May 2012 Newsletter

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:26:52 +0000

April 2012 Recap

A Note from the President

Although we are already in May, I would be remiss to not mention that April was National Volunteer Month. Volunteering in the community is something very important to my mother, so growing up it was just something that I did because she did. Now as I am older and able to put things in real context, it has become apparent that there is some real need in communities around us. We don’t have to try hard to notice these struggles either, a trip to your local grocery store or watching your local news highlights just how bad some people have it. I always try to remember and focus on how lucky I am to have the things that are so easily taken for granted, i.e., family, a job, transportation. That being said, where would we be if all of that was taken away from us? Unfortunately, too many people in our communities are experiencing this and finding themselves, for the first time, in serious need of help.

This past month we had Debra Berg, founder of the National Institute for Civic Enterprise (NICE), joined us at our monthly meeting to discuss ways people across the country are giving back. NICE works to promote civic entrepreneur initiatives in the media, encourage volunteer and donor participation and provide Florida-based nonprofit training. At our meeting, we discussed many outlets and opportunities where we could get involved and things you should think about before making a decision on where to volunteer your time. I would encourage you to spend some time deciding on what best suits you, your skills, and your availability, as this is not something that should be rushed into. In our busy worlds, it can be hard to think about finding time to volunteer but, the benefits of volunteering are enormous, both to you, your family, and the community. The right match can help you find friends, reach out to the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career. The key is to find a volunteer position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing. It’s also important to make sure that your commitment matches the organization’s needs. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself while finding the right fit:

Would you like to work with people or would you rather work in solitude?
Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?
Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?
How much time are you willing to commit?
How much responsibility are you ready to take on?
What causes are important to you?
What skills can you bring a volunteer job?

In closing, I urge you to explore a volunteer opportunity in the community. We are all very fortunate to have what we have and we need to be reminded that others may not be so fortunate. For more information about volunteering, www.volunteermatch.org or www.handsonorlando.org are great resources. For more information about Debra Berg and NICE, go to http://www.nicenetwork.org/leadership.html.

–Ashley Wynkoop

May Meeting Information

Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 11:30 AM

Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs

350 S. Northlake Blvd

Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

Are your groups in compliance with PPACA?

presented by:

Jennifer K. Birmingham

Attorney at Law

Ms. Birmingham is an Associate Attorney with ASW, P.A. As a commercial litigator she has experience in cases involving contract disputes, mortgage foreclosure, lien foreclosure, banking disputes, and community association disputes. Ms. Birmingham also represents employers in disputes with their employees and former employees in Florida state and federal courts, as well as administratively before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state and local agencies. She has also been involved in cases in the fields of insurance coverage, bad faith, auto negligence, and premises liability.

We will be voting on the 2012-2013 Slate of Officers at this meeting

2012-2013 Slate of Officers

President – Augie Buffa

President Elect – Natalee Otero-Newman

1st VP/Membership Chair – Laura Staller

2nd Vice President – Alex Good

3rd Vice President – Mike Van Gerpen

4th Vice President – Asher Perminas

Immediate Past President – Ashley Wynkoop

Treasurer – Dave Sherrill

Secretary – Lynn Blank

Legislative Chair – Don Marx

Education Chair – Matt Beatty

We would like to thank Great Advice and BenefitMall

for sponsoring our May meeting:

Lunch

Caesar Salad

Linguini with Sweet Garlic Shrimp

Iced Tea and water

Strawberry Shortcake

Vegetarian option available upon request. Please request with RSVP.

CE to immediately follow lunch.

Evaluating Dental Plans – 1 Hour CE

Course #66222 – Offering #952747

Presented by Ruth Douglass

This one hour CE class reviews the history of dental benefits and provides tips of reviewing and evaluating group dental plans.

Ruth Douglass is a Sales Account Executive with Delta Dental Insurance Company. She is responsible for new group sales throughout the state for small and mid-market employer groups. This includes employer groups of 3 to 500 employees. Ms. Douglass has been with Delta Dental since 1984. From 1984 to 2002 she worked in central Pennsylvania and transferred to sunny Florida in 2002.

Lunch cost is $10 for Members and First time Guests

$35 for Guests

CE is free to Members and $10 for Non-members

RSVP for lunch & CE by 3:00 PM on Friday 5/11 if you will be attending. Email rsvp@cfahu.org.

This will be the last opportunity to win a Symposium Registration

Tickets are $10 for one chance, $20 for two. We will draw the winner at this meeting.

April Legislative Update

By: Don Marx, CFAHU Legislative Chair

As of now, it appears nothing has happened to Senate Bill 2068

As a group, NAHU members conducted meetings with more than 400 congressional offices. As a direct result of your efforts, we have gained 23 new co-sponsors to H.R. 1206, the legislation pending in the House to remove agent and broker compensation from the health reform law’s medical loss ratio (MLR) requirements. Our count now stands at 172 bipartisan co-sponsors, with new members of Congress being added almost every day! In addition, due to the direct lobbying efforts of our members at the meeting, on February 3 we saw the introduction of S. 2068, the bipartisan complement to H.R. 1206, which was offered by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

Latest Title: Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2012
Sponsor: Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] (introduced 2/2/2012)
Related Bills:H.R.1206
Latest Major Action: 2/2/2012 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

CO-SPONSORS (3), ALPHABETICAL

Sen Isakson, Johnny [GA] – 2/2/2012Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] – 2/2/2012

Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] – 2/2/2012

The Supreme Court hears arguments for and against Affordable Care Act

Many observers saw the arguments as a blow to the law; the government’s defense lawyer, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, faced tough questions from the Justices and didn’t always present a perfectly smooth front. But others point out that oral arguments often have little persuasive effect on the justices’ decisions.

