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SAVE THE DATE

Health Symposium
Wednesday,
April 23, 2014
8:00am - 4:30pm


Awards Banquet
Tuesday,
April 22, 2014
5:30pm - 9:00pm

Boise State University
Student Union Building

 
 


Thank you  
to our sponsors: 
 
PLATINUM  

GOLD
Blue Cross of Idaho
INA

SILVER
Aflac
Ameritas Group
Assurant Employee Benefits
Assurant Health
Best Life & Health Insurance
Delta Dental of Idaho
LifeMap Assurance Co.
SelectHealth


 

 


 

 


Key
Key Contact Program

IAHU Key Contacts are members who either currently have, or are willing to develop relationships with members of the Idaho Legislature. They may be called upon to assist in the delivery of PAC contributions, or to make contact with their lawmakers during the legislative session. While most Key Contacts live in the  district of the lawmaker they cover, it is possible to serve as a Key Contact for a lawmaker from another district if a previous relationship exists.

 

Please submit your Key Contact Form today!

 

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IAHU Viewpoint
Volume 6 Issue 2                    _ _    October  2013  
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IAHU President,
Trent Sutton
President
IAHU President's Message
By Trent Sutton, IAHU President

 

October 1 is finally upon us along with the biggest component of the ACA to date - the opening of the Insurance Marketplaces.   I must admit that I have spent many sleepless nights wondering if the rumors were true - "Would there really be a role for the broker in this process?"  I have to laugh at myself now because if the number of phone calls, e-mails, and questions from clients are any indication it appears that the "rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated."

   

This month association membership nationally topped over 19,000 members for the first time since May of 2008.  Similarly in Idaho we are seeing new members flock to our association at the highest rate in years.  Government organizations such as HHS and the Idaho Department of Insurance have reached out  in efforts to increase awareness of our critical role in the changing health care landscape, and Governor Butch Otter recently named Sept 23-27 Health Care Week with IAHU members holding educational events throughout the state.

   

In a rapidly changing landscape it is important for any professional to have the tools necessary to become and remain a valuable resource to their clients.  In a recent media interview IAHU member David Wilcox cited the fact that leading physicians are members of the American Medical Association, attorneys are affiliated with the American Bar Association, and leaders in the insurance field claim the privilege of being members of the Association of Health Underwriters.

 

My theme this year is, "Membership has its Privileges" which I will be writing about more in future articles.  Those outside of our membership are taking notice and are recognizing the important role we play in the reshaping of healthcare in Idaho and America, as I hope you are.  I am proud to be a member of IAHU and to stand beside so many dedicated individuals striving to make our industry better.   Thanks for all you do!  

 

Wishing you every success possible!

 

Trent Sutton
IAHU President

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HUPAC 
HUPAC / IPAC
By Dana Drake, HUPAC Chair / IPAC President

Last Legislative session here in Idaho, many of our Legislators put their political careers on the line in support of Idaho's Health Insurance Exchange.  This issue was one of the most hard fought and nasty debates Idaho has dealt with in quite some time.  Because of these House and Senate members who supported our position, the hard work of many IAHU members, and of course Governor Otter who took quite a political beating, we were able to "Keep It In Idaho."  Although as I write this, the Exchange is a complete mess, Idaho is at least on track to develop our own system for next year if the ACA is still around.  Just to mention, we should all say thank you to two of our members who are on the Exchange Board - Tom Shores and Hyatt Erstad.  They are putting in long hours and looking out for our interests - thank you both!

There is talk of a possible repeal being constructed for the upcoming legislative session.  There was enough time and energy wasted last year - we don't want to see this happen again.

I'm asking all IAHU members to STEP UP NOW and begin contributing to IPAC; our Idaho Political Action Committee.  We need funds to be able to make sizable contributions to Idaho political candidates who support our exchange efforts and agents in general.  This money stays in Idaho.  IAHU's Legislative Council makes the decisions which candidates we contribute to.  Please sign up today and do a minimum $10.00 contribution through monthly bank draft.  The form is included below.  $10.00 a month is nothing - 2 Starbucks - but 200 IAHU members contributing $10.00 a month is $2,000 a month!!!

I want to thank and acknowledge our current monthly contributors: 

Terrie Trevino, Ann Bell, Tom Shores, Eric Redman, Scott Leavitt, David Wilcox, Colby Fiala, Brenda Traveller, Kim Pullin and myself.

Thank you,
Dana Drake
IAHU HUPAC / IPAC Chair


IPAC Contribution Form


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Tax
Chapter Tax Filing Information

By Ryan Heider, IAHU Secretary / Treasurer

I am reminded of the age old adage, "The only two guarantees in life are death and taxes."  While I seem to be staying a step ahead of the Grim Reaper, I can't seem to outrun Uncle Sam's tax collectors.  As the IAHU Treasurer, I have been given the responsibility of seeing that our tax return is correctly filed.  Like you, taxes are one of my least favorite things to deal with!  However, our CPA and wonderful Executive Assistant Wendy Leatham are helping to make the tax filing process relatively painless.  As such, I wanted to make the process as equally painless for each chapter.  Hopefully after reading this you will realize that your chapter's filing is not such a daunting task, and you can wrap it up relatively quickly!

 

So, here is the good news!!!

 

While IAHU is required to file a FULL tax return, local chapters may not have to do this due to lower gross receipts.  Yahoo!!!!  According to the www.irs.gov website, exempt organizations that are not required to file a full return (Form 990) may include: 
 
"An exempt organization (other than a private foundation) that normally has annual gross receipts of $50,000 or less ($25,000 for tax years ending before December 31, 2010) and therefore is eligible to file an annual electronic notice Form 990-N instead of an annual information return)"
   

 

Now you are asking, "Okay Ryan - you said that there was good news, but now you're telling me that I likely will have to file 990-N.  That sounds bad!  What kind of information will I need for that?"

 

 

In order to complete Form 990-N each chapter will need to provide the following information:

 

  • Organization's legal name,
  • Organization's mailing address,
  • Organization's website address (if applicable),
  • Organization's employer identification number (EIN),
  • Name and address of a principal officer of the organization,
  • Organization's annual tax period,
  • Verify that the organization's annual gross receipts are still normally $50,000 or less

 

"I guess that I can handle that, but when do I have to have it done by?"

 

Form 990-N is due by the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of the organization's tax period."  So, if your chapter's fiscal year ended on June 30th, Form 990-N is due by November 15th. 

 

"This sounds like fun!  I can't wait to get this done!" you say.

 

Okay, I'm not expecting that, but it really isn't that bad.  Additional information can be found at www.irs.gov/eo, or feel free to contact me at [email protected] or (208) 733-2528.  Thanks for your support in helping to get the taxes filed for this past year.  I appreciate the time you voluntarily give to your association.


Chapter
Chapter News

Provided by Brad Miles, NIAHU President


ObamaCare Presentation

 
2013-2014 Eastern Idaho Board Members