TAHU Update Volume No. 4 Issue No. 8 April 2003

April Meeting

Monday, April 21, 2003
Brier Creek Country Club
Main Clubhouse
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting

APRIL GUEST SPEAKER
Gene Brown
United Healthcare

Gene Brown is Vice President of Small Business Sales for United Healthcare of the Carolinas. He supports the Sales, Sales Operations and Account Management teams that service agents and customers for both North Carolina and South Carolina.

Prior to joining United Healthcare, Gene worked with PHP from 1995 to 1997 as Director, Small Business Sales for North Carolina. He began his career with The Travelers in 1984 working in Jacksonville, FL, Greensboro, NC and Richmond, VA as a sales representative and then as a sales manager.

He is actively involved in the community with the Greensboro Corporate Volunteer Council, Greensboro Airport Rotary Club and is an alumni of Leadership North Carolina. He is also a member of the Triad Association of Health Underwriters since 1995.

Gene is a graduate of Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Mathematics. He lives in Greensboro with his wife Lisa and has 4 children ranging in age from 4 to 21 years.

SPONSORED BY
United Healthcare of the Carolinas

President's Message:
Sam King, CHC

The Triangle Association of Health Underwriters met Monday, March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. The color green was prevalent everywhere. Many of our members had dressed for the occasion with green suits, ties and dresses. The view from our spacious luncheon facility also allowed plenty of greens to be seen as it overlooked the well maintained Brier Creek Country Club Golf Course.

Green was indirectly a part of our speakers presentation. Robert Paschal, our state lobbyist, updated the membership on initiatives in the State Legislature. With the State being strapped for cash & the desire of some to regulate our industry further, one could only wonder what impact the legislature would have on our bank accounts and the products we sell.

The Wednesday after our meeting members from all over the state converged in Raleigh to participate in State Day on the Hill. NCAHU sponsored a well attended breakfast for our state lawmakers. It provided a chance for members to sit and discuss the issues that concern the Association. Items such as the development of a High Risk Pool were hot topics of conversation as Legislatures attentively listened to proposals brought forward by our membership.

March 23 - 25 TAHU sent three members to NAHU's Capital Conference. Rufus Largely, Bill Hendrickson, & Zoraya Swearingen carried the TAHU message to Congressman Price, Etheridge, and Jones. Meetings were also scheduled with Senators Edwards & Dole to be attended by members of the State Board. I know you will want to hear Rufus, Bill, & Zo discuss the hot topics of the national scene when they report back at our next meeting.

Looking to the coming months I will ask that you mark your calendars so that you may attend the May 19 meeting. Following the meeting TAHU will stage its annual golf tournament to benefit Wake Enterprises, our designated charity. Wake Enterprises has been helping disabled members of the Triangle for numerous years. Your Board was excited at the prospect of focusing its energy to stage a well attended event for this noble cause.

I look forward to seeing you on April 21 at our next meeting.

Sam King
Telephone: 919-815-0433
1711 Mohegan Drive
Durham, NC 27712

New Legislative News:
Bill Hendrickson

Things are beginning to pop in the legislative world of Health Care and Health Insurance (there is a difference between the two, you know).

The Days on the Hill and the Capital Conference have passed and our North Carolina state legislators as well as our North Carolina Congressional representatives are fully aware of NAHU's agenda.

In Washington, all of the North Carolina House and Senate legislators heard the NAHU story directly from those of us who attended the event. Responses from legislative staff differed, often based on the political party they represented. Here are the issues NAHU asked us to present during our interviews with legislators or their staff:

The use of tax credits to assist the uninsureds with the purchase of health insurance;
To have the Federal government assist the states in establishing high risk pools for the benefit of individuals who are high insurance risks;
A major overhaul of Medicare, including adding a prescription drug benefit, combining Parts A & B with one annual deductible, a stop-loss feature to protect against catastrophic loss, improving Medicare+Choice, and modifying Medigap policies to conform to the new programs.
Improving the availability of Long Term Care Insurance through more favorable tax treatment of premiums and of the receipt of benefits;
The development of ethical guidelines for the appropriate use of genetic information;
To expand the public access to Medical Savings Accounts (MSA's);
To help protect the medical profession and to help control medical costs through legislation to reform medical liability practices and make malpractice insurance affordable;
To protect patients rights without increasing the cost of their health insurance;
To discourage the passage of Association Health Plan legislation which would provide unequal insurance plans among many individuals and remove the existing protection to insureds now provided by state legislation.

