WWW dahu org May DAHU Mission Statement Our mission

WWW.dahu.org May 2007 DAHU Mission Statement Our mission is to elevate the professional skill of our members through continuing education, legislative advocacy and mentoring. We believe that this will result in the continuation of the private payor insurance industry system and consumer choice. Table of Contents President’s Note NAIFA Golf Tournament NAHU Annual Convention 3 Myths of Single Payor TAHU Grip Form Healthy Benefits What “WE” Are About President’s Note (Cont’d) DAHU Membership Recruiters Education Street Corner 2 3 4 5 7 8 10 12 14 15 May 16th, 2007 11:30—2:00 pm Prestonwood Country Club “3 Myths of Single Payer Health Care” Course #48076CG010 1 Hour CE Presented by: Reid Rasmussen of BenefitMall Dallas Health Underwriters Upcoming Events June 20, 2007 Prestonwood Country Club DAHU Luncheon Dianne Longley Special Projects Director Texas Department Of Insurance “Insuring the Uninsured” 1 Hour CE #47751CG010 July 18, 2007 Prestonwood Country Club DAHU Luncheon Michael Rivera TAHU Past President Michelle Wittenburg Texans for Lawsuit Abuse An Update on Tort Reform & Civil Justice in Texas 1 Hour CE Pending Editorial Policy of DAHU News The statements and opinions appearing in the articles of this publication are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of DAHU. The editorial staff aims to present material that is useful and thought provoking, but the staff has no authority to speak for the officers or the Board of Trustees of DAHU. Readers are invited to comment on opinions of the contributing authors. The DAHU News reserves the right to edit all submitted material. Articles and pictures will be used as space permits. You are requested to forward your comments and articles to: June 20, 2007 4 Hour CE Event Following Lunch Course #47111CG040 Joanna Antongiovanni BenefitPort SW Group Insurance 101: An Introduction to Employee Benefits 1:00—5:00 pm RoseMary Deininger—President 972 759-3704 D A H U N e w s l e t t e r M a y 20 0 7 Page 2 The President’s Note By RoseMary Deininger What a difference a day makes! Upside Down That’s Life Do any of these phrases ring a bell? They are titles of songs that have been ringing in my head this past month reminding me that what is true today is not necessarily true tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if it is personal or professional; we need to be on our toes, in the know and duly prepared for what life throws our way. One day you’re complaining about the weather and the next day you’re upside down wondering how life will get back to “normal”. My Mother used to say “life is what happens when you are busy making plans.” If you have not already then you most definitely should plan to attend a presentation of The 3 Myths of Single Payer HealthCare as presented at the DAHU May luncheon. Why? Because A Single-Payer System Might Be Closer Than You Think! If you don’t understand how it can turn your life upside down and what that upside down life will look like, below are some facts from NAHU about what a difference the Single-Payer System can make. It is our responsibility to protect the healthcare system we feel is best for all. A Single-Payer System will not provide access wanted or needed and will only be less expensive because access and services will be drastically limited. Know the facts and share them with your clients and friends for their sake and for yours. There are several DAHU, TAHU, NAHU folks available to give this presentation at clubs, organizations, associations and employer groups. I’ll be glad to give you several contacts, just give me a call or send me an email. Single-Payer System • During the past year, an unprecedented number of universal coverage initiatives were debated in the states and also in the city councils of several major municipalities, and many actually passed. Most were universal access initiatives, not true single-payer plans (where the government would be the only provider of health benefits). However, many were unfavorable to the private market and could represent a backdoor approach to implementing a single-payer system. • The actions of the state and local legislative bodies reflect public opinion surveys which show that while the American public is happy with the care they are personally getting, they are also unhappy about healthcare cost increases and just plain frustrated with the whole process. • Health insurance producers need to be able to explain to a client why a single-payer system would NOT be the miracle cure to all of our health care problems. • To be able to do this, you need to learn the truth behind… (Continued on Page 12) Page 3 D A H U N e w s l e t t er M a y 2 0 0 7 NAIFA GOLF TOURNAMENT DAHU had some generous sponsors that gave monetary contributions to help with the giveaways and silent auction. We would June thank Q-Temps, Tony’s Wine Warehouse and like to 7, 2007 As a member of the Board of Directors for NAIFA-Dallas, I work on the committee organizing and running our annual golf tournament. This year's tournament will be held on June 7th at the Castle Hills Golf Club in Lewisville. Proceeds from the tournament are contributed to NAIFA