Newsletter Draft January.pub

www.svahu.org
IN TOUCH
January 2010
The Silicon Valley Association of Health Underwriters, California’s Benefits Specialists, is an organization of insurance professionals
committed to promoting the ethical interest of our industry. We do this by providing continuing education for our members and their
clients and act as consumer advocates with legislative leaders at both the Federal and State Level.
January 2010
Vol. 13, No. 19
News for and about members
of the Silicon Valley
Association of Health
Underwriters – California’s
Benefits Specialists
Events
January Membership Mixer
January 22, 2009
NEW LOCATION!
Sly McFly’s
Monterey, CA
February Membership Meeting
February 3, 2009
Mariani’s Inn & Restaurant
Santa Clara, CA
March Membership Mixer
March 11, 2010
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Palo Alto, CA
BE INSPIRED! SVAHU CHARITABLE DONATIONS CAN MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE!!
Submitted by Lisa Hughes, SVAHU Golf Committee
The Silicon Valley Association of Health Underwriters (SVAHU) has donated $10,000 to a
variety of Charities at our December 2009 Holiday Meeting. SVAHU raised the cash for
the donation for our 2009 charity golf tournament.
At our holiday event there was presentation of checks from a portion of the 2009 Golf
Tournament Proceeds. We would again like to thank our 2009 Main Event Golf Sponsor
Warner Pacific and Secondary Sponsors Claremont, Word and Brown, Blue Shield of California and Allstate Workplace Products.
Brian Sullivan who sits on the SVAHU Golf and Charitable committees did an outstanding
job with coordination of the check presentation. Brian stated that SVAHU is always committed to diving deep into local communities and helping those who are in need. We will
continue to strive for the goal of corporate social responsibility in Silicon Valley Bay Area.
InnVision
InnVision — Founded in 1973, the largest provider of shelter, food and supportive services for
over 24,000 homeless and at-risk families
throughout the Silicon Valley. InnVision programs reach throughout Santa Clara and San
Mateo counties to serve more than 20,000 men,
women, children, veterans, and mentally ill adults
each year at our 20 locations. They address the
multiple needs of people in transition, including
emergency shelters, transitional/supportive housing, food, clothing, showers, laundry, healthcare,
Pictured are (L to R) Brian Sullivan, InnVision
job training, classes, children’s programs, and
CEO Christine Burrows who received $5000,
access to telephones and computers.
and sponsor organization Warner Pacific representatives Rhonda Velez, Lisa Hughes and
Martha Callan.
Operation Intercession
Operation Intercession is a ministry that supports
families and friends who have loved ones in the military in active duty and the enlisted
men and women who are training and preparing for deployment. Their goal is to offer support through prayer, encouragement, and a supportive environment to meet and have dialogue with other families and friends; to share their concerns, ideas and daily endeavors. This ministry is open to all surrounding communities and cities.
Continued on page 4...
WWW.SVAHU.ORG
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Shown are (L to R) Brian Sullivan, Sister Geraldine Hill
from Operation Intercession along with Maria Leimbach,
John Ghysels and Abraham Phillips from sponsor organization Word & Brown.
IN TOUCH
www.svahu.org
January 2010
SVAHU 2008-2009 Board of Directors
Jeff Bader
President
(650) 302-8535
jeff@bci-ins.com
Art Young
President Elect/Sponsorship Chair
(650) 838-1080
ayoung@artyounginsurance.com
Abraham Phillips
Immediate Past President
(408) 437-5929
aphillips@wordandbrown.com
Cindy Kane
Treasurer
(408) 977-1213
cindy@teifeld.com
Susy Spackman
Secretary
(408) 452-6906
susy.spackman@blueshieldca.com
Ulrich “Oly” Storz
PAC Chair
(408) 395-3303
oly@creativehealthins.com
David S. Bauer, LUTCF
Legislative Chair
(650) 508-0756
zeke02db@comcast.net
J. David Van Nest
Education Chair
(408) 725-8777
dvn@vnvinsuranceservices.com
Kenneth Gilmore-Coker
Membership Chair
(415) 546-3219
kenneth.gilmore-coker@uhc.com
Kirk Stoddard
Member at Large
(408) 978-3208
kstoddard@farmersagent.com
Matt Haas
Executive Director
(877) 748-0815
mhaas@pesc.com
Mika Storz
Media Chair
(408) 395-3303
mika@creativehealthins.com
Briana Pierce
Newsletter Committee
(925) 280-5317
bpierce@standard.com
Akayla Ruiz
SVAHU Staff
(877) 748-0815
info@svahu.org
IN TOUCH is a bi-monthly newsletter of the Silicon Valley Association of Health Underwriters. It is written and published by the Board of Directors of the Association and is mailed to
health, life and P/C insurance professionals throughout the Bay Area. Permission is required to reprint original material, and it will usually be given upon request. Advertising
correspondence or letters to the editor should be addressed to IN TOUCH, c/o Akayla Ruiz, SVAHU, P.O. Box 1071, Fresno, CA 93714; telephone (877) 748-0815; fax (559) 2271463; email: aruiz@pesc.com. Subscription is free with membership. SVAHU is a non-profit professional association affiliated with the National and California Associations of Health
Underwriters. All rights reserved.
