Reported by SeekingAlpha 2 days ago.
Health Insurance For Your Omega Healthcare Investors Position
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Health Insurance Innovations zips past Wall Street's 3Q revenue and profit forecasts thanks to policy sales
Health Insurance Innovations (NASDAQ:HIIQ), a developer of short-term web-based individual health insurance plans, pushed past Wall Street’s third-quarter revenue and profit estimates on Monday thanks to a jump in insurance policies. For the three months ended on September 30, the Tampa, Florida-based company posted net income of $4 million, which was down 33% from the $6 million recorded in the third quarter of last year. On an adjusted basis, its earnings per share, however, came in at $0.61 per share, which just beat analysts’ forecasts of $0.59 per share. Its revenue of $74 million also nudged past the consensus forecast of $73.4 million. As of the close of September, the company’s insurance policies totaled 378,000, up 8.7% from the 347,900 policies reported in the year-ago quarter. The company also benefited from a lower tax rate of 24%, compared to 38% in the year-ago period. Due to a jump in the number of policies sold through third-party distributors, third-party commissions in the latest quarter were also up, climbing to $46.7 million, which was $10.1 million higher than they were in the third quarter of last year. The company also raised its annual guidance of revenue for 2018 to fall between $294 million and $304 million. Its full-year earnings are set to be between $2.47 to $2.57 per share. In other news, its total selling, general and administrative expenses climbed to $18.3 million in the third quarter compared to $15.5 million in the same period last year. Health Insurance Innovations is both a cloud-based technology platform and a distributor of health insurance products. The company markets its insurance products via its network of third-party insurance agents as well as its call center and web site. Health Insurance Innovations closed up 5% to hit $45.00 on Monday. Contact Ellen Kelleher at ellen@proactiveinvestors.com
Reported by Proactive Investors 1 day ago.
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Lice Troopers Expands Professional Head Lice Services in the Miami Areas
New head lice treatment center will serve Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Aventura
MIAMI (PRWEB) October 30, 2018
To meet the growing demand for all-natural head lice removal services, Lice Troopers has recently expanded to its second clinic in the Miami area. This new location will serve families and schools in the areas of Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Aventura.
According to Lice Troopers owner and operator, Arie Harel, the expansion was a natural move: “We simply couldn’t handle the demand with only one clinic. Families in Coral Gables and the surrounding area needed our services and it was time to answer the call. Handling lice naturally can be time consuming, and parents often don’t feel up to the task. Who can blame them? Now there is a service in their area that takes care of the problem and gets them back to regular life as soon as possible.”
The new salon clinic, which opened in early January, is located at 2100 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146. Lice Troopers will continue to provide services at their original Bay Harbor Islands location (1005 Kane Concourse, Suite 212, Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154), and by house call—either in your home or any other chosen location.
Parents looking to limit chemical exposure are reportedly pleased that there is a way to get rid of the bugs without the use of over-the-counter treatments or prescription shampoos. These treatment methods rely on products that are mostly composed of commercial grade pesticides. Services like Lice Troopers rely on a method of combing and thorough screening to make sure all bugs and nits are removed. While parents can purchase a lice comb and spend weeks trying to make sure every bug and nit has been removed, letting the experts do the job (it only takes them an hour) is easier, faster and cleaner. For this reason, more parents are taking this job to the professionals.
Relieving parents of the daunting task of head lice removal, Lice Troopers are branching out to various locations to provide access to chemical-free head lice treatments to a larger group of people. The company also provides screenings for schools and camps, the two places where head lice outbreaks are most common. They also conduct thorough home inspections and cleanings following a treatment to ensure fewer chances of a re-infestations.
About the Company
Lice Troopers is the all-natural, guaranteed Head Lice Removal Service™ that manually removes the head louse parasite safely and discreetly in child-friendly salon settings, or other chosen location. Providing safe solutions for frantic families, the Lice Troopers team has successfully treated thousands of families nationwide, with services widely recommended by pediatricians and reimbursed by many major health insurance carriers, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts.
Contact Information
Postal Address: (Miami Beach) 1005 Kane Concourse, Suite 212, Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154
Website: https://www.licetroopers.com/
Phone: 1.800.403.5423
Email: info(at)licetroopers(dot)com
Working Hours: 8:00AM-9:00 PM (Open 7 days/week) Reported by PRWeb 18 hours ago.
MIAMI (PRWEB) October 30, 2018
To meet the growing demand for all-natural head lice removal services, Lice Troopers has recently expanded to its second clinic in the Miami area. This new location will serve families and schools in the areas of Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Aventura.
According to Lice Troopers owner and operator, Arie Harel, the expansion was a natural move: “We simply couldn’t handle the demand with only one clinic. Families in Coral Gables and the surrounding area needed our services and it was time to answer the call. Handling lice naturally can be time consuming, and parents often don’t feel up to the task. Who can blame them? Now there is a service in their area that takes care of the problem and gets them back to regular life as soon as possible.”
The new salon clinic, which opened in early January, is located at 2100 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146. Lice Troopers will continue to provide services at their original Bay Harbor Islands location (1005 Kane Concourse, Suite 212, Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154), and by house call—either in your home or any other chosen location.
Parents looking to limit chemical exposure are reportedly pleased that there is a way to get rid of the bugs without the use of over-the-counter treatments or prescription shampoos. These treatment methods rely on products that are mostly composed of commercial grade pesticides. Services like Lice Troopers rely on a method of combing and thorough screening to make sure all bugs and nits are removed. While parents can purchase a lice comb and spend weeks trying to make sure every bug and nit has been removed, letting the experts do the job (it only takes them an hour) is easier, faster and cleaner. For this reason, more parents are taking this job to the professionals.
Relieving parents of the daunting task of head lice removal, Lice Troopers are branching out to various locations to provide access to chemical-free head lice treatments to a larger group of people. The company also provides screenings for schools and camps, the two places where head lice outbreaks are most common. They also conduct thorough home inspections and cleanings following a treatment to ensure fewer chances of a re-infestations.
About the Company
Lice Troopers is the all-natural, guaranteed Head Lice Removal Service™ that manually removes the head louse parasite safely and discreetly in child-friendly salon settings, or other chosen location. Providing safe solutions for frantic families, the Lice Troopers team has successfully treated thousands of families nationwide, with services widely recommended by pediatricians and reimbursed by many major health insurance carriers, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts.
Contact Information
Postal Address: (Miami Beach) 1005 Kane Concourse, Suite 212, Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154
Website: https://www.licetroopers.com/
Phone: 1.800.403.5423
Email: info(at)licetroopers(dot)com
Working Hours: 8:00AM-9:00 PM (Open 7 days/week) Reported by PRWeb 18 hours ago.
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Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. (HIIQ) CEO Gavin Southwell on Q3 2018 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
Reported by SeekingAlpha 9 hours ago.
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Cancer-stricken mum's plea over life extending drug which gave her priceless time with daughter
Alison Tait says she is 'heartbroken' that other women can't access the medicine she takes due to private health insurance through work.
Reported by Daily Record 3 hours ago.
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High hopes & hype for experimental depression drug ketamine
CHICAGO (AP) — It was launched decades ago as an anesthetic for animals and people, became a potent battlefield pain reliever in Vietnam and morphed into the trippy club drug Special K. Now the chameleon drug ketamine is finding new life as an unapproved treatment for depression and suicidal behavior. Clinics have opened around the United States promising instant relief with their "unique" doses of ketamine in IVs, sprays or pills. And desperate patients are shelling out thousands of dollars for treatment often not covered by health insurance, with scant evidence on long-term benefits and risks.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 53 minutes ago.
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Preferred Health Insurance Solutions Provide Tips On Enrolling in the 2019 Health Insurance Marketplace
With the start of the Open Enrollment Period set to begin Nov. 1st, it is vital consumers secure their 2019 health plans.
BEDFORD PARK, Ill. (PRWEB) October 31, 2018
Bob Dial, Chief Compliance Officer, Preferred Health Insurance Solutions (PHIS), explained, “This year the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) period runs from Thursday, November 1 to Saturday, December 15, 2018. In most states OEP will end before the 2019 plans take effect, so enrollees won't have a chance to change their minds about their coverage once the 2019 calendar year begins.”
With the OEP kicking off Nov. 1st, Dial provides the following tips to assist consumers purchasing their 2019 health plan.
Tip 1: Enroll early - OEP begins on Thursday, November 1st and ends on Saturday, December 15th
“The OEP is shortened so it is important that consumers not delay selecting their plan and enrolling for coverage.” added Dial.
