TAHU Update Volume No. 4 Issue No. 7 March 2003
March Meeting
Monday, March 17, 2003
Brier Creek Country Club
Main Clubhouse
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting
MARCH GUEST SPEAKER
Robert C. Paschal
NCAHU Lobbyist
Back by popular demand, this month Robert Paschal, is our scheduled speaker. 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 Triangle Association of Health Underwriters February meeting was canceled due to the icy roads that covered the region on 2/17/03. We are looking for better weather for the March 17, 2003 meeting. Our Sponsor and Speaker will be the same as scheduled in February. We hopefully can talk about the beautiful daffodils & budding trees that should be popping out instead of the ice on the bridges along I-40.
The hopefully wonderful weather will allow us to turn our attention to the upcoming TAHU Golf Outing scheduled for May 19. With all the moisture we have received the Arnold Palmer designed golf course should be in great shape when the TAHU hackers.... I mean golfers take to the links. Start getting your team ready for the Afternoon tournament.
The "Ice Man" also made an appearance at the NCAHU Symposium that was held 2/26-2/28 in High Point. The ice may have put a chill in the air but it did not cool the enthusiasm. Nearly 600 people were in attendance. No shows due to the weather were few. Given the weather on Thursday morning this was remarkable. The Symposium got rave reviews for the content of the material and the facilities. The vendors also were pleased with the traffic at their booths. BCBSNC's booth was particularly popular with the appearance of "Tina" the Million Dollar winner from The Survivor TV series Thursday, and the Smoothies they were distributing Friday. The feedback has been so good that The Showplace in High Point, site of the Symposium, has been reserved for March 2004 & 2005 to hold the event. MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND!
March 23-25 are the dates for NAHU's 13th Capitol Conference. Bill Hendrickson and Rufus Langley are leading a contingent that is going to Washington on our behalf. Anyone interested in going to this wonderful event should contact either Bill or myself. It is an extremely educational experience. The event has proven to be a fire starter for anyone who has ever attended. To be able to meet with the Representatives of our state in their offices in Washington and discuss the issues with them on a one on one basis is an experience all should have. Do not be intimidated. NAHU prepares attendees for the meetings. All of the Staff members at the Representatives are extremely grateful for the information that NAHU provides. Change your schedule and go, you will not regret it!
March 18 & 19th will be the annual Day on the Hill in Raleigh. Your support and participation are needed as NCAHU members meet with the members of the NC Legislature in their offices and for a Breakfast on 3/19 sponsored by NCAHU. Mark your calendars.
You can see Spring will be popping from all of the events that are already on the calendar. I haven't even written about the needs for the upcoming year. Nancy Gibson is beginning to put the Board for the 2003-2004 year together now. What place will you have on that Board. Which Committee do you wish to participate? Key positions will be opening. Membership and the Newsletter will need help next year. This Association will only be as strong as its memberships involvement. The next two years will be critical on the political scene for our industry. Your participation in our Association is needed. See you March 17th.
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).
In the North Carolina General Assembly, Senate Bill 50 has been introduced by Senator Ballantine setting up a high risk health insurance pool through a to be created North Carolina Health Insurance Plan (Plan).
Plan is to be overseen by a Board of Directors of 10 individuals plus Commissioner Long. Members of the Board would include insurance industry reps, consumer members, and members from non-insurance businesses. In addition to appointing the Plan administrator, the Board would have broad powers to implement cost-containment programs, also to contract with local PPO's, HMO's or other limited network provider arrangements to deliver cost-effective health insurance services.
A North Carolina resident for at least 30 days or a dependent would be eligible for the Plan if evidence is provided of:
A notice of rejection or refusal to issue substantially similar insurance for health reasons by one insurer, or
A refusal by an insurer to issue insurance except at a rate exceeding the pool rate.
The financing of the Plan through the high risk pool is the tricky part. The bill says the Board must look at what has been done in other states and must look at the NAIC model bill. Needless to say, to support a high risk pool providing health insurance at affordable premiums, there will be assessments against insurers and reinsurers (and possibly agents and brokers?) operating in this state.
The bill won't become reality until the General Assembly establishes methods of financing and considering the condition of North Carolina's budget woes, don't hold your breath. The bill has not yet been referred to a committee.
During our Day on the Hill this should definitely be a topic of discussion. Should any readers of this newsletter wish a broader summary of the bill, I'll fax you a copy upon request. (919) 644-8636-phone.
Our own Nancy Winter, NCAHU chair for Laws and Legislation, reported that an extremely informative meeting on the high risk pool topic was recently organized by our lobbyist, Robert Pashchal in cooperation with Janet Trautwein of NAHU. Representatives of other interested organizations attended and Janet presented NAHU's approach to high risk pool legislation. She indicated that due to the large number of North Carolina people who have lost their jobs due to Federal trade legislation, this state is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000 as a start up sum toward the pool.
Nancy reported also from this meeting that North Carolina has been losing health insurance carriers at an alarming rate. This was mentioned by Commissioner Jim Long during his December talk to our association. States that have taken the lead in establishing high risk pools have more stable markets and affordable prices.
"O Canada", as the national anthem of our neighbor begins, we saw in the New York Times of February 2, 2003 that long lines still mar Canada's government managed social health insurance system. Not to belabor this point, but a recent Canadian government study showed that 18% (4,300,000 people) of those who saw a doctor in 2001-reported they had difficulty seeing a doctor or getting a test or surgery done in a timely fashion. Comparing this statistic with the U. S. population as of July 1, 2002, this could mean that 50,501,248 insured people in the U.S. would have the same problem here with a government managed single payer system. Is that what we want?
Website:
www.nctahu.org
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
To print or not to print; that is the question. 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 me at:
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.
Membership Update:
Jennifer McLaurin
Please WELCOME our newest members to TAHU:
BCBS of NC
Wendy W. Quick
Yvonne G. Bryant
Colonial Life
Barry Patterson
Public Service:
TAHU Members,
Remember that our Public Service project for February is 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 sizes are best, but the Shelter will take whatever is in your cabinet!
Let's have a good turn out of supplies. Go ahead and put them in your car so you don't forget to take them with you on Monday.
And Thanks!
Your TAHU Board
Communications:
Tom Snell, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC
Please join us!
When: Monday, March 17, 2003 @ 11:45 a.m.
Where: Brier Creek Country Club - We will meet in the Main Clubhouse
Please RSVP by March 12, 2003
Please caqll Tom Snell @ 919-491-8880 to reserve your place. You may e-mail a response to snell2@earthlink.net
Attendee: ______________________________ for the March 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.
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.
