Sacramento, CA — The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) applauds the House of Representatives for passing the Omnibus Appropriations bill that contains provisions that would delay the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s “Cadillac tax” on high-cost health plans and the health insurance tax (HIT) levied on all private health insurance. The budget package will delay the implementation of the Cadillac tax for two years and creates a one-year delay on the HIT.

“This is great news,” says SAHU President, Marcy McCulloch, “if the Senate follows suit and President Obama signs into law, this will be a big win for employers considering all that they have to do currently to comply with ACA mandates. If implemented, the Cadillac tax and HIT will push healthcare costs even higher and hurt middle-class workers.”

“The Cadillac tax needs to be repealed or aggressively re-shaped if it is going to offer any real world solutions,” says Brad Davis, local insurance broker and SAHU board member, “as these taxes do very little to rein in healthcare costs. Hopefully Congress uses the delay to put some serious thought and consideration into how to make this work for Main Street America.”

The delay of the Cadillac/excise tax is effective for 2018 and 2019, meaning that without further legislative adjustment or repeal, the tax will now be scheduled to take effect beginning in January 2020. SAHU supports the delay of the Cadillac/excise tax as a short-term measure, but we remain fully committed to a complete repeal of the tax given its projected widespread impact on employer-provided insurance coverage.

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

Sacramento, CA — The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) applauds the House of Representatives and the Senate, as both chambers of Congress has now passed the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1624 on September 28th through voice vote, and on October 1st, the Senate took action to pass S. 1099 through unanimous consent. This is a huge win for states and small groups.

The PACE Act repeals the mandated small-group expansion from groups of up to 50 employees to groups of up to 100 employees that was to go in to effect on January 1, 2016. The Act gives states the flexibility to determine the size of their small-group market instead of being forced into the national standard. SAHU has long been concerned that the combination of the new compliance requirements and the regulations for the new group size would cause dramatic changes to the insurance policies of medium-sized employers, and we have continued to advocate for the enactment of the PACE Act to prevent this type of market disruption.

“It just doesn’t make sense to on the one hand say these are Applicable Large Employers (ALE’s), subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions of the ACA, while on the other hand moving them to small group status.”, says local insurance broker & SAHU member, Cerrina Jensen, “We’ve already seen dramatic upheaval in the existing small group market with eye popping rate increases hitting the market as we speak. Forcing these midsize employers into that fray would further exasperate the problem.”

“Ever since the ACA was passed, California has demonstrated time and again a leadership role of proactive proficiency,” states Marcy McCulloch, President of SAHU, “Our current market structure for Small, Midsize, and Large employers works well and recognizes that there are significant structural differences between a company with 15 employees and one with 85 employees, both of which would be constricted with a very wide brush into one market segment under current law. If President Obama signs this into law, we urge California lawmakers to take action quickly before businesses lose their current health plans and thousands of Californians lose their health coverage”

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

(Sacramento, CA) – Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) has named Julie Thorstensen as one of the Association’s 2014-2015 Volunteer of the Year. Thorstensen is the AVP of Employee Benefits with Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

“Julie has worked tirelessly on SAHU’s Annual Crab Feed Committee,” says Marcy McCulloch, current SAHU President, “Without Julie’s donated time; our annual Crab Feed would not as wonderful as it is every year! I thank her for her continued contributions to SAHU and congratulate her on winning this award.”

“The volunteer of the year award from SAHU was quite the surprise and very humbling as there as so many volunteers who are deserving,” says Thorstensen, “I would like to thank SAHU for this honor, it is a great organization for the agent/broker community and I am proud to be a part of it.”

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

(Sacramento, CA) – Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) has named Diane Christian as one of the Association’s 2014-2015 Volunteer of the Year. Christian is a Senior Account Manager with Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

“Diane has worked tirelessly on SAHU’s Annual Crab Feed Committee,” says Marcy McCulloch, current SAHU President, “Without Diane’s donated time; our annual Crab Feed would not as wonderful as it is every year! I thank her for her continued contributions to SAHU and congratulate her on winning this award.”

“It’s an honor to receive the Volunteer of the Year award – SAHU is a great organization and we have the privilege of working with a fantastic team,” says Christian, “I’m proud to be part of it and am thrilled to be recognized when so many others are equally deserving.”

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

(Sacramento, CA) – The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) announced last week that it is one of only three vendors selected to provide the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) agent/broker training. NAHU is the only agent/broker association that was awarded this honor. All agents and brokers must complete the FFM registration and training in order to assist consumers with enrollment through the FFM.

Brad Davis, Past-President of SAHU and current Vice President of the state chapter CAHU, explained, “NAHU staff and member agents have been educating employers, associations, assisters, navigators, other agents and the general public since the law was passed in 2010. Much of their experience and knowledge on the subject matter came under the guidance of NAHU and its rigorous PPACA certification program; it’s only fitting, and an asset to all American health care consumers, that NAHU be one of the preferred educational vendors for the FFM.”

Agents and brokers who wish to participate in the FFM training must first complete a two-part registration process. The first part is a FFM agent and broker registration for plan year 2016 through the CMS agent/broker portal. The second step is to select a preferred provider of the FFM training. Following CMS guidelines, the training provides online instruction with webinar modules, a final exam and continuing education credits issued on a state by state basis.

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

(Sacramento, CA) — The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is an organization of health insurance agents, brokers and professionals, installed its 2015-2016 board. Marcy McCulloch was installed as Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters president.

