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The National Association of Socially Responsible Organizations (NASRO) is a non-profit Co-op founded by health care consultant Robert Gaw, that is working hard for you and is able to recommend the best plans for non-profits and small group that are available in North Carolina at a more affordable rate. NASRO is more than just a broker, more than just a consultant. NASRO is an advocate for the health care consumer.
If you are preparing for your annual health plan renewal, starting a new business, are currently on an expensive COBRA plan from a previous job, expanding operations in North Carolina, or just need to lower your monthly health insurance costs then you need to know more about NASRO. You are not alone, we can help you. We have worked hard for decades to help establish a more humane health care system in North Carolina. There is still much work to be done in North Carolina. NASRO is helping to make sure that all the health plan options available in the state are communicated professionally. If you have a question or a problem please call us. We can offer advice on a wide range of health care subjects beyond health insurance rates. If after looking at the quotes you have questions about the benefits of the plans or the enrollment application process please give us a call. We can help you complete the on line applications and prepare you to answer the questions you will be asked.
North Carolina NASRO Members Include
Short Cuts for Individuals and FamiliesFor Individuals and Families paying for their own plan it is important not to wait until you have a medical condition before you purchase health insurance. Once you have a medical condition, even a minor one, as inhuman as it seems, the health insurance companies can turn you down and refuse to provide any coverage. If you recently have had group coverage from a previous employer, you have 63 days after the end of your group plan to pick up an individual plan and not be subject to medical underwriting. Since age rating is the only option, the younger you are the more affordable the health plans are. The older you are the more the premium costs go up. Young families may actually be able to afford more coverage to protect their children and older individuals who are healthy can find plans that provide good access to routine physicals, unlimited sick visits and prescription drug coverage and carry a larger deductible for the less likely to occur inpatient admissions. Below is an example of one plan, but we suggest you try are on line system for quick and easy access to many plan options, provider look up information and on line fast sign up by filling out an on line application.
The Immoral Practice of Pre-Existing Conditions Underwriting and Individual Health InsuranceNASRO believes strongly that the fast growing number of individuals who need a health insurance plan in North Carolina should be provided the right to buy the same health insurance plans for the same price, as anyone else, with their own money. We believe it is a sin for health insurance companies to " play God " with the lives of people. Turning down people with any form of illness large or small is severely limiting their economic lives. Help with some COBRA premium costs provided in the recent "stimulus bill ", is great for people who work for large employers, but most people do not work for large employers. Unemployment could rise reach 10% in North Carolina by the end of 2009 and prudent financial planning needs to be made now. NASRO does not yet have a group plan in North Carolina that will accept individuals that have been turned down for coverage. We are working for a new National Health Care law to accomplish this mission. In the meantime, we will assist any self employed person in North Carolina that needs to know how to qualify for group coverage right now.
NASRO Personal ServiceWhat People Are Saying About Us!" I have nothing but praise for the good folks at NASRO ( National Association of Socially Responsible Organizations ). If you've ever dealt with insurance providers, you know that the usual goal of the person who answers the phone is to say " no " and hang up as quickly as possible. My experience with Barbara Gibson at NASRO could not have been more different. She actually did the math on whether it would be better for me to stick with COBRA for 18 months before switching to the NASRO plan. The one time I actually had a problem with coverage for a medical condition, she not only straightened it out, but remembered to ask me if I was feeling better after the procedure. Deborah Elizabeth Finn P. S. Full disclosure. NASRO does not compensate me in any way for praising it immoderately. I am just a fan."
