I thought of you and your efforts FFA. All agents are experiencing extreme frustration with this travesty. It is bad enough under the old system. I had a customer call me today and had gone into the doctor’s office for his annual physical. The doctor’s office said his coverage was inactive. Blue Cross site said it was active. Now, I have been on hold for 20 minutes trying to get an answer.
I got my answer FFA, but it isn’t what the customer wants to hear. He paid his normal premium 12-1. Unfortunately, there had been another rate increase so his payment was short almost $100. On top of that, due to the promise that “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it” that was broken and then Obama came out and told the industry to keep the current plans in place, Blue Cross has added another charge to the 1-1 premium which will go to subsidize Obamacare. How is that for a bunch of nonsense. I hate to recommend the broken site since it has no security and is garbled and innacurate, so the man may be stuck for a while. At least he didn’t get a cancellation notice like 5.5 million have already received. They are the desperate ones now.
How can anyone in the insurance industry not understand that IT systems do not work all the time and have mucho problems particularly during the start up phase – hence the high amount of employment of IT professionals in our industry.
This has nothing to do with Obama promises for insurance agents. Insurance agents are appointed.
If all the energy & resources (wasted time and money) in opposing the law had been applied to helping making the law work things would be going better.
Despite the broken record on IJ comments that everything known to man and god is President Obama’s fault…we all know that is just not true.
It has everything to do with his arrogance thinking he can reinvent the wheel. carries and agent had the infrastructure in place. All that ass hole needed to do was get the IRS portion done. He could have used the agency force to piecemeal people in instead of opening the flood gates for everyone at one time and crashing the system. He could have used Licensed Trained and back round checked professionals. I would probably have two more people off the unemployment line.
BTW, the web site isn’t much more then a quick rater which is available for me to purchase. He could have purchased one too.
Hey idk, the American people don’t like being sold a bill of goods or lied to dozens of times about this law. Had the President been honest with the people, he probably wouldn’t have gotten it passed so he lied and lied and lied. Now that everything is falling apart, you have the gall to complain that energy and resources (wasted time & money) with Conservatives opposing this law should have been applied making it work. We are rightly holding him accountable for this colossal mess since that is what he pushed over and over. This law cannot be fixed no matter how you sugar coat it.
Let it be noted that S&M was the first to bring up George W. Bush — and lying to the American public about the worthless bill of goods he sold us on the Iraq war thingy…
Hi Libby – regarding S&M, maybe it will deter him from firing off unprovoked shots. Maybe not.
December 11, 2013 at 12:12 pm
FFA says:
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Libby says: S&M. I like that!
I already knew that….
December 11, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Libby says:
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Celtica – He’s easily provoked.
December 11, 2013 at 1:31 pm
George W. B says:
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Hiya, Celtie! It’s me, your old pal GWB dropping a line to wish you a Merry Christmas! My gift to you is a secret that I haven’t told anyone: Dick Cheney and I are actually responsible for the entire Obamacare program. Dick and some of his hunting buddies designed the website while I drafted the bill and wrote the speeches for Obama where he promised everyone could keep their current plans and would save an average of $2500. HaHAHAHAHA! All of you mere mortals BOUGHT INTO OUR EVIL PLAN TO RUIN THE WORLD!!! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go call my pal Snowden and tell him some more secrets.
PS–Santa Cheney told me to tell you “Ho, Ho, Ho!”
December 11, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Celtica says:
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Libby, he doesn’t actually need to be provoked to provoke (!)
December 12, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Celtica says:
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Dear Georgie:
Thank you for finally taking responsibility for something. Although a baby step, it is a first step. Now, about that Iraq War thingy…
December 12, 2013 at 5:42 pm
Agent says:
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Do you like your new moniker Sargeant? Libby and Celtica are either too lazy or too sarcastic or both so they like to mock you.
Agent, you and S&M should expect some blowback when you taken unprovoked shots for the sake of taking unprovoked shots.
Now get going and write some ACA policies!
December 10, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Jeff Bialecki says:
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IDK, in the world of software development you are correct in that software releases are not 100% when released! however there is an acceptable limit of what the masses will tolerate.
When Microsoft makes a new system release it is probably in the 94% ~ 96% accurate! Apple on the other hand is around 99.1% functional out of the gate. That is why Apple has grown to be so popular, because it works.
I am sure that if the ACA functioned at 90%, people would be tolerant. However at a 30% functional rate this is not a 1.0 release, nor is it a Beta release, I will be generous and say the released a Alpha version of the software. From the news reports I have seen the IT group warned the Health secretary and the president that it will have bugs and not work properly, but they decided to release it anyway
We know that not everything known to God and man is his fault, but OBAMACARE IS HIS FAULT!! Premiums being higher than he said IS HIS FAULT! People not being able to keep their plans/doctors IS HIS FAULT! Almost 6 million Americans losing their healthcare IS HIS FAULT. What part of THESE statements don’t YOU understand?! It’s not rocket science, you know.
IDK, Obama had 3 years and almost a billion dollars spent to get the web site up and running. If any CEO gave the CIO 3 years and a billion in budget and could not get it done……BOOOM FIRED!!!!
Libby, you aren’t counting the 2 1/2 months they have been working on this site 24/7 according to the President and it is still not completely built and offers no payment options. The people should get a refund from the vendors, but I am sure they will get all the billable hours working on it just like attorney’s do.
Celtica, I would be selling exchange policies if the exchange works. It don’t. try it for your self. See Obamas idea of “User Friendly”. Please do share your experience…
I did try the state exchange several times — it worked great for me. But then I am in a state that embraced it and looked for a way to make it work. Big diff, ya know.
All that time all that effort I put into this thing. I have three apps in. Went to add another today and its crashed again. All my submissions – adverse Selection. Healthy people are not going for this. For me personally, It is cutting my expense from over $1400 @ month to what ends up being $1127. $5000 ded with 100% co pay down to $1000 ded with 80% to $3000. Of course, my wife needs to change doctors and we can not go to the out patients surgery place 2 minutes form our house. Coming off a max rated group and I chip are the only folks saving anything.
FFA, you did see where many leading hospitals will not be in Obamacare. Mayo Clinic, Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, Cedars Sinai to name a few. I guess they will just be treating people with plenty of money who can pay cash for treatment. I wonder who will be treating regular people with Obamacare. We may end up with cheap Doc in the Boxes for most care and instead of real doctors, will have Nurse practitioners and PA’s for most treatment.
BTW, the ones I am writing are off exchange. People are willing to wait to see if they get a credit/ or a subsidy. I think that may be part of the master plan to make this doable with any major impact on the tax bill. He says they can get a subsidy, then the subsidy calculator don’t work so they cant.
FFA, do you mean like the woman in Washington State that thought she had a deal and then she didn’t? They quoted incorrect rates and then she couldn’t get a subsidy so it quickly priced itself out of her range, so she had to decline and will pay the fine/tax.
FFA, I have the unenviable task of trying to explain to my customer why he is getting two rate increases in two months to subsidize Obamacare so he can keep the plan he likes.
December 11, 2013 at 10:16 am
FFA says:
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Agent, its a simple explanation – That’s what OBama thinks is affordable. Let them rant and rave for about a half hour about Obama and the crook he is, then complete the sale.
