Al Johnson

“The Art of Saving Money”

Al Johnson isn’t obsessed with money, but he is very conscientious about saving every dollar that he can possibly tuck away. It is an integral part of his strategy for debt elimination, wealth-building and improving the lifestyle of his family.

As he points out,“The money you save is really the only money you get to keep. Most people have a spending mentality, but I’ve learned to develop a savings mentality.”

Al Johnson, of Mesquite, Texas, is the Vice President of Marketing for US Health Advisors, a division of National Health Insurance Company, and, for the past thirteen years, he has used his membership in USA+ to save as much as $2,500 to $3,000 a year – far more than his annual dues.

He explains,“My family and I use the membership to receive significant discounts on every day products and services like groceries, movie tickets, hotels, rental cars, prescriptions, eye glasses, dental care and group accident benefits, as well as shopping and legal counseling. USA+ has made savings easy.”

He learned the value of saving money from his grandmother while growing up in Arcadia, Florida. She was a hard worker and very self-reliant.

He points out, “We didn’t have a lot of money, but she was compulsive about saving money. She shopped in little five and dime discount stores. She grew her own vegetables and canned them. She raised chickens and gathered eggs. We were never hungry, because we always had plenty of food to eat due to the fact that she was so resourceful and thrifty with every dollar that came into her hands. I watched her and learned from her and learned how to watch every penny. My childhood friends joked with me, calling me a little money miser.”

Al began working at the age of ten, helping out on nearby farms and sweeping out office buildings with a push broom taller than he was. He managed inventory in a tractor parts store and started making money cutting hair in his neighborhood. Later on, he began writing and selling information by advertising his materials in newspapers.

“I made some money,” he recalls,“but I saved every spare dime I could.”

A few years before joining USA+, Al stumbled upon a consumer savings club he found advertised in a newspaper. He was so impressed with the idea that he could save money on products and services that he was already buying, he decided to join.

As he says,‘I didn’t have to change my buying habits to begin reducing the day-to-day cost of living.” In 1993, he was introduced to USA+, a non-profit association membership, offering consumer savings on healthcare and lifestyle products and services.

Al had been a member of other consumer savings organizations before, but none of them had the many valuable and comprehensive benefits like USA+.“Just being a member felt like a special privilege,” he says. “USA+ has something that anyone can use every day.”

He developed the practice of keeping his receipts to document his savings. For example, he purchased a pair of $272 prescription eye glasses for only $122, which made a difference.

Al points out,“A great benefit to me has always been the Auto Club. I was gone two or three days doing seminars all around the country and spent a lot of time away from my wife and children. Even though I wasn’t home, I received a lot of comfort knowing the Auto Club would take care of them if my wife had a flat tire or the car’s engine broke down. She and the children were never stranded by the side of the road after dark. All she had to do was make a phone call, and the Auto Club had someone there to help her. It happened on several occasions, and I have never paid a penny for the road side service in 13 years. My USA+ membership took care of it all.”

He and his wife were able to receive 50 percent discounts at some of the nation’s highest rated hotels.They saved on rental car fees. And Al used coupons to save as much as $40 to $50 a month on the family’s groceries.“I love to stand there in line, watch the reader scan the coupons and see the price I pay keep going down and down and down.”

His biggest surprise came when buying prescription medicines. With his insurance, Al had a $25 co-pay arrangement. “I figured that $25 co-pay per prescription was the best deal I could get.”

When picking up one prescription regularly priced at $38, he decided to try his USA+ CareMark benefit. The medicine only cost him $6.

When his wife and three of his four children went in for eye examinations, his Ameritas Vision Service Plan benefit, available through his membership in USA+, allowed them all to have free exams. Each saved $75 or a total of $300 for that month alone.

And Al was able to save a few hundred dollars more when he took advantage of the Consolidated Legal Concepts plan to have a free Will prepared. He wore braces for four years and saved $700. He saves as much as $4 off tickets every time he and his family go to the movies.

He always knew that USA+ was good, but it was even better than he realized. Al says, “I once read where the average person in America spends $1.8 million in a lifetime on goods and services. If a program like USA+ can help me save a mere 10 percent of that lifetime amount, that’s $180,000. And if you’re wise enough to invest that $180,000 as you accrue the money over the years, you can have a real nice lifestyle or retirement.”

