Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters (CSAHU)
Important Information

Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters

SUPPORT HB10-1154
1.21.2010

Time for a Pause on Unfunded Health Insurance Mandates on Colorado Businesses

The Colorado Association of Health Underwriters (CSAHU) is Colorado’s largest professional association of brokers, agents and producers of health, life and long-term care insurance. We work with thousands of Colorado’s consumers every day. We advocate on behalf of our insured clients. Each year, our agents deliver and explain the premium increases businesses and individuals continue to sustain across this state. We hear their desires and frustrations regarding health insurance and the health care delivery system every day. Our National Association of Health Underwriters attends to the health insurance needs of millions of Americans in all 50 states. Our top two public policy objectives are: (1) reducing the number of uninsured Americans, and (2) reducing the cost of health insurance for businesses, families and individuals.

Health Insurance is a mechanism by which businesses and individuals choose to finance medical care. The cost of insurance continues to rise in double digit increases each year due to a combination of complex factors that include an aging and increasingly less healthy population, medical cost inflation, introduction of new and expensive technologies, prescription drugs, provider cost shifting from government payers and the cost of malpractice litigation. A health insurance coverage mandate also has a cost of compliance that contributes to the rising cost of insurance. A culmination of many well intended health insurance mandates add up to higher costs for the insured population. We are already seeing alarming numbers of employers and individuals dropping coverage, increasing deductibles and making other financially driven decisions to reduce costs in one of the worst economic recessions Colorado has faced.

We support HB 1154 which creates a mandate review process to give legislators unbiased information about the potential cost increases that result from health insurance coverage mandates. This allows legislators to make more informed decisions about specific mandates with information about how these unfunded mandates will affect insureds. The bill also imposes a one-year moratorium on the General Assembly from passing any new coverage mandates.

It is important to understand the financial impact a particular mandate will have on the cost of the insurance. The cost of complying with these health insurance mandates is passed directly on to businesses and individuals. As the cost of insurance increases, so do the number of people who can no longer afford insurance. When they drop out of the insured pool it fuels a cycle that spirals up costs for the remaining insured population.

We believe that there must be meaningful health care reform and that reform must be sustainable and have participants accept their responsibility as providers and consumers of health care services. We must embrace change that establishes measures to ensure a high quality, cost effective system that is financially viable, sustainable and fair. It must also allow for choice, and emphasizes wellness, prevention, education and consumer empowerment.

Please support HB 1154 and give businesses and individuals paying for health insurance a break from new mandates.

Click here for the Council for Affordable Health Insurance’s 2009 Mandate Report and click here for CSAHU’s white paper we are using with legislators.

Thank you for your consideration. For questions please contact Dorothy Marshall (303) 516-0522 or Sharlene Yabe (719) 210-2160.

 
Welcome
HTML clipboard

Welcome to the Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters (CSAHU) member website. We are a professional organization of Producers (agents and insurance company representatives) who care about their mutual clients to stay informed and to Make A Difference.

I welcome you to our website and hope that you will find the information informative and valuable. If you have any questions, suggestions or comments please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

###

2010 “Day at the Capitol”

“Working Together on Meaningful Health Care Reform”

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
First Baptist Church
1373 Grant St.
Denver, CO 80203

Click Here to Register

3 CE's applied for

Speakers will include:

The Governor or His Representative

CSAHU Lobbyist Cindy Sovine

Legislators Sponsoring Health Insurance Legislation

Response Panel representing Carriers and Business

Jim Sugden, NAHU Region VII Legislative Chair

Please join us for a discussion of the impact of Legislation on health insurance including State and National legislation updates.

Cost will be $30 for Members, $50 for Non-Members
All attendees must pre-pay.

To sign up as a supporting sponsor click here

Click Here to Register

Agents please bring your employer clients!


Presenting Sponsor



Supporting Sponsors


###


"Change and Success-Moving Forward Together"

CSAHU 2010 Symposium and Celebration Evening
Wednesday, April 28th & Thursday, April 29th
at

Grand Hyatt Denver
1750 Welton Street
Denver, CO 80202

Presenting Sponsor:

Gold Sponsors:

Symposium Celebration Evening Sponsor

kaiser

 

 

Sponsor, Exhibitor and Attendee Registration Now Open!!!
Click here for more information

 

 

 ssc2009

CSAHU qualifies for 2009 Silver Seal Certification

NAHU's Chapter Certification Program is an ongoing program that recognizes excelling chapters through out the year. Recognition is based on criteria satisfaction in a variety of areas. To earn the Silver Seal Certification chapters must satisfy at least six of nine criteria.
Banner
Copyright © 2005 - 2010 Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters (CSAHU). Our site is valid CSS Our site is valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional