Today, Zane Benefits, Inc. published new information on Health Insurance Navigators. Zane Benefits, which provides comprehensive and flexible alternatives to traditional employer sponsored health benefits, is the leader in defined contribution and health reimbursement arrangements.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, on April 9, 2013, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement for health insurance marketplace navigators. The release came one week after the HHS released proposed rules for navigators. Eligible self-employed individuals and private and public entities can apply to serve as Navigators in the 33 states with a Federally-facilitated or State-Federal Partnership health insurance marketplace. CMS anticipates that each state will be awarded at least two grants.

Federal Navigator Funding Opportunity Summary

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the navigators, which CMS envisions as individuals and entities that will provide consumers with unbiased information about exchanges, health insurance plans, qualified health plans, and public programs including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, are a brand-new role in the healthcare industry.

The CMS announcement states that applicants must be “self-employed individuals and private and public entities" and lists several eligible groups including trade, industry and professional associations, chambers of commerce, unions, licensed insurance agents and brokers, state or local human services agencies, etc. As with other releases, CMS notes that during their term as navigators, individuals and entities are not permitted to receive any direct or indirect consideration from a health insurance issuer connected to the enrollment of individuals into Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) or non-QHPs.

Ineligible entities include health insurance issuers, subsidiaries of health insurance issuers, associations that include members of, or lobbies on behalf of, the insurance industry, or recipients of any direct or indirect consideration from any health insurance issuer in connection with the enrollment of any individuals or employees in a QHP or non-QHP.

CMS anticipates that each state will be awarded at least two grants, one of which will go to a well-established non-profit. Amounts will vary by state population with the largest award expected to go to Texas. The awarded grants will initially provide funding for one year. CMS will train the navigators, but navigators must also comply with state licensing or certification requirements.

Federal Navigator Funding Opportunity - Amounts of Grants

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the funding opportunity provides up to $54 million in total funding. Grants will range from $600,000 to $8.1 million based on the number of uninsured lawfully residing residents in the state. Thirteen states will receive the minimum funding level of $600,000 while Florida and Texas will receive a large portion of the funding at $5.8 and $8.1 million respectively. A list of states with the number of uninsured residents can be found in the application.

Federal Navigator Funding Application

According to Zane Benefits’ website, those who are interested in applying for navigator funds must submit a letter of intent by May 1 with the final application due may June 7. Grant award recipients are expected to be announced by August 15, coinciding with the launch of navigator training and the certification process.

As we've discussed previously, it is important to note that health insurance agents and brokers do not need to become navigators to assist their clients with exchange-based coverage. It appears that in many states, agents and brokers will be able to work with their clients and then receive compensation through the health insurance carriers just as they do today. However, final rules have yet to be released for the federally-facilitated marketplace.

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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to employers and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com.

Today, Zane Benefits, Inc. published a new guide on Kentucky Health Insurance Exchange. Zane Benefits, which provides comprehensive and flexible alternatives to traditional employer sponsored health benefits, is the leader in defined contribution and health reimbursement arrangements.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, starting in 2014, as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance coverage for individuals and small businesses will become available through new state health insurance exchanges. All states have three options for setting up a state health insurance exchange for 2014: Build a state-based exchange, enter into a state-federal partnership exchange, or default to a federally-facilitated exchange

Kentucky plans to offer a state-based exchange called Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange. The Exchange will open in October 2013, for coverage starting January 1, 2013.

Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange

According to Zane Benefits’ website, The Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange will operate as an online marketplace where individual Kentuckians and employees of small businesses can comparison shop for health insurance based on cost, benefits and quality. The Exchange will also allow individuals and businesses to apply for premium subsidies and tax credits, and learn if they are eligible for public coverage under Medicaid or the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). Initially, the small business marketplace (SHOP) will be for employers with 50 or less employees.

Approximately 640,000 Kentuckians are uninsured (approximately 15% of the population).