The first day of arguments focused on the part of the law that would require most Americans to buy health insurance, the so-called “individual mandate.” The attorney representing the parties challenging the law argued that the mandate is an overreach of congressional power. Verrilli argued that the government has the power to regulate commerce under the Constitution. The Justices seemed split on this issue, with Justice Anthony Kennedy, often a swing vote, likely to be the deciding factor.

If the individual mandate is struck down, however, the justices must decide whether the rest of the law can stand. Here, they again appeared to be split, with liberal justices arguing in favor of “severability,” allowing portions of the law to be struck without eliminating the law altogether, and conservative justices seeming to argue that the whole law must fall.

The final arguments surrounded the law’s pressure on states to expand their Medicare programs or risk a suspension of federal funds. This may be the provision with the most potential to shape constitutional law, because there is very little precedent.

The justices took a preliminary, private vote on March 30 and then draft opinions, with a ruling expected by late June.

Justice Scalia confirms that ongoing Congressional advocacy is needed. “Whether we strike it all down or leave some of it in place…one way or another, Congress is going to have to reconsider this” said Scalia.

Study: Deficit will rise $340 billion with health care law

A study by Charles Blahous, the Republican trustee for Medicare and Social Security, says the health care law will tack an extra $340 billion onto the national deficit over the coming 10 years. His report says the law will create revenue, but that most of that will go to pay for Medicare benefits for those already covered, not to cover additional uninsured people. The Washington Post

Study: Medicare Annual Relport
Medicare Trustees issued their annual report, good news is that Medicare isn’t predicted to run out of money until 2024. If you can consider that good news! Last year’s deficit was $27.7 Billion

Senate Bill 2068: Access to Independent Advisors Act of 2012

This bill has been changed to reflect technical concerns regarding the definition of remuneration. This amendment was received with the full support of our coalition group.

Accountable Care Organizations

That brings the total of ACO groups announced up to 57, which is prettygood, right? Well, maybe considering all of the bad publicity theadministration received from providers about making the initial ACO rulestoo complicated it is, but the program still has a long way to go. Initialprojections by the administration were that 270 organizations would beparticipating by last October.

PCIP too Successful for Brokers

Effective May 1, 2012 HHS will cease the practice of paying licensed agents and brokers for client referrals

YAHU Mentor Program

The YAHU mentor program is looking for mentees! Agents new to the health insurance industry will be paired with an NAHU member who has years of experience in the same field as the mentee. The experienced member will share his/her expertise with the new agent, helping the mentee increase their chance of success in the industry. More information about the program is available here, or fill out the mentor or mentee application.

CFAHU would like to welcome its newest members:

Helen Von Dolteren-Fournier Bencor, Inc.

Chandelle Spayd Focal Point Insurance Services LLC

Melissa Lamp Solstice Benefits, Inc.

Nancy Bohnak Eidson Insurance

Kristen Kelly United Healthcare

Linda Moore New England Financial

Melody Crowgey Chepenick Financial

Trish Schipke Mangrove Employer Services

Jennifer Miceli Empire Insurance

Sam Rennard Colonial Life

Frank Leutheuser Commercial Insurance Associates

Exciting News!!FAHU wants to ensure that you get the latest information as Health Care Reform evolves and new rules and new tools are needed for members to prosper.
To do that, we are implementing a new and powerful notification system, using text messaging.

Simply text FAHU to (407)378-3758to be automatically added to our list and you will receive important notifications directly to your cell phone. Because this technology helps us reach more members and saves FAHU time and money, VIP Members will also receive additional discounts at special events and early notification about industry changes and other opportunities.

FAHU Symposium 2012

Drawing for Complimentary Event Registration

Text WIN to (407)901-3477

Should you not be able to attend the Symposium and do not wish to enter the contest, you will still receive important notifications, and breaking Health Care Reform news, simply by texting FAHU to (407)378-3758.

Click herefor full details on the 2012 FAHU Symposium.

March 2012 Newsletter

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:32:49 +0000

March 2012 Newsletter

A Note from the President

Fast winds and warmer temperatures aren’t the only thing March brings. March is National Nutrition Month. Nutrition month awareness focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. It’s a simple and straightforward task: make healthy choices by incorporating a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy into your meals every day. The ADA encourages all Americans to take time during National Nutrition Month to look at their eating patterns and begin to make the small improvements that, over time, add up to significant health benefits.