Devin and Maria Whitworth

“Every Dollar You Save is Important”

Devin and Maria Whitworth of Dallas understood the challenges associated with running their own business. For more than two decades they had owned their own marketing company, when in 2002, they discovered the difference that USA+ could make in their personal, as well as in their professional lives.

A friend had told them about the benefits of being a member of USA+. So they joined, and soon found that they had access to more than they expected ...becoming a member allowed the Whitworths to leverage their finances in new ways and provide their family greater options with health care services.

As Maria pointed out,“In any family-run business, every dollar you save is important. Business owners especially are always working to find cost-effective benefits for themselves and their employees, and USA+ has been a tremendous help with that.”

For example, during the last 18 months, the Whitworths and their four children were able to save nearly $4,000 as USA+ members.They saved by getting reduced pricing on their dental work, doctor visits, eye exams, and even hotels they used for business and personal travel.

“With our membership, we can stay at four and five-star hotels at half the price of their standard rates,” Maria explained.“In San Jose, California, for example, the hotel rate was $219 per night, but it cost us only $85. That kind of savings is important to us, as well as to anyone in business, big or small. Additionally, we’ve been able to get a ten percent rebate on flights we book through our USA+ Travel benefit. We get a check ... it’s as though the company is paying us for using this benefit, paying us for the privilege of booking our flights for us! In our first year as USA+ members, we actually were rebated over $400 on our airfare.”

Devin added that “these days, people really need to find ways to make their money go farther because so many people are in the midst of a financial crisis. It takes all of their income to pay for the necessities of food, gas, and utilities. In fact, the cost of living has grown so high that paychecks are simply not keeping up. As a result, we come across people every day who cannot afford to go to the dentist when they should, don’t bother to get their eyes examined because of the expense, and sometimes cannot afford any kind of health care benefits whatsoever.”

Maria readily admitted that she needed dental work but delayed making an appointment because she knew how it was going to impact the family’s finances (not to mention her discomfort with going to the dentist!). “However, one of the benefits of being a USA+ member is that I can save money on my dental work. In fact, I did go in, and my treatment plan that totaled $7,004 only cost me $3,679 because of the membership! So, I’ve learned not to think twice about going to either the dentist or the optometrist. We all know these things are essential to being and staying healthy, and being a member gives me no more excuse for putting them off.”

One of the benefits that initially attracted the Whitworths to USA+ was the inclusion of the American WholeHealth Network. Maria pointed out that “Our USA+ membership gives us access to a variety of benefits, including the best of traditional health care along with a natural approach. We’ve referred many of our friends because of the discounts offered through chiropractors, naturopaths, acupuncturists, massage therapists, personal trainers, and even yoga instructors.”

But being a member is not just about health care. The Whitworths learned early on how valuable the USA+ benefits would be in their personal lives. After only a week as members, they received a call from one of their teenage daughters, worried because her car wouldn’t start. She had just gotten out of a class, and she was all alone. Her father was obviously worried. Devin tells the story: “One of our benefits was roadside assistance. We didn’t even have our membership card for the auto club yet, but I called Member Services anyway – our daughter needed help right away. Well, they made sure we were in the system, and by the time I reached our daughter, the tow truck was already arriving. Without their assistance, it would have cost me $65. More importantly, it established a sense of trust for me, knowing she wouldn’t get caught stranded again without help.”

A few months ago, Devin needed to renew the family’s auto and home insurance. He decided to see how much money, if any, they could save by using their Answer Financial benefit. He was pleasantly surprised. “We were basically able to move from one major carrier to another and save $800 a year. That was a huge savings from one simple phone call.”

They are both very appreciative of the Member Services department.“When we call, we get through quickly to a live, friendly human being who makes us feel comfortable and is able to get our questions or concerns answered,” says Maria. “Many big companies fall short with their customer service, and I try to avoid contacting them. But USA+ makes it easy. I’m always confident that I’ll be taken care of with little, if any, delay. That alone is almost enough reason for us to stay members for the rest of our life.”

“But I also feel good about being a member for a bigger reason, and that’s knowing that two dollars of our monthly fee are going to help people who really need it. I know that doesn’t sound like much,” Maria continues, “but over the years it adds up and has made a difference.”

“For us, being a member of USA+ is really just being smart consumers,” Devin says. “We have everyday expenses that we’ll spend the money on anyway, but USA+ makes it possible for us to pay less for those same expenses. Now we have more choices, our money goes farther, and we’re able to enjoy benefits that we otherwise wouldn’t have.”

