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Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on the 2014 Health Care Reform Checklist

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3 Tasks to Complete for 2014 In Order to Prepare for the Health Care Reform

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) July 23, 2013

Today, Zane Benefits, the online alternative to group health insurance, published new information on the 2014 health care reform checklist.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) introduced several new laws and regulations that impact employers of all sizes. This 2014 health care reform checklist covers three (3) key PPACA compliance issues employers may need to complete for 2014:

1. Waiting Periods: Max 90-Days
Effective January 1, 2014, health plans may not have a waiting period that exceeds 90 days.

2. Annual Limits
PPACA prohibits health insurance plans from imposing annual or lifetime limits on essential health benefits (EHB).

3. Play or Pay Strategy
Starting January 1, 2015, PPACA requires all applicable large employers (50+ FTE employees) to either provide qualified, affordable health insurance or pay a penalty based on full-time employees.

If your company has 50+ FTE employees, complete a cost analysis to determine if you will play, pay, or play differently:

Play: Offer a qualified, affordable group health insurance plan.

Pay: Choose to not offer a group health insurance plan, and pay applicable penalties.

Play Differently: Choose to not offer a group health insurance plan, pay penalties, and offer a stand-alone HRA.

Click here to read the full article.
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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to small businesses and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.

Georgetown Students Finally Getting Birth Control Coverage

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Students at the nation's oldest Catholic university will have their contraception covered through the school's health insurance plan.

Health care plans offered through Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. will include contraception coverage beginning August 15, the school announced last week. The insurance company contracting with the university will pay directly for contraception, rather than the university, as the result of a compromise on new health care laws from the Obama administration.

Georgetown President John DeGioia made the announcement to the campus community Thursday in a university-wide email.

"These regulations give us the opportunity to reconcile our religious identity and our commitment to providing access to affordable health care. Under the framework established by the Administration, the University’s insurance companies will cover the costs of contraceptive services for Georgetown faculty, staff and students who opt to use them, regardless of which health care plan each person has," DeGioia wrote.

Students won't be able to obtain contraception at the campus Student Health Center, because the physicians, nurse practitioners and staff must abide by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. Georgetown is a Jesuit university, founded by a member of Catholicism's largest religious order. But students can fill their prescriptions at pharmacies off campus.

Students have pushed for contraception coverage at Georgetown for years, especially since the university requires most students to purchase health insurance.

The university's policy to deny contraception coverage, citing Catholic teachings, caught national attention last year when Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke testified in the House about her peers' medical needs for birth control. Radio host Rush Limbaugh subsequently called her a "slut" and a "prostitute," sparking outcry.

Although conservatives sought to frame the issue around sex and pregnancy prevention, contraception is vital for certain non-sexual health concerns too. Oral birth control medication is sometimes used to battle ovarian cysts, and can prevent ovarian cancer.

H*yas for Choice President Laura Narefsky was happy with Georgetown's decision to help students achieve birth control coverage, the Hoya newspaper reports:

"I think the College of Cardinals is in a very privileged position, in that they are not directly responsible for the health and well-being of so many people," Narefsky said. "Georgetown has a responsibility not just as a member of the Catholic Church, but also as a research and educational institute with thousands of people who are and are not part of the Catholic Church."

Narefsky said that the accommodation was a step in the right direction toward reproductive justice.

"Georgetown doesn't have to finance or endorse it, but they realized that they can't maintain these archaic and out-of-touch views on modern healthcare," Narefsky said. "It shows progress and ability to move forward on a position that a lot of people think is a stalemate."



Not everyone is happy. Physics professor emeritus Ed Finn, wrote an email back to DeGioia expressing his concern that everyone will have higher premiums due to "free distribution of contraceptive devices."

(h/t College Fix) Reported by Huffington Post 11 hours ago.

Two Industry Experts Discuss Pharmacy Benefit Design on Health Insurance Exchanges in Aug. 1 Webinar

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Differing requirements could result in significant state-to-state variation in what minimum coverage of the pharmacy benefit will look like in health insurance exchanges. Get timely information and strategic insights on pharmacy benefits and exchanges in an upcoming webinar from Atlantic Information Services.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 24, 2013

Pharmaceuticals are one of 10 essential health benefits that must be included in small-group and individual products sold on insurance exchanges. But as the Oct. 1 open enrollment date approaches, many insurers still have questions about how the pharmacy benefit will be structured and ultimately operate. Two leading industry experts will discuss the latest requirements and information related to the drug benefit on the exchanges in “Pharmacy Benefits and Exchanges: Balancing Access With Cost in the New Marketplaces,” the upcoming Aug. 1 webinar from Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS).

In the final run-up to the start of enrollment in October, some industry observers say it’s still unclear whether plans will be able to modify their formularies once the lists have been established. By contrast, insurers operating outside of the exchanges have long been able to change formularies during a plan year. Further complicating the picture is the ACA rule that requires all plans on the exchanges to match the level of benefits offered by a “benchmark” plan in a state. For the drug benefit, this could result in significant state-to-state variation in what minimum coverage will look like.

John Jones, senior vice president of professional practice and pharmacy policy at OptumRx, and Caroline Pearson, a vice president at Avalere Health LLC, in addition to discussing the latest information, will explain how to create attractive products that offer ample drug coverage in exchanges while keeping costs down. Participants in the Aug. 1 webinar will learn:


· How much flexibility can state-selected benchmark plans provide insurers when it comes to designing drug benefits?
· Will the drug coverage requirements allow for aggressive price negotiation between drug manufacturers and insurers and/or the PBMs that negotiate on their behalf?
· What pharmacy benefit requirements must health plans take into account as they design essential health benefits packages for state-operated and federally facilitated exchanges in 2014?
· What are some of the ways insurers can use prescription drug benefits to differentiate their products for 2014? How can they avoid adverse selection?
· Will plans that are required to have open formularies face a tougher time managing drug costs, and what kinds of management tools will they be able to implement?

Visit http://aishealth.com/marketplace/c3p37_080113 for more details and registration information.

About AIS
Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) is a publishing and information company that has been serving the health care industry for more than 25 years. It develops highly targeted news, data and strategic information for managers in hospitals, health plans, medical group practices, pharmaceutical companies and other health care organizations. AIS products include print and electronic newsletters, websites, looseleafs, books, strategic reports, databases, webinars and conferences. Learn more at http://AISHealth.com.

Contact
Shelly Beaird-Francois
Atlantic Information Services, Inc.
202-775-9008 ext. 3064
sbeaird-francois(at)aishealth(dot)com Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.

Marketing begins for Nevada health exchange

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Marketing for Nevada's health insurance exchange is kicking into high gear as federal health care reform nears implementation. Reported by Miami Herald 3 hours ago.

