TAHU Update March 2005

Next Meeting

Tuesday, March 8, 2005
Brier Creek Country Club
Main Clubhouse
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting

Please RSVP before Friday, March 4, 2005
to David Smith, at
david@beninslaw.com

GUEST SPEAKER
Marc Lemmerman
Founder and CEO, Empliant

Empliant, Inc., located in Chapel Hill, N.C., provides web-native, employee self-reliant solutions that reduce administration costs, increase employee satisfaction, and enhance operational efficiency. Technology applications include tools for on-line benefits enrollment and administration; personalized employee benefits statements, and a fully searchable content management knowledgebase for benefit plan information, company policies, or management practices; all of which are accessed through a standard web browser. Empliant's hosted solution reduces capitalization costs and enables employers to provide employees with self-service capabilities to manage their own data in a secure, private environment. Empliant offers small to medium-sized enterprises the rich functionality found in expensive applications without the lengthy, costly consulting and implementation period, and without reliance on customer support for product maintenance.

Marc Lemmerman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, is known for deploying innovative HR technology applications, benefit plan designs, compensation systems, incentive programs, and employee communications. Marc has led multiple human resources information system implementations and has introduced many companies to the benefits of employee self-service applications. He possesses a unique combination of 30 years of HR experience, along with the understanding of technology and business - and has had the visionary ability to bring it all together with Empliant.

He brings experience in all areas of HR to Empliant's customers, from plan design to plan administration. Marc often finds ways for customers to reduce their benefits administration expense while improving overall company benefit programs and promoting employee understanding of company policies and practices. Marc is a preferred chairperson, presenter and workshop leader for national HR conferences, such as the Conference Board and International Quality and Productivity Center, where he has presented Empliant case studies, and conducted post-conference workshops to captive audiences of interested HR and IT executives.

SPONSORED BY
Empliant

Vice President:
David Smith

Local Members attend NAHU Capital Conference in Washington DC

The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) held its fifteenth annual Capital Conference on February 7-9 in Washington, DC. The theme of the meeting was “NAHU – Leadership Through Innovation and Market-Based Change” and 700 health insurance professionals from across the country did just that by communicating NAHU’s legislative agenda to congressional leaders.

Numerous members of the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters attended this conference, both for the opportunity to learn more about the political environment for health care reform and to help communicate the importance of free market health insurance to Congress. Those members in attendance included Rufus Langley (the former chairman of the national Legislative Counsel for the National Association of Health Underwrters), Teri and Toni Gutierrez of Raleigh; Beth Donner of Cary; Bill Hendrickson of Hillsborough; John Henson of Raleigh; Ed Rolling, a recent transplant to North Carolina and the National Chairman of NAHU’s political action committee and David Smith of Durham.

Capital Conference’s guest speakers included leaders in the battle to enact sensible legislation that creates better access to health care. Other presentations explained NAHU’s role in the development of current health care reform initiatives such as health savings accounts (HSAs), consumer directed health care plans (CDHP) high-risk pools, enhancing long-term care insurance and prescription drugs.

“NAHU continues to advocate for a health care system that maximizes choice in health care and promotes a robust and competitive market,” explained Kevin Corcoran, executive vice president. “NAHU has been very active in finding creative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured Americans. We are also very concerned with any initiatives that add to the rising cost of health insurance policies, pricing people out of coverage. NAHU believes that keeping health insurance accessible and affordable is the most important health care reform.”

“As members of the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters, we were fortunate to meet with two of our region’s three members of Congress, sharing our concerns and support for various ideas before Congress. We were well received in Washington and hope that their works helps ensure a bright future for consumers of health and related insurance products in the new session,” said Bill Hendrickson, the Law and Legislation Chairman for the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters.

David C. Smith
BenInsLaw
2530 Meridian Parkway, Suite 200
Durham, NC 27713
919-806-4481
919-882-9745 Fax
david@beninslaw.com

Golf Tournament:
Mike Alexander

Golfers, mark you calendars for:

11th Annual TAHU Golf Tournament

Monday, April 4th 2005

Brier Creek Country Club

11 AM Shot-Gun Start

Superball Format

Entry fees:

$125 - Individual
$400 to $750 - Corporate Sponsor Levels

Contact Mike Alexander at jmalexander@nc.rr.com

Proceeds benefiting Project Access

J. Michael Alexander
Magellan Benefits Group
#4 Haycox Court
Durham, NC 27713
919-544-5681
919-806-8455 Fax
jmalexander@nc.rr.com

Law and Legislation:
Bill Hendrickson

David Smith’s report of this year’s Capital Conference is included in this month’s report, so we’ll shorten our paragraphs so as to give you the important developments, but not bore you with details. There is much happening in Raleigh that we need to pay attention to and if you want more depth from these headlines, call me at 644-8636 and I’ll fax you the full documents.

