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Dedicated Insurance Professionals you know and trust...like Family |
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| Issue No. 36 |
May 28, 2013
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Greetings!
At TACT, we want you to completely understand your choice in healthcare coverage. We also want you to be informed and have all information as it becomes available, with Obamacare going into affect. Health insurance issuers and group health plans are required to provide you with an easy-to-understand summary about a health plan's benefits and coverage. The new regulation is designed to help you better understand and evaluate your health insurance choices. This is information that you, as a TACT participant, will begin seeing in the next few weeks.
While there is more openness in the insurance marketplace, TACT recognizes that it isn't easy for consumers to know exactly what they are buying when it comes to healthcare coverage. Education and information is the goal of TACT.
What can we do to help you? What questions do you have? At TACT YOU are our priority - YOU are our business! How can we help you?
TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family.
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Facebook Feature
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Arthritis Awareness
May is Arthritis Awareness Month and is the perfect time to pump up your physical activity.
 "Arthritis is a debilitating disease that profoundly impacts the lives of millions of Americans on a daily basis," says John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO, Arthritis Foundation. "The effects of the 46 million Americans with arthritis on the economy are enormous; the direct and indirect medical costs... of this disease are estimated to be $128 billion each year. With the aging of baby boomers, the prevalence of arthritis is expected to rise by 40 percent - that is up to 67 million people - by the year 2030."
Moving is the Best Medicine! Despite the known benefits of physical activity to help manage arthritis, adults with arthritis are less active than adults without arthritis. Walking has been shown to improve arthritis pain, fatigue, function, and quality of life. Walking is low impact on your joints, can be done almost anywhere and doesn't require special equipment or a gym membership. Celebrate Arthritis Awareness Month by starting a walking program today.
As a member of TACT, we encourage you to explore why you are part of something that is more than just a health plan. With access to disease management options, prescription and drug card benefits, health screenings and plans that fit YOUR needs, you are part of a health plan that is run by, run for, and run in consideration of the needs of its participant-owners. Your concern is our concern! YOU are our business! Visit www.txagcoop.com.
For more ways to incorporate fun, fit into your life, and to find out more on the CDC's Arthritis Program, visit http://www.cdc.gov/features/arthritisawareness or visit the National Arthritis Foundation at www.arthritis.org
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You are Asking,
TACT is Listening
Implementation of Obamacare is nearing. People are talking - YOU are talking, YOU have questions, TACT understands. It isn't easy for consumers to know exactly what they are buying when it comes to healthcare coverage. Openness is the goal of the measure. Education and information is the goal of TACT.
Texas has indicated that it will not create a state-based health insurance marketplace (formerly called the exchange). See the letter from Governor Perry dated November 2012.
What does this mean for you?
Because TACT is a self-funded entity, participation in the exchanges is not mandated. With the recent passage of Obamacare, many employers are experiencing anxiety over rising costs, increased regulations, and, quite simply, fear of the future unknown. In addition, the grandfather rules have resulted in even more uncertainty.
Those are huge questions facing many employers - questions of which have already been posed to TACT.
You are asking:
1. Will I have to provide insurance to my employees?
2. Will penalties be assessed and taxes have to be paid based on employee number and coverage offered?
Unfortunately, there is not a simple Yes/No answer. The fact is that companies with 50 or more full time equivalent employees, including part-time/seasonal, working for 120 days or more or based on work hours MUST provide healthcare coverage.
TACT recognizes that the employee numbers may have a variation in calculation based on man-hours due to seasonal labor needs. We understand the confusion, we understand your desire to comply. We can help!
If you have a question as to whether you are complying with newly set forth standards and are unsure whether or not you must provide healthcare coverage to your employees, call TACT for an evaluation and for calculation assistance. Again, we can help.
Note from TACT: As compared to larger corporate insurance companies, TACT finds itself as being more competitive in the anticipated insurance market and is in a benefical position as changes begin to unfold. TACT retains its ability to underwrite, and protect healthy clients without raising costs.
TACT understands that it isn't easy to know exactly what they are buying when it comes to healthcare coverage, but, as previously stated, education and information is the goal of TACT.
What can we do to help you? What questions do you have? Make a point to touch base with us. We are here to answer your questions. We are here to field your options. |
Exchange Information:
For information on exchange implementation and SHOP programs, click here.
SBC Form Details:
The standard SBC form that has been issued as part of the new Obamacare regulations enables you to compare health plans. As exchanges begin to build across the United States, YOU, as a TACT member/participant can expect to begin seeing this information in coming weeks.
At TACT, we want you to understand and be able to evaluate your choice to trust TACT with your coverage. We also want you to be informed and have all information as it becomes available, as Obamacare begins to go into affect.
Visit TACT's Archive from April 16 for more details
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Administration announces
$1 billion initiative to launch Health Care Innovation Awards to provide better health care
and lower costs
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced May 15, a nearly $1 billion initiative that will fund awards and evaluation to build on the Obama administration's work to transform the health care system by delivering better care and lowering costs. This second round of Health Care Innovation Awards will fund applicants that have a high likelihood of driving health care system transformation and delivering better outcomes.