Anne Arundel County gets $365K settlement in prescription drug case

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Anne Arundel County is getting more than $365,000 as part of a settlement of an $82 million class-action lawsuit over prescription drug pricing, the Baltimore Sun reported.\. County officials said the money will go into the county's health insurance fund, which handles all of the health insurance benefits for county employees and retirees. Reported by bizjournals 3 hours ago.

Leading California Air Ambulance Service Aeromedevac Now Offering Medical Flights to the United States From All Locations in Mexico

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Aeromedevac is now providing medical transportation services from Mexico to the United States for Americans who need to be airlifted to U.S. medical facilities for emergency or urgent care.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) July 24, 2013

Aeromedevac, one of the world’s leaders in air ambulance service for more than two decades, is now providing medical transportation services from Mexico to the United States for Americans who need to be airlifted to U.S. medical facilities for emergency or urgent care. Aeromedevac’s recently added Mexico medical flights enhances its reputation as the air ambulance service to call for transportation throughout the United States and international locales.

Aeromedevac’s state of the art fleet of fixed wing aircraft is fully equipped to meet every emergency medical transportation need. Aeromedevac assures patients and their families of peace of mind and expeditious, professional transportation back to the United States for those in need of critical care, including transplant candidates who must be moved immediately to U.S. medical facilities. Americans traveling or living in Mexico who are in need of medical care in U.S. hospitals can count upon Aeromedevac to transport them in comfort in a smooth riding fixed wing aircraft that is fully equipped with all essential emergency equipment and is overseen by highly qualified medical personnel to tend to the patient’s every medical necessity.

Aeromedevac California air ambulance service handles every detail in transporting patients from bed-to-bed to their U.S. destination, including handling all necessary paperwork, arranging for ground transportation at both ends of the trip, and even accommodating any family members or others who need to accompany the patient at no additional cost, when medically appropriate. As an added convenience, complete details and price quotations can be made on line at http://www.aeromedevac.com, as well as by calling 619. 284.7910 or 800.462.0911 in the U.S. or Canada; 1.619.284.7910 outside of North America; and 001.800.832.5087 in Mexico.

All planes are multi-engine, climate-controlled and pressurized fixed-wing aircraft. Aeromedevac's fleet also includes specially designed non-pressurized rotor-wings (for special medical events only) that are specifically configured for providing critical care and advanced life support, including state-of-the-art transport ventilators, infusion pumps, cardiac monitors, noninvasive monitoring, and an expanded pharmaceutical inventory. The aircraft also feature aero-med stretcher systems, built in suction, oxygen and inverter, Drager Ventilators, ProPac Monitors, MiniMed Infusion Pumps, 2011 M-Series Defibulators, an extensive drug and medical supply inventory, and a team of one flight registered nurse and one flight paramedic.

In addition to the security of having personalized air ambulance service, the privacy of all patients being transported is guaranteed. Aeromedevac adheres to all aspects of the Department of Health and Human Service’s Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA), which dictates the patient’s medical information privacy, practices that health care organizations and their partners are obligated to follow. Aeromedevac also guarantees that all physicians, medical facilities, and service and care providers adhere to the HIPAA privacy regulations as well.

Aeromedevac’s more than two decades of providing medical flights throughout the U.S. and internationally has established a stellar reputation as one of the leading evacuation services in the world. The service provides medical transportation for ill or injured individuals, family members, managed care companies, hospitals, military, and governmental embassies and agencies with its fleet of fixed wing flying ambulances. The San Diego-based operation arranges ground transportation and delivers highly specialized care and necessary incidentals for successful transportation. Each plane is equipped similarly to an intensive care unit/emergency room, allowing specialized crews of registered nurses and critical care paramedics or other medical personnel to facilitate care for patients in need of urgent treatment, including organ transplants, cancer treatments, specialized surgery, burn care, advanced head trauma and spinal injuries, and other serious conditions that require expedited medial air ambulance transportation.

Aeromedevac also actively works will many U.S. consulates and hospitals to provide medical air ambulance support when needed in the repatriation of foreign nationals to their homelands in cases where patients who are not U.S. citizens are injured or ill but do not have the proper paperwork to stay in the U.S. Aeromedevac works as a liaison between medical facilities and consulates to arrange for the international transportation of these foreign national patients to facilities in their home countries. “We assist in this process by helping the hospital in filing the proper paperwork with the Consulate by contacting the receiving facility and negotiating for the receiving of the patient,” Dain Pulis, Aeromedevac’s director of patient benefits, explained.

Aeromedevac is a founding member of the International Air Ambulance Alliance-Fixed Wing (IAAA), recognized for raising international professional standards of air ambulance providers while creating transparency for insurers, medical assistance companies and individual clients of air ambulance services. The European Aero-Medical Institute, the top accreditation body for U.S. and European air medical evacuation providers, also accredits it.

Full details of Aeromedevac’s services can be obtained on line at http://www.aeromedevac.com or by calling 619. 284.7910 or 800.462.0911 in the U.S. or Canada, 1.619.284.7910 outside of North America, and 001.800.832.5087 in Mexico. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

World View: U.S. Approves Sending Arms to Opposition Fighters in Syria

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This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

· Over 500 al-Qaeda militants escape from Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison
· U.S. approves sending arms to opposition fighters in Syria
· IRS continues constructing massive Obamacare database

**Over 500 al-Qaeda militants escape from Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison**


Abu Ghraib prison

A military-style attack by the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant resulted in the escape of between 500 and 1,000 prisoners, including many Islamist militant terrorists, from Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad. Suicide bombers drove cars with explosives into the prison gates on Sunday night, while gunmen attacked guards with mortar fire as well as rocket propelled grenades. Fighting continued until early Monday. This release of hundreds of terrorists cannot possibly help Iraq's security situation, which has been deteriorating badly since the withdrawal of American forces in December 2011.

Analysts are beginning to talk again of a civil war in Iraq. That's just as impossible today as when they were talking about it following the 2003 ground invasion. Iraq is in a generational Awakening era, during which a sustained civil war is impossible. In this case, there are still many survivors still alive from the genocidal Iran/Iraq war of the 1980s, and those survivors will prevent anything like that from happening again. The same is true in Syria, where the civil war would have fizzled two years ago if it hadn't been for the aggressive support by Russia, and more recently Hezbollah, in providing weapons and fighters, making Syria's war less a civil war than a proxy war. Russia Today and Reuters

**U.S. approves sending arms to opposition fighters in Syria**

The Obama administration has set numerous red lines for the regime of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad, and then ignore violations of the red line, except to issue a statement of outrage and set a new red line. But now, on Tuesday, the House and Senate intelligence committees approved President Obama's request to use money already in the CIA's budget to be used to send weapons to the Free Syrian Army. The weapons will include small arms, ammunition and perhaps anti-tank weapons. However, this development comes just three days after the EU admitted that a May promise to send arms to the Free Syrian army was just a bluff, and that there was never any intention to fulfill the promise. CNN and Washington Post

**IRS continues constructing massive Obamacare database**

A massive database of personal information about almost all Americans, known as the "Federal Data Services Hub," is under construction for Obamacare. The data base will include name, birth date, Social Security number, gender, ethnicity, family size, Indian status, incarceration status, veteran status, Peace Corps status, membership in a “recognized religious sect or health care sharing ministry,” email addresses, telephone numbers, health records, health insurance and premium information, and income, including IRS tax return information and Social Security income, as well as financial information from other third-party sources

Access to the data will be given to a wide range of people, including “agency contractors, consultants, or grantees” who “need to have access to the records” to help run Obamacare, as well as law enforcement officials to “investigate potential fraud,” will have access to this information, “without the consent of the individual.” Among those who will have access will be a huge new pool of unionized "Navigators," who will be paid to promote Obamacare and help people sign. Almost anyone can become a Navigator, and they will not be subject to a background check. The Beacon


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  Reported by Breitbart 2 hours ago.

