Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
On lunches and politics: An open letter to CCAHU members
I’ve received some feedback regarding our luncheons that I wanted to share with membership and more importantly, address. One point is highly controversial and the other is more for understanding.
The first is our choice of speakers this month, Sharron Angle. We’re primarily an educational association--we’re certainly not a political organization. However, my duty as President is to help preserve the good of the order and to allow us to thrive into the future. With PPACA now the law of the land, my ability to comply with these duties has come under serious attack so that we are now in survival mode. I’ll be on vacation in Kansas shortly so I’ll borrow an appropriate maxim from that neck of the woods-- you don’t plant your crops when your storehouse is on fire.
Over our history, we’ve traditionally tried to be neutral in the political arena. Opinions, as well as political leanings, tend to be a highly personal thing and the potential to offend by promoting a particular agenda is high. NAIFA faced a similar quandary when they were presented with an opportunity to have Sharron speak at a national level, which they declined. The reasons for the declination were many but it boiled down to this: NAIFA’s core business is life insurance and investments, not health insurance. In fact, I was informed that they actually lost membership because they did not support the PPACA legislation.
We, however, ARE involved in the health insurance market…intimately. For those who understand the legislation, we know that it will threaten our livelihood, possibly even eliminate it. I don’t know about you, but my chosen profession is an extension of who I am, which is HIGHLY personal to me. Between the MLR provisions, the Exchange provisions and the calling to resurrect the public plan option, our industry and profession continues to be threatened. This legislation will not, as one uninformed, wishful-thinking agent (not a member) recently told me, “just go away”. No, it needs to be fought long and hard on multiple points.
Which brings me to our speaker, Sharron Angle. The reason I asked her to speak is two-fold: 1) She supports free-market reforms as a way to reform the system, and 2) to give our membership a close-up look at this candidate. She is far different than how some perceive her. A member recently told me that they would not attend the luncheon because they didn’t want to listen to that (less-than-flattering-colloquialism). I asked if she had spoken to her personally and what she based that upon—answer was “no” and “the media” respectively…she’s coming to the meeting.
As President, I do not necessarily need to support all of Sharron’s positions nor do you. Her position on health reform is the only issue that matters to me as President of CCAHU. Personally, I may not see eye-to-eye with her on other platforms or even health reform. I would suggest however, that if that’s case for you on health reform, you’re in the wrong business. I also understand that as a junior Senator, she won’t have a rubber-stamp, but instead will be one more vote against the current majority party’s support of PPACA in it’s entirety. The same goes for her other positions: She’s one vote, not the decision-maker. But it’s how health reform is ultimately enacted that’s the key here. That’s where our focus should be.
The other point will be brief. I’ve been told that our lunches are too expensive for what is served. You’re right—I can get our lunches for much less than $30—if that’s all we were getting. That $30 covers not only the food, but the serving staff, the audio-visual equipment, the internet connection, the microphone and sound system, the private use of the venue, etc etc etc. The alternative would be to fold the costs into the dues like NAIFA does and include lunch—NAHU’s monthly dues are currently less than half of what NAIFA’s dues are. (Note: NAHU National dues are going up January 1st $75 a year).
In closing, as President I do what I think is right for the association, our industry, and our clients who look to us for guidance. How you vote come November 3rd is up to you. At least you’ll have a first hand look unfiltered by media on which to base your decision on the newest candidate.
P.S. I’ve made a similar request of Reid’s office, even so far as to extend it to Reid’s Senior Health Liaison Officer a month ago. I’m still waiting for a response.
Dan Heffley
CCAHU President
The first is our choice of speakers this month, Sharron Angle. We’re primarily an educational association--we’re certainly not a political organization. However, my duty as President is to help preserve the good of the order and to allow us to thrive into the future. With PPACA now the law of the land, my ability to comply with these duties has come under serious attack so that we are now in survival mode. I’ll be on vacation in Kansas shortly so I’ll borrow an appropriate maxim from that neck of the woods-- you don’t plant your crops when your storehouse is on fire.
Over our history, we’ve traditionally tried to be neutral in the political arena. Opinions, as well as political leanings, tend to be a highly personal thing and the potential to offend by promoting a particular agenda is high. NAIFA faced a similar quandary when they were presented with an opportunity to have Sharron speak at a national level, which they declined. The reasons for the declination were many but it boiled down to this: NAIFA’s core business is life insurance and investments, not health insurance. In fact, I was informed that they actually lost membership because they did not support the PPACA legislation.
We, however, ARE involved in the health insurance market…intimately. For those who understand the legislation, we know that it will threaten our livelihood, possibly even eliminate it. I don’t know about you, but my chosen profession is an extension of who I am, which is HIGHLY personal to me. Between the MLR provisions, the Exchange provisions and the calling to resurrect the public plan option, our industry and profession continues to be threatened. This legislation will not, as one uninformed, wishful-thinking agent (not a member) recently told me, “just go away”. No, it needs to be fought long and hard on multiple points.
Which brings me to our speaker, Sharron Angle. The reason I asked her to speak is two-fold: 1) She supports free-market reforms as a way to reform the system, and 2) to give our membership a close-up look at this candidate. She is far different than how some perceive her. A member recently told me that they would not attend the luncheon because they didn’t want to listen to that (less-than-flattering-colloquialism). I asked if she had spoken to her personally and what she based that upon—answer was “no” and “the media” respectively…she’s coming to the meeting.
As President, I do not necessarily need to support all of Sharron’s positions nor do you. Her position on health reform is the only issue that matters to me as President of CCAHU. Personally, I may not see eye-to-eye with her on other platforms or even health reform. I would suggest however, that if that’s case for you on health reform, you’re in the wrong business. I also understand that as a junior Senator, she won’t have a rubber-stamp, but instead will be one more vote against the current majority party’s support of PPACA in it’s entirety. The same goes for her other positions: She’s one vote, not the decision-maker. But it’s how health reform is ultimately enacted that’s the key here. That’s where our focus should be.
The other point will be brief. I’ve been told that our lunches are too expensive for what is served. You’re right—I can get our lunches for much less than $30—if that’s all we were getting. That $30 covers not only the food, but the serving staff, the audio-visual equipment, the internet connection, the microphone and sound system, the private use of the venue, etc etc etc. The alternative would be to fold the costs into the dues like NAIFA does and include lunch—NAHU’s monthly dues are currently less than half of what NAIFA’s dues are. (Note: NAHU National dues are going up January 1st $75 a year).
In closing, as President I do what I think is right for the association, our industry, and our clients who look to us for guidance. How you vote come November 3rd is up to you. At least you’ll have a first hand look unfiltered by media on which to base your decision on the newest candidate.
P.S. I’ve made a similar request of Reid’s office, even so far as to extend it to Reid’s Senior Health Liaison Officer a month ago. I’m still waiting for a response.
Dan Heffley
CCAHU President
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
URGENT-IT'S CRUNCH TIME
Dear Members:
This Friday, Assembly Bill 162 is slated to be discussed in the Senate. It has already passed the House and WILL pass unless we take action. The hearing will be simulcast at the Grant Sawyer Building at 555 E. Washington Ave. at 1:30pm. I am asking EVERY member to contact their legislator and also contact EVERY client to have them do the same and voice your opposition to this discriminatory bill. Better yet, if you or your clients can attend the hearing that's even better.
Autism is a public policy issue and should be treated as such. AB162 puts the sole burden on individuals, small businesses and fully-insured plans. It EXEMPTS Unions, State employees, Self-funded (read: Casinos), SCHIP and Medicaid from having to provide coverage. Rates are estimated to go up $30 a head for those affected; small businesses who hire a parent with an autistic child will be forced to drop their plans when their experience rating hits the maximum upon renewal. Autism costs $50,000 a year to treat and doesn't discriminate. ANYONE can have an autistic child, so EVERYONE should be a part of the solution. You can find your legislator by clicking here: http://mapserve.leg.state.nv.us/website/lcb/viewer.htm
You can voice your opposition by clicking here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/opinions/vwComments.cfm
and go to SUBMIT AN OPINION, Scroll down the drop box marked Select Bill and go to AB162 (be sure it is AB and not SB), then click on Against and fill in the Comments box asking your legislator to vote NO. Be sure to hit 'Submit' when done.