Each year the theme for Nutrition Month changes. This year’s theme, “Eat Right with Color,” provides an easy way to focus on improving eating habits — simply include plenty of color on your plate. Adding a splash of colorful seasonal foods to your plate makes for more than just a festive meal. A rainbow of foods creates a palette of nutrients, each with a different bundle of potential benefits for a healthful eating plan.

While we all know eating healthy is a good thing to do, we often think it’s difficult or too time consuming. However, you should understand that small changes in your food choices can make a big difference in the overall quality of your diet. You do not have to sacrifice all of your favorite foods. Usually, a person can find ways to include some of their favorites and still eat a healthy diet. The easiest two things to watch are portion control and not eating out too often. If you are encouraged to change your diet, you may want to start out slowly. Be easy on yourself; it’s better to do incremental changes to improve your diet than nothing at all.

Another easy way to improve your diet, is by adding more fruits and vegetables. People with diets high in fruits and veggies can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease and certain types of cancer. Keep in mind, people need between three and five cups of fruits and vegetables daily. In addition to adding more fruits and vegetables, look for food in its most whole state—closest to the way it’s produced in nature. The best ways to achieve this is twofold 1) Shop on the perimeter of the store, where freshest foods are kept and 2) Avoid any boxed or canned foods if at all possible. Being aware of additives in your food and drinks is also key. Common sense tells you to stop drinking soda; diet or regular as they are both loaded with additives and chemicals. Current research even shows that it is possible diet sodas actually cause weight gain, as they likely don’t satisfy the consumer’s sugar cravings.

I’ve just given you a few tips to make quick and easy improvements to your diet. I encourage each of you to take time to evaluate what you are eating this month and make changes if you are not eating well currently. You can only cheat your health for so long. It’s very hard to undo poor health decisions, so do it right the first time.

–Ashley Wynkoop

March Meeting Information

Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 11:30 AM

Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs

350 S. Northlake Blvd

Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

How to triple your energy overnight!

presented by:

Dr. Dan Yachter

Dr. Daniel S. Yachter owns one of the largest wellness centers in the world in Lake Mary, FL. His vision is to transform the health of our nation and his number one passion is to save lives. Dr. Yachter has been a leader in the Chiropractic industry for the past 10 years and is an established author and international speaker spreading the message of how to heal your body naturally, without drugs and harmful medications. Dr. Yachter received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Life University in Marietta, Georgia and also holds a four year nutrition degree from the University of Florida. He combines the knowledge of both worlds to create a high quality of life for each one of the patients he cares for.

We will be having a New Member Orientation before our regular lunch meeting

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Come learn more about your local association!

Lunch

Soup du Jour

Chicken LaBrasa
Iced Tea and water

White Cloud Cake

Vegetarian option available upon request. Please request with RSVP.

CE to immediately follow lunch.

Exchange Update – 1 Hour CE

Presented by Julian Lago

Lunch cost is $10 for Members and First time Guests

$35 for Guests

CE is free to Members and $10 for Non-members

RSVP by 3:00 PM on Friday 3/16 if you will be attending. Email rsvp@cfahu.org.

Our Featured Company of the month is BCBS of Florida.

Please stop by their table to show your appreciation for their support.

We are collecting supplies again at the March luncheon to benefit Grace Medical Home. This is a great cause. A wish list is below.

Medical Supplies Office Supplies

                              Band-aids (different sizes)                                White Printer Paper (letter and legal)
Hand sanitizer                                              Pastel Blue Printer Paper (letter size)
Liquid Hand Soap                                                             Paper Clips
Benadryl allergy syrup                                                   Mailing Stamps
Aspirin                                                                     Post-It Notes

Claritin Legal Pads

Robitussin Packing Tape

Zyrtec File Folders (letter size)

Baby Formula

KY Jelly

Debrox Earwax Removal

Compression Stockings (JOBST Relief Knee-highs)

Digital Blood Pressure Cuffs

Hudson RCI Adult Aerosol Masks (Nebulizer Masks)

The mission of Grace Medical Home is to reflect the character and compassion of Christ by offering the highest level of medical care to those in our community who need it most.

For more information to go http://gracemedicalhome.org/

March Legislative Update

By: Don Marx, CFAHU Legislative Chair

Here is a summary of what happened during this session:

How will it affect you?

Get involved and you can make a difference.

Not all of these issues directly affect us as Insurance Professionals, but they do as Citizens of the State of Florida.

Sine die 2012

The session that was the legislature wrapped up its 60-day session, passing PIP
and a $70 billion budget, while killing a destination resorts casinos bill and
a move to private prisons. But the Legislature will be back next week to deal with
Senate redistricting maps after they were thrown out by the Florida Supreme
Court.

Ready for special session?

Florida Supreme Court rejects Senate redistricting plan.

Lawmakers will be returning next Wednesday to begin work on
a new set of Senate maps that comply with the court’s ruling. The court
accepted the House plan, but in the Senate’s case the majority opinion said the
maps were too favorable to incumbents and “rife with objective indicators
of improper intent.”

Senate submits state worker drug test bill to Gov. Scott

Gov. Rick Scott’s executive order demanding random drug
testing of all employees awaits a court ruling, but the bill passed on Friday
would permit an agency head only to drug test 10 percent of their workforce
four times per year. Agencies would have to use money in their current budgets
in order to pay for the urine tests.