SVAHU PAC GEM STONE CONTRIBUTORS
Four Star Diamond Level ($4,000 annual or $340 monthly)
LISI
Two Star Diamond Level ($2,000 annual or $170 monthly) Oly Storz
David Bauer
Sandra Bealu
Paul Bever
David Garcia
Diamond Level ($1,000 annual or $85 monthly)
Jan Mesa
Tom Kaufman
Daniel Bodman
Paul Mifsud
Marilyn Leonard
Marc Derendinger
Drew Miller
David Long
Terry Harris-Hickey
John Palladino
Tom Magnus
Jeffrey Kane
Emerald Level ($500-$719 annual or $42 monthly)
Arthur Young
Allan Liu
Richard Hemmerling
Susan Spackman
Howitt Insurance
Rhonda Velez
Dennis Jarvis
Matthew Watson
Andrew Kerr
Ruby Level ($250-499 annual or $21 monthly)
William Halper
Linda Akins-Benevento David Candelario
Cynthia Kane
Kenneth Coker
Jeff Bader
Betty Lindstrom
Ki Cotter
Shawn Balsdon
Mary Ann Magnus
William Cross
Theresa Bennett
Richard Mallory
Angela Ferry
Diane Borrison
Daniel Moran
Marla Forcht
Steve Brauer
Elona Pertica
John Geoghegan
Barbara Brose
2
Thank you for yourPage
support
of the PAC!
Todd Scheuer
Rick Shelton
Mika Storz
Michael Watson
Abraham Phillips
Tamara Sires
Philip Skarlanic
Kathleen Smith
Kirk Stoddard
Robert Vinal
IN TOUCH
www.svahu.org
January 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
4:30 pm—6:30 pm
Thank you to our sponsors:
Sly McFly’s
4290 El Camino Real
Monterey, CA 94306
To RSVP for this event, visit
www.mymemberlink.com/svahu
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www.svahu.org
IN TOUCH
January 2010
Continued from Cover…
The Tiana Foundation
The Tiana Foundation's mission is to help parents whom have lost children to neonatal or early infant death by assisting in the funding of memorial markers.
Sacred Heart Community Service
Founded in 1964, Sacred Heart Community Service is dedicated to
bringing our community together to address poverty in Silicon Valley.
Through a comprehensive array of resources, services, and community
involvement initiatives, SHCS is making a real impact in the lives of
working poor families. Sacred Hearth Community Service matches impoverished families with group sponsors to provide for their tangible
Phyllis Mantelli (R) of the Tiana Foundation
thanks the SVAHU chapter for their $1000 needs during the Holidays. Without the benefit of an adoption, these
donation. Also pictured are Rhonda Velez families would be looking forward to a very grim holiday. Being adopted
who founded the organization and Michael is designed to be a once or, on very rare occasions, twice in a lifetime
Lujan from main event sponsor Blue Shield event for recipient families.
of California.
Santa Clara County Sheriff's Toy Drive
The Sheriffs’ Toy Drive has been one of SVAHU’s favorite charity events
for many years. Our members brought new, unwrapped gifts to our annual Holiday Party in December. In the past the gifts have been distributed to children whose parents are serving us in the military, and to children in our area who don’t have parents who can get them gifts for
Christmas
Show a phone here of the Sheriff's and all charity and sponsors. Ensure
that Jeff Bader, President of SVAHU is in this photo.