and more importantly, they are used to support a named beneficiary. This year we hope to make a significant contribution to The House of Isaiah which is a non-profit, residential drug and alcohol recovery center. The center was founded by Isaiah Robertson, a former "All-Pro" linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. This year's event will be a little different from past tournaments in that Isaiah and many other celebrity athletes will be participating as players and supporting the event. Your help is needed in staffing the tournament. I need volunteers to help at the registration tables, with administering contests at various holes throughout the course and miscellaneous other functions. The tournament begins at 1:00 and concludes that evening with a dinner and auction. I'm a believer of the old adage that "many hands make light work." So I'm looking for people to only work a 3 hour shift throughout the day. There will also be ONE organizational meeting sometime prior to the tournament. So, your commitment is minimal, but will be very much appreciated. Drinks and lunch will be provided to volunteers and you are encouraged to participate in the auction and register for dinner. Of course, if you prefer to play or sponsor the tournament, you can certainly do so, but if you would like to contribute in some other way, I can certainly use your help. You can contact me (Tom DuRoss) at (214) 346 0985 or by email at: tom_duross@glic.com. National Association of Health Underwriters has recently awarded the Dallas Association of Health Underwriters the Silver Seal Certificate, certifying we meet the standards of excellence as a chapter. D A H U N e w s l e t t e r M a y 20 0 7 Page 4 NAHU Annual Convention ~ June 24 -27, 2007 in Denver, CO As we near the end of this year’s activities, we hope that you can join NAHU in Denver, CO. This year it set to keep us Texans a wee bit cooler and guaranteed to provide fun, excitement coupled with high level educational tools and information. To register go to http://www.nahu.org/meetings/annual/2007/index.cfm. Hope to see you in Denver as we round out our fiscal 2006-2007 events. Key Note Speakers James Lloyd, Focusing on customer service, he will share his top ten most effective service techniques. Steve Young, one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of the last two decades. He is best known for his Super Bowl performances, winning three titles for the San Francisco 49ers. When Young retired after the 1999 season, his resume included being the highest-rated QB in NFL history, and two league MVP Awards. Education Workshops Transparency: Openness, Communication and Accountability The Evolution of Consumer-Driven Benefits Tomorrow’s Conversation Today Leverage Wellness and Develop New Clients/Retain Your Existing Book of Business A Look at State Health Reform Initiatives for 2007 Legal & Regulatory “Hot Button” Issues for HSAs and Health Benefit Cards Long-Term Care Partnership Programs: Understanding Needs, Solutions and Ethical Concerns Keeping Your Business on a Straight Path to Profitability Passing the Spark/Motivating Others Milwaukee, a Consumerism Success Story Worksite Marketing 2007 The Future of Health Care – Panel Discussion Gordon Memorial Award Dinner Always a highlight of the Annual Convention, the Gordon Memorial Award Dinner will be held on Tuesday, June 26th. Seating is limited for this prestigious event. New! CDHC Certification Course Consumer directed health care options, including those for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) have opened a wealth of opportunities for consumers. To address the new market options, the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) has created a new CDHC certification course. The four hour course will be presented at the NAHU annual convention in Denver. Certification will be provided following completion of the course and an online examination with a passing grade. Continuing Education has been applied for in all 50 states and will be contingent on attendance during the course and passage of the exam. The cost of the course will be $125 for NAHU members and $175 for non-members and will be in addition to other convention fees. Sponsors Gold – American Express Diamond – Guardian Silver - Great West Healthcare & BenefitMall Bronze – AmeriFlex, AlwaysCare, MWG Marketing, National Cooperative Rx, TRPN – Three Rivers Provider Network and Unicare LPR – Safeguard Dental Presented by: Tamela Southan, Legislative Chair 2006-2007 Page 5 D A H U N e w s l e t t er M a y 2 0 0 7 The Dallas Association of Health Underwriters Presents The Three Myths of a Single-Payer Healthcare Delivery System A One-Hour CE Approved Course Learn the Realities Behind the Three Greatest Myths of a Single-Payer System Everyone Has Access… But that doesn’t mean everyone is able to access all the care that they want or even believe they need. The Health Outcomes Are Better… If you compare select invalid indicators. It Costs Less… And benefits are less, taxes are higher and productivity is reduced. Take this course so that you can educate your legislators, your clients and friends May 16, 2007 11:30-1:00 P.M. Prestonwood