More than 1 million Ohioans without health insurance

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Nearly half of all Ohioans aged 18 to 64 receive insurance receive insurance from an employer, and another 17 percent remain uninsured entirely, according to a new study. The numbers show a decreasing trend of employer-provided insurance, but the uninsured come from demographics one might not expect, according to the new study by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. The study found the percentage of Ohioans receiving insurance from either their employer or their spouse’s has been slowly… Reported by bizjournals 2 hours ago.

Is Obamacare a Republican Job Creator?

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AP Photo

Almost 50 years ago, Congress passed and Lyndon B. Johnson signed the law establishing Medicare. It was, soon, wildly popular—so much so that to this day Republican opposition to the program can only be expressed in terms of  “saving” Medicare from supposed instability.

In the next Congressional elections, liberals took a beating—and the Democrats lost the White House in 1968. Scratch that—Democrats lost five of the next six presidential elections.

That’s not the only story I could tell like that. Social Security? It passed in 1935, during what turned out to be a very good election cycle for the Democrats. Implementation began after the 1936 election, and the 1938 election began a string of conservative coalition control in Congress that lasted 20 years.

Want another one? Let’s try foreign policy. The Cold War was over time a bipartisan policy, but it was the Republicans who were in office when the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union dissolved … a policy outcome universally applauded, and most certainly associated with the party of Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Since then, Republicans have only won a national vote presidential victory once in six tries.

All of which is to say that the relationship between policy outcomes and electoral history is complicated at best.

Which gets us to the future of the Affordable Care Act. Recently I made what’s ultimately a narrow argument about how health-care reform would be popular, even if “Obamacare” remained unpopular (see Ezra Klein, who made the case as well). But there’s also a broader question here, one that’s basically at the core of the Republican obsession with the “47 percent.” It’s that, as Steve Benen puts it, “Obamacare will provide a whole new meal of socialist treats seducing Americans into socialist dependence.” What’s more, the accusation—explicit at times, implicit at others—is that the only reason Democrats support such programs is that they deliberately want to “hook” the majority of U.S. voters on these programs and, as a result, secure permanent electoral majorities.

I can see the appeal of the theory. For those who oppose universal health care (and universal retirement programs, and the minimum wage, and indeed all antipoverty programs) but still want to think of themselves as compassionate Good Guys, a theory that government is merely a cynical ploy to win votes would be a very comforting belief.

There is, however, one problem: it’s utterly, completely, totally wrong.

Voting doesn’t work like that.

Indeed, the main conservative story about all of this is nonsensical. If it were true that bigger government produced helplessly dependent Democratic voters, the two decades after 1966 should have been a wonderful era for those Democratic politicians. That didn’t happen.

Granted, conservatives can move goalposts around however they want, always convinced that the next expansion of the welfare state is the one that forces just enough of us into dependency that the prediction of a permanent socialist/Democratic majority comes true. Except it’s all nonsense. Large majorities of voters have been “dependent” on government ever since (at least) the New Deal. Not only because of Social Security (which, remember, provides security not only for those who have retired but perhaps more critically for their children who no longer have the burden of supporting them unaided), but because from that point on government intervention has been the stated policy of all administrations. The bottom line: If the conservative theory about dependence is true, the Reagan revolution or the Gingrich revolution or the Tea Party revolution could never have happened. Let alone the Thatcher revolution, which happened in a far more “dependent” society.

It’s not just about elections, either. Public opinion data going back decades indicates that voters tend to react to the ideology of the party in government by shifting the opposite direction. As George Washington University public opinion scholar John Sides says:

[T]he public is simply a thermostat. When government spending and activism increases, the public says “too hot” and demands less. When spending and activism decreases, the public says “too cold” demands more

If that’s true, then the story conservatives tell themselves is completely backwards! The Affordable Care Act will tend to make voters more conservative even if it is successful.

That makes a certain amount of sense. In 2008, anyone unhappy with their current health insurance could consider two options. One, supported by conservatives, was (in effect) the status quo; liberals supported change. Unhappy? You must be a liberal. But once Obamacare is fully implemented, it will be the liberals who (more or less) support the status quo. Again, if you’re unhappy about health insurance in 2014 or 2015 or 2016, then that logically (again, more or less) implies that you must be a conservative.

Or, to put it at another way: suppose that liberals are right that there are potential benefits from collective action through government, but conservatives are also correct that government intervention does have some dangers and drawbacks. If that’s the case, then we should expect more people to be aware of and concerned about the dangers of overreach exactly when government has expanded. Even if the expansion is mostly successful.  

It is true that if the Affordable Care Act works that people will want to keep the benefits they enjoy from the program. But that’s nothing new—people wanted those benefits back in 2008, too; that’s (among other reasons) why Democrats have run on universal health care for decades. It’s very popular! Or at least it was, before it passed. Gallup, for example, found strong majorities who believed that “it is the responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have health care coverage” every time they asked from 2000 through 2008.

Indeed, one way to look at the Obamacare/ACA split is that passing a new program with a long lag time before implementation may expose the split between wanting benefits and fearing overreach. To simplify: perhaps the natural evolution of liberal expansion of government is that programs are popular in the abstract when they don’t exist at all; less popular as they take real form and people worry about (or perhaps experience) overreach, but eventually if successful become part of the normal status quo. None of which makes voters either more liberal or more conservative. “Obamacare” and the ACA allow separate outlets for both; “Obamacare” inspires the popular imagination into fits of bemoaning “government takeover” and “death panels,” while the ACA quietly goes into effect and provides benefits that will rapidly become uncontroversial.

That last bit was speculative. But what’s not speculative at all is that the theory of socialist dependence is garbage. Yes, a lot of government benefits are popular—but they’re just as likely to be popular, and perhaps even more likely to have electoral effects, before they’re passed. Not after. And the partisan effects of all of that are unpredictable. The idea that once Obamacare is implemented voters will inevitably become hopeless wards of the state and of the Democratic Party may make some ACA opponents feel good. It just doesn’t square with anything we know about elections and public opinion. Reported by The American Prospect 1 hour ago.

