California state parks are now closed, San Francisco is sheltering in place, Medi-Cal offices closed as of yesterday, industry events are being rescheduled, workers are telecommuting, colleges have gone online, the stock market is dismal, the IRS has delayed tax payments for 90 days and now Governor Newsom says k-12 schools will likely remain closed until the end of the school year. If anyone still needs convincing the situation is real and everyone must limit activity, please read this story about how silent spreaders fuel the pandemic.
Surreal…that’s the most common word we’re hearing to describe this situation. But we would love to hear what you have to say. Please email editor@calbrokermag.com with the subject line “COVID” about what you’re seeing out there and how it’s impacting your business, your clients and your life. What are clients and employers asking you? How are you handling all of this?
Associate publisher Naama O. Pozniak says that group producers should remind clients that it’s never too late to join their employer benefits. Also, clients can add telemedicine inexpensively to their current coverage if plans don’t have it. Keep in touch with your clients. More than anything, though, keep your wits. “Think positive. Positive thoughts lead to total healing on all levels: mentally, spiritually and physically. Meditate to connect to yourself and your body and lower your stress level. Meditation allows our minds to teach us to listen and connect to who we really are, our personal essence. Healing happens within. Healing is the return to holiness and wholeness. Healing is possible and now more than ever, we should take our health in our own hands. Breathe, breathe, Breathe,” says Naama.
Dr. Kristin Neff of the University of California Berkeley has some fantastic FREE online meditations centered on self compassion. You can easily do these right at your desk (or kitchen table if you’re now working from there). Try this one if you’re dealing with anxiety or stress. One Cal Broker staff member, who shall go nameless, also wants to remind readers that Weedmaps.com still delivers! 🙂
There’s no good way to segue from Weedmaps to this, but here goes…The California Department of Insurance, insurance carriers and industry associations are stepping up and representing the industry with integrity at this critical time. Here is the official info page about COVID-19 from the California Department of Insurance. And here is the bulletin that Commissioner Lara recently sent to health carriers. We’re grateful — but not surprised — that the industry is rising to the occasion. Lastly, California Broker magazine has 25,000 subscribers and our online weekly e-newsletter goes to 8,000+ inboxes (with an impressively high open rate). If you represent an industry group or association, or if you have a great idea, please let us know how we can help.
Retain your social distance, but stay close to Cal Broker. We are here for you.
The California Broker Team
MORE NEWS
- MetLife Foundation to Donate $1 Million to Food Banks Across the U.S. to Help Those Impacted by Coronavirus
MetLife Foundation announced that it has committed to donating $1 million to food banks across the U.S. to help them deal with increased demand for their services as a result of Coronavirus. MetLife Foundation will donate funds to food banks in communities where MetLife, Inc. has a significant presence, such as the greater New York City area, Cary, N.C., Tampa, Fla., and Warwick, R.I.
- Sutter Health|Aetna Announces Addition of LogistiCare/Circulation Ride Services
Sutter Health |Aetna announced that it is providing transportation solutions powered by LogistiCare|Circulation through its new anytime, anywhere access features. LogistiCare|Circulation partners with rideshare providers to facilitate rides to and from healthcare-related appointments and services. Members can request rides through Sutter Health|Aetna’s new care navigation service provided through Docent Health. More info here.
- PC Matic Offers Free Cybersecurity Protection for California Companies Implementing Work from Home Policies
Cybersecurity firm PC Matic announced that it is offering free cybersecurity and remote management tools to California companies who are implementing work-from home-policies in the wake of the ongoing threat from the Coronavirus. The company will offer its suite of enterprise-level cybersecurity and remote-management tools free of charge to California businesses with 10 or more remote workstations, and all onboarding and support services will be available at no charge. More info about the program is here.
EVENTS
- CAHU Women’s Leadership Summit Rescheduled to August 5-7
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the CAHU Women’s Leadership Summit has been postponed from March to August 5-7, 2020, at the same location, the JW Marriott in Las Vegas. We are hopeful that all current participants, and those who were recently forced to cancel, will be able to join us in August.
CAHU will automatically transfer event registrations to the new dates. If for some reason you can no longer attend, please contact Korey Platt by email for additional options.
If you have any questions or concerns contact info@cahu.org.
- LAAHU 2020 April Annual Sales Symposium Rescheduled to July
LAAHU will postpone the April 22 Sales Symposium, AdapTech until Friday, July 17, 2020. The event will take place at Skirball Center. More info at laahu.org.
- Self-Fund SoCal April 16 Event Postponed
The Self-Fund SoCal 2020 April 16 event at the Woodland Hills Marriott has been postponed. A new date hasn’t been announced.
- Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Cancels All Events through April
The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) announced it will postpone IICF events planned through April. More info at IICF.org.
- NAIFA New Agent Welcome Cancelled
NAIFA’s New Agent Welcome event scheduled for Thursday, March 19, has been postponed until further notice. For more info contact executive director Janet Fishman, janet@naifala.org, 213-500-4946, www.naifala.org.
- 16th Annual BenefitsPRO Broker Expo 2020 will continue as planned in May
BenefitsPRO Broker Expo 2020 announced the show will go on. BenefitPro will be May 18-20 at the Hilton in Austin, Texas. For registration and general inquiries, please contact: Nicholas Crimi | ncrimi@alm.com | (855) 808-4540; Patrick Matysek | pmatysek@alm.com | (855) 808-4540