With the federal funding being reduced for advertising, consumers may not be as readily aware of the condensed time period they have to get enrolled for coverage. Dial further explained that funding for Navigators has also been reduced. There will be fewer resources available to assist consumers with shopping for a plan, calculating their subsidies and enrolling them for coverage for their 2019 health plan. In fact, no federal funded Navigators will be available in the states of Montana, Iowa and New Hampshire.
Tip 2: Gather important documents prior to enrolling
Before beginning the open enrollment process it is important to gather all of the necessary documents. For example, information about everyone applying for coverage, such as social security numbers and birth dates. Employer and income information for every member of their household, such as pay stubs or W-2 forms, will also be needed. The insured is required to provide a best estimate of what their household income will be in 2019. Additionally, policy numbers for any current health plans covering members of their household would be helpful. For a complete Marketplace application checklist visit https://marketplace.cms.gov/outreach-and-education/marketplace-application-checklist.pdf. Consumers can call the PHIS Call Center at 800-342-0631 for assistance.
Tip 3: Take time to become educated on OEP rules and other 2019 enrollment changes
Dial shared two important OEP rules that will affect consumers applying for coverage:
a. If a consumer has an outstanding premium balance from their 2018 health plan, the carrier may refuse them new coverage, until that premium is paid. The Marketplace can assist consumers that do not have health insurance through an employer, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or another source that provides qualifying health coverage.
c. If a consumer has not yet filed their 2017 Federal Tax Return, the consumer may not be eligible for any premium subsidies.
Dial explained, “Purchasing health insurance through the Marketplace is a complicated process. There are a number of factors, government rules, and provisions to take into account before purchasing health insurance. OEP provides consumers the ability to shop for new plans and enroll for coverage. This is the only time consumers can purchase a qualified, guaranteed issue, Major Medical Health Plan, without a qualifying event.”
“This year more than ever, it will be important for consumers to work with a knowledgeable, licensed and certified insurance professional. They will work to understand the consumer’s individual health needs, ensure they are in a plan and with a network that meets their provider needs. The insurance professional can calculate the cost of their insurance, including obtaining any premium subsidies available for the consumer, which will help offset the cost of their annual premium,” Dial remarked.
Tip 4.Consider all of your health insurance options before enrolling
If an insured misses the OEP deadline, they still have the option to apply for Short Term Major Medical coverage. Taking out a Short Term Major Medical plan and adding a dental, vision or accident policy can provide the coverage necessary to protect them from the high cost of healthcare.
The insurance professionals at PHIS are prepared to assist consumers with all their enrollment needs. The dedicated PHIS Call Center consists of a team of multi-lingual, health insurance professionals, that are trained to walk a client through the entire process of selecting a healthcare plan and enrolling them for their coverage, as well as responding to any questions they may have regarding their new health insurance policy. The PHIS Call Center will be available to assist consumers enrolling for their 2019 health plan. Consumers can call the PHIS Call Center at 800-342-0631 or access the company’s website at http://www.PHISonline.com.
About Preferred Health Insurance Solutions:
Headquartered in Bedford Park, Illinois, Preferred Health Insurance Solutions (PHIS) is a national enrollment firm specializing in the Health Insurance Marketplace as well as a variety of other ancillary health insurance products, including Dental, Critical Illness, Short Term Medical, and others. PHIS, formerly known as ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAEnroll.com) provides enrollments services throughout the country, through national and regional insurance carriers. Effective November 1, 2018, the health insurance Marketplace opens for enrollment. The PHIS Call Center will be available to assist consumers enrolling for their 2019 health plan. Consumers can call the PHIS Call Center at 800-342-0631 or access the company’s website at http://www.PHISonline.com. Reported by PRWeb 10 minutes ago.
BEDFORD PARK, Ill. (PRWEB) October 31, 2018
Bob Dial, Chief Compliance Officer, Preferred Health Insurance Solutions (PHIS), explained, “This year the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) period runs from Thursday, November 1 to Saturday, December 15, 2018. In most states OEP will end before the 2019 plans take effect, so enrollees won't have a chance to change their minds about their coverage once the 2019 calendar year begins.”
With the OEP kicking off Nov. 1st, Dial provides the following tips to assist consumers purchasing their 2019 health plan.
Tip 1: Enroll early - OEP begins on Thursday, November 1st and ends on Saturday, December 15th
“The OEP is shortened so it is important that consumers not delay selecting their plan and enrolling for coverage.” added Dial.
With the federal funding being reduced for advertising, consumers may not be as readily aware of the condensed time period they have to get enrolled for coverage. Dial further explained that funding for Navigators has also been reduced. There will be fewer resources available to assist consumers with shopping for a plan, calculating their subsidies and enrolling them for coverage for their 2019 health plan. In fact, no federal funded Navigators will be available in the states of Montana, Iowa and New Hampshire.
Tip 2: Gather important documents prior to enrolling
Before beginning the open enrollment process it is important to gather all of the necessary documents. For example, information about everyone applying for coverage, such as social security numbers and birth dates. Employer and income information for every member of their household, such as pay stubs or W-2 forms, will also be needed. The insured is required to provide a best estimate of what their household income will be in 2019. Additionally, policy numbers for any current health plans covering members of their household would be helpful. For a complete Marketplace application checklist visit https://marketplace.cms.gov/outreach-and-education/marketplace-application-checklist.pdf. Consumers can call the PHIS Call Center at 800-342-0631 for assistance.
Tip 3: Take time to become educated on OEP rules and other 2019 enrollment changes
Dial shared two important OEP rules that will affect consumers applying for coverage:
a. If a consumer has an outstanding premium balance from their 2018 health plan, the carrier may refuse them new coverage, until that premium is paid. The Marketplace can assist consumers that do not have health insurance through an employer, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or another source that provides qualifying health coverage.
c. If a consumer has not yet filed their 2017 Federal Tax Return, the consumer may not be eligible for any premium subsidies.
Dial explained, “Purchasing health insurance through the Marketplace is a complicated process. There are a number of factors, government rules, and provisions to take into account before purchasing health insurance. OEP provides consumers the ability to shop for new plans and enroll for coverage. This is the only time consumers can purchase a qualified, guaranteed issue, Major Medical Health Plan, without a qualifying event.”
“This year more than ever, it will be important for consumers to work with a knowledgeable, licensed and certified insurance professional. They will work to understand the consumer’s individual health needs, ensure they are in a plan and with a network that meets their provider needs. The insurance professional can calculate the cost of their insurance, including obtaining any premium subsidies available for the consumer, which will help offset the cost of their annual premium,” Dial remarked.
Tip 4.Consider all of your health insurance options before enrolling
If an insured misses the OEP deadline, they still have the option to apply for Short Term Major Medical coverage. Taking out a Short Term Major Medical plan and adding a dental, vision or accident policy can provide the coverage necessary to protect them from the high cost of healthcare.
The insurance professionals at PHIS are prepared to assist consumers with all their enrollment needs. The dedicated PHIS Call Center consists of a team of multi-lingual, health insurance professionals, that are trained to walk a client through the entire process of selecting a healthcare plan and enrolling them for their coverage, as well as responding to any questions they may have regarding their new health insurance policy. The PHIS Call Center will be available to assist consumers enrolling for their 2019 health plan. Consumers can call the PHIS Call Center at 800-342-0631 or access the company’s website at http://www.PHISonline.com.
About Preferred Health Insurance Solutions:
Headquartered in Bedford Park, Illinois, Preferred Health Insurance Solutions (PHIS) is a national enrollment firm specializing in the Health Insurance Marketplace as well as a variety of other ancillary health insurance products, including Dental, Critical Illness, Short Term Medical, and others. PHIS, formerly known as ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAEnroll.com) provides enrollments services throughout the country, through national and regional insurance carriers. Effective November 1, 2018, the health insurance Marketplace opens for enrollment. The PHIS Call Center will be available to assist consumers enrolling for their 2019 health plan. Consumers can call the PHIS Call Center at 800-342-0631 or access the company’s website at http://www.PHISonline.com. Reported by PRWeb 10 minutes ago.
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American Portfolios Financial Services Named One of the Top Long Island Workplaces for 2018 by Newsday
This latest recognition stands among American Portfolios' ranking within the Top 10 Best Small- to Mid-sized Companies for 2018 (three years’ running) by NYS-SHRM and The Best Companies Group, as well as the firm being named Division III Broker/Dealer of the Year for 2018 by Investment Advisor magazine* (four consecutive years).
