As I meet with business owners around Utah about their financial needs and concerns, the conversation frequently turns to issues surrounding health care for their employees.

With the upcoming federal mandates from the Affordable Care Act, many organizations could experience a 30-50 percent premium increase in their health care costs next year. The sky-rocketing health care costs projected for 2014 and beyond could have serious ramifications for local business owners and managers.

As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, we consider it our stewardship to provide timely financial education to our members and the community. As such, Goldenwest Credit Union is hosting a free Health Care Reform Seminar on May 24th. Business owners and managers are invited to attend this seminar, as well as human resource directors and others who are decision makers for health care plans and needs.

We are honored to have Jennifer Danielson, President of Regence BlueCross BlueShield, as our guest speaker at this event.

Ms. Danielson will provide:

• An overview of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on business;
• Information regarding the ‘Pay or Play’ provision and how this may impact business;
• How to calculate a full-time employee for purposes of the ACA;
• The general drivers of the costs and fees associated with the ACA and how this may impact business; and,
• A question and answer session with Ms. Danielson and other Regence BlueCross BlueShield representatives after the presentation.

Due to the high level of interest in this topic, we will hold two sessions to accommodate our guests:

• May 24th at 9 a.m., with check-in and breakfast beginning at 8:30 a.m., or
• May 24th at 12:30 p.m., with check-in and lunch beginning at noon.

Both sessions will be held at the Goldenwest Credit Union Corporate Office at 5025 Adams Avenue in Ogden. To reserve your seat at the free Health Care Reform Seminar, visit www.gwcu.org.

I look forward to meeting with many of our business and community leaders on May 24th at the health care reform seminar. Should you have any questions about this event, please contact our public relations department at 801-337-8361.

Best Regards,

Kerry H. Wahlen
President/CEO