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Issue No. 94
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August 18, 2015
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You make choices to live your best life.
Let TACT be one of them!
Everyone's needs are different. We understand that you want health insurance coverage that makes life easier. TACT offers affordable coverage that's easy to use and has a personable approach, as there is no third party administration.
TACT is working to transform healthcare within the industry - YOUR industry, agriculture. Improving the quality of your insurance needs; focusing on prevention, wellness and disease management; reining in costs for all of Texas Agriculture.
As the industry of ag and the industry of insurance grows and evolves, TACT continues striving to be a source of leadership and strength. We serve the members that we protect, giving you the freedom to look to the future in confidence. With TACT, YOU are our business. How may we help?
Now serving ALL of Texas Agriculture -
Contact us for more information
TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family.
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Competition and Choice in the Health Insurance Marketplace Lowered Premiums in 2015
The Health Insurance Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act allows consumers to compare health insurance plans based on key factors, such as covered services, providers, and importantly, price. According to a report released, choice and competition increased in the 2015 Marketplace and consumers benefitted as new issuers entered and price competition intensified. In 2015, 86 percent of Marketplace-eligible consumers could choose from at least three issuers, up from 70 percent in 2014.
Counties with net increases in issuers had lower premium increases than other counties in 2015. Premium growth for the second-lowest cost silver plan in counties with at least one new issuer was 8.4 percentage points lower than in other counties. And for each new issuer that offered coverage, there was a 2.8 percentage point lower rate increase for the second-lowest cost silver plan from 2014 to 2015.
"The study shows the Affordable Care Act is working to increase choice and competition for consumers and keep premium growth in check," HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said. "This report shows that increased competition in a market, as occurred in most areas of the country in 2015, has an important impact on cost. That's good news for the economy, and helps more people find quality affordable health coverage that meets their budget.
The report examines changes in the number of health insurance issuers and premiums between open enrollment periods for the 2014 and 2015 plan years in the 35 states that used the HealthCare.gov platform in both years.
According to the report, in 2015, most counties gained at least one new issuer, 33 percent held steady and only 8 percent of counties experienced a net loss of issuers. New issuers entering a market might reduce premium growth, in part, because they offer plans at lower premiums, influencing incumbents to moderate their premiums.
The overall growth in second-lowest cost silver plan premiums between 2014 and 2015 was low, increasing by approximately 2 percent on average for potential enrollees. And premiums in counties with 3 or more issuers are more than 9% lower than in those with 1 or 2 issuers present. Previous work has also shown an inverse relationship between the number of issuers and premiums: on average, each additional issuer in a rating area is associated with a 4 percent lower second-lowest cost silver plan premium.
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Legislation corrects duplicative pesticide permit requirements
Courtesy - Texas Ag Daily
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Aug. 5 approved the Sensible Environmental Protection Act (S 1500), that would clarify that lawful applications of pesticides regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) are not subject to permitting under the Clean Water Act.
If left unchanged, this court ruling could impose duplicative and unnecessary permitting requirements on farmers and ranchers, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. "Requiring permits for lawful pesticide applications provides no environmental benefit because pesticide applications are already reviewed and regulated for use through strict instructions on EPA-approved product labels," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "The redundant regulation is an extra burden for farmers but does nothing to further protect the environment or water quality," he added. Under FIFRA, EPA approves labels and specifies the manner of application, which includes a thorough review of impacts to water quality and aquatic species. Permitting pesticide applications will also impose a resource burden on state regulators responsible for protecting health and the environment. The biggest concern though, according to Stallman, is that the permit requirement exposes farmers and ranchers to citizen lawsuits under the Clean Water Act for ordinary, essential and lawful crop protection practices. The Sensible Environmental Protection Act "removes this unnecessary and duplicative burden without weakening stringent FIFRA requirements for pesticide applications," Stallman said. In March, the House Agriculture Committee approved a similar measure, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2015 (HR 897).
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Deadly Mosquito-borne Illness Found in Six Texas Horses
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is asking horse owners to consult their local veterinarian about vaccines for deadly mosquito-borne illnesses. To date, six cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been confirmed in the Lone Star State.
