As we close out another incredible year, we’re proud to reflect on all that CAHIP Northern California (formerly SAHU) has accomplished. From hosting engaging member events and impactful community initiatives to advocating for key industry issues and supporting professional development, 2024 has been a year of growth and achievement. This Year-In-Review highlights the milestones we’ve reached together and sets the stage for an exciting 2025. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey—let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made and the path ahead!

January Member Meeting

This presentation by Dennis Cash, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Ameritas, is focused on employer-assisted benefits for employee education, specifically around student loans and tuition reimbursement. It covers the background of BenefitEd, the services it offers in managing student loan payments, and the benefits of these programs for both employers and employees. The presentation includes details on the student loan landscape, tax benefits, various plan designs, and the impact of these benefits on employee financial stability and employer retention strategies. It also discusses the implementation process for these programs.

CAHIP Innovation Expo

CAHIP Board of Directors 2023-2024 and National NABIP Team

Jack Holder, Dawn McFarland, and Paul Roberts

Tim Kanter and Rosamaria Marrujo

Jolene Bibian and Sue Wakamoto-Lee

 Outstanding Medium Chapter Newsletter 2023-2024

Outstanding Website Award 2023-2024

Medium Chapter of the Year 2023-2024

Thank you to all our amazing members and avid readers. Couldn't have done it without you!

February Member Meeting

Speaker: Jennifer Castillo
Workforce Health Consultant at Kaiser Permanente

Learn how social health is connected to employee wellness and gain actionable strategies you can share with customers to support their current employee well-being efforts.

Good Health Goes Beyond Good Health Care

Total health involves more than quality care. Social and economic factors, such as where people are born, live, and work, have a big impact on their health. Understanding employees’ total health will help organizations create wellness solutions to address any social health disparities they may experience.

NABIP Capitol Conference

The SAHU crew made quite the impression at the NABIP's 2024 Capitol Conference. With team members Dave Fear Jr., Brad Wright, Carrina Jensen, David Brabender, and Rosamaria Marrujo leading the charge, we didn't just attend; we left our mark. Our adventures included engaging discussions with legislators such as Rep. Mike Thomson of California's 4th District and Senator Laphonza Butler or California. We gained valuable networking with peers, and participating in the standout Cap Con Superhero PAC Event.

Highlight of the event? Our Region 8 clinched the award for Highest Total Annual Contributions to NABIP PAC, showcasing our commitment and leadership. Not to be outdone, CAHIP was honored with the Legislative Excellence Award, affirming our impactful presence and advocacy in the health insurance sector.

It was more than a conference; it was a demonstration of SAHU's dedication and influence. Here's to our remarkable achievements and the momentum they bring to our mission!

(Left to Right) Rosamaria Marrujo, Dave Fear Jr., Cerrina Jensen, at the west front of the Capitol building.

Paul Roberts, CAHIP Legislative Chair Receiving the Legislative Excellence Award on behave of CAHIP.

Cerrina Jensen and Rosamaria Marrujo meeting with Rep. Mike Thompson of California's 4th District

Brad Wright, John Greene - VP of Congressional Affairs, and Rosamaria Marrujo

Rosamaria Marrujo, Tim Kanter, and Paul Roberts meeting with Senator Laphonza Butler of California

Dave Fear, David Brabender, Cerrina Jensen, and Brad Wright

Rosamaria Marrujo, Tim Kanter, and Paul Roberts meeting with Senator Laphonza Butler of California

SAHU Crab Feed 2024

Another successful night of boogie and games! SAHU's 2024 Disco Themed Crab Feed really had us staying alive on the dance floor, making it a night to remember. Here are a few groovy highlights of the night. 🕺💃

800 pounds of crab and 100 pounds of shrimp were enjoyed by all!  🦐🦀

The silent auction was a hit, featuring lavish tropical trips, sports memorabilia, & elegant art pieces up for grabs. 🏖️🏀🎨

The dessert proceeds were $1500 with the Brown Marble 2D cake selling for the most at $200!🍰🧁

350 Partygoers showed off their best dance moves in the dance-off & costume contest, adding to the disco fever! 💃🕺.....be sure to keep scrolling for those photos!

March Coffee Chat

Talking Points Included:

SAHU PAC Event

If you missed the PAC event, you missed a rare opportunity for intimate, one-on-one conversations with the lobbyists and advocates at the forefront of California healthcare. The evening was a tremendous success, with a full house and tickets selling out quickly, creating an exciting atmosphere of networking and camaraderie.