County Club 15909 Preston Road Dallas, TX 75248 D A H U N e w s l e t t e r M a y 20 0 7 Page 6 DAHU Raffle 1st Place Winner—Texas Driving Experience with 5 lap ride around Texas Motor Speedway in a Z06 Chevy Corvette by pro driver and 1 10 lap drive around the track in a Chevy Corvette Z06. Save the Date! Mark your calendars now for the 2007 DAHU Charity Golf Tournament. It is Thursday, September 6th at The Tribute Golf Club. In the months to come, we will be announcing details about how you can participate and asking for your sponsorship. Please call John Mosier at 972-385-3710 ext. 116 if you would like more information. Reid Rasmussen 2nd Place Winner$100.00 3rd Place Winner $50.00 Tickets are $5.00! Only 500 tickets will be sold! Since 2004, Reid has been in Dallas as the Manager of Carrier Relations for BenefitMall – the country’s largest General Agency. He plans, coordinates and maintains relationships with more than 50 insurance companies around the country. Reid was born and raised in the Canadian Rockies, and received a degree in Health Administration from the University of Victoria. After short stints working for the Canadian government and a British Columbia hospital, he moved to Washington State. Since 1991, he has worked in sales and management for two insurance companies and two General Agencies. Reid worked for years in the Health Underwriters Association, and in 2003 served as President of the Northwest Washington Chapter - the highlight being winning the Large Chapter national GAIN Contest for recruiting and retaining members. He is asked to travel around the country to discuss trends and the future of the healthcare industry, and is the 2006 recipient of NAHU’s “William G. Wetzel Excellence in Public Speaking Award.” Reid and his wife live in Dallas – which they enjoy as a launching pad for their travels. Although he calls the United States home, he still likes maple syrup, Canadian bacon, curling, colored money, beavers, moose, Canadian geese, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Bob & Doug McKenzie, and skiing in the North Rockies! Page 7 D A H U N e w s l e t t er M a y 2 0 0 7 TAHU GRIP “Grass Roots Initiative Program” Political Action Committee TAHUPAC With TAHUPAC’s ability to contribute to state legislators’ political campaigns, TAHU’s voice will be heard. Legislators who support the preservation of the free market economy in the health care industry and maintenance of the role of the client advocate(the agent) in that system, will know that TAHU is there to assist them. GOLD $150 ($12.50/mo.) PLATINUM $ $300($25/mo.) RUBY $600 ($50/mo.) DIAMOND $1,200 ($100/mo.) Other ________________ Note: Federal regulations prohibit corporate contributions to TAHUPAC. Individual contributions only! Name__________________________________ Employer ______________________________ Address________________________________ Telephone (_____)_______________________ Fax ( )_______________________ Local Chapter ______________________________ Occupation________________________________ City ________________________Zip___________ Email_____________________________________ Check the appropriate box(s) that apply ( ) I have enclosed a check payable to TAHU for the selected level. ~Credit Card Option~ We request that you reserve the monthly charge option for contributions of $150 ($12.50 per month) or more. ( ) Please charge my contribution Monthly in the amount of $________ to my credit card as follows: ( ) Please charge my contribution Quarterly in the amount of $________ to my credit card as follows: ( ) Please charge my contribution Annually in the amount of $________ to my credit card as follows: ( ) MasterCard ( ) Visa ( ) Discover ( ) American Express Card Number_________________________________ Exp. Date___________ Sec Code _________ Cardholder Name____________________________________________________________________ Cardholder Billing Address____________________________________________________________ Cardholder Signature_________________________________________________________________ This authorization is to remain in force until TAHU has received written notification from me of its termination. I authorize TAHU to charge my credit card as shown above. I understand that the statement will read “Texas Association of Health Underwriters” ~Bank Draft Option~ I authorize the Texas Association of Health Underwriters to initiate debit entries in the amount of _____________ per month, charging my checking account as described on the attached voided check. This authorization is to remain in force until TAHU has received written notification from me of its termination in such time and manner as to afford TAHU and my depository reasonable opportunity to act upon it. Signature__________________________________________ SS#_______________________ Please attach a voided check. I understand that contributions to TAHUPAC are NOT tax deductible. Mail to: TAHU, P. O. Box 381506, Duncanville, Texas 75138-1506 D A H U N e w s l e t t e r M a y 20 0 7 Page 8 Healthy Benefits By: Kathy Powell Reasons for Wellness Plans The Wellness Council of America studies indicate more than 81% of American businesses with 50 or