Just A Few Thoughts from Newsletter #4

Well we have survived the first series of requirements for Obama Care that went into effect 10/1/10. These beginnings are minor compared to what is coming in 2014. At this time, I would concentrate on what we know, because even the architects of the healthcare take over do not know what is in their bill. which has left much of it open to the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service to figure out as we go. Not to mention there is an election in a few days.

Fascinating event a couple of weeks ago, Secretary Kathleen Sebellus chastised the insurance carriers for telling people that the current increases were due to Obama Care, the Affordable Care Act. Even though the carriers are now required to cover more services and underwrite less. Not to worry, Her leader President Obama, stated last week during a town hall meeting that "We didn't think that we were going to cover 30 million people for free". Does anyone ever recall statements of partial reality being said during the alleged debate?

Enough commenting on the theater of the absurd.

You are going to be receiving lots of notices from the government and the carriers regarding the changes. The good, bad and the ugly, but it makes no difference as these are what we need to deal with. Some of these changes will affect you directly and others won't and many are just a waste of time, but someone somewhere thought you needed to know. Since the people issuing the notices are not paying for the delivery of the notices, they really do not care. So when you get these notices please do not hesitate to call me, Ashley, Lori, or Sonya for an explanation.

There is a law of process that our system operates under that we all need to understand. That is again what Colgrove Financial is here for.

There is what the law says.

Then there is what the regulators say.

Then there is how the carriers interpret the law and the regulators directions.

This is where our reality starts as these folks determine the admission to their products, so this is where you and I live on Main Street.

Then there will be what the courts determine when the regulators take the carriers to court for not following the rules as the regulators see it.

End game appears to be the courts.

This will all take time to flesh out. So buckle up as we are in this rodeo together you and I.

Recently we have helped several companies navigate these benefits waters by rearranging benefit designs utilizing, HAS's and HRA's as well as duel options, corporate resolutions and sometimes on small groups even dropping the group coverage and going with individuals. All these things have their place.

If we can help you with any of this please do not hesitate to call us at 480-830-2595