Some customer service calls are tougher than others.

Nora works for a long time client. Her health insurance had been through her husband’s employer. Sadly, he just recently passed away after battling cancer.

Qualifying events like this allow Nora to enroll in my client’s group health plan. Her call was simply to ask for help with that.

Then, this: “Do we still have coverage under our voluntary life insurance policy?”

FYI, by definition, voluntary plans are no cost  to employers. We routinely recommend them. This client had listened.

Regrettably however - no doubt from the stress of her loss - Nora hadn’t remembered canceling their coverage years ago.

Ugh!

Apparently they decided then to save (literally) just a few bucks every payday.

It gets worse.

Voluntary plans have an annual open enrollment wherein, without regard to pre-existing conditions, you can sign up for or add to coverage (within defined policy limits).

Turns out, during the course of her husband’s illness, Nora could have added $40,000 of death benefit.

Sure, hindsight is perfect, but we’ve just got  to do a better job of leading the “horses” to water.

Short of offering “drinks” on the house, consider this Tip a start!