COBRA. What Is It?

The economy these days is making it hard on a lot companies to run their operations and just keep afloat.  There have been re-budgeting, restructuring, lay-offs, and any other ways to save money and stay in business.  With all this happening many have lost their jobs and their health insurance.


When someone employed has insurance through their job and then gets laid off or loses their job for some reason, they have the option of continuing their health coverage for a time or not electing coverage.  This coverage, after employment has ceased, is called COBRA.


COBRA coverage is paid by the employee and tends to be higher in cost than it was when employed with the previous company.  This is mostly due to the fact that the employer paid a percentage of the premium cost.


In order to elect for coverage you have to have received the election package from the employer.  The employer has 30 days to send the package and the employee has 60 days to elect for coverage.  Coverage can last for up to 18 months which gives you ample time to find a new job and get health insurance with a new employer.


This is a good idea to have if you are between jobs and can afford it.  It helps keep the waiting gap between coverage shorter if none at all..  If you don't have the money, do not lose hope.  If you have a hospital visit, it is possible that the hospital would be willing to pay the premium for the month you were in the hospital.  There are other agencies I am sure that would help with those premiums.


So if you find yourself in a situation like this, consider electing for COBRA coverage to keep your health coverage a little longer.

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,

Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: http://www.workingathome.co/19415?go

Foreign Cultures and Travel

Like I had mentioned in my last post, I moved to Bolivia, South America when I was 8 months old and spent 15 years there.  This gave me a broader perspective on the world and its cultures and was my introduction to foreign cultures and travel.

 My first passport was when I was very young.  Whatever the youngest age is.  I think it's one year old.  With all the traveling we did, I have filled at least four or five passports.  After graduating from high school, I didn't stop traveling.  From then, through college and up to now I have filled my passports with traveling to over 12 countries worldwide and in just about every continent.

This has exposed me to a diverse amount of cultures and their languages, traditions, food and community.  This travel and exposure has given me much experience and a very broad view of the world and the people it contains.  I have traveled thousands of miles and seen many things.  Come join me in a journey across the world!

I have many stories of my travels and can't wait to share them with you.  These posts will also include travel tips and ideas for traveling to different countries.  

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,

Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: http://www.workingathome.co/19415?go

Religion and Spirituality Introduction

I was born and raised in a Christian home.  When I was 8 months old, my parents became foreign missionaries and we moved to Bolivia, South America where I would spend the next fifteen years of my life.  It was the religious atmosphere I was surrounded in, that brought me to a personal commitment to Jesus Christ of the Bible. 

I have now been a Christian for over thirty years.  In that time period I attended Piedmont Baptist College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  I graduated from college in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree.  My major was Bible with a Missions emphasis.  During that education process I also learned about other religions and cults of the world.  In one of my classes I did a more thorough study on Catholicism and the church of Satan. 

Also during my years overseas and my travels here in the U.S., I have had the privilege to meet many people from different backgrounds, religions and cultures.  This has taught me a lot of the religions of the world.  My extensive reading has brought me knowledge of how the world perceives religion and spirituality. 

I have had a lot of exposure in this subject, and intend to share things I have learned and how I perceive the world of religion and spirituality.  I know this can be a sensitive subject, so I will try to do this with discretion. 

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,

Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: http://www.workingathome.co/19415?go

My Healthcare Background

With over seven years now of healthcare experience under my sleeve, I have seen many different things and have seen this industry change over the years too.  I started in 2003 with a company called Advanced Patient Advocacy and was placed in a local hospital to work.  My main focus has been to help patients that come through to apply for government health programs and Social Security disability so they could pay their bills and have a better life.

Over the last seven years I have been with the company, I have helped over 5,000 patients get some type of benefit to help pay their bills.  Programs included Medicaid and State and Local Hospitalization through social services, Veteran's benefits, workman's comp, COBRA, Social Security Disability Income and Supplemental Security Income to name a few.  Most of these I have done so many times I could do it in my sleep.

This experience has helped me gain extensive knowledge on especially Medicaid programs through social services and social security disability through the Social Security Administration.  I have also had the opportunity to retain acquaintances in these departments, and they have been a great ally for me in time of need.

