Special Edition!
CAHU's 2014 Capitol Summit
May 20 & 21 in Sacramento
CAHU's 2014 Capitol Summit
May 20 & 21 in Sacramento
As members of our great
association from all over California converge upon our state capital for the
2014 Capitol Summit, we do so as a stronger and more substantial force than
ever before. Our membership has never
been larger and the need for our expertise and services never greater. Over the last several years, together we made
the decision to help shape the California market for the future and we have
succeeded in that endeavor….even beyond our own expectations. Once again we have proven that “Agents are
the Answer!" Well done!
We come to Sacramento to talk
about the issue most important to all of us: how we can best serve our clients. From cleaning up the 90-day waiting period
championed by CAHU in SB 1034 to the extension of small group health plans
(grandmothered plans) in SB 1446 and more,
every attendee will be given comprehensive training on our positions and
will go to "the building" ready to speak with one voice.
We also come to Sacramento to
participate in our annual House of Delegates, where we will choose our CAHU
leadership for the upcoming year. We
have an outstanding group of candidates who have stepped up and offered themselves
to serve in our association. As an
association, we are all the stronger for our willingness to critically examine
our organization and challenge each other.
When the votes are finally counted, we will stand tall, stand united,
and stand together!
As you likely know, California
specializes in unusual, one-of-a-kind laws. One of my particular favorites
is the one where California guarantees “sunshine to the masses.” On the
surface, it is a simple concept; it is a promise of service - to be open, fair, and responsive to those in California. As I approach
the final few weeks of having the honor to serve as CAHU President, I want
to talk with you about how we as an organization have worked hard to keep the
sunshine bright for CAHU members.
Whether at the state level or in
the local chapters, we have all used our years of contacts and relationships at
state and federal regulatory levels to find ways to facilitate our operations
in California as our agents moved though the titanic changes of the ACA.
As we all know, this year has been filled with days of darkness when we
remained unsure of our status within the ACA universe. There have been epic
failures in implementation by regulators and continuing challenges to agents to
provide the best level of service to the clients we strive serve each and every
day.
I have and I will continue to work
to bring sunlight to agent concerns by talking daily, (if not hourly during the
early part of open enrollment) to carriers, Covered California, general agents,
legislators and the media. A large part of this “sunshine effort” has
been to ensure that all of the entities noted above learned about and
understood the challenges agents were and are facing and helping to find
solutions or coping mechanisms.
We instituted a new comment
process on the CAHU website to provide a lifeline for stranded agents
navigating the troubled waters of the ACA. We established weekly calls to
Covered CA with myself, our President-Elect Patrick Burns and our advocate,
Juli Broyles, to go over our agent concerns. We started a weekly blog to report
on those calls and on the results achieved by bringing agent concerns to
Covered California. In addition, I have kept an open door for any CAHU member
or chapter to bring issues to my attention. We have continued Chuck Rosen’s expanded legislative review process and taken
positions that a majority of legislative council members have approved –
especially on controversial issues. I cherish and encourage the CAHU right
to meet, to disagree, and to discuss any issue at any time.
CAHU’s greatest
strength is its ability to come together in times of need and support each
other and our organization’s
efforts. When we are divided, our focus is diluted and we can lose important
battles during one of the most critical moments in health insurance market
reform. It is just not possible to play King Canute and try to sweep back
the sea of change occurring in the healthcare world. The best things happen for
CAHU when agents work together. I would like to see, as I hand over the
gavel to Patrick Burns, agents redouble their support for CAHU’s “One Voice” –
based actions. We must always keep in
mind that if we cannot agree amongst ourselves on direction and focus – the
opposite side wins by default.
In our world, sunlight means conversation
and interaction with all concerned – agents, other agent organizations,
carriers, plans, general agents, Covered California, the Legislature and their
staff. This is the best possible light for CAHU. This is true sunshine for
our industry and our futures.
Let the sun shine on CAHU for many
issues and many years to come!
Until Next Time,
Sam