NC Families Report Receipt of Historic Insurance Refunds: Just in time for Christmas and End-of-Year Bills!

As reported previously here at Wayne's World and around the State, two hundred fifteen thousand families and small businesses over the last two weeks have been receiving their historic $156.8 Million in refunds from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, pursuant to a mutual agreement crafted in part by NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

If you don't believe that the checks have literally been "in the mail" and are now in the hands of individual policyholders, then look at the accompanying picture of a refund check totalling more than $999! (Wayne's World appreciates a reader for emailing the photo.) And, if you need even more proof, check out the myriad comments linked here (go to the bottom of the previous page link) from a very diverse group of individuals representing every portion of the Tar Heel state. The good news has even caused quite the positive flutter on Facebook over the last two weeks.

Counting these most recent refunds, NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has been responsible for more than $900 Million in refunds and insurance rate cuts within his first two years in office alone.

"I'd say the work product of this office and the entire Department of Insurance has provided a tremendous economic stimulus package to North Carolina, in addition to vital consumer protections and a solvent, reasonably-regulated insurance market," said Insurance Commissioner Goodwin.

Commissioner Goodwin: Reminder that more than 215,000 Health Insurance Refund Checks Totalling $156.8 Million In Mail This Week!

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin wants to remind North Carolinians that starting this week, approximately 215,000 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina individual policyholders will begin receiving refund checks worth a combined $155.8 million. Pursuant to the September agreement reached with Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and the Department of Insurance, BCBSNC mailed the first batch of refund checks on November 29 to approximately 50,000 policyholders, and the remainder will be mailed no later than December 8.

"With folks preparing for the year-end holidays and taking care of expenses, I know these refunds will help families across North Carolina,” said Commissioner Goodwin. “I'm pleased that my staff and I were able to work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to get this money back into the hands of thousands and thousands of our citizens."

The refunds will be issued to policyholders who had Blue Advantage or Blue Options HSA for Individuals policies in force as of March 23, 2010, the date the federal Affordable Care Act was enacted. Customers may receive lower or higher amounts depending on their specific premium rate, but an average policyholder with a monthly premium of about $380 will receive approximately $690.

The new rating and grandfathering rules in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act create a one-time circumstance enabling these refunds. The funds come from active life reserves, which are portions of the premium set aside in the early years of a policy to pay future claims and keep rates stable as customers' medical expenses rise during the life of the policy. However, policies purchased or substantially modified after March 23 of this year will end in 2014 under the new health care reform law, which is when the new products under health reform will be introduced. Therefore, the reserves held for these products will cover a much shorter period of time, allowing for these funds to be released.

Consumers with questions about the refunds, including whether they are eligible to receive a refund, should call BCBSNC's dedicated customer refund line, 1-877-784-2375.

Other insurance premium refunds that Commissioner Goodwin has announced include more than $50 million stemming from the 2009 auto rate settlement; Commissioner Goodwin has also announced potential rate savings for auto and workers compensation policyholders totaling approximately $673 million since 2009.

"I'm very pleased that consumers - North Carolina families and small businesses - have benefited so much by the insurance refunds and rate cuts of more than $800 Million announced during my first two years in office," said Goodwin.

Whether during the holidays or not, these monies are certainly an economic stimulus package for North Carolina, courtesy of the dedicated work by your Insurance Commissioner's team.

Raleigh Business Owner Charged With Illegally Dropping Health Insurance for Employees

North Carolina's Insurance Commissioner, Wayne Goodwin, and the Department of Insurance are going after yet another person charged with illegally dropping health insurance for employees of a small business. See the accompanying WRAL-TV video about it or check out the official press release from the Department here.

According to WRAL-TV:

Tonja Jordan Austin, 38, of 109 Hilary Place in Cary, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts each of failing to pay group health insurance premiums and failing to properly notify people covered by the policy that the premiums were no longer being paid.

Austin was the co-owner of Integrated Family Solutions, a community-based mental health agency that recently closed its offices in Raleigh and Durham. The state Department of Insurance said Friday that she didn't pay premiums to United Healthcare, and the nonprofit's health policies were terminated on Dec. 1 and April 1.