Brian McCullough (Center) gladly receives a
$2000 donation for Sacred Heart Community
Service along side sponsor organization
Claremont representative Matt DeWolf.
I would again like to thank our 2009 Golf Committee, Volunteers and
Sponsors of all levels in making this event a success. A special thank
you again to Brian Sullivan, Abe Phillips and Jeff Bader for all their r
hard volunteer work in making the Holiday Party Charitable event one to
remember.
We welcome you to participate at our 2010 Annual Golf Tournament on
Monday, May 17, 2010 at Cinnabar Hills in San Jose, CA. It's a good
way of having some fun, networking, entertaining and helping the needy,
all at the same time/ 100% of the 2010 will go to charities selected prior
to the 2010 golf tournament. Watch for nominations criteria in the mail.
We cannot wait to see you!
See your old friends, make some new friends, and play a little golf
too!
Deputy Jennifer Toomey and Captain
Terrance Calderon of the Santa Clara County
Sheriffs Department address the audience in
thanks for the donated toys they would deliver
on behalf of SVAHU to children of the military
at Moffett Field.
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www.svahu.org
IN TOUCH
January 2010
2010 Jewel Sponsorship
2010 Jewel Sponsorship Opportunities are available!
Don’t miss the chance to be involved and get your company that extra exposure with our annual
sponsorship package! Our distinguished Jewel Sponsors have a significant role in supporting our
chapter and provide us with means to present our membership with great programs.
For more information & to get your 2010 Jewel Sponsorship
Package, contact: Art Young at (650) 838-1080, or e-mail him:
ayoung@artyounginsurance.com.
THANK YOU To Our 2010 Jewel Sponsors
Without your support, we would not be able to bring the quality events and programs to our
members that they have come to expect from us. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!
DIAMOND SPONSORS
Word & Brown
RUBY SPONSORS
Aflac
Anthem Blue Cross
SAPPHIRE SPONSORS
Dickerson Employee Benefits
Kaiser Permanente
Our Sponsors support us…We support them!
Visit the Silicon Valley Association
of Health Underwriters website!
www.svahu.org
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IN TOUCH
www.svahu.org
January 2010
Silicon Valley Association of Health Underwriters
2010 Calendar of Events
Upcoming SVAHU Events
To RSVP for any of the following events, please call: (877) 748-0815
EVENT
DATE
LOCATION
SPONSOR
January SVAHU Mixer
January 22, 2010
Sly McFly’s
Monterey, CA
UnitedHealthcare
Word & Brown
February Membership Meeting
February 3, 2010
Mariani’s Inn & Restaurant
Santa Clara, CA
Aflac
NAHU Capitol Conference
March 8-11, 2010
JW Marriott Hotel
Washington, DC
NAHU
March SVAHU Mixer
March 11, 2010
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Palo Alto, CA
April Membership Meeting
April 8, 2010
Mariani’s Inn & Restaurant
Santa Clara, CA
Word & Brown
Day at the Capitol
May 12, 2010
Sheraton Grand
Sacramento, CA
CAHU
May SVAHU Mixer
May 12, 2010
Rosie McCann’s
San Jose, CA
Annual Charity Golf Tournament
May 17, 2010
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
San Jose, CA
June Membership Meeting
June 10, 2010
Mariani’s Inn & Restaurant
Santa Clara, CA
NAHU Annual Convention
June 27-30, 2010
Hyatt Regency
Chicago, IL
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NAHU
www.svahu.org
IN TOUCH
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January 2010
www.svahu.org
IN TOUCH
January 2010
SVAHU February Membership Meeting
Wednesday, February 3, 2009
Featuring: “Elevating Sales Performance in a
Challenging Economy”
Presented by Joe Diliberto, Sandler Training
Program details on the next page.
To register for this event please visit: www.mymemberlink.com/svahu
Thank you to our main event sponsor:
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January 2010
IN TOUCH
www.svahu.org
Member Contact Update
Are you receiving
SVAHU emails?
1. NAHU’s website: www.nahu.org
2. Call SVAHU at (877) 748-0815
3. Email SVAHU: info@svahu.org
There is a lot of information that is
sent to SVAHU members via email.
