I Got You Covered

“TO LEAVE OUR CLIENT’S HOME BETTER OFF THAN WHEN WE GOT THERE.”

ASB Financial licensed insurance broker Carlos Nieto has the direct line to insurance providers who will not refuse high-risk members of the LGBTQ community.

By John Sotomayor

Carlos Nieto prides himself on being an ally to the LGBTQ community. He has family members – cousins – who are LGBTQ, so he is sympathetic to their issues, primarily when it comes to acquiring insurance. Many LGBTQ people endure multiple rejections when they apply for coverage, especially if they are a high-risk candidate. This is especially true for HIV positive applicants. Ninety percent of insurance companies enact the Knockout question early in the process, eliminating the applicant without further consideration simply because of their HIV positive status.

Fortunately for Nieto’s clients, he has honed his six and a half years of experience as a licensed insurance broker to apply with the 10 percent of companies he knows will consider them despite being HIV positive. That is the level of personal care and consideration the LGBTQ community can expect from Carlos Nieto – a broker who can deliver results, not rejections.

“I take pride in being able to help everybody and anybody, no matter the circumstances, get life insurance,” said Nieto.

A close friend of Nieto’s of over 20 years was diagnosed as HIV positive. He was distraught over the concern he would be rejected from life insurance that would cover funeral expenses so that his family would not need to burden themselves with the cost. Nieto represented him and got him the coverage he needed.

This comes from experience and relationships. Throughout his career, Nieto learned which companies will consider an applicant structuring the coverage to their needs, from as low as $2,500 to millions. The company with up to $250,000 policy for persons with HIV will not automatically guarantee coverage, but it will consider them based on treatment history, and factors such as detectability.

Nieto works in the Ocala branch for ASB Financial, the Florida division of American Senior Benefi ts, a nationwide company with 500 offi ces throughout the United States. The fi rm has a comprehensive portfolio of insurance and fi nancial products in the areas of Medicare, retirement planning, life insurance, incidentals, and post-hospital care from the highest rated and most respected companies in the industry. Nieto puts these resources and assets to good use for your benefi t. When it comes to insurance and fi nancial protection, Nieto knows the value.

In 2004, Nieto lost a brother to brain cancer at the age of 32. His brother did not have life insurance when he died. He had an 8-year-old daughter at the time, who Carlos’ parents had helped raise.

“They paid for her car and college education, everything that my brother would have done, but they had to do it out of pocket,” said Nieto. Nieto’s parents also had to cover all the funeral arrangements. That is something that should have been covered by life insurance.

Nieto was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Florida when he was 11 years old. The family fi rst lived in the Florida Keys for a year and a half, then moved to Orlando for a year. His parents settled in Deltona where Nieto and his brother attended middle and high school. Carlos moved back to Orlando for college, attending UCF and Valencia.

He has lived in Ocala since 2011. Between him and his second wife, they have four children. Nieto’s daughter is 21. His son will be 19. Through his wife, they have a 15-year-old son, and a 12-year-old daughter. He describes his family as a blended family. Nieto has all his children covered by insurance. The importance he says, is to make sure the family is protected from the high cost of funeral arrangements and loss of work during the bereavement process.

Nieto’s parents are still living in the same Deltona home since 1988. They are in their mid-70s. Nieto made sure that his parent’s plan covers the surviving spouse so that they are never left paying for expenses out of pocket again.

Nieto wants to do the same for you and your family, especially blended families in the LGBTQ community that may fi nd it harder to fi nd the protection they can have and are entitled to receive.

CONTACT ASB Financial

2437 SE 17th Street Suite 202 Ocala, FL 34471 Direct Phone: 352.368.7534 Preferred Cell: 386.479.8111 Carlos@asbfi nancial.com carlosnieto.myasbfi nancial.com