www.nahu.org/consumer/healthcare. I recommend that you check it out IMMEDIATELY and have the site available for clients or prospects or just plain friends who want to know more of the options available in this state or any other. NAHU welcomes your comments or questions and send these to jwaltman@nahu.org.. Jessica Waltman is the creator and author of the site.
WALL STREET JOURNAL - This article covers the emergence of newer, lower cost, more limited health insurance plans now being offered by the mainline insurers and directed more toward the younger, uninsured crowd. Blue Cross of California offer a plan called “Tonik” with eye-catching plan names, all geared to uninsured twenty-somethings. United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana and others are now marketing similar products to the same potentially uninsured group.
There is some criticism of this brand of marketing, however. A physician in California says slick marketing campaigns “cater to an ignorant population that has little understanding of what insurance is about”. (I think it’s insulting to identify uninsured young adults as “ignorant”). Some say that by insuring a younger, healthier population, it will be even more difficult for older, less healthy persons to be able to afford good plans.
Many of us have been looking for such plans for part time workers, contract persons, and employees of companies that fall outside the usual benefit packages. Contact your local company rep or General Agent to determine what’s available in North Carolina.
In RALEIGH, H-657 was given a favorable report by the House Insurance Committee on May 24. This bill will require brokers (not all insurance producers) who receive direct compensation from a customer for the placing of business, to be unable to receive commissions for the placement without meeting certain disclosure requirements, including getting written consent from the client to receive the insurance company compensation. In other words, client paid fees and insurance commissions for the same activity are prohibited without meeting the disclosure requirements.
RALEIGH - identity theft is a hot item as it is in many parts of our lives. H-1248 has been approved by the House and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. In our world of insurance, the bill seeks to protect personal and credit information by limiting the use of Social Security numbers on many identity documents, including cards used by health insurers and other organizations that must approve identity before a service can be rendered. This bill, if finally passed, will impact many organizations that need proof of identity for their services. Let’s hope the perpetrators of fraud will be put out of business with this legislation.
HEARTLAND INSTITUTE - It has been reported that more European citizens are rejecting their historic social insurance in favor of private plans or in favor of crossing borders for more effective health care. The European Union which provides more access to international information has allowed disgruntled citizens of one country to seek more effective health care elsewhere-including the United States. If you read about European economic issues, you will know that workers in Germany are either striking or at least complaining, because the government needs to reduce its budget allowances for social health insurance.
USA TODAY - In Dallas, TelaDoc was launched last month and is enrolling customers who are willing to pay for fast, low-cost medical advice — by telephone from doctors they have never met. Those who established this service say patients, both insured and uninsured, can save money by using TelaDoc instead of urgent care clinics or ER’s. The cost for an individual is $18.00 to join, $4.25 per month thereafter, and $35 for each call to a doctor. What do you think?
The new Chair of the L & L committee will be Tony Gutierrez, so starting with the September Newsletter, his hand will be guiding this column. Welcome, Tony, and enjoy this work. It’s been fun!
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 June 14, 2005 at the Brier Creek Country Club, Main Clubhouse
Come enjoy the food, fellowship, and presentation.
| Featured Speaker: | Leslie Taylor |
| Subject: | Be Active North Carolina |
| Sponsor: | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina |
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
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You have been generous throughout the year in helping TAHU fulfill our goals of contributing back to our community. We touch and serve many individuals, directly and indirectly, in our daily activities. By the very nature of what we do we are committed to serving others.
To end our year of community service at TAHU we would once again ask that you bring small toiletries that you may have accumulated while traveling to our next meeting. Fran Richardson will be available to gather them and take these items to a local shelter. Thanks to Allison Tolksdorf for initiating this project a couple of years ago; it has become a simple way that we can extend comfort to others.
We hope that you will think about other opportunities that we might take on next year and that you will also consider the being a part of the Public Service Committee. All newcomers and new ideas are welcome.
Thank you for your support this year.
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 |
Since this is going to be my very last newsletter article as webmaster, I want to give each of you a going-away present. It is a TAHU website icon that you can install on your Windows desktop.
The icon looks like this: 
and you can use it to get to our website in one step, instead of clicking on your normal browser icon.
In order to you claim your gift, you have to follow three steps:
- Download the graphic image to your computer
- Create a new shortcut on your Windows desktop
- Change the generic graphic image to your new TAHU graphic image.
Click here for detailed instructions on how to set up your new website shortcut.
I have really enjoyed working as wour webmaster since June 2001. I've learned a lot about our organization and about web design, but most important, this position has given me an opportunity to work more closely with each of you.
Thanks for providing this opportunity and for putting your trust in me.
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
2004-2005
Pfizer Managed Care
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
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