Its not your fault…
To whom ever disliked my strategy, please provide a different one that works and maintains the confidence of the client in the licensed trained professional agent that passes a back round check if you have it.
December 11, 2013 at 3:50 pm
Agent says:
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Well FFA, I went into the Blue Cross site and rated my customer on the Affordable Care Act approved policies since his Select Saver went up. The cheapest Bronze plan premium was $300 per month higher on him and wife. That is with high deductibles, high out of pocket. I think this man is stuck for now. By the way, he doesn’t need Maternity, birth control pills or abortion coverage, but the mandates say he has to have them so he can subsidize people that want them. What a choice.
December 11, 2013 at 4:00 pm
FFA says:
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Well agent, that not too bad… comparatively speaking that is. At least he gets maternity coverage.
December 10, 2013 at 6:01 pm
JCAT says:
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I, as a license agent, who has sold health insurance for approximately 20 years will not get certified to sell on the exchange, even though CT. has a relatively easy platform. I have heard horror stories of people applying for subsidized coverage ending up with higher costs. From an E&O standpoint, I do not want the exposure. Thank you but I will stick to the off exchange approach.
Yes FFA, they are both in their late 50’s and she is way past menopause so they really need maternity, birth control and abortion coverage. You never know, a miracle may happen like what happened with Abraham & Sarah when she was barren and God gave them a child when she was in her 90’s I believe.
JCAT, that’s exactly what is working in Illinois. Nothing to do with the upfront subsidized plans. If there does actually end up being a subsidy – Obama said there would be so don’t expect it – they can take it on the back end. Pay the full boat during the year and hope its not another lie… I am sure its Bushes fault. BTW, its 80 degrees in Chicago and Cloudy… (I am speaking Obama).
Yes FFA, I noticed that 80 degree weather in Chicago on Monday night football. By the way, I heard on the radio that Cutler was practicing full steam this week and apparently is expecting to start. With the back up playing so well, I am not sure that is a good idea, but I am not the coach of the team. The radio also said the Redskins were sitting RG3 for the remainder of the season and would be starting Cousins. Hmm! Teams with 3 wins tend to give up and look for high draft choices for next year.
Debate is going strong in IL on Cutler vs McCown. McCowen has busted three times – three teams as a starter and was coaching High School Football when the Bears called…
I say milk Cutler along until Manziel comes out and then make a major play for him.
Lynch from NIU is in the Heisman hunt – Long shot at best, but getting the recognition he deserves… He is gonna have to convert to RB to make the NFL.
FFA, If McCown was just coaching, at least he may have been throwing the ball around and waiting for a phone call. The players the Cowboys signed off the couch were enjoying their Doritos and beer. They can’t play a lick. Years ago when the strike happened, Replacement players were used and they were better than what the Cowboys have come up with this year.
It is hard to tell where Manziel will fall in the draft. It will be in the first round, but several may pass on him. He is not very big and has been getting his bell rung in recent games. If he were smart, he would stay for his junior year, but personally I think he is gone.
Hey FFA, do you get NFL Network? They had their Thursday nigt game and the Chargers took care of Libby’s favorite team in Denver last night. They ran all over the Bronco’s and controlled the clock. A team that cannot stop the run will be vulnerable when playoff time comes. It is going to be close seeing who has home field advantage in the AFC. If I were betting, I think I would give the edge to the Patriots who seem to know how to pull games out and they have Brady.
We sure won’t be seeing the Cowboys in the play-offs, Agent. At least my team’s a contender.
December 13, 2013 at 5:37 pm
FFA says:
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They got the formula correct… Keep Manning off the field. If he is on the side lines, he cant beat you…
They are a force to be reckoned with. Just run it down their throat. Eventually, they will over play the run and you can hit them deep…
December 11, 2013 at 10:18 am
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Ill Job market taking another big hit with out Springfield doing anything to stop it.
Office Max (Corp HQ in Naperville IL) is merging with Office Depot. Corp HQ in FLA.
Ill Senate had a bill to bring to vote to give the new corp a tax break to HQ in Naperville but never brought it to a vote.
To make matters worse, our pin heads in Springfield, I was just informed, voted to make it a $1500 fine for dropping a Cig But on the ground. Yea, that’s important – a cig but on the ground is way more important then saving a whole bunch of Corporate Jobs… Guess they had it figured out the – amount of fines to cover the loss of taxes…
Who needs Jobs anyways???
FFA, how long will it take to move Office Max to Florida which has no state income tax and a much better business environment. They may be loading the trucks as we speak.
That may be Libby with the Cowboys, but I never touted them as the best thing since sliced bread like you did with the Bronco’s. The Cowboys are badly managed and badly coached. They are much like how our Federal Government is operating which is dysfunctional at best.
Did you see the picture of him hamming it up at the funeral with the Denmark Prime Minister taking selfie photos? He was enjoying himself next to the good looking blonde and Michelle was fuming. A subsequent photo had Michelle between them and she was not a happy camper.
Well,,,, if I had a blonde like that next to me, I would be doing the same. So would my wife. So, I’ll give him a pass on the flirting cause she is yummie!!! so long as he didn’t have sex with her as defined by Webster – not billy boy.
Maybe he should have invited her home for a 3 way??? I would have. Then my wife would make sure I have a NO WAY!
Per Slick Willy, it depends on what the definition of is is. Spoken by a disbarred lawyer who was impeached but not removed. He has done well for himself raising money from Saudi princes for his foundation. No telling how much he gets for the typical speech. ALGRR also has done well selling his network rights to Al Jezeriah. I think they have about 13,000 viewers in the US including Libby and Celtica.
December 12, 2013 at 11:08 am
Agent says:
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PHH, His political team probably checked the demographics and found out that most Independent Agents are Republican so that may explain his distrust. Of course, some agents have very liberal employees as has been evidenced on this blog over and over. They are not hard to identify.
FFA, the lady I talked to at Blue Cross in Membership Services was apologetic about what is going on. She said when the President came out after his lie had been exposed and said to the insurance companies they could keep the policies in force caused big problems because the systems were already programmed to conform with the law and cancellations were in the pipeline. They had to do an about face and resurrect the current policies in my state, but they have to add an additional charge for the subsidy to the ones applying with subsidies. I don’t get it. Why would my customer get stuck with someone else’s premium? Could it be a redistribution scheme? Hmm!
FFA, Libby and Celtica will blame Bush or the Republicans for this fiasco. I am sure they sabotaged the site so it won’t work. Republicans probably had a mole in one of the vendors work force so it would implode.
I am so frustrated with this mess. I spent 2 hours on the phone with the Marketplace to find out if my ACA Paper applications have been received. Spoke with a so called “Supervisor” at the Marketplace only to be told she will not release the information due to security. My response was just give me a “yes or no” if you received the paper applications. She gave me a flat out NO, can’t do it. I HOPE this law falls flat on it’s face!!! I explained to my individual clients that if they are eligible for a “Subsidy” your basically on your own and good luck. I refuse to even try to work with these people at CMS…..
Well if this isn’t a kick in the pants. Last week someone called me frustrated as all get out. I spent over 1.5 hours on the phone with her last night and then another 1.5 hours researching her doctors. Found the right network for her to have a minimal impact (she has 5 docts). Was only gonna have to change the kids doc.