SAHU President, Helen Ornellas, says, "The room was filled with likeminded Brokers and Agents who wanted to know what's going on firsthand and were not let down, amazing evening."

The evening was dedicated to education, advocacy, and lobbying, all aimed at aligning the future of healthcare. We were privileged to have insightful guest speakers, including Faith Borges, Legislative Advocate, and Rob Stutzman, a well-known and highly respected political commentator. They provided updates on California health insurance and the ‘politics’ that surround it, with an important reminder that we want to be at the table, not on the table.  Much of the night’s focus was on the Single Payor system and its status across political lines, informing us that Single Payer proponents are not letting up.  It's flagship policy for the progressives that currently dominate our state legislature.  As written, this new CalCare program would ONLY allow assistance to members (everyone in CA) by not-for-profit entities. 

Guest speaker, CAHIP President, Tim Kanter, also photographed, Rosamaria Marrujo, past SAHU President.

SAHU President, Helen Ornellas welcoming the attendees.

Guest speakers, Tim Kanter, Faith Borges, and Rob Stuzman

Lauren Bayha, SAHU Executive Director, with Helen Ornellas, SAHU President.

SAHU President, Helen Ornellas and Branden Martin with Armstrong and Associates.  

Guest speaker, political commentator, Rob Stutzman addressing guests. Legislative advocate, Faith Borges, Tim Kanter, Rosamaria Marrujo, Cerrina Jensen also photographed.

Cornhole Tournament 2024

This year's Vanguard Cornhole event was a blast!

Here's a quick recap of the fun:

Event Stats:
Teams: 31
Attendees: 70

Winners:

1st Place: Danny Langarica (Cal Choice) & Andy Fullerton (Wraith Scarlett Randolph) – Prizes: 2 Giants tickets and $50 Firehouse gift card

2nd Place: Brian Coppin (Cal Choice) & David Parker (Cigna + Oscar) – Prizes: $50 Top Golf gift card and $25 movie theater gift card

3rd Place: Enoch Barrios (Covered CA) & Guest – Prizes: $25 movie theater gift card

Special Shoutout: Let's hear it for Cerrina Jensen, who came oh-so-close to being the first woman in the top 3. Way to represent, Cerrina!

Special Thanks: A huge shoutout to Danny Garcia for putting together this SAHU favorite event! Your hard work and dedication made it an unforgettable day.

A big thank you to all who joined and made this event a success. 
Can't wait to see you at the next one!

Participants gearing up for the tournament!

First Place winners, Danny Langarica & Andy Fullerton. Second place winners, Brian Coppin & David Parker. Our 2024 Cornhole Winners, with 3rd place winners, Enoch Barrios & guest.  

Photo 1) Participants getting their throw on! Photo 2) SAHU President, Helen Ornellas, and Mr. Specs Lanham.  Photo 3) Cerrina and Aaron Jensen, and guests.  Photo 4) Shannon Meyer with Aetna, Dalia Sutton with Anthem, and guest.  

Golf Tournament 2024

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day at The Ridge Golf Club in Auburn for our annual SAHU Golf Tournament! The sun was shining, the greens were pristine, and the camaraderie was unbeatable.

With a total of 102 golfers and 20 vendors attending, the day was buzzing with activity. From manning the holes to driving drink carts, everyone played a part in making this tournament a tremendous success.

A huge shoutout to Word & Brown for sponsoring this fantastic event.

Here’s a look at the winners and some memorable moments from the day:

🥇1st Place Winner: Aetna Foursome
Noah Woehler (hit a Hole-in-One at hole #12!)
Daniel Hawkins
Tyrone Sales
Jacob Woehler

🥈2nd Place Winner: Cypress Dental Foursome
Andrew Garnett
Chuck Richesin
Ryan Andrew
Mike Updegraff

🏆1st Place Mixed Team:
Capitol Insurance Solutions Foursome
Maia Francis
Jackie Fitzhenry
Tim Murphrey
Josh Hedger

Closest to the Pin Winners:
🏌️‍♂️ Men: Dylan Asherman
🏌️‍♀️Women: Carmen Perea

⛳️Longest Drive Winners:
Men: Daniel Hawkins
Women: Marissa Herndon

Special thanks to everyone who participated and contributed to making this event memorable.

Lauren Bayha, golfers, Dan Kistner, Dave Brabender.

