January 2012 Newsletter

 As we are gearing up to take on 2012, I thought it would be prudent to take a look back and remember all the things 2011 gave us. The year began with the horrific shooting in Tucson that left six people dead and 14 injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. It ended with the last troops coming home from Iraq. It began with Congress deadlocked over spending and taxes and ended with Congress, well, deadlocked over spending and taxes.

In between, we saw Osama bin Laden killed, same-sex marriage legalized in New York, Barack Obama’s long-form birth certificate released, the Casey Anthony catastrophe, Occupy Wall Street movement, the marriage and divorce of Kim Kardashian and the “Protestor” being named Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year”. The year was punctuated with labor disputes, sex scandals and permeated throughout with congressional stalemates — not to mention the wild ups and downs of the ongoing presidential campaign. Rick Perry had one of the most uncomfortable moments of the year when during a debate, he couldn’t remember the third federal agency he would eliminate, “Oops”. (I am definitely going to leave Herman Cain out of this conversation).

There were several memorable quotes of 2011. The rallying cry of  Occupy Wall Street protesters, “We are the 99 percent” has been named the year’s best quote, according to many online lists. I have a quote back to many of them, “Take a shower please.” In an op-ed piece for the New York Times, Warren Buffet announced, “My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress.” Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman in an Aug. 18 tweet “I believe in evolution, and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.” Then U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner said on June 1 when he was asked whether a lewd photograph was in fact him “I can’t say with certitude.” Attorney Gloria Allred on Nov. 7 discussing Herman Cain’s alleged sexual harassment of her client, Sharon Bialek said, “Instead of receiving the help that she had hoped for, Mr. Cain instead decided to provide her with his idea of a stimulus package.”

As we reflect on what we have learned and witnessed during 2011, it’s now time to set our sights on 2012. Rumor has it there is a big election coming up later this year. Hopefully I don’t need to remind any of you how important this election will be or remind you how important it is to do what you can to get involved both locally and nationally in our democratic system. In 2012, the US will have to decide how tough states can be on immigration and whether PPACA will still be in existence, the Summer Olympics will take place in London, most economic forecasters are expecting a recession and depending on your interpretation of Mayan prophecies…the world may also end. I’m fairly certain the Mayan prophecies will not come to fruition; however what I am certain of is I wish all of you a very properous and healthy 2012.

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Dave Sherrill is the vice president of Sherrill Insurance Brokerage, Inc., a full service health and life insurance brokerage in Central Florida, where he started in the insurance industry in 1993. Dave has been marketing Long Term Care products for over 15 years. His office provides quotes, materials, product support and service to independent agents for Life Insurance, Long Term Care, Annuities, Medicare products, Dental and health insurance. He currently serves as the part-time Executive Director of the Florida & Central Florida Associations of Health Underwriters. Dave is a 2-time Past President of the Central Florida AHU and a Past President of the Florida AHU. He has also served on the board of directors of his local NAIFA chapter since 2006.

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By: Don Marx, CFAHU Leg Chair

Jan 1: The Accountable Care Organizations become active

March 26: The Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the Afforable Care Act

(A decision should be made by the summer)

Oct 1: Reforming Medicare Payments: New “value-based purchasing” policies start tying hospitals’ Medicare payments to performance metrics. Regulation will charge hospitals for patients that are readmitted for a complication that could have been prevented, a bid to reduce unnecessary medical errors that lead to higher costs.

Nov 3: The 2012 election. Who has control of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House will make an impact on what happens to health care reform.

Dec 13: The big health exchange deadline. These new market places go live in 2014, if the state doesn’t have an Exchange, the Federal Government will provide one for Florida.

Stay involved, your help is needed! Contribute to the Florida Association of Health Underwriters Political Action Fund (FAHU-PAF) and/or the National PAC – Health Underwriters Political Action Committee (HUPAC)

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