Day at the Statehouse Focuses on Agent Expertise

On April 22nd the Ohio Association of Health Underwriters held its 17th Annual Day at the Statehouse.  The day provided an opportunity for approximately 80 OAHU members to be updated on the top health insurance issues being debated in the state of Ohio.  We are pleased to report that one of our speakers was Representative Barbara Sears, a newly appointed member of the Ohio House of Representatives.  Representative Sears is from the 46th House District located in Lucas County and is the first legislator in a long time to be both an experienced health insurance agent and an OAHU member.  This is a great opportunity for OAHU to have a member of the Legislature who understands the importance of preserving our free-market health insurance system.

In the afternoon, OAHU members participated in 42 meetings with legislators and had the opportunity to discuss legislative issues with 30 legislators during our evening legislative reception.  Many of the legislators who attended the reception were key policymakers who sit on committees that focus on health insurance issues.  They included Bill Batchelder, Chair of the House Insurance Committee, Jim Raussen, Chair of the House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee and Keith Faber, Vice-Chair of the Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee.  The focus of discussions with legislators was the important role health insurance agents play in assisting consumers in purchasing affordable health insurance.  We also made the point that as Ohio attempts to increase the number of persons with health insurance, our industry is in the best position to help the state provide the outreach and expertise that is necessary to implement such a program successfully. Copies of the Day at the Statehouse talking points are attached for your review.

All-in-all it was a great day for our Association.  OAHU would like to thank all our members who took the time and effort to make this day a success!

 

Governor Strickland Kicks-off “Own Your Future” Campaign

On April 29th Governor Ted Strickland and Josefina Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health announced the launch of the “Own Your Future” long-term care awareness campaign.  The goal is for people between 45 and 65 to consider their long-term care needs and to begin planning early.  Letters will be sent to 1.7 million Ohio households encouraging Ohio residents to request a free, Ohio-specific long-term care planning guide.  Regional forums will also be held around the state, coordinated by the Area Agencies on Aging.

This outreach coincides with Ohio’s start-up of the new Long Term Care Partnership Program (LTCPP) that Ohio has recently implemented.  The LTCPP is a long term care insurance product that allows Ohioans to purchase long term care insurance that provides Medicaid asset protection.  This protection allows the policyholder to keep more of their assets should they ever need to apply for Medicaid to help pay for long term care costs.  Agents who want to sell long term care insurance (including the LTCPP product) are required to complete an 8-hour continuing education course by September 1, 2008.

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