"These awards will continue our work to drive down health care costs while providing high quality care to all Americans, and I'm excited to see the innovative ideas these applicants will bring to the table," Secretary Sebelius said. "Organizations from the public and private sectors throughout the country are finding creative solutions to our health care system challenges and these awards will continue to stimulate these ideas."
courtesy - www.healthcare.gov
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Senate Begins Consideration
of 2013 Farm Bill
The Senate Monday, May 20, began consideration of the 2013 Farm Bill, with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., offering the first amendment to eliminate crop insurance subsidies for tobacco.
Full Senate debate comes less than a week after the Senate Ag Committee passed the bill with a 15-5 vote May 14.
In opening comments, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich, chairwoman of the Senate Ag Committee, again touted the expected $24 billion in taxpayer savings the Farm Bill offers, as well as the new options for crop insurance.
However, McCain said the eight types of tobacco covered under crop insurance in the Farm Bill are profitable without "their old farm subsidies," McCain said. His amendment, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., would save $333 million over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Sen. McCain offers first amendment to Senate Farm Bill
"It might surprise Americans to know that despite efforts to end traditional farm subsidies for tobacco producers, government handouts for tobacco lives on in the form of highly subsidized crop insurance," McCain said on the floor.
"As my colleagues know, crop insurance in general has a dubious reputation as a 'safety net' for farmers because it largely insures against revenue loss instead of crop loss due to weather or pests," McCain said. He argued that most tobacco is exported, and is 10 times more profitable than corn.
"The value of American tobacco is at a 10-year high since Congress ended traditional tobacco subsidies," he said. "It makes no sense to subsidize tobacco insurance considering how well the free market system is working for tobacco producers."
In a press statement, Feinstein noted that tobacco costs the economy $200 billion in health care costs and productivity.
"In this challenging budget environment, we simply can't afford to spend hundreds of millions of dollar to incentivize farmers to grow this crop," she said.
Continue reading here
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Swim Healthy. Swim Safely.
Last weekend's Memorial Day Holiday marked the unofficial beginning of summer!
Swimming and other water-related activities are excellent ways to get the physical activity and health benefits needed for a healthy life. Americans swim hundreds of millions of times in pools, oceans, lakes, rivers, and hot tubs/spas each year and most people have a safe and healthy time enjoying the water. However, it is important to be aware of ways to prevent recreational water illnesses (RWIs), sunburn, and drowning that can occur.
CDC's Healthy Swimming Program and website, launched in 2001, provides information for the public, public health and medical professionals, and aquatics staff so everyone can maximize the health benefits of swimming while minimizing the risk of illness and injury.
Healthy Swimming Fast Facts:
- There are 10.4 million residential and 309,000 public swimming pools in the United States.
- In the United States during 2009, there were approximately 301 million swimming visits each year by persons over the age of six .
- Thirty six percent of children aged 7-17 years, and 15% of adults in the United States, swim at least six times per year.
- About half (56.8%) of spas are in violation of local environmental health ordinances, and about 1 in 9 spas require immediate closure (11%).
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Contact Us
Texas Ag Coop Trust
1802 East 50th St., Ste. 107
Lubbock, TX 79404
806-747-7894
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Texas Ag Coop Trust
Officers, Board of Trustees
Kimberly Tullo-Holcomb
TACT Executive Director
Lubbock, TX
George Reed, Chairman
United Farm Industries
Plainview, TX
Gregg Allen, Secretary
Olton Grain Coop
Olton, TX
Bret Brown, Treasurer
Sunray Coop
Sunray, TX
Jim Turner
Dalhart Consumers Fuel Association
Dalhart, TX
Paul Wilson
United Cotton Growers
Levelland, TX
Cary Eubanks
Slaton Coop Gin
Slaton, TX
Dean Sasser
Farmers Coop Elevator
Levelland, TX
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Texas Ag Coop Trust
is endorsed by:
Texas Grain & Feed
Association
Texas Cotton Ginners Association
 Texas Coop Marketing Exchange
Texas Corn Producers |
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At Texas Agricultural Cooperative Trust, we realize it isn't easy for consumers to know exactly what they are buying when it comes to healthcare coverage. We are always looking for ways to reduce cost and improve benefits for our members. With the ever- increasing cost of health care and health insurance, it is more crucial than ever that we are committed to providing our members with the benefits and coverages they need and generate additional revenues to TACT to offset cost increases.
Texas Ag Coop Trust aids in providing group benefits to members in the agricultural industry. TACT provides quality life and health benefit plans and works to hold down future rate increases for participants. With TACT, you don't rent your insurance plan, you own it.
With TACT there really is no need to stress. Regulation, coverage, concern? Openness is the goal of the measure. Education and information is the goal of TACT.
What can we do to help you? What questions do you have? We are here to answer your questions.
TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family.
Next Issue: June 11, 2013
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