Mia, Jackie, and the Colonial team

Word & Brown Sponsor table

Golfers checking out our raffle prizes

CAHIP Capitol Summit

The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) extends its gratitude to those who were able to attend the California Association of Health Underwriters (CAHIP) Capitol Summit in Sacramento last week and those who have shown dedication to oppose, educate, and spread awareness about the impacts of the latest single-payer proposal. Your efforts have led to significant victories for Californians.

AB 2200, legislation that would have mandated single-payer healthcare in California, was defeated. The bill was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee's Suspense File and will not advance to the floor, thus marking a defeat for this legislative and calendar year.

Also defeated was another CAHIP key bill, SB 1236, which would have significantly increased premiums for seniors on Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), thus reducing enrollment and risking insurer market withdrawal in California.

These legislative victories are a testament to the collective effort and dedication of the attendees and the broader health insurance community. SAHU remains committed to advocating for policies that protect and benefit consumers, businesses, and healthcare professionals in California.

The Capitol Summit, featuring a diverse range of speakers, including industry leaders and subject matter experts, offered comprehensive updates on legislative changes, regulatory impacts, and emerging trends.  “The CAHIP Capitol Summit was an outstanding event that provided deep insights into the evolving landscape of health insurance”, said Michele Mills, SAHU’s Secretary Chair.  Mills went on to say, “One of the key takeaways from the summit was the detailed analysis of recent healthcare Senate and Assembly Bills and their implications for businesses, Agents/ Brokers, and consumers.

While we’ve achieved these great wins for California, SAHU encourages everyone to stay in the fight, and stay engaged and informed as we continue to navigate and influence the legislative landscape.  

Helen Ornellas- SAHU President and Jack Holder-CAHIP VP PAC Chair

Rosamaria Marrujo- CAHIP President-Elect,
and Tim Kanter- CAHIP President. 

From left to right; Michele Meder-SAHU Awards Chair, Brad Wright- SAHU Legislative Co-Chair, Michele Mills-SAHU Secretary, David Brabender- SAHU President-Elect, Addison Beverly- Aetna, Cerrina Jensen- SAHU PAC Chair, and SAHU members/guests, Aaron Jenson, Carmen Perea and Cora Lynn Alvar

June Member Meeting

About the Speaker

As Vice President of CoPower & Ancillary Services, Pratibha brings her entrepreneurial spirit to champion the causes that are dearest to her, including improving healthcare outcomes and increasing member access to quality care. She is a deeply empathetic leader who is always dedicated to making a difference with quantifiable results. Pratibha has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, especially in working with benefits, third-party administrators, General Agency distribution, and carriers. Prior to joining Amwins, she was at Blue Shield of California in Sales Operations leading an Analysis team in supporting Large Group Sales, and in Product Strategy contributing to the multi-year, self-funded product roadmap. Pratibha is strategic and results-driven, letting her proven track record in generating sales and creating a culture of excellence, service, and profitability speak for her.

SAHU Business & Medicare Expo

CAHIP NorCal (formerly SAHU) Business and Medicare Expo was a resounding success, filled with insightful presentations, networking opportunities, and exciting announcements. We started the day with a delicious breakfast sponsored by Landmark—thank you for getting us off to a great start! The keynote presentation, "The Salesperson’s Guide to Growing a Business," delivered by Wendy Keneipp and Kevin Trokey of Q4Intelligence, was both motivating and practical, offering inspirational strategies on processes and procedures for running your business. If you weren't one of the lucky ones to win their book, go out and grab yourself a copy—you won't be disappointed!

Throughout the day, attendees were treated to a series of valuable presentations. Paul Roberts from Word & Brown, also the VP of Legislation for CAHIP, provided a critical update on legislative developments, emphasizing the importance of staying engaged with CAHIP’s priority bills as the legislative session draws to a close on August 31st. Dr. Arif from Western Health Advantage offered a fascinating look at the history of health insurance and highlighted key areas of care that will need to be looked at in the future.

Katie Bain from Nonstop Health shared insights into the benefits of Medical Expense Reimbursement Plans for mid to large groups, while Antonette Vanasek of Vanasek Insurance amazed us with how AI tools can revolutionize business practices—from streamlining admin tasks to setting up a scheduling bot to automate Medicare AEP appointments. (Download the Presentation Here) Many of us were blown away by the possibilities, including the fact that AI can even help build a website for your business!