Kentucky Health Insurance Exchange - How was it Formed?

According to Zane Benefits’ website, on July 17, 2012, Governor Steven L. Beshear issued Executive Order 587 establishing the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange after the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Executive Order establishes the Office of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange “within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.” On December 14, 2012, Kentucky received conditional approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a state-based exchange.

Kentucky Health Insurance Exchange - Role of Insurance Professionals

According to Zane Benefits’ website, formal information has not yet been released on the role of agents and brokers with the Exchange. However, it is expected that producers will be allowed to sell policies offered through the Kentucky Health Insurance Exchange, and receive commissions directly from the carrier. It is also expected that producers will need to register, attend training and be certified to sell policies offered on the Exchange.

Kentucky Health Insurance Exchange - Role of Navigators

According to Zane Benefits’ website, under the ACA a Navigator program is required to provide educational materials and assistance to individuals and small businesses accessing the new online health insurance marketplace. Kentucky is currently developing a Navigator program in accordance with federal requirements. According to the Exchange website, Navigators will play a large role with outreach efforts in all 120 counties.


Click here to read full article.

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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to employers and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com.

Jim Byrd will team with CelebrityPress, a leading book publishing company, and several leading experts from around the world to release the book, “Victory”

Orlando, Fla. – March 4, 2013 – Jim Byrd has joined America’s leading experts, along with best-selling author and speaker, Tom Hopkins, to co-author the forthcoming book titled, “Victory: The World's Leading Experts Reveal Their Secrets for Winning in Health, Wealth, & Success in the New Economy.” Nick Nanton, Esq., along with business partner, JW Dicks, Esq., recently signed a publishing deal with each of these authors to contribute their expertise to the book, which will be released under their CelebrityPress imprint.

Jim Byrd is a fee based Investment Advisor Representative and owner of Safe Harbor Financial Services. A fee based advisor is paid to provide non-biased options on products, strategies and tax solutions.

Throughout his career, Jim won numerous management awards and other various awards such as: Leader's Conference, President's Conference as well as industry honors including Top of the Table Million Dollar Round Table and Court of the Table. Jim has also held a number of positions with civic organizations including: President of Airport Metro Kiwanis, President of Mobile Association of Life Underwriters, President of General Agents and Managers Association, Chairman of the Board and Ambassador of the Year for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. Safe Harbor Financial also has the honor of winning the Small Business of the Year award for 2012. Jim is heard on WABF and Talk FM radio and seen on Fox 10/Studio 10 Dollars and Sense.

“Victory” will feature the components in common that these CelebrityExperts® display, and are the basic tenets of success – including discipline, planning and perseverance. The one item that ties them all together is their ability to spread their ideas to their audience/clients. In the same way that the best unboxed mousetrap never caught a mouse, the best ideas unreleased remain ideas. So, allow these CelebrityExperts® to guide, coach and encourage you to attain that VICTORY you dream about and deserve. The royalties from this project will be given to Entrepreneur’s International Foundation, a not for profit organization dedicated to creating unique launch campaigns to raise money and awareness for charitable causes. The book is expected to be published in June 2013.

For more information please visit www.safeharfin.com

About Celebrity Press™:

Celebrity Press™ is a business book publisher that publishes books from thought leaders around the world. Celebrity Press™ specializes in helping its authors grow their businesses through book publishing. Celebrity Press™ has published books alongside Brian Tracy, Dr. Ivan Misner, Ron Legrand, Mari Smith, Kelly O’Neil, Alexis Martin Neely and many of the biggest experts across diverse fields.

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Contact:
Lindsey Showalter
Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency®
800-980-1626
lshowalter@dnagency.com

Entrepreneurial teens can discover what it takes to become a successful business leader at CEO Academy, an exclusive one-week summer camp. Presented by Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida in partnership with the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University, CEO Academy will take place at the Lutgert College of Business June 10-14. Applications for the camp are now being accepted until May 1, 2013.