With USA+, the added value has increased the “bottom line” for their finances, their health, and their life.

M.L. Collins

“Helping Families Save Money for Over 25 Years”

M.L. Collins makes every effort to tell his customers about the savings they can experience through a United Service Association For Health Care membership.

Why? it’s simple: as a veteren health insurance agency CEO FOr C&C benefits group in Oklahoma City, the 65-year-old Collins still gets “a great deal of satisfaction out of training agents who can then show people how to make the right decisions about their health coverage.”

He means it, too. With about 200 agents currently on board and a well-established reputation as a blue-chip provider of health coverage for small-business owners and self employed workers across the country, Collins is proud that his agency often manages to secure health benefits for people who otherwise might not have been able to obtain them.

“I’ve spent the past three decades advising small-business people and their families on how to make the right decisions about health insurance,” he says. “It’s a great feeling when somebody thanks you because they were able to pay their medical bills.”

One of the things Collins likes most about his job, he says, is that it frequently gives him a chance to tell people about the “huge savings” that can be enjoyed through a United Service Association For Health Care (USA+) membership.

“I can’t tell you how often I’ve recommended USA+ programs to our customers,” he says, “or how often I’ve explained that the benefits that accompany membership can provide a major boost to a family budget. In recent years, I’ve made every effort to recruit and train good agents who can help our customers to accomplish this.”

USA+ benefits can help families save money on health care, drug prescriptions, dental or vision care, and more, Collins says. “I get a really good feeling whenever I hear that one of our customers saved money thanks to a USA+ membership,” he says.

The father of four grown children—his wife, Sheryl, is also an accomplished health benefits analyst—Collins says he’s seen how a USA+ membership can help slash bills for medical care right in his own family.

“We have a prescription drug benefit through USA+,” he explains. “Our daughter, who is still in college, needs medication to treat her attention deficit disorder. Thanks to a mail-order program from USA+, the cost is almost nothing! As a manager who spends lots of time advising people about saving money on health care, I really appreciate the budget help we get through our USA+ membership.”

Born and raised in Idabel, Oklahoma as the son of a high school teacher (E.L. “Red” Collins) who was “an honest man and a wonderfully dedicated teacher,” Collins attended Oklahoma State University and then coached football for several years at a Texas public school.

“I had a great time working with the kids,” he says with a chuckle of nostalgia, “but I wasn’t an All-American football player, and I soon realized that I wasn’t going to wind up as the head coach at Kansas or Oklahoma. I had a career choice to make—and I decided that what I loved most was working with people.”

Collins went into sales, and says he’s enjoyed every minute of it. “I truly feel that we’ve been able to help thousands of people,” he says. “You know, I do a lot of recruiting of new agents, and I tell every one: ‘Whatever you do, don’t ever forget that our first job is to keep that customer’s interests at heart!’”

Mary Brown

“Spreading the USA+ Gospel”

Your United Service Association For Health Care (USA+) membership can save you money on much more than health care — just take it from Mary Brown. Ask her why she’s so enthusiastic about her membership, and she’ll tell you a hair-raising story about a giant plumbing leak that nearly took a major bite out of her bank account.

Then, she’ll tell you how USA+ saved her almost $1,000 in repair costs.

“I came home from work one afternoon and discovered that a pipe had burst,” says the 54-year-old widow and mother of two adult children. “When I took a closer look, I found that a ceiling and several walls had been severely damaged by the leak.”

But that wasn’t the worst part. “The home repair company wanted several thousands of dollars to do the job, and that certainly wasn’t part of my budget,” she says. “I worried myself sick for a while—and then one day I remembered that I had a USA+ package of home benefits.” Brown had signed up for USA+ several years ago at the recommendation of a friend.

She let out a huge sigh of relief after she learned that her USA+ benefits package would reimburse her for the $500 deductible on her homeowner’s insurance policy. In addition, by tapping into the Tradesmen Referral Program — another USA+ benefit—she was able to find a reliable contractor who did an excellent job for $450 less than any other estimate.

“You can imagine how I felt,” she says. “I saved $950, thanks to USA+, and once my homeowner’s insurance kicked in, I wound up paying only $150 of the $4,000 repair cost. I’ve been singing the praises of USA+ ever since!”

For the cheerfully upbeat Brown, a financial analyst who reviews Department of Defense contracts for a Virginia-based private consulting firm, the “miracle” of the savings from USA+ was only the latest sign that her strong Christian faith continues to protect her from the storms of life.

