites. Some manufacturers offer coupons as well as financial support. There is a process to apply for financial support, but it can be a momentous financial relief and provide direct assistance towards the deducible/cost-sharing on your medical plan. I’ve personally witnessed the benefits of both these options. I recently had a member whose prescription cost was over $1,000/month through their medical plan and with a coupon, the cost was reduced to roughly $100/month. This is an instance where utilizing a coupon made financial sense.
Essentially you’ve purchased your health insurance. It can be a substantial investment when you consider insurance premiums in addition to the deductible and out-of-pocket expenses. Just like a new vehicle, don’t you want to get the most bang for your buck? Knowledge is power. By just taking a little time you can protect and stretch your dollar.
As always, your Employee Benefits Team is here to assist and answer your questions.
* What Is Consumerism in Healthcare? It’s Lasting Impact On The Industry (nrchealth.com)
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What is a Loan Closet?
Article by: Sarah Nash
Training Director, Insurance Trust
I love the saying, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” It has proven to be true in so many areas of my life.
Recently my Dad fell and broke his hip socket. He had to have extensive surgery with plates and pins to repair his hip socket. He had a stay in the hospital followed by a stay in a rehabilitation hospital. I had to learn very fast where to get the equipment he would need when he came home.
His insurance will only pay for one mobility item. Mobility items are wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, shower chairs, portable commodes, or a toilet seat riser. In my Dad’s case, his insurance paid for him to have a walker. Dad’s Physical Therapist asked him if he’d received all the equipment he would need at home. Previously the Case Worker had told my Dad and us that she’d take care of all that. It turns out that the Case Worker does not arrange for your mobility items for use at home. You need to make those arrangements!
The wheelchair, crutches, shower chair, commode, and toilet seat riser were now my mission. Where to find these items, if I had to buy them all, or if we knew anyone that we could borrow these items from. In true Murphy’s Law fashion, I had three days to procure all items.
As I started searching, I first looked at Amazon.com. A basic wheelchair is $110. A basic walker is $30. Basic crutches are $25. A shower chair that sits outside and inside the tub is $55. A toilet seat riser is $27. A bedside commode is $33. So far, we are at $280 for the most basic versions of these items. That number might not sound like a lot of money to some. If you are out of work, do not have disability income, or are already on a fixed income, $280 can be an overwhelming amount to spend for these items that you may never use again once you are recovered.
The Physical Therapist gave my Dad a two-page document titled Loan Closets. Talk about a total game changer?! I had no idea that these places existed and as I tell others about the Loan Closets, it’s been proven to me that not a whole lot of folks know about these resourceful places. I will attach the list for reference. First, I’ll tell you a bit about them.
The Loan Closets are places where you borrow (mostly) FOR FREE, (there is one place on my list that charges a small fee), the mobility items you or your loved one needs to recover. Not all are equal in that some will have only basic items, but others have most all mobility items you may need, even hospital beds. Some are limited to residents of that town only, but others will lend to anyone from anywhere in Maine. We used the one in Standish which will loan to anyone whether they are a town resident or not. They are located at the Kiwanis Club on Route 25. If you’ve ever been to Kiwanis Beach, you can easily find this place. They have a garage filled with mobility items. These locations are typically run by wonderful volunteers. You might have to call and make an appointment to go and get the items you need. Be sure to bring a tape measure and your notes.
Here is a List of Maine Loan Closets
Now that you know these wonderful places exist, let me share my newfound knowledge about some mobility items.
Wheelchairs
There is not just one type of wheelchair. There is what is called a transfer wheelchair. This is to be pushed from behind by someone other than the person in the chair. This type will have no handgrip rail on the wheel of the chair for the occupant to self-propel the chair. Of course, this is the first one I brought home only to find out I had the wrong kind. It never dawned on me to look and see if the handgrip rail was there. I thought all wheelchairs had that on them. I learned my lesson and had to go back and swap it out for the correct kind of chair. Did you know that some wheelchair tires take air just like your car tires? I did not know this. I also did not know that the air compressor chuck we use for our car tires will not fit on the wheelchair valve stem. Any guesses how I figured this out? Let’s just say the hard way, outside in freezing weather. You will need an air compressor chuck that will fit bicycles and other types of similar items. Other wheelchairs have solid wheels, and no air is required. Now I know. Had I known prior, I might have looked for solid wheels, to avoid said air compressor/valve stem issues.
Crutches
Not all crutches are the same size. Be sure to factor the person’s height in when choosing crutches. They should not fit tight up to your armpit. There should be space between your armpit and the cushion on the crutch.
Toilet Seat Risers
Toilet seat risers are not all equal. The one I brought home for my Dad sat on the toilet seat and had no handles. He did say it was like sitting on cold concrete. Luckily, he could get by without that item. They also make toilet risers with handles that sit over the actual toilet almost like a chair. Make sure you measure your area where your toilet is positioned in your bathroom to be sure it will even fit in the spot. This goes along with the adage, “measure twice, cut once”, or if you are me, measure twice, and measure a third time to be safe.