Medicationdiscountcard.com Issues Advisory: Health Insurance Plans Do Not Cover Many Common Prescription Medications

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MARGATE CITY, N.J., July 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Prescription benefit plans are often not as inclusive as insurance companies would have consumers believe. When it comes time to fill a new prescription, sticker shock is an unfortunate side effect when consumers are forced to pay... Reported by PR Newswire 1 hour ago.

Affordable Care Act: Defined Contribution-Simplifying the Employers Role

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The rising cost of healthcare combined with the use of the Health Insurance Exchanges, now officially referred to as the Health Insurance Marketplace, has made employers of all group size reconsider the idea of paying a percentage of the employee’s


AFFORDABLE CARE ACT:
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION: SIMPLIFYING THE EMPLOYERS ROLE
Part 1 of 4

The rising cost of healthcare combined with the use of the Health Insurance Exchanges, now officially referred to as the Health Insurance Marketplace, has made employers of all group size reconsider the idea of paying a percentage of the employee’s monthly insurance premiums. Employers can now simply provide a bucket of money, Defined Contribution, to the employees to be used for group and individual insurance policies.

In the current health care market, currently dominated by employer sponsored health insurance, striking a balance between what employees need and want and what the employer can offer is difficult. Although not new the Defined Contribution concept, in which the employer pays a fixed amount for employees health care benefits, is being discussed as a possibility by all group sizes especially since many employees want more decision making powers. A recent survey stated that 83% of employees say they know what they need better than the employer pertaining to the employees’ health care needs.

Why Defined Contributions you ask. There are numerous reasons. The rising cost of health insurance cost for employers, employee retention and satisfaction, employee’s desire for more choices, portability of the health plan, the internet (Marketplace) to help facilitate the enrollment process and very flexible employer involvement. Defined contribution plans are different from traditional health insurance plans offered by employers or purchased separately to help cover the costs of vision care and other health and medical needs. Traditional health or medical insurance plans are defined benefits plans. In other words, the benefits of the plan are outlined, and employees or the employer then pays fully or in part for this pre-determined combination of benefits.

Defined Contributions allow the employer and their Senior Leadership Team to refocus on the management of their business versus the business of managing their employees. WOW, what a concept! The employer involvement in providing health care to the employees can shift significantly. Currently an employers health plan is an important component in attracting employees. He selects the plan for the employees, collects the money and pays the carrier while always having concerns over funding and participation requirement. With a Defined Contribution the employer will simply chose a dollar amount and offer those dollars to employees to pick and choose what benefits the employees need for themselves. The employees will be reimbursed in coordination with payroll or by direct deposit. The employer will have no minimum contribution or participation requirement with individual policies. Group health plans can be facilitated this way but funding and participation requirement will still need to be achieved. The employees benefit because they have choice of any plans being offered, portability of the plan if they leave employment and they are able to maximize every dollar of the employer contribution while being able to contribute pre-taxed dollars of their own. This would be done though a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and the powerful suite of pre- taxed benefits a Section 125 plan allows. These benefits include the Medical FSA, Dependent Care Account, Transit and Parking, Commuter Bicycle Benefit and lastly the Premium Reimbursement Account (PRA). Next week’s article will expand on the use of the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and how to provide this benefit.

Al Scepkowski is a Chartered Benefits Consultant (CBC) with First National Administrators in Parsippany, New Jersey. His email is ascepkowski@fnanj.com

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT:

Company Contact Information
First National Administrators
Al Scepkowski
26 Hill Road Parsippany NJ
07054
973-257-5558

News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 1 hour ago.

Edifecs Executive to Discuss Challenges and Recommended Approaches for Enrollment Reconciliation and Profitable Participation on Health Insurance Exchanges (HIXs)

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As health insurers gear up to participate in the largest open enrollment period in history, a major concern is how to reconcile member records and premium payments across multiple organizations and information systems

Bellevue, Wash. (PRWEB) July 24, 2013

Next week at the Technology & Operations on the Health Insurance Exchanges Summit in Carlsbad, Calif., a healthcare IT expert from Edifecs, Inc. will lead a session discussing how health insurers can effectively manage the increased complexity and associated revenue risk of participating on health insurance exchanges (HIXs). Healthcare business advisor John Kelly will share strategies insurers can use to reconcile their internal member records with those maintained by the HIX. The Summit’s agenda centers on how health insurers can more easily navigate the operational complexities of an HIX and understand the subtle nuances that contribute to their success.

A key part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), HIXs are online marketplaces where consumers can shop for, compare and purchase health insurance. The ACA mandates that all state and federally facilitated exchanges be up and running by October 1, 2013—less than three months from now. According to a recent survey of healthcare professionals at the 2013 Healthcare Mandate Summit, the number of health insurers planning to participate on one or more HIXs in 2014 will be very high, as will the number of consumers. In fact, the open enrollment period from October 1 through December 31, 2013 will be the largest such period in history.

While the revenue opportunity for health insurers is quite large, so is the risk, particularly in reconciling member enrollment, claim and premium payments across multiple organizations and information systems. HIXs represent a departure for health insurers because their internal systems are no longer the only system of record. Tracking the federal cost-sharing reduction subsidies provided to lower-income members also adds complexity.

WHEN: Monday, July 29, 2013 from 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. PDT

WHAT: Healthcare industry veteran John Kelly will lead the second installment of a two-part session focused on the enrollment process and ongoing claim and premium payment reconciliation. Kelly will outline the unique technical complexities and business challenges of participating on an exchange. He will also discuss how health plans can ensure their member records are completely in sync with the HIX records and that all premium payments—including subsidies by the federal government—are properly accounted for before claims are paid.

WHO: John Kelly, Principal Business Advisor at Edifecs, is a nationally recognized health information exchange expert. Mr. Kelly provides strategic consulting to Edifecs customers, specializing in information exchange and applying the principles of supply chain integration to the healthcare delivery lifecycle. His wide-ranging experience includes serving as CIO of healthcare network provider NaviNet, Director of eBusiness Architecture at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and Managing Director of his own health IT consulting firm. Kelly also served as the architect and technical lead for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ statewide HIE project, a forerunner to today’s HIX programs.

About Edifecs, Inc.
An industry leader since 1996, Edifecs provides healthcare software solutions that improve operational performance by streamlining the exchange of information among health plans, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations, while enabling compliance with current mandates such as HIPAA, Operating Rules and ICD-10.

Today, more than 250 healthcare customers use Edifecs technology to unify transactions from any information channel source and input mechanism, while automating manual business processes such as enrollment, claims and payments management.

Edifecs is currently recognized as one of the 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the state of Washington, 100 Best Places to Work in the state of Washington, an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company and one of the 500 Fastest Growing Companies in North America by Deloitte. Edifecs is headquartered in Bellevue, WA. For more information, please visit http://www.edifecs.com. Reported by PRWeb 50 minutes ago.