more employees have some form of health promotion program. Many of the plans simply offer smoking cessation, weight management and nutrition, stress management, etc. Below are a few reasons why worksite wellness is becoming a common benefit for corporations. For many companies, medical costs can consume half of corporate profits. Some employers have tried many methods to change the situation; however, most of the methods have merely shifted costs in many cases. While the United States spends more dollars on health care than other industrialized nations, our citizens are not the healthiest. According to Partnership for Prevention: Over 95% of our nation’s health expenditures, including most of the billions of dollars employers spend on health coverage, is committed to diagnosing and treating disease only after it manifests. Researchers now estimate preventable illness makes up approximately 70% of the burden of illness and costs. Employers have a vested interest in health related issues because they are the primary purchasers of health care through insurance premiums. Yet, with all the money spent, poor health habits take an enormous toll on American business. The Center of Disease Control estimates: • • • • • It costs an average $1,300 for an employee who spokes per year. Workplace alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use costs US companies over $100 billion yearly. Up to 40% of industrial fatalities can be lined to alcohol consumption and alcoholism. Job stress is estimated to cost American industry $200-$300 billion annually. The National Safety Council estimates than 1 million employees are absent on an average workday because of stress related problems. New studies are also taking into consideration “employee disengagement” with additional staggering numbers. DAHU is planning an upcoming event around wellness initiatives. If you have any specific topics, areas of interest, or success stories please contact me. Kathy Powell is the current Newsletter Editor for the DAHU newsletter and has been in the Employee Benefits Industry for 25 years. She is a Sales Account Executive for Block Vision of Texas and certified by The Cooper Clinic as a Health Coach. For comments, requests regarding wellness information please contact Kathy Powell at (214) 415-3637 or kpowell@blockvision.com. Page 9 D A H U N e w s l e t t er M a y 2 0 0 7 DAHU Welcomes New Members Brad McEowen Rogers Benefit Group Monica Bradley Principal Financial Tim Glebus Wellcare Health Plans Drew Brantley UNUM Roberto Enriquez Health Matters Erica Foster Foster Benefit Resources D A H U N e ws l e t t e r M a y 20 0 7 Page 10 What “WE” are about? NAHU in Action ~ First Quarter of 2007 In Washington, DC and across the United States …………….. NAHU staff made quite a few visits to Capitol Hill and government agencies in the first quarter of 2007 lobbying and representing NAHU: » White House Briefing in January 2007 on the State of the Union Address » Seventy-eight visits to Capitol Hill and federal agencies on NAHU health issues » Forty-five fundraisers on behalf of HUPAC » Six briefings from inside-the-beltway groups such as the American Enterprise Institute, the American Center for Progress, the Heritage Foundation, the Urban Institute, Health Affairs, and the RX Coalition on subjects such as genetic discrimination, S-CHIP, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage plans and Mental Health Parity. NAHU staff, state chapters, and state lobbyists also made numerous visits and calls to state legislators and regulators and reinforced our presence nationwide. Capitol Conference NAHU members from across the country came together this year to storm Capitol Hill. Ranked as one of our best conferences ever: » We had 657 registrants plus 20 guests -- record attendance! » Ninety-six percent of survey respondents rated their return on investment as excellent or good. Papers, Policy Documents and Charts NAHU staff and committees produced the following documents used for federal and state legislative and regulatory activities: » White paper discussing the pros and cons of an individual mandate for the purchase of health insurance » Recommendations for changes to the State Children's Health Insurance Program to allow S-CHIP dollars to supplement the cost of coverage for eligible children whose parents are enrolled in employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. Associated with this document, we produced a rate comparison chart that illustrates the cost of employer sponsored coverage vs. the cost of S-CHIP coverage in various parts of the country. » Analysis of presidential candidates' health proposals » Health Insurance 101 PowerPoint for use in educating legislators, regulators and others about the private sector » Hot Issues analysis of Connector bills at the state level and Long-Term Care Partnerships Long-Term Care Partnerships. » "The Myths of Single Payer" PowerPoint presentation developed by the Legislative Council and promoted at Capitol Conference. This has now been presented at chapter meetings, to legislators and regulators at every level, and in many other church and civic groups across the country. Congressional Testimony