State law requires that employers give workers 45 days written notice if they are canceling or terminating health coverage.

"In instances like this, most people will not know until it's too late," Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said.

One Integrated Family Solutions [employee] complained to the DOI, prompting the state investigation, after amassing more than $13,000 in medical bills that weren't covered by insurance, Goodwin said.

"It causes tremendous heartbreak and havoc for family finances," he said.

Goodwin said such cases occur more often in a soft economy because companies try to cut costs by dropping insurance coverage. So far this year, the DOI has investigated 41 cases, resulting in eight arrests and two convictions.

"These are serious allegations and certainly serious criminal acts that affect anywhere from a few employees to thousands of employees," he said.

People who have health insurance through their employer should double-check that the premiums are up to date before before having a major procedure, he said.

The Tar Heel state Insurance Commissioner actively fights insurance fraud of all kinds, and indicates that such crime has dramatically increased over the last year or so, directly resulting from the worst economy in our lifetimes.

NC Insurance Commissioner's Leadership Highlighted on Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show"

For Wayne Goodwin Cutting Insurance Rates, Ordering Refunds

Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina's elected Commissioner of Insurance, has reached another cultural, personal and political milestone: He found himself referenced this week on the highly-acclaimed national news/comedy program, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. (Covered in greater written detail, inter alia, on The Progressive Pulse and here, here, and here.)

In front of many millions of TV viewers, it was said:

"We have empowered state insurance commissioners to review the rate hikes that are taking place in states. And in some states like North Carolina, they have already used it and rolled back premium increases by 25 percent."

For further context, go to prior coverage at other news and blog links here and here.

Goodwin has received further high praise and recognition for cutting health insurance rates by approximately 25% from what was filed by the insurance carrier and for ordering a return of $156 million back to 215,000+ North Carolina consumers. This is a capstone to the plethora of positive feedback the Tar Heel insurance regulator has received over the last five weeks.

And if one were to include other lines of insurance such as automobile and workers compensation, Goodwin has cut rates and saved more than $650 million and ordered refunds totalling $265+ million, plus recovered more than $25 million more for victims of insurance fraud, all for North Carolina consumers, families and small businesses in less than two years in office.

Insurance Commissioner Goodwin Criss-Crosses North Carolina

Though Not on Ballot in 2010, Statewide Elected Official Barnstorms All Over

Wayne Goodwin says he doesn't just meet consumers and voters during his election year, but each and every day.

To that end, he has picked up the pace of criss-crossing North Carolina from east to west, back and forth over the last several months.

Sometimes he's speaking to a group of 15 members of a civic club.

Another day he's bringing down the house in front of 1,000 senior citizens or small business owners at a conference.

Then there are the political events where he gets hundreds of people to respond back and engage with him as if they were in church.

And all in-between Goodwin informs, implores, cajoles, and makes his audiences laugh while proving each time that what makes him tick is good government, common sense leadership, consumer protection, transparency, doing what's right, and 21st century populism.

In the months of September and October alone, some of the Tar Heel places Insurance Commissioner Goodwin will have visited are:

*Carteret County Underwriters, Morehead City
*IIANC of Charlotte/Mecklenburg
*Roanoke Rapids Valley Chamber of Commerce
*Southeast Raleigh
*Anson County Democratic Party, Wadesboro
*Piedmont Triad 2010 Aging Conference, Greensboro
*Pharmacy Leaders' Forum, Greensboro
*Ashe Co. Democratic Party, West Jefferson
*Ashe County Homebuilders Association, Jefferson
*Gibson Fire Dept, Scotland County
*Employee Benefits Brokers Seminar, Charlotte
*NC Retail Pharmacists Annual Mtg, Raleigh
*Statewide Fire Drill/Fire Prevention Month, Cleveland Co. Fair, Shelby
*Tri-Community Fire Dept., New Bern
*Independent Insurance Agents of NC (IIANC) Annual Convention, Asheville
*Western NC Fire Training Center, Woodfin
*NC Assn of Health Underwriters - WNC (NCAHU), Asheville
*Governor's Aging Conference, Research Triangle Park
*NC State Fair (multiple times)
*Morrison-Deane-Goodman Annual Dinner, Hamlet
*East Carolina University (ECU), Greenville

Even more appearances and opportunities for citizens to meet him are slated in the coming months for coastal and eastern Carolina, as well as throughout the state.