HOLBROOK, N.Y. (PRWEB) October 31, 2018
American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (AP), a privately-held, independent broker/dealer that services financial advisors across the country, has been named one of the Top Long Island Workplaces for 2018 by Newsday. Among the 74 Long Island-based, small- to large-sized companies recognized, AP ranked No. 4 out of 42 small employers with 50-149 workers.
“Everyone at American Portfolios is extremely proud of this recognition,” states Vice President of Human Resources Lisa DiBella. “The firm strives to create an environment in which its employees feel happy, accepted and worthy.” Chief Administrative Officer Dalchand Laljit adds, “We wholeheartedly believe that happy employees equal happy clients. This recognition further exemplifies how the amount of thought and effort American Portfolios puts into nurturing its performance culture is paying dividends.”
The formal announcement was given during an event held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, N.Y., on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, which was hosted by News 12 Long Island's Carol Silva. This latest recognition stands among AP's ranking within the Top 10 Best Small- to Mid-sized Companies for 2018 (three years’ running) by NYS-SHRM and The Best Companies Group, as well as the firm being named Division III Broker/Dealer of the Year for 2018 by Investment Advisor magazine* (four consecutive years).
Beginning in February 2018, Newsday partnered with the consulting and research firm Energage to anonymously poll the organizations that agreed to take part in the survey. The employee survey covered key factors, including how workers viewed their workplaces in terms of alignment (e.g., where the company is headed, its values, cooperation); effectiveness (e.g., doing things well, sharing different viewpoints, encouraging new ideas); connection (e.g., employees feel appreciated, their work is meaningful), “My Manager” (e.g., cares about concerns, helps employees learn and grow); employee engagement (e.g., motivation, retention, referral); leader (e.g., confidence in company leadership); and "The Basics" (e.g., pay, benefits, flexibility, training, expectations). Employees were asked to rank their responses on a seven-point scale that ranged from "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree."
AP’s current count of 100-plus employees work collaboratively to service the business needs of 823 independent investment professionals, as well as their affiliated assistants and support staff, located in 380 branch offices throughout the United States. Employees are part of a corporate culture that embraces the tenets of the company’s strategic roadmap for sustainable growth, which is built on six equally important, interconnected strategic company perspectives—People, Innovation, Process, Customer, Financial and Community—and the foundation from which all planning and executions are derived.
AP continually strives to ensure that its employees are afforded a positive and supportive work environment. Employees receive a robust benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, free life insurance, unprecedented 401(k) matching, stock options, bonus incentives, and performance and service awards. The firm is highly invested in the educational betterment of its employees, offering tuition reimbursement, free license testing, and unlimited training seminars and courses. The company also provides Six Sigma training, which helps staff members to firmly establish the “Voice of the Customer,” resulting in the ability to exceed client needs and expectations. The company also recognizes the importance of work-life balance by offering employees a flexible work schedule, health and wellness lunch and learns, appreciation events, massage sessions and private coaching sessions with a registered dietician. In 2017, the firm implemented several new initiatives, including an employee mentorship program designed to nurture AP’s emerging business leaders, shortened working hours on Fridays throughout the year and a casual dress code. At the start of 2018, AP employees began receiving full pay for up to a maximum of 12 weeks of leave while out on FMLA in order to maintain financial stability; employees also began formal training in the AP W.E.L.C.O.M.E. Treatment, a five-module program that instills the firm’s core customer service principles.
As an integral part of its strategic focus, engrained in its corporate culture is a keen awareness to the community by taking part in socially responsible programs, such as its ongoing association with non-profit organizations like World T.E.A.M. (WT), which organizes athletic events for disabled and able-bodied citizens to achieve a common goal. Employees actively volunteer, coach and compete in WT events, such as the annual Face of America Bike Ride, Coastal Team Challenge and Adventure Team Challenge, which is conducted through the firm’s long-standing support of The Center for Discovery, a non-profit research and innovation center that provides high-quality programs and unique opportunities for children and adults who have complex disabilities, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The firm also has an enduring relationship with Virtual Enterprises International, Inc. (VEI), an experiential learning program that fosters the nation’s future business leaders through the hosting and judging of business plan competitions, and facilitating summer interns at the corporate offices and practices of its investment professionals through its AP-VEI Fellows Internship Program.
About American Portfolios
Headquartered in Holbrook, N.Y., American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) is a full-service, independent broker/dealer and member firm of FINRA and SIPC, offering a complete range of financial services, including personal financial and retirement planning, securities trading, mutual funds, access to investment research, long-term care planning, insurance products and tax-free investing. Fee-based asset management is offered through its sister subsidiary, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., (APA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Both entities, along with technology entity American Portfolios Advisory Solutions, LLC, collectively reside under the legal entity American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. (APH). Full-service securities brokerage is available through a clearing firm relationship with Pershing, LLC, a BNY Mellon firm, the securities of which are held on a fully disclosed basis. The company currently serves 823 independent investment professionals located in 380 branch locations throughout the nation. It was named Broker-Dealer of the Year* (Division III) by Investment Advisor magazine in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The firm was also named one of the top 10 Best Companies to Work for in the state of New York for 2016, 2017 and 2018 by the New York State Society for Human Resources Management (NYS-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group (BCG), as well as a Top Long Island Workplace for 2018 by Newsday.
*Based on a poll of registered representatives conducted by Investment Advisor magazine. Broker/dealers rated highest by their representatives are awarded “Broker/Dealer (B/D) of the Year.” Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.
HOLBROOK, N.Y. (PRWEB) October 31, 2018
American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (AP), a privately-held, independent broker/dealer that services financial advisors across the country, has been named one of the Top Long Island Workplaces for 2018 by Newsday. Among the 74 Long Island-based, small- to large-sized companies recognized, AP ranked No. 4 out of 42 small employers with 50-149 workers.
“Everyone at American Portfolios is extremely proud of this recognition,” states Vice President of Human Resources Lisa DiBella. “The firm strives to create an environment in which its employees feel happy, accepted and worthy.” Chief Administrative Officer Dalchand Laljit adds, “We wholeheartedly believe that happy employees equal happy clients. This recognition further exemplifies how the amount of thought and effort American Portfolios puts into nurturing its performance culture is paying dividends.”
The formal announcement was given during an event held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, N.Y., on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, which was hosted by News 12 Long Island's Carol Silva. This latest recognition stands among AP's ranking within the Top 10 Best Small- to Mid-sized Companies for 2018 (three years’ running) by NYS-SHRM and The Best Companies Group, as well as the firm being named Division III Broker/Dealer of the Year for 2018 by Investment Advisor magazine* (four consecutive years).
Beginning in February 2018, Newsday partnered with the consulting and research firm Energage to anonymously poll the organizations that agreed to take part in the survey. The employee survey covered key factors, including how workers viewed their workplaces in terms of alignment (e.g., where the company is headed, its values, cooperation); effectiveness (e.g., doing things well, sharing different viewpoints, encouraging new ideas); connection (e.g., employees feel appreciated, their work is meaningful), “My Manager” (e.g., cares about concerns, helps employees learn and grow); employee engagement (e.g., motivation, retention, referral); leader (e.g., confidence in company leadership); and "The Basics" (e.g., pay, benefits, flexibility, training, expectations). Employees were asked to rank their responses on a seven-point scale that ranged from "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree."
AP’s current count of 100-plus employees work collaboratively to service the business needs of 823 independent investment professionals, as well as their affiliated assistants and support staff, located in 380 branch offices throughout the United States. Employees are part of a corporate culture that embraces the tenets of the company’s strategic roadmap for sustainable growth, which is built on six equally important, interconnected strategic company perspectives—People, Innovation, Process, Customer, Financial and Community—and the foundation from which all planning and executions are derived.
AP continually strives to ensure that its employees are afforded a positive and supportive work environment. Employees receive a robust benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, free life insurance, unprecedented 401(k) matching, stock options, bonus incentives, and performance and service awards. The firm is highly invested in the educational betterment of its employees, offering tuition reimbursement, free license testing, and unlimited training seminars and courses. The company also provides Six Sigma training, which helps staff members to firmly establish the “Voice of the Customer,” resulting in the ability to exceed client needs and expectations. The company also recognizes the importance of work-life balance by offering employees a flexible work schedule, health and wellness lunch and learns, appreciation events, massage sessions and private coaching sessions with a registered dietician. In 2017, the firm implemented several new initiatives, including an employee mentorship program designed to nurture AP’s emerging business leaders, shortened working hours on Fridays throughout the year and a casual dress code. At the start of 2018, AP employees began receiving full pay for up to a maximum of 12 weeks of leave while out on FMLA in order to maintain financial stability; employees also began formal training in the AP W.E.L.C.O.M.E. Treatment, a five-module program that instills the firm’s core customer service principles.
