Win Notre Dame or Michigan State Football Tickets
Act Soon, these Tickets Doesn't Last Long!
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Now's your chance to earn tickets to see the Fighting Irish or the Spartan's at Michigan State.
These College football tickets are going quickly, so you better act fast.
You have three ways to qualify: Any agent who gets licensed with any of our companies, gets one entry. Any agent who sells a new policy, gets one entry. You can also send us an email each week for a bonus entry. You are eligible for at least 3 entries a week.
Entries are being accepted between now and November 20th, 2009. Ticket drawings will be on Thursday's before each home game.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule
Michigan State Spartans Schedule
For questions or more information please contact Bev Gough
Entry E-Mail: info@BrokersHealth.com
Phone (269)983-0633 or (800)782-8190.
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2010 Medigap Changes
Changes in 2010 Medicare Supplement
Plans Could Affect Millions
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There
are several changes coming to the current standardized Medigap
(Medicare Supplement) insurance policies in 2010, changes that will
affect future coverage options and premiums. These changes will apply
to all companies offering Medicare supplement insurance policies.
The coming changes were brought
on by the Medicare Prescription Drug
Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), in which the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) was asked to modernize
review the current Medigap plan coverage. The idea was for the NAIC to
determine if changes needed to be made to the standardize plan benefits
to reflect changes that have occurred in the marketplace since the
standardization of Medicare Supplement plans in 1990.
Upon completion of the review, the NAIC recommended several changes
which have since been approved and will go into effect on June 1,
2010. The primary changes are listed below:
Two New Medigap Plans To Be Added:
Two new Medigap
options will now be available - plan letters M and N. These plans will
introduce additional cost-sharing for Medicare recipients, such as
co-pays, and small coinsurance exposure in exchange for slightly lower
premiums than the traditional plans.
Three Medigap Benefits Will Be Changed or Eliminated:
The commission concluded that the "excess charges" benefit should
be changed to only offer 100% coverage, and suggested the removal of
two other benefits cut due to the coverage being historically
underutilized and inconvenient to use. As a result, the "preventative
care not otherwise covered" and "at home recovery" benefits will no
longer be offered with new Medigap plans sold after June 1, 2010.
As a result of these changes, four current Medigap plan designs - E, H, I and J - will no longer be available. If a Medicare Supplement
recipient is currently using one of these plans they will be allowed to
keep it, however these plans just will not be sold after June 1, 2010.
With these four plans not being offered after June, most advisors
are recommending their clients avoid these policies. Since no new
clients will be able to purchase plans E, H, I or J, those that remain
on these plans could well find themselves facing large rate increases
in two to three years as the claims cost for those covered by these old
plans will continue to raise over time. Given this fact, it makes the
most sense to obtain coverage with a Medicare Supplement insurance plan that will still be available for purchase in future years, such as the popular Medicare supplement plan F.
For questions or assistance in finding the best Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement insurance for your situation, email Brian Kavanaugh at Brian@BrokersHealth.com, or call him today at (269)983-0633 or (800)782-8190.
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LTCI Webinar
Genworth: Selling to Younger Buyers
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Bob Burke will be the host of this Webinar from LTCI Partners. On Thursday October 29th @ 10am, Bob discusses why those in their 40's might consider planning now for their future when it comes to LTC. There will be a Q&A period at the end of the Webinar.
Click here to RSVP.
Call or e-mail Bev Gough with any questions.
e-mail - bev@brokershealth.com
phone - (269)983-0633
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Code Blue Let Congress Know Health Reform Should Preserve Private Affordable Insurance Options
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 NAHU Members,
With the Senate Finance Committee having reported out its version
of national health care reform legislation, Senate leaders have begun
the process of combining health care overhaul plans produced by Finance
and HELP Committees, which could take at least a week to accomplish.
As you may know, the pending bills in the Senate and House could
make new coverage unaffordable for most people. We are asking all NAHU
members to participate in this important Operation Shout to make clear
to Congress and the Administration that successful and sustainable
health reform must ensure that premiums are affordable for all
consumers, and that Americans are able to keep their private coverage.
Please take a moment to participate in this important grassroots
initiative, and also encourage your clients, neighbors, friends and
family to do the same.