And then there is all the activity he does actually in his office: ordering hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance refunds and rate reductions, fighting insurance fraud, protecting consumers, penalizing insurance companies for violations of the law, being a watchdog for insurance company solvency, approving and delivering grant funds to fire departments, keeping North Carolina ahead of the curve in many ways, and generally keeping a close eye on the work of his administration.

Suffice it to say, this state insurance commissioner - heralded as the best insurance commissioner in the country in Hamlet last night by Lt. Governor Walter Dalton and one of the best state insurance regulators in the nation by the President of the United States last month - is one of the hardest working, most accessible, highest octane state officials you'll ever find.

Searing: Goodwin Supports Consumer Advocates

Adam Searing of the NC Justice Center had this to say on the Progressive Pulse, a NC Policy Watch blog, yesterday:

The nation’s state insurance commissioners, meeting together today in Orlando, rejected attempts to weaken at the state level the federal health reform requirement that health insurers spend 80- 85% of the premium dollars they collect on actually providing medical care. Good for them and good for NC’s Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin for supporting consumer advocates like the NC Justice Center and beating back industry efforts to weaken these standards.

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin: "Strong Encouragement", Cooperation Led to Historic, Huge NC Health Insurance Refund

North Carolina's state Commissioner of Insurance, Wayne Goodwin, today held a major press conference at his Raleigh office.

Joining him at the surprise press conference was Brad Wilson, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Goodwin announced that expert actuaries in his office had discovered and determined, in the course of their regulation of the insurance company, that the federal Affordable Care Act freed up $155.8 million in contract reserves for return to policyholders.

"I strongly encouraged Blue Cross to refund all of the money back to policyholders and, after very thorough and rigorous review and negotiations, the company agreed. I commend Mr. Wilson and the BCBSNC Board of Directors for agreeing with this outcome and also the Department's proposal to reduce the rate filing Blue Cross Blue Shield had made," said Insurance Commissioner Goodwin.

He and Wilson described the day's revelations a "win-win" for policyholders and all involved.

For more information, go to the official press release from North Carolina's Department of Insurance. In part, it said:

The refunds will be issued by the end of the year to policyholders who had Blue Advantage or Blue Options HSA for Individuals policies in force as of March 23, 2010, the date the federal law was enacted. Refunds will be proportional to premiums paid and will be equivalent to more than 1.5 months of premiums. Customers may receive lower or higher amounts depending on their specific premium rates. For example, for an average policyholder's monthly premium of about $380, the refund would be approximately $690.

"I'm pleased that the Department and Blue Cross were able to identify a way for $155.8 million to go back into consumers' wallets," said Commissioner Goodwin. "I'm also glad that we were able to negotiate a lower-than-requested rate adjustment that will save $14.5 million in future premiums for policyholders."

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin later made it clear that but for this cooperation and decision reached by the insurer and the state agency, there would have been at least two court cases, the result of which would have certainly delayed by years any refund at all.

"Having this refund now is the right thing to do now. Policyholders and households need these significant refunds without any delay," said Goodwin. "I believe our work makes for quite an economic stimulus for the State - $155.8 million is nothing to sneeze at and will help families during the upcoming holiday season and end-of-year bills coming due for hundreds of thousands of Tar Heel consumers."

WUNC Public Radio, State Government Radio, TimeWarner News 14, the Progressive Pulse Blog of NC Policy Watch, the News & Observer, WTVD-Channel 11, WRAL-TV and other media provided various viewspoints throughout the day.

For publication on September 21, USA TODAY reported on another point made by Insurance Commissioner Goodwin:

"I hope other state insurance regulators across the country look into whether these same excess contract reserves exist in the holdings of health insurance companies doing business in their states," he said. "Whether $1 or an historic amount like $155.8 million as in North Carolina, perhaps consumers and policyholders in other states are due refunds, too," Goodwin posited.

