|
|
|
In our effort to provide exceptional health benefits, customer service and affordable rates, we are excited to announce some exciting changes coming to Texas Ag Coop Trust!
We are excited about our relocation and positive service provision adjustments. You have likely already read the e-mail release and/or received the company announcement that our office is now operating fully in house with a newly established third party administrative branch and we are relocating! We are currently updating member participant data to prevent any disruption in service and will be issuing new identification cards very soon! With a little help from you, we can make this a seamless process.
We look forward to continuing our provision of great service, outstanding benefits and SAVINGS to you!
You are a partner in decision making and you are partnered with a thriving coverage provider. Keeping YOU the priority. Keeping YOUR NEEDS in perspective. With TACT, YOU are our business.
Now serving ALL of Texas Agriculture -
Contact us for more information
TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family.
|
|
Texas Ag Benefit Administrators Touts Benefits, Savings to Member Owners in Texas Agriculture
Texas Ag Coop Trust announces newly created Texas Ag Benefit Administrators as its in-house third party administrative entity, encompassing all outside processing services, passing on benefits, savings and efficiency to member owner participants in agriculture.
Efforts to hold down costs and expand operations to ensure efficiency and accuracy led to the wholly TACT owned and operated Texas Ag Benefit Administrators. This new entity allows TACT to bring ALL of the outside contracted services in-house. What does this mean to participants?
- ALL claims will be received, processed and handled by TACT/TABA Claims Department. Providers will file their claims and follow up directly with Texas Ag Coop Trust.
- ALL benefits and eligibility calls, questions, and requests will be handled by TACT/TABA Customer Service Department.
- ALL employee enrollments, terminations and changes will be entered directly into the single office system with identification cards printed and processed immediately - no more wait time!
- Provider network selection will allow owners see a much larger provider base
- Prescription benefits will also allow provisions for larger discounts, availability and efficient benefits
Information is available by visiting the TACT website at www.txagcoop.com or by calling 806-747-7894.
Texas Ag Coop Trust is a not-for-profit self-insured health benefits program that is owned and controlled by TACT member/owners. TACT aids in providing group benefits to members in the agricultural industry, provides quality life and health benefit plans and works to hold down future rate increases for participants. TACT strives to deliver value that comes through representing the interests of its members while continuously offering services that help with the bottom line. With TACT, members do not rent the insurance plan, they own it.
NOTE:
Phone and fax numbers for the TACT office remain unchanged. Should you need to contact TACT, please continue to use the following:
PHONE: 806-747-7894
FAX: 806-747-7897
WEBSITE: www.txagcoop.com
TABA PHONE: 806-568-2600
|
Obamacare Enrolls 8.02 Million
Obamacare private insurance plans had signed up almost 8.02 million people by April 19, the effective end of open enrollment in the new health coverage, officials said.
Nearly half - 47 percent - of total enrollment for the six-month sign-up period for Obamacare plans came in just the last seven weeks, officials said.
While there was significant variation in the enrollment success, or lack thereof, among individual states, the insurance risk pools created by Obamacare exchanges "in every state" are large enough and diverse enough to keep premium prices stable in 2015, predicted Mike Hash, director of health reform efforts at the Health and Human Services Department.
HHS also disclosed that an additional 4.8 million people were enrolled in government-provided Medicaid as of March 31, compared to Medicaid's total enrollment in October.
Health exchanges under the Affordable Care Act launched in October and began assessing whether individuals were eligible for private Obamacare plans or for Medicaid, which covers people with lower incomes. Many of the newly Medicaid-eligible people enrolled in that program via government-run exchanges. There is year-round enrollment in Medicaid, and about half of the states have loosened their eligibility rules to allow more poor adults to sign up.
The enrollment tally in the private exchange plans was not surprising, as President Barack Obama had already said two weeks ago that Obamacare sign-ups in such plans had topped 8 million.
That was 1 million more than what had been predicted last summer by the Congressional Budget Office. But nonetheless, it came as a surprise because of the botched launch of the federal HealthCare.gov exchange last fall.
Click here to read the story in its entirety.
|
More Young Farmers
Entering the Profession
From DTN's Washington Insider:
 For years, there has been a public worry about the advancing age of U.S. farmers, with the prototypical agricultural producer seen by many as someone in his 60s or 70s.
