This last week was historical when a health care reform package was signed by President Obama. I reached out to Congressman Perlmutter’s office to get information on what the “tax credits for small business” really means for our chamber members. Please email me at asherman@westchamber.org if you want me to pass along the two-page document for small business. I did find a good summary from Aspen Group Benefits Advisors, a long-time chamber member.
“I would like to take this opportunity to provide you a summary of the key components of the health care reform legislation and how it may impact you and your business. I expect that given the number of years that it will take to fully rollout these reforms, there will continue to be changes to many elements of the legislation. However, for the first time in over a year, we have a much clearer view of the changes that will potentially take place. This bill will:
• Mandate that everyone must have insurance.
• Result in more than 30 million additional people becoming insured.
• Provide for subsidized coverage for people that can’t afford it and increase the number of people that will qualify for Medicaid.
• Make cuts to Medicare Advantage Plans and change their payment formula.
• Increase taxes and fees to many individual Americans and Corporations.
• Make many changes to the way Insurance Companies do business from not allowing them to use pre-existing conditions to limiting their rates based on medical loss ratios.
Many of these elements do not phase in for many years. Those that are most immediate and are expected to occur in 2010 are:
• Tax credits for certain small businesses.
• Elimination of pre-existing conditions and an increase in dependant coverage to age 26.
• Creation of a temporary reinsurance program to provide coverage for retirees over 55 who are not eligible for Medicare.
• The further creation of a temporary national high risk insurance pool.
• The prohibition of lifetime limits on benefit payments.
• Closing the so called “doughnut hole” by providing immediate tax credits for Medicare patients who face a gap in prescription drug coverage.
The real impact in the health insurance system won’t occur until the year 2014. During the interim, there will be the phase-in of additional new taxes that will provide added government revenue to pay for these changes. The four most significant changes occurring in 2014 are:
• Insurers will be required to take all applicants.
• Insurance will be mandated for all Americans.
• Tax credits to help pay premiums will start flowing to middle-class working families. The most aid – including help with copayments and deductibles – will be made available for those individuals and families on the lower end of the income scale.
• Insurance exchanges will be created to help administer subsidies for those individuals that require them.
When fully implemented, I believe that the majority of working-age Americans and their families will continue to have employer-sponsored coverage as they do today. In addition, through mandates and other subsidies, the number of people insured will grow by more than 30 million.”
Please let me know if we can help you get information to help you navigate through the new package.
Much success,
Amy Sherman
I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. You may have heard of her – her name is Kate Ripp, the queen of action for results that matter. I have been working with Kate, as my personal and business coach. She has helped me with a program called “Best Year Yet”, which I loved! With Kate’s help, I’m in a better place with balancing running the West Chamber and running around 5-year-old twins! Many of my BYY goals have helped the West Chamber staff with our 2010 Program of Work and we are all marching to the same tune.
Well, Kate wants to teach YOU exactly how she’s helped her clients double their income, eliminate distractions, and live a life that they love, with confidence, and filled with success in relationships, finances, health, creativity and business. And she’s doing it for free with Best Year Yet in her BRAND-NEW webinar “5 Steps To Transform Your Life And Your Business” on Thursday, March 25, at 11 am MDT.
In a hurry? Grab your seat here
On this ground-breaking call you’ll:
1) Learn the key “Magic” steps to becoming a master at producing “the right” results
2) Highlight the most useful lessons of the past twelve months and apply them as powerful advice to keep you focused on doing the things that make the most difference
3) Uncover the underlying assumptions and mindsets that keep you vulnerable and slow you down—so you can release them and unleash the strong and powerful person you are meant to be
4) Make your short list of the Most Important RESULTS to have your best year yet
5) Leave the session re-energized and inspired with a renewed vigor t become a highly productive master at producing results
Here’s that link again to reserve your spot in this complimentary webniar
I hope to see you on the call!
Much success,
Amy Sherman
P.S. As you may or may not know, getting great results again and again is easier when you can tap into the secrets of masters who produce results. Let Kate walk you through the 5 Steps To Transform Your Life And Your Business. Here’s the link again
I’ve been blown away lately at the amount of philanthropic activity in Jefferson County. I had three of the most energetic meetings last Friday and couldn’t decide which one to talk about first. So I’ll mention all three.
You’ve seen the construction on the new animal shelter on 6th Avenue by the Jeffco Fairgrounds for months. Table Mountain Animal Center will become Foothills Animal Shelter this summer. It will be the second largest animal center in the metro area. The new 30,000 square foot facility will be more than double the size of the current one and will allow them to significantly improve current services. The capital campaign is underway and they are seeking to raise $3 million in a short amount of time. All animal lovers should consider the new Foothills Animal Shelter for charitable giving now by going to www.tablemountainanimals.org
From there, I moved on to another massive construction project, the St. Anthony Hospital off of 6th and Union. I am on the Art Committee, a group of people dedicated to raising money to place a beautiful piece of art in every room of the new hospital. The artwork collection for the new hospital is a blend of nature with an urban contemporary feel. Establishing a common foundation for patients, docs, nurses, and staff, the art collection will create an uplifting atmosphere that represents our physical being, as well as the spirit within all of us. We reviewed the overall art work themes – they are amazing. From “zen” to a sense of place to butterflies to family to colorful Colorado, the themes will support all employees and patients. All art lovers and fans of St. Anthony Hospital should consider donating on www.stanthonyhealthfoundation.org to help raise $2 million for the artwork collection.
And in the evening, my husband and I attended a fundraiser for the Jeffco 150 for Kids – a mission to bring a Boys & Girls Club to Jefferson County. We don’t have one, hard to believe isn’t it? We have a goal of raising $1 million by Saturday, May 1. All of Jeffco’s top leaders are chairing this effort. We know that Boys & Girls Clubs help kids build confidence and character and appreciation for civic and social achievement. This fundraising event was held at the new Paul Mitchell School in Belmar and we heard from top leaders, but most importantly the kids who have been saved by the Boys & Girls Clubs. We were so moved that we about volunteered to pay for college for one amazing young girl! We watched as almost everyone in the room went up on stage and donated $1,000 of personal money. Donations to the B&G Club effort are tax deductible and qualify for a 50% Colorado State Income Tax Credit. I have no doubt from the energy in that room that they will raise the $1 in the next six weeks. And you know what I’m going to say next…please help us! Go to www.bgcmd.org and join the effort to bring a Boys & Girls Club to Jefferson County.
Please give what you can to our amazing non-profits of Jefferson County – our future depends on it! Thanks for reading.
Much success,
Amy Sherman
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