May 2021-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Volume 14 Issue 3
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A special thank you to our 2020-2021 Platinum Sponsor: |
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Great job and big kudos to the IAHU Symposium Committee and Guy Stubbs for facilitating an incredible virtual event. You nailed it! This was the first virtual Annual Symposium and an enormous task for the committee. The planning was more difficult this year because the committee had to plan for both a virtual and in person event. The actual decision to hold a virtual event was not decided until January. This year’s committee faced new and different challenges overcoming obstacles to provide diverse topics that interested a variety of attendees. They lined up great speakers and sessions such as the pre-recorded carrier panel discussion. What a hit! A big thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, BlueCross of Idaho. They came to our rescue and not only connected us with Valiant Productions but paid for their services. Valiant Productions navigated the transitions between speakers, sponsors and breaks creating a professional flow to the entire event. And thank you to our Gold Sponsors for their willingness to invest in our association. Thank you to Regence BlueShield of Idaho, PacificSource Health Plans, and SelectHealth. And to our Bronze Sponsors, United Heritage, BPA Health, Delta Dental, Willamette Dental and Your Health Idaho. IAHU would not exist without your steadfast support and commitment. We truly appreciate each of you!
I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate our award winners. The David J Isern Memorial Award is a Lifetime Achievement Award and was presented to Rhonda Bartholomew at the annual symposium. Rhonda is such a deserving recipient. She exemplifies professionalism, honesty, and integrity. She currently serves as the State HUPAC Chair and volunteers annually to serve on the symposium committee. If you have ever volunteered to help with the symposium, then you know how much we depend on Rhonda and how critical her role is. She is also the Immediate Past President for her local chapter. Thank you, Rhonda, for your many years of serve to the association and to our industry. The Scott Leavitt Service Award is presented to a member that gives above and beyond in both a State and National capacity. This award was presented to David Wilcox at our annual symposium. He is the perfect recipient. David served as the state president in 2011-2012 and the local chapter president in 2008-2009. He has held numerous other chair positions on a state and local level since joining the association in 2004. He also served as the Region VII LPRT chair and is currently serving on the State board as the Legislative Co-chair. David does an amazing job articulating the association’s position on legislative issues that pertain to our industry. He is well respected and maintains strong relationships with the Director of Insurance, state legislators and our IAHU lobbyist. We appreciate David’s leadership and the many years of service on a national, state, and local level.
Lastly, I want to thank the members of IAHU for your patience and support during these challenging times. We appreciated your attendance at the annual symposium and received positive feedback from attendees. I am hoping we can resume in person meetings soon as I cannot wait to see your faces. Until then, stay healthy and safe.
-Angie Jackson
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a message from Symposium Committee Chairman, Guy Stubbs... |
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I would like to thank the members of the Health Symposium Planning Committee for all the hard work and dedication they put into making this year’s Virtual Symposium a success. First and foremost, Wendy Leatham for keeping us all up to date with sponsors, vendors, and registrations. Ernie Kroll and Nathan Semons for working hard on getting us great speakers. Sue Stokesberry for stepping in last minute to help us get the State Awards completed and ready to present. Korey Ashton for putting together our virtual booklet with all the crosswords, sponsors, and agenda, even with last minute additions. Steve Moore for taking care of all the gathering of Bio’s and speaker forms to ensure we received as much C.E. as possible, Angie Jackson for stepping in a few days before the event to take over MC responsibilities, you did Awesome!! Terri Trevino for getting more vendors than anyone else. You are a Rockstar! Blue Cross of ID for hooking us up with Brent Berg and Valiant Productions. You made us look amazing. Last but certainly not least, Rhonda Bartholomew for holding my hand through this whole process. From helping with arrangements at BSU to helping to assure me that we would get through this! You are an amazing lady!! |
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Symposium Committee Chairman, Guy Stubbs had his hands full with the first ever virtual symposium. He made it look easy. Nice work Guy! |
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IAHU President, Angie Jackson kept the agenda moving along. With six CE credit hours full of speakers and other presenters, it was a jam packed day. |
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John Deines and our Platinum Sponsor Blue Cross of Idaho helped set the stage -- connecting us with their professional Zoom services through Valiant Productions. |
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Our keynote speaker Luke Mickelson shared his story of founding Sleep In Heavenly Peace right in Southern Idaho. Check out the good this charity is doing for kids all over the world shpbeds.org |
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Our great vendors and sponsors raffled off prizes throughout the day. A big thanks to all of our dedicated sponsors and vendors. |
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North Idaho AHU Member Malia Rogers enjoys lunch during the event courtesy of GrubHub certificates provided for all attendees. |
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Symposium slides and presentation materials available for download HERE
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David J Isern Memorial Award - Rhonda Bartholomew |
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Scott Leavitt Service Award - David Wilcox |
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2020 TVAHU PIC Award - Pedro Rojas |
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2021 TVAHU PIC Award - Lisa Brown |
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Local Chapter Reports
brought to you by our Gold Sponsors
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Treasure Valley Association of Health Underwriters |
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TVAHU Achieves First Place for NAHU Member Growth Contest |
Treasure Valley Association of Health Underwriters gained 29 new member in the past year for a gain of 21.64%!! Congratulations Treasure Valley AHU! |
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Northern Idaho Association of Health Underwriters
Ernie Kroll - President
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Dear, North Idaho Association of Heath Underwriters, members.
