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Spring 2020 Issue

April 22, 2020June 30, 2025

Facts You Need About Medicare Supplement Insurance

by Laura Kinart

The ins and outs of Medicare and supplement insurance can be confusing, and it is best for you to seek advice from an insurance expert who takes the time to fully understand your current situation and the future needs of you and your family.

Because WisMed Assure is the only insurance agency in Wisconsin working exclusively with physicians and the healthcare community (healthcare is our only business), we may be your best choice when it comes time to figure out what you need to do about Medicare and Medicare Supplement Insurance. Read More

Laura Kinart brings over 18 years of industry experience to WisMed Assure. She currently specializes as a property casualty Account Executive, working with the agency’s large physician groups, hospital and health systems clients. In the recent past, Laura spent a year working exclusively consulting clients on Medicare Supplement programs at WPS.

How to Get Ideal Long-Term Disability for Your Specialty Group

by Dave Serena

The simple truth is specialty physician groups need special treatment in order be fully protected from the financial hardships a disability can cause.

Finding the ideal LTD insurance for your specialty group usually begins with a conversation with an experienced insurance advisor who recognizes the unique vulnerability of your specialty.

Dave Serena has been an Insurance Advisor with Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance Services since 1995. Working exclusively with Physicians – he has more than 800 active clients – Mr. Serena provides guidance for income and asset protection. He is dedicated to working with Residents, Fellows, and practicing Physicians and their families. Mr. Serena is a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He is the recipient of the National Association of Life Underwriters’ prestigious National Quality Award.

Legislature votes on COVID-19 package

Yesterday the Legislature passed and Governor Evers signed a package (Act 185) aimed at dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The package contained a myriad of proposals, but focused primarily on health care, unemployment and schools.

Winter 2020 Issue

January 31, 2020June 30, 2025

Play Defense and Offense to Win the Medical Liability Game

This is the final instalment of a three-part series on changes in the Wisconsin MPL insurance market.

By Shawna Bertalot, CIC, ACI – WisMed Assure President

Three of every four primary care physicians will be sued by a patient during the course of their career. The numbers are even worse for specialties.

Which is why physicians as a whole are not willing to take the chance they will be among the lucky few who never get sued. To guard against the financial impact of a law suit, they purchase Medical Professional Liability (MPL) insurance. But, as Wisconsin physicians begin to experience rising MPL premiums along with greater underwriting scrutiny, the question becomes, “How can I get the coverage I need and avoid paying too much

Term Life Insurance

By Dave Serena

“How much can I get for how little?”

This is the usual question from a potential buyer of “Term” Life insurance.
But for our Residents, Fellows, and young Physicians who want to protect their life and their family, it’s an incomplete question.
The better question is, “How can I inexpensively protect my family from bad consequences while we buy time for our assets to grow to a point where we won’t need Life Insurance anymore?”

Dave Serena has been an Insurance Advisor with Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance Services since 1995. Working exclusively with Physicians – he has more than 800 active clients – Mr. Serena provides guidance for income and asset protection. He is dedicated to working with Residents, Fellows, and practicing Physicians and their families. Mr. Serena is a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He is the recipient of the National Association of Life Unerwriters’ prestigious National Quality Award.

Physician Wellness Matters

New course battles financial stress and physician burnout

by Christopher Rufus Sweeny

The survey says… wait, that’s wrong. Start again: 42 percent of all surveyed physicians say that they are burned out. And that number is steadily rising.
My research shows that financial anxiety is one of the primary drivers of physician depression, burnout, and suicide. When asked why, physicians say it’s because of their job. But, when asked what would reduce burnout, their first answer is increased compensation to avoid financial stress.
But, think about this: getting a higher salary is often not something you can directly control. On the other hand, you do have direct control of how you manage your salary. You can control what you have.

Fall 2019 Issue

November 16, 2019June 30, 2025

Keeping Wisconsin Safe: Why it’s the Best Place to Practice Medicine

There’s a reason Wisconsin is one of the safest places to practice medicine; it’s long been a haven for affordable medical professional liability (MPL) insurance. Which, among many other reasons, also makes it a great state to be a patient in. But now, as the rest of the country feels the impact of increased MPL premiums, it may only be a matter of time before Wisconsin physicians see similar increases.

What are the Timing Rules for Employer and Employee HSA Contributions? What Should be Done if HSA Contributions are Submitted Late?

It’s Time to Jump Start Your 2020 Employee Benefit Process

Open enrollment season is upon us! We created a list of important items you should consider to ensure your employee benefit program for 2020 is implemented without a hitch.

Check it out here.

Summer 2019 Issue

September 18, 2019June 30, 2025

History Repeats Itself: Medical Liability Insurance Premiums on the Rise

Physicians in Wisconsin will soon be paying more for medical professional liability (MPL) insurance thanks to a cyclical “hardening” of the market. Many younger physicians have never experienced a hard market because we have been in a “soft” market for an unprecedented length of time. The last time premiums increased was in 2001. And, prior to that, 1975 and 1986.