My greatest joy in this line of work has been seeing the happy faces of those I have been able to help and having that sense of fulfillment that I had made a difference in that person's life.  So it is my pleasure to be able to share some of the insights I have drawn from the years of working in this field, and share it with the world.

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: http://www.workingathome.co/19415?go

Change Is Here

Now that I have the previous challenge out of the way, I have been considering what to do with future posts and have come up with a plan.  Change is here, and it starts next post. 

Since I do three posts a week I have decided to dedicate each day I post to a certain subject, concept or idea.  They are as follows:

1. Mondays - Religion and spirituality
2. Wednesday - Foreign cultures and travel
3. Friday - Healthcare in general and government health programs

These will be what I will be sharing on from here on out.  If this goes well, I may start a blog for each subject, but for now I am dedicating this blog for everything.  If anyone has any suggestions on what they want to hear about on these subjects, feel free to offer your ideas.

This is an exciting time of change!  All these areas I have extensive experience in and will be able to give a lot of info on.  So this will be exciting in the next months ahead.  Expect a post on healthcare next time.

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this opportunity: Working At Home

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I hope everyone had a wonder Valentine's Day!  Love is an emotion that is worth celebrating.  No matter who you are or where you are, someone loves you.  It is the most universal language in the world.  Everyone understands love.  Sara and I didn't get to do anything big this year, but we did take time to celebrate our love together with an evening out.  What a wonderful time we had.  The great thing about it is, you don't have to do it just on Valentine's Day.  You can celebrate love every day!

Now that I have shared my piece about this day, I wanted to give the final results for my Acai supplement challenge.  Here is how it all turned out:

First Weigh-In Final Weigh-In Difference Goals Weight 176.1 lbs. 173.4 lbs. 2.7 lbs.  150-160 lbs. Waste 38 in. 37 in. 1 in. 32-34 in. Biceps 13 in. 13.25 in. 0.25 in. 16 in. Quads 24 in. 22.75 in. 1.25 in. 22 in. Calves 15 in. 15 in. none 13-14 in. Chest 39.5 in. 38 in. 0.5 in. 41 in. Neck 15 in. 15 in. none 16 in. As you can see, there was improvement in all but two places.  I think that is great!  If you look at my goals, some of them (like the weight and waste measurements) I realized I was looking at a more long-term goal for some months down the road. So there is still room for improvement.  That's good, because I intend to continue my exercise routine and watch my diet to make sure I consume food better for my body.  Taking care of my body is very important.  I mean, who wouldn't want to be able to live long enough to see their grandchildren some day!? And that concludes the Acai supplement challenge.  My conclusion on the supplement itself is that 30 days, first of all, is not enough time to actually get a result.  Secondly I don't think I was taking enough of the supplement to actually make a difference.  It didn't really do anything to enhance my focus, energy or ability to burn my fat that I could tell.  So I am not convinced that this stuff actually works.  Now this was not a thorough study either, so don't take my word for it.  Check it out for yourself. Now that this challenge is over, I have plans in store for future posts.  Stay posted for an update on forthcoming posts and their subjects.  Until Wednesday! Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever, Peter Bunn Rising Leader Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this opporunity: http://www.workingathome.co/19415?go

Acai Supplement Challenge: Day 31 The Final Day

I have reached the final day in this Acai supplement challenge.  This is it.  The challenge is complete.  I can tell you there is a difference compared to the first day of this challenge, but I want to leave most of this info to Monday.

Since my last post included measurements, I decided to wait until Monday to do the final measurements and conclude this challenge.  It is just too close to do the measurements again today.  So that is my plan for the finishing of this challenge.


I have to say, this has been quite a journey.  I had a good start, then had a rough time in the middle, then finished strong.  Nothing like a roller coaster ride.  That may affect my results, but I have a feeling that these supplements didn't make much difference.  The rest I will save for the final post.  My next and final post for this challenge is 2/14/11.

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: http://www.workingathome.co/19415?go

Acai Supplement Challenge: Day 29

We are getting down to the nitty gritty here on this challenge.  The end is in sight and today is the last measurement day before the final measurements I am taking next week.  So here are the "stats" for today.  Again I am full of food.  I think the final one I am going to do all the measurements before I eat in order to get a more accurate measurement.

