From the Experts: Texas Health Insurance Agents Advocate HSA Plans as Deterrent to Rising Health Care Costs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Beth Parker

The Eisen Agency

Beth@TheEisenAgency.com

859.291.4302

Texas Health Insurance Agents Advocate HSA Plans as Deterrent to Rising Health Care Costs

Texas Association of Health Underwriters call for legislative action and consumer consideration

Dallas, TX — July 28, 2011 — As health care costs continue to rise, the Texas Association of Health Underwriters (TAHU) is calling attention to high-deductible health plans linked to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The professional organization of more than 1,900 independent health insurance agents finds that these plans are more cost-effective, provide better protection against the costs of a major medical problem and encourage consumers to make cost-conscious health care decisions.

“High-deductible insurance plans combined with an HSA should be at the center of our nation's efforts to expand health insurance coverage,” TAHU President Joanna Antongiovanni said. “They are an extremely effective way to both curb rising health costs and ensure that more Americans have access to quality care. Even better, they don't require billions in new federal expenditures.”

TAHU states that with an HSA plan individuals can set aside up to $3,050 per year in pre-tax dollars, or $6,150 for families, to pay for routine medical expenses. Once a consumer reaches his policy's annual deductible, insurance generally covers any additional medical expenses. Funds left in the account at the end of the year remain the individual's property for future use. According to a study by the American Academy of Actuaries, high-deductible plans can save consumers up to 20 percent within the first year and three to five percent the following years.

“Participants have an incentive to avoid paying for unnecessary services because they keep the money they don’t spend,” Antongiovanni said. “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services project that total health spending will increase more than 80 percent through the end of this decade. TAHU will continue recommending HSA plans to consumers and lobbying for their inclusion in future legislation to help offset these costs and increase the number of people who have access to health insurance.”

For more information about TAHU, visit www.tahu.org.

# # #

About the Texas Association of Health Underwriters

A state chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters, TAHU is a professional organization of agents and insurance company representatives aiming “…to inform and protect the consumer by enhancing the professional growth of its members.” Since its founding in 1930, there are now over 200 state and local chapters of the NAHU servicing the insurance needs of millions of Americans. More information can be accessed at www.TAHU.org.

Google's Clever Copy

Check out this ad from Google about Google TV. This is textbook copywriting right here. Love it!
http://www.google.com/tv/

Texas Health Insurance Agents Offer Statement Regarding Insurance Commissioners’ Review of H.R. 1206

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Beth Parker

The Eisen Agency

Beth@TheEisenAgency.com

859.291.4302

Texas Health Insurance Agents Offer Statement Regarding Insurance Commissioners’ Review of H.R. 1206

Texas Association of Health Underwriters to continue to work alongside organization to adjust medical loss ratio requirements

Dallas, TX — July 21, 2011 – The Texas Association of Health Underwriters (TAHU), a professional organization of more than 1,900 health insurance agents, was encouraged by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) review of H.R. 1206 at an executive committee meeting last week. Backed by the organization’s Professional Health Insurance Advisors Task Force, the bipartisan federal bill would remove agent and broker compensation from the medical loss ratio (MLR) calculation. As MLR requirements currently stand, at least 80 percent of insurance premiums are to be spent on medical costs with the remaining 20 percent covering profits, marketing and administration, including agent and broker fees. The executive committee heard a scheduled report regarding the task force’s activities following its endorsement of the legislation but was not scheduled to vote on whether or not the organization would support the bill as a whole.

“In addition to considering federal legislation, the NAIC also publicly committed to working with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on a parallel track to resolve the agent/broker compensation issue through the federal agency’s regulatory authority,” said TAHU President Joanna Antongiovanni. “TAHU appreciates the NAIC’s efforts to encourage a more immediate regulatory solution on this critical, job-saving issue.”

TAHU hopes that the executive committee meeting will continue the conversation regarding medical loss ratio requirements and signify the importance of immediate legislative action.

“The events of the NAIC meeting were not a surprise; there is and will continue to be ongoing discussions,” Antongiovanni said. “The Insurance Commissioners continue to work toward a resolution of this critical issue, as does TAHU, our fellow agent organizations and other coalition partners.”

For more information about TAHU, visit www.tahu.org.

# # #

About the Texas Association of Health Underwriters

A state chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters, TAHU is a professional organization of agents and insurance company representatives aiming “…to inform and protect the consumer by enhancing the professional growth of its members.” Since its founding in 1930, there are now over 200 state and local chapters of the NAHU servicing the insurance needs of millions of Americans. More information can be accessed at www.TAHU.org.

Just Go...

I really enjoyed this article as it brings new meaning to Thomas Edison's famous quote: "Genius is one percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration." In public relations, you have to be a thinker and executioner to succeed. While most of our clients are professional services and not necessarily product-driven, the advice in this article still applies.


http://www.portfolio.com/resources/2011/07/11/lea-strickland-says-successful-innovation-requires-both-thinkers-and-doers?ana=e_pft

Ericka Nicole Malone One of Cincinnati's "Most Interesting People"

This week Cincy Magazine released its June issue, featuring its annual “Most Interesting People” article. Selected from reader nominations, editors of the publication choose 10 people from the Tristate area that have amazing talents, hobbies and stories. Urban theatre playwright, producer and director Ericka Nicole Malone is part of this year’s eclectic group, noted for her representation of women in the industry and the storylines that inspire her work.

The full article is accessible at www.CincyMagazine.com. To learn more about Ericka Nicole Malone and “In Love with Tyrone”, visit www.InLoveWithTyrone.com.

