Category Archives: Newsletter

We are the Champions!

That is Taima, the Seahawk Mascot. Taima is always the first person (?) umm creature out of the tunnel to start the game. Taima has been the team mascot since 2007. His handler, David Knutson of Spokane has 30 years of experience with birds of prey. Taima rode in the airplane with the team, and had his own hotel room in New York.

The Seahawks and Taima

Taima’s trainer and handler David Knutson “It’s just crazy. Seahawks fans are so loud, false starts for other teams are common. However, for one Seahawk, having a false start is not an option. Taima is the official mascot for the Seattle Seahawks, his name means “Thunder.””One hawk and he’s Seattle’s own,” Knutson said.

“He lives here with us in Spokane and we go to all the home games and training camp and some of the other events with the Seahawks. .”Before each game, Taima waits in the tunnel with the players for his cue to fly. “We never know if he’s going to do it, you can’t force him to do it,” Knutson said. “He’s not drugged, he doesn’t have his wings clipped, he could fly away whenever he wants.”

“Fans erupt after Taima makes his debut and anxiously await their chance to meet him in person. Everybody knows his name, everybody wants to get a picture with him, and every year it seems there’s a new picture to take and it seems right now, it’s to kiss the top of his head or the side of his face,” Knutson said.

Falconry is an ancient practice going back to 2000 BC. It was a popular sport among the nobles of medieval Europe. Efforts of the North American Falconers Association to conserve raptors have been successful. The Peregrine Falcon was on the endangered species list in 1970 due to DDT. There are now over 3000 breeding pairs in North America.

We have an amazing mascot for our amazing team. Go Hawks!
Below are two great pictures of the Superbowl fireworks off the Space Needle.

The Space Needle with Fireworks Fireworks by the Space Needle

HHS Strengthens Patients Rights

There was a press release today from the Department of Health and Human Services. As part of their ongoing efforts to empower patients they have taken action to give you direct access to your laboratory results. These new changes allow a patient to obtain their test results directly from the laboratory in addition to obtaining results from your doctor.

Under the HIPPA Privacy Rule patients or their personal representatives can obtain a copy of a patient’s protected health information. It is likely that you will be required to put your request in writing and pay for the costs of copying, mailing, or electronic media such as a flash drive. Copies must be given to the patient within 30 days of her request.

Affordable dental insurance for individuals!

Delta Dental Banner

Delta Dental ThumbnailDELTA DENTAL individual and family plans combine innovation, excellence, and affordability. Just like Jimmy John Shark, many of my business clients have Delta Dental small group plans. Now I can offer my individual and family clients the dental insurance for orthodontist services most preferred by Dentists in Washington State.
Click on the link to enroll online. It is easy to use. Enter your zip code. When you come to a section labeled Broker or Producer click on the drop down box and click on my name.

Delta Dental Link for easy, online application.

Ladies, have you had a Mammogram this year? A free mammogram?

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States, after lung cancer.

All women are at risk for breast cancer. A woman in the United States has a 1 in 8 chance of developing invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Men can also get breast cancer, though this is rare.

The health care law already requires most health plans to cover certain recommended preventive services at no out-of-pocket cost. This means that women can get free annual mammograms, and those who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer can get genetic counseling at no additional cost. Many of us, probably most of us have lost family or a friend to breast cancer. This feature of the ACA (Affordable Care Act) can save lives.

Please forward this email to a woman in your life.

22 Preventive Services covered at 100%

The ACA (Affordable Care Act has 22 covered services specifically for women. There are also of course a lot of Preventive Services for men. In the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness month I offer you this list.

22 Preventive Service for Women, including Pregnant Women, covered at 100%.

Anemia screening on a routine basis for pregnant women
Bacteriuria urinary tract or other infection screening for pregnant women
BRCA counseling about genetic testing for women at higher risk
Breast Cancer Mammography screenings every 1 to 2 years for women over 40
Breast Cancer Chemoprevention counseling for women at higher risk
Breastfeeding comprehensive support and counseling from trained providers, as well as access to breastfeeding supplies, for pregnant and nursing women*
Cervical Cancer screening for sexually active women
Chlamydia Infection screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
Contraception: Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling, not including abortifacient drugs*
Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling for all women*
Folic Acid supplements for women who may become pregnant
Gestational diabetes screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes*
Gonorrhea screening for all women at higher risk
Hepatitis B screening for pregnant women at their first prenatal visit
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening and counseling for sexually active women*
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Test: high risk HPV DNA testing every three years for women with normal cytology results who are 30 or older*
Osteoporosis screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
Rh Incompatibility screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
Tobacco Use screening and interventions for all women, and expanded counseling for pregnant tobacco users
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) counseling for sexually active women*
Syphilis screening for all pregnant women or other women at increased risk
Well-woman visits to obtain recommended preventive services*

For more information you can visit the Health Resources and Services Administration’s page on Women’s Preventivite Services Guidelines page hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Preventative Care Benefits page from HealthCare.Gov.

 

Vol. 8 October 10th, 2013

Health-Care Dates to Remember:

March 31, 2014

Healthcare services will be available via American Family Care – Franchise Development. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange, aka www.WAHealthPlanFinder.org, is the place to sign up for Medicaid and Subsidized Insurance for low income families. The end of the open enrollment is March 31st, 2014.

Regular individual and family enrollments continue year round. We have a good choice of insurance carriers and Utility Saving Expert available. Please send me your friends.

November 15, 2014

The start of open enrollment for policies effective January 1st, 2015. This is also a time to switch plans or switch carriers. The open enrollment ends January 15, 2015.

To date over 270,000 people have enrolled through the Wash Exchange. The site however can be cumbersome and uncooperative – however it has been gradually improving.

Recently I helped three clients purchase individual insurance. Three intelligent, fun guys. Some aspects of my work are great. One of them is computer literate and technology savvy. He had spent 8 hours on the www.WAHealthPlanFinder.org web site. 8 hours! We had coffee, talked for an hour or so and he came to a decision.

Anther client, a smart guy with a PhD, was also frustrated with the site. Eventually he called me for help. He purchased a policy on paper….which was easy for both of us. Quick and simple.

I am sure there are many success stories – 270,000 of them I guess. But it is not always easy or quick to use the exchange site.

Groups policies renew annually at the month of their renewal date, as they always have.

Live Nation, The Exchange, & Mick Jagger

Rolling Stones Concert StageThe largest producer of popular musical events in the world is Live Nation. (who knew?) They produce 150 events in Washington State each year and around the world. You can get more information on them and the events they host on  CheapoTicketing.

Washington Health Plan Exchange has launched an outreach effort with Live Nation. www.livenation.com. It is youth oriented and much hipper than Ticketmaster.

Mick JaggerOutreach will take place through Live Nation websites, print and radio ads, and social media. This is a new and different platform to educate young adults.
Enrolling healthy young adults is critical to make the ACA a success. It is critical to keep the premiums down. These individual products are all one community pool for experience (claims). We needt as many young people as possible to enroll. That is the main factor to keep the rates low. If you know someone, especially someone young who is uninsured please forward this newsletter to them.

Live Nation PosterIf the average age in the pool next fall is in the forties or higher than the annual renewal rates will be much higher. And no one wants that! So encourage young people in your life to enroll and to check out Live Nation in a few weeks.

I am a Beatles fan myself but thought some of you would enjoy this picture of Mick from the Live Nation web site plus some music as a reward for reading to the end. He looks doe eyed and sweet in this video montage to Satisfaction.