Newsletter Cover

January 2014

In This Issue
Message From the President
LAAHU Carrier Showcase and Charity Event
Special Legislative Meeting
UPDATE Your Profile!
Feature Article: 2014: The Year of Pay or Play
U-Day Coming Soon!
What does your membership do for you?
Quick Links
Want the LAAHU Times?
Join Our Mailing List
Local Information
Membership
Calendar & Education
 
Coming Events:
  
Carrier Showcase
Charity Event
February 20, 2014
Sportsmen's Lodge
8:00 AM - 10:30 AM 

University Day

Save The DATE!

Thursday April 24. 2014
Los Angeles Convention Center
  Large group, small group and individual tracks
Submit suggestions for speakers
and topics now!
  
  
 Education: 

 

NAHU  

    Learn more about the fantastic opportunities provided by NAHU in being recognized as a top producer with LPRT - Leading Producers Round Table. 


 Beautiful Computer
  
   NAHU is big on Education and Training and provides valuable tools for you to earn such distinguished designations as:
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Information
LAAHU
4747 N First Street Suite 140
Fresno, CA 93726
800-676-1628
  
Budget & Financials available upon request.  Click Here.
  
LAAHU WANTS YOUR FEEDBACK            

 Greetings!  

 

Remember to support Breast Cancer Awareness month in February!

  

 

LAAHU wants to hear from you!  We are here to serve and ensure that you are getting what you want from your information source.  Please send in comments to [email protected] about what topics you would like to see addressed in our monthly newsletter.  Keep an eye on our website for exciting changes and updated information for "members only". 

We would also like to express the importance of volunteers in this association and encourage you to get INVOLVED!  You will get back much more than you give!  Email us at [email protected] with your contact information and we will reach out to you with opportunities.

Message from The President  
Dede
By Dede Kennedy-Simington
 

At the start of this new and exciting year we want to give an extra special thank you to our annual sponsors.  The chapter could not accomplish what we do without their critical support.  With this support we are able to send representatives to capital conference to lobby on behalf of our members.  They sustain our ability to provide significant educational events to our membership.  We thank these sponsors for their continued years of meaningful support!

 

With gratitude being the theme we also thank our membership.  We hope you experience the value of membership through networking, lobbying and advocacy as well as a sense of giving back to an industry that gives to you.

 

We strongly encourage you to get involved and participate in the events of LAAHU, CAHU and NAHU.  Check the calendar for upcoming events.  Send an email to [email protected] to express interest in participating on a committee, we need your input and participation!   

 

Best wishes to you for a prosperous and successful 2014!

 

Dede Kennedy-Simington

LAAHU FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP MEETING:  
CARRIER SHOWCASE and CHARITY EVENT

 Dont Miss Speakers From The Following Carriers!
 

SeeChange

CalChoice

Kaiser

Health Net

Blue Shield

Aetna

United

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Remember to bring an unwrapped toy to the February Membership meeting for the LAAHU Annual Charity Drive. We are collecting unwrapped toys to donate the the Richstone Family Center for our charity this year and we greatly appreciate your support!
This will be a meeting you don't want to miss, check out the panel we have coming for you!
 
 

 

SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING

 
Thursday, February 20, 2014
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Directly Following Membership Meeting   

 

Come hear about pending federal legislation and the NAHU legislative priorities for 2014 from your LAAHU Leg Chair!
 
This meeting is open to all LAAHU members interested in legislation, LAAHU's legislation activities, and is a required briefing for the LAAHU delegation going to NAHU Capital Conference in Washington D.C. February 24-26, 2014.  
 

 

Important:  Update Your NAHU Profile!

 

Update your NAHU Profile!

 

Media exposure about AHU and the expertise of our members has been building since passage of the ACA, and has expanded rapidly nationally and locally as January 1, 2014 approaches. Many consumers and employers searching for qualified assistance will be directed to the www.nahu.org "Find an Agent" search engine on the NAHU homepage.

 

Please take some time to update your profile including a headshot. If you do not want to serve the indivdual market as it stands now - now is the time to affirm that using your NAHU profile.

 

With additional media coverage more employers will confirm membership of their agent via NAHU.

 

Plus, if you are serving the individual market and certified to help consumers with exchanges it is a great way to get referrals. Once you have finished all requirements and have the ability to print a Covered California Certified Insurance Agent certificate, you may update your profile with the states you're certified as an agent in.

 

Self-directed leads from the NAHU site are a value of your membership and it's important consumers are able to find expert help this way!

 

FEATURE ARTICLE - 2014: The Year of Pay or Play 

By Ken Doyle

 

 

For a few moments on July 2, 2013 there was a collective gasp felt around the nation when the Obama administration announced that it was delaying the "play or pay" employer mandate for 51+ groups.  Unexpectedly and without warning one of the chief components of the Affordable Care Act had been taken off the table until 2015.  The result: Those 51+ groups who were considering various "Play or Pay" scenarios realized there was no impetus to move forward and they slammed on the brakes. 

 

What we learned from that day is that when it comes to the Affordable Care Act things can change on a dime and nothing will ensure success more than remaining flexible and adaptable. There was perhaps an even harder lesson to be learned: Many brokers were caught off guard by this aspect of the law and there was more than a little confusion about look-back periods, measurement periods, variable-hour or seasonal, and new versus ongoing employees to name just a few.  In short, while employers weren't prepared for the law neither were a lot of their brokers.

While we can't predict the future, it is reasonably safe to assume that the law won't be delayed again. So let's learn from the past and prepare. No, actually, let's over prepare.

Here are a few suggestions to help you make the most of this opportunity.

 

 

Click here to continue reading.....

 

SAVE THE DATE - LAAHU U-DAY is COMING! 

 

 

 What Does Membership Do For You?
       
Have you heard about the additional funding NAHU has recently added to MARKET US?  As a member of LAAHU (NAHU) we get advertising through the "Find An Agent" tool - which is why it is so very important to update your profile information! See below:

 

New Updates on NAHU's National Media Campaign 

NAHU's National Media Campaign continues its first phase including the new "Agent-Finder" website and Google keyword ad buy. As of Friday, January 24, we have new statistics that indicates the great progression of the campaign.

"Agent-Finder" Website Analytics (data within a 6-day timeframe):

  • The ads were displayed 211,992 times.
  • Consumers clicked on the ads 2,104 times.
  • Total cost of clicks was $3,510.
  • Conversions on the website were 1,356, which was a rate of 64%.

We encourage you to update your contact information on the NAHU website so that the "Agent-Finder" website has your most current information. We thank you for educating others on our campaign. Please continue to support and promote the "Agent-Finder" website and share with all of your clients and colleagues.

 
 
             
                         


LAAHU would like to thank our 2013 Annual Sponsors!
  
Please do business with organizations that are committed to you and your success through support of LAAHU.
Let them know you appreciate it!




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Thank you for all you do - locally, statewide and nationally!
  

Membership 

Campaign

NAHU is excited to announce our New Membership Campaign! For the first four new members you recruit from July 1 - April 30, 2014, you get to choose to:
  • Have your membership dues waived for one year; OR
  • Receive a $250 American Express Gift Card
For every additional four new members you recruit from July 1 - April 30, 2014, you will:
  • Receive a $250 American Express Gift Card
Only one qualification per sponsor during contest period.  
Offer Expires: April 30, 2014    Membership Campaign Details