Thank you to LAAHU president Brian Sullivan for allowing Cal Broker to sit in on a recent lunch hour presentation about COVID vaccinations. Franklin D. Pratt, MD, the Medical Director of the Los Angeles County Vaccine-Preventable Disease Control Program (VPDCP) spent about an hour and a half going over the latest on COVID vaccinations. The biggest takeaway was that even people who have had COVID, even people who take vitamins and meditate and even people who have the most positive energy and optimal health, need to get vaccinated when they can. In fact, Dr. Pratt implored all those present to be vaccination ambassadors. He said that the health insurance agent and broker community is a powerful force in the fight against misinformation and scams. Please let your clients know that vaccinations are safe and that they are imperative for getting us all back to work and back to health. That said, everyone should be aware that there are also plenty of scammers out there. Only get vaccinated from reputable health care providers. For reliable local information, go to your county department of public health. You should be able to sign up for COVID news and updates which will detail the absolute latest info on vaccinations in your area.
TELEHEALTH
A.M. Best Weighs In on Telehealth
A new A.M. Best special report “Telehealth Claim Surge from Pandemic Transforms Healthcare Delivery” found that just one-quarter of respondents said they would prefer a virtual appointment over an in-person health care visit once the pandemic ends. That said, Best contends telehealth is positive for the health industry. Telehealth has increased access to and usage of mental health visits, made health care access more effective for low-income people and easier for those with chronic conditions. It also reduced the risk of exposure to COVID for the elderly. Payment parity between virtual and in-person visits expanded provider willingness to offer services virtually, enhanced access to enrollees and filled the earnings gap for providers affected by reduced in-person visits. But Best also says there are caveats. For example, health care providers must use different skills to connect with patients. And then there’s that thing about people really wanting to be in the doctor’s office with a live person.
WEBINARS
Don’t Miss NAAIA Content
The National African American Insurance Association offers many free recorded webinars on its site. NAAIA has addressed topics like brand identity in 2021, sisterhood in organizations, the cannabis industry and much more more. Check out the webinars here.
OCAHU EVENT
MENTAL HEALTH
INSURTECH
Agency Revolution Announces HomeServices Insurance as Newest Enterprise Marketing Automation Customer
Agency Revolution, an FMG Suite Company, serving independent insurance agents, announced that HomeServices Insurance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, has signed an enterprise agreement for Fuse, the company’s marketing automation platform. Under this agreement, HomeServices Insurance will use Fuse to power digital customer communications across its 26 locations. HomeServices Insurance will integrate Fuse with its Agency Management System, Applied Epic, through a seamless bulk data extract (BDE) integration. The integration allows the marketing team to use clients and policy data for targeted client and prospect communications.
INDUSTRY GIVES BACK
IICF Event Raises Money for Community Grants Program
The IICF Western Division will host the virtual Horizon Award Gala, March 18. This is a chance to both celebrate the insurance industry’s legacy of collaboration and philanthropic commitment, while also raising funds for the IICF Community Grants Program, benefiting nonprofits with a focus on children at risk, education and human services. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits, click here. For additional information, contact Melissa-Anne Duncan at (714) 870-1084 or maduncan@iicf.com.
LTC
Commissioner Lara Appoints Members to the California Long Term Care Insurance Task Force
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced his six appointments to the new Long Term Care Insurance Task Force. Created by the legislative passage and Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of AB 567, the Task Force will explore how a statewide long-term care insurance program could be designed and implemented. Newly appointed members include:
MEDICARE
Survey: Americans Focused on Healthcare Over Student Loans and Legal Pot
No doubt our readers do not agree with the 1,000 adults recently surveyed by Medicare Advantage Plans, but we’re in the business of delivering the information so we will do that. As we were saying, Medicare Advantage Plans, surveyed 1,000 adults in the United States about what policies they’d most like to see enacted. Drum roll, please:
- 51% of Americans would like to see Medicare for All over student loan forgiveness OR marijuana legalization
- 1/3 would rather have student loan forgiveness, and 1 in 4 would prefer legalized marijuana
- 60% of Americans would choose Medicare for All over a free college system
- Still, 14% said they’d rather have the Monday after Superbowl Sunday be a national holiday
EVENTS
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- LAAHU’s Zoom Happy Hour is the first Wednesday of the month from 4-5p.m. Members and nonmembers welcome. Register here.
- NAHU Power Hour, 4th Wednesday of the month from 4-5p.m. Pacific. Members and nonmembers welcome. Register here.
- OCAHU Virtual Sales Symposium Feb 11 &12, Navigating the New Normal, February 11 & 12, 7:30 AM to 12:30 p.m. both days. Info here or email orangecountyahu@yahoo.com.
- NAIFA-Los Angeles 68th Annual Will G. Farrell Award & Leadership Recognition Event, Virtual, Feb. 18. More info here.
- CAHU Women’s Leadership Summit, Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas, April 7-9. Email questions to info@cahu.org.
- American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance, National Medicare Supplement Insurance Industry Summit, Sept 8-10, Schaumburg Convention Center, Chicago area, info here.