Senate shoots down ‘parent trigger’ bill

A deadlocked Senate produced a 20-20 vote Friday over a
highly contentious bill that would have allowed parents to vote to turn a
failing public school into a charter school, killing the measure.

Scott declares victory after Senate signs off on auto insurance fix

The Florida Senate narrowly approves a bill dealing with
personal injury protection in the waning hours of the 2012 session.

3rd time is charm for Hudson’s health reorganization bill
As the Legislature OKs HB 1263 on the final day of session,
county health departments aren’t cut loose, but A.G. Holley State Hospital is.

Sen. Fasano kills Sen. Alexander’s bid to shrink Cat Fund, passes Citizens assessment bill

Alexander had tacked on the Cat Fund reduction to SB 1346,
which gives private property insurers more time to pay assessments to
state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. after a large storm. A
subsequent Fasano amendment Friday, though, cancelled Alexander’s move. The
remaining bill was postponed, but reconsidered and passed by the Senate late
Friday.

Bill language repealing septic tanks inspection requirement passes House, headed to governor

The Legislature in 2010 passed the inspection requirement to
protect springs and groundwater. But the requirement prompted a backlash from
rural residents who said it represented government intrusion. Sierra Club and
the Florida Stormwater Association opposed the repeal language because it
places restrictions on local inspection programs.

House sends “modest” energy bill to governor after adopting Senate rewrite

The Senate on Thursday passed HB 7117 after stripping out a
provision that faced opposition from large power customers. On Friday, House
Democrats joined Republicans expressing frustration but said the bill needed to
be passed to move Florida forward on energy policy. The bill passed 116-2.

Local hospital bill passes

The bill would eliminate North Lake County Hospital District
in 2017 unless voters agree to its continuation.

Reemployment services preserved in conforming bill sent to Scott

Lawmakers on Friday sent Gov. Rick Scott a conforming bill
that would move an office that helps injured workers return to work from the
Department of Education to the Department of Financial Services.

Arrivals and Departures

Longtime capital reporter Bill Cotterell says farewell, and
Florida Department of Health Secretary Frank Farmer resigns.

Last-minute House effort aims to steer auto insurance fix out of ditch

The Florida House unveiled a strike-everything amendment to
personal injury protection bill at 4:30 a.m. on the final day of session. It
does deal with attorney fees in some instances, but there are no hourly caps on
fees.

We Need Your Help!

Please take a few minutes to complete this member survey to help guide your board of directors towards making CFAHU the best it can be!

Click here for Survey

New Membership Campaign!

Share with your colleagues all the great reasons for joining NAHU! This is a great time to grow our membership and we will encourage your recruitment efforts with a reward. Recruit four new members from February 1 – April 30 and NAHU will waive your membership dues for one year! If you are a monthly draft paying member, we will stop your draft payments for one full year. Make sure you are listed as the sponsor on the application and we will take care of the rest.

YAHU Mentor Program

January 2012 Newsletter

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:29:39 +0000

December 2011 Newsletter

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:29:10 +0000

CFAHU MONTHLY MEETING

Tuesday, December 13, 2011, 11:30 AM

Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs

350 S. Northlake Blvd. Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

Exchange Update

presented by
Julian Lago, Plastridge Agency, Inc

Do you understand how the Exchanges will work? If not, you don’t want to miss our December meeting, as Julian Lago will fill us in on the latest information on Health Care Exchanges.

Julian currently serves on the NAHU working group as the Exchange Coordinator for the state of Florida. He served as FAHU President for 2009-2010 and is a Past President of the Palm Coast AHU. Julian currently serves as legislative chair for his local chapter and as HUPAC chair for the state.

Lunch will be

Caesar Salad
Chicken Toscana over herb Gorgonzola risotto with green beans Iced Tea and water
Black forest cake

Vegetarian option available upon request. Please request with RSVP.

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We will be collecting toys and chocolates at the December meeting for Loaves and Fishes. Please bring Hershey Kisses and/or Hershey Mini Candy Bars and/or games or toys. A list of suggestions are included here.

CE to immediately follow lunch.

Social Security Disability Benefits – 1 Hour CE

Presented by

Joanne S. Wilburne, Esq.

This CE will be useful to health insurance agents seeking a better understanding of how the SSD process works. It will cover the major steps an attorney takes in a disability case from intake to appeals, including:
· the five steps involved in a sequential evaluation of disability
· SSA and the Administrative Law Judge
· Medical opinions
· the distinction between SSD and SSI, and
· how long term disability insurance affects SSD and Medicare eligibility.

Joanne found her niche as a legal advocate and has been helping clients win disability claims for nearly ten years. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1997, she has been a practicing attorney since 1998.

Also an educator, Joanne has combined her love of teaching with a passion for justice that began in her 20’s when her family’s business closed and the family suffered serious financial loss. Her continuing work as a legal advocate enables her to help often frustrated disability claimants learn to navigate the system, maintain their dignity and secure the monthly income and benefits to which they are entitled.

