 * COVERAGE EFFECTIVE DATE IS AUGUST 1, 2019 * OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR EMPLOYERS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ENROLL IS JUNE 1ST TO JULY 15TH *We have reached our 500 member minimum threshold for coverage to go into effect August 1st! However, if you miss the July 15th deadline, you can still enroll at a later date. See schedule below: Deadline Effective Date 8/15 9/1 9/15 10/1 10/15 11/1 11/15 12/1 12/15 1/1 ENROLL NOW SFFMA and VFIS of Texas have secured a Group Cancer & Critical Illness Insurance Plan that provides 24 hour (on the job and off the job) coverage. This Cancer & Critical Illness Insurance is available to employers (paid & volunteers) and individual members. Highlights Include:
To Enroll:
Download a Sample Policy Proposal for Detailed Plan Info *Initial diagnosis of covered critical illness must occur while the insured is covered under the group policy. If the insured has a reoccurrence of a prior covered illness after coverage begins then the plan pays under the, Reoccurrence Benefit: If a critical illness benefit is payable and there is a subsequent diagnosis or recommendation for the same critical illness, a reoccurrence benefit equal to 25% of the coverage amount is payable if the insured meet both of the following: The insured has been continuously insured under the group policy between the initial and subsequent diagnosis or recommendation. The insured has served a 12-month treatment free period during such continuous insurance.
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Workers’ Compensation insurer Texas Mutual Insurance Co. announced plans to distribute $330 million in dividends to policyholders in 2019. The dividends will be distributed to over 55,000 business owners, who are policyholder owners of the company, in late June.
Texas Mutual paid its first dividend in 1999, and this year’s payout brings the total to $2.8 billion delivered back to Texas businesses over the last 21 years. The dividend program is the company’s way of sharing its success with its customers who prevent workplace accidents and help injured workers get back on the job. Watch the video below to find out more about how ownership pays at Texas Mutual.
Visit Texas Mutual's website by CLICKING HERE to learn more and read FAQ's on Workers' Comp Policyholder Dividends.
 According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. In the US, approximately 39 out of 100 men and 38 out of 100 women will develop cancer during their lifetime. In the United States, 1,762,450 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2019. This estimate does not include carcinoma in situ (noninvasive cancer) of any site except urinary bladder, nor does it include basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers because these are not required to be reported to cancer registries. About 606,880 Americans are expected to die of cancer in 2019, which translates to about 1,660 deaths per day. A breakdown of some of the most common types of cancer and the estimated number of new cancer cases and deaths in the US for 2019:
In Texas, 124,890 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2019 and 41,300 Texans are expected to die of cancer in 2019. To put this into perspective, the number of new cancer cases expected in Texas in 2019 is similar to the entire city population of Round Rock, Carrollton, Abilene, The Woodlands or Pearland. The expected number of cancer deaths in Texas in 2019 is similar to the entire city population of San Marcos, Grapevine, Galveston, Spring or DeSoto. According to Forbes (contributor Arlene Weintraub on August 10, 2017), the median monthly out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatments is $703 or $8,436 annually. This is where WinStar Insurance Group can help. Cancer / Critical Illness Insurance helps supplement your major medical coverage by providing a lump-sum benefit that you can use to pay direct and indirect costs. For more information or a free quote on Cancer / Critical Illness insurance, contact Tom Newby at 512-628-5189 or tnewby@winstarins.com. CONGRATULATIONS to the following recipients of the 2019 Emergency Responder Health and Wellness Grant sponsored by VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual! We received a record-breaking 126 grant applications requesting more than $542,000. Award letters will be sent to each of these recipients in the next few days.
Applications for the 2020 Health & Wellness Grant will open in July/August 2019. Stay tuned!  Every organization operating today has key people that help it remain successful and profitable. Although most organizations insure their property and assets, few think to insure their most precious assets--the men and women whose education, experience, talent, and judgment contributes substantially to the financial success of the organization. Loss of a key person can adversely affect the organization’s operating efficiency, and will cause expenses related to finding his/her replacement.
Typical losses associated with losing a key person include:
Closely held organizations are particularly at risk since there are typically one or two people whose skill and contacts make the organization operate effectively. This is incredibly true for certain high ranking members of fire departments. How Key Person Insurance Works The organization purchases a key person life insurance policy on the key employee. The organization is the owner and beneficiary of the policy. There is no one special key person policy. The organization should choose the policy that best fits its needs. · The organization makes non-deductible premium payments and retains all ownership rights. Cash values inside the policy grow tax-free. If the key person dies, the organization will receive income tax free death proceeds if the two requirements of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 are met:
Considerations
To learn more about Key Person Insurance or to get a Quote, contact our Employee Benefits Sales Executive Tom Newby at (512) 628-5189 or tnewby@winstarins.com.
