Department of Insurance to co-sponsor free Health Insurance Options for Small Business Seminar for 2008 Cover the Uninsured Week

Released: April 28, 2008

The Department of Insurance Louisiana Health Care Commission will co-sponsor, along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, a free health insurance seminar for small business owners on Thursday, May 1, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Associated Grocers Conference Room, 8600 Anselmo in Baton Rouge. The Health Insurance Options for Small Business Seminar will inform small business owners of a range of affordable health insurance options for their employees.

The seminar is the major event planned for “Cover the Uninsured Week,” April 27 to May 3. Now in its sixth year, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Cover the Uninsured campaign is the largest mobilization in history to shine a national spotlight on the need to secure health coverage for all Americans. Closer to home, Census Bureau data indicates 16.9 percent of Louisianians live without health insurance or 717,309 people, many of them employed full-time. Approximately 60 percent of them are the working poor.

“The plight of the uninsured in Louisiana continues to be an urgent issue. Louisiana ranks 49th in the Health Care State Rankings for 2008 and 6th in the nation for percentage of the population without health insurance. Those without health insurance are more likely to be in poorer health than those who have insurance,” said Commissioner Insurance Jim Donelon. “We are taking this opportunity to educate small business owners about the various options available to them for offering health insurance to their employees.”

The May 1 seminar will feature panel discussions on the history and basics of health insurance, how to find an affordable policy, the consumer-directed health care trend and why it is continuing to grow in popularity plus pros and cons for small business owners, legal and tax aspects of health savings accounts, and financial planning with your health savings account. Attendees will receive a useful guide on insurance options and also will be able to pick up information provided by several major group health insurance carriers. A reception will follow the seminar.

Any small business owner in the greater Baton Rouge area is encouraged to attend, but attendance is limited by space. Those interested should visit the Louisiana Department of Insurance Web site at www.ldi.state.la.us to register. Those with questions may call or e-mail Thomas Clemons at (225) 219-4772 or tclemons@ladio.com.

Health Insurance Options for Small Business Seminar

Thursday, May 1, 2008 • 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Associated Grocers Conference Room • 8600 Anselmo, Baton Rouge

TENTATIVE AGENDA

Moderator: Karen Reiners Winfrey, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Health Insurance, Louisiana Department of Insurance

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Registration

1:30 – 1:40 p.m. Welcome – Mike Reitz, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

1:40 – 2:30 p.m. First Panel Discussion – “Health Insurance 101”

o History and basics of health insurance and the many considerations for Louisiana small business owners.

o A brief history of health insurance; types of plans; basic terms – Speaker TBD

o How to find an affordable policy; working with a broker and asking your broker the right questions – Gretchen Mettler, HUB International Gulf South Limited (invited)

o Getting into the system – one small business owner’s story – Speaker TBD

o What is consumer-directed health care? – Mike Reitz, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (invited)

o A business owner’s perspective – Speaker TBD

o Legal and tax aspects of health savings accounts – Lance Kinchen, CPA and Partner in the law firm of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP (invited)

o Financial planning with your health savings account – Speaker TBD (financial advisor)