As an integral part of its strategic focus, engrained in its corporate culture is a keen awareness to the community by taking part in socially responsible programs, such as its ongoing association with non-profit organizations like World T.E.A.M. (WT), which organizes athletic events for disabled and able-bodied citizens to achieve a common goal. Employees actively volunteer, coach and compete in WT events, such as the annual Face of America Bike Ride, Coastal Team Challenge and Adventure Team Challenge, which is conducted through the firm’s long-standing support of The Center for Discovery, a non-profit research and innovation center that provides high-quality programs and unique opportunities for children and adults who have complex disabilities, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The firm also has an enduring relationship with Virtual Enterprises International, Inc. (VEI), an experiential learning program that fosters the nation’s future business leaders through the hosting and judging of business plan competitions, and facilitating summer interns at the corporate offices and practices of its investment professionals through its AP-VEI Fellows Internship Program.
About American Portfolios
Headquartered in Holbrook, N.Y., American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) is a full-service, independent broker/dealer and member firm of FINRA and SIPC, offering a complete range of financial services, including personal financial and retirement planning, securities trading, mutual funds, access to investment research, long-term care planning, insurance products and tax-free investing. Fee-based asset management is offered through its sister subsidiary, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., (APA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Both entities, along with technology entity American Portfolios Advisory Solutions, LLC, collectively reside under the legal entity American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. (APH). Full-service securities brokerage is available through a clearing firm relationship with Pershing, LLC, a BNY Mellon firm, the securities of which are held on a fully disclosed basis. The company currently serves 823 independent investment professionals located in 380 branch locations throughout the nation. It was named Broker-Dealer of the Year* (Division III) by Investment Advisor magazine in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The firm was also named one of the top 10 Best Companies to Work for in the state of New York for 2016, 2017 and 2018 by the New York State Society for Human Resources Management (NYS-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group (BCG), as well as a Top Long Island Workplace for 2018 by Newsday.
*Based on a poll of registered representatives conducted by Investment Advisor magazine. Broker/dealers rated highest by their representatives are awarded “Broker/Dealer (B/D) of the Year.” Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.
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Open Enrollment Begins Thursday For Federal Marketplace Health Insurance
Open enrollment begins Thursday for those who purchase health insurance through the federal marketplace.
Reported by cbs4.com 16 hours ago.
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Stable premiums, more options as health law sign-ups begin
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sign-up season for the Affordable Care Act’s subsidized health insurance opens Thursday amid stabilizing premiums and more choice. Nationally, average premiums are going up only by low single-digit percentages for 2019, and insurers have expanded their participation. Health care remains a key issue for voters going into next week’s midterm elections. A […]
Reported by Seattle Times 16 hours ago.
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Looking For ACA Health Insurance For 2019? Here's What To Expect
Throughout the U.S., subsidies are available to reduce the price of 2019 policies sold on state and federal insurance exchanges. But promotion of the insurance is varying widely from state to state.
Reported by NPR 10 hours ago.
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Five things Arizonans should know about upcoming ACA open enrollment for health insurance
Open enrollment for marketplace plans created by the Affordable Care Act is starting. Here are five things that Arizona consumers should know.
Reported by azcentral.com 4 hours ago.
Reported by azcentral.com 4 hours ago.
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Sammons Financial Group Receives Industry Award by SRP
*Earns “Best Educational Initiative” for FIAs and FIA Journey Campaigns*WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sammons® Financial Group, Inc. (SFG) was honored for “Best Educational Initiative” by Structured Retail Products (SRP) for two recent campaigns: Making the Case for FIAs and FIA Journey. The award was presented at the second annual Americas Indexed Insurance Forum held in Des Moines, Iowa from Sept. 18-19, 2018.
SRP is a leading online resource for structured products in the retail, institutional, and private banking markets. Their clients encompass investment banks, index providers, regulators, law firms, and distributors. Each year, SRP acknowledges distributors, carriers, and service providers with Indexed Annuities Awards that are broken into several categories including “Best Educational Initiative.” Submissions are judged based on comprehensiveness, clarity, and accessibility of educational materials.
The purpose of SFG’s Making the Case for FIAs and FIA Journey campaigns (Separate campaigns were created for each of SFG’s two member companies, Midland National^® Life Insurance Company and North American Company for Life and Health Insurance^®.) was to create an engaging, educational tool for financial professionals to use with prospective clients.
“We worked with a select group of financial professionals to find out what kept them from selling Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs), and found that most thought they were too complicated and preferred other retirement products,” said Lori Bochner, marketing vice president at SFG. “The goal was to build an engaging, educational FIA kit that could be used to explain FIAs in simple terminology and effective visual aids.”
The results of SFG’s award-winning campaigns surpassed all benchmarks. A total of 883 kits were ordered (294% of goal), targeted financial professionals sold $313,784 in FIAs (157% of goal), and FIA sales increased by $3 million ($1 million more than goal). “We have received rave reviews from the field about the FIA kit. Our sales professionals have reported that this is one of the simplest, most consumer-friendly sales tools they have used to help explain the value proposition of indexed annuities,” said Chris Conroy, head of North American annuity sales at SFG.
*About Sammons^® Financial Group, Inc. *
The member companies of Sammons^® Financial Group, Inc. (SFG) are here to help families and businesses protect their future, so they can enjoy life’s moments today. A subsidiary of Sammons Enterprises, SFG is a group of privately-owned financial companies, including several of the most enduring and stable companies in our industry. SFG’s member companies, Midland National Life Insurance Company^®, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance^®, and Sammons Institutional Group^SM offer some of today’s most sought-after life insurance, annuity, and retirement planning products. Sammons Financial Group: With You for Every Moment^SM.
PR-50-10-18
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ceb11e9d-9a9d-42a3-9907-8604ecc1202a
CONTACT: Contact: John Myers
Associate Vice President
Corporate Communications
jmyers@sfgmembers.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 2 hours ago.
SRP is a leading online resource for structured products in the retail, institutional, and private banking markets. Their clients encompass investment banks, index providers, regulators, law firms, and distributors. Each year, SRP acknowledges distributors, carriers, and service providers with Indexed Annuities Awards that are broken into several categories including “Best Educational Initiative.” Submissions are judged based on comprehensiveness, clarity, and accessibility of educational materials.
The purpose of SFG’s Making the Case for FIAs and FIA Journey campaigns (Separate campaigns were created for each of SFG’s two member companies, Midland National^® Life Insurance Company and North American Company for Life and Health Insurance^®.) was to create an engaging, educational tool for financial professionals to use with prospective clients.
“We worked with a select group of financial professionals to find out what kept them from selling Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs), and found that most thought they were too complicated and preferred other retirement products,” said Lori Bochner, marketing vice president at SFG. “The goal was to build an engaging, educational FIA kit that could be used to explain FIAs in simple terminology and effective visual aids.”
The results of SFG’s award-winning campaigns surpassed all benchmarks. A total of 883 kits were ordered (294% of goal), targeted financial professionals sold $313,784 in FIAs (157% of goal), and FIA sales increased by $3 million ($1 million more than goal). “We have received rave reviews from the field about the FIA kit. Our sales professionals have reported that this is one of the simplest, most consumer-friendly sales tools they have used to help explain the value proposition of indexed annuities,” said Chris Conroy, head of North American annuity sales at SFG.
*About Sammons^® Financial Group, Inc. *
The member companies of Sammons^® Financial Group, Inc. (SFG) are here to help families and businesses protect their future, so they can enjoy life’s moments today. A subsidiary of Sammons Enterprises, SFG is a group of privately-owned financial companies, including several of the most enduring and stable companies in our industry. SFG’s member companies, Midland National Life Insurance Company^®, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance^®, and Sammons Institutional Group^SM offer some of today’s most sought-after life insurance, annuity, and retirement planning products. Sammons Financial Group: With You for Every Moment^SM.
PR-50-10-18
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ceb11e9d-9a9d-42a3-9907-8604ecc1202a
CONTACT: Contact: John Myers
Associate Vice President
Corporate Communications
jmyers@sfgmembers.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 2 hours ago.
