IN TOUCH
March/April 2016 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
For information on these events, please click on link or contact info@svahu.org. 

June 6 -- SVAHU Golf Tournament


METALLIC SPONSORS

GOLD


 SILVER







BRONZE


To contribute to CAHU PAC, please visit www.cahupac.org. 

 

   

 

Board of Directors
2015-2016

President

Michael Traynor

President-Elect 

John Bobincheck

Communications

Tracey Lewis 

Legislative

Catrina Reyes

Membership

 Courtney Seymour 

PAC

Mika Clauson 

Prof. Dev.

Tracey Lewis 

Retention

 

Secretary

Susan Spackman

Sponsorship

Brian Sullivan

Treasurer

Kathleen Vaillancourt

For Board contact information, please visit www.svahu.org
Valley Benefits Professionals Team Up for Charity
By Michael Traynor, President
 
Since 1991 benefits professionals have come together to support cancer prevention in California at the annual Women in Employee Benefits Invitational. Through the WEBI golf tournament thousands of women from the benefits business community have contributed to this important cause. Silicon Valley Association of Health Underwriters is proud to partner with WEBI this year for a special 25th anniversary WEBI tournament. 
 
The annual SVAHU Charity Golf Tournament and WEBI will be held at the same day this year on Monday June 6. 
 
As with past WEBI tournaments there will be events and play for women only. (Guys, that's why it's called Women in Employee Benefits Invitational.) If you've attended WEBI before you know what a special event this will be. If you've not been to a WEBI event before then this is the best year to find out what makes the WEBI tournament unique and fun. 
 
A portion of the proceeds from the day's event will benefit WEBI's longtime cause, the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC.) CPIC is a non-profit organization located in the Bay Area that supports research into the cause and prevention of cancer. 
 
SVAHU has a proud history of supporting worthwhile causes in our community. Your participation at association events supports the charities that SVAHU supports. Every little bit helps, such as your contribution to the annual toy drive.  But you're also chipping in when you play a round of golf and every time that you buy a raffle ticket. 
 
This year's tournaments are to be held at the Cinnabar Hills Country Club in San Jose. (Cinnabar Hills is routinely ranked among the top 10 golf courses in Northern California.)  The course offers challenges to the avid golfer but is also accessible to the casual golfer. Both events are shot-gun start format, and include lunch and dinner. 
 
Special thanks to all of our sponsors whose generosity and continued support helps make the tournaments enjoyable. 
 
Don't miss this special event. Visit www.svahu.org to sponsor or attend. 


Sign up at www.svahu.org!
Health Care, Legislation and the Year Ahead for California
By Jeff Bader, Contributing Editor
 
In the six years since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law, California Association of Health Underwriters (CAHU) has become a respected stakeholder in Covered California as well as with carriers and providers.  That was the message delivered by Patrick Burns, CAHU Immediate Past President, before 60 SVAHU members and guests at the Silicon Valley chapter's March meeting. 
 
Burns reviewed the 2015 legislative session and addressed what lies ahead for 2016 for the State's health care industry, with a spotlight on health insurance.   The defeat of Proposition 45 in 2014 was a big win for health insurance professionals, and momentum from the campaign was a "huge positive in our efforts to support SB 1063," said Burns.  The CAHU sponsored bill lead to protecting agent commissions and carrier contracts.
 
In 2016, the expectation is that both the June and November ballots will create a very dynamic environment at the Capitol.  Governor Jerry Brown's proposed tax swap package could mean that the State would continue to receive over $1 billion in federal matching ACA money.  The tax on managed care organizations would apply to around two dozen health plans that serve Medi-Cal patients leaving those carrier's finances an unknown.
 
Key issues in the health care industry will be patient privacy as well as access to information and to providers.  The role of the health insurance professional may escalate once again.
 
According to Burns CAHU continues to work with lawmakers including ongoing dialog with CA Senate President pro tem Kevin de Leon (D24)
Assembly members Jim Wood (D2) and Nora Campos (D27) of the Health Policy and State Appropriations Committees.  Characterizing CAHU's grass roots efforts Burns said, "We're not part of the big money tribe, we're advocates in the middle trying to m ake things work for every day consumers."