Weight - 174.7 lbs   
Waste - 37.5 in.  
Biceps - 13 in. 
Quads - 23.5 in. 
Calves -  14.5 in. 
Chest - 38.75 in. 
Neck - 15 in. 

Not a whole lot of change with the numbers, but I am in a nice routine now.  We will see what a couple more days can do for me.  I am still a little sore.  Actually they are new ones in different places.  I have changed my routine up a little.  That might be why.

Well, that is about it for now.  No new conflicts to report.  Next reporting will be on 2/11/11 which is the second to last reporting time!  Until next time!

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: www.TheIncomeProducer.com/19415

Acai Supplement Challenge: Day 27

We are entering into the final week of this challenge.  Technically this Friday is the 30th day, but I am going to extend it to next Monday (yes, Valentine's Day) to do my final post on this challenge and list the final measurements.

I trust everyone had a good weekend.  For those of you who were rooting for Green Bay, congratulations!  I am not a big American football fan, but watched it with my family and it was actually a pretty good game.  I had a nice relaxing weekend.  It was great to let my muscles have a break from that hard exercising during last week.  This week is not going to be any lighter. 

Believe it or not, my glutes are still sore from working out.  It was nice to get back into it today, but I was a little stiff because of the soreness.  That will subside, I know.  I haven't noticed any change in my energy level really since I started this challenge.  I would have thought that by now, if this stuff was for real, that I would have had a boost of energy.  I actually started dozing off a couple times last week.  So, we'll see about that.

I guess that's about it for now.  My next post will be 2/9/11.  That is also measurement day.  Oh boy!  Everyone have a good start of their week.

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,

Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: www.TheIncomeProducer.com/19415

Acai Supplement Challenge: Day 24

I feel great!  This week was an intense workout week for me.  I'm still sore a little, but am glad I made the commitment to myself to make sure I did my exercises every day.  My energy level is much higher and I actually feel happier.  Interesting. 

Next week we will find out if this week made any difference with the increased activity.  It is my theory that the Acai works better when you are more active.  There really is no way to prove it is doing anything at all in the challenge, but I am glad I made a point to take care of my body better and make it healthier.

So we approach the final week of the Acai supplement challenge.  Once I run out of supplements, I don't think I am going to stop with the routine I have going here.  It seems to be working well with or without the supplement.  

Outside the soreness I am experiencing, there really isn't much else to report.  I do feel lighter due to loss of weight, but I haven't lost a ton.  It must be I have lost fat but replaced it with muscle, so I am not seeing much difference. 

Alright, it's off to bed and off to having a relaxing weekend.  All enjoy the Superbowl weekend!  Next report date is 2/7/11.

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: www.TheIncomeProducer.com/19415

Acai Supplement Challenge: Day 22

Today is the day of measurements for this Acai challenge, so lets get that out of the way right away.  Here are my measurements:

Weight - 173.4 lbs    Goal weight - between 150-160 lbs.  (I did have a big supper today, so that may be one reason why no change in weight from last time.)
Waste - 37.5 in.  Goal - 32-34 in.  (again, I am full of food)
Biceps - 13 in.  Goal - 16 in.
Quads - 24 in.  Goal - 22 in.
Calves -  14.5 in.  Goal - 13-14 in.
Chest - 38.5 in.  Goal - 41 in.
Neck - 15 in.  Goal - 16 in.

As you can see, there is plenty of room for improvement.  I am now 2/3 the way through this challenge and am starting to realize that the goals I have set are unrealistic for this time period.  These are more like my ultimate goals to reach and maintain.  So let's see how much of the goals I can reach.  I want to at least get under 170 lbs. or  right at that weight.  That would be nice and is very attainable.  

Well the only other thing to report today is the fact that since I have been exercising regularly lately, I am a little sore and slightly tired.  But that is a good thing.  That means my muscles are growing, the fat is shrinking and I am getting healthier.

So next post is 2/5/11.  Until next time.  Signing off.

Helping you get the upper hand to change your life forever,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: www.TheIncomeProducer.com/19415