Just a short time ago, she calls and says that she finally got through to the 800 number and got the ap completed with the subsidy on the front end. The she says she called her doc after the call and she was told that all of the docs are pulling out of the network when the pin head on the phone told her all docs are in network. Now, she has the ap in and wants to know what I can do for her. Well, I did everything I could do and then she went and did something else AFTER SHE ENGAGED ME FOR HELP.
Needless to say, she is not a fan of oBamas… The lie that getting her the worst is “you can keep your doctors”.
Me, just a waste of time when I could have been helping someone that’s going to let me do my job instead of calling an 800 number that calls who knows where
I would charge her a consultant fee. Your time is worth something. When she comes up with the money, then you can try to help her. If not, give her the 1-800 number and she can call the bureaucrats for help. I wonder what the hold time would be. By the way, I would bet she doesn’t have insurance on 1-1.
Its going to cost her over $500.00 for the records transfers. Her next specialist appointment for her treatment is 8 weeks. In general, its taking 90+ for records transfers after it is paid for…
I have a good one. It seems that the suppliers such as Yale New Haven and Anthem Blue Cross are not sure if Yale is accepting coverage in the CT. exchange. Blue Cross told a client (individual) that only one campus of Yale does so. After a half hour on hold I gave up on waiting for someone in Anthem to come up with an answer. This was an individual client that was offered an alternative to their present plan with Anthem. They have had an HSA POS for several years and the alternative is an HMO.
I just got another call. She stated another agent got a quote for her – BCBS Blue Choice. I informed her that network is tight. Asked her Docs names. She goes with that quote, she is going to have to lose both the docs. She want to keep them both, she needs to go HMO. Other agent didn’t bother to ask that basic question…
What a huge mess!!!! Women being forced to change lady parts doctors. She had a few choice words for mr OBama too…
Celtica, Please don’t bother blaming Bush.
FFA, Agents are not the only ones frustrated with how this is going. There are a bunch of frustrated Democratic politicians. Remember Mary Landrieu of my neighboring state of Louisiana and the recipient of the Louisiana Purchase to vote for this travesty? She is trailing in the most recent polls and realizes her time in DC may be about up. She and others wants to mandate that insurance companies continue to offer other plans that people like, even if they don’t meet the law’s requirements. Others say they want to extend the enrollment period. Landrieu’s proposal would take a huge bite out of Obamacare’s funding mechanism which relies on millions of people being forced to pay for more mandate heavy plans. Landrieu isn’t interested in sound policy, she is just trying to save her a – – . I wonder how her bill is playing with Harry Reid. I wonder if he has trashed it like he has been doing with Republican bills the past 5 years. There may be a Democratic revolt welling up in the Senate. They can join Republicans with backbiting in their own party. They can all be sent packing as far as I am concerned.
FFA, Town Hall reports that Georgia is following the lead of South Carolina to pass legislation that prohibits state employees from expending state resources or cooperating to enforce Obamacare on their citizens. It will be all the Feds baby and they will have to run it. Good luck on that. They can’t even build an operational website. If Texas legislature were in session, they would probably do the same thing. Perry may have to call a special session to do this law.
It needs to be thrown out… Site the RG3 logic – lack of performance….
Its a night mare! Phones been ringing all day with the quoting. I am probably looking at adding at least three today. Blue Cross informs me yesterday, that I went through the training, but my Agency did not. So, I had to take the training again last night that I already finished back in August…. I guess once was not enough… Meanwhile, the 800 number operators can just plug in what ever they want to with out repercussion.
When is the call for a recall on Ofnbama gonna start? Mr Romney, where are you??
December 13, 2013 at 2:51 pm
Agent says:
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FFA, I heard they rolled the enrollment to 12-31 now and are asking companies to accept partial payments and doctors to accept it even if there is no evidence of coverage. What? Is this a sign of desperation or what? Our call volume is up also. I am receiving calls from people I know but haven’t written before asking me what to do. I am just referring them to Blue Cross website for quote direct. I just don’t want the headaches. At least Blue Cross has a secure website and the people that sign up can make a payment to get coverage and they can get confirmation. I doubt they will like their premiums, but they have to get something going.
December 12, 2013 at 6:45 pm
FFA says:
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I’ll bet this jack ass didn’t bother to factor in quality of life… liar!
So FFA, when Pearl Harbor was attacked on 12-7-1941, FDR declared it a date that will live in infamy. A new date of infamy will be replacing it, 3-23-2010, the date Obamacare was passed into law.
There is a tie on the Lie of the year. It will also qualify for lie of the year for next year as well.
1. If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it, PERIOD!
1A. If you like your doctor, you can keep him, PERIOD!
Coming in third is Valerie Jarrett who said just in October that Obamacare would not force anyone off their current plans.
Just pushed another one in. I actually made me go though healthcare.gov which actually worked. She don’t qualify for a subsidy so it as a waste of time. It brought me back to BC site. I finished the app and it would not take the ap.
I thought you said the BC site worked. Hmm! Shut it down due to heavy volume, just like their phone lines disconnecting people like it did with my customer.
Went back at it later and it finished off. It looped me through Healthcare.gov and that is where it jammed up. ultimately, another one on the books. She is 6 month pregnant and her boss is kicking the group on 1/1/14. Could not risk going with out.
A little further into the Dominics, I was chatting up a prospect that is a vendor for Dominics. Estimates are the about 1000 vendors will lose their job. Additionally, Dominics operates under a subsidiary that is also shutting down. So, roughly about another 1000 jobs gone from IL not including their 25 Canadian operations.
Its a good thing Gays can now marry in IL. That’s what was important..
FFA – Dominicks was successful until it was taken over by Safeway. Safeway changed the model and the stores started failing. Not to mention the huge amount of expired products they were trying to sell off their shelves. This was poor management and didn’t have anything to do with Springfield.
Libby, Same story with GM & Chrysler Bad Management.
State Farm is not failing.
Office Max is on Springfield. Didn’t even make a pitch to save them jobs.
Office Max was bought out by Office Depot. They probably didn’t need another location in that area. Nothing Springfield could have done about that.
December 16, 2013 at 1:27 pm
FFA says:
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Springfield had a bill on the table to give them tax incentives to have their Corporate Office remain in Naperville. That’s was all over the news in IL.
They failed to do so. Didn’t even make a pitch to them.
That’s on them. So is state farm. Well publicized about them gobbling up office space. They sat there in denial.
December 16, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Libby says:
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SPRINGFIELD (WREX) –
An Illinois Senate panel has approved about $58 million in tax incentives for the recently merged OfficeMax and Office Depot and chemical distributor Univar.
The committee voted nine to one in favor of the plan, which could see a floor vote later on Tuesday when lawmakers are set to vote on a pension fix.
Libby, that contradicts what was reported on the news. The news stated the special session ended with out a vote on the bill.
December 16, 2013 at 2:22 pm
FFA says:
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Libby, I find it odd that your trying to defend one of the most corrupt states.
Why?
I am usually open minded to any and all, but on this subject matter, your beating your head on a brick wall.
Found it odd George Ryan was giving a speech at Mendellas Chicago Memorial. He even got significant applause…
December 16, 2013 at 3:37 pm
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Not defending FFA. Just doing research. You blame on the ills in IL (no pun intended) on Springfield, but I’m convinced the truth lies somewhere in the middle. The link to the article clearly stated the House bill did not pass, but the Senate bill did. Is it possible we are both right?
