Like going to the dentist, most people dread thinking about life and disability insurance. They believe it’s dry, boring and much too complicated.

Jim Hallan, MRA president and chief operating officer, asked me to write a column to inform members about MRA’s new life and disability insurance programs. As a consultant on group insurance, I made arrangements for MRA to obtain these improved benefit plans.

I know insurance will never be as exciting as breaking par on the golf course or as satisfying as a great dinner at your favorite restaurant. But in this column I hope to clear up many of the questions surrounding these benefits. — Joe Gromala, Contemporary Benefit Services

How Do I Sign Up for Life Insurance?

Q. How do I sign up for the life and disability programs offered by MRA?

A. Being a member of the nation’s largest state association of general merchandise retailers means you can take advantage of the buying power only a very large association like Michigan Retailers offers.

It’s very easy to sign up for the Retailers’ life and disability plans. The forms take very little time to complete. In fact, it’s much simpler and faster than enrolling for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Just call Linda Cook, MRA’s group insurance specialist, at 800.366.3699, extension 218. She can answer your questions and suggest an appropriate plan for you and your employees.

If you prefer using the Internet, MRA’s website, www.retailers.com, lets you choose benefits, determine costs, and download all enrollment materials for the life and disability plans. Again it’s very easy to obtain the information.

On the home page, simply click on Member Services, then Insurance Programs, and finally Life and disability insurance forms. Although the forms are, for the most part, self-explanatory, Linda is always available to answer your questions.

The enrollment forms for life insurance or short-term disability are one or two pages each, and ask very few questions. In most cases, a physical exam is not required.

Choose your preferred method of learning about the new plans—telephone contact or through the Internet—but please do look into these programs. You’ll be glad you did!

Do you have a question about group life and disability insurance? Contact “Ask Joe” in writing at 603 South Washington Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933, or by fax at 517.372.1303 or by email at abuttery@retailers.com.