McCulloch is a sales representative with Rogers Benefit Group’s in Rocklin, CA. She has been in the industry since 2002 and has been an active member of NAHU for five years. Before becoming President of SAHU, McCulloch served as Awards Chair and Secretary for SAHU. She has been to Washington D.C. multiple times campaigning on behalf of insurance
brokers and the insurance industry. McCulloch is a resident of Granite Bay, CA.

“Local agents and brokers serve as a source of truth about healthcare coverage that links the needs of citizens, business and policymakers to create a healthy, more fiscally responsible American healthcare system,” McCulloch said.

The 2015-2016 Board:
 President – Marcy McCulloch, CHRS, CBC
 Past-President – Cerrina Jensen, CHRS, CBC
 President-Elect – Ned Schaut, RHU, CHRS, CBC
 Secretary – Samantha Siders
 Treasurer – Brad Davis, CEBS
 Legislation – David Brabender
 Media/PR – Jennifer Mason
 Membership (New) – Lauren Bayha
 Membership (Retention) – Lisa Hutcherson
 PAC – Carolyn Lewis, CHRS, MBA
 Communications – Teri Blake
 Professional Development – Alexis DeVorss
 Programs – Sam Rumbaugh
 Community Service – Liz Mack
 Vanguard Council – Lorraine Olivotto
 Awards – Helen Ornellas
 Executive Director – Jeannie Bruins

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

(Sacramento, CA) – The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) held its 85th Annual Convention and Exhibition on June 28 – July 1 in New Orleans, LA. Over 800 health insurance professionals from across the country gathered to learn about products, attend training for licensure renewal, and get the latest information on federal and state legislation as well as review of the Supreme Court ruling on King v. Burwell.

Nine members of local NAHU chapter, Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU), attended this conference that focused on assisting health insurance professionals to continue servicing clients through the legislative and regulatory changes affecting the health insurance market.
Included in attendance were Marcy McCulloch, SAHU’s 2015-2016 President. SAHU is one of over 200 NAHU chapters across the country.

Convention’s guest speakers included many industry and business leaders speaking about healthcare reform and business strategies.

“Because of their dedication to continuing education and vast experience in the changing health insurance market, NAHU members are the most highly trained, best qualified health insurance professionals in America,” said NAHU CEO Janet Trautwein. “NAHU’s convention offers more continuing education credits, new product information and legislative updates than any other industry meeting.”

SAHU Past President Cerrina Jensen, who was also in attendance, congratulated Ms. McCulloch on making the time to attend the valuable leadership training presented at this conference and looks forward to her term as president.

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to personalized solutions for health, financial and retirement security using the services of local insurance professionals. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

Subsidies for federally-facilitated exchanges will continue as the Obama administration intended

(Sacramento, CA) Sacrament Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) issued the following statement today:

“The Supreme Court of the United States has just released their opinion in the King v. Burwell case concerning a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and ruled that subsidies will continue to be available in all states, not just those with state-based exchanges. The vote was 6-3.”

“The Court considered two possible scenarios in its decision: adhere to the strict reading of the law that subsidies may only be available in exchanges established by the state, or rule in favor of the intent of the law for universal availability of subsidies in all states and all exchanges.

Cerrina Jensen, SAHU President remarked “This is the decision we expected. While the ACA is wrought with problems, invalidating subsidies for anyone on a federally run exchange would have been a catastrophe that would have affected California, even though we do have a state exchange. If the Court had ruled in favor of Burwell, insurance rates in neighboring states were predicted to rise as much as 255%, and this would have put tremendous pressure on our own marketplace.”

“Our hope is that policymakers will now be able to focus on legislative efforts to truly reduce the cost of health care, something that the PPACA did not. It’s also critical that lawmakers improve upon the portions of our health care system that work well. The employer-based system has reliably and effectively delivered quality health coverage to generations of Americans. And we as a nation need to work to preserve it.” Said Carolyn Lewis, SAHU spokesperson.

Brad Davis, past SAHU President added, “Certified California insurance agents and brokers have been integral to the success of our state exchange, Covered California. Our clients both in the exchange and covered at their job are struggling to balance the need to purchase high-quality and comprehensive health coverage with the reality of rapidly escalating health premium costs. As such, one of our primary goals as an association of benefit specialists is to do everything we can to promote affordable access to health insurance coverage.

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to private sector solutions for health, financial and retirement security, as well as the services of insurance professionals to assist in navigating these areas. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

SAHU has honored Marcy McCulloch to receive Carrier Executive of the Year award for the second year running. McCulloch is the Small Business Sales Executive for Kaiser Permanente serving Northern California from their Point West office.

“It is an honor to be able to recognize Marcy for her extraordinary performance as a healthcare industry leader for the second year in a row. Especially with health reform driving so much change in our marketplace, Marcy provides invaluable support and education to brokers and their clients. She is relentless in her pursuit of superb customer service, and has been instrumental in elevating the productivity of our Board and association,” said SAHU Immediate Past President, Brad Davis.

“Marcy was nominated and vetted by her peers and the top local leaders in our industry,” said SAHU President, Cerrina Jensen. “There’s really no substitute for the opinion of brokers who again chose Marcy over every other carrier exec nominated.”

Marcy said, “I am ecstatic to be recognized two years in a row for this distinguished award!”

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The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to private
sector solutions for health, financial and retirement security, as well as the services of insurance professionals to assist in navigating these areas. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health,
financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.