There is strength in numbers, and we need large numbers of individuals to oppose this bill or it WILL pass.
Thank you.
Dan M. Heffley
Leg Chair
This Friday, Assembly Bill 162 is slated to be discussed in the Senate. It has already passed the House and WILL pass unless we take action. The hearing will be simulcast at the Grant Sawyer Building at 555 E. Washington Ave. at 1:30pm. I am asking EVERY member to contact their legislator and also contact EVERY client to have them do the same and voice your opposition to this discriminatory bill. Better yet, if you or your clients can attend the hearing that's even better.
Autism is a public policy issue and should be treated as such. AB162 puts the sole burden on individuals, small businesses and fully-insured plans. It EXEMPTS Unions, State employees, Self-funded (read: Casinos), SCHIP and Medicaid from having to provide coverage. Rates are estimated to go up $30 a head for those affected; small businesses who hire a parent with an autistic child will be forced to drop their plans when their experience rating hits the maximum upon renewal. Autism costs $50,000 a year to treat and doesn't discriminate. ANYONE can have an autistic child, so EVERYONE should be a part of the solution. You can find your legislator by clicking here: http://mapserve.leg.state.nv.us/website/lcb/viewer.htm
You can voice your opposition by clicking here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/opinions/vwComments.cfm
and go to SUBMIT AN OPINION, Scroll down the drop box marked Select Bill and go to AB162 (be sure it is AB and not SB), then click on Against and fill in the Comments box asking your legislator to vote NO. Be sure to hit 'Submit' when done.
There is strength in numbers, and we need large numbers of individuals to oppose this bill or it WILL pass.
Thank you.
Dan M. Heffley
Leg Chair
Monday, April 13, 2009
HUPAC Challenge- Become a 365 sponsor
What a wonderful, productive, and educational time this year’s Cap Conference was. It didn’t hurt that the weather was beautiful and the cherry trees were in bloom. It’s hard not to feel patriotic when you visit our nation’s capitol, with the austere beauty of the Washington monument reaching for the heavens, the majestic authority of the Lincoln Memorial, the bustling activity in the city itself. So much history here, you can feel it in the air. There are many pages in our country’s history that has helped define who and what America represents. It is a page from our nation’s history that serves as a warning for everything that we, as health underwriters, believe in and is forever immortalized in the following poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year
It was 224 years ago this month that Paul Revere made his famous ride informing the American Colonists that “The British are coming! The British are coming!” which subsequently awakened them from their slumbers and allowed them to repel the British Troops. Imagine, for a moment, if the colonists had not responded. It was, after all, past midnight; they could have just as easily rolled over and went back to sleep, thinking someone else was going to take care of it. Good thing they didn’t. We might be singing “God Save the Queen”.
I bring this up to draw attention to the urgency we as Health Underwriters now face. On a positive note, our state was well represented at Cap conference with both Southern and Northern Nevadans attending. In between all the facts, figures, speakers and meetings, however, one fact emerged that was less than flattering. It seems that out of all the regions, Region 8, our region finished second-to-last in number and volume of HUPAC contributions per member. What made it worse was that California, which is also in Region 8, had the highest per diem contribution in the Nation! I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions about what that says about Nevada. If you don’t know, HUPAC stands for Health Underwriters Political Action Committee. HUPAC’s purpose is to raise funds from NAHU members for the purpose of supporting the political campaigns of candidates who believe in private sector solutions for the health and financial security of all Americans. This also helps us to get face-time with the legislators in Washington so that our views can be heard. Your membership dues cannot go towards HUPAC by law.