Summer Heat Poses Life-Threatening Risks for Dogs

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Pets Best Insurance urges pet owners to protect animals from heat stroke.

Boise, Idaho (PRWEB) July 24, 2013

With temperatures soaring in many areas across the nation, Pets Best Insurance urges dog owners to exercise caution when spending time outdoors with their four-legged family members this summer. Pets Best, a leading nationwide pet insurance agency, seeks to warn pet owners about the serious risks associated with heat stroke and excessive sun exposure among dogs.

Each summer, the Boise, Idaho-based company receives a multitude of insurance claims filed for pets suffering from heat-related illnesses. High temperatures can create dangerous and potentially fatal health issues for dogs, the most vulnerable of which are short and flat-nosed breeds, including pugs, bulldogs and Shih Tzus.

Among the most common and dangerous risks for canines is heat stroke, which occurs when a dog’s body temperature exceeds 106 degrees and it faces potential damage to the brain and other organs. Fair-skinned and short-coated white dogs are also highly susceptible to excessive sun exposure, which can lead to sun burn and skin cancer.

Many pet owners are likely unaware of how quickly heat stroke and other heat-related issues can occur in canines. The risks are especially high if a dog is left inside a car, even on days with mild temperatures. On a seemingly cool summer day of 68 degrees, the temperature inside a car can jump to 81 degrees within a mere 10 minutes. After an hour, the temperature inside the car can reach 115 degrees, a deadly level for dogs.

Heat-related health issues are not only hazardous, but also incredibly expensive. The average insurance claim Pets Best processes for heat stroke is $1,136. On average, Pets Best reimburses $800 of that, which is why the agency encourages pet owners to consider the benefits of obtaining insurance coverage for their pets.

“Pets Best sees a high number of claims for heat stroke every year, and we urge pet owners to prevent this issue by protecting their pets from intense heat,” said Dr. Jack Stephens, CEO and president of Pets Best. “Of course, summer emergencies can happen anytime, and being prepared with pet insurance coverage has saved our clients significant amounts of money for their veterinary care.”

Pets Best also recommends watching for several key warning signs of heat stroke among dogs. These warning signs include:
o Rapid breathing and heart rate
o Vomiting
o Diarrhea
o Dehydration
o Bright red gums
o Seizures
o Collapsing

To prevent heat-related illnesses, Pets Best recommends avoiding outdoor activities during the middle of the day, when temperatures peak. It is also important to ensure dogs have access to shade and water while they enjoy the outdoors. If a dog is showing signs of heat stroke, pet owners should immediately move the dog to an air-conditioned area and seek veterinary care.

For more information about the plans offered by Pets Best Insurance, visit http://www.petsbest.com.

About Pets Best Insurance
Dr. Jack L. Stephens, president of Pets Best Insurance, founded pet insurance in the U.S. in 1981 with a mission to end euthanasia when pet owners couldn’t afford veterinary treatment. Dr. Stephens went on to present the first U.S. pet insurance policy to famous television dog Lassie. Pets Best Insurance provides coverage for dogs and cats and is the only veterinarian founded and operated pet insurance company in the United States. Dr. Stephens leads the Pets Best Insurance team with his passion for quality pet care and his expert veterinary knowledge. He is always available to answer questions regarding veterinarian medicine, pet health and pet insurance. The Pets Best Insurance team is a group of pet lovers who strive to deliver quality customer service and value. Visit http://www.petsbest.com for more information.

Pet insurance plans offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware Insurance company. Independence American Insurance Company is a member of The IHC Group, an insurance organization composed of Independence Holding Company, a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and its operating subsidiaries. The IHC Group has been providing life, health and stop loss insurance solutions for nearly 30 years. For information on The IHC Group, visit: http://www.ihcgroup.com. In states in which Independence American Insurance Company’s new policy form has not yet received regulatory approval, Aetna Insurance Company of Connecticut will underwrite policies. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. To determine the underwriter in your state, please call Pets Best at 1-866-929-3807.

Pets Best Insurance is a proud member of the North America Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).

### Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.

CaliforniaChoice Offers Expanded Choice, Flexibility as Health Insurance Exchanges Take Hold

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CaliforniaChoice Offers Expanded Choice, Flexibility as Health Insurance Exchanges Take Hold ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CaliforniaChoice Offers Expanded Choice, Flexibility as Health Insurance Exchanges Take Hold Reported by Business Wire 21 hours ago.

Obamacare Faces Big Challenge

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CHICAGO (AP) — It will make you stronger. It will give you peace of mind and make you feel like a winner. Health insurance is what the whole country has been talking about, so don't be left out.

Sound like a sales pitch? Get ready for a lot more. As President Barack Obama's health care law moves from theory to reality in the coming months, its success may hinge on whether the best minds in advertising can reach one of the hardest-to-find parts of the population: people without health coverage.

The campaign won't come cheap: The total amount to be spent nationally on publicity, marketing and advertising will be at least $684 million, according to data compiled The Associated Press from federal and state sources.

About 16 percent of Americans are uninsured, but despite years of political debate and media attention, more than three-quarters of them still know little about the law known as "Obamacare," according to recent surveys.

"It's not sugar cereal, beer and detergent," said Brooke Foley, chief executive officer of the Chicago-based Jayne Agency, one of the advertising firms crafting messages to reach the uninsured.

The Obama administration and many states are launching campaigns this summer to get the word out before enrollment for new benefits begins in October.

The targets are mostly the working poor, young people who are disengaged, or those who gave up their insurance because of the cost. Three-quarters are white. Eighty-six percent have a high school education or less. Together they make up a blind spot in the nation's health care system.

"They've been shut out. It's too expensive and it's incredibly confusing," said David Smith of the advertising agency GMMB, pitching the health law's benefits in Washington and Vermont.

Their confusion might only have been magnified by the administration's surprise announcement recently postponing part of the system that affects businesses. But that change should not affect many individuals. A bigger complication is that in about half the states, Republican governors are declining to cooperate, which will limit the marketing.

The states that have been more receptive to the health care overhaul and are further ahead in their planning will receive proportionally more federal money for outreach, advertising and marketing than Republican-led states that have been hostile to the law.

AP research from all 50 states shows the amount of government spending will range from a low of 46 cents per capita in Wisconsin, which has ceded responsibility for its health insurance exchange to the federal government, to $9.23 per capita in West Virginia, which opted for a state-federal partnership.

About $4.8 million in public money will be spent trying to sign up New Jersey's 1.3 million uninsured, for example, compared to the nearly $28 million spent reaching out to Washington state's much smaller 960,000.

Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured people in the nation, three times more than Illinois. But only a fourth as much public money will be spent on getting people enrolled in Texas.

Austin resident Caryl Mauk, 46, remains confused about the Affordable Care Act even though Texas' federally run exchange is just two months away from opening for enrollment.