Thank you for your continued membership, that supports the work at your local chapter, state, and national levels. I believe we can best achieve or mission statement of: Through education, advocacy, and professional development, we will improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Idahoans. By joining together through membership and working together.
Thank you!
I want to thank Leslie Wolf with the Glidden Group, our awards chair for her hard work of helping our chapter get Gold certified. This endeavor involved demonstrating to NAHU the work our chapter had done over the past year. Leslie, Thank you!
I would like to thank this past year’s board members for their outstanding commitment to keep our chapter going and find new ways to do things to serve our membership. The 7/1/2020-06/30/2021 board; Scott Ramirez- Vice President & Membership Retention, Brian Glidden- Secretary, Carolyn Shultz-Treasurer, Carey Spears- Past President & Professional development, Mark Wild- legislative, Malia Rogers- Media, Leslie Wolf-Awards, Todd Bateman- Communications, Brad Miles- Hupac, Bill Miles- Member at large.
I also must thank the IAHU board and other chapters throughout the State of Idaho for their great support of our chapter; without the support across the state, we would not have been able to have the success we had with our virtual meetings this past year.
Moving Forward
Going forward, we are working on 2021-2022 board position nominations and our annual May meeting, so keep an eye out for that announcement. We are thankful for the great IAHU website and plan to cooperative with and utilize for the benefit of our membership. We continue to work towards connecting with our membership and appreciate any feedback you might have for us.
Tips and Tricks
I have noticed folks over the years change email addresses and to make sure NAHU, IAHU and our chapter has the correct email address on file, log into your NAHU account at www.nahu.org Select membership, to update your email address and demographics.
Another common issue I have noticed, is a billing item. Credit card issuers will update the credit card expiration date every few years and if this information has not been updated the payment processing will fail. This can be updated, by logging into your NAHU account at www.nahu.org , select membership and update billing. Some folks prefer to change to bank draft, to reduce this issue over time. If you need help, let us know.
Respectfully,
Ernie Kroll
NIAHU 2020-2021 Chapter President
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North Idaho AHU Qualified for Gold Certification |
North Idaho Association of Health Underwriters was recently recognized with Gold Certification on March 26, 2021
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Eastern Idaho Association of Health Underwriters |
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Southern Idaho Association of Health Underwriters |
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Legislative Committee Report |
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Your IAHU Legislative team has been hard at work behind the scenes working on your behalf this last quarter. Since the first of the year, we have had several personal meetings with nearly every legislative entity and regulatory department that affects our industry here in Idaho.
- With the Idaho Department of Insurance, we met personally with Director Cameron and several on his team. We discussed pending legislation that would affect our industry, our clients, and our livelihood. Specifically, we addressed the proposed legislation and rule changes regarding limited-duration Short-Term Medical plans, the viability, success, and challenges of our new Enhanced Short-Term medical plans, the proposed legislation dramatically changing Medicare Supplement rules in Idaho (Senate Bill 1143aa), the commission disparity of Medigap versus MAPD plans in Idaho, and Medigap plans for recipients under age 65 versus 65 and older, etc. We focused on what’s best for Idaho beneficiaries, the agent community, and the carriers we work with. We also worked to further strengthen our relationship with the legislators and rule makers that so closely govern our profession.
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With the Department of Health & Welfare, we’ve held discussions with Director David Jepson, Julie Hammond, and Bobette Ottersberg. We discussed the challenge of working with DHW, we introduced and promoted ideas that would better help an agent working with DHW, and more. We were instrumental in helping establish an agent-centric help-line email address at DHW (sragentescalation@dhw.idaho.gov). We promoted the idea of encouraging DHW and YHI to work more closely together, and more closely aligned with the agent community we represent.
- With “Your Health Idaho”, we’ve personally met with Francis Nagashima and Director Pat Kelly. We gave critical feedback that has been received and even already implemented. We promoted technological feedback, website upgrades, discussed ARPA pain-points and challenges, etc. We continue to have a very collaborative relationship with YHI.
- We’ve worked closely with YHI board members to maintain and promote the role of the broker in the insurance sale and consultation process.
- We were successful in stopping legislation that would negatively affect agents working with large employer School Districts. House Bill 248 proposed to remove the role of the independent agent by allowing School Districts to voluntarily enter into the State of Idaho employee benefit plan. This bill was held without a vote.
- We recognized the potentially negative impact of pending Federal legislation (the PRO act) and worked to oppose and rewrite this law. Allowing this legislation to pass would potentially mandate all Agents & Brokers become employees of the insurance companies they represent. Opposing this legislation allows agents/brokers to maintain an independent-contractor status with the insurance companies they represent. Working with our lobbyist, Benn Brocksome, we communicated with NAHU and every Idaho Legislator on the Federal level in Washington, D.C. to express our concerns.
- We’ve worked closely with our paid lobbyist, Benn Brocksome and his associates to promote to you and all our members the legislative progress and challenges facing our industry and our great state. In a legislative year like no other, it has been critical to maintain such a tie and an ear to the ground with help from Mr. Brocksome.
- Please note: NAHU was a weekly podcast ”NAHU healthcare happy hour “published every Friday.
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 SPONSORS! |
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PLATINUM
Blue Cross of Idaho
GOLD
PacificSource Health Plans
Regence BlueShield of Idaho
SelectHealth
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SILVER
BRONZE
BPA Health
Delta Dental of ID
United Heritage Insurance
Willamette Dental Group
Your Health Idaho
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P.O. Box 8102
Boise, ID 83707
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