We still have a lot of work ahead of us in preserving a strong
role for producers and private insurance in health reform. Your
participation today is greatly appreciated!!
For more information Email Bev Gough at Bev@BrokersHealth.com, or call her today at (269)983-0633 or (800)782-8190. |
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Important HIPAA Privacy Regulations
Your Responsibility as a Business Associate of Assurant Health
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At Assurant Health, our customers trust us to protect their
personal financial and health information. We take this obligation
seriously and maintain our customers' confidence by keeping their
information safe and secure.
As Assurant Health's valued business associate and trusted
advisor to your customers, we want to make you aware of some recent
changes in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
laws and regulations that may impact the way you do business with regard
to customer information.
As you may
recall, you signed a Group Producer Agreement to conduct
business on our behalf. In that Agreement is business associate
language, which is required under the HIPAA privacy regulations. When
you signed the Agreement, you agreed to become our HIPAA business
associate and abide by the applicable HIPAA privacy and security
regulations.
Recently, these HIPAA regulations were amended with the
enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes
the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
Act (HITECH). HITECH has expanded the obligations of business
associates. While you have always been contractually obligated to
comply with HIPAA, this new law will legally require you to be
compliant with HIPAA.
So what does that mean for you? Here
are some of the additional privacy and security obligations under
HITECH:
Effective September 23, 2009
Federal Security
Breach Notification Rules
Notify us immediately if you discover a
security breach of unsecured Protected Health Information. You must
comply with both the new federal requirements as well as applicable
state law requirements. Contact Judy Titera, Assurant Health Privacy
Officer, at 414-299-1140 or at judy.titera@assurant.com
Penalties may be levied from the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) for non-compliance.
Effective February 17, 2010
Assessment and implementation of a robust
security program
Compliance with various privacy
provisions
Penalties may be levied by HHS for
non-compliance
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Stay Well - Be Well
Swine Flu - H1N1 |
There are a lot of questions and concerns regarding H1N1
influenza and what each of us can do to stay well. The CDC has many resources
available for employers to prepare for a potential epidemic.
H1N1 vaccines will be  offered through community clinics or
through your physicians office. Please call your physician to see if they are participating.
The target groups for the H1N1 vaccine is a little different than
the seasonal flu vaccine.
The target groups for H1N1 are Children 6 months to 24 years
old, Caregivers of young children, high-risk adults, pregnant women, healthcare
workers,
A few things to practice and stress to your clients & employees:
Handwashing is the most effective way to stop the spread of
germs and viruses.
Remember cough etiquette: Cover your mouth and nose when
coughing or sneezing.
Wash your hands again, alcohol based sanitizers are
effective.
If you do not feel well, STAY home.
Stay home until you have been fever free (without
medication) for at least 24 hours.
The CDC has many resources available for employers to
prepare for a potential epidemic. Here are a few you may wish to share with
your associates.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
H1N1 Q&A
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm
What should I do If I get sick?
http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/materials/home_work_school.pdf
How to stop flu from spreading at work
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm
Flu vaccine Q&A
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/specificpopulations.htm
Additional info on target populations
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Holiday Hours
Brokers Health Insurance Office
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The holidays are quickly
approaching, below is a listing of
the holidays our office will
be closed.
Thanksgiving
Closed November 26 & 27th.
Christmas
Closed December 24 & 25th.
New Years
Closed December 31st & January 1st.
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Managing General Agent (MGA) and General Agent (GA), providing
assistance to independent Agents and Agencies throughout the Midwest
with products and services which increase their sales and market growth
in the individual, group and senior insurance markets.
Brokers Health began company operations back in the early 1970's in St. Joseph, Michigan. We provide services to agents via a staff of experienced and trained insurance professionals. |
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SAND, SUN
& FUN!!
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Sun drenched beaches await qualifying agents for a week of fun with Great Lakes/Brokers Health!
THERE IS STILL TIME TO QUALIFY FOR OUR TRIP!
As well as for the American Community, Assurant, World and Colonial Life's trip.
Great Lakes/Brokers Health is the only brokerage where you can earn double credit.
SIGN UP TODAY - We're leaving sooner than you think
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