Hey, don’t even think about going anywhere…Experts don’t expect California to be among the poorest states nor among the worst states to retire in. So we have that going for us, according to ThinkAdvisor’s impossible-to-resist lists.
COVID
Major Employers Encourage Vaccine
Dollar General, McDonald’s, Olive Garden, Target and other employers recently announced they are giving incentives for workers to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, we still hear that a chunk of some vaccine-eligible people aren’t interested in getting vaccinated. We’ll keep you posted when we see some reliable numbers. For now, health authorities ask that insurance industry folks do their part to encourage all to get vaccinated when they are able.
HEALTH
Insurance Industry and Others Push for ACA
A coalition of eight powerful industry groups, including America’s Health Insurance Plans, the American Medical Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are pushing for an ACA expansion. According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, the groups are proposing an increase in the federal subsidies available to help people afford coverage and a three-year re-establishment of the match in federal funding to states to entice more of them to expand their Medicaid programs. From the article:
The coalition also urged the government to spend more money on enrolling people in plans offered by the insurance markets established under the law, efforts that were slashed by the previous administration.
And:
The recommendations signal a strong show of support for the beleaguered health care law, which had been under fierce attack not only from Republicans under the Trump administration but from progressive Democrats who have urged replacing it altogether with a government-run “Medicare for all” system.
FSA
PayPro Reminds Us of CAA 2021
Our friends a PayPro recently sent us a reminder that impacts flexible spending accounts (FSAs):
On Sunday December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA 2021) into law. The Act provides temporary relief for health and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) that employers may wish to consider. The temporary relief is an option that employers may choose to offer, however they are not required to.
If you want more info or a rundown of the options and requirements, contact Michael Eastman (MichaelE@pagroup.us) or Bobbi Kaelin (BobbiKaelin@pagroup.us).
DON’T MISS
NAHU CapCon Feb 22-24
The National Association of Health Underwriters will hold its annual Capitol Conference (CapCon) virtually February 22-24. Word has it that a very special guest speaker is about to be announced. So go ahead and register before it’s too late. See you at CapCon!
OCAHU Virtual Sales Symposium Feb 11 &12!
OCAHU will host ‘Navigating the New Normal’, the 2021 virtual summit geared toward the tireless health insurance professional who has been navigating the difficult and uncharted waters of the current COVID-19 era. Please go here for partnership opportunities. Email questions to orangecountyahu@yahoo.com.
INCLUSION
Read All About It!
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 2nd Monday of the month starting at 3:45pm PST via Zoom. Register here.
COMMISSIONS
Answer 3 Questions and Get a Free E-Book!
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!
MEDICARE.
Papa Aims to Really Help Seniors
We love this. Papa recently announced the national expansion of its senior-assisting service to all 50 states. Papa provides companionship to older adults and help with everyday tasks, as well as support with virtual primary care, urgent care and chronic care management. Papa serves as boots-on-the-ground to support closing gaps in care to drastically improve health outcomes of older adults and their families.
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.
- OCAHU Virtual Sales Symposium Feb 11 &12, Navigating the New Normal, February 11 & 12, 7:30 AM to 12:30 p.m. both days. Info here or email orangecountyahu@yahoo.com.
- NAHU CapCon, Virtual, Feb 22-24. Register here.
- NAIFA-Los Angeles 68th Annual Will G. Farrell Award & Leadership Recognition Event, Virtual, Feb. 18. More info here.
- CAHU Women’s Leadership Summit, Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas, April 7-9. Email questions to info@cahu.org.
- American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance, National Medicare Supplement Insurance Industry Summit, Sept 8-10, Schaumburg Convention Center, Chicago area, info here.