December 16, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Libby says:
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all the ills
December 16, 2013 at 4:28 pm
Agent says:
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FFA, the way to save jobs is to incentivize business with tax credits if they maintain a level of employment or hire some more employees. We have been doing that in Texas for many years and have lured companies from the north with the no state income tax, ready work force, lower cost of doing business, energy resources, ease of shipping products, industrial parks ready for occupants etc. It works, but the knumbskulls in the blue states continue to impose more and more taxes to make doing business less profitable to stay there.
December 16, 2013 at 5:01 pm
FFA says:
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Libby, I tend to believe ABC 7 news and WGN News. The session ended with out voting on it. The jobs are all but gone.
Yes, absolutely, somewhere in between. At the end of the day, there was no significant effort to save them.
And yes, txabc123, Quinn is still in power(less).
December 16, 2013 at 5:03 pm
FFA says:
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I got a notice from Sect of State that it will cost me $25.00 to change my corporate address. I sent in a little letter with my Franchise Tax (which I am not a franchise and have to pay anyways).
Is that the biz climate in Texas???
December 16, 2013 at 10:22 am
FFA says:
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There should be an article coming in about Frustrated Cowboy Fans.
FFA, The level of frustration with Cowboy fans is about to reach a crescendo after yesterday. At some point, Jones is going to have to admit his failure as Owner/General Manager in putting this team together, the hiring mistakes with the head coach, offensive and defensive coordinator, the signings of all the couch potatos to play etc. That new 100,000 seat stadium may be half empty soon for future games if this continues. Fans have cut them a lot of slack in recent years for only winning one playoff game since the glory years. Why should fans continue to shell out for tickets, parking, food and beverage for this kind of product?
FFA, Do you think the problems of Dominics has anything to do with how the government operates up there and how much taxation/regulation is received by businesses? From what I have read about Illinois, they do believe in heavy taxation and it is no wonder businesses are leaving the state. Why do stories like this keep cropping up? Why is State Farm sending so many jobs to the DFW Metroplex from their HO? At this rate, they will be without businesses to tax in the near future, then who will they tax?
Agent, not all business decisions are based on governmental operations. Dominicks was MIS-MANAGED by Safeway. They had a successful model that catered to the demographics and Safeway came in and changed the whole thing. Then 2 years ago there was a huge scandal when over 700 expired products were found in their store by an investigative reporter. It’s no wonder they folded.
Actually Libby, I was talking to FFA, not you? By the way, do you think the corruption of the State of Illinois is not having an effect on businesses in that state? This is not the only business FFA has mentioned with problems up there and either reducing employees, going belly up or being bought and moved out. Mismanagement can be a factor, but government taxation & overreaching regulation is a big factor as well. I think the environment has a lot to do with how business makes it or doesn’t. I don’t seem to see many Texas domiciled businesses eager to move up into the frozen tundra blue states seeking to expand their business. I wonder why that is.
They have established a $1500 fine for dropping a cig but on the ground. Maybe they are counting on an influx of Gay / Lesbians. Still wont be any jobs here.
Out shopping, I noticed three more smaller retailers gone.
Mother of my gr daughter told us yesterday that the restaurant she is working at is going to close early three days a week… She is getting her hours chopped.
My producer spent two hours on hold today for an explanation of what “Rule Exception” means. When he submitted his ap, I received 8 emails confirming an app had been submitted.
The explanation is that there have been so many changes mandated that they have 8 systems operational at this time. The ap has to filter through all 8 systems. This has created a night mare for the carriers that were functioning just fine before OBama stuck his nose into things. We all know this is gonna screw up the cost structure so look for affordable rates to be more affordable as defined by OBama.
Different States, Different Laws. Different regulations. Cant expect everyone to do my work. My producer needed to know for his sake as the Group bill was coming due and I was not going to leave him hanging…
If that’s the case, FFA, why did you ask him to? You asked. He had an opportunity to find out and he didn’t. That equals putz in my book. But then again, I tend to think of someone other than myself at times…
Needed an answer. Quickest means to an ends. Maybe he didn’t look at my ?? before she came in. Maybe he was just so frustrated. Maybe his rep blew him off???
You’re so nice to give him the benefit of the doubt, FFA. It’s because he could care less about your questions and only used the time with his rep to rant and rail against the ACA, much as he does on here. He likes to hear himself rant.
Most BC reps would prefer doing something other then walking into pissed off agents offices… Have not heard from my house rep in months much less a field rep.
December 17, 2013 at 4:30 pm
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I’m sure they would, but that’s their job, isn’t it? He would have been able to answer your website question, though. That’s my only point. You want to give Agent a pass, go ahead. Not me.
December 17, 2013 at 11:39 am
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I wonder if the two of you ever met without knowing it, would you sit down and have a drink and be friendly towards each other?
Me, personally, I’ld share a cocktail with anyone…Maybe some day, people will go to the Dells and we can all have a swig with nig.
I can have a drink with anyone, too, FFA. I have a feeling we would not be so snarky with each other in person. It’s easy when you are anonymous on a blog. I get alot of frustrations out on this board.
Some very good friends of mine at another broker house that I don’t get to see anymore because life circumstances called me yesterday and quoted something I put on here. They don’t participate in the discussions, just watch.
I don’t know that you would find a group that works harder then they do.
Good idea. Hard to get them out of state. More likely the Irish pub in town here… Didn’t get to Nigs this summer. Maybe a long New Years week end perhaps? Wife likes the Casino. In there over 4th of July. I won a few hundred on the table. Made for a good fire works display..
Another broken OBama Promise – Agents can help.
I thought of you and your efforts FFA. All agents are experiencing extreme frustration with this travesty. It is bad enough under the old system. I had a customer call me today and had gone into the doctor’s office for his annual physical. The doctor’s office said his coverage was inactive. Blue Cross site said it was active. Now, I have been on hold for 20 minutes trying to get an answer.
I got my answer FFA, but it isn’t what the customer wants to hear. He paid his normal premium 12-1. Unfortunately, there had been another rate increase so his payment was short almost $100. On top of that, due to the promise that “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it” that was broken and then Obama came out and told the industry to keep the current plans in place, Blue Cross has added another charge to the 1-1 premium which will go to subsidize Obamacare. How is that for a bunch of nonsense. I hate to recommend the broken site since it has no security and is garbled and innacurate, so the man may be stuck for a while. At least he didn’t get a cancellation notice like 5.5 million have already received. They are the desperate ones now.
How can anyone in the insurance industry not understand that IT systems do not work all the time and have mucho problems particularly during the start up phase – hence the high amount of employment of IT professionals in our industry.
This has nothing to do with Obama promises for insurance agents. Insurance agents are appointed.
If all the energy & resources (wasted time and money) in opposing the law had been applied to helping making the law work things would be going better.
Despite the broken record on IJ comments that everything known to man and god is President Obama’s fault…we all know that is just not true.
It has everything to do with his arrogance thinking he can reinvent the wheel. carries and agent had the infrastructure in place. All that ass hole needed to do was get the IRS portion done. He could have used the agency force to piecemeal people in instead of opening the flood gates for everyone at one time and crashing the system. He could have used Licensed Trained and back round checked professionals. I would probably have two more people off the unemployment line.
BTW, the web site isn’t much more then a quick rater which is available for me to purchase. He could have purchased one too.
