SACRAMENTO, CA- May 8-10^th 2023 – Members of SAHU (Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters) attended the annual Capitol Summit held by California Agents & Health Insurance Professionals (CAHIP), reporting back a warning against the implementation of a state-run health care system.  

SAHU strongly opposes – SB 770: a proposed legislation that would create a costly and untested state-run health care system.  SAHU emphasizes that implementing SB 770 would eliminate existing Medicare and Medi-Cal programs, leaving millions of Californians without essential health care coverage.   SAHU warns that SB 770 does not introduce new providers or facilities, potentially leading to longer wait times for procedures, reduced access to specialists, and a loss of doctors to other states. The association urges the Legislature to pursue constructive and viable solutions to enhance access to affordable health care.

SB 770 is the first step towards a single-payer health care system, which not only eliminates Medicare and Medi-Cal but also prohibits private health coverage, including employer-sponsored plans. The projected cost of over $500 billion per year would require significant tax increases on individuals, employers, and small businesses.

CAHIP states in its own talking points of this year’s Summit, that there has been “progress made in expanding access to affordable health coverage in California since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Californians are satisfied with their health care and prefer to build upon this progress, preserving their ability to choose private coverage for their families.” 

To read more about CAHIP’s Capitol Summit talking points, visit their website- https://www.cahu.org/cahip-capitol-summit-talking-points.

SAHU Supports AB 716: Protecting Californians from Costly Surprise Billing for Ambulance Services.  SAHU stands behind AB 716, a vital legislative measure aimed at safeguarding injured Californians from burdensome balance bills and resolving billing disputes for emergency ground ambulance services beyond their control. 

By passing AB 716, Californians will be protected from excessive out-of-pocket expenses and relieved from the complexities of billing disputes between health plans and ground ambulance service providers. This legislation is crucial in addressing the common practice of surprise billing, or “balance billing,” which often leaves injured individuals in the midst of billing disputes for essential services.

ON WATCH– SAHU is also closely monitoring AB 1690, a “spot bill” lacking substance and a funding source for a proposed government monopoly on health care.  SAHU advocates for market stabilization strategies and supports AB 716, which aims to protect Californians from expensive balance billing for emergency services.

Dave Fear Jr., SAHU Legislative chair says this, “Addressing our elected legislators, whether in DC or Sacramento, is such an important part of our governmental system. Being able to meet face to face and let them know who we are, what we do and how we work to make things better is a fundamental part of citizenship in this country!”  SAHU maintains a steadfast commitment to actively engage and participate in relevant legislative proceedings and keeping the public informed with accurate information. 

If you are interested in learning more about current health insurance industry news and legislative updates, please visit our website, https://sahu-ca.com.

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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our members’ 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. 

Sacramento, CA – On March 31st, 2023, the Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) hosted its Annual Crab Feed, a highly anticipated event that drew in a crowd of 380 attendees, all gathered to enjoy 1,000 lbs. of crab, 120 lbs. of shrimp, and a variety of delectable desserts.

SAHU’s Annual Crab Feed was a tremendous success, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the organizers and the generous support of the attendees. The event was held to support a worthy cause, the American Cancer Society, and the attendees’ contributions raised an astounding $20,000 to aid in cancer research and support services.

The evening was filled with exciting activities, including a silent auction, where 68 auction items were sold, and 10 items were generously donated. The event’s attendees also had a sweet tooth, as 23 desserts were donated and sold at the event.

“{insert quote},” said [Name], President of SAHU. “We are incredibly grateful for the support and contributions from our attendees, which enabled us to raise $20,000 for the American Cancer Society. It’s truly heartwarming to see how our community comes together to support a worthy cause, and we can’t thank our attendees enough.”

SAHU’s Annual Crab Feed is a significant event for the community, bringing together members of the Sacramento community to support a worthy cause while enjoying a delicious meal and engaging in fun activities. SAHU is committed to continuing its efforts to support the community and make a positive impact.

For more information on SAHU and its efforts, please visit their website at sahu-ca.com.