Our breakout sessions didn’t disappoint, featuring Anthem’s Dalia Sutton on Compliant Marketing at Medicare Sales Events and Addison Beverley’s insightful discussion on Veterans and Medicare. The day was capped off with thrilling giveaways and raffles, with Vivant Health winning the best table decoration award and Alicia Lowe from WHA taking home a stunning Louis Vuitton bag courtesy of Scroll.Care.

To close out the day, we proudly revealed our new branding and logo: SAHU will officially become CAHIP-NorCal starting September 1st! We also celebrated our achievements with the SAHU awards and recognized our members for their outstanding contributions. The Trusted American Insurance Agency team was honored with an award for exceptional service in marketing. A special thanks to our Event Sponsor Western Health Advantage, Keynote Speaker Sponsor Vivant Health, Grand Prize Sponsor People Rock HR, Badge Sponsor Scroll.Care, and Breakfast Sponsor Landmark for making this event possible. 

Attendees Enjoying Keynote Speaker Presentation

The Medical Group Panel Discussion Featuring (Left to RIght)

Ben Philips, Chief Administrative Officer, NIVANO Physicians
Sean Atha, Sr. VP, Business & Program Development, River City Medical Group
Dr. Christopher Swales, Family Physician & CFO, Woodland Clinic Medical Group
Dr. Jason Spears, Chief Medical Officer, Mercy Medical Group
Dr. Gabrielle Gaspar, Chief Medical Officer, Hill Physicians

The Medicare Breakout Room with Addison Beverly from Aetna Presenting

The Induction of the CAHIP NorCal 2024-2025 Board

SAHU Become CAHIP Northern California

The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) proudly announce its official rebranding to CAHIP Northern California (CAHIP NorCal), marking a significant step in aligning with its state and national counterparts. This rebranding follows the statewide transition of the California Association of Health Underwriters (CAHU) to the California Agents and Health Insurance Professionals (CAHIP) and the national rebranding of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) to the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP).

This name change reflects our continued commitment to advocating for and supporting health insurance professionals and the broader benefits community in Northern California. Under the new name, CAHIP NorCal will remain dedicated to offering valuable resources, education, and legislative advocacy to its members.

September Member Meeting

Your Guide to Medical Expense Reimbursement Plans (MERPs)
With Guest Speaker Katie Bain

October Member Meeting

Join us at the start of Medicare AEP for an essential update on 2025 Medicare Part D and SEP changes. This meeting is tailored to keep agents informed on the latest developments impacting their clients and businesses. With Medicare AEP kicking off, this session will provide timely insights to help you stay ahead in the evolving Medicare landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to get the most up-to-date information and prepare for the busy enrollment period.

About the Speaker – Dalia Sutton

Dalia Sutton is the Medicare Chair for CAHIP Northern California and a seasoned professional in healthcare management. With over 20 years of experience, she currently serves as the Regional Sales Manager for Anthem Blue Cross, supporting Medicare insurance producers throughout the Greater Sacramento Region. Dalia is a well-respected Medicare Subject Matter Expert with a passion for developing and educating agents, having dedicated the last 14 years to helping brokers grow their business across California. Holding dual degrees in Business Administration and Human Resources from California State University, Northridge, Dalia combines her extensive knowledge with a commitment to service. In her personal life, Dalia enjoys traveling to Costa Rica with her husband of 25 years, and spending time with her two grown children and two dogs.

River Oak Center for Children's 2024 Turkey Dinner Drive

Thanks to You CAHIP NorCal Donated

To River Oak Center for Children's Turkey Dinner Drive

This year, CAHIP NorCal is most thankful for you. We appreciate you helping to make this possible. Happy Thanksgiving!

River Oak Center for Children's 2024 Toy Drive

This holiday season, CAHIP NorCal proudly supported once again the River Oak Center for Children’s annual Toy Drive, contributing to the success of their "Winter Wonderland" event. Through online donations and toy drop-offs, the drive brought joy to countless families, creating cherished memories during a time of year that can often be stressful for many.

On the day of the event, CAHIP NorCal board members—David Brabender, President; Lauren Bayha, Executive Director; Andrew Garnett, Community Services Chair; Shae Trombatore, Media Chair; and Kyle Frantz, Communications Chair—volunteered their time wrapping gifts for children and families. The festive spirit was contagious as families flowed in and out, enjoying the beautifully decorated "Winter Wonderland" and the warmth of a community coming together for a meaningful cause.

Here's to another great year with CAHIP Northern California!