Hey idk, the American people don’t like being sold a bill of goods or lied to dozens of times about this law. Had the President been honest with the people, he probably wouldn’t have gotten it passed so he lied and lied and lied. Now that everything is falling apart, you have the gall to complain that energy and resources (wasted time & money) with Conservatives opposing this law should have been applied making it work. We are rightly holding him accountable for this colossal mess since that is what he pushed over and over. This law cannot be fixed no matter how you sugar coat it.
Wait, where is Celtica when you need a “it is all George Bush’s fault”?
Let it be noted that S&M was the first to bring up George W. Bush — and lying to the American public about the worthless bill of goods he sold us on the Iraq war thingy…
S&M. I like that!
Hi Libby – regarding S&M, maybe it will deter him from firing off unprovoked shots. Maybe not.
Libby says: S&M. I like that!
I already knew that….
Celtica – He’s easily provoked.
Hiya, Celtie! It’s me, your old pal GWB dropping a line to wish you a Merry Christmas! My gift to you is a secret that I haven’t told anyone: Dick Cheney and I are actually responsible for the entire Obamacare program. Dick and some of his hunting buddies designed the website while I drafted the bill and wrote the speeches for Obama where he promised everyone could keep their current plans and would save an average of $2500. HaHAHAHAHA! All of you mere mortals BOUGHT INTO OUR EVIL PLAN TO RUIN THE WORLD!!! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go call my pal Snowden and tell him some more secrets.
PS–Santa Cheney told me to tell you “Ho, Ho, Ho!”
Libby, he doesn’t actually need to be provoked to provoke (!)
Dear Georgie:
Thank you for finally taking responsibility for something. Although a baby step, it is a first step. Now, about that Iraq War thingy…
Do you like your new moniker Sargeant? Libby and Celtica are either too lazy or too sarcastic or both so they like to mock you.
Agent, you and S&M should expect some blowback when you taken unprovoked shots for the sake of taking unprovoked shots.
Now get going and write some ACA policies!
IDK, in the world of software development you are correct in that software releases are not 100% when released! however there is an acceptable limit of what the masses will tolerate.
When Microsoft makes a new system release it is probably in the 94% ~ 96% accurate! Apple on the other hand is around 99.1% functional out of the gate. That is why Apple has grown to be so popular, because it works.
I am sure that if the ACA functioned at 90%, people would be tolerant. However at a 30% functional rate this is not a 1.0 release, nor is it a Beta release, I will be generous and say the released a Alpha version of the software. From the news reports I have seen the IT group warned the Health secretary and the president that it will have bugs and not work properly, but they decided to release it anyway
You poor, poor disillusioned person, idk…
We know that not everything known to God and man is his fault, but OBAMACARE IS HIS FAULT!! Premiums being higher than he said IS HIS FAULT! People not being able to keep their plans/doctors IS HIS FAULT! Almost 6 million Americans losing their healthcare IS HIS FAULT. What part of THESE statements don’t YOU understand?! It’s not rocket science, you know.
So, my decreased premiums, better coverage, and 100% preventative care are HIS FAULT. Got it. Thank you President Obama!
Way to go idk!
IDK, Obama had 3 years and almost a billion dollars spent to get the web site up and running. If any CEO gave the CIO 3 years and a billion in budget and could not get it done……BOOOM FIRED!!!!
Since when is $634M almost a billion dollars? Is that how they teach you math in Texas?
Libby- that’s better math than ” it will save the average family $2500 a year” . Wait that’s not math…ITS A LIE!
You mean it is not going to save me $2,500? Do you mean my costs are going up 2 times what I pay now?
You mean I can’t keep the healthcare plan I like?
You mean I can’t keep my doctor? Oh wait an Obozo mouth on the news yesterday said I MIGHT be able to if I want to PAY for it.
You mean we spent 1 Billion on a website (that still don’t work) that was originally going to cost 90 million and should have cost less than 10M?
You mean that doctors are opting out of Obozocare and make the gap between good healthcare and so so healthcare even wider than it is today?
Surely this can’t be true?
But Sarge, its affordable…..
Jack, there is a good reason why the Washington Post gave him 4 Pinnochio’s which is the worst rating possible for lies.
Libby, you aren’t counting the 2 1/2 months they have been working on this site 24/7 according to the President and it is still not completely built and offers no payment options. The people should get a refund from the vendors, but I am sure they will get all the billable hours working on it just like attorney’s do.
Oh Libby, this is to easy. It is over 1 billion in cost.
Want my source- LOL
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/obamacare-cost-hearing-website/2013/10/24/id/532856
want another?
http://about.bgov.com/2013-10-24/late-it-cash-surge-foreshadowed-health-law-woes/
Yeah, and Bush had 5 years and spent trillions of dollars to faux hunt Bin Laden with nothing to show for it.
BOOOOM! FIRED!
ATTN ALL AGENTS SELLING OBUMACARELESS
YOU WILL BE SCREWED OUT OF YOUR COMM AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE!!
Excellent points IDK.
Now, let’s separate the IT issues from the commission issues. If an agent participates in selling ACA insurance, they should get commission.
Naturally, most agents on this board would rather chew off their left arm than sell the ACA.
Your are right for a change Celtica. We don’t want to sell ACA since it is a travesty and will only increase our E&O exposure by 10 fold.
Celtica, I would be selling exchange policies if the exchange works. It don’t. try it for your self. See Obamas idea of “User Friendly”. Please do share your experience…
I did try the state exchange several times — it worked great for me. But then I am in a state that embraced it and looked for a way to make it work. Big diff, ya know.
OOPS. Sorry Celtica. Its obamas site that isn’t working.
FFA — You get what your support.
When you don’t, not so much.
Life lessons.
Celtica – you last post went way over my head. Please remember, I have a limited OBama Vocabulary.
Hey FFA, Do you know how to brainwash a liberal? You give them an enema!
All that time all that effort I put into this thing. I have three apps in. Went to add another today and its crashed again. All my submissions – adverse Selection. Healthy people are not going for this. For me personally, It is cutting my expense from over $1400 @ month to what ends up being $1127. $5000 ded with 100% co pay down to $1000 ded with 80% to $3000. Of course, my wife needs to change doctors and we can not go to the out patients surgery place 2 minutes form our house. Coming off a max rated group and I chip are the only folks saving anything.
FFA, you did see where many leading hospitals will not be in Obamacare. Mayo Clinic, Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, Cedars Sinai to name a few. I guess they will just be treating people with plenty of money who can pay cash for treatment. I wonder who will be treating regular people with Obamacare. We may end up with cheap Doc in the Boxes for most care and instead of real doctors, will have Nurse practitioners and PA’s for most treatment.
BTW, the ones I am writing are off exchange. People are willing to wait to see if they get a credit/ or a subsidy. I think that may be part of the master plan to make this doable with any major impact on the tax bill. He says they can get a subsidy, then the subsidy calculator don’t work so they cant.
FFA, do you mean like the woman in Washington State that thought she had a deal and then she didn’t? They quoted incorrect rates and then she couldn’t get a subsidy so it quickly priced itself out of her range, so she had to decline and will pay the fine/tax.
But Agent, according to Obama its affordable.
FFA, I have the unenviable task of trying to explain to my customer why he is getting two rate increases in two months to subsidize Obamacare so he can keep the plan he likes.
