KAPA‘A — In an effort to help local businesses to better understand their options around upcoming health programs better known as “Obamacare,” the Kauai Chamber of Commerce will present four centennial policy forums. The first policy forum will be held
KAPA‘A — In an effort to help local businesses to better understand their options around upcoming health programs better known as “Obamacare,” the Kauai Chamber of Commerce will present four centennial policy forums.
The first policy forum will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Courtyard by Marriott Kaua‘i in Kapa‘a.
Sponsored by Hawai‘i Medical Assurance Association, the forum will focus on health insurance, health care and the Affordable Care Act. As part of the law
Businesses will now face providing health insurance coverage as part of employee benefits in addition to labor costs.
“Since our first Chamber Lunch Roundtable held a few years ago, the Chamber’s Small Business Committee committed to having a forum to provide information about what is now known as ‘Obamacare’ and what businesses and the community need to know when the law takes effect Jan. 1, 2014,” said Randy Francisco, president/CEO of the Chamber.
Francisco said that due to the overall support of HMAA, the Chamber is able to offer the half-day event at a nominal cost to members and the public.
The program will start with a breakfast keynote on the Affordable Care Act by Tom Matsuda, a member of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration.
Following the breakfast keynote, there will be two panel sessions.
The first panel will feature Hawai‘i Health Insurers, who will provide additional information about the law, the 1974 Hawai‘i Prepaid Health Care Act and related regulatory impacts.
The second panel will feature a legislative update and an overview about the Hawai’i Health Connector. The HHC was established as Act 205 during the 2011 Hawai‘i State Legislative Session and was designed to provide individuals and businesses with a ‘one-stop shop’ portal to purchase health insurance and bring transparency to the marketplace by increasing competition between insurance companies.
For individuals, the HHC will allow them to compare benefits and costs of health plans and then purchase a plan based on their need.
For businesses, the HHC will allow entrepreneurs to compare insurance plans benefits and costs, determine affordability of plans for employees and purchase a health insurance plan, along with other benefits.
“HMAA is proud to be the sponsor of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Centennial Policy Forum on Health Care,” said Reg Baker, executive vice president of HMAA. “We realize this complex topic is of importance to their membership.”
