Lawmakers in Sacramento have acted to enhance Covered California for 2020: They added state-funded tax credits to the federal ones. And they’ve reinstated a requirement for residents to have coverage or pay a penalty. It looks like these moves have an added perk: they appeal to insurers! Carriers are expanding operations in the state, enhancing competition and offering consumers more choices. That means they are making money, of course. Other states are also expected to have more carriers enter or re-enter their marketplaces in 2020. Experts say state-based marketplaces, which cover about 11 million people nationally, are growing more robust and less scary for insurers — despite ACA battles. Read all about it at KHN.
Health Insurance Saves Lives
It’s common to hear this refrain: health insurance is not health care. But a post for To the Point, the Commonwealth Fund’s Shanoor Seervai and David Blumenthal, M.D., make the case for treating insurance coverage as a lifesaving public health intervention. They cite a new study showing that 15,600 deaths between 2014 and 2017 could have been avoided if all states had expanded Medicaid — the latest research demonstrating that having insurance coverage can be a matter of life and death.
AmWINS to Acquire LISI
Big news: AmWINS Group Inc., a large North Carolina-based insurance distributor, has reportedly agreed to acquire LISI Inc. San Mateo-based LISI is a GA that focuses on distributing health insurance and related benefits. LISI has six offices, and relationships with about 8,000 brokers and two dozen carriers. AmWINS says it is also acquiring CoPower, an AmWINS benefit plan administration affiliate. AmWINS hopes to close on the LISI and CoPower deals later this month.
Healthcare.Gov 2020 Registration and Training Now Live
CMS announced that registration and training for the Plan Year 2020 is now available on the CMS Enterprise Portal A presentation and more info can be found here.
More Employers Interested in Population Health Management
Employer interest in alternative payment and delivery models including accountable care organizations (ACOs) and high-performance networks (HPNs) remains strong, according to a new survey by the National Business Group on Health. Nearly a third (31%) of the employers surveyed plan to implement either or both strategies in select markets in 2020, either directly or through their health plan, and that percentage could nearly double to 60% by 2022.
Nearly half– 49% of respondents — said they plan to pursue an advanced primary care strategy in 2020, and another 26% said they are considering one by 2022. One-third of employers (34%) will deliver advanced primary care through an onsite or near-site health center while a growing percentage of employers (24%) are looking to directly contract with advanced primary care models in select markets. The advanced primary care models move away from fee-for-service, encounter-based reimbursement to more comprehensive, patient-centered population health management. The survey found that increasing virtual care and managing prescription costs will also top the priority list for employers.
The 2020 Large Employers’ Health Care Strategy and Plan Design Survey was conducted between May and June 2019. A total of 147 large employers participated. Collectively, respondents represent a range of industry sectors and offer coverage to more than 15.6 million employees and their dependents. More than 54% of respondents belong to the Fortune 500 and 39 belong to the Fortune 100.
Telemedicine Provider First Stop Health Named to Inc. 500 at #375
For the second year in a row, Inc. Magazine named First Stop Health, LLC to the Inc. 500, the annual list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. First Stop Health is ranked at #375 on the list and is the only telemedicine provider on the 2019 list. The 2019 Inc. 500 ranks private companies according to average revenue growth from 2015-2018. First Stop Health is ranked at #35 among healthcare companies, with an annual growth of 1,231%.
Elite Insurance Partners #549 on the Inc. 5000 lists
Elite Insurance Partners announced the company was named No. 549 on the annual Inc. 5000 list, a prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Elite is in good company. None other than Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp and Zillow first gained national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
Kaiser Announces Health Access Grants
Kaiser Permanente announced its awarding more than $19 million in community-based grants to organizations that aim to increase access to health care. Among the recipients:
- Operation Access, which will coordinate at least 1,500 free specialty care surgeries and procedures for low-income, uninsured patients in 9 Bay Area counties.
- Community Clinic Consortium of Contra Costa and Solano Counties, which will support a program providing a primary care medical home for up to 5,500 low-income, uninsured residents.
- Los Angeles Christian Health Centers, which will build a comprehensive health center to serve the medical and social health needs of 6,000 homeless and formerly homeless people living in LA’s Skid Row.