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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our members’ 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 15^th, 2022

Overturning Roe v. Wade could have certain implications for fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization (IVF). It could lead to decreased access to affordable treatments, with restrictions on reproductive rights varying state by state. Additionally, states may ban specific critical medical interventions for successful IVF cycles, such as embryo freezing or genetic testing. These measures would effectively limit patients’ options for managing their fertility care and accessing the treatment they need. Furthermore, it could mean that insurance plans could refuse to cover fertility treatments or provide inadequate coverage levels due to a lack of regulation at a federal level.

Experts have warned that the broad language in specific state-level abortion bans could potentially infringe upon access to assisted reproductive technology such as IVF, despite Roe v. Wade not necessarily prohibiting access on its own.

In some states, the language of their laws is unintentionally impeding access to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) due to its failure to capture and represent biological reality or address topics beyond abortion.

Additionally, overturning Roe v. Wade could decrease available fertility clinics and providers, as laws regulating the practice of reproductive health care would be made at the state level rather than federally. This would limit patient access to specialized care and have potentially devastating implications for those seeking fertility treatments. Furthermore, states may also attempt to regulate the content and type of information provided to patients regarding their fertility options, which could further limit the effectiveness of reproductive health services.

If Roe is overturned, some states’ laws that grant fetuses, embryos, and fertilized eggs rights similar to those of children could change the landscape of IVF. These “personhood” bills could make disposing or freezing excess embryos legally questionable.

Ultimately, overturning Roe v. Wade could create a patchwork of state laws and regulations that would disproportionately impact people who rely on reproductive health services and fertility treatments. Such an outcome would be detrimental to those seeking to build families and access the necessary care. It is, therefore, critical to ensure that Roe v. Wade remains intact so that people can continue to make decisions about their reproductive health with dignity and autonomy.

Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters is watching to see how insurance carriers adapt to this legislation and how it will affect costs and benefits.

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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our members’ 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.

SACRAMENTO, CA 23 February 2022 — Single-payer advocates in the California legislature simply did not have the votes required to pass AB 1400 out of the state Assembly last week, resulting in a major victory for health insurance professionals across the Golden State. AB 1400 would have eliminated private health coverage in California and replaced it with a single-payer, state-run healthcare system.

CAHIP, SAHU, and the majority of California’s NAHU chapters participated in supporting efforts to oppose this bill. “This is why I am a member of SAHU, it keeps me in the know on important legislation that affects our insurance industry,” says SAHU President-Elect, Rosamaria Marrujo.

If you’d like to know more about the bill, its contents, and why insurance industry professionals opposed it, read the information provided by NAHU at the link below.

http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/nahus/issues/2022-02-09/1.html

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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our members’ 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.

Last week, the White House announced covidtests.gov, a site with the purpose of supplying free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests to every U.S. household. The new site is now live and ready to take orders, as well as provide additional resources and information for those in need of testing.

The key takeaway is every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. For convenience, if you are interested in ordering immediately, you can use the link below to go directly to the order form and skip all the extra information.

COVIDTests.gov USPS Order Form

Additionally, on the site, you’ll find information on other locations you can purchase additional at-home tests, how you can be reimbursed by your insurance for up to 8 at-home tests per month, and 20,000+ Community-Based Testing Sites that will provide free testing.

Lastly, you can find answers to many of the frequently asked questions regarding testing and preparedness. Including What comes with the tests, when is recommended to use them, what to do if you get a positive or negative test, and much more. There will also be a phone number provided at a later date, so those without access to computers or high-speed internet can place orders.

We here at Sacramento Association of Health Underwriter, as industry-leading professionals, consider the health of our communities to be of utmost importance. We are strongly encouraging everyone to place the order for their household, that they may have the tests when needed. Should any individual find they are having trouble navigating or accessing the COVIDTests.gov website, they can feel free to contact SAHU directly at any time, and we will connect you with a local professional that can provide one-on-one help.

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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our members’ 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.