Members of the Michigan Business & Professional Association can now take advantage of a unique partnership with American Chartered Bank for free Health Savings Account checking.

American Chartered already has more than 15,000 clients in all 50 states and The Wall Street Journal and HSAfinder.com have recognized the company as being among the best value HSA custodians in the country.

The interest-bearing HSA accounts are FDIC insured and require no minimum balance. There are no monthly maintenance fees, no transaction fees and no account transfer fees. Access is through a free Visa Check Card, checks, or online banking/bill pay.

The arrangement with American Chartered also allows MBPA members to invest their HSA funds in the bank’s certificates of deposit.

Contact Jennifer Werner or call (888) 277-6464 for more information on the HSA product.

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New Smoking Cessation Program is Just a Click or Call Away

Our Associations are committed to helping our agents and members lower their health care costs. Working with the American Lung Association of Michigan, we will help you implement an excellent “Freedom from Smoking” program at your business location, if you sign up at least 10 employees. For less than 10 employees, we can provide information on an online version of the program.

Only one hour a week for seven weeks.

Facilitator delivers the program at your site at a

    time convenient for you.

Considerable valuable reference information and

    support.

Program modules include:

1. Program orientation – Determine readiness to quit

2. Understand your habit – Stress management techniques

3. Substitute behaviors – Plans to cope with triggers –

    Quit day

4. Physical and psychological recovery symptoms

5. Long term strategies for remaining smoke free

6. Maintenance – Fitness and exercise

7. Celebration – Recovery process

This on-site program costs $150 per person. The online version of “Freedom From Smoking” is available at no cost, but participants must sign-up and register.

For more information or to sign-up for this program contact Ken Pool or (888) 277-6464.

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With more and more people experiencing issues with obesity and associated health care costs rising as a result, the Associations are taking a more long term proactive approach.

A “Weight Loss Challenge” is one way we believe we can make a difference.

To help in the fight against serious diseases and ailments associated with obesity, we’ve created a “Members Only” Weight Loss Challenge, complete with prizes.

Our sponsors — Weight Watchers and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan -- have made it possible to have gifts and incentives to keep the weight off so make sure you keep us in the loop on your weight loss.

Weight loss markers for prizes are at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 pounds. Goal weight achievers are eligible for the Grand Prize drawings.

Contestants must be an active member of the MBPA or MFBA and register for the contest, providing updates regarding their progress

The program will run as long as members are participating.

Less than a month after the Weight Loss Challenge began, Association members—19 teams and six individuals making up a total of 190 registered—had already recorded a combined loss of nearly 453 pounds, a great beginning for such an important health-related initiative.

“Our congratulations go to those who have already made progress and we encourage those who haven’t yet taken this big step to do so,” says Jennifer Kluge, executive vice president of the MBPA/MFBA.

Call our membership team at (888) 277-6464 to enroll today.

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Getting together on the golf course is one great way to renew connections with people you know, with MBPA being the common thread.

For agents in Southeast Michigan, the date to remember is Thursday, August 2. Golfers will be out in full force at Sycamore Hills.

Live in West Michigan? You’ll be getting together on Friday, August 24 at Thornapple Pointe for a great time.

For more information, contact Jennifer Werner or

call (888) 277-6464.