Colonial Life Names Glidden VP
Colonial Life announced that Charlene Glidden has been named vice president of claims, contact center and account services at Colonial Life. In her new role, Glidden will oversee premium and billing, account and policyholder administration, policyholder contact center, claims operations and support services. She’ll also oversees customer experience for millions of Colonial Life clients and policyholders. Glidden joined Colonial Life in 2016 after a 20-year career with Unum serving in information technology, shared services and business leadership roles. Glidden previously served as vice president, Planning, Strategy and Transformation at Colonial Life
LAAHU and VCAHU 5th Annual Medicare Summit– We’ll see you here!
August 20-21, Pickwick Gardens, Burbank
Join Los Angeles and Ventura County Health Underwriters to “Become a Medicare Icon.” Speakers, breakouts, CE and much more! Sponsorship and exhibit info here. Register here.
NAHU Region VIII Leadership Conference
August 25-26, The Queen Mary, Long Beach
Training and strategic planning for all local board positions, plus an opportunity to network with other leaders. Early bird pricing of $149 includes evening reception on 8/25 and a full day of conference on 8/26. Stay in a deluxe stateroom for only $129. Patrick Burns, NAHU Region VIII vp, will preside as ship captain. The event is hosted by LAAHU and OCAHU.
Association of Health Underwriters Senior Summit– We’ll see you here!
August 28-29, Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula
The Sixth Annual Senior Summit sponsored by the Inland Empire, Orange County and San Diego Associations of Health Underwriters is the largest AHU Medicare event in the country. Keynotes, breakout sessions, CE and much more. Early bird pricing in effect until Aug 1: $79 for members, $99 for nonmembers. Register here.
LISI Health Benefits & Tech Summit
August 29- Santa Clara
Sept 9- Irvine
presents BETA, the first health benefits and technology summit dedicated to improving the benefits industry through technology-focused collaboration and forward thinking. Network with a community of professionals engaged in the development of broker, carrier and partner technologies. Educational talks, tech focus groups, CE credit courses, guest appearances and much more. Admission is free! Registration and info here.
NAIFA- Los Angeles- Life Insurance Awareness Event
August 29, 2019, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Taix French Restaurant, Echo Park
PERKS LA – The Employee Experience Expo- We’ll see you here! Discount for CB readers!
September 11, Magic Box @ The Reef, Los Angeles
See the largest selection of perks, services, amenities and benefits for your clients, prospects and their employees. Plus VIP workshops and fitness, giveaways, free food and drink samples, happy hour and more for all ticket holders. Register at here with code CALBROKER (20% off!) and also check out sponsor/exhibiting details.
NAAIA National Conference & Empowerment Summit
Sept 11-13, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, GA
Leaders from across the insurance and financial services profession will come together at this high energy industry event to further the education, advancement and uplifting of African American insurance professionals. More info at www.naaia.org.
LIMRA Group & Worksite Benefits Conference
Sept 10-12, Newport Marriott, Rhode Island
The conference will focus on key industry issues, including factors driving change in the benefits market. Executives and professionals in the workplace benefits area are encouraged to attend and network at this collaborative event. Tom Wamberg, chief executive officer, Wamberg Genomic Advisors, will open the conference by talking about how genomic developments will change every long-held belief of the life and health insurance industries. He’ll discuss genomic products and their potential risks, rewards and regulations. The following day, these industry leaders will share their thoughts on today’s most important topics in the workplace space:
- Lori L. High, senior vice president, Sales & Relationship Management – Group Benefits, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
- Gene Lanzoni, assistant vice president, Thought Leadership – Group & Worksite Marketing, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America;
- Jeanette Rice, president and chief operating officer, American Fidelity Assurance Company; and
- Bill Smith, president, Cigna Group Insurance
Registration and info here.
CAHU Annual Conference & Symposium
Oct 3-5, Costa Mesa
Register here for early bird rates.
Alliance of Comprehensive Planners 2019 Annual Conference
Nov. 12-15, Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, San Diego
The Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) is a community of tax-focused financial planners who provide planning strategies for clients on a fee-only retainer basis. Conference early bird registration rates (which expire Oct. 11, 2019) are in effect now. Participation is open to all interested financial professionals. Companies interested in sponsoring the ACP Annual Conference should contact Jill Colsch at jill@acplanners.org. The agenda is available here: https://2019.acplanners.org/home. More info here.
CAHU Women’s Leadership Conference
March 25-27, 2020, JW Marriott Resort&Spa, Las Vegas
Save the date! Get early bird pricing by registering by 8/31/19 and using code NAHU19. More info at www.cahu.org.