Walkers
Walkers have hard wheels and make A LOT of noise on tile floors. You can upgrade the wheels to some softer, more quiet wheels should you have downstairs neighbors. Tennis balls are put on the rear stationary walker legs to help them slide on the floor. Carpeting, area rugs, and throw rugs will not be your friends during this time.
Shower Chairs
Shower chairs also proved to have more than one model. There are chairs that sit inside the tub. Some have a back and armrests. Some do not. There are “double-wide” chairs so that one side sits in the tub and the other side sits outside the tub. One can sit on the seat outside the tub and shimmy over to the other half that is inside the tub. This is safer for some than stepping over the side of the tub to get to the chair inside the tub.
Vehicles
The last bit of helpful information has nothing to do with the Loan Closets, but it was another thing I had never considered. If you were injured and suffered a mobility issue would you be able to get in and out of your current vehicle? My Dad drives a Toyota Tundra and my Step-Mom drives a Jeep Wrangler. Dad’s injury prevents him from getting up/in both of those vehicles due to their height off the ground.
Hopefully this information is helpful and informative to anyone who suffers an injury or is left caring for someone with a mobility issue. As I was researching how to get the Loan Closet list from New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland Maine, my phone call was directed to Maine Medical Center. The nice woman who answered was named Martha. When I told her what I was trying to find, she had never heard of this “list” and asked if I could fax it to her. She gets many calls asking where folks can get mobility items. The only place she knew to refer them was to Black Bear Medical. I looked on their website and it doesn’t list prices, so I cannot speak for the cost to purchase any items from them. (Black Bear Medical is for purchasing items, and the cost is often offset by insurance.) Please note the information on the attached list is subject to change and accurate as of March 2021.
Please note that most of these Loan Closets will accept donations of mobility items you may have and not need. They do ask that you make an appointment to drop off any donated items rather than leaving it unattended.
What is a MEWA?
Article by: Elizabeth Ingram
Vice President of People Strategy, Insurance Trust
MEWA is an acronym for Multiple Employer Welfare Association. It’s a group of employers with some sort of commonality that joins together, primarily for the purpose of offering employee benefits.
Here in Maine, many Credit Unions and Credit Union Service Organizations (CUSOs) are part of a MEWA named the Maine Credit Union League Insurance Trust (MCULIT) that offers medical insurance. However, a MEWA can offer other benefits (dental, vision, etc. as well). The idea is that working together can provide cost savings or better benefits for employers and their employees.
MEWAs have to be approved by the state Bureau of Insurance (BOI) since they operate a bit like insurance companies. However, a MEWA generally works with an insurance company to either run the health insurance plan completely (a fully-funded plan) or provide a network of providers, negotiate discounts, and provide stop-loss insurance (a self-funded plan). MCULIT is a self-funded plan which works with Anthem.
If you are a Maine Credit Union or CUSO who isn’t already part of our MEWA, MCULIT, and you’re interested in learning more, please reach out to our Employee Benefits Specialist, Pam Huntington at phuntington@insurancetrust.us or 207-641-5410.
What You Need to Know About Early Retirement Executive Compensation Packages and Health Insurance Coverage
Article by: Kim Daigle
President/CEO – Insurance Trust
Does your credit union currently offer an early retirement executive compensation package that includes health insurance coverage?
You need to be aware that just because you were offered an early retirement package by your credit union’s Board of Directors does not mean that it is necessarily compliant with the organization’s current or future health insurance companies’ provision for retired employees.
Over the last 3 years, I’ve discovered that many credit unions’ executive compensation plans do not align with the insurance companies’ policies. To qualify for your employers’ health insurance coverage, you must be working the minimum number of hours to remain on the active group plan. This will vary but minimum hours are dictated by each carrier and your plan documents and must be consistent for all employees.
If you plan to retire before age 65 and have an executive compensation package from your Board of Directors that includes health insurance coverage, you NEED to ask the following questions:
- Does your current or future health insurance company offer retiree coverage for those retiring under age 65?
- Just because your employer keeps you on the active group plan doesn’t mean you are eligible for coverage. If your credit union keeps you on the active group plan and your current or future health insurance does not allow retired employees under age 65 on the active group health insurance plan, you’re not eligible for coverage.
- If your health insurance carrier does allow under age 65 retirees to stay on the active group health insurance plan, make sure you get this in writing from your health insurance carrier including the parameters in which they allow an under age 65 retiree to be on the current plan.
- If your health insurance plan does not allow you to be on the active group health insurance plan under 65, here are the options you have:
- If your credit union is large enough to be COBRA eligible (20+ FTE or in a MEWA), this would allow for coverage for 18 months from your retirement and end date on the active plan.
- If COBRA will expire prior to turning age 65, you can then enroll in an individual marketplace health insurance plan through healthcare.gov until you become eligible to enroll in Medicare. These plans are offered on the “exchange” but can be quite costly since it based off your current age.
- If your credit union is not large enough to be COBRA eligible, you can enroll in the individual marketplace health insurance through healthcare.gov.