Open to rising high school juniors and seniors from Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties, CEO Academy teaches students the basics of starting and operating a successful business. With the guidance of experienced local business leaders, entrepreneurs and FGCU professors, students work in project teams to develop a unique business concept and comprehensive business plan.

Through local support, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida is pleased to announce that $1000 college scholarships will be awarded to each of the students on the winning team for the business plan competition that is held at the conclusion of the camp. The judging panel will consist of past Junior Achievement Laureates, who themselves are exceptional entrepreneurs and have been recognized for making a significant contribution to the economic development of Southwest Florida while adhering to high moral and ethical principles. This opportunity provides students with invaluable knowledge and experience from successful business leaders and entrepreneurs, an excellent addition to a college application and the chance to participate in future Junior Achievement events.

Interested students may apply by contacting their school guidance counselor or the Junior Achievement office at 239-225-2590. There is a $100 application fee, which is fully refundable if the student is not selected. The deadline for applications to the Junior Achievement office is May 1, 2013.

Please find application details at: http://www.jaswfl.org/classroom. Camp hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida Inc. provides in-school and after-school programs for students in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties that focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Today, 122 individual area operations reach more than 4 million students in the U.S., with an additional 5 million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. For more information about Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, contact Anne Frazier at 239-225-2590 or info@jaswfl.org. Our website is www.JASWFL.org.

Deb Cheslow will team with CelebrityPress, a leading book publishing company, and several leading experts from around the world to release the book, “New Rules of Success”

Orlando, Fla. – April 12th, 2013 – Deb Cheslow has joined a select group of the world’s leading experts to co-write the forthcoming book titled, “New Rules of Success: The World's Leading Experts Reveal Their Top Secrets to Help You Achieve Optimal Health, Wealth and Lifestyle.” Nick Nanton, Esq., along with business partner, JW Dicks, Esq., recently signed a publishing deal with each of these authors to contribute their expertise to the book, which will be released under their CelebrityPress imprint.

Deb Cheslow is a two-time best-selling author, speaker, corporate trainer, and peak performance strategist who has spent her entire life defying the odds to achieve goals that should not have been possible from any logical viewpoint. The media regularly seeks her out for her perspective on achieving breakaway success in business and in life. Deb has been seen on NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates, as well as in Newsweek, Reuters, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, Yahoo Finance and MarketWatch.com, among many others.

Famous for her no-nonsense, results-oriented style, Deb is known for asking the question, “Where would your life be if every time you said ‘I Should…,’ you actually DID?” She shares a systemized strategy for achieving success beyond your wildest dreams that is based upon four foundational pillars – discipline, accountability, standards and systems. Deb teaches a process for looking fear in the face and then acting in spite of that fear.

She has lived a remarkably courageous life and now views it as her mission to share the strategies she has used (and continues to use) to create incredible success in her own personal and professional life with individuals, teams, organizations and companies so they can do the same.

The forthcoming book will showcase a group of experts who illustrate the success that can be found in the new economy. They each illustrate their success with accomplishments that give them the authority and credibility to act as guide, tutor or mentor. While the principles they highlight remain constant, their methodology required them to adapt to the New Economy. The royalties from this project will be given to Entrepreneur’s International Foundation, a not for profit organization dedicated to creating unique launch campaigns to raise money and awareness for charitable causes. The book is expected to be published in August 2013.

About Celebrity Press™:

Celebrity Press™ is a business book publisher that publishes books from thought leaders around the world. Celebrity Press™ specializes in helping its authors grow their businesses through book publishing. Celebrity Press™ has published books alongside Brian Tracy, Dr. Ivan Misner, Ron Legrand, Mari Smith, Kelly O’Neil, Alexis Martin Neely and many of the biggest experts across diverse fields.

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Contact:
Lindsey Showalter
Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency®
800-980-1626
lshowalter@dnagency.com