The infected horses have been found in Newton, Orange, Liberty, Jasper and Jefferson counties. "There is a program, and there are vaccinations that work for mosquito-borne illnesses such as EEE," Bonnie Ramirez, TAHC director of communications, said. "We strongly advise that any and all horse owners contact their veterinarian and talk about starting a vaccination program for their horses. It should be routine equine  healthcare." Horses infected with EEE may suddenly die or show progressive central nervous system disorders. Symptoms include: unsteadiness, erratic behavior and a marked loss of coordination. The death rate for livestock infected with EEE, which affects all equine species, is 75-100 percent. All horses need an EEE vaccine at least annually. In the south, it's necessary to administer a booster shot at least once every four months.
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Outsmarting Your Food Label
Courtesy CBS.com,
By Jenn Eaker and Jody Rohlena
 A healthy diet is an important priority to many people. But confusing and sometimes mis-leading labels on food can make shopping difficult for those who are being health-concious. Jody Rohlena, Senior Editor for ShopSmart Magazine, shares some of the tricks to avoid.
One trick label to look out for is "Made with Whole Grain." It makes it sound like the food your choosing is giving you a good dose of fiber. The truth is a product with a reasonably good source of fiber has at least 3 grams per serving. However, a box of Honey Nut Chex, made with whole-grain rice, only provides 1 gram of fiber per serving.
Another trick to look out for are added nutrients that camouflage the junk. The truth is you might get a reasonable amount of fiber per serving from Pop-Tarts with added fiber, but it comes along with high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oil. Even with some fiber or vitamins thrown in, junk food is still junk.
The 'Made with' highlighting a minor ingredient is another trick to look out for. Terms "made with" or "made from" are virtually meaningless because they don't tell you how much of an ingredient was actually used. For example, the first mention of fruit in the ingredients list for Mixed Berry Nutri-Grain bars is "apple purée concentrate," after high-fructose corn syrup, glycerin, and sugar.
Another misleading label advertises zero bad stuff. However, if you see 'no trans fats' on the label, don't assume you're in the clear. Check the ingredients for partially hydrogenated oils, a source of trans fat, which is in Country Crock butter alternative. The problem is the FDA defines trans-fat-free as less than 0.5 gram per serving. That's not a lot, but it can add up, especially if you eat a few pats of this butter substitute every day.
And finally, remember the label reading "Good Source" might not be great. The truth is foods only need to supply 10 percent of a specified nutrient to be labeled a "good source." Quaker chewy granola bars, labeled a "good source of calcium'" have just 8 percent of your daily calcium needs or less than one-quarter of the amount in an 8-ounce glass of milk. That means those bars don't even meet the standard if you eat just one daily. Quaker gets around the issue with tiny print under the calcium claim that says "10% daily value per 40 grams," which is 1 2/3 bars.
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Contact Us
Texas Ag Coop Trust
915 Austin Street
Levelland, TX 79336
806-747-7894
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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
Ag Producers Co-op
Sunray, TX
Craig Rohrbach
Parmer County Cotton Growers
Farwell, TX
Dean Sasser
Farmers Coop Elevator
Levelland, TX
Tony Williams
Texas Cotton Ginners' Association
Austin, TX
Paul Wilson
United Cotton Growers
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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The Month of August -
National Immunization Awareness Month
People of all ages can protect their health
with timely vaccination.
For school, for prevention, for general health -
Each year in August, National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) provides an opportunity to highlight the value of immunization across the lifespan. Activities focus on encouraging all people to protect their health by being vaccinated against infectious diseases. Below are ways that NIAM can be used:
- Encourage parents of young children to get recommended immunizations by age two;
- Help parents make sure older children, preteens, and teens have received all recommended vaccines by the time they go back to school;
- Remind college students to catch up on immunizations before they move into dormitories
- Educate adults, including healthcare workers, about vaccines and boosters they may need
- Educate pregnant women about getting vaccinated to protect newborns from diseases like whooping cough (pertussis)
- Remind everyone that the next flu season is only a few months away
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.
TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family.
Next Issue: September 1, 2015
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