Her law career began when she relocated from New York to the Tampa Bay area and became the elder law advocate with Bay Area Legal Services, New Port Richey, Florida. In 2003 she took the helm of a 23-year old practice in Inverness that became Stepp & Wilburne, P.A., soon renamed Joanne S. Wilburne, P.A.

Today, with offices throughout central Florida, the firm’s concentration is in social security disability, VA disability, probate and guardianships, Medicare drug denials, and also handles wills, trusts and durable power of attorney.

In addition to court admissions in the U.S. Middle District of Florida and Florida Courts, Joanne is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. In Social Security matters, she is able to practice in all 50 states.

She is a certified teacher in New York and Florida and was an adjunct professor of law for Argosy University at the Tampa campus.

Joanne earned her Juris Doctor in 1997 from City University of New York School of Law. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Syracuse University and in 1982 obtained a Masters degree in secondary education from New York’s Long Island University.

RSVP to rsvp@cfahu.org by Friday, December 9th Please note if you will stay for the CE.

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PO Box 160790 | Altamonte Springs, FL 32716-0790

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November 2011 Newsletter

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:57:54 +0000

1111 CFAHU Newsletter – Click to view PDF

A Note from the President

It’s been said that the best way to experience all that NAHU has to offer their members is to attend a national event, such as Capitol Conference or National Convention and I couldn’t agree more. With the future of the industry in such a questionable state, I cannot think of a better time to become reenergized and the perfect place to do that is NAHU’s Capitol Conference. The upcoming 2012 Capitol Conference will take place January 23-25 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

It kicks off with a full day of health policy education and discussions lead by NAHU staff and subject matter experts. The second and third days are mixed between a range of speakers discussing the future of our industry and spreading NAHU’s message on Capitol Hill. There are also HUPAC fundraising events and networking opportunities scattered in as well.

It is extremely important this year, not only that we make a strong showing, but that we are presenting our lawmakers with health reform ideas that work. The 2012 elections are looming over all of us and the political leaders’ response to health reform is of utmost significance. With your extensive knowledge of the insurance marketplace, the needs of the consumer and the inter- workings of the employer-based delivery system, you are more than the perfect audience to educate our lawmakers about implications and realities of health care reform.

Capitol Conference is also a great chance to network and learn from other fellow industry leaders, not just about health reform, but ideas about how to stay ahead of the curve in these tumultuous times. Remember, we need as many members as we can get in Washington, DC in January to help make our voices heard. I am excited to be heading up there to be a part of it and I really hope to see many of your faces standing next to me.

For more information about Cap Conference, please see click here for the conference website. Early bird registration goes until December 8 and the chapter has set aside funds to help a few of our members with this cost. If you are interested in this reimbursement, please email info@cfahu.org for more details.

-Ashley

Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs 350 S. Northlake Blvd. Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

Tuesday, December 13, 2011, 11:30 AM

Exchange Update

presented by Julian Lago

Do you understand how the Exchanges will work? If not, you don’t want to miss our December meeting, as Julian Lago will us in on the latest information on Health Care Exchanges.

Lunch will be

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Caesar Salad

Chicken Toscana over herb Gorgonzola risotto with green beans Iced Tea and water
Black forest cake

Vegetarian option available upon request. Please request with RSVP.

CE to immediately follow lunch.

Social Security Disability Benefits – 1 Hour CE

Presented by Joanne S. Wilburne, Esq.

This CE will be useful to health insurance agents seeking a better understanding of how the SSD process works. It will cover the major steps an attorney takes in a disability case from intake to appeals, including: · the five steps involved in a sequential evaluation of disability
· SSA and the Administrative Law Judge
· Medical opinions
· the distinction between SSD and SSI, and
· how long term disability insurance affects SSD and Medicare eligibility.

Joanne found her niche as a legal advocate and has been helping clients win disability claims for nearly ten years. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1997, she has been a practicing attorney since 1998.

Her law career began when she relocated from New York to the Tampa Bay area and became the elder law advocate with Bay Area Legal Services, New Port Richey, Florida. In 2003 she took the helm of a 23- year old practice in Inverness that became Stepp & Wilburne, P.A., soon renamed Joanne S. Wilburne, P.A.

She is a certified teacher in New York and Florida and was an adjunct professor of law for Argosy University at the Tampa campus.

RSVP to rsvp@cfahu.org by Friday, December 9th Please note if you will stay for the CE.

We don’t yet have a sponsor for our December meeting. Interested? Contact Jim Scheib at (407) 975-1643 or james.scheib@avmed.org or Ashley Wynkoop at (407) 975-1646 or ashley.wynkoop@avmed.org.

A huge Thank You goes out to Melissa Atkins at Cigna and Natalee Otero-Newman at United Healthcare for sponsoring our Masquerade Party on October 25.

Everyone who attended had a great time!

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NOW, is the time to support HUPAC! It is our “March to a $ Million”

“Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.” Theodore Roosevelt

Please go to : www.hupac.org and contribute online or send a check to HUPAC P.O. Box 20865, Indianpolis, IN 46220-0865
Ph 703-276-0220 Fax 317-253-9285

Upcoming Events

Take the first step and give hope to the kids of St. Jude!