Agent, its a simple explanation – That’s what OBama thinks is affordable. Let them rant and rave for about a half hour about Obama and the crook he is, then complete the sale.
Its not your fault…
To whom ever disliked my strategy, please provide a different one that works and maintains the confidence of the client in the licensed trained professional agent that passes a back round check if you have it.
Well FFA, I went into the Blue Cross site and rated my customer on the Affordable Care Act approved policies since his Select Saver went up. The cheapest Bronze plan premium was $300 per month higher on him and wife. That is with high deductibles, high out of pocket. I think this man is stuck for now. By the way, he doesn’t need Maternity, birth control pills or abortion coverage, but the mandates say he has to have them so he can subsidize people that want them. What a choice.
Well agent, that not too bad… comparatively speaking that is. At least he gets maternity coverage.
I, as a license agent, who has sold health insurance for approximately 20 years will not get certified to sell on the exchange, even though CT. has a relatively easy platform. I have heard horror stories of people applying for subsidized coverage ending up with higher costs. From an E&O standpoint, I do not want the exposure. Thank you but I will stick to the off exchange approach.
Yes FFA, they are both in their late 50’s and she is way past menopause so they really need maternity, birth control and abortion coverage. You never know, a miracle may happen like what happened with Abraham & Sarah when she was barren and God gave them a child when she was in her 90’s I believe.
JCAT, that’s exactly what is working in Illinois. Nothing to do with the upfront subsidized plans. If there does actually end up being a subsidy – Obama said there would be so don’t expect it – they can take it on the back end. Pay the full boat during the year and hope its not another lie… I am sure its Bushes fault. BTW, its 80 degrees in Chicago and Cloudy… (I am speaking Obama).
Yes FFA, I noticed that 80 degree weather in Chicago on Monday night football. By the way, I heard on the radio that Cutler was practicing full steam this week and apparently is expecting to start. With the back up playing so well, I am not sure that is a good idea, but I am not the coach of the team. The radio also said the Redskins were sitting RG3 for the remainder of the season and would be starting Cousins. Hmm! Teams with 3 wins tend to give up and look for high draft choices for next year.
Debate is going strong in IL on Cutler vs McCown. McCowen has busted three times – three teams as a starter and was coaching High School Football when the Bears called…
I say milk Cutler along until Manziel comes out and then make a major play for him.
Lynch from NIU is in the Heisman hunt – Long shot at best, but getting the recognition he deserves… He is gonna have to convert to RB to make the NFL.
FFA, If McCown was just coaching, at least he may have been throwing the ball around and waiting for a phone call. The players the Cowboys signed off the couch were enjoying their Doritos and beer. They can’t play a lick. Years ago when the strike happened, Replacement players were used and they were better than what the Cowboys have come up with this year.
It is hard to tell where Manziel will fall in the draft. It will be in the first round, but several may pass on him. He is not very big and has been getting his bell rung in recent games. If he were smart, he would stay for his junior year, but personally I think he is gone.
Hey FFA, do you get NFL Network? They had their Thursday nigt game and the Chargers took care of Libby’s favorite team in Denver last night. They ran all over the Bronco’s and controlled the clock. A team that cannot stop the run will be vulnerable when playoff time comes. It is going to be close seeing who has home field advantage in the AFC. If I were betting, I think I would give the edge to the Patriots who seem to know how to pull games out and they have Brady.
We sure won’t be seeing the Cowboys in the play-offs, Agent. At least my team’s a contender.
They got the formula correct… Keep Manning off the field. If he is on the side lines, he cant beat you…
They are a force to be reckoned with. Just run it down their throat. Eventually, they will over play the run and you can hit them deep…
Ill Job market taking another big hit with out Springfield doing anything to stop it.
Office Max (Corp HQ in Naperville IL) is merging with Office Depot. Corp HQ in FLA.
Ill Senate had a bill to bring to vote to give the new corp a tax break to HQ in Naperville but never brought it to a vote.
Good by Corp exec jobs!!!!
To make matters worse, our pin heads in Springfield, I was just informed, voted to make it a $1500 fine for dropping a Cig But on the ground. Yea, that’s important – a cig but on the ground is way more important then saving a whole bunch of Corporate Jobs… Guess they had it figured out the – amount of fines to cover the loss of taxes…
Who needs Jobs anyways???
FFA, how long will it take to move Office Max to Florida which has no state income tax and a much better business environment. They may be loading the trucks as we speak.
My best guess is they are busy packing as we speak. May as well make it a 1/1/14 change.
That may be Libby with the Cowboys, but I never touted them as the best thing since sliced bread like you did with the Bronco’s. The Cowboys are badly managed and badly coached. They are much like how our Federal Government is operating which is dysfunctional at best.
We’ll see, Agent. The season isn’t over and they just might beat sliced bread!
Some things to consider for those signing up and for those foregoing the new health plans. Hope they are helpful. Good luck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO_loinVj2U
Don’t you get it….obama doesn’t trust insurance agents. I bet we rate higher in the polls than he does.
With his getting cozy with Castro yesterday and selling out Israel and the Saudis, should he be trusted???
Did you see the picture of him hamming it up at the funeral with the Denmark Prime Minister taking selfie photos? He was enjoying himself next to the good looking blonde and Michelle was fuming. A subsequent photo had Michelle between them and she was not a happy camper.
Well,,,, if I had a blonde like that next to me, I would be doing the same. So would my wife. So, I’ll give him a pass on the flirting cause she is yummie!!! so long as he didn’t have sex with her as defined by Webster – not billy boy.
Maybe he should have invited her home for a 3 way??? I would have. Then my wife would make sure I have a NO WAY!
Per Slick Willy, it depends on what the definition of is is. Spoken by a disbarred lawyer who was impeached but not removed. He has done well for himself raising money from Saudi princes for his foundation. No telling how much he gets for the typical speech. ALGRR also has done well selling his network rights to Al Jezeriah. I think they have about 13,000 viewers in the US including Libby and Celtica.
PHH, His political team probably checked the demographics and found out that most Independent Agents are Republican so that may explain his distrust. Of course, some agents have very liberal employees as has been evidenced on this blog over and over. They are not hard to identify.
I don’t even have a renewal from November group from BCBS yet….
FFA, the lady I talked to at Blue Cross in Membership Services was apologetic about what is going on. She said when the President came out after his lie had been exposed and said to the insurance companies they could keep the policies in force caused big problems because the systems were already programmed to conform with the law and cancellations were in the pipeline. They had to do an about face and resurrect the current policies in my state, but they have to add an additional charge for the subsidy to the ones applying with subsidies. I don’t get it. Why would my customer get stuck with someone else’s premium? Could it be a redistribution scheme? Hmm!
Agent …. YEP…. Just got off the phone with one of my Chicago customers. She is convinced it sabatoge..
FFA, Libby and Celtica will blame Bush or the Republicans for this fiasco. I am sure they sabotaged the site so it won’t work. Republicans probably had a mole in one of the vendors work force so it would implode.
I am so frustrated with this mess. I spent 2 hours on the phone with the Marketplace to find out if my ACA Paper applications have been received. Spoke with a so called “Supervisor” at the Marketplace only to be told she will not release the information due to security. My response was just give me a “yes or no” if you received the paper applications. She gave me a flat out NO, can’t do it. I HOPE this law falls flat on it’s face!!! I explained to my individual clients that if they are eligible for a “Subsidy” your basically on your own and good luck. I refuse to even try to work with these people at CMS…..