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Manhattan Mental Health Counseling Discusses How Long Work Hours Damage Our Mental Health
Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, a psychotherapy private practice in NYC that accepts insurance, has an important message for today’s career-oriented society.
NEW YORK (PRWEB) November 01, 2018
Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, a psychotherapy private practice in NYC that accepts insurance, has an important message for today’s career-oriented society.
“We live in a world where it’s all too easy to stay connected to the office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” explains Natalie Buchwald, Founder of Manhattan Mental Health Counseling. “I’ve met plenty of people who actually take pride in how busy they are. Men and women who seem thrilled to work twelve hour days.”
This attitude towards the workplace - that we should always be connected and available - is both unhealthy and unsustainable, according to Natalie Buchwald. Multiple studies have demonstrated that there is a limit to productivity and that even the most brilliant minds need downtime to recharge. Research has also demonstrated that overworking oneself inevitably leads to a wide range of psychological problems and relationship issues.
“By all means, be passionate about your job; you should love what you do,” Natalie continues. “But passion doesn’t mean working every waking hour. After your 50th or 60th hour, you likely aren’t even getting much done - you’re just working for the sake of working.”
Working exceptionally long hours for an extended period of time puts a great deal of stress on one’s mental state. This stress can manifest in many different ways, such as increased irritability, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. This is further exacerbated by the fact that when one is overworked, one often tends to neglect both their physical and emotional well-being - their interpersonal relationships suffer, and any pre-existing conditions they have may worsen.
“It’s a vicious cycle,” says Natalie, “And one which inevitably ends in burnout.”
Natalie’s advice is that instead of working longer hours, employees and employers alike should consider how they might use the hours they do work more effectively. Beyond that, it is important that everyone makes a conscious effort to take time off - periods away from the office where they can relax without thinking even once about work. Finally, she notes that for those who cannot cut down their office hours, counseling may be an effective way to learn coping mechanisms for dealing with workplace stress.
“Even if you have no pre-existing conditions, therapy can be beneficial for you,” says Natalie. “Today’s employees are often expected to work extreme hours. Even those of us who choose to throw ourselves into our work to such a degree - those of us who enjoy it enough that doing so doesn’t bother us - could benefit from sitting down with a professional to help them make sense of their lives.”
Natalie noted that her practice can help such individuals, emphasizing that Manhattan Mental Health Counseling accepts many of the health insurance programs popular in the New York Metropolitan Area. Reported by PRWeb 38 minutes ago.
NEW YORK (PRWEB) November 01, 2018
Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, a psychotherapy private practice in NYC that accepts insurance, has an important message for today’s career-oriented society.
“We live in a world where it’s all too easy to stay connected to the office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” explains Natalie Buchwald, Founder of Manhattan Mental Health Counseling. “I’ve met plenty of people who actually take pride in how busy they are. Men and women who seem thrilled to work twelve hour days.”
This attitude towards the workplace - that we should always be connected and available - is both unhealthy and unsustainable, according to Natalie Buchwald. Multiple studies have demonstrated that there is a limit to productivity and that even the most brilliant minds need downtime to recharge. Research has also demonstrated that overworking oneself inevitably leads to a wide range of psychological problems and relationship issues.
“By all means, be passionate about your job; you should love what you do,” Natalie continues. “But passion doesn’t mean working every waking hour. After your 50th or 60th hour, you likely aren’t even getting much done - you’re just working for the sake of working.”
Working exceptionally long hours for an extended period of time puts a great deal of stress on one’s mental state. This stress can manifest in many different ways, such as increased irritability, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. This is further exacerbated by the fact that when one is overworked, one often tends to neglect both their physical and emotional well-being - their interpersonal relationships suffer, and any pre-existing conditions they have may worsen.
“It’s a vicious cycle,” says Natalie, “And one which inevitably ends in burnout.”
Natalie’s advice is that instead of working longer hours, employees and employers alike should consider how they might use the hours they do work more effectively. Beyond that, it is important that everyone makes a conscious effort to take time off - periods away from the office where they can relax without thinking even once about work. Finally, she notes that for those who cannot cut down their office hours, counseling may be an effective way to learn coping mechanisms for dealing with workplace stress.
“Even if you have no pre-existing conditions, therapy can be beneficial for you,” says Natalie. “Today’s employees are often expected to work extreme hours. Even those of us who choose to throw ourselves into our work to such a degree - those of us who enjoy it enough that doing so doesn’t bother us - could benefit from sitting down with a professional to help them make sense of their lives.”
Natalie noted that her practice can help such individuals, emphasizing that Manhattan Mental Health Counseling accepts many of the health insurance programs popular in the New York Metropolitan Area. Reported by PRWeb 38 minutes ago.
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State Farm Agent Brian Pinkstaff Giving the Gift of Life Insurance
Illinois State Farm insurance agent Brian Pinkstaff now offering life insurance for young people.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (PRWEB) November 01, 2018
“Having been through the loss of a child I know first-hand the importance of life insurance for our youth,” said Pinkstaff. “It is a life-changing experience that I wish no one has to go through, but if you do having life insurance gives you the freedom to focus on what is really important: your family.”
By signing up, you can give your child protection for a lifetime. Purchasing a life insurance policy for one’s child can be a valuable gift, and it starts with a permanent life policy from State Farm Life Insurance Company or State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company. “Nobody knows what tomorrow holds for your child, but you can take steps to help shape it today,” added Pinkstaff.
Permanent life insurance provides many benefits; i.e., purchasing early may protect insurability. By purchasing a permanent life policy, you are also locking in coverage for life, regardless of future health. No matter what medical condition may develop later in life, this policy will stay in force as long as premiums are paid when due. Generally, the premiums will be significantly lower now than when the same life insurance is purchased as an adult.
Because it’s permanent life insurance, those lower premiums will remain exactly the same for life. Permanent life insurance provides lifetime coverage and can be an asset for your child through cash value growth and potential to earn dividends. The cash value grows tax-deferred, and it can be used during their lifetime. Life insurance is a promise to pay a beneficiary at some future date, and that promise is only as good as the company that stands behind it.
“State Farm® is one of the most financially stable insurers in the United States,” noted Pinkstaff. “Letʼs start helping life go right by protecting your child’s future. Purchasing a permanent life insurance policy for a child now can mean a lifetime of financial protection. And State Farm offers you a variety of choices, like our 10, 15, or 20 Limited Pay Life. In just 10, 15, or 20 years, the policy is entirely paid up — no more premiums to pay. And remember the earlier one purchases a policy for a child, the lower the premiums will typically be.”
About Brian Pinkstaff, State Farm
Brian Pinkstaff offers pet, auto, home, property, business, life and health insurance. For more information, please call 815-965-5020, or visit http://www.brianpinkstaff.com. The office is located at 3957 West Riverside Blvd., Rockford, IL.
For media inquiries, please call the NALA at 805.650.6121, ext. 361. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (PRWEB) November 01, 2018
“Having been through the loss of a child I know first-hand the importance of life insurance for our youth,” said Pinkstaff. “It is a life-changing experience that I wish no one has to go through, but if you do having life insurance gives you the freedom to focus on what is really important: your family.”
By signing up, you can give your child protection for a lifetime. Purchasing a life insurance policy for one’s child can be a valuable gift, and it starts with a permanent life policy from State Farm Life Insurance Company or State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company. “Nobody knows what tomorrow holds for your child, but you can take steps to help shape it today,” added Pinkstaff.
Permanent life insurance provides many benefits; i.e., purchasing early may protect insurability. By purchasing a permanent life policy, you are also locking in coverage for life, regardless of future health. No matter what medical condition may develop later in life, this policy will stay in force as long as premiums are paid when due. Generally, the premiums will be significantly lower now than when the same life insurance is purchased as an adult.
Because it’s permanent life insurance, those lower premiums will remain exactly the same for life. Permanent life insurance provides lifetime coverage and can be an asset for your child through cash value growth and potential to earn dividends. The cash value grows tax-deferred, and it can be used during their lifetime. Life insurance is a promise to pay a beneficiary at some future date, and that promise is only as good as the company that stands behind it.
“State Farm® is one of the most financially stable insurers in the United States,” noted Pinkstaff. “Letʼs start helping life go right by protecting your child’s future. Purchasing a permanent life insurance policy for a child now can mean a lifetime of financial protection. And State Farm offers you a variety of choices, like our 10, 15, or 20 Limited Pay Life. In just 10, 15, or 20 years, the policy is entirely paid up — no more premiums to pay. And remember the earlier one purchases a policy for a child, the lower the premiums will typically be.”
