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American Insurance NW Inc. Blog

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance

Newsletter-Winter 2013

Feature articles include: ACA/ObamaCare Deadline Extended ACA/Health Exchange - Who Needs a Quotation Roudabout Honks - New Traffic Access A Legacy to Remember Referral Awards Grand Prize - Winner Announced Welcome...

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Regence - Can I Keep My Plan?

Can I keep my plan? It depends says the Regence Group which does business in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Utah. - Fall 2013 promised to be a dynamic time in the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, with the launch of...

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ACA / ObamaCare Deadlines Extended

Political passions run high over the looming January 1, 2014 deadline of the "Individual Mandate" and other provisions of The Affordable Care Act (ACA). To add fuel to the fire, the ACA Health Exchange Marketplace...

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Fewest Atlantic Hurricanes In 31 Years

No major hurricanes formed in the Atlantic basin for the first time since 1994 and the fewest number of hurricanes since 1982, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This was welcomed...

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What Industry Has Highest Worker Injury Rate?

"Pick any other industry, and the injury rate is less," explained Scott Harris, Ph.D., MSPH, who added that healthcare worker injury rates are only less than outdoor wilderness professions such as commercial loggers and...

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Nightmares On The Roundabout

I've been having a recurring dream...a nightmare really. I find myself driving to work, north on Snake River Ave. I pass KOZE Radio and find myself becoming anxious but don't know why. As I pass under the Southway...

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Health Exchange Update 10/25/13

The Health Exchange Marketplace opened on October 1st and has experienced serious technical problems ever since. In the meantime, the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) still takes effect in 2014....

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Only Agents Can Explain Exchange Plans

The Idaho and Washington State Health Exchanges including their navigators (online and phone assistants) will not explain or recommend any insurance plans offered in the exchanges. They feel that experienced and...

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Who Needs Health Exchange Quotations?

The new Health Insurance Exchange Marketplace isn't just for the uninsured! Almost everyone needs to take a serious look at their own state's Health Exchange Marketplace before January 1, 2014. Here's who should obtain...

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What About Prospect Ave?

The traffic plan for the south end of Prospect Avenue was always dependent on the Roundabout construction plan. So the closing of Prospect's access to Southway and Snake River Ave was a fate sealed long ago....

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3 Roundabout Rules To Know

Have you got it figured out? It turns out that Roundabouts have special driving rules. So, here are three tips you should know to drive safely in a modified multi-lane roundabout now open at the intersection of...

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Roundabout Shaping Up!

The outline of Lewiston's first roundabout is taking shape. Curb and gutter now fully border the intersection at Southway and Snake River Ave. Concrete lanes fill half the future roundabout circle and preparations to...

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$3.9B Health Premiums Saved In 2012

The Obama administration claims that consumers saved $3.9 billion on their premiums in 2012 due to implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that...

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American Ins On KLEW-TV

American Insurance is featuring a new "Best of the West" ad on KLEW-TV (CBS cable channel 3 and HD channel 460) during the 6pm News, 11pm News and 6:30am Re-broadcast. Click and watch now and tell us what you think? Do...

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Hailstorm Claims Up 84%

Insurance claims resulting from hailstorm damage increased 84 percent in 2012 from their 2010 level according to a National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) report. See top 5 states for hail damage below. In 2010, there...

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Voted "Best of the West" 2013

AMERICAN INSURANCE, in Lewiston and Moscow, was voted "Best of the West" for 2013 in a KLEW TV online survey of local resident's preferences. The Sullivans and staff are proud to be chosen and always strive to be worthy...

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Newsletter - Summer 2013

Summer Newsletter Featured Articles Include - VALLEY FIREWORKS SHOW - schedule of events THE RAT & THE WIND - WWII Story: B-17 shot down, Sully a POW DOWN UNDER - A trip to the Australian outback HEALTH AGENTS PLAY...

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ACA Employer Mandate Delayed Until 2015

The penalties imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on large employers (50+ employees) has been delayed one year in an announcement by the Treasury Department for the Obama Administration. In the announcement by Mark...

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Top 10 Risks For Insurers - Ernst & Young

Insuring risk is risky business! As the insurance industry adjusts to a new environment of low asset returns and stricter regulation, insurers have few illusions about the challenges ahead. In an increasingly...

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Roundabout We Go!

Intersection closure this weekend. The roundabout construction project at Southway / Snake River Ave intersection is having the second and last scheduled closing this weekend. We will keep you informed on construction...

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Hospital Charges Exposed & Vary Widely

New data shows significant variation across the country and within communities in what hospitals charge for common inpatient services. Also, HHS made approximately $87 million available to states to enhance their rate...

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Health Centers Funded For AFA Enrollment

Republicans renew call to repeal the entire healthcare law while the Obama administration is providing $150 million for health centers to offer Affordable Health Care (AHC) enrollment assistance nationwide. House of...

