Going virtual can have some benefits…take, for instance, what 10 local California Association of Health Underwriters chapters have decided to do August 26-27. The chapters are teaming up to host a California Statewide Medicare Expo! This will be an online, two-day dive into all things that can help Medicare agents serve seniors. There will be more than 100 sessions and opportunities for certifications and CE. $49 for AHU members; $59 for non-members. Register here.
HEALTH
Parker Conrad to Appear at LAAHU’s July Event
Parker Conrad, formerly of Zenefits and now with Rippling will be making an appearance at LAAHU’s virtual sales symposium on Friday, July 17. Looks like you won’t want to miss this one! Register here.
Documenting The Telehealth Tidalwave
Telehealth claim lines increased a whopping 8,336 percent nationally, from 0.15% of medical claim lines in April 2019 to 13% in April 2020, according to new data from FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker. The data represent the privately insured population, excluding Medicare and Medicaid.
In a sign that the increase is related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the change continued and intensified a trend that began the month before, in March 2020, when the pandemic started its rapid U.S. escalation. The April 2019 to April 2020 increase of 8,336 percent almost doubled the 4,347 percent growth from March 2019 to March 2020.
Neurological Disorders and COVID
Researchers are now looking at the possible connections between neurological disorders and COVID-19 infection. Check out this story on The Conversation.
DRUGS
Predictions on COVID-19 and the Pharmacy World
There’s a Medicaid boon on the horizon due to the economy coma that’s the pandemic. This is according to the folks over at Drug Channels. What impact might this have on pharmacy? Most pharmacies will actually reap rewards from Medicaid expansion. Read more predictions here on what else PBMs might expect in the months to come.
FINANCIAL PLANNING
New Industry Study: Social Distancing Measures Biggest Challenge
Not being able to meet face-to-face with clients during the pandemic has been the biggest obstacle for 9 in 10 advisors according to COVID-19 Social Distance and Distribution: Advisor Survey Summary of Results, a study conducted by LIMRA, the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI), Oliver Wyman and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). The vast majority of advisors said they have received significant training and expanded communications about best practices for working remotely and leveraging technology. Advisors said they most value the carriers’ and professional associations’ advocacy efforts to change or reduce compliance requirements and enable them to submit business digitally rather than via paper. Advisors also said market factors including low interest rates and increased market volatility have also been disruptive to their businesses.
CANCER/CRITICAL ILLNESS
AACII Teams Up with Unified Life Ins Co
The American Association for Critical Illness Insurance (AACII) announced it is collaborating with Unified Life Insurance Company on a new critical illness insurance plan with US Alliance Life and Security Company. The new plan will give consumers the option of either a cancer-only or critical illness insurance coverage and it will be offered exclusively through AACII. The policy will be available exclusively to consumers who connect via the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance’s website (criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org). The new Unified Life product will become the sole critical illness insurance product advertised on the Association’s website. Three coverage levels will be offered ($10,000, $15,000 and $25,000) with the product available for purchase by adults 59 and younger. The comprehensive critical illness insurance policy will provide lump-sum cash benefits upon a qualifying diagnosis for multiple conditions.
PEOPLE
Covered Cal Welcomes Kevin Cornish
Covered California recently announced the appointment of Kevin Cornish as the agency’s new chief information officer (CIO). As the CIO, Cornish will be responsible for the overall design, development and execution of Covered California’s information technology strategy. The CIO provides executive leadership over complex enterprise-wide business information technology solutions within a consumer-facing sales environment. Cornish will also represent Covered California’s information technology initiatives with stakeholders, including state and federal government agencies, vendors, health insurance companies and other users of the systems. Cornish has 31 years of experience in the field, coming to the exchange from the Office of the President at the University of California, where he was its chief technology officer since August of 2017. Earlier in his career, as the vice president of the IT Infrastructure Program at Kaiser Permanente, Cornish helped lead a multibillion-dollar initiative to remediate and transform the technology foundation supporting Kaiser’s integrated health care delivery model.
EVENTS
- Don’t forget LAAHU’s Zoom Happy Hour Today 4 p.m.
Members and non-members alike are invited! Register here.
- LAAHU Annual Sales Symposium will be Virtual in July
LAAHU’s AdapTech annual conference will be virtual July 16-17, 2020. Register here. More info at LAAHU’s website.
- Statewide Virtual Medicare Expo, Aug 26-27
Ten local California Association of Health Underwriters chapters will host a California Statewide Medicare Expo! Join the online, two-day dive into all things that can help Medicare agents serve seniors. More than 100 sessions and opportunities for certifications and CE. $49 for AHU members; $59 for non-members. Register here.
- IICF Foundation Women in Insurance Regional Forums Rescheduled
Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation has rescheduled the Women in Insurance Regional Forums:
New York: October 26
Los Angeles: October 30
Dallas: November 17
- 16th Annual BenefitsPRO Broker Expo 2020 will be Virtual
BenefitsPRO Broker Expo 2020 will now be virtual in August. Preview the virtual experience here. Register for free here.
- CAHU Women’s Leadership Summit Now Rescheduled for March 2021
CAHU’s WLS committee announced that the second Women’s Leadership Summit has been rescheduled for March 24-26, 2021, at the JW Marriott in Las Vegas. Questions should be emailed to info@cahu.org.