NAHU staff attends federal hearings on many different issues on a weekly basis. During the past quarter, staff has attended more than a dozen hearings. NAHU comments on some of those hearings and during the past quarter we have submitted: » Written testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House Education and Labor Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on our recommendations relative to reauthorization of S-CHIP. » Written and oral testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Genetic Discrimination in Health Insurance Underwriting » Written testimony to the Senate Finance Committee on our recommendations regarding the report of the Citizens Health Care Working Group NAHU staff and state chapters have also produced testimony for state legislative hearings across the country. NAHU real world experience makes us a go-to source for legislators and regulators at every level. (Continued on next page) Page 11 D A H U N e w s l e t t er M a y 2 0 0 7 (Continued from previous page) Grassroots Efforts One of our greatest assets is our voice on important issues of the day. We frequently use Operation Shout at the federal and state level to make our voice heard. During the past quarter: » Operation Shout alerts went to many state legislators in Connecticut, Virginia, Georgia, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Oklahoma, Indiana, Texas, Illinois, Missouri and Minnesota, and were generated at the federal level on several pressing issues. » In total, NAHU members sent 2,359 messages to state legislators, 1095 messages to federal legislators and 91 messages to media outlets through Operation Shout. Educational Offerings In addition to our ongoing education programs, NAHU held the following Web Seminars during the quarter: » "Strategies for Reducing Insurance Costs through A Healthier Workforce" (January) » "Transparency: Openness, Communication and Accountability" (February) » "Increasing Your Income and Making LPRT's Golden Eagle Status Using DI" (February) » "Worksite Marketing in 2007 -- Should I Be Selling Worksite Products? If So, How Do I Get Started?" (March) Industry and Other External Meetings NAHU staff attended the following meetings on behalf of NAHU during the first quarter: » National Conference of Insurance Legislators (Savannah, GA, March) » National Association of Insurance Commissioners (New York, March) » Industry Meeting with American Medical Association (Chicago, February) » Benefits Marketing Conference (New Orleans, February) » Benefits Selling Expo (Dallas, March) » LTCi Intercompany Conference (Dallas, March) » ASAE Technology Conference (Washington, DC, February) » AFLAC (Columbus, GA, February) » Meeting with AHIP and AHIA to Discuss Joint Activities (Washington, DC, February) » Industrial College of the Armed Forces – Annual Speech on the Health Insurance Industry and Current Legislative Issues (Washington, DC, March) » IHC Leaders Conference (Phoenix, March) » Plus 13 other meetings in Washington, DC, with coalitions of industry and others on various health issues If you believe the work NAHU does is important, take a moment to think of who you know that would benefit from NAHU membership, and pass this information on to them or renew for 2007-2008 online at www.nahu.org. This is what “WE” are about and hope you will join us. From NAHU’s 1st Qtr Rpt 4/26/07 Presented by: Tamela Southan, Legislative Chair 2006-2007 D A H U N e w s l e t t e r M a y 20 0 7 Page 12 The Three Myths of a Single-Payer Health Care Delivery System (Continued from Page 2) Myth #1: Everyone Has Access—Single-payer advocates will tell you that one of the great things about this type of delivery system is that everyone has access to care all of the time-“the health care that’s always there.” What they don’t tell you is… • In a Single-Payer system, everyone has an EQUAL access to insurance coverage. But it doesn’t mean that everyone is able to access all the care that they want or even believe they need. It is often said in America that “there is a health care access crisis.” This is not true. Everyone in America has full access to all the healthcare services they want. The only question is who will pay for it – the government, an insurance carrier, or the individual themselves. In some socialized medicine countries, like Canada, people are not even free to have private insurance or private funds pay for medical care. In some other countries, they don’t even have the level of specialist care that we have here. These are true access problems. • Single-payer systems are giant HMOs without competitive options for people to switch to when they are dissatisfied with their care or outcomes. When a single-payer participant has a problem with their care, they have no options for recourse. There is no appeals process or the opportunity to initiate legal action against the single-payer. You cannot sue your provider for malpractice. In some countries, you don’t even have the right to a second opinion, or a right to see what’s written in your medical record. • Since users of the system don’t pay for care directly, the only way to control costs is to limit utilization & access to medical