The Truth Will Prevail

There’s a common misconception for those not in the industry that public relations practitioners are in the business of “spin”, of dishing out glittering generalities in the hopes the public will blindly accept whatever comes its way. This could not be further from the truth. In the continuum of attitude change, I would suggest PR reps are most concerned with the first step: awareness. Do people know your company exists? Do they know your specialties? Does management have a face, a personality that they can relate to?

Nevertheless, it would be false to say that perception management is not a part of the job. Hence why every public relations student is familiar with the Tylenol recall in 1982, when the company pulled its product from the shelf after some had been tampered with and laced with cyanide in Chicago. Note that the PR counsel not only went above and beyond public expectations but also relied on sound ethics to design its plan of action.

A journey to the middle of the earth further demonstrates the true essence of public relations. A diamond owes its existence to high pressure and high temperatures. It is only under these circumstances that coal transforms into its refined, radiant form. Similarly, a company under close examination will either captivate and inspire us or lay wasteside, lumpy and full of holes. This sparkling gem is a company’s character, that which remains when all else is burned away.

Because no matter if PR increases acceptance or raises the bottom line, the character of a company will always prevail. People notice when a company addresses their needs rather than doing whatever is necessary to make a sale. People notice when a company is honest at its own expense. People notice when a company not only works hard, not necessarily a virtue, but also works hard to be generous, which is. PR’s success relies on this character.

This truth about truth should relieve those on both sides of the public relations equation. PR reps can relax knowing that a typo in a press release will not entirely diminish a company’s reputation in the public eye. The public can relax knowing the information disseminated about a company is done so with their needs and expectations in mind. As a human representation of perfect moral character in the business of representing underdogs so divinely said in 30 A.D. “…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

P.S. For more on how diamonds and how they are formed, I suggest the following Smithsonian article: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/diamond.html?c=y&page=2

Census Reveals Influence of Hispanic/Latino Audience

According to the full Census results released today, 50 percent of U.S. population in the last 10 years is attributable to Latinos. Companies, particular those in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston and now Georgia and the Carolinas need not forget the importance of bicultural/bilingual marketing and communications, lest they fail in a competitive marketplace. For more details on the importance of the Hispanic market, be sure to set up an interview with my friends at NSHMBA. In the meantime, be sure to check out the article below.

Hispanic PR pros urge companies to dig deeper into Census data

Danielle Drolet

March 31, 2011

NEW YORK: Complete results of the US Census rolled out today, reporting that 50.5 million Hispanics are living in the US, accounting for more than 16% of the country's overall population. The numbers are causing PR practitioners to urge companies not to think of the Hispanic population as an after thought.

“Those that haven't ever woken up to this kind of sleeping giant, I think are not going to be in a position to ignore it any longer,” said Mike Valdes-Fauli, president of The Jeffrey Group, an agency that specializes in connecting clients with the Latin market.

While it's not a surprise to many that the Hispanic population continues to surge, Valdes-Fauli said it's important that the PR and marketing industries, as well as companies themselves, take note of the trends within the data, including speed of growth, sprawl, and its emerging youth. The Census reports that the US Hispanic population saw a 43% increase in growth between 2000 and 2010.

“An enormously disproportionate amount of the growth is Hispanic,” he said. “Almost 50% of the total growth of the US population in the last 10 years were Latinos, which is a pretty amazing statistic if you think about where we'll be in 2020.”

Valdes-Fauli said for years people have talked about the top five Hispanic markets of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Houston. The Jeffrey Group's clients have included American Airlines, Coca-Cola, and Fox Sports en Español.

“Now there's really the top 20 or 25,” he added. “The census revealed states like Georgia, and the Carolinas as growing quickly and having a large percentage of Hispanics. I think the fact that the market is growing incredibly and quickly is one, and two, that it's spreading across the country so that there are virtually no pockets without Hispanics.”

The census data also reported Hispanics as the youngest population in the US. Latinos under the age of 18 grew nearly 40%, the highest percentage compared to whites, blacks, and Asians.

“It's not growing because first generation immigrants are coming over in record numbers, although that contributes to it,” said Valdes-Fauli.  “That's something that most people assume incorrectly that's driving the growth. And it's not the recently arrived immigrants, it's the second and third generation who are acculturated, who are bilingual and sort of walk both cultures, which makes them a lot younger as well, so they are tech savvy and rapid adopters of new trends.”

The Jeffrey Group intends to “dig deeper” into the census data to build upon its studies. Last month, the agency released a study that asked physicians whether or not pharmaceutical companies were communicating well to Hispanic patients. A sports-related study is on the horizon, Valdes-Fauli said.

Meanwhile, Formulatin, the Hispanic practice of Formula, will look to grow greater awareness and understanding of Hispanics, said Michael Olguin, CEO. Formulatin serves clients such as Tecate, ESPN Deportes, and H&R Block.

“For us the biggest thing is to start to make brands recognize that the Hispanic marketplace should not get just a sliver of your marketing dollars,” he said. “They need to be considerate of the presence, and the perception that Hispanics just don't have money is just complete naivety. The motivation for Hispanics is slightly different than general consumers. We believe they are anchored in what we call the passion points, and those passion points are sports, food, family, beauty and music.”

Olguin also believes that the data's relevance is a game changer beyond the consumer market place.

“Not only are brands going to have start being concerned about this incremental marketplace and how they can market to them, but also politics,” he said. “Politicians are going to start thinking how do I resonate with the Hispanic marketplace that's becoming a more prominent player in our space.”