A devout churchgoer, the hymn-singing Brown says she was so pleased by the “prompt, courteous service” she received that she decided several months ago to become an agent to sell the USA+ program herself. Since then, she’s been “spreading the gospel” night and day, as a part-time representative of the nonprofit national association, which relies on its group purchasing power to sharply reduce the cost of home repairs, automobile expenses, and many other products and services.

“I’m a joyful person at heart,” says Brown, “and it’s a wonderful feeling whenever I’m able to help one of my clients save a lot of money by taking advantage of the buying power of USA+.”

These days, much of the joy that comes into her life comes from telling all sorts of people about the many benefits that become available when they’re a member of USA+.

“Just the other day, a close friend called me from out on the highway,” she says. “She’d just gotten a flat tire ... and because she was a member of USA+, she was able to get the help she needed within 30 minutes. How can you beat that?”

It doesn’t take much for Brown to convince others that USA+ can save them money, she says—she’s living proof.

“I just tell them what happened to me,” she says, laughing. “And that’s usually all it takes to bring them aboard!”

Mickey Mann

“Giving Back to the Community”

When it comes to slashing household expenses, whether for his clients or for his own large family, veteran insurance executive Mickey Mann knows what he’s talking about.

Now 59, the highly successful Mann has spent the past 41 years providing life and health insurance for hard-working families all across his native Oklahoma.

“I really love my work, and I never think about retiring,” says the longtime operator of Mann & Associates, a booming insurance agency in Norman. “For me, it’s very rewarding to help a family make good choices about their future. I can’t tell you how often, after a client dies, I’ve found myself taking a check out to the surviving family members . . . who can then use it for college tuition, or to pay off a home mortgage.

“I grew up poor, and I know how important it is to plan wisely for your financial future. I’m very grateful for my success—and helping families meet their financial needs is my way of ‘giving back’ to the community.”

The son of an Oklahoma City chemical plant worker who “never made more than $27,000 a year,” Mann learned the value of money early, while working in grocery stores and mowing lawns in high school. “Back then, every single dollar I earned was precious,” he says. “And that hasn’t changed.”

Today, notes the proud father of four adult sons, “we have 17 different brokers working out of our agency. We all understand how important it is to help families save on everything—medical care, drug prescriptions, vision care, dental care, auto expenses, you name it.

“Over the years, we’ve found that the USA+ consumer savings program is one of the most powerful tools we have for helping families save on these key costs.”

Along with his dollar-savvy wife, Janie, an administrative aide at an engineering firm, Mickey has become skilled in recent years at managing his family budget—often by cashing in on the “major savings” to be found as a member of the USA+ consumer savings association.

“I learned long ago, while advising my clients, just how helpful these USA+ benefits can be in protecting household budgets,” he says. “USA+ often pays most of the costs for medicines, and it gives many families access to health coverage they couldn’t otherwise afford.”

Describing his own family’s “remarkable savings” with USA+, Mann recalls a frightening moment seven years ago when his son Matthew broke his left leg during football practice.

“We had a USA+ accident benefit,” he says, “and his $8,000 in medical bills cost us only $100. That was huge, and the excellent care he got helped him win a college football scholarship. But we also save frequently on things like free eye care exams and low-cost dental visits.”

Having seen the value of USA+, Mickey is always eager to enroll new members.

“I’ve spent 40 years helping families meet their financial needs,” he says proudly. “Watching them save through USA+ is one reason I love my job so much.”

Ric Hilliard

“Street Sense Saves $ and ¢”

During more than 20 years as an information technology manager for several corporations, computer expert Ric Hilliard has learned a great deal about the importance of staying within his budget.

“In many ways, running a successful IT Department depends on how well you manage your financial resources,” says the 54-year-old Hilliard, today the Chief Information Officer for the Texas-based National Health Insurance Company (NHIC).

“As the manager of 18 busy communications staffers and several million dollars’ worth of high-tech computer equipment, I know the value of saving a buck whenever I can,” adds Hilliard. “At the end of the day, such savings can really add up—whether we’re talking about a corporation’s balance sheet or a typical family budget!”

Armed with both a bachelor (of science) degree in Business Administration and an advanced degree in Computer Science, Hilliard spends lots of time analyzing ways to keep costs down at NHIC, which provides health insurance for self-employed workers and small businesses.

But the tech-smart Hilliard is also an astute manager of his own family budget . . . which is why he’s pleased to be “saving so much money, so often” as a longtime member of the United Service Association for Health Care (USA+).

