Welcome to the virtual home of the Texas Association of Health Underwriters!
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If you have hit this website as a member of TAHU, thank you. We're glad to have you and trust you'll find its resources beneficial. If you are a visitor, please allow me to share just a few of the benefits of membership and encourage you to become a member through one of our local chapters. TAHU members become part of the largest organization representing America's Benefit Specialists, then National Association of Health Underwriters. NAHU provides legislative advocacy, compliance and educational resources to all members. But that's not all. NAHU members have access to special programs for E&O insurance, overnight shipping, office supplies, teleconferencing and many more. Plus, as a member in a local chapter you'll have access to their continuing education programs and other functions.
Do think about becoming a member today. If we don't tell the truth about America's health insurance system, no one will.
Ron Buffum
TAHU President, 2008-09
TAHU News -
*Congratulations to the Texas winners at this year's NAHU convention in San Diego!
TAHU once again took home the coveted Landmark Award!!!!!
Region VI Vice President: Colleen Pruitt, Lubbock AHU
Spirit of Freedom Award: Misty Baker, Austin AHU
Distinguished Service Award: RoseMary Deininger, Dallas AHU;
Beth Ashmore, Lubbock AHU
Media Relations: Texoma AHU
Pacesetter: Dallas AHU and East Texas AHU
Presidential Citation: Carolyn Goodwin, Dallas AHU
Website: Texas AHU
Most New Members: Houston AHU
NAHU Gain Contest Winner: Houston AHU
NAHU Regional Cup Winner: Region VI
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED
SO HARD THIS YEAR!!!!
*Congratulations to this year's state chapter and individual award winners! Visit the awards page for a complete list. Also - the 2008 award criteria is now posted along with the TAHU award guidebook to assist you in gathering your award submissions for 2008.
*The 20th Annual Convention in El Paso was a success! There were great speakers - lots of winners - and an all-around great time! You can read all about it in the summer issue of the TAHUNews coming in June. A big thanks go out to the sponsors and exhibitors who supported us this year - we couldn't have done it without you! View all the photos by clicking the following link http://www.tahu.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=9. We hope you will continue to support TAHU and join us next year in Dallas!
*Several TAHU members attended the Senate Committee on State Affairs hearing on March 26, 2008. TAHU's President, Carolyn Goodwin, gave eloquent testimony http://www.senate.state.tx.us/avarchive/?yr=2008
INDUSTRY News -
*Review the pending legislation on health and welfare plans at the federal level.
*The Associated Press reports that "[t]wo powerful health trade groups will begin airing dueling ads this week in their fight over Medicare, hoping to influence Congress as lawmakers face pressure to reverse scheduled cuts in doctor fees." America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), "a trade group of private insurers, is siding with Senate Republicans and the White House in their standoff with Democrats over" the "measure that would halt the cuts by trimming payments to private insurers." The American Medical Association (AMA), however, said that "it was airing new television and radio ads in six states through the week that target a group of senators who blocked action on the proposed legislation" to avoid physician payment cuts, which "passed the House, but stalled in the Senate last week amid a veto threat by President Bush."
*The Wall Street Journal reports, "Anxious over being caught uninsured or paying sky-high premiums, some people -- especially those with health problems -- are going to great lengths to get or keep job-based health coverage," like moving up wedding dates, delaying divorces, and making "a host of other major life decisions." In addition, some self-employed people "are going so far as to hire employees to qualify for group insurance." According to financial advisers, client "conversations increasingly center on how to get or stay on a group policy or segue into the individual market in a way that prevents insurers from denying coverage or excluding pre-existing conditions."
*State insurance commissioners are objecting to a Bush administration proposal to give insurers and producers the option to choose to be regulated by a federal agency. Learn more about it!
*READ an updated summary of the 2008 Presidential Candidates on Healthcare Reform published by the Council for Affordable Health Insurance. Be sure to check back periodically as this information is updated frequently. Visit their website at www.cahi.org for the most up to date election news!
*The Texas Department of Insurance recently released the Commissioner's Bulletin #B-0004-08 on the subject of rebating and providing administrative services to employers at no additional cost. Retrieve the entire bulletin at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/bulletins/2008/cc3.html.
*Employers can use a checklist to evaluate the effectiveness of their current health plan compared to the new generation of HSA-compatible health plans. How does your health plan stack up? Read the entire article here.
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