Since 1865, Edwards and Company has provided insurance to the business community as well as personal insurance services. Overtime, as the insurance industry became more specialized, insurance brokers also had to develop their own specific areas of expertise. To meet this challenge, Edwards and Company has three distinct divisions, each with their own specialization. I oversee the Employee Benefits Division, with a concentation in "alternative funding" and "stop - loss" protection in group medical plans. The department is equally qualified to assist clients with more traditional group benefits such as Long Term Disability, which in my opinion is the 2nd most important benefit next to medical, having the lowest cost and best value. As we began 2012, once again Healthcare Reform garnered the most attention. Where rules and regulations ultimately end up is yet to be determined. But there are some abolutes. Medical plans do not stop broken bones, cancers, headaches, or any other illness. A medical plan primarily puts a "financial cap" on the medical bills that result from an illness. Medical plans are not Healthcare, but rather, expensive financial instruments linked to "Sickcare" plans. Healthcare is inexpensive and should be accessed by everyone in the form of preventive care and consistent education. Sickcare on the other hand is accessed by far less people but the results can be quite expensive. Traditional medical plans, with first dollar coverage and office copays have remov