Articles Posted in Group Legal plans

No one can entirely escape the government, not even hermits up in the mountains. You will sooner or later have to work with a public agency or an official’s office to get things done. It is essential to know how to deal with public agencies to get the services you need.

The public sector intends to help citizens, but the average person does not effectively work with a public bureaucracy. There often appears to be so many forms to fill out or data to submit. This happens because the government must have the correct information to get the job done. Moreover, government entities are themselves governed by various regulations. Errors of omission on forms or missed deadlines will cause lengthy delays. A perceived inability to get things done will cause the average citizen to be reluctant to work with the government. That should never be the case. Continue reading

The Biden Administration declared February 28 through March 6 as National Consumer Protection Week. It recognizes that COVID-19 did more than release a deadly virus. It created the opportunity for considerable amounts of consumer fraud.

Consumers lost billions last year in all kinds of scams. Identity theft in the form of phishing emails and robocall led the list. People who were quarantined were at home during the day and put at the mercy of unsolicited phone calls and pressure tactics. Older people have always been a target and were primary victims. Continue reading

The Colonial Pipeline scare introduced many of us to ransomware and that is just one of the tools used to hack into computer privacy. Hacking is a simple concept. Thieves break through the security walls surrounding data and have the software to conduct lengthy and thorough raids on the information. The victim suffers devastating consequences. The standard hacker habits include wiping out bank accounts, maxing out credit cards, and other forms of mischief.

A successful person has a right to worry about these attacks on privacy. It takes cyberpiracy to a whole new level. There must be a means of protecting a person’s private information and assets. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has offered a group legal plan benefit for organizations since 1987. In addition, we do something else that many group legal plans do not. We provide individual identity theft and credit monitoring plans. Continue reading

We have talked about the importance of living wills and how a person’s wishes for medical care are safeguarded if that person becomes unresponsive. It is essential to look at a companion legal document that supports the living will: medical powers of attorney. Group legal plans should include medical powers of attorney with any offering of a living will. It is the active agent.

The Power to Direct

The intent is to name a trusted individual to be the agent of the unresponsive patient in matters dealing with medical care. It includes making sure that religious considerations are honored, and specific treatments are used. Medical powers of attorney can relieve family members of decision-making burdens. It is hard enough emotionally to deal with the possibility of a loved one dying. Giving instructions on when to turn off the life support system is excruciating for a child or a spouse. A trusted third party makes the grieving process easier to bear. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services offers medical powers of attorney as an option for our group legal plan benefit. Continue reading

Older employees can have a touch of grey, but it does not mean they are not productive and can no longer contribute to the team. They have the experience of the years to balance the enthusiasm of younger employers, and they serve as valuable mentors. They are necessary for the success of any organization.

Good employee benefits help a person be prepared for significant life events. An older employee is concerned about retirement planning. They want to be ready for the day when the desk gets cleaned out and the last goodbyes are made. There are many legal documents the older employee has, and these were created years ago. Are they still valid? That is an important question, and outdated legal papers can lead to some very nasty surprises. Continue reading

The pandemic changed the office place, and those changes are here to stay. Employees enjoy working from home and are proving to be even more productive due to a change of scenery. People weathered a storm that saw them relying on stimulus checks and personal savings to make it through quarantines. There is now a new normal, and that impacts employee benefits.

Folks want a little bit extra when it comes to services. They might not be able to walk down the hall to the human resources department, but employees still want the feeling of direct contact. They will not be satisfied with information pages on a website or podcasts. When employers are thinking of new benefits, communication is going to be critical. Continue reading

We are coming out of the pandemic. First Texas, and now other states are dropping mask requirements and schools are re-opening. It is a relief to return to near normalcy, but no one can rest on false hopes. COVID-19 is still here, and there is a chance of a relapse. Vendors of group legal plans must think long term and respond to the changes in the workplace and what precautions and services are expected.

Safety, Always First

Plan members want direct contact with those who will provide pre-paid legal services. Chat rooms are not sufficient. Providers must have safety protocols that provide sanitary conditions and reduce the risk of infection. The use of Zoom technology helps, and a fax machine will get the job done at a safe distance. Any office visit will require social distancing and face masks available for use. Continue reading

A new employee benefit is only as good as its services. Employees appreciate the additional perk, but positive feelings will fade if a plan member must do all the work. It is essential to ask a vendor about the primary benefits and what other services are offered to enhance a plan member’s experience.

Countrywide Help

Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has been providing a group legal plan benefit since 1987 for all kinds of organizations. Our nationwide network of attorneys will draft a will, advise on working with government agencies, and give consumer protection advice. These services are not delivered in chat rooms. Continue reading

They are the old war horses of the organization. Employees who are in their fifties or older, and who have been reliable and productive for years, deserve respect and a little bit more. These veterans of countless staff meetings require some help with legal issues.

Guarding the Estate

Older employees  are not suing people or going before the bench for other reasons. They are having some issues dealing with all the paperwork that comes with advancing age.

Many worry about what they will leave behind. Dying without a will tosses an estate into probate court. Everything will go slower than cold molasses and it may be months or years before everything gets settled. Beneficiaries are forced to wait but drafting a simple will can speed things up. Continue reading

Nobody likes to think of it, but devastating accidents can happen. These will come unannounced and wreak havoc on the unprepared. The medical emergency might leave the victim unresponsive.

Wishes Ignored

It is not true that everyone wants the same medical treatment. Patients who embrace different lifestyles might not want to be given certain medications. Religious backgrounds can persuade someone else that they must follow specific rules for health care. The desires of the patient, unfortunately, might be ignored. Healthcare providers are ethically charged to keep a patient alive. These caregivers will follow standard procedures unless they are told otherwise. Someone who is in a coma cannot communicate treatment requirements. A living will make decisions more straightforward, but not all group legal plans provide them. Countrywide Pre-paid Legal Services writes living wills as a group legal plan service. Continue reading