TAHU Update November 2004
Next Meeting
Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Brier Creek Country Club
Main Clubhouse
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting
Please RSVP before Friday, November 5, 2004
to David Smith, at
david@beninslaw.com
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Bill Hendrickson (moderator), Nancy Winter, David Smith,
Sam Corey and Brian McCament
Panel Discussion on Consumer Driven Health Care:
The Good, The Bad and the Other
SPONSORED BY
John Alden
and
Brokerage Resource
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President's Message:
Barry Hill |
Make sure to join us on Tuesday, November 9th for a panel discussion on Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) options. Learn the good, the bad and the other about HSAs, HRAs, MSAs, etc. from an expert panel of agents, brokers, company reps. & other industry professionals. This will be a round-table discussion highlighting the pros & cons of these new health care alternatives. Come prepared with questions as there will be an opportunity for audience participation. Moderating will be Bill Hendrickson. Panelists are David Smith, Nancy Winter, Sam Corey, Jr. and Brian McCament.
Barry Hill
MMIC
700 Spring Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27624
919-878-7576
919-878-7590 Fax
barry.hill@mmicnc.com
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HUPAC/NCPAC:
Sam King, CHC |
When you receive this article we will hopefully already know if the election was a "trick or treat." I can only hope it is not an election whose results will haunt us.
To all who have given in the past two months meetings thanks. To those who have not attended and given there is still time to send money for both our state and national PACs.
I look forward to seeing you at the November Meeting and participating in the panel discussion of Health Care Savings Accounts. See you on the 2nd Tuesday of November at the Brier Creek County Club.
Archie Samuel King
1711 Mohegan Drive
Durham, NC 27712
919-815-0433
SamKingTAHU@aol.com
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Law and Legislation:
Bill Hendrickson |
As this is being written, the BIG election is four days hence and the shouting, fraud complaints, and confusing charges are still controlling most of the media. But, as you read this newsletter, the dye will have been cast and you’ll have some idea where your careers will be heading during the next four years. With the big bogie “Health Care” on every campaigners lips, there certainly will be action somewhere—Raleigh or Washington that will affect us and our clients. So keep your fingers crossed.
INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY --- An editorial in this journal predicts that the new Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) will help those who remain uninsured due to cost restrictions. By using the savings account and low cost high deductible insurance plans, health insurance will fit more easily into peoples’ budgets. (Be sure to attend the November TAHU lunch to learn more about HSA’s) But as you have heard previously, many of the uninsured remain so by choice, while three quarters of the uninsured remain so for less that a year. By throwing around the scary number of 45 million, people tend to forget the true structure of the uninsured millions.
BILL BRANNON UPDATE --- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is taking more notice of the needs of the elderly and planning to modify the NAIC Long Term Care Insurance Model Bill to promote more agent training and education in order to be more effective exponents of LTC insurance. There also are plans to tighten up the marketing of fraudulent health plans. By strengthening the criminal definitions under a new NAIC Model Bill, agents who represent a fraudulent plan will be tried for committing a felony.
WALL STREET JOURNAL --- Another issue related to Canadian health issues: the Canadian pharmaceutical supply chain is designed to meet the needs of 32 million people, not 300 million. If Americans in large numbers raid the Canadian medicine chest, as some politicians advocate, the supply and price of the drugs being purchased would drastically change. About 30 Canadian pharmacies will now not accept bulk orders from American state or local governments and coalitions of pharmacists and senior citizens have joined a movement to keep Canadian drugs from going south asking for a ban of drug sales to the United States by online pharmacies.
Another alarming piece of financial news from Canada was reported by the FRASER INSTITUTE and stated that all ten of the Canadian provinces will be spending their entire budgets on health care by the year2040! Presently, health care spending consumes an average of 36% of provincial program spending and the rate of increase in the provincial budgets is alarming. In 16 years, the province of Newfoundland will be the first province to be spending its budget on nothing but health care with no money left for education, police protection, or running the government. These are frightening numbers!