About Brian Pinkstaff, State Farm
Brian Pinkstaff offers pet, auto, home, property, business, life and health insurance. For more information, please call 815-965-5020, or visit http://www.brianpinkstaff.com. The office is located at 3957 West Riverside Blvd., Rockford, IL.
For media inquiries, please call the NALA at 805.650.6121, ext. 361. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
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Federal District Court in California Permits Ady Barkan’s Class Action to Move Forward Against Health Net
Judge Finds Health Net Enrollment Form Fails to Comply with California Statutory Mandates for Disclosure of Binding Arbitration Clause
SANTA ANA, Calif. (PRWEB) November 01, 2018
Ady Barkan is willing to give his last breath to bring about change in our managed health care system. With a ruling today by United States District Court Judge Michael Fitzgerald, denying Health Net’s motion to compel arbitration of Mr. Barkan’s class action lawsuit, the change sought by Mr. Barkan will be litigated in federal court. His attorneys, Rich Collins and Damon Eisenbrey of Callahan & Blaine in Santa Ana, California, celebrated the ruling as a huge victory for Mr. Barkan and for all consumers who are too often forced to arbitrate their claims against large corporations.
Two years and two weeks ago, Mr. Barkan was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”). The progressive degeneration of ALS eventually leads to the brain’s inability to initiate and control muscle movement, causing those who suffer from the disease to lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe. But before the ALS robs Mr. Barkan of his ability to speak, Health Net sought to silence him with its motion to compel arbitration.
On June 29, 2018, Mr. Barkan filed a class action lawsuit against Health Net in an effort to change Health Net’s practices and to seek redress for the thousands of other policyholders who have suffered from Health Net’s alleged bad faith insurance practices. Ohad Barkan v. Health Net of California, Inc., et al., Case No.: CV 18-6691-MWF (ASx).
Mr. Barkan had been receiving his health care coverage through Cigna, and had been treating with Karen DaSilva, M.D., a neurologist in Santa Barbara, a provider within Cigna’s network. Mr. Barkan discontinued his Cigna plan January 1, 2018, and enrolled in the Health Net Blue & Gold HMO with his wife and son. Dr. DaSilva also is a provider within Health Net’s network, which should have precluded any interference with Mr. Barkan’s continuity of care.
Dr. DaSilva determined it was medically necessary for Mr. Barkan to use a ventilator and take the prescription medication, Radicava. Health Net refused to authorize the prescription for Radicava on the grounds that it was not medically necessary, and denied authorization for the ventilator on the grounds that it was experimental or investigational. Mr. Barkan appealed the denials, and in a letter dated January 27, 2018, Health Net reversed its denials.
But Mr. Barkan’s lawsuit goes well beyond Health Net’s denial of his treatment. Mr. Barkan is suing Health Net for breaching its promise to deliver covered, medically necessary health care, and to challenge what he claims are Health Net’s bad faith, deceptive and unfair insurance practices on behalf of all of those other Health Net insureds who have suffered, and in the future will suffer, wrongful denials of claims because of Health Net’s ambiguous “Experimental or Investigational” and “Medically Necessary” exclusions and bad faith insurance practices. (See Plaintiff’s Complaint, Case No. CV 18-6691-MWF (ASx) Dkt No. 1-2 at Introduction; Page 4, lines 12-18, Page 4, lines 24-page 5, line 4.)
Health Net sells health care service plans and policies that contain a binding arbitration clause. In Mr. Barkan’s case, the arbitration clause was found on page 59 of the 94-page plan booklet. These clauses are included in policies and plans on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. Health Net moved to enforce this arbitration clause in an effort to avoid publicly litigating Mr. Barkan’s class action claims in District Court. (See the Court Order, Case No. CV 18-6691-MWF (ASx) Dkt No. 30, at page 3 & 11; Dkt No. 24 page 10 lines 19-26, page 11 lines 13-17.)
Judge Fitzgerald denied Health Net’s motion, agreeing with Mr. Barkan’s argument that Health Net’s enrollment form does not comply with California’s statutory mandates regarding disclosure and notice to the applicant that he or she is waving the right to a jury trial and that any claims against Health Net are subject to binding arbitration. Judge Fitzgerald further ruled that, even if the inadequacies of the enrollment form disclosure could be remedied by the actual arbitration clause in the plan document, the clause is utterly indistinguishable from the other surrounding provisions.
After the hearing, Mr. Barkan had this to say: “Tens of millions of Americans are mistreated by their health insurance companies. These insurance companies delay and deny coverage every day, and families like mine bear the burden. Then, they use unconscionable binding arbitration agreements to prevent us from enforcing our legal rights. This ruling is a major victory for patients like me who need access to healthcare and access to the American courts. I brought this lawsuit in order to highlight the need for single-payer Medicare for All. Along the way, we are also going to highlight how the mandatory arbitration system harms so many families like mine. I am excited about today's ruling, and I look forward to bringing my claims—and the claims of thousands of other members of our class action—in front of a jury.”
For more information, contact:
Laurali Kobal, Firm Administrator, 714-241-4444, Laurali(at)callahan-law(dot)com
ABOUT RICHARD T. COLLINS: Mr. Collins is known for being an aggressive trial attorney who has been named to the list of Super Lawyers each year since 2015. Rich has been lead counsel in over 25 jury and court trials in federal and state courts throughout California and elsewhere. He is a litigator with extensive experience in the areas of insurance recovery, coverage and bad faith, and has recovered millions of dollars for his policyholder and health care provider clients through verdicts and settlements. 714-241-4444, rcollins(at)callahan-law(dot)com
ABOUT DAMON D. EISENBREY: Mr. Eisenbrey is a Senior Attorney at Callahan & Blaine. He has extensive experience in complex business litigation involving unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive business acts or practices. Mr. Eisenbrey also represents insurance policyholders and health care providers in individual and class action insurance recovery, coverage and bad faith matters, and he prosecutes and defends cases in state and federal court. 714-241-4444; deisenbrey(at)callahan-law(dot)com.
ABOUT CALLAHAN & BLAINE: Founded in 1984, Callahan & Blaine is California’s Premier Litigation Firm with record-breaking verdicts and settlements in all areas of complex litigation. With a current roster of more than 28 trial lawyers experienced and focused in virtually all civil practice areas, Callahan & Blaine offers civil litigants an impressive set of credentials and client service values. Our attorneys have more than 700 years of trial experience, and since 2003, our verdicts and settlements add up to over $1.0 billion. Our law firm represents consumers and corporate, professional and entrepreneurial clients of all sizes. https://www.callahan-law.com/ Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (PRWEB) November 01, 2018
Ady Barkan is willing to give his last breath to bring about change in our managed health care system. With a ruling today by United States District Court Judge Michael Fitzgerald, denying Health Net’s motion to compel arbitration of Mr. Barkan’s class action lawsuit, the change sought by Mr. Barkan will be litigated in federal court. His attorneys, Rich Collins and Damon Eisenbrey of Callahan & Blaine in Santa Ana, California, celebrated the ruling as a huge victory for Mr. Barkan and for all consumers who are too often forced to arbitrate their claims against large corporations.
Two years and two weeks ago, Mr. Barkan was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”). The progressive degeneration of ALS eventually leads to the brain’s inability to initiate and control muscle movement, causing those who suffer from the disease to lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe. But before the ALS robs Mr. Barkan of his ability to speak, Health Net sought to silence him with its motion to compel arbitration.
On June 29, 2018, Mr. Barkan filed a class action lawsuit against Health Net in an effort to change Health Net’s practices and to seek redress for the thousands of other policyholders who have suffered from Health Net’s alleged bad faith insurance practices. Ohad Barkan v. Health Net of California, Inc., et al., Case No.: CV 18-6691-MWF (ASx).
Mr. Barkan had been receiving his health care coverage through Cigna, and had been treating with Karen DaSilva, M.D., a neurologist in Santa Barbara, a provider within Cigna’s network. Mr. Barkan discontinued his Cigna plan January 1, 2018, and enrolled in the Health Net Blue & Gold HMO with his wife and son. Dr. DaSilva also is a provider within Health Net’s network, which should have precluded any interference with Mr. Barkan’s continuity of care.
Dr. DaSilva determined it was medically necessary for Mr. Barkan to use a ventilator and take the prescription medication, Radicava. Health Net refused to authorize the prescription for Radicava on the grounds that it was not medically necessary, and denied authorization for the ventilator on the grounds that it was experimental or investigational. Mr. Barkan appealed the denials, and in a letter dated January 27, 2018, Health Net reversed its denials.
