26. February 2008 by Jon Moss.

Post-primary polling shows small business owners and their employees are a significant voting segment equal to, and larger than, well-established voting blocs like veterans and union members.The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s leading small business advocacy association, conducted one national survey and six state-specific surveys Tuesday, polling Democrats in California, Missouri and Arizona, and Republicans in California, Missouri and Georgia. Not only did the results illustrate this voting bloc’s significant presence, it showed health care to be one of the most important issues to small businesses.

Polling data from the four states show the impressive strength and bandwidth of small business owners and their employees:

• In California, small business owners and employees made up 28 percent of the Democrats who voted on Super Tuesday, versus union members who were 24 percent.
• In Missouri, small business owners and employees comprised 32 percent of the Republicans who voted, versus 21 percent¹ who were veterans. On the Democratic side in Missouri, small business owners and employees were 28 percent, versus 16 percent who were union members.
• In Georgia, small business owners and employees were 38 percent of the Republicans who voted, versus 19 percent² who were veterans.
• In Arizona, small business owners and employees made up 31 percent of the Democrats who voted, versus 13 percent who were union members.

“More than ever before, small business men and women made up a significant voting bloc on Super Tuesday. It is clear they are a voting segment that should receive the same attention from candidates as other groups, including veterans and union members,” said Todd Stottlemyer, NFIB president and CEO. 

Despite their significant presence, the issues that matter to small business owners and their employees have been overlooked by the presidential candidates. In fact, the national survey found that 81 percent of owners and 52 percent of employees do not feel the candidates are adequately addressing issues that are important to them, especially health care. Presidential candidates are not effectively considering and reaching this significant voting segment, a group that grows each year as corporate downsizing impacts large employers.  

The rising cost of health care is a major concern for small business owners and their employees who continue to be squeezed by premium increases and state mandates. Nationally, 51 percent of small business owners and 47 percent of their employees say they have had difficulty keeping up with the cost of health care. And both groups feel that the presidential candidates are not saying enough about health care on the campaign trail.     
 
“The research shows that health-care reform is a top concern for America’s job creators, and they are desperately seeking help from the next president,” continued Stottlemyer. “Small business owners and employees are bearing the overwhelming burden of a broken health-care system that needs real reform. Candidates from both parties need to address this crisis head on. Because when you fix health care for small business, you fix it for America.”

-NFIB survey results

Posted in political, health insurance reform, group | No Comments »

26. February 2008 by Jon Moss.

Humana Inc. is realigning its subsidiary that comprises ancillary insurance benefits such as dental coverage and life insurance and renaming the division Humana Specialty Benefits.

The former HumanaDental Insurance Co., based in Green Bay, Wis., has served as a sort of “holding place” for products that fall outside of the company’s traditional medical offerings, said Jeffrey B. Bringardner, president of Humana’s Kentucky market.

With recent acquisitions of CompBenefits Corp. and KMG America Corp., both of which closed during the fourth quarter of 2007, Humana’s ancillary-product offerings have expanded significantly.

Membership in the specialty benefits division has more than tripled following the two recent acquisitions, to 6.8 million from 1.9 million

Posted in insurance companys | No Comments »

26. February 2008 by Jon Moss.

A slew of bills proposed in the current session of the Kentucky General Assembly would require health insurers to expand services they must cover.  The proposed mandates have sparked opposition from Kentucky doctors and health insurance providers.  The proposed legislation includes bills that would require health benefit plans to cover services such as colorectal cancer screenings and mammograms. Other proposals address terms of the relationships between health care providers and health insurance companies.

Melodie Shrader, executive director of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans, said many of the proposals are “unnecessary regulation.” The association represents six insurance providers, including Humana, Anthem. and Aetna.

If the past is any indication, whenever government mandates benefits rates usually go up.

Posted in health insurance reform, medical | No Comments »

26. February 2008 by Jon Moss.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter’s recently unveiled health package isn’t wildly expensive, doesn’t try to change too much and won’t require a people’s vote to raise taxes.   Still, questions remain: Will it do much? And, where will the state find the money to pay for the limited initiatives it does propose?  Ritter said the package, a collaborative effort with state legislators, provides the “first steps” toward improving access and expanding availability of health care in the state while making it more affordable for businesses and individuals. 

Called “Building Blocks for Health Care Reform,” the package almost doubles the number of Colorado children covered under government health plans, creates a new center to study health care costs and makes comparison information about insurers available to consumers and encourages efficiencies — such as standardized insurance cards — in Colorado’s health system.

Read the press release

Posted in children | No Comments »

26. February 2008 by Jon Moss.

If you don’t have UnitedHealthcare as your group medical provider, then you probably aren’t aware of EmployerEservices.  If you do have United, and don’t know, then you may want to question your existing broker.

EmployerEservices allows your company to manage virtually every aspect of benefit administration online and in real-time.  The benefits are increased efficiency as well as saving time & money.  Here are some of the tasks that can be accomplished on EmployerEservice:  We’ve found that most clients want us to do the service on their behalf using the system, but some really like the hands-on control.  If you’d like to know more check out http://www.welcometoemployereservices.com/online/, or contact us for more information.

Posted in technology, group, medical | No Comments »