Risk management has become a key factor of successful organizations. Despite risk management's importance, outdated and inappropriate ideas about how to manage risk dominate. This book challenges existing paradigms of risk management and provides readers with new concepts and tools for the current dynamic risk management environment. The framework for the book is a series of questions that allows for an interesting and thought-provoking look at current ideas and forward-looking concepts. This book, intended for senior managers, directors, risk managers, students of risk management, and all others who need to be concerned about risk management and strategy, provides a solid base for not only understanding current best practice in risk management, but also the conceptual tools for exploiting emerging risk management technologies, metrics, regulations, and ideas. The central thesis is that risk management is a value-adding activity that all types of organizations, public, private as well as not-for-profit, can use for competitive advantage and maximum effectiveness.

Most academic and policy commentary represents adverse selection as a severe problem in insurance, which should always be deprecated, avoided or minimised. This book gives a contrary view. It details the exaggeration of adverse selection in insurers' rhetoric and insurance economics, and presents evidence that in many insurance markets, adverse selection is weaker than most commentators suggest. A novel arithmetical argument shows that from a public policy perspective, 'weak' adverse selection can be a good thing. This is because a degree of adverse selection is needed to maximise 'loss coverage', the expected fraction of the population's losses which is compensated by insurance. This book will be valuable for those interested in public policy arguments about insurance and discrimination: academics (in economics, law and social policy), policymakers, actuaries, underwriters, disability activists, geneticists and other medical professionals.

Confused, Bewildered, Perplexed and Unsure about your Health Insurance Options?

Includes the New Health Insurance Marketplaces

Looking for a resource guide that helps you navigate the maze of health care choices available to you? Want a clear and concise book which answers all your questions? It's not the answers you already know, it's the questions you don't even know to ask Questions you might be thinking about? What does the Affordable Care Act change? What are the Health Insurance Marketplaces? What does Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum mean? Am I eligible for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions? Should I contribute to an FSA? What are the penalties for not enrolling for health insurance? What is concierge medicine? How do I contribute to an HSA? What are the costs for original Medicare? What's the difference between a Med Supp plan and a Medicare Advantage plan? What's a Medigap plan? Are there tax credits for small business owners? What's a donut hole? What is the MIB? What options do I have for long-term care? Can I qualify for Medicaid?

Click the book cover to "Look Inside" to read the first 10% of the book free. Who might benefit from the information and tools contained in this book? You're going to be turning age 65 in 2014. You're a small business owner figuring out if you can offer health insurance to your employees. You want a comprehensive resource guide covering the new Health Insurance Marketplaces and the plans offered. You're a healthcare professional who wants to learn more about the choices consumers have for their healthcare needs. Retirement Planning and Medicare

Healthcare expenses can torpedo your retirement savings if these costs are not properly taken into account. Thinking that portfolio returns will exceed your potential health care expenses should extensive medical care be needed is ignoring financial market reality. Additional information is included covering: Cost of Health Care Disability Income Insurance Choices for Long-Term Care Medicaid The Future of Health Care

Save and Borrow Money the Smart Way A Better Way to Save, Borrow, and Recycle Your Family's Money will show you and your family a better way to simultaneously save money and borrow money. If you are looking for the smartest way to save money, borrow money, or if you are contemplating how to get a loan, or even how to save for retirement, then read this book first. Most people believe the bank is the only place to save money or borrow money, and IRA's and 401K's are the only place to save for retirement. However, a bank savings account doesn't allow you to keep earning money when you take money out of the account to pay for an expense. Likewise, neither 401K's nor IRA's allow you to borrow money from them without severe limitations, potentially significant penalties and taxes, and you'll miss out on any potential market gains. There is a smarter way to save and borrow with more flexibility so that your money works much harder for you and allows your family to keep more in their pocket. If you are open to listening to an idea that has been around for close to 200 years and stood the test of time, then consider looking at a participating whole life insurance policy. A participating whole life insurance policy, specifically built with a high cash value as part of the infinite banking concept, allows you to save money and borrow money with much greater efficiency and superior financial performance than any other system you are currently using. This is due to the fact that a properly designed participating whole life policy allows you to get safe, tax-deferred growth and allows you to simultaneously borrow money from the cash value without impacting the growth of that money. Unlike a bank savings account or a bank loan, you can literally get your money working in two different directions at once so you can live better today while saving for tomorrow. If you currently have or are contemplating owning a bank savings account, credit cards, student loans, personal loans, business loans, or car loans, then you need to read this book. Even if you think you are financially savvy and pay cash for all of your major expenses, the system illustrated will keep more in your pocket. Just by reading this book, you will understand why and how you could easily be saving $100,000 to $200,000 over your lifetime if you are currently using credit cards, financing, or paying cash for major expenses.

Even with the delay of the Employer Mandate, Health Care Reform is radically changing the health insurance environment for employers. The Smart Business Guide to Health Care Reform is your plain-language, yet detail-rich, ticket to understanding the impact of the law on employers (and everyone else). It will help your company navigate the new challenges presented by the law to reduce costs and keep employees happy. The law is complicated, and if you are responsible for making insurance decisions for your company, it is causing stress and anxiety that impacts your work life, and likely your personal well-being, as well. Like all laws, however, it is manageable when you are able to determine what portions impact you and concentrate on those issues. This book is your short cut to understanding what PPACA says, what it doesn't say, and how both will impact your business. The purpose is not to tell you everything about the law; but rather to inform you of the relevant provisions and translate those provisions from bureaucrat-speak to plain English. So while you may not fully understand every obscure provision, you hopefully will have the tools you need to assess your organization's exposure to key aspects of PPACA. This book is NOT a legal treatise, a magic bullet in the form of legal/accounting/insurance advice, or an op-ed piece telling you how wonderful or horrible the law is. It is information presented in a manner intelligent people can understand and apply. Bureaucrat-speak is translated, and the interaction between various provisions is discussed. Some issues addressed are: How do we know if the Employer Mandate applies to us? What about part-time and seasonal workers? What are the advantages and disadvantages of dropping coverage? Should we consider exchanges as the answer to our health insurance issues? Other than complying with the Employer Mandate, what else do businesses need to do to be in compliance with PPACA? What about FSAs, HSAs, and HRAs? Are defined contribution or self-insured plans options? What role does the Coast Guard have in implementation of Health Care Reform? This practical, easy to navigate, and easily understood discussion of the law will demystify topics that have been built up as unsolvable, and put you in the best position possible to analyze your company's health insurance responsibilities and opportunities.

If one of the "hats" you wear is "insurance-buyer" for your bank, then this is the book for you. This book is written for bankers who buy insurance for their banks. Hundreds of definitions, forms, charts, suggestions, recommendations, and just plain good advice - for bankers. The language of insurance is demystified and translated into banker-speak. Scott Simmonds has worked with more than 370 banks in his career as a consultant. Bankers look to Scott to help make their insurance better - better coverage, better premiums, easier administration, and faster claims. Unbiased, expert bank-experience. In this second edition of his book, you get his latest thoughts, ideas, and approaches. One hundred updates were made from the 2007 version. Scott has received many industry awards and designations, making him one of the top 1% of insurance professionals in the country. Scott's ideas have been published and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Forbes, The Boston Globe, and the Ellsworth American. He is a past president of his local Rotary Club, and of the Maine Association of Professional Consultants.