She hasn't had insurance since she had to quit her nursing job in 2011 because of a heart condition. She's been struggling with chest pains, arthritis and fatigue but doesn't know what to make of the new program.

"Sometimes I just get overwhelmed," Mauk said. "I don't want to get bad news again, and that slows me down in making calls."

In the GOP states, community groups with federal grants will lead the effort. Private companies from Walgreens to Cosmopolitan magazine have launched their own educational campaigns.

Ads based on research about the uninsured will soon start popping up on radio, TV and social media. Grassroots organizers are recruiting their pastors, barbers and mothers and arming them with carefully worded messages. In some neighborhoods, volunteers will go door-to-door.

The pitch: If you don't make much money, the government can pick up some of the cost of your health insurance. If you can afford a policy, by law you have to get one. People will be directed to healthcare.gov, a government site, for more information.

The political stakes for the Obama administration in a big response are high. If only the sickest people sign up, the cost of their medical care could overburden insurance carriers and sink the new marketplaces. The new system depends on a balanced pool.

The ad campaign already underway in Colorado demonstrates the search for an effective message.

There, TV commercials show people being magically transformed into champions. One minute they're shopping for health insurance on a computer, the next they're winning at a horse race, in a casino or at the World Series with champagne corks flying. The slogan: "When health insurance companies compete, the only winner is you."

That's because market research shows Coloradans like competition, said Tom Leydon, CEO of Denver-based advertising and digital marketing agency Pilgrim.

The celebratory scenes "remind people of the good feeling they get when they win," he said.

Despite the focus on winning and champions, there may be little if any cooperation for the publicity blitz from the professional sports leagues, which would have the potential to reach tens of millions of people. Two Republican Senate leaders warned the leagues about getting involved in "a highly polarized public debate."

In states where there will be no official cooperation, Enroll America, a coalition of health companies and advocates, has deployed volunteers to hand out brochures at a farmers market in Austin and hold house parties in Cincinnati, and plans a seven-figure ad buy across the nation.

"There has to be an echo chamber," said John Gilbert, national field director for the Enroll America media campaign. "If I'm uninsured and it's October, I won't be able to go anywhere without (hearing) the message of enrollment."

Chicago resident Martin Upshaw, whose fast food job doesn't provide health benefits, said the cost has kept him uninsured.

"The bottom line is the dollar sign," said Upshaw, 27, who survived a shooting three years ago. "I would love to be able to go in and see a doctor and make sure I'm OK."

In Chicago, the Jayne Agency's staff talked to more than 50 patients at an emergency room to hone the best message. The slogan they chose: "Don't Just Get By." The ad campaign features real people and their health stories.

On a recent Sunday in southwest Houston, volunteers recruited by Blue Cross Blue Shield set up information tables at a community center where three Methodist church services are held.

"I'm looking to get where I can go to the doctor and have a $25 to $30 co-pay," said churchgoer Yolanda Boykin, 60, whose current job through a temp agency does not provide health insurance.

Another part of the campaign nationwide, focused on young men, is refining messages for their mothers.

Market research has shown that young adults say it's often a parent, a girlfriend or a sibling who will push them to sign up for something like health insurance, said Julie Bataille, helping lead the outreach for the Obama administration, so the campaign will "make sure moms are aware."

___

AP writer Juan A. Lozano contributed to this report from Houston.

___

AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/CarlaKJohnson Reported by Huffington Post 21 hours ago.

Arizona’s Only Health Insurance CO-OP Launches

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Meritus Health Partners to offer 30 different plans to fit variety of needs, budgets.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) July 24, 2013

Meritus Health Partners, recently licensed by the Arizona Department of Insurance, is Arizona’s first and only health insurance CO-OP (Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan). Established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Meritus has launched and will begin offering a variety of health insurance plans on the federally-run online Health Insurance Marketplace and through traditional insurance sales channels beginning Oct. 1.

“We’re a new model for Arizona that will lead the way to better health for our community,” said Meritus Health Partners CEO Kathleen Oestreich. “Our mission as a CO-OP is to improve and maintain every member’s health. A year from now, we want our members to be healthier than when they first enrolled with us.”

The CO-OP will be member-governed, meaning members will make up a majority of its board and will have a voice in how it is run by providing feedback on product design and access to care, among other things—thus continually striving to improve its members’ health.

Meritus, as a health insurance cooperative, is required to reinvest profits back into the organization for the members’ benefit through lower premiums, improved benefits and expanded services—something that sets Meritus apart from other health insurance companies, Oestreich said. “It’s the notion that it takes a joint effort—our members working alongside our staff and healthcare partners—to achieve results that the traditional insurance system has struggled with.”

Meritus will offer 30 benefit plans including Gold, Silver and Bronze HMO and PPO plans initially in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, and is intended to expand statewide as the provider network continues to grow. To promote its vision for a healthier Arizona, some of the plans include incentives for Arizonans to be—and stay—healthy, including reimbursement for gym membership, alternative therapies and copay-only plans that promote the use of primary care and adherence to chronic care medications.

“The key to achieving a good quality of life is to have access to quality healthcare services that will help people achieve better overall health. Sadly, far too many Arizonans are uninsured, which creates barriers to access healthcare,” said John McDonald, CEO of the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers. “But new community-based health plans, like Meritus Health Partners, are going to change the insurance landscape. Meritus is creating new opportunities to access healthcare coverage by removing barriers and making insurance more affordable for all individuals regardless of their income level. I applaud Meritus in its efforts to improve the quality of life for Arizonans.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 1 million uninsured Arizonans. The ACA requires Americans to have health coverage unless they fall under a specific exemption, including religious beliefs and U.S. citizenship status. Those who aren’t exempt and don’t obtain health coverage will face penalties that will increase each year. Under the new guidelines, no health insurance provider can deny any individual for a pre-existing condition, thereby making it possible for scores of Arizonans to obtain coverage.

Many Arizonans with incomes up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will also qualify for low-cost coverage due to the tax credit subsidies made available through the ACA. Purchasing insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace (commonly referred to as the Exchange or Marketplace) will allow individuals to use their tax credits, and Meritus Health Partners will have products on the Marketplace that will be eligible for purchase with a tax credit subsidy. Individuals eligible for subsidies must use the online Marketplace to purchase coverage in order to receive assistance. The open enrollment period is from Oct. 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014.

“Because we’re local in Arizona, we know that health care is local and every community’s needs are different,” Oestreich said. “We understand the needs of Arizonans because we live here, too.”

Selvoy Fillerup, M.D., is the Founder Emeritus of Meritus Health Partners.

About Meritus Health Partners
Meritus Health Partners is an Arizona member-governed non-profit health insurance model operating as a CO-OP (Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan) established through a loan provision from HHS under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Meritus has worked with The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the past year to establish the company as well with the State Department of Insurance for state licensing requirements. The company was created to provide more accessible and affordable health insurance coverage options to individuals, families and small businesses so that we can work together for better health. Our goal is to help people make better choices for their healthcare.