I won’t mince words. From commission disclosure legislation, insurance connector formations, the threat of public healthcare, our industry is under attack as the American people are screaming for blood. Worse, our current administration is listening to them. In these tight economic times, we need to demonstrate our value to America’s healthcare system, that we are not simply salespeople who take a percentage of premiums that could be used elsewhere. Our only line of defense is to properly educate the decision makers who ultimately decide on which laws to pass. In this tumultuous year, it is gratifying to know that our National Association has the ears and eyes of the various legislative bodies. Although it was a successful Conference, NAHU was among those organizations that didn’t survive the cut for one particular committee meeting in Washington. We should be represented at EVERY meeting. In order to continue our relationship with the legislators and be at the table, we need funds. I would personally challenge each and every one of us to become a 365 sponsor (or $1 a day), but even $5 or $10 a month will help. Times are tough; but without funding, they will get a lot tougher and then we won’t have to worry about it because we won’t have a job. At this critical time in our industry, we can’t afford to hit the snooze button. That’s why I’m shouting at the top of my lungs, “the Socialists are coming, the Socialists are coming!” (tongue-NOT-in-cheek).
Dan Heffley
Legislative Chair
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year
It was 224 years ago this month that Paul Revere made his famous ride informing the American Colonists that “The British are coming! The British are coming!” which subsequently awakened them from their slumbers and allowed them to repel the British Troops. Imagine, for a moment, if the colonists had not responded. It was, after all, past midnight; they could have just as easily rolled over and went back to sleep, thinking someone else was going to take care of it. Good thing they didn’t. We might be singing “God Save the Queen”.
I bring this up to draw attention to the urgency we as Health Underwriters now face. On a positive note, our state was well represented at Cap conference with both Southern and Northern Nevadans attending. In between all the facts, figures, speakers and meetings, however, one fact emerged that was less than flattering. It seems that out of all the regions, Region 8, our region finished second-to-last in number and volume of HUPAC contributions per member. What made it worse was that California, which is also in Region 8, had the highest per diem contribution in the Nation! I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions about what that says about Nevada. If you don’t know, HUPAC stands for Health Underwriters Political Action Committee. HUPAC’s purpose is to raise funds from NAHU members for the purpose of supporting the political campaigns of candidates who believe in private sector solutions for the health and financial security of all Americans. This also helps us to get face-time with the legislators in Washington so that our views can be heard. Your membership dues cannot go towards HUPAC by law.
I won’t mince words. From commission disclosure legislation, insurance connector formations, the threat of public healthcare, our industry is under attack as the American people are screaming for blood. Worse, our current administration is listening to them. In these tight economic times, we need to demonstrate our value to America’s healthcare system, that we are not simply salespeople who take a percentage of premiums that could be used elsewhere. Our only line of defense is to properly educate the decision makers who ultimately decide on which laws to pass. In this tumultuous year, it is gratifying to know that our National Association has the ears and eyes of the various legislative bodies. Although it was a successful Conference, NAHU was among those organizations that didn’t survive the cut for one particular committee meeting in Washington. We should be represented at EVERY meeting. In order to continue our relationship with the legislators and be at the table, we need funds. I would personally challenge each and every one of us to become a 365 sponsor (or $1 a day), but even $5 or $10 a month will help. Times are tough; but without funding, they will get a lot tougher and then we won’t have to worry about it because we won’t have a job. At this critical time in our industry, we can’t afford to hit the snooze button. That’s why I’m shouting at the top of my lungs, “the Socialists are coming, the Socialists are coming!” (tongue-NOT-in-cheek).
