Category: Newsroom

NAHU’s 27th Annual Capitol Conference

Changing the Benefits Landscape, NAHU’s Opportunity Has Arrived

Sacramento, CA – The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) held its 27th Annual Capitol Conference on February 13-15 in Washington, D.C. The theme of the meeting was “Changing the Benefits Landscape, NAHU’s Opportunity Has Arrived.” Nearly 1,000 health insurance professionals from across the country did just that by discussing resolutions for health insurance market stability with congressional leaders. NAHU sees this as an opportunity to continue our advocacy efforts with both Congress and the Administration to focus on marketplace stability. This conference will examine the congressional outlook for health reform moving forward.

Ned Schaut attended this conference, both for the opportunity to learn more about healthcare reform and its impact on healthcare consumers, as well as to communicate the role of the agent and brokers to Congress. He visited with the offices of Doug Lamalfa, Ami Bera and Doris Matsuri from California, Ned has been a NAHU member for 6 years; this was his 4th Capitol Conference. Ned is the President of the Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU), one of over 200 NAHU chapters across the country.

Capitol Conference guest speakers included key congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle charged with stabilizing the market. Other presentations addressed the past and future of bipartisan healthcare policy, navigation of insurance carriers, open enrollment, special enrollment periods, healthcare payment reform, essential health benefits, tax credits and penalties, consumer protections and how businesses need to adapt to the new market and Administration.

“It is vital that we provide our members with the most up to date information regarding healthcare, healthcare reform and what may or may not be implemented by the new administration” said SAHU President Ned Schaut.

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters represents over 100 professional health insurance agents and brokers who provide insurance for thousands of local residents.

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SAHU Raises $500 for River Oak Center for Children

(Sacramento, CA) – The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) proudly raised $500.00 for River Oak Center for Children on February 3, 2017. The funds were raised from the association’s annual Crab Feed held at Citrus Heights Community Center.

“River Oaks has been helping the children of Sacramento for over 50 years and SAHU is proud to contribute to such a great organization that provides for the future leaders of our community.” said SAHU president Ned Schaut.
This is the 17th annual event held by SAHU with proceeds going to benefit River Oak Center for Children which helps children and youth who need support, coaching and treatment to thrive in school, at home and in the community. Through innovative and evidence-based programs, River Oak strengthens children, youth and families to manage life’s challenges and achieve their full potential.

The event was attended by more than 400 members, friends and families along with many local businesses and organizations.

Gold Sponsors: Allstate Benefits

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters represents hundreds of professional health insurance agents and brokers who provide insurance for thousands of local residents and employers.

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SAHU Statement on the American Health Care Act

Sacramento, CA — The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) issued the following statement today on the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which was released Monday night by the House Republican Leadership: “SAHU is delighted the proposed AHCA does not include a plan to tax employer-sponsored health insurance,” states SAHU president Ned Schaut. “With the exclusion of the employer sponsored tax, this will allow employees to continue to receive excellent coverage at an affordable cost.”

“The AHCA does maintain important provisions of the current ACA plan, such as: guaranteed issue coverage, allowing children to stay on their parent’s policies to age 26 and coverage of pre-existing conditions.”

“The proposed plan also strengthens individual’s options with regards to Health Savings Accounts and includes key provisions such as the initiation of the Patient and State Stability Fund, which encourages continuous coverage, allowing tax credits to be used for catastrophic coverage, expanding age rating bands and terminating the Health Insurance Tax.”

“SAHU would prefer that the AHCA repealed the ACA’s ‘Cadillac Tax’ on high-cost health plans, however we are satisfied the tax was delayed until 2025. We are encouraged that by working with our local legislature we can address cost issues and suitable ways to fund important provisions of the new law.”

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters represents over 100 professional health insurance agents and brokers who provide insurance for thousands of Northern California residents. SAHU is headquartered in Sacramento, CA.

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Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters Recognized with Gold Certification

Sacramento, CA (February 3, 2017) — Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters was recently recognized with Gold Certification on 02/03/2017.

Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters was recognized for this award as part of NAHU’s Chapter Certification Program, which is an ongoing program that recognizes excelling chapters throughout the calendar year.

“The leadership of NAHU members has a far-reaching impact on providing for the healthcare needs of individuals, families and business in their communities. We are grateful for Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters hard work with chapter development and recognize them for their efforts with this well-deserved award,” said NAHU CEO Janet Trautwein.

“Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters exemplifies the dedication to providing the best opportunities for our members through their dedication to chapter development,” said Ned Schaut, president of SAHU. “This year, Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters organized a clothing drive in our local community, sent weekly email blasts as part of our communications efforts and hosted a business expo to increase and maintain NAHU memberships. These projects and many others have set a standard of excellence in the health insurance industry that we are proud to represent.”

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The National Association of Health Underwriters represents 100,000 professional health insurance agents and brokers who provide insurance for millions of Americans.

The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

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SAHU Supports Bipartisan Budget Package to Delay ACA Healthcare Taxes

Sacramento, CA — The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) applauds the House of Representatives for passing the Omnibus Appropriations bill that contains provisions that would delay the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s “Cadillac tax” on high-cost health plans and the health insurance tax (HIT) levied on all private health insurance. The budget package will delay the implementation of the Cadillac tax for two years and creates a one-year delay on the HIT.

“This is great news,” says SAHU President, Marcy McCulloch, “if the Senate follows suit and President Obama signs into law, this will be a big win for employers considering all that they have to do currently to comply with ACA mandates. If implemented, the Cadillac tax and HIT will push healthcare costs even higher and hurt middle-class workers.”

“The Cadillac tax needs to be repealed or aggressively re-shaped if it is going to offer any real world solutions,” says Brad Davis, local insurance broker and SAHU board member, “as these taxes do very little to rein in healthcare costs. Hopefully Congress uses the delay to put some serious thought and consideration into how to make this work for Main Street America.”

The delay of the Cadillac/excise tax is effective for 2018 and 2019, meaning that without further legislative adjustment or repeal, the tax will now be scheduled to take effect beginning in January 2020. SAHU supports the delay of the Cadillac/excise tax as a short-term measure, but we remain fully committed to a complete repeal of the tax given its projected widespread impact on employer-provided insurance coverage.

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

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SAHU Supports Repeal of Small-Group Expansion

Sacramento, CA — The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) applauds the House of Representatives and the Senate, as both chambers of Congress has now passed the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1624 on September 28th through voice vote, and on October 1st, the Senate took action to pass S. 1099 through unanimous consent. This is a huge win for states and small groups.

The PACE Act repeals the mandated small-group expansion from groups of up to 50 employees to groups of up to 100 employees that was to go in to effect on January 1, 2016. The Act gives states the flexibility to determine the size of their small-group market instead of being forced into the national standard. SAHU has long been concerned that the combination of the new compliance requirements and the regulations for the new group size would cause dramatic changes to the insurance policies of medium-sized employers, and we have continued to advocate for the enactment of the PACE Act to prevent this type of market disruption.

“It just doesn’t make sense to on the one hand say these are Applicable Large Employers (ALE’s), subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions of the ACA, while on the other hand moving them to small group status.”, says local insurance broker & SAHU member, Cerrina Jensen, “We’ve already seen dramatic upheaval in the existing small group market with eye popping rate increases hitting the market as we speak. Forcing these midsize employers into that fray would further exasperate the problem.”

“Ever since the ACA was passed, California has demonstrated time and again a leadership role of proactive proficiency,” states Marcy McCulloch, President of SAHU, “Our current market structure for Small, Midsize, and Large employers works well and recognizes that there are significant structural differences between a company with 15 employees and one with 85 employees, both of which would be constricted with a very wide brush into one market segment under current law. If President Obama signs this into law, we urge California lawmakers to take action quickly before businesses lose their current health plans and thousands of Californians lose their health coverage”

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

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Julie Thorstensen, Named SAHU Volunteer of the Year

(Sacramento, CA) – Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) has named Julie Thorstensen as one of the Association’s 2014-2015 Volunteer of the Year. Thorstensen is the AVP of Employee Benefits with Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

“Julie has worked tirelessly on SAHU’s Annual Crab Feed Committee,” says Marcy McCulloch, current SAHU President, “Without Julie’s donated time; our annual Crab Feed would not as wonderful as it is every year! I thank her for her continued contributions to SAHU and congratulate her on winning this award.”

