OUR VOICE IS BEING HEARD... but we must keep up the dialogue

With NAHU membership rolls at 20,000 and growing, our industry voice is strong. Having that voice is why you choose membership in this professional association. As a group, in Washington, we have tremendous influence on shaping legislation. We can and should have similar power in Michigan and regionally. Together, the WMAHU members' voices can impact decisions that affect the health of our local economy and effectiveness of the products we can offer our customers.

JOIN WMAHU Today! Click on the link below to complete an online membership application. If you have problems with the link, you can also copy the link address into your browser to move to the application page.  www.nahu.org/eSeries/source/members/SignPay1.cfm

House/Senate Versions of the Stimulus Bill Author: Jessica Fulginiti Waltman, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, National Association of Health Underwriters – February 3, 2009   I am getting lots of questions from members about the stimulus bill, and I thought you might be getting similar questions, so I put together this primer as to our views on the bill, which might be of interest to you. We are sending out an operation shout to all members on this issue in a little while, so you might get questions. NAHU's Position on the Stimulus Bill Overall: We don't have a position on the overall bill. We know that NAHU many of our members and many Americans generally have concerns over the size, scope and structure of this spending bill, and we have not taken a position on the bill as a whole. However, leaders of both parties have indicated that some form of a stimulus bill will pass the Congress and in short order. There are provisions in both the House bill and the Senate bill that would dramatically impact private health insurance coverage, and we are trying to make sure those provisions are as market-friendly as possible. Why a member should help on this, even if they oppose the stimulus bill overall: Even if a member opposes the economic recovery legislation generally, it is still very important that the health provisions in the bill are as private-market friendly as possible. This legislation is going to pass. Senator Minority Leader McConnell today announced that it was the GOP's goal to improve the stimulus bill, not defeat it. We need our members to help us improve it. Why we like the Senate Bill over the House Bill: House Bill: Extends COBRA coverage for older and tenured workers beyond the 18 months provided under current law. Specifically, workers 55 and older, and workers who have worked for an employer for 10 or more years will be able to retain their COBRA coverage until they become Medicare eligible or secure coverage through a subsequent employer. Senate Bill: Does not extend COBRA eligibility beyond the terms of the current law. House Bill: Contains a subsidy administered through the employer for the first 12 months of COBRA coverage for eligible persons who have lost their jobs on or after September 1, 2008 at 65% of premium. Senate Bill: Contains an identically administered subsidy, but for 9 months of coverage, not 12. House Bill: Only allows the subsidy to be used to purchase COBRA coverage identical to what the employee had elected prior to job loss. Senate Bill: Also allows the subsidy to be used for state continuation coverage, allows workers the ability to elect a less expensive employer offered coverage option if available and allows employers 30 days to begin subsidy administration. House Bill: Expands Medicaid coverage to individuals (and their dependents) that are receiving unemployment benefits or have exhausted those benefits and have no health insurance coverage. Optional coverage groups would be individuals (and their dependents) who are involuntarily unemployed and uninsured and whose family income does not exceed 200% of poverty, and unemployed uninsured individuals who are receiving food stamps. Senate Bill: Does not expand Medicaid to unemployed individuals. Contact:   Jessica Fulginiti Waltman, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs National Association of Health Underwriters, 10 Doyle Road, Wayne, PA 19087 610-971-2404 Phone/Fax     703-496-0796 Cell

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MAHU Position on Individual Market Reform Legislation

Author: Michael A. Embry Sr., RHU, MAHU Legislative Chair

The Senate Health Policy Committee held a hearing on Wednesday, January 30th in the Senate Hearing room in Boji Tower. Invited to testify that day were the 3 most prominent coalitions both for and against the legislation.

• MAHP – Michigan Association of Health Plans – Opposed to the legislation

• CFAIR – Citizens for Fair and Affordable Insurance Reform – In Favor of the Legislation

• CAAM – Coalition for Access and Affordability in Michigan – Opposed to the Legislation

Each group was given 20 minutes to make their presentation and answer questions from the committee. All 3 groups presented very compelling slide presentations to support their position. Then in reverse order, they were each given 10 minutes to provide any rebuttal commentary with questions also asked by the committee.

Senators George, Gleason and Clarke had some very excellent questions that were posed to each of the groups. This was an indication of the continuing desire of the committee to be very diligent in the process of review of the package of bills presented before them.

I had an opportunity to chat briefly with both Senator George and Senator Gleason after the hearing and they expressed yet again that the position that MAHU continues to take in this debate is the best possible place to be to help craft meaningful legislation as this process continues. They thanked me for having our members come to Lansing and be a part of the process. Senator George stated before, during and after the hearing that he fully intends to have several hearings on the legislation to gather the facts.

The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 6th at 3 pm. The Attorney General and OFIS have been invited to testify on the topic of Loss Ratios, Rate filing and Oversight. This should be an excellent hearing.

Then on Wednesday, February 13, Dr. Deborah Chollet, Senior Fellow at Mathematica Policy Research is slated to provide testimony of an Overview of the Individual Market Trends, Rating Structures and Impact and how is Prudent Reserve Levels Determined.

If your schedule permits you, it would be great to have many MAHU members present at these hearings to show our support for the process the committee is taking.

View all of Mike Embry's Reports at www.mahu.org

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