And as USA TODAY reported above, "Steve Larsen, who heads insurance oversight at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said there may be others. "I really do think there may be a bigger issue at work here," he said."

North Carolina's insurance chief will ask the 2011 General Assembly for greater regulatory authority regarding health insurance.

"As our elected state Insurance Commissioner,I will continue fighting for stronger consumer protections ... Having these additions tools reinforce the value of state-based insurance regulation over purely federal regulation," concluded Goodwin.

Insurance Commissioner Goodwin: NCDOI Awarded $1 Million Grant

Monies Will Be Used to Bolster Consumer Outreach, Rate Reviews, Better Government

North Carolina has been awarded a $1 million grant from the federal government, and NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and his Department team are anxious to use it for enhanced consumer outreach and consumer participation in the review of rate filings by health insurers.

"A little over a month ago, our staff submitted the premium review assistance grant to the federal government. I am pleased that North Carolina was approved for this funding," said Commissioner Goodwin. "The Department of Insurance has a lot of work ahead of us to implement the new federal health care reform initiatives. We will use this federal funding to review our existing procedures, hire new staff and improve consumer outreach specific to approving rate changes to health insurance plans."

Furthermore:

The Department's grant application identified the following measures to improve the rate review process in North Carolina:

Seek outside review of actuarial processes to determine areas of improvement in the process.

Seek additional authority to expand prior rate approval to small and large employer group health and association group health plans via the N.C. General Assembly.

Hire additional staff to accommodate increased rate filings and their review.

Increase transparency and accessibility:

Improve the access and readability of rate filings that are currently posted on the Department's website.

Seek authority via the N.C. General Assembly to require insurers to create consumer-friendly summaries and increased public information for rate filings.

Seek input and consider planning for public comment and public hearings on rate requests.

To learn more, go to this link.

"Not only is this news about 'good government,' it's about better government," said Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

Goodwin, Price & Etheridge Address NC Black Leadership Summit on Health Insurance Reform

Congressman David Price, Congressman Bob Etheridge, and NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin participated in a special panel yesterday about the newly-enacted health insurance reform law.



Appearing at the request of The Alliance of Black Elected Officials, the state officials each gave a 10-minute opening statement and then took questions from the audience at The Black Summit 2010.

The federal lawmakers addressed the new law from their point-of-view, expressing the high points of the historic legislation and why they voted in favor of it.

Congressman Price spoke about several key provisions, including how unlike recent programs in the prior Bush administration that this one is paid for as it goes (also known as "Pay-Go").

Congressman Etheridge answered a question about why the health care reform bill passed now as contrasted to any other prior time. To that end, the Lillingon lawmaker gave a brief history lesson: Etheridge explained how Republican President Teddy Roosevelt had first proposed universal health insurance approximately over 100 years ago, and how time and time again the effort in various incarnations failed during the administrations of FDR, Truman, Nixon and Clinton. Unlike when Clinton tried, President Obama was a duly-elected President with a true majority vote of the persons voting, the first Democrat in 44 years to have that accomplishment. "Elections do matter, and President Obama had a mandate," said Etheridge.

NC Insurance Commissioner Goodwin used his time to address matters from a different angle: He focused on how he, the Department of Insurance, and the State will be implementing the new law.

"There are some very tight deadlines in place, and I'm going to do everything possible to make sure that North Carolina meets those deadlines so as many citizens as possible gain the benefits of health insurance and the actual savings in their family budgets," said Commissioner Goodwin. "If North Carolina's officials take the lead on this issue, then it prevents the federal government from stepping in and running the insurance exchanges and the high risk insurance pool and other things itself."

In some instances the "magic date" is September 23, 2010, and in others it is in 2013 and 2014.

Regardless, state lawmakers and other North Carolina officials will be deliberating upon and taking action on various components of the new health insurance law in 2010, 2011, 2012, and in 2013.

Insurance Commissioner Goodwin also reported how internally within the Department there are weekly and bi-weekly planning meetings, and that there are frequent implementation sessions with the Governor's office, legislative and executive branch leaders, and state insurance regulators across the country.