Send us your email address today
at: info@svahu.org
We want to hear from you!
What topics or speakers
do you want at meetings
or in the newsletter?
info@svahu.org
January 2010
Don’t miss out on AHU news!
We need your help to
update your information!
Visit our website at
www.svahu.org
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Website advertising
available! Contact
SVAHU for details!
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IN TOUCH
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January 2010
IN TOUCH
www.svahu.org
January 2010
May 17, 2010
SVAHU Annual Golf Tournament
SAVE THE DATE
Mark your calendars for SVAHU’s Annual Golf Tournament to be held May 17, 2010. The tournament plans to return to the award winning Cinnabar Hills Golf Club. SVAHU’s Annual tournament is growing to be one of the largest and most successful Association of Health Underwriters
charity golf tournaments in the State. Proceeds from this annual golf tournament will go to
Charities selected before this tournament.
A record number of participants - more than 170 corporate, business and insurance professionals - were on hand to partake in last year’s festivities.
At the 2010 event, golfers will enjoy a putting contest, a box lunch and beverages on the
course to help sustain you through 18 holes of golf with old friends and new contacts while surrounded by the beautiful hills of the lower Santa Clara Valley. . After the round of golf, they will
be treated to a hosted reception, dinner and raffle.
We are seeking donations for silent/live auctions. We would like to feature an array of intriguing and beautiful items including sports memorabilia and tickets; vacation and spa packages;
jewelry and wine; restaurant certificates and specialty gift baskets.
Sponsorship Packages will be going out within the next week. You can sponsor the tournament, a hole or a prize! A variety of sponsorship packages will be available for all budgets.
For additional information about next year’s tournament sponsorships, contact one of the following 2010 committee members.
Lisa Hughes – lisah@warnerpacific.com
Brian Sullivan – brian@filice.com
Steve Fertitta – steve@lpib.com
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IN TOUCH
January 2010
Legislative Article
Submitted by Dave Bauer, SVAHU Legislation Chair
Quite honestly, in the last 5 – 6 weeks, I haven’t been able to stomach the legislative process of Healthcare
reform as it currently exists. I had to take a mental and emotional holiday from this nightmare. Because thinking of it…well …raised my blood pressure and made me furious!
My Wife claims that I’m too negative sometimes. I’m sure that I’ve expressed my negativity about this issue
over this last year. I apologize.
In 2010, I will look at the positive side of this issue from now on.
For instance :
1. This will give us the opportunity to make new friends with newly elected members of Congress and
their staff.
2. We’ll build new alliances/relationships with our CAHU / NAHU buddies while discussing ways to
get our elected officials to “ hear “ what “ we “ have to say.
3. Adversity in this monumental legislative undertaking will create new selling opportunities for us
Healthcare / Benefits Specialists. Like selling more Life Insurance, Disability & LTC.
The fact that in today’s Chronicle ( Jan. 5, 2010 ), there was an article that said, “the usual method of creating
a bill by Conference committee, will be circumvented. Therefore leaving the entire decision making process to
the Democrats of the House & Senate in cooperation with the White House“ (as Mentioned in Alan Katz blog
of this AM Jan. 5, 2010).
What’s the positive side of this ???? Well…
1. Learn new rules of the legislative process.
2. See new imaginative ways to file litigation.
3. Creative Filibustering
4. For me, to learn what my options will be as I change from a declared Democrat to a certain INDEPENDENT.
Please let me know if you like the new direction I’m taking in processing and articulating these issues. VS, the
gnarly, barking, biting, fighting, No quit person (and just as loveable) I was previously.
A lot will happen over the next thirty days. Nothing less than our peace, patience, welfare and the impact
of 20% of our entire economy, hangs in the balance for generations to come. Not to mention our livelihoods. I
am praying.
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January 2010
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IN TOUCH
January 2010
THE MAKING OF REALLY BAD SAUSAGE
PAC Report for January, 2010
Submitted by Oly Storz, PAC Chair
In the last issue of this newsletter, I wrote that accurate knowledge is especially difficult to discern in the
healthcare debate because the proponents of government-run or controlled healthcare are being incredibly
deceptive and devious in their efforts to pass legislation to “reform” healthcare. Since that time, that difficulty
has been amply displayed by our members of Congress. What is clear is the willingness of the party in power
(Democrat) to stop at virtually nothing to push through some version of “reform”. Even the very word “reform”
is being totally and dishonestly misused because this healthcare bill, in its various forms, is an abomination
and not reform by any stretch of the imagination.