“After more than 10 years with USA+, I’m still amazed by the frequent savings,” explains the computer guru. “USA+ membership allows us to slash costs on medical prescriptions, eye care, groceries, auto expenses, hotels, entertainment, travel, you name it. And the savings are substantial— sometimes 50 percent or more.

“Just the other day, I saved $222 on a pair of prescription sunglasses, thanks to my USA+ membership. And there was no charge at all for the eye exam I received before getting the glasses, thanks to USA+.

“That’s $322 in eye care bills I didn’t have to pay, and it’s also a great example of why joining USA+ was a real no-brainer for me and my family.”

Describing the cash savings he often achieves with USA+, Hilliard says that signing on with the association was “simply a matter of common sense.”

“Before I became a computer scientist, I was a rock guitarist for five years,” recalls the IT manager with a nostalgic chuckle. “I spent a lot of time out on the road, playing nightly gigs. The plan was that we were all gonna become rock stars! That didn’t happen, of course, but it was still a great experience— and I like to think it gave me some ‘street sense’ that I still use today.” For Ric Hilliard, that “street sense” paid off recently when his wife Sunshine blew a tire while zipping along a Texas freeway near their Dallas-area home. “Thanks to the USA+ Auto Club program, all Sunshine had to do was call a nearby repair truck, and she was back on the road immediately,” he says. “She made her appointment without a problem, and when I looked at the bill later, it said ‘Total Charge: $0.00—USA+!’

“Now, that’s the kind of bill I don’t mind getting!”

Julius Sughrue

“Member Since April 2006”

He’s a highly regarded insurance consultant in Dallas, Texas – and also a skilled, second degree black belt in the martial arts. Ask Julius Sughrue how he’s managed to accomplish so much – while struggling with cystic fibrosis since his infancy – and this 45-year-old kung fu fighter will tell you it’s all a matter of attitude.

“The key to living with cystic fibrosis is to surround yourself with upbeat, optimistic people and to maintain the right outlook on life,” he says. “Most of the time, I’m a really cheerful guy, and I never let my illness control my attitude. If you take good care of yourself, both mentally and physically, you can live a very good life in spite of this ailment.”

Along with maintaining a winning attitude and managing his illness effectively day in and day out, Sughrue says he’s been able to pay all his medical bills on time – thanks to his continuing membership with United Service Association for Health Care (USA+).

“I’ve never totaled everything up,” says the high-spirited Sughrue, “but I’m sure that USA+ has paid at least $50,000 for my medical care over the years. They’ve done very well by me, by paying my bills quickly and providing me with speedy cheerful service.

“As an insurance consultant myself, I understand how important good service is . . . and I feel very fortunate to have USA+ on my side, as I manage my cystic fibrosis and take care of my medical bills.”

Sandy Regan

“Member Since December 2005”

Like Julius Sughrue, fellow cystic fibrosis patient Sandy Regan in Boca Raton, Florida says she has also been able to manage her illness successfully for many years, thanks in part to the quick efficient service that she receives as a member of USA+.

“My membership in USA+ has been extremely helpful for me as a chronic illness patient,” says Sandy, a skilled long-distance runner who specializes in 13 mile “half marathons” and loves the “terrific feeling of accomplishment you get when you cross that finish line.”

“My medical bills are paid on time, first time and every time,” she adds, while estimating that her USA+ membership has so far netted her more than $30,000 in medical claims payments. For Sandy, these payments have been crucially important in staying above the poverty line and enjoying a comfortable life style. “As a medical patient with a potentially disabling illness,” explains the 46-year-old homemaker, “it’s enormously comforting to know that USA+ stands behind me, eager and willing to help at all times.”

Karen Kissick

“Member Since December 2006”

In Indianapolis, Indiana, meanwhile, a 53-year-old homemaker named Karen Kissick says she was “enormously relieved” a few months ago when her membership in USA+ brought her a major benefit. “I had to get an MRI for my brain injury,” says Karen, a former mortgage loan processor who was hurt when her car slid across an icy bridge. “The bill was $1200, and I wasn’t sure it would be covered. In spite of my health issue, I live a very active, vigorous lifestyle – and I need my money for other things beside medical bills.”

“But the check came right away, and I felt better fast,” she says. “Knowing my USA+ membership will take care of such bills, and protect my budget as a result, gives me a whole lot of peace of mind!”