"Because of twin issues over the last eighteen months involving health insurance reforms and needed consumer financial protections in the banking and securities industries, my Department and I have had more interaction with our Congressional delegation than all of my Insurance Commissioner predecessors combined."

Before the panel discussion came to a close, Goodwin stressed how to watch out for insurance fraud from unscrupulous persons who may try to take advantage of persons during this transitional period. "If something sounds too good to be true, then - guess what? - it probably is," Goodwin said, regarding circumstances if purported insurance agents or fake companies try to hawk products labeled "Obamacare" or other fictitious services. He referenced the audience to www.ncdoi.com for additional tips and answers to frequently asked questions.

The event took place at the Crabtree Marriott Hotel in Raleigh.

You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers: A Statewide Op-Ed from Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin About the Health Insurance Reform Law

Many consumers across North Carolina have questions about what the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009, or the health care reform bill, means to their lives and their specific circumstances.

While the N.C. Department of Insurance and other involved agencies are making headway in sorting through the countless details and interpretations included in the health care reform bill, there are still a lot of unknowns.

I wanted to tackle some of the most frequently asked questions that my staff in the Consumer Services Division has received and provide the answers that we know right now. In many cases, the most asked-about issues are also the most immediate changes to be implemented.

The most common inquiry is about the bill's complete elimination of pre-existing conditions for all plans. For children younger than 19, this change will go into effect for plan years beginning on or after Sept. 23, which is six months after enactment. For adults, final implementation won't occur until 2014, but the reform bill established immediate access to health insurance through the establishment of health insurance high-risk pools. States must launch these insurance pools within 90 days.

In North Carolina, we already have a health insurance high-risk pool, called Inclusive Health, that offers coverage to North Carolinians who have medical conditions that prevent them from finding affordable insurance coverage through the traditional market. If you have a pre-existing condition and don't have health insurance, or if you have questions about the high-risk pools, call Inclusive Health for more information at (866) 665-2117, or go to www.inclusivehealth.org.

We've also heard that consumers are worried they will be forced to give up their existing health insurance plans. This is not the case. If you are satisfied with the coverage you currently have, you do not have to switch plans or make any changes.

Another common question focuses on the extension of adult dependent coverage, which also goes into effect for plan years beginning on or after Sept. 23. Right now, we know that dependent adult children age 26 or younger can be added to their parents' group plan, as long as the existing plan allows for dependent coverage. There is still some guidance needed from the federal government on who exactly qualifies as a dependent and the definition of "plan year" for individual policies.

Beware of scams

Unfortunately, we've also heard of increased health insurance scams, some that were problems before health care reform and some that are new. Consumers need to be on alert so they don't fall victim to unscrupulous scam artists or buy insurance products they don't understand. Be on the lookout for these red flags:

Unlicensed agents going door-to-door selling "ObamaCare" insurance policies or claiming there is a limited open-enrollment period to buy health insurance. Some of these scam artists have even set up bogus toll-free numbers to sell policies. While the reform bill is making a lot of changes, there are no changes that require your immediate action and no immediate deadlines or limited enrollment periods to follow.

Health care discount cards. These discount cards are not insurance and generally do not process or pay medical claims. Instead, cardholders are responsible for paying their health care providers, supposedly being entitled to a discount off of the providers' regular fees. Discount plans often exaggerate the potential savings, and not all providers accept or honor these cards.

Fake insurance companies that are not licensed by the N.C. Department of Insurance will collect premiums and then close down without paying claims. Fake health insurance is typically sold at unusually low rates by companies that do not have the funds or intent to pay all "covered" claims. These fraudulent schemes are often advertised and marketed through Web sites, telemarketing calls and unsolicited "blast faxes."

Required membership in questionable associations. Many membership associations offer their members various insurance benefits, including health insurance. Unfortunately, some associations may appear legitimate but exist mainly to profit (by collecting membership dues) from consumers who need health insurance. A consumer shopping for individual insurance might actually be required to join an association while applying for the insurance. Sometimes the dues and premiums are charged separately; however, sometimes the dues and health insurance premiums are bundled into a single lump-sum "membership cost." This makes it difficult to know how much you're paying for the insurance versus the association membership.