Join us on Saturday, November 19, as St. Jude supporters in the Orlando community, and in 80 cities nationwide come together to participate in the St. Jude Give Thanks Walk to raise money for the children of St. Jude Children ’ s Research Hospital.

Location: Lake Eola Park-International Plaza, corner of Central and Osceola, Orlando, FL 32801

Walk Start Location: International Plaza on the corner of Central Blvd and Eola Drive

Walker Check-in Starts: 8:00am Walk Starts: 9:00am

To Register for the walk, please follow these instructions:

Go to www.givethankswalk.org and click Find a walk. Locate the Orlando option and click for homepage.
On the Orlando event homepage you can find all the details(venue address, time, patient stories, etc.). Click
on the Register tab at the top.
On the registration page, create a username and password. Then complete your registration form including the
section for Participation Type . Here click on Join a team and enter Central Florida Association of Health

Underwriters.
Submit, and share! You can use e -mail, facebook, twitter or other forms of social media to spread the word to
friends, family and colleagues about this event and how to support your team’s fundraising efforts.

For further information please contact Community Service Chair, Alex Good at 407 – 659-6907 or email him at Alex_E_Good@uhc.com

Supremes Fired Up over Health Care Case

The high court sets aside an unusually large block of time for oral arguments; companies are advised to hold off on implementing provisions slated to take effect in a few years.

Jeff Mamorsky Health Benefits November 16, 2011 CFO.com US

As we predicted in prior articles, on November 14 the Supreme Court decided to hear legal challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as health- care reform or Obamacare. The central issue in the case involves the constitutionality of the individual mandate; that is, the requirement that all, or at least most, individuals purchase a qualifying health-insurance policy starting in 2014.

Contrary to the predictions of many legal experts, the Supreme Court also agreed to hear a number of other challenges to the law. The fact that the justices set aside five-and-a-half hours for oral arguments, more than for any other case in recent history, suggests the importance they are placing on the legal challenges.

The 26 states, along with the National Federation of Independent Business, that have filed suits over the law insist that with the individual mandate, Congress overstepped its constitutional right

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to regulate interstate commerce. The Obama Administration argues that the mandate does not

require people to participate in commerce, but rather regulates how they pay for the health-care services that virtually everyone will require during their lifetime.

So far, two federal appeals courts have upheld the mandate, while one ruled it unconstitutional and another refused to reach a decision. (Concerning the law ’s expansion of Medicaid, another issue the Supreme Court agreed to consider, not a single lower court has agreed with the states’ position.)

What happens if the Supreme Court does not uphold Congress’s right to legislate the individual mandate? The provision is aimed at spreading risk and helping to control insurance premiums. Requiring every individual to carry a minimum policy will allow the federal government to prohibit insurers from denying coverage to patients with preexisting medical conditions. But without a mandate, Americans would likely reason that they could save money by postponing the purchase of an insurance policy until they needed one due to illness or injury. That would raise insurance premiums to unaffordable levels.

The court will consider two procedural issues that will be significant concerning the law’s implementation. One is the issue of severability — whether the mandate can be considered unconstitutional without destroying the rest of the law. There is concern from the Obama Administration that if the mandate were to be deemed unconstitutional, then the denial of exclusions for preexisting conditions would also have to be removed, as the two are intertwined for the reasons explained above. It is because of this entanglement that the states insist the entire law rests on the fate of the mandate.

Second, the court will closely review the issue of ripeness. Essentially, the justices stated that they will hear arguments about whether they can reach a decision now at all. One lower-court judge said the constitutional questions about the mandate will have to wait until 2014 because of the Anti-Injunction Act, a federal law that says a tax must take effect before citizens can try to overturn it in the courts. Under this 19th-century law, the individual mandate could not be challenged in court until 2015, when the first tax penalties for failing to purchase health insurance are scheduled to be paid.

No one can predict how the Supreme Court will decide the case. The fact that a majority of circuit courts have upheld its constitutionality has no bearing on that decision. Still, it is likely that the Supreme Court’s four liberal justices will uphold the law in its entirety. The outcome, therefore, will depend heavily on the five conservative justices. Although conservatives tend to vote on the side of limiting federal power, it is not at all clear that will be the outcome in this case, especially because several conservative appellate judges have already preserved the law.

Until the Supreme Court issues a final ruling on the various challenges to the health-care law, we continue to recommend that companies begin preparations for implementing its provisions. If the Supreme Court upholds the act’s constitutionality while severing the individual mandate, the act will remain on the books but will have costly results. It would likely need to be revised or amended.

Therefore, we suggest that companies should not be overzealous in adopting the act ’s far- reaching measures. Provisions nearing their effective date should be implemented, but those slated to take effect in the future should not be adopted until their effective dates draw closer.