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New Health Care Apps Shorter

Now a new series of shorter and easier applications have been released by CMS. Stinging from criticism that the new Health Care applications were too long and too complicated, the Obama administration went back to the...

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Health Agents Play Critical Role

Agents and brokers will play a critical role in helping consumers access health insurance coverage through Affordable Insurance Exchanges or Health Insurance Marketplaces, according to an announcement today by The...

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Quiz Yourself On Health Reform

Test your knowledge on key items from The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The health reform law promises to deliver big changes in the U.S. health care system. But, as with other sweeping pieces of...

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Health Reform Hits Main Street - Kaiser

Confused about how the new health reform law really works? Get answers in just 9 minutes by watching this animated movie from The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation. Click Health Reform Hits Main Street, featuring the "...

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Distracted Driving - Employer Issues

From small business delivery to large transportation fleets, distracted driving issues are a major liability to employers. Due to high profile crashes, large jury verdicts against employers, and a changing regulatory...

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20% Of Car Accidents Are Caused By?

Nope – not texting or distracted driving. Day or night, the leading cause of auto accidents is...driving while tired, according to a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. The 100-car...

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Independent Contractor? Maybe not!

Is your janitor, maintenance worker, or sub-contractor really an independent contractor? Business owners are tempted to classify some workers as "independent contractors" to avoid payroll taxes, benefits and workers...

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Heath Care Reform Overview - ADP

A free replay of the webinar "Health Care Reform: Strategies to Help Control Costs, Mitigate Risk, & Decrease Penalties," has been made available by ADP ®, a leading provider of employer health care benefits...

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Small Biz Health Exchange Delayed

The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC) was to begin in every state by January 1, 2014 but is being delayed one year. Health and Human Services (...

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Home Claims Satisfaction Study

Following two of the worst years of natural catastrophic events in the history in the United States, overall customer satisfaction with the property claims experience remains high, according to the J.D. Power and...

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Feds To Pay 100% New Medicaid Cost

The federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of certain newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries effective January 1, 2014. The final rule was announced today by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary...

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32% Rise in Health Claims Projected

Health claim costs per member, per month for non-group individual health insurance plans will increase 32% under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a key finding in the Society of Actuaries study release in March 2013....

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Insurance Fraud Acceptance Drops

Over the last 10 years the public acceptance of insurance fraud behavior has decreased from 33 percent in 2002 to 24 percent in 2012 according to the Insurance Research Council (IRC). Still that is nearly 1 in 4...

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Auto Insurance Is 5 Year Loser

The US Auto Insurance industry will post a statutory underwriting loss in private passenger auto for the fifth consecutive year in 2012, according to a report by Fitch Ratings. Spurred by several years of weaker segment...

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BATTLE FOR ID STATE EXCHANGE

Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter needs citizen support in his battle for a state-based Health Exchange. After winning a hard fought battle in the Idaho House on Wednesday, the legislation now goes again to the Idaho...

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2013 Insurance Rate Forecast

Premiums for insurance is expected to continue a modest rise in 2013. By John B Sullivan, CIC President, AMERICAN INSURANCE Like our political climate "more of the same" is expected. Loss experience improved over 2011's...

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5 Key Health Care Provisions Finalized

A final rule that implements five key consumer protections from the Affordable Care Act were issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "Because of the Affordable Care Act, being denied...

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Final Rules for "Essential" Health Benefits

Final rules for "essential" health benefits were announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The rule outlines health insurance issuer standards for a core package of benefits, called essential...

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86% Rise In Jewelry Questionable Claims

There was a sharp 26.7% overall rise in "questionable claims" (QC) in 2012 reported to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). QCs went from 91,797 in 2010 to 116,268 in 2012-a new record. In 2011, the total was 100,...

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Governor's 5 Reasons For Idaho Health Exchange

Idaho Governor Butch Otter's top five reasons for creating a state-based health insurance exchange are listed below. He strongly supports an Idaho Health Insurance Exchange and is asking Idahoans to sign his petition to...

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Only 11 States Pass Health Care Regs

Only 11 of the 50 US states have moved to implement new consumer safeguards under President Barack Obama's healthcare law according to this Reuters report posted today by Insurance Journal. Read more...

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Idahoans Action Needed For State Health Exchange

Governor Butch Otter is appealing to all Idahoans for help passing legislation for a state based health insurance exchange. Facing opposition from far-right legislators Otter has taken the cause direct to his citizens...

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Cell Phone Insurance To Be Regulated

Idaho will regulate the insurance sold on all portable electronics in the State beginning July 1, 2013. Consumers will then have redress of complaints through the Idaho Department of Insurance. Title 41, 1081-1089, on...

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