Friday, May 2, USDA issued the results of its twice-a-decade Census of Agriculture that show that things may be turning around. According to the department's summary, more than 20% of U.S. farmers have operated their farms for fewer than 10 years and the number of young, beginning principal farm operators is up 11.3% since the last Census of Agriculture in 2007.
The disparity in farm size and income remains, however. There were 2,109,303 U.S. farms in 2012, of which 813,183 (38.6%) comprised 49 or fewer acres, but the average farm size was 434 acres. And 1,193,977 farms (56.6%) had annual gross (not net) sales of farm products of less than $10,000.
On the income side, there were 8,565 farms that had annual sales of agricultural products plus government payments of $5 million or more. Their total income was $125.6 billion, an average of $14.7 million. At the other end of the spectrum, there were 896,699 farms that had annual sales of agricultural products plus government payments of less than $5,000. Their total income was $1.3 billion, an average of $1,500.
The USDA data are always much anticipated and will be chewed over by economists, agribusinesses and policymakers for the foreseeable future.
|
|
TACT Recognizes National Nurses Week, Celebrates Own
Get Personal! Improve your health! Call Kathy!
Kathy Payne is YOUR key to
maintained wellness through TACT!
TACT employs Hines Healthy Tomorrows Team as a benefit to YOU! Kathy Payne is TACT's nurse - she takes care of all of our health and wellness screenings.
In recognizing National Nurses Week, May 6-12, we celebrate Kathy! It is only fitting that the theme for this year's National Nurses Week is "Nurses: Leading the Way." After all, nurses lead the way in showing an elderly patient how to manage his or her diabetes. They lead the way in making sure their patients - children and adults - get the vaccinations they need. They lead the way in helping our young moms learn how to care for their infants. And they lead the way in conducting research to promote high-quality life for those with chronic illnesses, and to help all of us stay healthy across the lifespan.
Calvert Home Health, also employed by TACT, does wellness screenings for TACT participants. Once results come back, they are entered into a database with Hines, who then has Kathy follow up with health management programs. YOU qualify to have Hines assist in working with doctor's, treatments and plans to help in streamlining care. It is as if you have your own personal nurse - Kathy! And, this benefit is a part of your healthcare plan at NO COST to you!
Improve your health by participating! Call 800-592-8097 and ask to see Kathy! Visit www.hinesassoc.com or visit TACT at www.txagcoop.com.
To see this and other health news,
|
|
May - Melanoma and Skin Cancer Prevention Month
 Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. UV radiation can also come from tanning booths or sunlamps. The most dangerous kind of skin cancer is called melanoma.
The good news? Skin cancer can almost always be cured when it's found and treated early. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to prevent skin cancer or detect it early on.
Make a difference: Spread the word about strategies for preventing skin cancer and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.
How can Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month make a difference?
We can use this month to raise awareness about skin cancer and help people take action to prevent or detect it, both at home and in the larger community.
Here are just a few ideas:
- Encourage families to adopt good habits together, like wearing sunscreen and limiting their time in the sun.
- Motivate teachers and administrators to teach kids about the harm of UV radiation and why it's important to protect yourself.
- Identify youth leaders in your community who can talk to their peers about taking steps to prevent skin cancer.
- Partner with a local hospital, state fair, or similar organization to host a skin cancer screening event.
Help spread the word!
To see this and other health news,
|
|
The Outstanding Lies
Within the Ordinary
In Recognition of Mother's Day
Contributed By: Lynn Parker
Being a mom, personally reflected - From childhood well into adulthood, I have always enjoyed running the back field of my parents' place. My dad never plowed next to the fence, he always left enough space all the way around for me to have a running path, my own dirt track. I fondly recall my mom watching me out the kitchen window and coming out to walk 3 miles with me after I finished my daily run. Lots and lots of conversation that evolved over
the years. One particular thing I remember from one of these walks that took place almost 15 years ago was my mom speaking of the challenges my sister faced being a new mom with 2 baby girls. My mom then recalled becoming a mom, herself. She said, "Responsibility fell hard on me as a 20 year old mom, student and wife, but as you and Sarah grew, I really let you be individuals and enjoyed the stage of growth that came with each age."