Until a final decision is reached, it is important for CFOs as well as human-resources officials to continue familiarizing themselves with the act and to discuss its implementation. We will continue to monitor developments in the case and keep you informed as they unfold.

www.cfahu.org | www.fahu.org | www.nahu.org

PO Box 160790 | Altamonte Springs, FL 32716-0790

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October 2011 Newsletter

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1011 CFAHU Newsletter – Click to View PDF

A Note from the President

“A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools.” Spanish Proverb

As I was contemplating topics for this month’s newsletter, I started browsing October on the internet and found that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, National Cholesterol Awareness month, Disability Employment Awareness month, Emergency Care month, National Mental Illness Awareness month, and Self-Improvement month. And these are just a few! While the thought of focusing on Country Music month did occur to me, I figured I may have the wrong audience for such an article; something more relevant to us and our clients would probably be health and self improvement.

If you know me, you could probably guess that reading self-improvement, self-help or wellness books begin as a priority to me. However, as I try to get through the first chapters I find myself spending more time rolling my eyes than taking in the material. Most of these books seem too general in nature to me and combined with my “I think I know everything” attitude (I do not by the way), I find it tough to keep my focus. However, I would gather that several of us share the same issue. We know there are healthy initiatives that we should be focusing on, but who has the time? So many of us focus our time and resources on our clients, we forget to worry about ourselves.

Education and prevention need to be just as important in our own lives as it is for those we are working with. One of the most positive benefits to health care reform is the preventative benefits. Health carriers are now offering 140+ preventative tests to us at no cost. Without expense being an issue, the problem then becomes spending the time, so let me share a few statistics with you:

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the world. In fact, 13.5% of all causes of deaths in the world are caused by various forms of this disease. There are more than 100 types of cancer with breast cancer being the most common in females. In men, the highest number of deaths is caused by these five types of cancer: lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and esophagus. According to the World Health Organization, 30% of cancers can be prevented by no use of tobacco, healthy diet and physical exercise. Almost a third of cancers can be cured if they are detected in early stages.

In the US, death rates from breast cancer in women have been declining since 1990. This is in part due to early detection by mammography screening and improvements in treatment. Currently, 60% of breast cancers are diagnosed at a localized stage, for which the five-year survival rate is 98%.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in the US in men and women. The relative five-year survival is 90% for CRC patients diagnosed at an early, localized stage; however, only 39% of cases are diagnosed at this stage. Of the 49,380 people expected to die of CRC in 2011, screening (or use of early detection tests) could save more than half.

This information is not designed to make me look like “Debbie Downer” or darken your mood, but to remind you that you have to take care of yourself before you can really take care of others. The best way to lead our clients is by example, so let’s start showing them how it’s done. And remember if we are not around to take care of our clients… who will be?

In closing, I would like to personally thank Linda Richards and her crew for putting together a fantastic membership event at Maison & Jardin last month. It was a wonderful evening, with great food, wonderful company and generous sponsors. Thanks again to all who joined and made it happen.

Join us for our October monthly meeting in our NEW location!

Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs 350 S. Northlake Blvd. Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 11:30 AM

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PPACA – The Clock is Ticking!!!

Joan Galletta, JD, NAHU Legislative Council Vice-Chair, will be discussing real time issues being addressed in DC and other states, News from the Exchange Working Groups, the fall of the CLASS Act and recent shake ups within the HHS.

Joan Galletta is an Employee Benefits Consultant with JP Perry Insurance, Inc, specializing in group benefits. Joan’s areas of expertise are plan design, compliance issues and legislation associated with group health plans. She earned her law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of Florida College of Law in 1987, where she specialized in contract law. She also holds degrees in Political Science and Criminal

Justice.

Joan served as State Legislative Chair for the Florida Association of Health Underwriters from 2003-2006 and as Regional Legislative Chair for the National Association of Health Underwriters for the southeast region of the United States from 2007-2009. She currently serves on NAHU’s 14 member National Legislative Council as Vice Chair and will chair the National Legislative Council in 2012-2013.

Joan was appointed to the Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board in 2006 by Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, and continues to serve on that board. She is frequently asked to speak on the topic of the implementation of healthcare reform and serves on various carrier advisory panels.

Joan has been with JP Perry Insurance, Inc as an Account Executive since 2003.

Lunch will be

Garden Salad
Roast Pork Tenderloin with Granny Smith Calvados sauce Garlic Yukon Gold mashed potatoes

Grilled marinated vegetable tower Iced Tea and water
Carrot cake

Vegetarian option available upon request. Please request with RSVP.

CE to immediately follow lunch.

Limited Medical Benefit Plans – 2 Hour CE

Presented by Sam Skora of Pan-American Benefit Solutions

RSVP to rsvp@cfahu.org by Friday, October 21st Please note if you will stay for the CE.

October Meeting Sponsored by J.L. Herring & Associates

PLEASE JOIN US FOR A

MINI MASQUERADE PARTY

COME ON OUT, HAVE A BALL, SHOW US ALL YOUR MONSTER CRAWL!

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OCTOBER 25, 2011 6 PM – 8 PM

TAPS (WINTER PARK VILLAGE – ACROSS FROM MITCHELL’S) 480 N Orlando Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
407-677-5000

Members: $10 (INCLUDES ONE DRINK TICKET & HORS D’OEUVRES)

Spouses welcome at Member price!!

