TAHU Update Volume No. 4 Issue No. 6 February 2003

February Meeting

Monday, February 17, 2003
Brier Creek Country Club
Main Clubhouse
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting

FEBRUARY GUEST SPEAKER
Robert C. Paschal
NCAHU Lobbyist

This month we have an excellent speaker, Robert Paschal, scheduled. Robert will give us an overview of the "state of the State" as it relates to our profession. His annual presentation has been one of the most popular among our membership.

Robert is a partner at Young Moore & Henderson. A firm that emphasizes matters relating to life, accident and health insurance and ERISA, legislative representation before the North Carolina General Assembly, administrative/regulatory law before the North Carolina Department of Insurance, representation of TPA's and corporate law.

Member of the Wake County Bar, North Carolina State Bar (Chairman of its Group Insurance Committee), Wake County Bar Association. Robert also serves on the Rex Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors.

SPONSORED BY
Advance Insurance Company

President's Message:
Sam King, CHC

The New Year got off to an excellent start last month. Our new meeting site Brier Creek Country Club made an excellent first impression to those who attended last month's meeting. With the warm days of spring soon to be upon us one can only imagine how nice the facility will be when the daffodils, and dogwoods begin their show in the next two months.

And as a golfer I can't wait for the annual TAHU tournament that is scheduled for May 19, 2003, at Brier Creeks Arnold Palmer designed course.

With the new meeting site a question has been asked if it would be better for the membership if our meetings were moved from the third Monday of the month to another day of the week and to a different week in the month. The third Monday will always fall on President's Day, and Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. On many years the third Monday has been the Monday before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many have also questioned the idea of a Monday meeting. Would a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday be better for the members? Though no changes are planned for this year your Board would like your input on this matter for consideration for the years ahead.

I look forward to seeing you on February 17.

New Legislative News:
Bill Hendrickson

As the "crisis" in health care talk continues to attract new mouthpieces, lawmakers in Washington are standing in line to see which of their bills might make it into committee and eventually onto the floor for a vote. At this writing, no one knows what will be popular with lawmakers and their constituents, but here (repeated from a previous Newsletter column with a few additions) are some of the possibilities:

Sen. Kennedy (D-MA) wants every employer with five or more employees to be required to purchase health insurance and pay 75% of the premium.
Sen. Breaux (D-LA) wants all Americans to be required to purchase a minimum basic health insurance package through the private sector with tax credits for lower income individuals.
Pres. Bush wants all uninsured Americans to get tax credits toward the purchase of health insurance. Last year's anticipated credits were $1000/$3000, but they may be increased in this year's requested legislation.
Sen. Daschle (D-SD) has a catch-all bill covering utilization review, authorization procedures, access issues, and mental health parity.
Sen. Feingold (D-WI) wants to set up health care cooperatives to allow businesses to pool health care purchasing power.
Rep. Dreier (R- CA) wants to make the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan available to uninsured persons between 55 and 65 years of age.
Rep. Dingell (D-MI) has introduced legislation to establish a national health insurance program
Then there's Medicare, Medicaid, and medical malpractice reform issues that will definitely see some legislative action.

With Congress and the Administration planning big things that will affect each of our clients, and us we need to be very vigilant and aware of all developments. Our wonderful staff at NAHU will keep us informed of their activity and will give us guidance as to how to react and how to contact our personal Congressional Representatives. We also have an obligation to keep our clients informed and to help each of them lobby the legislators. Stay tuned!

Along the lines of medical malpractice, news out of Georgia is that nearly 18% of physicians in that state expect to stop providing high-risk procedures in order to limit their liability. Nearly one in three obstetrician/gynecologists will abandon high-risk procedures, such as delivering babies! Can you imagine what that will mean in areas predominately inhabited by young families? Obstetricians pay nearly $50,000 annually for malpractice insurance and they faced increases last year from 11% to 30%. Can you imagine how we would handle E % O insurance at those premium levels?

Reports from the British National Service indicate waits of six months or longer for elective surgery. Even with the addition of more beds, more operating theaters, and more doctors, waiting times have not been reduced for elective surgery. Please use this information when contacting your legislators who might show an interest in a government managed health insurance system. Americans will not stand for such an inept system.

DON'T FORGET THE DAYS ON THE HILL AND THE CAPITAL CONFERENCE COMING UP NEXT MONTH!!!!!!

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

A Website Valentine

February will be just right
if you visit our web site.

"www" is how it starts,
then there are some other parts:

"nctahu dot o-r-g"
brings the homepage up to see.

While you're there, check Links and News,
Members, Board and other views.

Then, just this once, go back offline
and send your love a valentine.

Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Email: michele.gregory@bcbsnc.com
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.

Membership Update:
Jennifer McLaurin

Please WELCOME our newest members to TAHU:

Sun Life Financial
Alex Balasco
6100 Fairview Road
Suite 1156
Charlotte, NC 28210
704-556-1957
704-556-9611 fax
alexbalasco@sunlife.com

WellPath
Linda Chirichella
6330 Quadrangle Drive
Suite 500
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
919-419-3921
919-419-3871 fax
lichirichella@cvty.com

Pacific Life & Annuity
Megan Murphy
2359 Perimeter Pointe Parkway
Suite 275
Charlotte, NC 28208
704-424-9655
704-424-9610
megan.murphy@pacificlife.com

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

Please join us!

When: Monday, February 17, 2003 @ 11:45 a.m.

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

Please RSVP by February 12, 2003

Please fax this notice to: Tom Snell @ 919-491-8880 to reserve your place. You may e-mail a response to snell2@earthlink.net

Attendee: ______________________________ for the February 17th 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.

Guaranteed seating for the luncheon meeting is by reservation only.

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.