I never forgot that conversation and I have truly taken it to heart with my daughter, Brodie. Each age has come with highs and lows, but I have really made a point to keep the mind of my child in focus, see things the way she sees them (or try) and enjoy the stage for what it is to her, all the while making memories to recall.
As a stay at home/work at home mom, each day I truly  do keep my focus on Brodie, her needs and her activities. There are times when I am needed and I find myself answering emails, designing graphics, making phone calls, and uttering "in a minute" to my three year old. There are some moments when I have to tell her that she is super duper important to me and that she can always come ask me a question even if it's during the hours when I work.
Today I had three or four cups of coffee and I probably will tomorrow! And, while writing this, I have had to stop countless times and take an imaginary sled ride in search of buried treasure! I am a mom. l have never been more exhausted in my life! As a mom, you'll work. You'll give. You'll do all these normal mom things and then, when the end of the day comes, you'll sit back and sometimes wonder, what on earth did I accomplish today?
Personality wise and entering motherhood after spending the majority of my life in a corporate environment, I sometimes forget all that is actually accomplished. As moms, I think we find it easy to miss all we do accomplish. It's easy to dismiss all we do accomplish. Working or not, you care for kids; you love them; zip up coats; find flipflops; rock babies; bandage knees; read stories; tuck in covers; wash hands; fix hair; keep house; work hard; and REPEAT! You work away from home. You stay home. You do both. No matter what, you still get up, get yourself ready, and walk out of your room and answer to the cry of, "Mama, I need you!" repeated over and over and over.
You do all that mom stuff and it's hard to remember that the little, normal things matter. I am learning - those are the cherished moments of motherhood. As much as I try and fight it, motherhood isn't made up these perfect moments with sorted toys and perfect meals with sandwiches cut into cool shapes. Motherhood is a raw place of realizing that sometimes you don't have any clue what you're doing and yet, you keep RUNNING!
It's easy to get weary. It's easy to go to bed and to look around and to simply miss it all. I have to remember what my mom said about taking in each stage for what it is - growth and learning. These days, I am finding that true for both Brodie and myself. As moms, we simply cannot miss it. WE CANNOT MISS THE OUTSTANDING THAT LIES WITHIN THE ORDINARY!
So, today, and every day, it is important to find moments to breathe deep and to realize amazing things are being accomplished, no matter how ordinary. I am a mother and if you are a mother, WE are writing imperfect stories that look nothing like what we imagined and yet, the stories are uniquely ours.
Mothers are brave. Mothers are courageous. Mothers make mistakes and learn. My sister-in-law has a saying, "if it will be funny later, it needs to be funny now". I remind myself of this A LOT when I have moments of wishing I could cry, but choose to find joy. Every day, I am learning that moms do the extraordinary - WE ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING SMALL! Every day is a new journey and as moms we should celebrate giving of ourselves, discovering JUST HOW AMAZING WE ARE!
So, as I pause to take another sled ride, I hope my words will inspire, if only myself as a reminder, to keep writing the extraordinarily beautiful, ordinary story.
My hope is that you had a Happy Mother's Day celebration! Know...YOU ARE AMAZING!!! WE ARE AMAZING!!!
|
|
Refer Us!
Click above to learn more or
to contact the TACT office. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Facebook Feature
Find us on Facebook and access more detailed,
industry-related information.
Interact with us!
We're waiting to talk to you!
|
|
Contact Us
Texas Ag Coop Trust
1802 East 50th St., Ste. 107
Lubbock, TX 79404
806-747-7894
|
|
Texas Ag Coop Trust
Officers, Board of Trustees
Kimberly Tullo-Holcomb
TACT Executive Director
Lubbock, TX
Jim Turner, Chairman
Dalhart Consumers Fuel Association
Dalhart, TX
Bret Brown, Secretary/Treasurer
Sunray Coop
Sunray, TX
Paul Wilson United Cotton Growers
Levelland, TX
Cary Eubanks
Slaton Coop Gin
Slaton, TX
Dean Sasser
Farmers Coop Elevator
Levelland, TX
|
|
Texas Ag Coop Trust
is endorsed by:
Texas Grain & Feed
Association
Texas Cotton Ginners Association
 Texas Coop Marketing Exchange
Texas Corn Producers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