Non Members: $15 (INCLUDES ONE DRINK TICKET & HORS D’OEUVRES)

***First 20 attendees receive a FREE mask***

Note – Some Sponsorships are still available;
please contact Natalee Otero Newman for more info at 407-659-6956

Upcoming Events

Please join the Central Florida Association of Health Underwriters in volunteering!!!

Friday, November 4, 2011 9 AM to 12 Noon

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
3533 Mercy Drive
Orlando, FL 32808

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a private, nonprofit organization that collects and distributes donated food to more than 400 nonprofit partner agencies in six Central Florida counties: Brevard, Lake, Osceola, Orange, Seminole and Volusia.

Take the first step and give hope to the kids of St. Jude!

Location: Lake Eola Park-International Plaza, corner of Central and Osceola, Orlando, FL 32801

Walk Start Location: International Plaza on the corner of Central Blvd and Eola Drive

Walker Check-in Starts: 8:00am Walk Starts: 9:00am

To volunteer or for further information on either event, please contact Community Chair, Alex Good at 407-659-6907 or email him at Alex_E_Good@uhc.com

CFAHU LEG REPORT

by Donald W. Marx, CFAHU’s Legislative Chair

Capitol Conference Registration is Open!

Mark your calendars! This year’s Capitol Conference will take place from January 23-25, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill and the theme will be Taking Care of Business: Our Response to

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Health Reform Moving Forward. Registration for this exciting event will begin later this week, so

watch your inbox for more information!

NAHU is Moving!

NAHU is moving its offices! In order to facilitate the move, the office will be closed October 28 and re-opening in our new offices on Monday, October 31. The NAHU website will also be down during that time, and NAHU staff e-mails will be unavailable. The new contact information for NAHU’s national office is:

1212 New York Avenue, NW, Ste. 1100 Washington DC 20005
Phone: 202-552-5060
Fax: 202-747-6820

HHS Names Federal Exchange Vendors

HHS took a big step towards the creation of a federal fallback health benefit exchange when it announced its intent to contract with several key vendors to assist with the development of the federal exchange’s framework. These vendors are also expected to work with the states who opt for the state/federal “partnership” model that was announced by HHS several weeks ago.

CGI Federal Inc. was awarded a five-year contract worth approximately $93.7 million to create and support the integral IT portion of the federally run exchange. Approximately $55 million will be paid to the company in the next year to get the federal exchange framework up and running. HHS also announced a $68 million, five-year contract with Quality Software Services Inc. to set up a “data services hub” that will provide eligibility verification (general eligibility, Medicaid and CHIP) for all exchanges. Three separate contracts were also awarded to the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. One is to work on the federal exchange eligibility appeals process, and another is to handle exchange certification, implementation and oversight. The final contract covers exchange eligibility and enrollment strategy and planning. The total of these contracts exceeds $77 million over five years.

Senate Democrat Leader Looks for Alternative Ways to Finance Obama Jobs Act

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is looking for new ways to pay for President Obama’s proposed American Jobs Act, since many of the plan’s existing “pay fors” are not too popular. This would include eliminating a change to the tax treatment of employer-sponsored insurance benefits for wealthier Americans, which is a provision strongly opposed by NAHU.

FAHU Day on the Hill was this week

Monday October 18, 2011 began this year’s “Day on the Hill”. Tours of the Supreme Court, New Capitol and the Historic Capitol were taken.

The winning ticket was drawn for the brand new Kindle winner. 125 tickets were sold to raise money to support our legislative activities.

Jacksonville Essay wins again this year.

Congratulations to Jacksonville AHU for submitting the winning essay again this year. The winning essay was written by Joseph Jumber of Jacksonville Beach. He joined the JAHU delegates touring the Capitol, meeting his State Representative, participating in tell the NAHU story to our State Legislators as well as being honored at our Monday evening dinner.

CFAHU was represented by the following members:

Buddy Anderson, Laurie Anderson, Barbara Coggins, Paul Deininger, Mike Dwyer, Paul Forney, David Gentry, Steve Lindsey, Dale Maloney, Don Marx, Barbara Rennard, Dave Sherrill and Ashley Wynkoop

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www.cfahu.org | www.fahu.org | www.nahu.org

PO Box 160790 | Altamonte Springs, FL 32716-0790

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September 2011 Newsletter

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:29:56 +0000

September 2011 Newsletter - Click to view

0911 CFAHU Newsletter

August 2011 Newsletter

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August 2011 Newsletter - Click to View

0811 CFAHU Newsletter

About

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:03:31 +0000

CFAHU is a local chapter of the National Association Of Health Underwriters (NAHU). We are a professional organization of agents and insurance company representatives who have dedicated their careers to the principle that everyone should have adequate and affordable health insurance coverage.

Representing 20,000+ members across the nation, NAHU is the only national association working solely on behalf of individual health insurance agents and the consumers they serve today. NAHU membership makes you part of an elite group of health insurance professionals. NAHU’s vision statement is that every American will have access to private-sector solutions for health, financial and retirement security and the services of insurance professionals.

Our Mission

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:02:45 +0000