Meritus Health Partners is based in Tempe, Ariz., and is organized as a non-profit.

For more information, please visit http://www.meritushealthpartners.com.

CONTACT:     

Janelle Brannock
480.736.4804 (o)
480.390.0757 (c)
jbrannock(at)airintegrated(dot)com Reported by PRWeb 20 hours ago.

Sandeep Baliga: What Can We Expect From the New Health Insurance Exchanges?

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In less than three months, the health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act will go into effect. Proponents of the law argue the exchanges will offer high-quality insurance at competitive rates for millions of consumers. Critics argue that Americans, especially those who are healthy, will balk at enrolling, causing the would-be markets to unravel.

So who is right?

Fortunately, there is a rich body of independent research that uses detailed real-world health care datasets to infer what will happen when the new insurance markets open. The studies show that well-functioning exchanges will offer lower premiums and more consumer choice.

These benefits, though, are contingent upon attracting consumers, especially those who are young and healthy, to the exchanges. A working paperby professors from Northwestern University and the University of California performs a simulation of a health insurance exchange by using data from a firm that offered each of its 9,000 employees a set of coverage options. The study finds that in a worst-case scenario, where anyone who does not see an expected gain from purchasing insurance forgoes coverage -- i.e., young people -- about 60 percent of people ages 25 to 30 would still benefit from purchasing a "bronze plan" at an annual (unsubsidized) price of about $2,700.

But if more young and healthy Americans sign up, a virtuous cycle occurs, with premium costs dropping, encouraging yet more young and healthy Americans to join, and so on. In the above simulation, this would cause premiums for those ages 25 to 30 to fall by more than a third.

If properly implemented, the exchanges will bring a somewhat novel feature to the health insurance market: competition. According to a 2012analysis by the American Medical Association, 70 percent of markets have little competition between private insurers.

In these "highly concentrated markets," insurers have enough market power to set prices based not on the cost of providing insurance, but on other factors, including how much a firm purchasing insurance for its employees makes in profits.

A liquid health insurance exchange can offer much-needed competitive pressure and lower costs. According to a National Bureau of Economic Research paper, after health care reform in Massachusetts was put in place, premiums in the exchange fell more than 10 percent because of reduced insurer markups alone.

In addition to lower premiums, competition can help consumers by simply increasing choice. One analysis showed that consumers would be willing to pay increased premiums of up to almost 30 percent to include their ideal health plan in their employer's offerings.

Well-functioning health insurance exchanges could generate benefits beyond the pool of previously uninsured individuals that join the exchanges. By providing a plausible alternative to employer-sponsored health care and ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, the health care law could meaningfully improve labor mobility, a critical feature of a strong economy that has been dampened since the recession.

An influential 1994 study found that a typical 38-year-old male is 25 percent less likely to change jobs if his only source of health insurance is his current job. Meanwhile, the study found that married men who are working in jobs without health insurance (e.g. as entrepreneurs) are twice as likely to seek new jobs if they have pregnant wives.

During the recession, the number of workers moving from job to job in a quarter ("job churn") dropped by more than 20 percent, and has remained low throughout the recovery. The number of business start-ups launched each quarter also fell, and remains about 10 percent below pre-recession levels. If the health care law can, as research suggests, reduce "job lock" on the order of 25 percent, the economic benefits would be significant.

While we cannot be sure how the new markets for health insurance will work, studies based on real-world health data give us a valuable window into what may happen. The economic research indicates that well-functioning exchanges will bring much-needed competition and individual participation to a market currently characterized by high prices and little choice -- and that can benefit everyone.

Sandeep Baliga is a Professor of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences at the Kellogg School of Management. Nikhil Joshi is the Research Director at Business Forward, and former Associate Policy Director for Economics on President Obama's re-election campaign. They are coauthors of the report, "Implementing the Affordable Care Act: The Value of Efficient Health Care Exchanges." Reported by Huffington Post 17 hours ago.

Exclusive Health Insurance Leads Still Need To Be Worked Diligently

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Just because a health insurance lead is exclusive does not mean it should be left in the inbox too long.


“It is important to stay on top of all your exclusive health insurance leads,” advised Clelland Green, RHU, CEO, and president of benepath.net, Pennsylvania. “If you make the mistake of taking your time to call these kinds of leads, exclusive or not, you stand the chance of losing them because you weren't prompt.”

Not being prompt in business, particularly when following up on pre-screened leads can do an insurance business a lot of damage ---- financially and reputation wise.

“We've noted that one of the biggest mistakes agents make is to think that once they buy the insurance leads, they don't have to do anything more with them. Wrong. The first contact with a prospective buyer will make or break your ability to make a sale. Do it soon and do it with outstanding service and you're on your way to a solid client relationship.”

It pays to keep in mind that just because the individual requested information, they still have a life to lead. A call from an insurance agent is still mildly regarded as an intrusion, even if the person is interested in buying insurance of some type.

“The first contact needs to be an introduction to you and your services. Put them at ease and do not come on like a man on a mission, even if you are. Take it slow and easy and be polite and courteous. Even though you got the contact from a lead generation company, you usually have no way of knowing how many other agents have already called your potential client. Just act like you are the first person to call,” suggested Green.

Chances are if exclusive leads of some kind were not ordered, an agent is bound to run into situations where the person they call has already spoken to numerous other agents. “Having a sense of humor about it may get you over the rough opening conversation when the potential client pointedly states they're tired of hearing from every insurance agent on the planet,” Green said.

Making a favorable first impression on the phone will open the door for further conversation. Once that has happened, there is an established connection to work with. Even a flat out no from a lead usually means that they are not interested at that particular moment, which does not rule out the long-term possibility of a second call later.

Learn more at http://www.benepath.net.

Company Contact Information
Benepath
T Johnson
3553 W Chester Pike
Suite 166
19073
888-423-6437

News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 13 hours ago.

Christian lawyers sue to overturn contraception mandate

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Ann Arbor, Mich., Jul 24, 2013 / 08:04 pm (CNA).- Michael and Shaun Willis and their Michigan-based law firm filed a lawsuit seeking to have the HHS mandate declared a violation of the Constitution and of federal law over religious liberty concerns.

“That our own government is knowingly displaying such a lack of tolerance for faithful Christians is outrageous,” Erin Mersino, a lawyer at the Thomas More Law Center, and the lead attorney on the case, stated July 24.

“The HHS mandate must be ruled unconstitutional or there will be no end to the federal government's intrusion on the religious liberties of Christians.”

Michael Willis is Catholic, and Shaun is Protestant. The brothers operate their firm in a way that reflects the teachings and values of the Christian faith. Both gravely object to providing abortion and abortion-causing drugs in their employees' insurance coverage, as required by the federal contraception mandate.