Check out the video above showcasing Tanglewood VFD & how they utilized their 2018 Grant funds
2019 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant - VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are once again pleased to sponsor a need-based Health & Wellness Grant program for fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage participation in a health & wellness program to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts in order to receive the grant funds Grant application deadline is December 31, 2018.
Who is eligible:
What is eligible:
How it works:
**THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 31, 2018.** DOWNLOAD GRANT APPLICATION HERE How to Apply: Mail to: VFIS of Texas 3420 Executive Center Dr, #301 Austin, TX 78731 Fax to: 512-448-9929 E-mail to: vfisoftexas@vfistx.com 2020 Grant Applications will be Open around July/August 2019. Subscribe to our Newsletter to be Notified:
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 2019 Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) - The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) is a grant program designed to reimburse eligible volunteer fire departments for the purchase of insurance from private insurance companies. Eligible coverage includes any combination of compensation insurance for firefighters (workers’ compensation, death, and/or disability insurance) purchased from Texas insurance companies. The program will reimburse 100% of the actual cost of eligible insurance coverage up to a maximum of $175 per fire department member.
Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by its members are eligible. Any part-paid/part-volunteer department is also eligible, provided the number of paid members is 20 or less. Departments may enter into agreements with cities or counties in order to qualify for coverage and/or special premiums. All eligible departments must participate in a firefighter certification program administered under Section 419.071 of the Texas Government Code (Texas Commission on Fire Protection), or by the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas (SFFMA), or by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). TO APPLY, PLEASE COMPLETE AND SUBMIT BEFORE JULY 31, 2019: 1) Rural Volunteer Fire Department Application for Grant Assistance (Form TFS-FO-408) 2) Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (IRS Form W-9) 3) Roster of active fire department members. 4) Copy of a Payroll Classification Schedule Page 1 and 2, or a copy of the current paid insurance policy which provides insurance coverage during the calendar year 2018, or payment receipt for a workers’ compensation insurance policy, or death insurance policy, or disability insurance policy. IMPORTANT NOTES: • The policy or payment documents must show the policy number, the cost or premium amount and the coverage period. • All required reimbursement documents must accompany the 2019 grant application form. • Applications, either complete or incomplete, arriving after July 31, 2019 are not eligible for reimbursement. • ONLY ONE application per department will be reimbursed for the enrollment period of November 2018 thru July 31, 2019. All forms can be found at texasfd.com/RuralVFDInsuranceProgram or by contacting the Capacity Building Department. SUBMIT VIA FAX, EMAIL OR MAIL FAX TO: Texas A&M Forest Service 200 Technology Way, Suite 1162 College Station, Texas 77845-3424 P: 979-458-6505 F: 979-845-6160 Email: ffins@tfs.tamu.edu Website: TexasFD.com Yesterday, VFIS of Texas along with Texas Mutual Insurance Company & the American Heart Association, we honored first responders while commemorating 9/11. Our employees/owners delivered care packages to local firefighters and emergency medical responders to show our appreciation for everything they do keep our communities safe. Departments we visited included Travis County ESD #1, Travis County ESD #12, Travis County ESD #3- Oak Hill EMT Academy, Travis County ESD #5 - Manchaca Fire Rescue, Travis County ESD #10, Lake Travis Fire Rescue, San Marcos Hays County EMS, Hutto Fire Rescue, Williamson County EMS, Westlake Fire Department, & Wimberley EMS.
From insurance, training, and wellness grants to assisting in the development of future first responders, we're committed to supporting those that keep our communities safe. Thanks to all first responders for helping build a stronger, safer Texas. More Photos: https://www.facebook.com/VFISofTX/posts/1895759773850377  Photo courtesy of Pearsall VFD 2019 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant - VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are once again pleased to sponsor a need-based Health & Wellness Grant program for fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage participation in a health & wellness program to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts in order to receive the grant funds Grant application deadline is December 31, 2018.
Who is eligible:
What is eligible:
How it works:
**THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 31, 2018.** DOWNLOAD GRANT APPLICATION HERE How to Apply: Mail to: VFIS of Texas 3420 Executive Center Dr, #301 Austin, TX 78731 Fax to: 512-448-9929 E-mail to: vfisoftexas@vfistx.com  Tanglewood VFD firefighters (Before & After training equipment earned through Health & Wellness grant) VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are pleased to once again sponsor a need-based Health & Wellness Grant program for fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage participation in a health & wellness program to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts in order to receive the grant funds.
Grant applications will open on July 1. You can find more info on our grants at www.vfistx.com/grant-information. |
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IMPORTANT NOTE: This Web site provides only a simplified description of coverages and is not a statement of contract. Coverage may not apply in all states. For complete details of coverages, conditions, limits and losses not covered, be sure to read the policy, including all endorsements, or prospectus, if applicable. Coverage CANNOT be bound, amended, or altered by leaving a message on, or relying upon, information in this Website or through E-Mail.
Licensed & doing business in the following states only: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, & Mississippi
Licensed & doing business in the following states only: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, & Mississippi