A good rule of thumb when purchasing any type of insurance is to confirm that the insurance company, agent and product are licensed or approved through the N.C. Department of Insurance and in good standing

; you also should read all materials carefully before you buy. A quick call to our Consumer Helpline can save you a lot of time, trouble and money. To confirm your insurance before you buy, call (800) 546-5664.

Again, there are many changes that will be implemented in the coming months and years, but consumers need to realize that no changes made by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 will require immediate action or changes on their part. If you have any questions about the health care reform bill or you encounter suspicious or potentially fraudulent activity, I encourage you to call the Department of Insurance's Consumer Helpline at (800) 546-5664. You also can visit the department's website, www.ncdoi.com, for insurance information and ongoing updates about the health care reform bill.

Fully implementing the health care reform bill will take several years, and I want you to know I will make consumer education and public awareness a priority as more information and updates are available.

* * * *

Wayne Goodwin is North Carolina insurance commissioner.

Insurance Commissioner Goodwin Visits Senior Democrats of Wake County

Last week I had the personal pleasure to join the Wake County Senior Dems as their monthly luncheon speaker.

In addition to sharing with the gathered activists the duties and scope of the office of Insurance Commissioner and of the Department of Insurance, the senior citizens posed many insightful questions. Their queries spanned the topics of health insurance reforms in Washington, D.C. to the State Health Plan involving state employees, retirees, and their dependents; from coastal insurance to the vital consumer protections provided by the office of Insurance Commissioner.

"I was especially pleased to share with them the mission of my Department's Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program," said Goodwin. "We talked in depth about how we have trained SHIIP volunteers around the State who are available to help folks navigate the maze of Medicare Part D."

Insurance Commissioner Goodwin Attends, Heralds 2010 NC Economic Forecast Forum

The North Carolina Bankers Association and the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce – in conjunction with many sponsors, including Bank of America, Progress Energy, S&A Cherokee, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives,
and Duke Energy Corporation – offered a program today providing the first outlook for North Carolina business in the new year.

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and many State officials and other business leaders converged at the Progress Energy Performing Arts Center for the daylong Raleigh program. This is the eighth year such a program has been held.

The packed audience heard from a unique panel of experts.

First, attendees listened to observations and valuable information from Secretary of Health and Human Services, Lanier Cansler. His comments, including how some parts of our health system rely on 1970s (!) information technology, prefaced the morning session about health care reform and the pending health insurance legislation in the U.S. Congress.

Many in the audience next awaited comments from Brad Wilson of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, who is the incoming CEO of BCBSNC. Joining him in analyzing the health insurance reform legislation were the Dean of the UNC School of Medicine, the CEO of Coldwell Banker Commercial Trademark Properties, Duke University’s Chancellor for Health Affairs, and the Senior Vice President of GlaxoSmithKline.

In addition to the overall analysis of the proposed Congressional health insurance reforms, state Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin noted how each of the panelists stressed that an “individual mandate” was necessary, how the mandate language needed sharper teeth to ensure the largest pool of insureds and lowest costs for consumers, and how the benefits of a strong mandate for health insurance are akin to the public policy behind mandatory automobile insurance that’s been long in force for North Carolina drivers.

Wilson’s description of a “progressive plutocracy” in North Carolina was very interesting to members, prompting several to mention it in the hallways afterward. He stated that business leaders in the State have most often throughout its history advanced measures that benefited public education, public health, and the general citizenry.

He also emphatically underscored how – despite all the animus and frenetic activity in all directions about health insurance and the like over the past year – the State’s future looked bright and positive, so long as North Carolina and its leaders stayed true to that visionary heritage. He said that opportunities abound for good things to happen for all North Carolinians.

After two hours of networking during lunch, an even larger crowd gathered for speeches about North Carolina’s economic forecast.

Given that it was his first day on the job, the remarks from the new President and CEO of Bank of America, Brian T. Moynihan, were greatly anticipated.

Following reflections from Governor Elizabeth Duke of the Federal Reserve System, business leaders and public officials heard the forecast – good and bad – from economist John Connaughton of UNC-Charlotte.