technology. A single-payer system’s economic success is dependent on rationing the access to services. In virtually every country with a single-payer system, the governments are not able to keep up with the demand and costs of services, so the only other option is to limit access to services, as well as access to the most sophisticated and expensive types of medical treatment and services. Myth #2: They Have Better Outcomes—Single-payer advocates will also tell you that these systems produce better outcomes such as lower infant mortality and greater life expectancy. What they don’t tell you is… • While life expectancy might be a good indicator of the health care system when comparing America to a third-world country, it isn’t necessarily valid when comparing two modernized countries. • Instead it’s mostly an issue of lifestyle. Socially, Americans just eat a little more and move a little less than many people in other countries. 60% of Americans are overweight and 30% obese, which is higher than any other country with a socialized medical care system. • Life expectancy data is available going back to1960. At that time Americans had equal life expectancy as Europeans, but Canadians have always lived two years longer than us, both then and now. Since Canada implemented their nationalized healthcare until 1967, and the life expectancy variance between our two countries has remained consistent since 1960, clearly the Canadian nationalized health care system has not been the reason. • The use of infant mortality isn’t a good indicator of health system quality either, as it is largely a socioeconomic issue. The worst infant mortality occurs amongst the poorest mothers. With that in mind, recognize that Canada and Europe, the governments tax the wealthy and middle class more, and give more money to the poorest citizens. • Another factor that makes the use of infant mortality data questionable is that America, Canada & a few of the Nordic European countries count births differently from the rest of the world. We consider and include some very difficult births (where the baby later passes away) that most other countries don’t even count. It doesn’t reason away all of the difference, but it certainly impacts the validity of infant mortality rate comparisons. • So the next time you hear about another country having better health care outcomes, take a step back and consider whether they have chosen an appropriate set of indicators to compare. (Continued on Page 13) Page 13 DAHU Newsletter May 2007 (Continued from Page 12) Myth #3: It Costs Less—Finally, single-payer advocates claim their system of providing care actually costs much less than the American private-market health insurance system. In reality… • American health insurance is expensive because medical treatment is increasingly more expensive. Under every health system in the world, costs are high and rising due to medical inflation. Inflation in healthcare costs plays out differently depending on the delivery system. In America, this shows up as increased costs and a reduction of the percentage of those services being included in insurance plans. But in other countries inflation often shows up as a longer waiting list. Significant savings in single-payer systems come from limiting the supply of medical services to curb demand (rationing of treatment and technology). • It costs less because you get less. Most Americans think others get more, but really there isn’t a single country in the world that covers what we do under the name of “insurance.” For example, in Canada, mental health and prescription drugs individuals take outside of a hospital are NOT COVERED! • Single-Payer proponents always quote this statistic: “America spends 15.3% of its GDP on healthcare – more than any other country in the world!” That is very true, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. America spends more on healthcare than any other country because we are the WEALTHIEST country in the world, and BECAUSE WE CAN! For example, Canadians aren’t even allowed to pay for services that are paid for under the government system – it’s illegal! • Residents in countries with single-payer systems pay significantly higher taxes. Canada implemented their nationalized healthcare system in 1967. Prior to that, Canada’s and America’s taxes were very similar. Almost immediately, Canada’s taxes rose drastically, & for 35 years they have paid significantly more of their gross income in taxes. Canadians are currently paying 40 percent more taxes than Americans, and Europeans are paying 60 percent more than we are! • There is also a marked difference between our productivity rate and that of both Canada and Europe. Decreased productivity can be attributed (at least in part) to missed days and unproductive days at work due to delayed medical treatment. It is also a reality of taking away the incentive to succeed. Americans Value Freedom Too Much Single-payer systems work in other countries because the people have more willingness to follow what their governments and bureaucracies tells them. Americans value the freedom to choose too much to flourish under a system with no options in it. Most people