Economist Thomas Sowell wrote in a recent column, “Stepping beyond your competence can be like stepping
off a cliff. Too many people with brilliance and talent within some field do not realize how ignorant—or, worse
yet, misinformed—they are when talking like philosopher-kings about other things.” Does this not have a ring
of familiarity?
The arrogance and conceit displayed in the letters I have received from our elected representatives is astonishing. On full display is either a TOTAL ignorance of economics and free markets or a willful effort to destroy
our partially free-market based system “by any means necessary”. I can think of no other plausible explanations. This is a truly frightening grab for power over approximately one-sixth of our economy by the same government that is running Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the post office into bankruptcy. This is the
same government that cannot even run a simple flu immunization program. I’m not just talking about the
H1N1 program but the regular annual flu program which, for the second time in recent years, ran out of vaccine.
Let us not forget, while our healthcare system undergoes a savage degradation, agents and brokers will be
wiped out or left to market whatever ancillary products remain that have received government approval. Doctors and hospitals will come under the control of government bureaucrats while we will be “served” by caring,
unionized healthcare workers.
We (ALL OF US) must do two things. First, we must continue to send letters and make phone calls to our
Senators and our members of the House of Representatives. We must do this repeatedly and urge everyone
on our mailing lists to do the same. We need to keep a flood of correspondence flowing. Urge them to scrap
the entire plan. Even a watered-down version will cause great harm.
THIS IS URGENT! Please do it now!
Second, and MOST IMPORTANT, we must contribute to HUPAC and CAHU PAC. Our association must
have enough funds to provide support to those members of Congress and the State Legislature that are willing to oppose their leadership. They are under intense pressure and need to know that they will have support
for their reelection campaigns. Nothing is more important than getting reelected!
PAC IS OUR LIFEBLOOD! Please contribute!
As always, by the time you receive this issue of the newsletter, some things will have changed. However, the
war will not be over.
For contribution forms or more information, please email me at oly@creativehealthins.com or call me at 408395-3303. Contributions can also be made at nahu.org and cahu.org.
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IN TOUCH
January 2010
Tom Daschle Addresses Silicon Valley
By Jeff Bader, SVAHU President
“We can agree on one thing, the current track we’re on is unsustainable,” stated former Senate Majority Leader
and Democratic South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle at a recent event attended by hundreds of Bay Area brokers. At this time last year he was nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), however,
withdrew that nomination due to public scrutiny over unpaid back taxes. Daschle, who in 2008 published the
book Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis, is considered one of the architects of the public
plan option.
“Reform will happen,” he continued saying that at the current rate, health care expenditure would grow to 32%
of the gross domestic product by the year 2016. Health care reform will “help pull our economy out of its current tailspin." The dialog moderated by former NAHU President John Nelson cited a number of factors that
have collectively brought this country’s health care delivery system to its current critical condition including
some that aren’t always included in public discussions like the shortage of primary care physicians vs. specialists, malpractice and the cost shifting from the underinsured and Medicare underpayment to the private sector.
“There are three types of reform needed.” Daschle claimed, coverage, payment and delivery. To bend the
afore mentioned cost curve we should of course reduce costs by improving outcomes, acknowledging that coverage and access are separate issues, he sees these as the biggest challenges.
It will require a congress that is “both interested and involved.” When asked what might possibly come out of
the Senate debate Daschle believed that a public option could actually “create a competitive marketplace,” as
well as provide choice and save money. “We can’t get to universal coverage without a mandate,” and we’re
“likely to see a trigger,” similar to part D, or possibly a penetration threshold.
Okay! Tell us more!
“I applaud you as consumer advocates,” Daschle honored the audience, “you are the grassroots.” And he
added that overall there is a “positive perception of agents among congress.” Now who can argue with that?
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IN TOUCH
January 2010
Local Health Underwriters donate $10k to charities!
By Mika Storz, SVAHU Media Chair
SAN JOSE, California – This year Captain Terrence Calderon and the Santa Clara County Sheriffs were not
the only recipients at the annual Silicon Valley Association Health Underwriters’ holiday gala. While new and
unwrapped toys were donated on 12/9 for local families living on the Moffett Field Air Force base, five other
local charities received a total of $10,000 in donations from your local Associations of Health Underwriters.