“The volunteer of the year award from SAHU was quite the surprise and very humbling as there as so many volunteers who are deserving,” says Thorstensen, “I would like to thank SAHU for this honor, it is a great organization for the agent/broker community and I am proud to be a part of it.”

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

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Diane Christian, CEBS, Named SAHU Volunteer of the Year

(Sacramento, CA) – Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) has named Diane Christian as one of the Association’s 2014-2015 Volunteer of the Year. Christian is a Senior Account Manager with Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

“Diane has worked tirelessly on SAHU’s Annual Crab Feed Committee,” says Marcy McCulloch, current SAHU President, “Without Diane’s donated time; our annual Crab Feed would not as wonderful as it is every year! I thank her for her continued contributions to SAHU and congratulate her on winning this award.”

“It’s an honor to receive the Volunteer of the Year award – SAHU is a great organization and we have the privilege of working with a fantastic team,” says Christian, “I’m proud to be part of it and am thrilled to be recognized when so many others are equally deserving.”

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

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NAHU Named Preferred Provider of the New FFM Broker Training

(Sacramento, CA) – The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) announced last week that it is one of only three vendors selected to provide the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) agent/broker training. NAHU is the only agent/broker association that was awarded this honor. All agents and brokers must complete the FFM registration and training in order to assist consumers with enrollment through the FFM.

Brad Davis, Past-President of SAHU and current Vice President of the state chapter CAHU, explained, “NAHU staff and member agents have been educating employers, associations, assisters, navigators, other agents and the general public since the law was passed in 2010. Much of their experience and knowledge on the subject matter came under the guidance of NAHU and its rigorous PPACA certification program; it’s only fitting, and an asset to all American health care consumers, that NAHU be one of the preferred educational vendors for the FFM.”

Agents and brokers who wish to participate in the FFM training must first complete a two-part registration process. The first part is a FFM agent and broker registration for plan year 2016 through the CMS agent/broker portal. The second step is to select a preferred provider of the FFM training. Following CMS guidelines, the training provides online instruction with webinar modules, a final exam and continuing education credits issued on a state by state basis.

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

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Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters Installs New Board

(Sacramento, CA) — The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is an organization of health insurance agents, brokers and professionals, installed its 2015-2016 board. Marcy McCulloch was installed as Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters president.

McCulloch is a sales representative with Rogers Benefit Group’s in Rocklin, CA. She has been in the industry since 2002 and has been an active member of NAHU for five years. Before becoming President of SAHU, McCulloch served as Awards Chair and Secretary for SAHU. She has been to Washington D.C. multiple times campaigning on behalf of insurance
brokers and the insurance industry. McCulloch is a resident of Granite Bay, CA.

“Local agents and brokers serve as a source of truth about healthcare coverage that links the needs of citizens, business and policymakers to create a healthy, more fiscally responsible American healthcare system,” McCulloch said.

The 2015-2016 Board:
 President – Marcy McCulloch, CHRS, CBC
 Past-President – Cerrina Jensen, CHRS, CBC
 President-Elect – Ned Schaut, RHU, CHRS, CBC
 Secretary – Samantha Siders
 Treasurer – Brad Davis, CEBS
 Legislation – David Brabender
 Media/PR – Jennifer Mason
 Membership (New) – Lauren Bayha
 Membership (Retention) – Lisa Hutcherson
 PAC – Carolyn Lewis, CHRS, MBA
 Communications – Teri Blake
 Professional Development – Alexis DeVorss
 Programs – Sam Rumbaugh
 Community Service – Liz Mack
 Vanguard Council – Lorraine Olivotto
 Awards – Helen Ornellas
 Executive Director – Jeannie Bruins

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

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