As a matter of interest to all the members of TAHU, Zoraya Swearingen, Rufus Langley, and I visited the offices of the three Congressmen who represent our area, Brad Miller, Bob Etheridge, and David Price. We spoke with their staff "health" specialists and on most issues, they differed from and took exception to NAHU's positions. Members of opposite political parties usually hold differing positions on most issues which is why it is MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE LET OUR STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS KNOW OUR POSITIONS AND WHY OUR POSITIONS MAKE SENSE FOR THOSE AFFECTED!

(If you wish to read the complete NAHU position on any of these issues, please use the web site, www.nahu.org).

In other news of interest, most states are having serious budget problems this year and probably next year, so little new legislation requiring state funding can be expected.

The highly touted Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) didn't reach many of its intended subjects, primarily because many families don't know their children are eligible. 1.2 billion dollars were forfeited by the states and reverted back to the federal government for other uses merely because the states failed to request their full allotment.

Lastly, in the murky world of Medicaid, 70% of allotted funds go to support many individuals in nursing homes who have spent down their assets in order to qualify for nursing home subsidies. Middle class persons who might be able to support nursing home charges are being counseled by crafty advisors on how to rid themselves of assets and then become eligible for Medicaid funding. Long Term Care tax incentives would put a stop to much of this lawful, but unscrupulous activity.

Public Service:

TAHU Members,

Remember that our Public Service project to support the Raleigh Shelter with toiletries. Please bring shampoo, toothpaste, combs, brushes, soap, etc. to the meeting next Monday at Brier Creek Country Club. The small, personal (hotel) sizes are best, but the Shelter will take whatever is in your cabinet!

Please bring a donation to the April meeting. Allison Tolksdorf of Jones Insurance is heading this project. Call her at 772-0233 if you have any questions.

Website:
www.nctahu.org
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC

Here are some April words-to-the-wise about those "Tip of the Day" messages:

Word to the wise: This is an April Fool's joke.

Actually, the web site is up and running fine. We want you to use it . . . no joke!

Your Opinion is Requested:

What do you think about no longer publishing our newsletter on paper?

Since we all seem to have access to the web, beginning with our next season (in September 2003), we could publish the newsletter on our website only. This would allow us to get information to you faster than by mail, and would save on monthly printing and postage charges.

We will still have a newsletter editor, who will gather all the information each month, then pass it on to the webmaster.

Note that web site still has archived copies of the last two years' newsletter editions, as well. To help us make a decision, we would love to have your input. Please email any comments or suggestions to:

michele.gregory@bcbsnc.com
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Phone: 919.765.4671
Fax: 919.467.2823

Golf Tournament:
Mike Alexander

"Make sure to mark your calendars and reserve a spot in this year's TAHU golf tournament scheduled for Monday, May 19. This year it will be held at Brier Creek Country Club, voted 'Best New Private Course in NC'.

Registration forms and sponsorship information will be available later this month at the monthly meeting and on the website. For details please contact Mike Alexander at #544-5681 or jmalexander@nc.rr.com.

Golf Application is now online at the home page: http://www.nctahu.org

Membership Update:

There are many benefits to joining TAHU. Here are just a few reasons to join:

Monthly meetings to network with company representatives and other agents in your line of work
Monthly meetings with top-notch speakers in your industry discussing current events.
Website access to a local, state, and national list of membership for NAHU.
An opportunity to find out about current legislative action in your field.
An opportunity to help your community through several public service projects or playing in our annual golf tournament.
A chance to make new friends.
A chance to meet agents who are experts in other areas of life, health, disability, LTC, and retirement planning.
A local newsletter delivered to your office to keep you current in your industry and remind you of upcoming meetings and events.
A national magazine, HIU, delivered to your office to keep you current in your industry and remind you of state & national meetings and events.
It's a small investment in your industry and your future.

To find out more about TAHU or for membership information please contact any of our Board of Directors (phone number in the newsletter), visit our website at www.nctahu.org, or contact Jennifer McLaurin at John F. Sipp & Associates 919-403-7173 ext 14.

Communications:
Tom Snell, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC

Please join us!

When: Monday, April 21, 2003 @ 11:45 a.m.

Where: Brier Creek Country Club - We will meet in the Main Clubhouse

Please RSVP by April 16, 2003

Please call Tom Snell @ 919-491-8880 to reserve your place. You may e-mail a response to srttes@charter.net

Attendee: ______________________________ for the April 21st meeting.

I (will) (will not) bring a guest/prospective member.

Guest name: _____________________________
There is no need to fax the response back if you are not planning on attending the meeting/luncheon
Lunch is $12.00 for members, $16.00 for guests.

As the success of the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters largely depends upon the benevolence of corporate contributors, we are proud to honor the following organizations for their continued support of our many programs and activities:

Diamond Sponsors
2002-2003

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of NC

United Healthcare

Health Care Savings

Please extend your appreciation to the Triangle members representing these organizations and remember their generosity when placing coverages.