CEO at InnVision, Christine Burrows, attended and picked up a
donation check for $5,000. Founded in 1973, InnVision is the largest provider of shelter, food and supportive services for over
24,000 homeless and at-risk families in Silicon Valley. Through
their 20 locations, they address the needs of men, women, children, veterans and mentally ill adults. Emergency shelter, transitional housing, job training and children’s programs are just a few
of the services that will continue to thrive with local support such as
this!
Sacred Heart Community Service is another charity addressing
poverty in Silicon Valley. For their continued service to the working
poor families they received $2000. Sacred Heart Community Service matches impoverished families with
group sponsors to provide for their tangible needs during the holidays.
The other three charities this year received $1000 each. Operation Intercession, a ministry group operated
from Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, provides prayer, encouragement and support to families and friends
who have loved ones in the military’s active duty. Care packages are sent to support the brave men and
women serving in uniform. The Tiana Foundation helps parents that have lost children to neonatal or infant
death be assisting to fund memorial markers. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo
provide food to low-income households in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. This donation helped them
serve the 216,000 individuals that they help each month.
Health Underwriters (SVAHU), is an organization of insurance professionals committed to promoting the
ethical interest of the industry, by providing continuing education for its members and clients, along with
serving as consumer advocates to federal and state legislators.
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January 2010
Medical tourism: Have illness, will travel
By Mark Tutton
(CNN) -- Medical tourism is one of the hottest topics in health care as patients around the world are increasingly traveling
abroad for treatment.
Josef Woodman, author of Patients Beyond Borders, a guide to medical tourism, told CNN that two to three million people
travel outside their home country for treatment each year, while consultancy firm Deloitte calculates that 750,000 Americans
traveled abroad for treatment last year.
The top regional destination for medical tourists is Asia, with Singapore, Thailand and India leading the way. Those countries
are home to private health care chains that target international patients and are building modern, high-tech hospitals with a
reputation for quality care.
Bumrungrad International Limited (BIL), based in Thailand, owns and operates over 70 health care
facilities in seven countries. According to BIL, its Bangkok flagship hospital treats over 400,000 foreign patients a year, with over 90,000 coming from
the Middle East.
Parkway Health, a Singaporean hospital chain, says the city of Singapore attracted approximately 450,000 international patients last year, and in India, the Apollo Hospitals Group says it has treated more than 60,000 foreign patients in the last five
years.
What these chains have in common is that at least some of their hospitals are accredited by Joint Commission International
(JCI), the global arm of an American nonprofit organization that accredits most U.S. hospitals. That provides overseas patients
with the assurance that their treatment will be of an internationally recognized standard.
Dr. Ajaya Jha, director of neuroscience at Max Hospital in New Delhi, told CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta that medical tourism to India was being driven by a lack of available health care in neighboring countries, and by the lower cost of treatment in India
compared with developed countries.
"Slowly we're developing a reputation for having the best technology in the world and some of best people in the world to do
this," said Jha.
For uninsured or underinsured Americans, low prices make treatment in Asia an attractive option.
(continued on page 20)
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IN TOUCH
www.svahu.org
Thursday, March 11, 2010
5:00 pm—6:30 pm
Crowne Plaza Hotel
4290 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306
To RSVP for this event, visit
www.mymemberlink.com/svahu
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January 2010
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IN TOUCH
January 2010
Medical tourism: Have illness, will travel, con’t from page 18
Surgery in Thailand and Latin America can cost a quarter of its U.S. price, and JCI-accredited Wockhardt Hospitals offer
open heart surgery in India for $8,500, compared to around $100,000 in the U.S. and $28,000 in the UK.
In countries with state-run health services, such as Britain and Canada, long waiting times for surgery are encouraging
patients to look overseas for a cheaper alternative to private treatment in their own country.
But contrary to the popular view of patients traveling from wealthy nations to developing countries for cheap medical
care, a recent survey by consultancy firm McKinsey found that most medical tourists travel in search of advanced medical technologies or to receive better care than they would at home.