But Mr. Barkan’s lawsuit goes well beyond Health Net’s denial of his treatment. Mr. Barkan is suing Health Net for breaching its promise to deliver covered, medically necessary health care, and to challenge what he claims are Health Net’s bad faith, deceptive and unfair insurance practices on behalf of all of those other Health Net insureds who have suffered, and in the future will suffer, wrongful denials of claims because of Health Net’s ambiguous “Experimental or Investigational” and “Medically Necessary” exclusions and bad faith insurance practices. (See Plaintiff’s Complaint, Case No. CV 18-6691-MWF (ASx) Dkt No. 1-2 at Introduction; Page 4, lines 12-18, Page 4, lines 24-page 5, line 4.)
Health Net sells health care service plans and policies that contain a binding arbitration clause. In Mr. Barkan’s case, the arbitration clause was found on page 59 of the 94-page plan booklet. These clauses are included in policies and plans on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. Health Net moved to enforce this arbitration clause in an effort to avoid publicly litigating Mr. Barkan’s class action claims in District Court. (See the Court Order, Case No. CV 18-6691-MWF (ASx) Dkt No. 30, at page 3 & 11; Dkt No. 24 page 10 lines 19-26, page 11 lines 13-17.)
Judge Fitzgerald denied Health Net’s motion, agreeing with Mr. Barkan’s argument that Health Net’s enrollment form does not comply with California’s statutory mandates regarding disclosure and notice to the applicant that he or she is waving the right to a jury trial and that any claims against Health Net are subject to binding arbitration. Judge Fitzgerald further ruled that, even if the inadequacies of the enrollment form disclosure could be remedied by the actual arbitration clause in the plan document, the clause is utterly indistinguishable from the other surrounding provisions.
After the hearing, Mr. Barkan had this to say: “Tens of millions of Americans are mistreated by their health insurance companies. These insurance companies delay and deny coverage every day, and families like mine bear the burden. Then, they use unconscionable binding arbitration agreements to prevent us from enforcing our legal rights. This ruling is a major victory for patients like me who need access to healthcare and access to the American courts. I brought this lawsuit in order to highlight the need for single-payer Medicare for All. Along the way, we are also going to highlight how the mandatory arbitration system harms so many families like mine. I am excited about today's ruling, and I look forward to bringing my claims—and the claims of thousands of other members of our class action—in front of a jury.”
For more information, contact:
Laurali Kobal, Firm Administrator, 714-241-4444, Laurali(at)callahan-law(dot)com
ABOUT RICHARD T. COLLINS: Mr. Collins is known for being an aggressive trial attorney who has been named to the list of Super Lawyers each year since 2015. Rich has been lead counsel in over 25 jury and court trials in federal and state courts throughout California and elsewhere. He is a litigator with extensive experience in the areas of insurance recovery, coverage and bad faith, and has recovered millions of dollars for his policyholder and health care provider clients through verdicts and settlements. 714-241-4444, rcollins(at)callahan-law(dot)com
ABOUT DAMON D. EISENBREY: Mr. Eisenbrey is a Senior Attorney at Callahan & Blaine. He has extensive experience in complex business litigation involving unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive business acts or practices. Mr. Eisenbrey also represents insurance policyholders and health care providers in individual and class action insurance recovery, coverage and bad faith matters, and he prosecutes and defends cases in state and federal court. 714-241-4444; deisenbrey(at)callahan-law(dot)com.
ABOUT CALLAHAN & BLAINE: Founded in 1984, Callahan & Blaine is California’s Premier Litigation Firm with record-breaking verdicts and settlements in all areas of complex litigation. With a current roster of more than 28 trial lawyers experienced and focused in virtually all civil practice areas, Callahan & Blaine offers civil litigants an impressive set of credentials and client service values. Our attorneys have more than 700 years of trial experience, and since 2003, our verdicts and settlements add up to over $1.0 billion. Our law firm represents consumers and corporate, professional and entrepreneurial clients of all sizes. https://www.callahan-law.com/ Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.
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Open Enrollment Underway For Federal Marketplace Health Insurance
Open enrollment got underway Thursday for those who purchase health insurance through the federal marketplace.
Reported by cbs4.com 19 hours ago.
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Federal health care website up and running after slow start
The federal website where consumers can get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act was up and running Thursday after...
Reported by Deseret News 12 hours ago.
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Federal Health Care Website up and Running After Slow Start
The federal website where consumers can get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act was up and running Thursday after a slow start as sign-up season for 2019 opened days before the midterm elections.
Reported by Newsmax 6 hours ago.
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Robert Reich: Trump’s 30 Broken Promises – OpEd
Trump voters: Two years in, here’s an updated list of Trump’s 30 biggest broken promises.
*1. He told you he’d cut your taxes, and that the super-rich like him would pay more.* You bought it. But his 2017 tax law has done the opposite. By 2027, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the richest 1 percent will have received 83 percent of the tax cut and the richest 0.1 percent, 60 percent of it. But more than half of all Americans — 53 percent — will pay more in taxes. As Trump told his wealthy friends at Mar-a-Lago just days after the tax bill became law, “You all just got a lot richer.”
*2. He promised that the average family would see a $4,000 pay raise because of the tax law. *You bought it. But real wages for most Americans are lower today than they were before the tax law went into effect.
*3. He promised to close special interest loopholes that have been so good for Wall Street investors but unfair to American workers*, especially the notorious “carried interest” loophole for private-equity, hedge fund, and real estate partners. You bought it. But the new tax law kept the “carried interest” loophole.
*4*.* He promised to bring an end to Kim Jong-Un’s nuclear program*. You bought it. Kim Jong-Un hasn’t denuclearized.
*5. He told you he’d repeal Obamacare and replace it with something “beautiful,” including “insurance for everybody.*” You bought it. But he didn’t repeal and he didn’t replace. (Just as well: His plan would have knocked at least 24 million Americans off health insurance, including many of you.) Instead, he’s doing what he can to cut it back and replace it with nothing. According to the Commonwealth Fund, about 4 million Americans have lost health insurance in the last two years.
*6. He told you he wouldn’t “cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.*” You bought it. But now he’s planning such cuts in order to deal with the ballooning deficit created, in part, by the new tax law for corporations and the rich.
*7. He promised to protect anyone with pre-existing conditions.* You bought it. But in June, his Justice Department told a federal court it would no longer defend provisions of Obamacare that protect patients with pre-existing conditions. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the decision was made with Trump’s approval.
*8. He said he’d build a “wall” across the southern border.You believed him*. But there’s no wall.
*9. He told you he’d invest $1 trillion in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.* You bought it. But after his giant tax cut for corporations and millionaires, there’s no money left for infrastructure.
*10. He said he’d drain the Washington swamp*. You bought it. But he’s brought into his administration more billionaires, CEOs, and Wall Street moguls than in any administration in history, to make laws that will enrich their businesses, and he’s filled departments and agencies with former lobbyists, lawyers and consultants who are crafting new policies for the same industries they recently worked for.
*11. He promised to re-institute a five-year ban on all executive branch officials lobbying the government for five years after they leave government.*” You bought it. But the five-year ban he signed applies only to lobbying one’s former agency, not the government as a whole, and it doesn’t stop former officials from becoming lobbyists.
*12. He said he’d use his business experience to whip the White House into shape.* You bought it. But he has created the most dysfunctional, back-stabbing White House in modern history, and has already fired and replaced so many assistants that people there barely know who’s in charge of what.
*13. He told you he’d “bring down drug prices” by negotiating “like crazy” with drug companies*. You bought it. But he hasn’t.
*14. He told you he’d “stop foreign lobbyists from raising money for American elections.”* You bought it. But foreign lobbyists are still raising money for American elections.
*15. He promised “six weeks of paid maternity leave to any mother with a newborn child whose employer does not provide the benefit.”* You bought it. But the giant tax cut for corporations and the rich doesn’t leave any money for this.
*16. He said he’d create tax-free dependent care savings accounts for younger and elderly dependents, and have the government match contributions low-income families put into their savings accounts.* You bought it. He’s done neither.
*17. He said that on Day One he’d label China a “currency manipulator.*” You bought it. But then he declared China is not a currency manipulator.
*18. He said he “won’t bomb Syria.”* You bought it. Then he bombed Syria.
*19. After pulling out of the Paris accord, he said he’d negotiate a better deal on the environment.* You bought it. There have been no negotiations.
