SAHU Newsletter | April 2023
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Category: Newsroom
SAHU Newsletter | March 2023
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SAHU Newsletter | February 2023
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SAHU Newsletter | January 2023
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SAHU 23rd Annual Crab Feed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 1, 2023
The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is thrilled to announce our 23rd Annual Crab Feed event, open to both members and non-members. This year’s “Circus!” theme promises to be a night full of excitement and entertainment.
Everyone is invited to join us for an unforgettable evening with delicious crab and great company. You will have an opportunity to bid in our silent auction featuring a variety of exclusive prizes. SAHU members and non-members alike are welcome to donate silent auction items such as golf packages, vacation rentals, ski packages, sports tickets, concert tickets, wine tasting tours, and more! Rosamaria Marrujo, President of SAHU calls this one of the biggest networking events of the year!
SAHU offers the opportunity to purchase tables for 10 to enjoy the festivities with a group of friends or colleagues. Advance drink ticket sales are also available so you can enjoy a variety of beverages throughout the night. Visit us here and get your tickets purchased- https://sahu-ca.com/event/sahu-crab-feed-2023/.
SAHU Crab Feed 2023 Sponsorship is available, if youâd like to learn more on how you can support this annual event please visit https://sahu-ca.com/product/sahu-crab-feed-2023-sponsorship/.
As with every year, part of the proceeds from the Crab Feed will benefit local charitable organizations across the Sacramento region.
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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our membersâ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Californians and Americans through education, advocacy, and professional development. For more information, please visit: sahu-ca.com.
SAHU Newsletter | December 2022
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Congress Passes End-of-Year Omnibus That Includes NAHU-Supported Provisions
At the end of 2022, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion omnibus package that avoided a government shutdown. The massive spending package includes two major NAHU-supported provisions regarding telehealth and long-term care. Individuals will now be able to use existing retirement accounts to pay for long-term insurance. More specifically, the provision will permit individuals to pay up to $2,500 each year for long-term care insurance with their 401(k)s, 403(b)s and IRAs without a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty tax.
The package also includes a two-year extension of telehealth-related regulatory flexibilities put in place during the pandemic. In 2021, the CARES Act provided temporary relief during the pandemic by allowing HSA-qualified high-deductible health plans to cover telehealth services before reaching the deductible. It also allowed patients to choose and purchase telehealth services outside their HDHP without impacting their eligibility for an HSA. Prior to todayâs bill, these flexibilities were set to expire at the end of 2022. Now, these waivers will remain in place through December 31, 2024. “As an insurance agent, it is important to be aware of how these legislative updates affect our clients. SAHU, CAHIP, and NAHU give agents the opportunity to be in the know and part of the change as it happens,” says Antonette Vanasek, SAHU Media Chair.
Other major health policies include a bipartisan deal to end the Medicaid policy that provided states with additional funding and barred them from kicking people off federally funded insurance, setting a new end date of April 1, 2023, instead of July 2023. This date change will have an impact on what has been dubbed the âMedicaid unwinding,â when nearly 85 million people enrolled in Medicaid will have their eligibility redetermined at the end of the public health emergency, triggering a high risk of coverage loss of eligible individuals.
In addition, the omnibus bill includes $1.5 billion in state grants for substance abuse prevention and treatment and several key investments to expand access to mental health, including grants for maternal mental health, the Community Health Service Block Grants and the Substance Use and Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Block Grants.
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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our membersâ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Californians and Americans through education, advocacy, and professional development. For more information, please visit: sahu-ca.com.
Lasik Surgery May Be More Dangerous Than Previously Thought
A recent study has shown that LASIK surgery may be more dangerous than previously thought. A recent investigation by the FDA found that there have been several complications reported after LASIK surgery. These complications include dry eyes, halos around lights, and starbursts.
The president of the Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters, Rosamaria Marrujo, stated that “LASIK is not as safe as we were once led to believe” and urged people to do their research before getting the surgery. This is not the first-time concerns have been raised about the safety of LASIK surgery; a class action lawsuit was filed against the makers of LASIK devices in 2016. Despite these concerns, many people continue to undergo the procedure each year.
Lasik eye surgery is a popular vision correction procedure that involves reshaping the cornea. To ensure patients are informed of all potential risks associated with this treatment, the FDA mandates medical professionals to go over every possible outcome – including those for individuals living with diabetes who may suffer from long-term complications at an increased rate compared to non-diabetics.
Despite the high cost and lack of insurance coverage, Lasik eye surgery remains a popular procedure for 500,000 Americans annually. However, surgeons are not pleased with the FDA’s new regulatory requirements.
Lasik eye surgery is an important decision, and it is up to the individual whether they pursue it. To help people make a well-informed choice that works for them, the FDA has put together a comprehensive document outlining all the essential facts regarding this procedure.
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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our membersâ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Californians and Americans through education, advocacy, and professional development. For more information, please visit: sahu-ca.com.
SAHU Newsletter | November 2022
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Vast Changes to Medicare Part D Plans in 2023
Medicare beneficiaries can rejoice for the first time; there will now be a cap on their out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions each year. This brand-new provision is part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, including limits to out-of-pocket insulin payments and making vital vaccines accessible. 1.3 million people spent over $2K in 2020 without this protection based on Part D plans – highlighting how critical these changes are going forward! Plus, all will roll out gradually via staggered implementation as with many other parts of this law – so keep an eye open if you’re eligible soon enough!
In 2024, Medicare beneficiaries will no longer have any out-of-pocket costs once they enter what Medicare calls catastrophic coverage. The way catastrophic coverage worked in 2022 is that once an enrolleeâs out-of-pocket costs reached $7,050, they must pay 5 percent of their prescription drug costs, with no limit. But beginning in 2024, that 5 percent coinsurance requirement will be gone, and enrollees wonât have to pay anything for their prescription drugs for the rest of the year.
Beginning in 2025, Part D prescription drug out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $2,000 annually. This applies to stand-alone plans with original Medicare or private Medicare Advantage plans, which also cover prescription drugs. It should be noted that this cap may change over time due to inflation and other factors affecting the healthcare industry landscape. These cost savings are expected to begin rolling out gradually until then so beneficiaries can start planning for their future healthcare needs accordingly!
Also, in 2025, Medicare drug plans are introducing a new feature to alleviate the burden of large drug bills. Smoothed cost-sharing allows enrollees to spread out their out-of-pocket costs over an entire year and protect those who may have difficulty covering one lump sum payment for medication expenses. “This is a great benefit for our Medicare Beneficiaries,” says SAHU Medicare Chair, Kerri Sanford.
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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our membersâ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Californians and Americans through education, advocacy, and professional development. For more information, please visit: sahu-ca.com.