- Your employer CAN contribute to the cost of your COBRA coverage AND/OR your individual marketplace health plan coverage.
Insurance Trust uniquely understands credit unions and Employee Benefits. Please utilize our agency as a resource to help make sure your executive compensation package is compliant.
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Finding Hope and Balance as a Parent in “The New Normal”
Article by: Heather Baird
Account Manager – Employee Benefits
This is for the other working mamas, dads, and caregivers out there.
Going into 2020 none of us could have foreseen the changes our lives have endured over the last year. The terms of the year have included “unprecedented times” and “our new normal”. There has been nothing “normal” about this year! As a working mom of three small children, this year has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, and if I’m going to be honest, there have been a lot of down days. I would say we’re surviving our new normal rather than conquering it most days. Early in the pandemic, I saw this quote: “In the rush to return back to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to” (Dave Hollis). Meditate on that for a minute.
As women (kudos to you men as well), many of us are inherently givers. We take care of our people, spouses, children, family, neighbors, friends. We do this to a fault, and sometimes to the detriment of our own health and well-being. By the end of many days, I find there is not enough energy left for me. Self-care? What’s that, and more importantly what does it look like for me? After my third child was born, I finally took time for myself and began seeing a therapist. I remember she looked at me and asked, “Do you think you’re depressed?” I remember pausing a minute and saying, “Probably, but I don’t have time to be depressed!”
Looking back, I laugh. It’s so true. How many of you are tired? Our culture has become so goal-oriented and driven we’ve lost sight of balance and rest. It’s become a badge of honor to be overworked and exhausted. We work long hours at our day job and then jump right into our other roles at home. It’s a whirlwind of go, go, go, and turning around and doing it again the next day.
As a child of the ’80s, I remember the days when it was a big deal to rent a movie at Blockbuster on Saturday night realizing you would get an extra day free. That’s right; businesses were closed on Sundays. What a novel idea, a day of rest. What if we went back to that concept and allowed ourselves time each week to truly rest? To forget about the laundry and dishes and instead enjoy a good book, pick up a hobby, or spend quality time with our loved ones.
I’ve heard people say that an addict needs to hit rock bottom before they come to a place where they can start their journey towards healing. This year has brought me to my knees on more than one occasion, and I’m realizing that sometimes it’s not until we’re in our darkest moments that we finally start to see the light. The light was always there, we were just too busy and distracted to see it.
As hard as this year has been it’s been extremely enlightening. “They” say in every storm there is a blessing. I’ve finally come to a place of realization that I need healthy boundaries and structured balance in my life, and I’m finally taking the time to figure out what self-care looks like for me. It’s my heart’s hope each of you take the time this pandemic has given us to reflect on your lives too. Don’t go back to “normal.” You deserve better than normal!
Most importantly, know you are not alone. There is nothing normal about this. It’s chaotic and stressful, but we’re all in this together. It just looks and feels different for each of us. That mom down the street or on social media may look like she has it all together, but I guarantee she struggles too. If you’re struggling and don’t know where to start check-in with your HR contact, benefits administrator, or primary care physician to see what resources are available. As dark as your days may seem there is hope.
And for that mama in the drop off lane whose kid is having a meltdown or hasn’t showered in two days, this is for you, “I respect parents who have it all together, but parents who stumble in to drop their kids off at school, looking like they just got attacked by a flock of angry birds? Those are my people!” (author unknown)
Mental Health | United Way 211
What is My Emergency Fund?
Article by: Elizabeth Ingram
Vice President of People Strategy, Insurance Trust
For me, this year’s pandemic reminded me of the importance of an emergency fund. I know that there are scads of suggestions of how much to save and how because I’ve read them. I also know that storing 3 to 6 or even 12 months of savings in an easily (but not too easily) accessed account is not practical with childcare costs, debt repayments, and just life. I direct a portion of my income into savings each pay period, but honestly, that savings isn’t just for emergencies, it’s for home maintenance and sometimes presents even as we seek to grow it. Knowing that we didn’t have the suggested emergency savings in the midst of a pandemic freaked me out.
But just last month I realized something; in my worst-case scenario where both my husband & I lost our jobs, we wouldn’t just use an emergency savings account, we’d use everything to take care of our family. I realize that there are many other worst-case scenarios out there, but I cross my fingers and pray that insurance covers most of them; I know it won’t pay the bills if our jobs are gone.
If our jobs were gone, we wouldn’t be paying for childcare thus cutting our biggest expense from our budget. We would be paying a lot more for insurance, thus increasing our budget anyway. But we wouldn’t just use our savings account, we could use the money in our HSA account for the COBRA expenses. We could apply for unemployment benefits. If we absolutely had to, we could pull money from our investment account, the contributions previously made to my Roth IRA, the cash value from our whole life insurance. None of these options are ideal but knowing that there is a little more money available in case of my worst-case helps me sleep at night.
In an emergency, all of your money is an emergency fund. So, figure out where that money is and give yourself a little grace if what you have isn’t as much as you think it should be. I know you’re trying.