SAHU Newsletter | June 2023
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Category: Newsroom
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SAHU Newsletter | May 2023
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SAHU Newsletter | April 2023
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SAHU Newsletter | March 2023
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SAHU Newsletter | February 2023
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SAHU Newsletter | January 2023
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SAHU 23rd Annual Crab Feed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 1, 2023
The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is thrilled to announce our 23rd Annual Crab Feed event, open to both members and non-members. This year’s “Circus!” theme promises to be a night full of excitement and entertainment.
Everyone is invited to join us for an unforgettable evening with delicious crab and great company. You will have an opportunity to bid in our silent auction featuring a variety of exclusive prizes. SAHU members and non-members alike are welcome to donate silent auction items such as golf packages, vacation rentals, ski packages, sports tickets, concert tickets, wine tasting tours, and more! Rosamaria Marrujo, President of SAHU calls this one of the biggest networking events of the year!
SAHU offers the opportunity to purchase tables for 10 to enjoy the festivities with a group of friends or colleagues. Advance drink ticket sales are also available so you can enjoy a variety of beverages throughout the night. Visit us here and get your tickets purchased- https://cahip-norcal.org/event/sahu-crab-feed-2023/.
SAHU Crab Feed 2023 Sponsorship is available, if you’d like to learn more on how you can support this annual event please visit https://cahip-norcal.org/product/sahu-crab-feed-2023-sponsorship/.
As with every year, part of the proceeds from the Crab Feed will benefit local charitable organizations across the Sacramento region.
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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Californians and Americans through education, advocacy, and professional development. For more information, please visit: sahu-ca.com.
SAHU Newsletter | December 2022
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Congress Passes End-of-Year Omnibus That Includes NAHU-Supported Provisions
At the end of 2022, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion omnibus package that avoided a government shutdown. The massive spending package includes two major NAHU-supported provisions regarding telehealth and long-term care. Individuals will now be able to use existing retirement accounts to pay for long-term insurance. More specifically, the provision will permit individuals to pay up to $2,500 each year for long-term care insurance with their 401(k)s, 403(b)s and IRAs without a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty tax.
The package also includes a two-year extension of telehealth-related regulatory flexibilities put in place during the pandemic. In 2021, the CARES Act provided temporary relief during the pandemic by allowing HSA-qualified high-deductible health plans to cover telehealth services before reaching the deductible. It also allowed patients to choose and purchase telehealth services outside their HDHP without impacting their eligibility for an HSA. Prior to today’s bill, these flexibilities were set to expire at the end of 2022. Now, these waivers will remain in place through December 31, 2024. “As an insurance agent, it is important to be aware of how these legislative updates affect our clients. SAHU, CAHIP, and NAHU give agents the opportunity to be in the know and part of the change as it happens,” says Antonette Vanasek, SAHU Media Chair.
Other major health policies include a bipartisan deal to end the Medicaid policy that provided states with additional funding and barred them from kicking people off federally funded insurance, setting a new end date of April 1, 2023, instead of July 2023. This date change will have an impact on what has been dubbed the “Medicaid unwinding,” when nearly 85 million people enrolled in Medicaid will have their eligibility redetermined at the end of the public health emergency, triggering a high risk of coverage loss of eligible individuals.
In addition, the omnibus bill includes $1.5 billion in state grants for substance abuse prevention and treatment and several key investments to expand access to mental health, including grants for maternal mental health, the Community Health Service Block Grants and the Substance Use and Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Block Grants.
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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Californians and Americans through education, advocacy, and professional development. For more information, please visit: sahu-ca.com.
Lasik Surgery May Be More Dangerous Than Previously Thought
A recent study has shown that LASIK surgery may be more dangerous than previously thought. A recent investigation by the FDA found that there have been several complications reported after LASIK surgery. These complications include dry eyes, halos around lights, and starbursts.
The president of the Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters, Rosamaria Marrujo, stated that “LASIK is not as safe as we were once led to believe” and urged people to do their research before getting the surgery. This is not the first-time concerns have been raised about the safety of LASIK surgery; a class action lawsuit was filed against the makers of LASIK devices in 2016. Despite these concerns, many people continue to undergo the procedure each year.
Lasik eye surgery is a popular vision correction procedure that involves reshaping the cornea. To ensure patients are informed of all potential risks associated with this treatment, the FDA mandates medical professionals to go over every possible outcome – including those for individuals living with diabetes who may suffer from long-term complications at an increased rate compared to non-diabetics.
Despite the high cost and lack of insurance coverage, Lasik eye surgery remains a popular procedure for 500,000 Americans annually. However, surgeons are not pleased with the FDA’s new regulatory requirements.
Lasik eye surgery is an important decision, and it is up to the individual whether they pursue it. To help people make a well-informed choice that works for them, the FDA has put together a comprehensive document outlining all the essential facts regarding this procedure.
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For over 30 years, SAHU has worked to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Californians and Americans through education, advocacy, and professional development. For more information, please visit: sahu-ca.com.