How to Talk About Insurance During the Holiday Season

By Alex Vandevere | November 27, 2013

  • November 27, 2013 at 1:30 pm
    MKuntz says:
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    Good article on an interesting subject.

  • November 27, 2013 at 2:06 pm
    nomesaneman says:
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    Q: What do you do for a living?
    A: How ’bout them Cowboys?!

  • November 27, 2013 at 2:37 pm
    Rusty says:
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    Sounds like the first step in bringing the federal government into your living room (or dining room in this case). I can hear the bureaucrats now: “How do we get more people to support and sign up for the new health insurance program? I know, let’s produce ads to encourage them to talk about it over the dinner table at home”. Wow, nothing better than talking about healthcare over dinner. (Indigestion anyone?) And the government pays people with our tax dollars to think this stuff up? That is absolutely absurd and sounds like desperation to me. Is this how failed legislation gets support and a life from now on? This whole program is off the charts.

    • November 27, 2013 at 3:11 pm
      TxLady says:
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      Organizing for America ( the folks that brought you ACORN and were the stars in the latest video teaching people how to lie to get cheaper Obamacare) just put out holiday talking points this week to steer the holiday dinner conversation to the wonders of the Affordable Care Act. wWhat better time to do this than at the holiday dinner table. Me, I far prefer football, holiday movies for the kids and some fun games, pictionary, charades, maybe some scategories, you know, good, lighthearted, family fun, not heavy handed politics, the sure way to make you the persona non grata at the holiday gathering. Safe travels to all the IJ readers and commenters, and many blessings to you and your families.

    • December 2, 2013 at 4:38 pm
      Celtica says:
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      Also on the suspect list for dinner conversations — talking about evacuation plans for house fires and disaster/emergency contingency plans. After all, that might make them think it was all a ploy to buy fire insurance. So what if you live on the third floor. Throw the mattress out first and then jump. What could go wrong with that scenario.

  • November 27, 2013 at 2:43 pm
    jazzeelady says:
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    I truly hope, nomesaneman, that is your response is only a joke. Although i’ve had a few colleagues call me “sick”, I happen to find insurance very interesting. Do i love checking renewal policies or issuing certificates? No, but I do find it interesting, even sometimes exciting, to learn about someone’s business—how they make their particular widget and what the widget is used for; reading the contract they are signing; how the failure of that widget business can affect a community’s economy in a real way—so that I can figure out how to do my best to provide coverage for them. With the average age of insurance people getting older yearly, conveying that interest could be an opportunity to entice a younger person to join our business.

    • November 27, 2013 at 4:01 pm
      nomesaneman says:
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      When on long airplane flights and abutted to an overly chatty seat-mate, the conversation often goes something like this:

      Seatmate: “ Blah blah blah.. yak yak yak..So what do you do?”

      Me: “I am in the insurance business.“

      There are several typical responses by my talkative friend:

      A. “Oh. That’s a racket.”

      B. “I don’t want to buy anything.”

      C. “Why didn’t you pay may claim? – I’ve paid into it for years and you screwed me.”

      or, most often,

      D. “Attendant, may I get a magazine please.”

      Happy Thanksgiving, jazzee.

      Facetiously Yours,
      -nomes

  • November 27, 2013 at 3:13 pm
    jw says:
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    Tell then you work for a company where their 401k is invested and you put their assets at risk (underwriter) That will get their attention.

  • November 27, 2013 at 3:19 pm
    LandOfOz says:
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    Q: How was your week? A: I protected $9B in assets; how was your week?

  • December 2, 2013 at 4:48 pm
    Bubba says:
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    “Hey Clark, the s#itt3r’s full”….
    “Thanks Eddie. Hey do you have a personal umbrella to protect all fo your assets?.. oh..nevermind”

  • December 2, 2013 at 6:07 pm
    SteveB says:
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    As to the original statement on talking about ACA during dinner, or other Holiday activities. Just say, “No!”

  • December 3, 2013 at 1:51 pm
    tw says:
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    Folks try to understand what you do, then get all “What would you say, you DO here” like in office space.



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