who are agreeing that we should go to a Single Payer system are under a false set of beliefs of what that will be like. They will be surprised by the realities of these three myths. But most truly believe that they will have more access to providers, tests, prescriptions, surgeries, advancements and other care. They believe they will be in a better position to direct their care. This is probably the biggest misconception. What Can Health Insurance Producers Do? • Educate about single-payer realities. • Educate about how other, incremental reform proposals could lead to a single-payer approach. • Learn and promote consumerism. Don’t forget to contribute to PAC—Political Action Campaign!! Remember our Mission Statement from Page 1!! D A H U N e w s l e t t e r M a y 20 0 7 Page 14 Congratulations and Thank You DAHU Membership Recruiters 60 New Members recorded by NAHU from 4/1/06 thru 3/31/07 Ms. Mary Lou Hudman Marcia Snell Ms. RoseMary Deininger, HIA,RHU Ms. Donna S. McCright, CBC,LTCP Ms. Jacqueline St. Hilaire, GBA Mr. Frank McCaffrey Mrs. Linda G. Taylor, RHU Ms. Tamela L. Southan Mr. Larry P. French Mr. Dan Mulkey, CLU,ChFC,REBC,RHU Mr. David R. Weber, CSA Mr. David W. Clampitt Ms. Valerie Toups Ms. Kathy Powell Calvin R Sulak Mr. Jack D Reaves, CLU Ms. C. Louanne Trebing, RHU Mr. Robert A Kucera, RHU,CLU Ms. Margaret Isom Mr. John Mosier Robbie L. McCullough, CEBS Mr. David M. Cheek Ms. Lorinda A. Lattimore Ms. Kathryn A. Phillips, CEBS,CLU,FLMI Ms. Wanda Starks Ms. Tracy Downs Mrs. Lisa Renee Gajdica TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TXDALLAS TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX TX 10 6 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 DAHU's Salsa Dance Class Review DAHU held it's first ever Salsa Dance Class on March 16, 2007. We were very pleased to have 15 people participating in the class. The class was held at Jacqueline St. Hilaire's house- which was an absolutely perfect location. She had food, drinks, and a living room that was just perfect for the group to dance in. Thanks Jacqueline for being gracious enough to let us hold the event at your house! The lessons started at about 7:30 with basic salsa steps. More difficult steps were learned as the evening progressed. It was wonderful how quickly everyone was able to pick up on the dance steps. By the end of the night we had everyone dancing salsa to some fun hip Latin music. Many attendees were asking for a place to practice, so we will be setting something up soon so that everyone can practice their new moves! The dance class was such a success that we may be holding another in the future. Keep your eye out for another DAHU event like this one! Page 15 D A H U N e w s l e t t er M a y 2 0 0 7 Education Street Corner Donna McCright Thanks to all of you for coming to our April luncheon and the panel discussion. Each of our panelists mentioned how much they appreciated the number of attendees. In all 144 people heard what they had to say which was informative and thought-provoking. Since we were unable to get to the questions asked, which were very perceptive, we wanted to let you know we are planning to do a sequel to the panel in the early fall with your questions as the starting point. Just in case you are wondering about our 4 hour CE after the June luncheon – here is a preview. This course gets right down to the basics of insurance. If you know of anyone new in our business or a newly hired sales assistant this course could really enhance their knowledge. “Group Insurance 101: An Introduction to Employee Benefits” Course #47111CG040 4 Hours of Continuing Education Speaker: Joanna Antongiovanni The objective of this course is to educate newly licensed Group 1 agents about the employee benefits market. Once an agent is licensed to sell employee benefits there is no formal training as to what, who, how and when to get started selling Group Insurance. This course is designed to give the attendee the basic information needed to start selling employee benefit products. There are many aspects that a newly licensed agent must be aware of before selling and this course intends to discuss the basics of some of them. For example, I have my license…now what?; What is Underwriting?; What Legislation is important to this industry?; What products are there to sell? & What should I expect in the field? Attendees will have a firm understanding of the “WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE & WHY of Group Insurance. Page 16 DAHU Newsletter May 2007 Board of Directors for 2006-2007 Dallas Association of Health Underwriters Executive Committee RoseMary Deininger Jacqueline St. Hilaire David Weber Valerie Toups Mary Lou Hudman Board of Directors Donna McCright Marcia Snell Linda Taylor Kathy Powell Larry French John Mosier David Clampitt Tamela Southan Frank McCaffrey Education Membership Growth Awards Newsletter Media Relations Public Service Sponsorship Federal Leg State Leg 972 469 469 972 214 972 972 214 972 241-0044 443-3413 791-3365 991-8816 354-7486 385-3710 410-3700 596-6906 643-1741 President President Elect Treasurer Secretary Past President 972 973 972 972 972 759-3704 364-5062 991-8814 866-0100 387-9601