Is GMail Okay for my Email Related to Insurance?

Technically speaking you are not a HIPAA protected entity so you are not required to comply.

This being said there is nothing wrong with being HIPAA a compliant as a safety measure. Though there are plenty of problems with what HIPAA would consider safe.

Dropbox (because it was mentioned) is not HIPAA compliant. There are other cloud based systems that are.
 
IMO, if at anytime, you want someone to email you copies of anything that can be considered confidential - account statements or an annual review checklist... I can pretty much guarantee you that your clients will feel more comfortable sending it to a professional domain email address... than a 'free' email account.

It not only depends on your market, but what kinds of services you are providing. A 'comprehensive' approach will most certainly require it, while an 'FE' agent probably won't.

For general correspondence... I doubt it matters much, if at all.
 
As I said, I agree that in certain markets it might be beneficial. I even said it would have been better for me had I used something other than my ISP's email. But it's what I have used for a LONG time. I guess I've been successful in spite of myself. And no, I'm not an FE agent. My main areas are Med Supp/MA and investments. I do have a Series 6, 63 & 65. I have an email specifically for securities related clients. However, I don't communicate on securities related items via email. It's just simpler that way. Not sure why I even shared that info.

Seems to me that I've offended some folks who feel an email address conveys some sort of professionalism. To be quite honest, I don't disagree that having a business related email (xxxx@businessname.com) is a net positive. I'm just trying to convey that it isn't necessary to be successful. And personally, I don't think it necessarily costs a person business. Obviously some of you disagree. But my personal experience proves otherwise. At least for me.
 
...Seems to me that I've offended some folks who feel an email address conveys some sort of professionalism. To be quite honest, I don't disagree that having a business related email (xxxx@businessname.com) is a net positive. I'm just trying to convey that it isn't necessary to be successful. And personally, I don't think it necessarily costs a person business. Obviously some of you disagree. But my personal experience proves otherwise. At least for me.

There may not be any one single issue (email address, website or no website, professional designations, etc) that will doom an agent to failure or guarantee success, but if having something versus not having it tips the scales in your favor AND it's painless / low or no cost, then why NOT have it? No one ever got a a higher payout for doing it the hard way.
 
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Thanks for asking before jumping to conclusions and making demeaning comments, but I do use my own domain with Gmail. This is an old domain that I have pointing to my new domain that goes with my new corporation and agency name.

Then I would suggest you work on your communication skills. When someone refers to "gmail" the majority of people assume you are speaking of traditional free gmail. If you are not then you should specify... especially since you are asking about HIPAA compliance and corp vs. indv is key in gmail HIPAA compliance.

But Im glad to hear you have a professional email address. Just contact google and get a BAA signed (as I mentioned in my other post you ignored) and you will be compliant.

Sorry if you took offense to the 10 year old comment... but since you have a professional address then it really didnt pertain to you. Wasnt trying to insult, just making a point.

Also, if you get the BAA signed with google, you are restricted with the google apps you can use. G+ and other ancillary services are unavailable if you go that route.
 
Then I would suggest you work on your communication skills. When someone refers to "gmail" the majority of people assume you are speaking of traditional free gmail. If you are not then you should specify... especially since you are asking about HIPAA compliance and corp vs. indv is key in gmail HIPAA compliance.

But Im glad to hear you have a professional email address. Just contact google and get a BAA signed (as I mentioned in my other post you ignored) and you will be compliant.

Sorry if you took offense to the 10 year old comment... but since you have a professional address then it really didnt pertain to you. Wasnt trying to insult, just making a point.

Also, if you get the BAA signed with google, you are restricted with the google apps you can use. G+ and other ancillary services are unavailable if you go that route.

No problem. It's easy to take offense when you can't read body language or hear voice inflections. :cool: Sorry I didn't clarify better.

After all this talk, I have spent more time than I wanted today (i.e. I lost money working on this that I hope to make up on it in the future) working on it and am moving to Office365 and will totally migrate away from all Gmail service, including letting older clients and friends who still use my old GMail address know over time about my new, permanent domain mail address. I am also going with Carbonite for HIPAA compliant cloud storage. Now that all that is behind me, I can get back to what pays the bills.

This has actually turned into a good discussion with some good rabbit trails along the way. I joked about it getting off topic, but I have learned a lot today. :idea:
 
Well let me rephrase it, I'm as busy as I want to be and make a fairly good income using my current email address and no website. After talking with me and meeting me, I don't think anyone would feel that I'm not professional.

Different strokes for different folks.

Just out of curiosity, who determines what is and isn't a "professional" email?


I wasnt taking a shot at you. I was just making the point that it is impossible to know how not having a professional email address has or has not affected your business.

As I said in my post, its obvious your business has not suffered from it. I know of plenty of other indy agents who have been very successful in their career without a professional email address.

You dont close 100% of your prospects, nobody does. So it is impossible to know if you have lost a sale or not set an appointment because of your email address. And in my mind why leave that chance? That was simply my point.


Now to speak directly about your situation, with all due respect, I think you most definitely should utilize your domain and professional email. You do not even have to have the website active to utilize the email extension. As far as your clients go just send a mass email from the old and from the new address. You could send letters or postcards to everyone but that would obviously be an added expense .... and if I remember you have a couple of grey hairs, so I would guess you have a good many clients under your belt!

Anyway, I meant no offense.


And a professional email address is considered to be one with your business as the domain. A @yahoo, @gmail, @hotmail, @charter, @whatevergenericemail, etc. , is all considered to be a "personal" email address, not a professional/business email. At least in the business world those are the 2 definitions.
 
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There may not be any one single issue (email address, website or no website, professional designations, etc) that will doom an agent to failure or guarantee success, but if having something versus not having it tips the scales in your favor AND it painless / low or no cost, then why NOT have it? Last time I looked, no one gave me a higher payout for doing the hard way.

I don't disagree. Again, I have yet to argue AGAINST any of what you've listed. And at this point, if no one gets the point I'm making.... Oh forget it, I'm not going to beat a dead horse. You guys have fun with it, I'm out.

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.... and if I remember you have a couple of grey hairs.

You just had to go there, didn't you? Call me names, make fun of the size of my manhood, but don't imply I'm old. I'm not even middle-aged yet. Now Somarco, he's old.
 
No problem. It's easy to take offense when you can't read body language or hear voice inflections. :cool: Sorry I didn't clarify better.

After all this talk, I have spent more time than I wanted today (i.e. I lost money working on this that I hope to make up on it in the future) working on it and am moving to Office365 and will totally migrate away from all Gmail service, including letting older clients and friends who still use my old GMail address know over time about my new, permanent domain mail address. I am also going with Carbonite for HIPAA compliant cloud storage. Now that all that is behind me, I can get back to what pays the bills.

This has actually turned into a good discussion with some good rabbit trails along the way. I joked about it getting off topic, but I have learned a lot today. :idea:


No worries. I probably wasnt the most tactful... lol.


So out of curiosity why are you moving away from gmail? I dont think office365 is hipaa compliant either without a BAA singed. And out of curiosity why would you not use the 365 could storage, especially when the BAA would cover that too.. ?

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You just had to go there, didn't you? Call me names, make fun of the size of my manhood, but don't imply I'm old. I'm not even middle-aged yet. Now Somarco, he's old.

I was trying to compliment your book of business... :1confused: and since the side of my head is turning grey am I not allowed in the grey hair joke club now?? :1tongue:
 

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