Deepak Chopra to Speak at NAHU’s CapCon | California Broker Magazine

What a treat …. this week the National Association of Health Underwriters announced that Deepak Chopra would be keynoting its annual Capitol Conference (CapCon), which will take place virtually this year February 22-24. Other speakers include senators Susan Collins of Maine and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. There’s still time to register. We hope to virtually see our community of brokers at CapCon next week…

COVID

CDC: Double Up Those Masks

Those who do not like masks will doubly dislike this..

The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January conducted experiments to see how well wearing a cloth mask over a three-ply medical procedure mask worked. They also looked at knotting the ear loops of a surgical mask and then tucking the excess material close to the face. Bottomline: doubling up works and so does make sure you have a tight fit. A snug fit and/or use of two masks helped reduce the exposure to potentially infected aerosols by more than 90% in laboratory simulations.

KFF Has Latest Stats on COVID Vaccine Views

We’ve been monitoring the latest info about who is embracing vaccines and who isn’t. Kaiser Family Foundation has an excellent resource that breaks down a ton of data by age, race, political beliefs and more. The good news is that it looks like there’s growing confidence in the vaccine. An increasing number of people — including health care workers and essential workers — say they will get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered to them. Because of the nature of research, however, the numbers are not real time. So we’re always looking at data that’s a little behind. Fingers crossed that today the numbers look even better and the embrace is wider. Industry leaders have asked all agents and brokers to do their part to be ambassadors of fact and good health policy. For the latest COVID-19 vaccine info, visit the California Department of Health’s COVID19.CA.gov site.

HEALTH

Covered CA Special Enrollment Extends to May 15

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare announced a special enrollment period for Affordable Care Act coverage to help those who lost their health insurance and employer-based coverage during the pandemic. Get the word out that Californians can sign up through May 15 via Covered California special enrollment. Outside of California, sign up may be through the state platform or at Healthcare.gov.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Transamerica Enhances Customer Experience with Remote Online Notary Service

Transamerica announced the enhancement of retirement plan participants’ online experience by offering a new way to notarize a number of documents without leaving the comfort and safety of home via remote online notarization.Through a collaboration with remote online notarization pioneer Notarize, Transamerica gives plan participants the choice to use a digital secure alternative to in-person traditional notarization or to submit a notarized document rather than a medallion signature guarantee for certain transactions. “Consumers are searching for more options to complete transactions,which is why Transamerica and Notarize are collaborating to effectively streamline the notary process,”said Kent Callahan, CEO of Workplace Solutions for Transamerica.“By implementing this new platform,we provide customers with a safe, secure,and fully electronic way to notarize transactions.

DENTAL

United Concordia Announces Perk that Helps Dentists with Dental Recycling

United Concordia Dental announced that dentists taking part in its dental network can now receive dental recycling discount. Participating dentists can receive a free amalgam separator unit and a 20 percent discount on products and services from Dental Recycling North America (DRNA), one of the largest direct recycling service providers in the dental community. The discount on all DRNA products and services includes separator cartridges, waste disposal receptacles and amalgam recycling services.

MARCH MUST DO

LAAHU DEI Book Club

This sounds worth checking out… LAAHU’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee has launched a book club based on Miles McPherson’s book, The Third Option. LAAHU says the author, who is the founder of The Rock church in San Diego, delivers “just the right message for just the right time.” In the book, McPherson speaks out about the pervasive racial divisions in today’s culture and argues that we must learn to see people not by the color of their skin, but as God sees them—humans created in the image of God. LAAHU’s DEI book club will meet monthly for up to 90 minutes via Zoom and have in-depth discussions of up to three chapters each session. The group starts March 8 and expects to finish around September 13. As a grand finale, the group hopes to take a trip to San Diego and personally meet Miles McPherson. The Third Option can be found on Amazon. The book group will meet 2^nd Monday of the month starting at 3:45pm PST via Zoom. Register here.

CAL BROKER

Mental Health Benefits: Should You Be Included in Our Survey?

Cal Broker publishes about eight different surveys a year where we reach out to industry insiders to enlighten us and readers about various industry topics. Last year we added the Mental Health Benefits survey. Companies that specialize in mental health benefits, should be included. Insurers that are heavily focusing on mental health benefits and have something to say are also welcome. Please reach out to Thora Madden (thora@calbrokermag.com) to receive the survey. Answers will be published in the May issue of the print magazine, which will have a mental health benefits focus.

Answer 3 Questions and Get a Free E-Book!

Thank you to all who have already answered Phil Calhoun’s commission survey. This is the last week we’ll mention it. If you haven’t already…

You’d really be helping out OCAHU member Phil Calhoun if you’d answer this three-question survey about commissions. Phil is writing about protecting, growing and selling commissions for Cal Broker this year and he’s planning to offer CE courses and boot camps for brokers. You can remain anonymous with the survey or you can share your email and receive a link for a free e-book. You may also be included in a drawing to receive a copy of “The Health Brokers Guide to: Protect, Grow and Sell Commissions” by Phil Calhoun. Go here for the survey. Thanks!

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Soak Up Everything About Paid Leave, ADA, etc.

Do you want to know more about the intersection of state paid family and medical leave (PFML), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other leave laws? The Disability Management Employer Coalition’s (DMEC) Compliance Conference is the place to get your info. This year’s conference will be held every Wednesday in March (3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st).

Sessions include:

A Deep Dive into Job Protection: What Does it Really Mean?
Compliance in a Work from Home Environment
How COVID-19 is Reshaping Employer Leave and Accommodation Challenges
COVID-19 Effect on Employee Leave Usage: What Do the Numbers Show?
Using Technology to Support Behavioral Health and Wellness

Go here to see the entire agenda and to register.

EVENTS

NAHU Power Hour, 4th Wednesday of the month from 4-5p.m. Pacific. Members and nonmembers welcome. Register here.
NAIFA-Los Angeles 68th Annual Will G. Farrell Award & Leadership Recognition Event, Virtual, Feb. 18. More info here.
NAHU CapCon, Virtual, Feb 22-24. Register here.
NAAIA Black History Month Program: Fireside Chat with Google’s Michele Jawando moderated by The Hartford’s Susan Johnson, Feb 24, 9-10:15 a.m. Pacific, register here.
CAHU Women’s Leadership Summit, Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas, April 7-9. Email questions to info@cahu.org.
Save the Date– June 15-17, IICF International Inclusion in Insurance Forum

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation is convening insurance professionals, C-Suite executives, D&I leaders and other innovators from around the globe for the IICF International Inclusion in Insurance Forum, an action-oriented program with a unique focus on an inclusive future for the industry. Registration details will be shared soon.
American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance, National Medicare Supplement Insurance Industry Summit, Sept 8-10, Schaumburg Convention Center, Chicago area, info here.