NASRO Members Include
Affordable Individual Health Insurance PlansAnthem Blue Cross of North CarolinaAnthem Blue Cross Life and Health
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Aetna Humana
Celtic
WellPath Select
United HealthCare
CIGNACIGNA Individual & Families Brochure CIGNA Open Access Plan Comparison CIGNA Health Savings Account Plans CIGNA Provider DirectoryAffordable Health Insurance Plans for Small Business and Non-ProfitsAnthem Blue Cross of North Carolina
BlueCross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Humana
Celtic Aetna United Healthcare
CIGNA
WellPath SelectAffordable Group Dental Insurance PlansMetropolitan Dental
Delta Dental
Anthem Blue Cross
Blue Shield of North Carolina
Coventry
Group Vision Plans
Term Life Insurance PlansFind Out the Rates and Apply On Line for Term Life Coverage NASRO does not recommend Life Insurance as an investment tool, but for basic protection for a spouse and dependent children it remains an important part of prudent financial planning. In the event of an untimely death, income for the family to continue on with the basic needs being met can be achieved for a modest monthly premium. Carriers Banner LifeWest Coast LifeLincoln Benefit LifeAmerican GeneralUnited of Omaha LifeNationwide LifeGenworth Financial
Short Term & Long Term Disability InsuranceMetropolitan Life Insurance CompanyUNUM Life Insurance CompanyWest Coast Life Insurance Company See through the mist and confusion surrounding health insurance plans with the help of a recognized non-profit like NASRO.NASRO Group Health Co-operative is working for North Carolina communities
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May 03, 2010 States Indicate Interest in Administering High-Risk Pools
By the end of Friday, officials from 28 states and the District of Columbia had informed HHS that they will administer their own high-risk pools to comply with a provision in the new health reform law, instead of allowing the federal government to implement the program for them, Politico reports. Meanwhile, 15 states indicated that they will transfer the responsibility of administering the pools to the federal government (Haberkorn, Politico, 5/3). Under the program outlined in the new health reform law, states are permitted to create their own pools or expand existing ones, or they could allow the federal government to implement such a pool for them. The law allocates $5 billion for the program (California Healthline, 4/27). U.S. residents will be eligible for coverage under the pools if they have a pre-existing condition and have been without health insurance for at least six months (Levey, Los Angeles Times, 5/1). Many of the states that opted out of the program already have pools that only need to be expanded or modified to meet the new federal requirements, Politico reports. According to Politico, most of the states that decided to use their own high-risk pools have Democratic governors, while most of the states that are defaulting to the federal government's programs have Republican governors (Politico, 5/3). Among the states that have opted to operate their own high-risk pools are:
States that have chosen to let HHS run their programs include:
On Friday, HHS announced the allocation of the $5 billion for the pools, according to The Hill. California will get the largest share of $761 million, while three states -- North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming -- each will receive $8 million. States Concerned With Potential Costs The high-risk pools are scheduled to begin operating on July 1 and expire in 2014, when the overhaul requires private insurers to accept all applicants regardless of pre-existing conditions (Pecquet, The Hill, 5/1). Although the deadline for states to declare their positions to HHS was Friday, several states still have not responded. However, HHS spokesperson Jenny Backus said the agency is happy with the response. Backus added, "Whether states create these pools or the federal government creates them for states, the pools will be paid for by 100% federal dollars" (Politico, 5/3). Concerns over the program's cost and fears that states would be responsible for some portions of it until 2014 played a key role in several states' decisions to reject the government plan, the Los Angeles Times reports. Last month, officials from Georgia and Nebraska wrote to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius expressing their concerns (Los Angeles Times, 5/1). According to The Hill, CMS Chief Actuary Rick Foster noted in an analysis of the new reform law released last month that "by 2011 and 2012 the initial $5 billion in federal funding for this program would be exhausted, resulting in substantial premium increases to sustain the program; we anticipate that such increases would limit further participation" (The Hill, 5/1). FCC: Health Data Exchanges To Need More Broadband Support
At the Health Information and Management Systems Society annual conference on Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission announced multiple recommendations involving new funding and regulations for broadband Internet connections that support health IT exchange, Government Health IT reports. The recommendations stem from an FCC survey that found the U.S. lacks sufficient broadband connections to meet criteria for "meaningful use" of electronic health records that will determine whether health care providers are eligible for incentive payments under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. The survey found that as many as 3,600 small practices do not have even basic broadband services, while thousands of other locations face price disparities of as much as $45,000 each year for the same services available in better connected areas. Recommendations To address such access problems, FCC proposes:
FCC wants to link funding as closely as possible to meaningful use to ensure that the money goes to locations following the guidance of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. The recommendations are part of FCC's upcoming National Broadband Plan that it is expected to deliver to Congress by March 17 (Robinson, Government Health IT, 3/2). North Carolina Health Care Trends for 2010Raleigh: In any recession a number of difficult health care trends start to emerge that are fairly self evident. What needs to be watched out for is how deep this recession will go,that is beyond the experiences of our recent past. Predictions by the Economic Policy Institute for example, call for planning for unemployment rising as high as 15% over the next two years. Because of the compounding of the loss of jobs, with housing foreclosures, loss of home equity and retirement savings that is being experienced at the same time, the following trends are likely.
Educate Yourself
• NASRO's mission in health care particularly concerns the situation facing small businesses, non-profits, individuals, self employed people and independent contractors. Please read this excellent resource developed by the North Carolina Health Care Foundation and call NASRO at 800-638-8113 with any questions and for a rate proposal on the health plans you are interested in looking at. Developing the Right Criteria For Selecting Your Next Health Plan Right now in North Carolina if you are an individual who has a pre-existing medical condition and you are middle income the plans available for so called high risk people are beyond the financial reach of many people. If you are high income and have pre existing conditions you will be able to find a plan that you can afford. For the insurance industry to deny North Carolinians who are sick access to health insurance is a sin. Other states have provided coverage for 20 years and their insurance companies are doing well. The size of the population of individuals in North Carolina is huge, with many hundreds of thousands of new people moving from being covered by an employer to being responsible for their own health plan throughout any year. Rules Governing NC Individual Insurance Market
• Employer groups and self employed people are now free to join NASRO at no cost. With its growing numbers NASRO is leveraging our membership to change the economics of North Carolina health insurance. Membership is confidential and not subject to distribution to any outside groups.
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