1 term, I am not one for pointing out typos, but I believe its spelled Stuipdvisors.
Well if this isn’t a kick in the pants. Last week someone called me frustrated as all get out. I spent over 1.5 hours on the phone with her last night and then another 1.5 hours researching her doctors. Found the right network for her to have a minimal impact (she has 5 docts). Was only gonna have to change the kids doc.
Just a short time ago, she calls and says that she finally got through to the 800 number and got the ap completed with the subsidy on the front end. The she says she called her doc after the call and she was told that all of the docs are pulling out of the network when the pin head on the phone told her all docs are in network. Now, she has the ap in and wants to know what I can do for her. Well, I did everything I could do and then she went and did something else AFTER SHE ENGAGED ME FOR HELP.
Needless to say, she is not a fan of oBamas… The lie that getting her the worst is “you can keep your doctors”.
Me, just a waste of time when I could have been helping someone that’s going to let me do my job instead of calling an 800 number that calls who knows where
I would charge her a consultant fee. Your time is worth something. When she comes up with the money, then you can try to help her. If not, give her the 1-800 number and she can call the bureaucrats for help. I wonder what the hold time would be. By the way, I would bet she doesn’t have insurance on 1-1.
As far as feeing her, last thing they need is me kicking them too.
Its going to cost her over $500.00 for the records transfers. Her next specialist appointment for her treatment is 8 weeks. In general, its taking 90+ for records transfers after it is paid for…
Merry X Mass America!!!
I have a good one. It seems that the suppliers such as Yale New Haven and Anthem Blue Cross are not sure if Yale is accepting coverage in the CT. exchange. Blue Cross told a client (individual) that only one campus of Yale does so. After a half hour on hold I gave up on waiting for someone in Anthem to come up with an answer. This was an individual client that was offered an alternative to their present plan with Anthem. They have had an HSA POS for several years and the alternative is an HMO.
I just got another call. She stated another agent got a quote for her – BCBS Blue Choice. I informed her that network is tight. Asked her Docs names. She goes with that quote, she is going to have to lose both the docs. She want to keep them both, she needs to go HMO. Other agent didn’t bother to ask that basic question…
What a huge mess!!!! Women being forced to change lady parts doctors. She had a few choice words for mr OBama too…
Celtica, Please don’t bother blaming Bush.
FFA, Agents are not the only ones frustrated with how this is going. There are a bunch of frustrated Democratic politicians. Remember Mary Landrieu of my neighboring state of Louisiana and the recipient of the Louisiana Purchase to vote for this travesty? She is trailing in the most recent polls and realizes her time in DC may be about up. She and others wants to mandate that insurance companies continue to offer other plans that people like, even if they don’t meet the law’s requirements. Others say they want to extend the enrollment period. Landrieu’s proposal would take a huge bite out of Obamacare’s funding mechanism which relies on millions of people being forced to pay for more mandate heavy plans. Landrieu isn’t interested in sound policy, she is just trying to save her a – – . I wonder how her bill is playing with Harry Reid. I wonder if he has trashed it like he has been doing with Republican bills the past 5 years. There may be a Democratic revolt welling up in the Senate. They can join Republicans with backbiting in their own party. They can all be sent packing as far as I am concerned.
Throw her under the bus. Fire her … Get rid of anyone that voted for this mess….
FFA, Town Hall reports that Georgia is following the lead of South Carolina to pass legislation that prohibits state employees from expending state resources or cooperating to enforce Obamacare on their citizens. It will be all the Feds baby and they will have to run it. Good luck on that. They can’t even build an operational website. If Texas legislature were in session, they would probably do the same thing. Perry may have to call a special session to do this law.
It needs to be thrown out… Site the RG3 logic – lack of performance….
Its a night mare! Phones been ringing all day with the quoting. I am probably looking at adding at least three today. Blue Cross informs me yesterday, that I went through the training, but my Agency did not. So, I had to take the training again last night that I already finished back in August…. I guess once was not enough… Meanwhile, the 800 number operators can just plug in what ever they want to with out repercussion.
When is the call for a recall on Ofnbama gonna start? Mr Romney, where are you??
FFA, I heard they rolled the enrollment to 12-31 now and are asking companies to accept partial payments and doctors to accept it even if there is no evidence of coverage. What? Is this a sign of desperation or what? Our call volume is up also. I am receiving calls from people I know but haven’t written before asking me what to do. I am just referring them to Blue Cross website for quote direct. I just don’t want the headaches. At least Blue Cross has a secure website and the people that sign up can make a payment to get coverage and they can get confirmation. I doubt they will like their premiums, but they have to get something going.
I’ll bet this jack ass didn’t bother to factor in quality of life… liar!
So FFA, when Pearl Harbor was attacked on 12-7-1941, FDR declared it a date that will live in infamy. A new date of infamy will be replacing it, 3-23-2010, the date Obamacare was passed into law.
If Ofnbama played sports, what number would his jersey have on it?
#2 because he is just a piece of
Last night on Letterman top ten list was top 10 lies in the past year. Obama was well represented.
There is a tie on the Lie of the year. It will also qualify for lie of the year for next year as well.
1. If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it, PERIOD!
1A. If you like your doctor, you can keep him, PERIOD!
Coming in third is Valerie Jarrett who said just in October that Obamacare would not force anyone off their current plans.
Just pushed another one in. I actually made me go though healthcare.gov which actually worked. She don’t qualify for a subsidy so it as a waste of time. It brought me back to BC site. I finished the app and it would not take the ap.
I thought you said the BC site worked. Hmm! Shut it down due to heavy volume, just like their phone lines disconnecting people like it did with my customer.
Went back at it later and it finished off. It looped me through Healthcare.gov and that is where it jammed up. ultimately, another one on the books. She is 6 month pregnant and her boss is kicking the group on 1/1/14. Could not risk going with out.
Seems to be hit or miss….
Dominics Food Stores announced that they are laying off 6000 people. Another hit to the Unemployment line.
A little further into the Dominics, I was chatting up a prospect that is a vendor for Dominics. Estimates are the about 1000 vendors will lose their job. Additionally, Dominics operates under a subsidiary that is also shutting down. So, roughly about another 1000 jobs gone from IL not including their 25 Canadian operations.
Its a good thing Gays can now marry in IL. That’s what was important..
FFA – Dominicks was successful until it was taken over by Safeway. Safeway changed the model and the stores started failing. Not to mention the huge amount of expired products they were trying to sell off their shelves. This was poor management and didn’t have anything to do with Springfield.
Libby, Same story with GM & Chrysler Bad Management.
State Farm is not failing.
Office Max is on Springfield. Didn’t even make a pitch to save them jobs.
Office Max was bought out by Office Depot. They probably didn’t need another location in that area. Nothing Springfield could have done about that.
Springfield had a bill on the table to give them tax incentives to have their Corporate Office remain in Naperville. That’s was all over the news in IL.
They failed to do so. Didn’t even make a pitch to them.
That’s on them. So is state farm. Well publicized about them gobbling up office space. They sat there in denial.
SPRINGFIELD (WREX) –
An Illinois Senate panel has approved about $58 million in tax incentives for the recently merged OfficeMax and Office Depot and chemical distributor Univar.
