1. Today’s Economy: Maintaining Personal Balance
Copyright 2008 CIGNA HealthCare – Confidential & Privileged – Not for Distribution

2. Seminar Objectives
Identify signs of financial stress
Learn potential effects of financial stress on you and your family
Learn strategies for coping with the stress
Know what you can do if your customers’ financial stresses are affecting you
Discover additional resources that can help

3. How to Recognize If You Are Experiencing Financial Stress
You spend a lot of time worrying about bills, the rising cost of living, the possibility of losing your job, etc.
You dwell on worst case “what if” scenarios
You feel guilty for not being able to give your family the things you would like to
You and your spouse or partner argue over spending priorities
You have overdue bills, resulting in late fees and additional charges
You are unable to save enough for the important things

4. The Toll Taken by Financial Worries
Increased conflict in the family
Less intimacy and quality time together with partner and family
Drifting apart from friends and family
Physical symptoms
continued

5. The Toll Taken by Financial Worries (continued)
Mental and emotional symptoms
Unhealthy coping behaviors
Neglecting self-care

6. Financial Strategies for Tough Economic Times
Do a “financial health exam”
Track your spending
Do a “money-values checkup”
Put every purchase through the “value filter”
Simplify your life

7. Stretch Your Health Care Dollar
Use your preventive care benefits
Call 24-hour nurse line
Access home delivery (mail-order) of medications
Use urgent care clinic vs. emergency room
Ask for generic prescriptions vs. name brand
Access in-network medical care
Use your health plan price comparison tools
Contribute to a health care flexible spending account or health savings account

8. When You Are Already Getting Behind
Reduce or eliminate your use of credit except for emergencies
Don’t ignore your creditors
Keep paying something on your bills
Consider debt consolidation if you can’t pay your bills

9. Make It A Family Affair
Hold a family finance meeting, and monthly follow ups
Keep the kids involved
Get everyone’s ideas about how to cut spending
Brainstorm “replacement activities” as a family

10. Resolving Financial Differences with Your Partner
Get organized
Schedule a time each week to discuss and manage finances together
Defer discussion of money until that time
Use a win-win negotiating approach, not an adversarial one

11. What If Your Customers’ Financial Stress Is Affecting You?
A balancing act: empathy vs. sympathy or detachment
Maintain professional demeanor and boundaries
Stay task oriented, with focus on getting and conveying accurate information
With angry customers:
Stay calm and let them blow off steam
Try to understand the meaning of the situation from the caller’s perspective
Don’t take it personally—it’s not about you
Practice self-care

12. Stress Management Strategies for Tough Economic Times
Be thankful for what you do have
Take care of yourself
Focus on healthy choices
Maintain routines
Do what you can; accept what you must
Thought-stopping and Here-and-now-focusing