*20. He promised that the many women who accused him of sexual misconduct “will be sued after the election is over.”* You bought it. He hasn’t sued them, presumably because he doesn’t want the truth to come out.
*21. He said he would not be a president who took vacations, and criticized Barack Obama for taking too many vacations.* You bought it. But since becoming President, he has spent a quarter of his days at one of his golf properties.
*22. He vowed to “push colleges to cut the skyrocketing cost of tuition.”* You believed him. But he hasn’t. Instead, he’s made it easier for for-profit college to defraud students.
*23. He said he’d force companies to keep jobs in America, and that there would be consequences for companies that shipped jobs abroad, especially government contractors*. You believed him. Never before in U.S. history have federal contractors sent so many jobs overseas. There have been no consequences.
*24. He promised to end DACA.* Then in January 2018 promised that “DACA recipients should not to be concerned… We’re going to solve the problem,” then he reversed himself again and vowed to end the program by March, 2018. Currently, the federal courts have stayed any action on it.
*25. He promised to revive the struggling coal industry and bring back lost coal mining jobs.* You bought it. But coal is still losing customers as utilities turn to natural gas and renewable power.
*26. He promised to protect American steel jobs.* You bought it. His tariffs on steel have protected some steel jobs. But industries that use steel – like automakers and construction – now have to pay more for the steel they use, with the result that their jobs are threatened. The Trade Partnership projects that 400,000 jobs will be lost among steel and aluminum users.
*27. He said he’d make America safer.* You believed him. But mass shootings keep rising, and Trump has failed to pass effective gun control legislation. After 17 died in Parkland, Florida, Trump promised “immediate action” on gun safety in schools, but has done nothing.
*28. He promised to make two- and four-year colleges more affordable.* You bought it. But Trump’s most recent budget contains deep cuts in aid for low-income and first-generation college students, reduces Federal Work Study, and eliminates the 50-year-old Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, which goes to more than a million poor college kids each year.
*29. He promised to eliminate the federal deficit and bring down the debt.* You bought it. Yet due to his massive tax cut mostly for corporations and the rich, and his military spending, the deficit is set to rise to $1 trillion, and the debt has ballooned to more than $21 trillion.
*30. He said he’d release his taxes.* “I’m under a routine audit and it’ll be released, and as soon as the audit is finished it will be released,” he promised during the campaign. You bought it. He still hasn’t released his taxes. Reported by Eurasia Review 6 hours ago.
*1. He told you he’d cut your taxes, and that the super-rich like him would pay more.* You bought it. But his 2017 tax law has done the opposite. By 2027, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the richest 1 percent will have received 83 percent of the tax cut and the richest 0.1 percent, 60 percent of it. But more than half of all Americans — 53 percent — will pay more in taxes. As Trump told his wealthy friends at Mar-a-Lago just days after the tax bill became law, “You all just got a lot richer.”
*2. He promised that the average family would see a $4,000 pay raise because of the tax law. *You bought it. But real wages for most Americans are lower today than they were before the tax law went into effect.
*3. He promised to close special interest loopholes that have been so good for Wall Street investors but unfair to American workers*, especially the notorious “carried interest” loophole for private-equity, hedge fund, and real estate partners. You bought it. But the new tax law kept the “carried interest” loophole.
*4*.* He promised to bring an end to Kim Jong-Un’s nuclear program*. You bought it. Kim Jong-Un hasn’t denuclearized.
*5. He told you he’d repeal Obamacare and replace it with something “beautiful,” including “insurance for everybody.*” You bought it. But he didn’t repeal and he didn’t replace. (Just as well: His plan would have knocked at least 24 million Americans off health insurance, including many of you.) Instead, he’s doing what he can to cut it back and replace it with nothing. According to the Commonwealth Fund, about 4 million Americans have lost health insurance in the last two years.
*6. He told you he wouldn’t “cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.*” You bought it. But now he’s planning such cuts in order to deal with the ballooning deficit created, in part, by the new tax law for corporations and the rich.
*7. He promised to protect anyone with pre-existing conditions.* You bought it. But in June, his Justice Department told a federal court it would no longer defend provisions of Obamacare that protect patients with pre-existing conditions. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the decision was made with Trump’s approval.
*8. He said he’d build a “wall” across the southern border.You believed him*. But there’s no wall.
*9. He told you he’d invest $1 trillion in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.* You bought it. But after his giant tax cut for corporations and millionaires, there’s no money left for infrastructure.
*10. He said he’d drain the Washington swamp*. You bought it. But he’s brought into his administration more billionaires, CEOs, and Wall Street moguls than in any administration in history, to make laws that will enrich their businesses, and he’s filled departments and agencies with former lobbyists, lawyers and consultants who are crafting new policies for the same industries they recently worked for.
*11. He promised to re-institute a five-year ban on all executive branch officials lobbying the government for five years after they leave government.*” You bought it. But the five-year ban he signed applies only to lobbying one’s former agency, not the government as a whole, and it doesn’t stop former officials from becoming lobbyists.
*12. He said he’d use his business experience to whip the White House into shape.* You bought it. But he has created the most dysfunctional, back-stabbing White House in modern history, and has already fired and replaced so many assistants that people there barely know who’s in charge of what.
*13. He told you he’d “bring down drug prices” by negotiating “like crazy” with drug companies*. You bought it. But he hasn’t.
*14. He told you he’d “stop foreign lobbyists from raising money for American elections.”* You bought it. But foreign lobbyists are still raising money for American elections.
*15. He promised “six weeks of paid maternity leave to any mother with a newborn child whose employer does not provide the benefit.”* You bought it. But the giant tax cut for corporations and the rich doesn’t leave any money for this.
*16. He said he’d create tax-free dependent care savings accounts for younger and elderly dependents, and have the government match contributions low-income families put into their savings accounts.* You bought it. He’s done neither.
*17. He said that on Day One he’d label China a “currency manipulator.*” You bought it. But then he declared China is not a currency manipulator.
*18. He said he “won’t bomb Syria.”* You bought it. Then he bombed Syria.
*19. After pulling out of the Paris accord, he said he’d negotiate a better deal on the environment.* You bought it. There have been no negotiations.
*20. He promised that the many women who accused him of sexual misconduct “will be sued after the election is over.”* You bought it. He hasn’t sued them, presumably because he doesn’t want the truth to come out.
*21. He said he would not be a president who took vacations, and criticized Barack Obama for taking too many vacations.* You bought it. But since becoming President, he has spent a quarter of his days at one of his golf properties.
*22. He vowed to “push colleges to cut the skyrocketing cost of tuition.”* You believed him. But he hasn’t. Instead, he’s made it easier for for-profit college to defraud students.
*23. He said he’d force companies to keep jobs in America, and that there would be consequences for companies that shipped jobs abroad, especially government contractors*. You believed him. Never before in U.S. history have federal contractors sent so many jobs overseas. There have been no consequences.
*24. He promised to end DACA.* Then in January 2018 promised that “DACA recipients should not to be concerned… We’re going to solve the problem,” then he reversed himself again and vowed to end the program by March, 2018. Currently, the federal courts have stayed any action on it.
*25. He promised to revive the struggling coal industry and bring back lost coal mining jobs.* You bought it. But coal is still losing customers as utilities turn to natural gas and renewable power.
*26. He promised to protect American steel jobs.* You bought it. His tariffs on steel have protected some steel jobs. But industries that use steel – like automakers and construction – now have to pay more for the steel they use, with the result that their jobs are threatened. The Trade Partnership projects that 400,000 jobs will be lost among steel and aluminum users.
*27. He said he’d make America safer.* You believed him. But mass shootings keep rising, and Trump has failed to pass effective gun control legislation. After 17 died in Parkland, Florida, Trump promised “immediate action” on gun safety in schools, but has done nothing.
*28. He promised to make two- and four-year colleges more affordable.* You bought it. But Trump’s most recent budget contains deep cuts in aid for low-income and first-generation college students, reduces Federal Work Study, and eliminates the 50-year-old Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, which goes to more than a million poor college kids each year.
*29. He promised to eliminate the federal deficit and bring down the debt.* You bought it. Yet due to his massive tax cut mostly for corporations and the rich, and his military spending, the deficit is set to rise to $1 trillion, and the debt has ballooned to more than $21 trillion.
*30. He said he’d release his taxes.* “I’m under a routine audit and it’ll be released, and as soon as the audit is finished it will be released,” he promised during the campaign. You bought it. He still hasn’t released his taxes. Reported by Eurasia Review 6 hours ago.
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