MEDICAID AND MEDICARE COSTS – These expenses represent 31% to 36% of all health care expenses in the State. The Medicaid budget grew 4½ times in the 1990s and will be over $11 billion by 2010.

PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE TAX INCENTIVE – H285 would provide an individual income tax deduction in the State for many preventive health services. The bill was referred to the House Finance Committee and if passed, would be effective for years beginning on or after 1/1/2005.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LIABILITY INSURANCE REFORM – Several bills are floating around the House which may or may not pass legislation long favored by NAHU and NCTAHU.

MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES DRIFT INTO GOVERNMENT PLANS – Those eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance have found the costs too high and are opting for government-sponsored plans such as the SCHIP program for children. Enrollment in private health plans has dropped from 74.4% in 2000 to 71.5% in 2003. As Health Underwriting Professionals, our responsibility is to help groups and individuals enroll in plans they can afford and avoid the government plans.

EMERGING ISSUES FORUM – The papers have been full of this recent media event in Raleigh and health care was on the top of the agenda. Issues debated included 10 expanded health care; 2) extended use of Information Technology; 3) health care quality standards; and 4) prevention, including reducing the incidence of childhood obesity.

COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR WORKERS COVERED BY GOVERNMENT PLANS VS THOSE COVERED BY PRIVATE PLANS – The average cost per hours of compensation for all state and local government workers in 2004 was $3.38 compared to private works of $1.54. This higher government cost strains government budgets which results in lower wages for government workers. Health Savings Accounts could be an effective product to reduce the cost for government workers and give them more control over their expenses and costs.

William Hendrickson
Hendrickson & Company, Inc.
2219 Lawrence Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919 644-8636
919 644-6433 Fax
bill2219@mindspring.com

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 March 8th, 2005 at the Brier Creek Country Club, Main Clubhouse

Come enjoy the food, fellowship, and presentation.

Featured Speaker: Marc Lemmerman, Founder and CEO, Empliant

Subject: The Positive Impact of Technology on Benefits Administration

Sponsor: Empliant

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 Smith at 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

Membership:
Beth Donner
Membership:
Doug Young

Well, I attended my first ever Capital Conference on Feb. 7th, 8th and 9th and all I can say is "WOW". How empowering to meet with people like Senator Richard Burr and Congressman David Price and think that they really care what I (and all the other members of the NC Chapters) have to say!!! I now know what membership is all about, up close and personal---and it is all good. I am reminded of the "Top Ten Reasons" we should become NAHU Members in the first place. And they are:

NAHU will protect your rights to serve your clients.
You will obtain timely, informative news.
You can attend continuing education seminars on the hottest insurance topics.
You will share information with top producing insurance professionals.
You can participate in grassroots efforts that respond to local, state, and federal legislative issues.
You will benefit from a variety of member-only discount programs.
NAHU's Code of Ethics demonstrates to your clients your commitment to professionalism.
You will play an active role in the future of the health insurance industry.
You will receive a subscription to HIU, the association's monthly magazine.
With NAHU following trends in Large and Small Group Managed Care Plans, Individual Health Plans, Long Term Care Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Medicare Supplements, you will benefit from membership no matter your specialty.

Also, let's recognize the following Renewing Members: JoAnn Davis with Ameritas in Durham and Matthew Estrela with JW Benefits in Cary and as always, if you haven't recruited your new member yet for the year, we are all depending on you to do so!!

Elizabeth C. Donner
Diversified Planning
10 Ivy Hollow Court
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-460-6076
919-380-0908 Fax
bdonner@investment-works.com

Website:
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC

(Click on the graphic for a larger image.)

Actually, I do have a hunger for keeping our website useful.

Since the site is there for all of us, I hope that you visit once in awhile, too - and not just at lunchtime.

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

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