Woodman says 250,000 Indonesians are treated in Singapore each year, while Cambodian and Vietnamese resident
choose Thailand for treatment and patients from the Middle East favor Singapore and Thailand.
While medical tourism is targeted as a growth industry in some developing countries, there is concern that it will result in
a "brain drain," where doctors migrate from public hospitals to private hospitals that cater to international patients.
South Korea recently limited foreign patients to no more than five percent of its hospital beds, to ensure domestic patients do not lose out.
Woodman says the "brain drain" isn't an issue in India, because there are so many talented surgeons and physicians
there in the public and private sector.
He adds that developing countries can benefit from medical tourism. "The presence of medical tourism brings a lot of
economic clout into a country and raises the bar by forcing at least certain hospitals to rise to the top standards of healthcare," he told CNN.
While the bulk of medical tourism is for private care, there is a move towards a kind of state-funded medical tourism
within the EU.
Rulings by the European Court of Justice in recent years have verified the right of all EU citizens to receive healthcare in
another member state, paid for by their own country's health system.
Diane Dawson, a senior research fellow at the Center for Health Economics at York University, England, told CNN that
patients can only take advantage of this if their own country cannot provide treatment without "undue delay."
That limitation, as well as the difficulty in getting authorization from their own national health system, means that relatively few patients currently travel within the EU for treatment, she said.
But an EU draft directive published last year aims to make the approval process easier and more transparent.
Keith Pollard, director of British Web site Treatment Abroad, told CNN that the new directive will mean patients will be
able to receive treatment abroad regardless of waiting times in their own country.
But patients will only be reimbursed up to the amount their treatment costs in their home country and they will probably
still require some degree of approval from their own health system.
Pollard says that while he doesn't foresee a boom in medical tourism within the EU, he believes the new legislation will
encourage patients to seek treatment abroad and help create a European health care market.
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January 2010
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January 2010
SVAHU’s 2010 Annual Golf Tournament
Submitted by Lisa Hughes, SVAHU Golf Committee
We Believe
In order to accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."
- Anatole France
When the famed Nobel Laureate wrote these words in 1921, France couldn't have foreseen the profound
meaning his message would have to SVAHU’s Annual Golf Tournament and our charitable contributions.
His words embody the very roots of our association charitable development and illustrate how the boundless imagination and endless passion of an individual will give rise to hopeful results.
As an aspiring good citizen, my life-long goal in my life is where I am able to provide back to my community
- to those less fortunate. Those who also participate on our 2010 golf committee, Brian Sullivan, Steve Fertitta and Dave Yamamoto, member volunteers and Sponsors too share the same goal.
We are eagerly anticipating our 2010 annual golf tournament hosted by Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, San Jose,
CA on Monday, May 17, 2010. In conjunction with the charitable committee we plan for future fundraising
and awareness building opportunities. With this responsibility we can do more than just lead, we can inspire.
Our Charitable gifts of hope can last a lifetime and we all have the power to make a difference in someone's
life that is actual, substantial, and lasting. I would like to formally welcome you to join our annual golf tournament. We welcome golfers of all levels and attendees for the evening reception and dinner.
At this time, I would like to thank the following 2010 Sponsors who have committed to our Annual Golf Tournament Theme “We Believe”
Main Event – Anthem Blue Cross of California
Secondary Sponsors:
Aetna of California
Beere & Purves
Claremont Companies
Kaiser Permanente
Warner Pacific
Word and Brown
We still have several Golf Sponsorship Packages available. Carriers, brokerage firms and individual brokers…won’t you consider in becoming a sponsor? We have sponsorship packages for all budgets.
Follow your passion, dare to imagine, and know that together we can succeed!
All the Best,
Lisa Hughes
SVAHU 2010 Golf Chair
Page 22
www.svahu.org
IN TOUCH
2009 SVAHU Sales Expo Mixer
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Page 23
January 2010
The Leading Producers Round Table
The best of the best. That’s what the Leading Producers Round Table (LPRT) is for America’s
benefit specialists. It’s where the nation’s best performers in the business get recognized for
their leadership and rewarded for their accomplishments … with tools and benefits that will
help keep them at the top of their game.
Only members of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) can quality. So, if
you like the view from the top, visit us online for more information about the privileges and
rewards of being an LPRT member.
http://www.nahu.org/members/awards-lprt.cfm