All in all, Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin found the program beneficial.

“As Insurance Commissioner, I know that the health insurance debate and our economic rebound depend in part on the work of the state insurance regulator. For that reason, I had my Chief Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, and Legislative Counsel join me in attending today’s successful and enlightening forum.”

The Department of Insurance and your Insurance Commissioner are committed not only to consumer protection but also to North Carolina's economic rebound.

Prevent Strokes, Save Lives: Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and DOI Honor Memory of Jim Long

Your North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) is supporting Rex Healthcare's Red Tie Campaign to prevent stroke. This campaign is in memory of former Insurance Commissioner Jim Long. Please take a moment to read through the Red Tie Campaign website and tell your family and friends about how to prevent stroke! The link is here.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin on November 19, a day he declared as "Red Tie Day", led a large band of NCDOI employees during a walk to support the Rex Healthcare Red Tie Campaign to prevent stroke. Employees wore red in memory of Jim Long, who was known for wearing a red tie.

"Jim Long's public life was all about 'teaching moments.' Whether it was with the Safe Kids program, the Seniors Health Insurance Information Program, the Office of State Fire Marshal or a myriad of others, he zeroed in on real-life ways to help people. Even with his unfortunate and unexpected passing, another 'teaching moment' emerged, this time so that many others could be aware of the symptoms of stroke and learning early on how to prevent the number one cause of death among adults," said Insurance Commissioner Goodwin.

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin Urges Citizens to Prevent Flu

Because it is an excellent safety precaution that saves lives and keeps insurance costs down, North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin this past week received both his seasonal flu vaccine and also the H1N1 vaccine.

"Stay healthy, protect yourself and your family, and fight the flu before you get it," said Goodwin.

He also urged kids and adults alike to wash hands very frequently and thoroughly, to keep your hands away from your eyes and nose, and to sneeze into the bend of one's arm or otherwise cover one's mouth.

"It doesn't take a shot in the arm - in my case, one in each arm - to know how important it is to protect your health."

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin Launches Effort to Help 80,000 Citizens Obtain Reduced Prescription Drug Costs

Today I had the honor and privilege to join Senior Tar Heel Legislators from across North Carolina and representatives of our 800 volunteers in the SHIIP program in our kick-off to obtain reduced prescription drug costs for 80,000 senior citizens.

Learn more here at this link.

Here is an excerpt:

RALEIGH -- More than 100 seniors pounded the pavement today at a relay event in Raleigh to kickoff a statewide enrollment campaign for Medicare's "Extra Help" low-income subsidy and Medicare Savings Programs that help eligible Medicare recipients pay for their prescription drug coverage and medicines and other Medicare medical coverage.

The campaign called "Relay for Extra Help" encourages Medicare recipients to help each other by relaying the message to their local communities that financial assistance is available - even for those who might not typically receive federal assistance. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has identified that North Carolina has more than 80,000 Medicare recipients who potentially qualify for the cost-saving programs, but have not enrolled.

The N.C. Senior Tar Heel Legislators attended a relay event in Raleigh where they agreed to relay the message back to all 100 counties. The Relay for Extra Help campaign's goal is to find and enroll eligible Medicare recipients in either the federal Low-Income Subsidy program that helps pay for Medicare prescription drug coverage and medicines or the Medicare Savings Program that helps pay for Medicare Part A and B premiums.

In remarks to the rally, I exclaimed:

"It's great to have so many seniors here today who are committed to taking the Extra Help message back to their communities," said Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. "North Carolina has more than 80,000 people on Medicare who could be receiving Medicare's Low-Income Subsidy benefits, but have not yet signed up. Our goal is to relay this message to every town in the state, find these folks and get them enrolled so that they can start receiving help paying for their Medicare prescription drug premiums and medicines."

Here is a very short video from today's event, courtesy of Channel 17 in Raleigh. Partners with your Department of Insurance on this endeavor are the NC Department of Health and Human Services and others.

This Relay for Extra Help is a great opportunity for many families. To find out whether you or a loved one is eligible, then please call toll-free 800-443-9354 or visit www.ncshiip.com.