Dan Heffley
Legislative Chair
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Stimulus Package and Obama's Speech
Tonight, President Obama unveiled his vision for healthcare reform. As such, he referred to the successes thus far and his hopes for the future. As most of you know, both SCHIP and ARRA have been passed. While certainly not simple, SCHIP is fairly straightforward in that it directly addresses health insurance reforms as it relates to children and pregnant women. ARRA (aka the Stimulus Package), on the other hand, comprises many items in addition to the many healthcare reforms. The reforms that will directly impact our industry and our clients are many-fold. Cobra, the federal law that allows employees to continue their healthcare coverage after termination of employment has been expanded and will be subsidized for 9 months in certain instances. Funding for a host of disease research, among them heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease and cancer research, (now the leading cause of death of Americans), was included in this bill. During the President’s speech, he alluded to this and his hope that cancer will be ‘cured within our time’. Funding for Health IT systems are a big part of the package as well, with healthcare providers being mandated to have electronic records by 2015. This item has certainly generated some controversy, however the codification of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology and the Comparative Effectiveness provision have become the ‘cause celebre’ in the media and has led to a ‘feeding frenzy’ by radio talk shows and print media. Even our own Las Vegas Review Journal, in it’s Sunday, February 22, 2009 editorial, voiced concerns about misuse of the legislation to deny claims. Nothing could be further from the truth. The law is specifically written with consumer protections in mind. The Coordinator position was actually created during the Bush Administration; the new legislation simply clarifies and officially recognizes it. With so much misinformation out there, your clients look to YOU, their agent, to provide the voice of reason amidst this storm. NAHU and CCAHU provide the answers and training you need to properly inform and advise your clients. One of the ways we can do that by attending our monthly luncheons. Always pertinent and informative, at our March 10th luncheon the various provision of the ARRA will be thoroughly discussed. Now is the time to reserve your seat for the luncheon so you can be better informed to answer your clients’ question
Day on the Hill
For those of you that were able to attend “Day on the Hill” in Carson City this past week, congratulations. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, the event can only be described as “electric”. From our first day attending a tour of the Carson City DOI to an after-hours dinner party sponsored by Nevadans for Affordable Health Care, to the final day attending the 75th Legislative Session at which Senator Harry Reid spoke, I think I speak for all that attended that it was very informative and productive. Your CCAHU (and the concerns of our industry) were very well represented, with the legislators and lobbyists very receptive to our input as the country moves closer to comprehensive healthcare reform. It is events like these that help your CCAHU and our industry as a whole maintain a seat at the table of healthcare reform. Next month CCAHU will be in Washington, DC at Cap Conference, advocating reforms that directly affect you and you clients. It is important to support these activities directly by attending these important events, and/or indirectly through your contributions to HUPAC and State HUPAC. Hope to see you at Cap Conference !
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Stimulus Package Set to Become Law
On Friday, February 13th, lawmakers signed HR-1, commonly know as the stimulus bill. Next, it will go to President Obama for his signature, Monday February 16th. A number of compromises were struck, most importantly on the House version's expansion of the Medicaid program. Instead of expanding the Medicaid Program, lawmakers agreed on language giving $87 billion in matching funds to the states through December 31rst, 2010.
Next is a provision allowing workers that were/will be involuntarily terminated between 9/1/2008 through 12/21/2009 to receive a 65% subsidy for COBRA for 9 months. After 9 months, the worker could still continue COBRA for the remaining 9 or 27 months but without the subsidy. The total cost for this provision is estimated to be $24.7 billion.
The remainder of the bill gives $19 billion to doctors and hospitals to help them institute electronic medical records, $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness technology, $1 billion for wellness and preventive programs and finally, also included in the legislation is an expansion of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs and the Health Coverage Tax Credit.
Next is a provision allowing workers that were/will be involuntarily terminated between 9/1/2008 through 12/21/2009 to receive a 65% subsidy for COBRA for 9 months. After 9 months, the worker could still continue COBRA for the remaining 9 or 27 months but without the subsidy. The total cost for this provision is estimated to be $24.7 billion.
The remainder of the bill gives $19 billion to doctors and hospitals to help them institute electronic medical records, $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness technology, $1 billion for wellness and preventive programs and finally, also included in the legislation is an expansion of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs and the Health Coverage Tax Credit.
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