NEW YORK TIMES --- Speaking of costs, the American health care bill is estimated to be $1.79 trillion, or $6,167 per person. Our costs keep rising, but new treatments make these increases worth the cost. For example, many patients have stents inserted in their arteries to keep them clear. A non-coated stent costs $1,000, but a stent coated with a drug to assist in keeping the arteries clear costs $2,500 and is certainly worth the difference in cost. The article goes on to say, “Innovation in the health care industry comes at a cost, but most observers agree that the benefits of new drugs and life-saving devices far outweigh the costs.”
WALL STREET JOURNAL --- Many Americans can learn to save money by shopping for their needed prescriptions. In one study by the Food and Drug Administration using an intercepted shipment of drugs from Canada to Miami, many of the intercepted drugs showed invoices that proved “buying American” would have been cheaper than buying Canadian drugs. Even locally, we all can take a few minutes to do comparison shopping for our own drugs. My wife changed from a well known pharmacy chain to a large discount store’s in house pharmacy and saved about 20% of her periodic drug expense. There are plenty of shopping sources in the Triangle, so we need to make our own comparisons and give our budgets a break.
William Hendrickson
Hendrickson & Company, Inc.
2219 Lawrence Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919 644-8636
919 644-6433 Fax
bill2219@mindspring.com
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Media Relations:
Elizabeth Barnard |
Monthly meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month starting at 11:45 AM
The next meeting will be held on November 9th, 2004 at the Brier Creek Country Club, Main Clubhouse.
Come enjoy the food, fellowship, and presentation.
| Featured Speakers: |
Bill Hendrickson ( moderator), Nancy Winter, David Smith, Sam Corey and Brian McCament |
| Subject: |
Panel Discussion: Consumer Driven Health Care: The Good, The Bad and the Other |
| Sponsors: |
John Alden and Brokerage Resource |
All members and their guests are invited to attend.
Member Lunch: $12.00 / Guest Lunch: $16.00
Guaranteed seating for the luncheon meeting is by reservation only.
RSVP to: david@beninslaw.com
Elizabeth Barnard
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Eastowne 600 3d Floor
5901 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27702
919-765-4686
919-765-3819 Fax
elizabeth.barnard@bcbsnc.com
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Public Service:
Fran Richardson
|
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Public Service:
Nancy Gibson
|
We’ve moved from Goblins to Gobblers! It’s November and our focus is on helping those in need to have a more enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. We frequently take for granted the many blessings that we have. If you have had the privilege of sharing with those less fortunate by serving a meal or delivering food you will understand the joy it brings to you.
We are asking that you share in this joy by contributing either $5.00 for a “half a turkey”, or $10.00 for a whole turkey. We will deliver our donations to the Raleigh Rescue Mission to assist them in buying food for the holiday.
So don’t be a “turkey” – instead assist us in delivering turkeys to those in need. You will be recognized for your contribution at our November meeting.
See you on November 9th!
Frances H. Richardson
4020 Westchase Blvd., Suite 275
Raleigh, NC 27607
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 30995
Raleigh, NC 27622
919-755-3210
919-326-9868 Fax
f.richardson@nmfn.com
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Website:
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC |
“Last Writes” for one of our Website Features –
One of our website’s newest features has had a very short life. We are going to remove our “TAHU Talks” blog spot. It seemed like a great idea – and blogs are becoming increasingly popular as communications devices, both for individuals and for organizations. However, this hasn’t been the case for “TAHU Talks.”
Due to its lack of use by our members, we have decided that our blog is taking up space, and is embarrassingly empty. If you want to take a look at it one last time, do it fast – it will be gone before the December newsletter lands on your computer screen.
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
2501 Aerial Center Drive, Suite 200
Morrisville, North Carolina 27560
919-765-4671; 800-228-6216
919-467-2823 Fax
Michele.Gregory@bcbsnc.com
Special Announcements:
Please remember that the cost of lunch for TAHU members is $12. Guest and non-member lunches are $16.
There will be a $3 charge for lost or misplaced name badges. Please remember to turn in your badge at the conclusion of each meeting.
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
2003-2004
Pfizer Managed Care
Please extend your appreciation to the Triangle members representing these organizations and remember their generosity when placing coverages.
Triangle Association of Health Underwriters
P.O. Box 19177
Raleigh, NC 27619-9177
