Year end fun time!

Whether you are a broker, a third party administrator, an employer, or santa clause year end brings with it all of the joy and challenges one can imagine.

Yes, it's that time of year again! We are all getting ready for renewals, and hopefully adding on some new business. Our industry is in a challenging time right now (to say the least). Enrollment meetings that used to take 30 minutes now take 3 hours due to the complexities of consumer directed health care. It's all good though, right? We are finally, as an industry doing what is right and healthy for the consumer. Quite frankly, whether they, or we like it.

With premium increases being what they are, the poor health of consumers, and the real threat of a single payer system it is most definetly time to buckle down and get to work.

Most of you know that I am extremely involved in consumer education, whether through the monthly column I write for Benefits Selling Magazine, The Benefits Buzz radio show, or my involvement with the national association of health underwriters. I must say that balancing all of this with a family and business has proved to be quite the challenge. So, I have decided to resign my position as the incoming national media chair for the association. I really felt like at this point and this time of year my committment to consumer education had to be balanced with my committment to my business, our clients, and our livelihood!

If you are a client, please know my first committment is to YOU!! everything else speaks to my passion for making change. I wont give that up, but I do need to prioritize.

Now, having said that : ) keep watch on our website for my upcoming speaking engagements. I will be presenting a 2 hr continuing education class on consumer directed health care for the Dallas AHU on November 14, 2007. We will be discussing the compliance, pros/cons of health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, and flexible spending accounts. A show you wont want to miss.

Check out the Dallas website at www.dahu.org for details. I hope to see you all there!!

P.S. I got a new puppy. She's a poodle, yes, I said poodle! Her name is Edie and she is fantastic.. I need to make time for her too!