The mandate was issued under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, and its final rules on religious freedom accommodations, which were found unacceptable by the U.S. bishops, were released June 28.

The suit was filed in the U.S. district court for the District of Columbia July 24, and lists the secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor, as well as their departments, as defendants.

Because the mandate forces employers and individuals to violate their consciences and their religious beliefs, the suit argues that it is a violation of the Willis' rights to free exercise of religion and freedom of speech under the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

“The Mandate … subverts the expression of Plaintiffs’ religious beliefs” the suit argues, by forcing them to “fund, promote, and assist others to acquire services which Plaintiffs believe involve gravely immoral practices, including the destruction of innocent human life.”

The suit demonstrates that Willis Law is “formed by a mission of Christian service,” supporting several faith-based organizations and encouraging its employees to give a tithe of their time to providing pro bono legal services to homeless persons.

The Willis brothers also established a foundation in memory of their brother Christoper, a Marine corporal who was killed in a car accident. The foundation provides college scholarships to the children of military parents who have been killed or disabled in combat.

Willis Law employees have received health insurance with a specially engineered policy which specifically excluded contraception, abortion and abortifacients, in keeping with the consciences of its owners.

The suit notes that the Obama administration has offered “highly selective” and “arbitrary” accommodations for conscience protection and religious belief.

It asserts that the defendants' actions have “intentionally used government power to force individuals to believe in, support, and endorse the mandated services manifestly contrary to their own religious convictions, and then to act on that coerced belief, support, or endorsement.”

They also argue that by forcing Willis Law to choose to offer no health insurance whatsoever, the mandate makes the firm “non-competitive,” as “other, non-Christian employers will be able to provide insurance to their employees under the Affordable Care Act without violating their religious beliefs.”

The suit asks that the court block the enforcement of the mandate. If it is enforced against Willis Law, the firm will suffer fines of $547,500 every year.

The firm is one of nearly 200 plaintiffs in at least 50 cases across the country that have filed lawsuits challenging the HHS mandate on the grounds of religious freedom. Reported by CNA 11 hours ago.

Richard Kirsch: Where's the Beef?: The First Thing Obama Can Do By Himself to Create Good Jobs

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I am of course glad to see President Obama focus the country on what he correctly identifies as the most pressing national problem, the crushing of the middle class. The solution he laid out in his address at Knox College, a middle-out economics which sees the middle class as the engine of the economy, is both good economics and a powerful political message. It is what progressives and Democrats need to keep emphasizing over and over again, both rhetorically and in their legislative agendas.

When it came to the broad foundations of policy, the president's outline of the pillars of a strong middle class was on point: good jobs, quality education and job training, affordable health care, good housing, retirement security, and strong neighborhoods.

Still, I found the speech disappointing. The president only nibbled at the biggest change in our economy, the relentless decline in good jobs. 

Not that the president didn't correctly identify the issue. Early in his address he explained, "The link between higher productivity and people's wages and salaries was severed - the income of the top 1 percent nearly quadrupled from 1979 to 2007, while the typical family's barely budged." He went on to acknowledge that even as the economy recovers, the earnings of the average worker are down.

But when it came to further analysis or solutions, the speech was thin. He did repeat his call for an increase in the minimum wage and remind the public that the Affordable Care Act will provide coverage for people who don't get health insurance at work. However, his solutions made assumptions that ignore the profound changes in the economy that have undermined job quality.

A good lens for this is his discussion - really lack of discussion - about the role of unions, which he only mentioned by commenting, "It became harder for unions to fight for the middle class." A great example of using the passive voice to avoid explaining that unions were not decimated by an act of nature, but by a concerted attack by corporations and the right, backed by government policy.

The president pointed out that "The days when the wages for a worker with a high school degree could keep pace with the earnings of someone who got some higher education are over." But why did workers with just high school educations used to get paid well? Because they organized unions through which they fought together for better wages. 

Today, most of the new jobs being created are low-wage jobs with no benefits, which also don't require more than a high school education. If these workers were enabled - with the help of modernized labor laws and aggressive enforcement of the labor laws now on the books - to organize, they too could win decent wages and benefits. The president talked about global competition as an explanation for job loss, but that's not an issue for the service industries that employ most low-wage workers.

It is also no longer true that another of the president's pillars, education, will mean more good jobs. The fact that a higher proportion of Americans have a college education than ever before has not stopped the deterioration of job quality. In the new economy, college grads have maintained low unemployment by taking jobs that they are overqualified for, upping joblessness among Americans who aren't college grads.

Even the president's assumption that creating more manufacturing and infrastructure jobs will mean more good jobs is not as solid as it has been in the past. While most of these jobs are decent, they pay less than before. For example, newly hired auto workers make a fraction of what the industry historically paid; it would take two new auto worker jobs to support a family at the same middle-class level as the workers paid at traditional rates. More broadly, the drop in unionization in manufacturing and construction, one cause among many of the overall downward pressure on wages, means job quality in traditional good job sectors is declining.

A middle-out economy must be anchored by good jobs.  There are clearly huge legislative challenges to winning a good jobs agenda, which would include robust labor law strengthening, updated labor standards that guarantee paid sick leave and family leave, and enforcement of the labor laws already on the books. But the president doesn't have to wait for Congress to provide better jobs for millions of workers and set a new example for the country.

In his speech, Obama promised, "Whatever executive authority I have to help the middle class, I'll use it." That's great. He can start with an executive order to boost job quality for at least two million workers whose pay is financed by the federal government. 

The federal government has a history, by legislation and executive order, of protecting wages for workers paid for with federal funds. However, the prevailing wage protections put in place over the three decades from the 1930s to the 1960s now cover only 20 percent of federally funded private-sector work. Even for those workers still covered, wage rates can be little higher than the federal minimum. According to a recent study by Demos, the federal government now funds over two million jobs paying under $12 per hour -- more than Wal-Mart and McDonald's combined -- in such industries as food, apparel, trucking, and auxiliary health care.

In another report on the federal contract workforce, the National Employment Law Project (NELP) interviewed over 500 contract workers and found that 74 percent are paid less than $10 per hour and 58 percent receive no benefits from their employer. The NELP report includes one gripping story after another of workers like Lucila Ramirez, who, after 21 years as a janitor at the federally owned Union Station, earns $8.75 an hour.

A presidential executive order could directly help Lucila and the millions like her who manufacture uniforms for our military, care for our elders under Medicare, work as security guards at federally leased buildings, or are laborers on federally funded construction projects. The order would require that jobs financed by federal funds require living wages (not just minimum wage or prevailing wage in a low-wage sector), paid sick days, and prohibitions against employers fighting unionization.

I am looking forward to the president spending "every minute of the 1,276 days remaining in [his] term to make this country work for working Americans again." He can start by backing up great lines like that with an executive order for the millions of hardworking Americans whose pay comes from the government he leads. 

Cross-posted from Next New Deal Reported by Huffington Post 10 hours ago.
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