The committee voted nine to one in favor of the plan, which could see a floor vote later on Tuesday when lawmakers are set to vote on a pension fix.
http://www.wrex.com/story/24123895/2013/12/03/tax-incentives-for-officemax-univar-approved-by-illinois-senate-panel
Libby, that contradicts what was reported on the news. The news stated the special session ended with out a vote on the bill.
Libby, I find it odd that your trying to defend one of the most corrupt states.
Why?
I am usually open minded to any and all, but on this subject matter, your beating your head on a brick wall.
Found it odd George Ryan was giving a speech at Mendellas Chicago Memorial. He even got significant applause…
Not defending FFA. Just doing research. You blame on the ills in IL (no pun intended) on Springfield, but I’m convinced the truth lies somewhere in the middle. The link to the article clearly stated the House bill did not pass, but the Senate bill did. Is it possible we are both right?
all the ills
FFA, the way to save jobs is to incentivize business with tax credits if they maintain a level of employment or hire some more employees. We have been doing that in Texas for many years and have lured companies from the north with the no state income tax, ready work force, lower cost of doing business, energy resources, ease of shipping products, industrial parks ready for occupants etc. It works, but the knumbskulls in the blue states continue to impose more and more taxes to make doing business less profitable to stay there.
Libby, I tend to believe ABC 7 news and WGN News. The session ended with out voting on it. The jobs are all but gone.
Yes, absolutely, somewhere in between. At the end of the day, there was no significant effort to save them.
And yes, txabc123, Quinn is still in power(less).
I got a notice from Sect of State that it will cost me $25.00 to change my corporate address. I sent in a little letter with my Franchise Tax (which I am not a franchise and have to pay anyways).
Is that the biz climate in Texas???
There should be an article coming in about Frustrated Cowboy Fans.
FFA, The level of frustration with Cowboy fans is about to reach a crescendo after yesterday. At some point, Jones is going to have to admit his failure as Owner/General Manager in putting this team together, the hiring mistakes with the head coach, offensive and defensive coordinator, the signings of all the couch potatos to play etc. That new 100,000 seat stadium may be half empty soon for future games if this continues. Fans have cut them a lot of slack in recent years for only winning one playoff game since the glory years. Why should fans continue to shell out for tickets, parking, food and beverage for this kind of product?
After the past two games, it has to be on the Coach. All they had to do was run right at them. The Pack nor the Bears can stop the run.
FFA, Do you think the problems of Dominics has anything to do with how the government operates up there and how much taxation/regulation is received by businesses? From what I have read about Illinois, they do believe in heavy taxation and it is no wonder businesses are leaving the state. Why do stories like this keep cropping up? Why is State Farm sending so many jobs to the DFW Metroplex from their HO? At this rate, they will be without businesses to tax in the near future, then who will they tax?
Agent, not all business decisions are based on governmental operations. Dominicks was MIS-MANAGED by Safeway. They had a successful model that catered to the demographics and Safeway came in and changed the whole thing. Then 2 years ago there was a huge scandal when over 700 expired products were found in their store by an investigative reporter. It’s no wonder they folded.
Actually Libby, I was talking to FFA, not you? By the way, do you think the corruption of the State of Illinois is not having an effect on businesses in that state? This is not the only business FFA has mentioned with problems up there and either reducing employees, going belly up or being bought and moved out. Mismanagement can be a factor, but government taxation & overreaching regulation is a big factor as well. I think the environment has a lot to do with how business makes it or doesn’t. I don’t seem to see many Texas domiciled businesses eager to move up into the frozen tundra blue states seeking to expand their business. I wonder why that is.
Actually, Agent, I was talking to FFA. Not you.
Libby, as it pertains to IL, that needs to be considered. Especially of your looking at going into cook county.
They have established a $1500 fine for dropping a cig but on the ground. Maybe they are counting on an influx of Gay / Lesbians. Still wont be any jobs here.
Out shopping, I noticed three more smaller retailers gone.
Mother of my gr daughter told us yesterday that the restaurant she is working at is going to close early three days a week… She is getting her hours chopped.
On the upside, my web site got 131 hits on Sunday and as of 09:30 this am another 53 hits today. All visiting the Health Care page.
My producer spent two hours on hold today for an explanation of what “Rule Exception” means. When he submitted his ap, I received 8 emails confirming an app had been submitted.
The explanation is that there have been so many changes mandated that they have 8 systems operational at this time. The ap has to filter through all 8 systems. This has created a night mare for the carriers that were functioning just fine before OBama stuck his nose into things. We all know this is gonna screw up the cost structure so look for affordable rates to be more affordable as defined by OBama.
Well Football Fans…. What a game last night!!!
That kicker think he was in Denver or something???
Sorry Sarge…. there is always next year.
You could have saved all that time had Agent just asked his rep about it like you asked. He’s a putz.
Different States, Different Laws. Different regulations. Cant expect everyone to do my work. My producer needed to know for his sake as the Group bill was coming due and I was not going to leave him hanging…
If that’s the case, FFA, why did you ask him to? You asked. He had an opportunity to find out and he didn’t. That equals putz in my book. But then again, I tend to think of someone other than myself at times…
Needed an answer. Quickest means to an ends. Maybe he didn’t look at my ?? before she came in. Maybe he was just so frustrated. Maybe his rep blew him off???
You’re so nice to give him the benefit of the doubt, FFA. It’s because he could care less about your questions and only used the time with his rep to rant and rail against the ACA, much as he does on here. He likes to hear himself rant.
Most BC reps would prefer doing something other then walking into pissed off agents offices… Have not heard from my house rep in months much less a field rep.
I’m sure they would, but that’s their job, isn’t it? He would have been able to answer your website question, though. That’s my only point. You want to give Agent a pass, go ahead. Not me.
I wonder if the two of you ever met without knowing it, would you sit down and have a drink and be friendly towards each other?
Me, personally, I’ld share a cocktail with anyone…Maybe some day, people will go to the Dells and we can all have a swig with nig.
I can have a drink with anyone, too, FFA. I have a feeling we would not be so snarky with each other in person. It’s easy when you are anonymous on a blog. I get alot of frustrations out on this board.
Libby says:
“If that’s the case, FFA, why did you ask him to?”
Hail Mary!!!!! Desperation!!
Well, I would have tried for you. That’s the difference between Agent and me.
Your too kind!!!
To my friend – please don’t tell my wife. Miss U guys.
What happens on IJ, stays on IJ.
They tipped their hand today letting me know they are lurking in the shadows… Just not active…
Past time we got together, that’s for sure…
Say again, FFA? Lurking in the shadows? Inactive? Are you some kind of Russian spy or something? Who are you getting together with?
Some very good friends of mine at another broker house that I don’t get to see anymore because life circumstances called me yesterday and quoted something I put on here. They don’t participate in the discussions, just watch.
I don’t know that you would find a group that works harder then they do.
Swig at the Nig, perhaps??
Good idea. Hard to get them out of state. More likely the Irish pub in town here… Didn’t get to Nigs this summer. Maybe a long New Years week end perhaps? Wife likes the Casino. In there over 4th of July. I won a few hundred on the table. Made for a good fire works display..
Sounds like fun! We’re staying close to home on New Years. We can stumble home from where we’re going…