A week out from the Obama administration's decision to delay the employer mandate penalty for not providing health insurance to employees, a new consumer survey from HealthPocket finds substantial sentiment that the same temporary waiver should apply to uninsured individuals.

Forty-one percent of respondents said, "Yes, the waiver should apply equally," more than triple those who answered, "No, the consumer fine should remain." HealthPocket surveyed 884 people from across the United States and asked, "Should the Obamacare fine on consumers without health insurance be waived in 2014 just as the fine for employers not providing health insurance was waived?"

Nearly half of respondents were not certain; 41 percent said the waiver should be equally applied; 12 percent of respondents said the consumer fine should stand. "Consumers are beginning to understand how the Affordable Care Act affects them, but there is still a lot of uncertainty," said Bruce Telkamp, HealthPocket CEO. "Last week's delay of the employer mandate demonstrates that the Obamacare implementation schedule is still not set in stone. Consumers will have to stay tuned to fully understand the market changes going live in the fall." The employer penalty, now delayed until 2015, pertains to employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent workers.

The majority of adult Americans also face penalties if they are uninsured, and that fine is currently scheduled to take effect in 2014. The penalty for not being insured is intended to maximize the number of healthy people in the insurance pool, thereby lowering both insurers' risk base and health insurance premiums. The 2014 fee for individuals remaining uninsured is 1 percent of their annual income or $95, whichever is highest. The penalty increases annually until reaching $695 or 2.5 percent of annual income, whichever is highest, and is adjusted after 2016 based on cost of living. This InfoPoll survey was conducted between July 3 and July 5, 2013.

The methodology to acquire survey respondents who approximate national statistics on age, gender, and region was implemented by Google. To compare premiums for health plans in any geographic area, visit HealthPocket's health plan comparison tool.

According to new research released by Finaccord, an increasing number of organisations are acting as affinity or corporate partners for legal services, much in the manner that insurance and other consumer services have long been marketed through partnerships. Across a total of 1,700 organisations investigated, 518 (30.5%) offer a legal service in one form or another, usually in conjunction with one or more external partners (rather than via their own in-house resources).

Indeed, across the five service categories considered – namely, legal helplines / assistance, commercial legal services, conveyancing, will writing and other consumer legal services – the research identified over 850 separate examples in total. Initiatives are most widespread in the area of legal helplines / assistance followed by commercial legal services, other consumer legal services, conveyancing and will writing.

Commented Alan Leach, Director at Finaccord: "Many of these examples pre-date the introduction of alternative business structures (ABSs) from October 2011 onwards although that change to the competitive environment, brought about through the Legal Services Act of 2007, is now producing a number of important new initiatives. For instance, these are especially visible in the insurance sector where ABSs have been created recently by a number of competitors including Admiral Insurance Group, Ageas, Autonet and DAS."

Among not-for-profit affinity partners, professional associations, trade associations and trade unions are often involved in these areas, as are banks, building societies and insurers among financial partners, and estate agency and property services firms among commercial partners. As shown in the bar chart, 71.1% of trade unions offer legal services with the equivalent percentages reaching 62.5% for automotive associations (although there are only eight of these), 43.1% for insurers, 42.6% for building societies and 38.6% for professional associations.

At 32.5%, the percentage is lower for trade associations but that is partly because with over 720 organisations in this sub-category in total, it is by far the largest of those investigated. In fact, 235 trade associations offer legal services to their members making this the area in which partnerships are most numerous (as opposed to frequent), far ahead of trade unions (69) and professional associations (56). The research also calculates both the unweighted and weighted share of partnerships of providers in each of the five service categories with the former measure based on a straightforward count of the number of relationships identified and the latter on a formula that takes into consideration the likely importance of the organisations with which the partnerships have been established.

For legal helplines / assistance, the leading provider in both unweighted and weighted terms is Croner, a trading style of Wolters Kluwer (UK), mainly by virtue of its many relationships with trade associations. Turning to commercial legal services, Steeles Law emerges as the leading provider on an unweighted basis but is displaced by Irwin Mitchell in weighted terms. In the realm of conveyancing, Thompsons is the provider with the greatest number of affinity partnerships although eConveyancer (a trading style of United Legal Services) leads on a weighted basis.

For will writing, Thompsons leads once again in the unweighted analysis but is overtaken by Brodies and Hugh James (used as a duo by several major retail banking brands) when viewed in weighted terms. Finally, with regards to other consumer legal services, Thompsons leads the way by both measures – this legal services firm holds partnerships with a total of 30 different organisations, most of which are trade unions. Concluded Alan Leach: "In an increasingly competitive environment, opportunities in affinity and partnership marketing constitute an important consideration for providers of both commercial and consumer legal services in the UK that want to grow their business.

Finaccord's research shows that close to 250 providers of legal services hold at least one partnership among the organisations investigated and a significant number of these hold five or more relationships which underlines the extent to which affinities and partnerships constitute a significant element of their marketing strategy." "Ultimately, the impact of the Legal Services Act has not been to produce a 'big bang' of the type seen in the financial services sector a generation ago; moreover, the description of it as 'Tesco Law' may also prove to have been wide of the mark; at the time of the research, no supermarket chains had yet launched legal services.

However, it has injected a significant degree of uncertainty into a sector that has already experienced declining profitability in a number of areas in recent years, causing traditional law firms to re-think the way that they promote their services to customers and acquire new business."

Closing date: July 4th, 2013. Key Requirements: Must have a minimum of 5 years Accident & Sickness experience and hold current insurance licenses in British Columbia, plus other provinces where required.

Key responsibilities:

1. To work as the designated Sales and Development manager for a brand new travel insurance broker that has recently been established.
2. To develop new travel insurance business in the province of British Columbia, using experience, skills, incentives and effective training to reach agreed financial targets.
3. To develop established relationships and motivate growth and performance, recognizing the varied needs and cultures that exist by province and region and to adapt to such needs.
4. As Sales and Development Manger, you will be required to travel and develop strategic business relationships, to maximise growth and development.
5. Recognizing the above points, the successful candidate will be required to formalise a sales and development strategy to ensure success is achieved.
6. You will be required to raise the profile of your employer through involvement with industry activities and relevant conferences.
7. The role will primarily be home based

Competencies and qualities:

1. A strong understanding of the travel insurance and healthcare industry, travel insurance products and industry competitors.
2. A strategic and tactical thinker.
3. Professional, dynamic and motivated by success.
4. Shares the same corporate values of customer care, integrity and honesty to ensure trust is built up with clients.
5. Possesses a strong work ethic and an ability to follow through with winning business.
6. Demonstrates creative and innovative ways of developing business.

Other Requirements:

1. A quick learner, especially regarding the changes that are taking place within the travel insurance industry.
2. Possesses strong levels of business, financial, and technological acumen.
3. Sociable with a good sense of humour!

Remuneration: A competitive base salary and package is available, with sales bonuses which will be commensurate with the applicants experience and expertise. Please send your résumé and a covering email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for further information, please contact redconsulting at Tel +1 819-300-6181.

For more jobs like this please visit iPMI Magazines recruitment platform at www.ipmi.co

You are a health, medical, travel or expatriate insurance broker, or at least you want to be. You want to source the right information about the worldwide health insurance plans, that you wish to represent and sell. You have clients worldwide who are seeking to compare private medical and health insurance plans, and you wish to have the best suite of solutions available, so they may select the most appropriate coverage. iPMI assists worldwide brokers facilitate more relations with leading healthcare payors and providers.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 235 million people around the world suffer from asthma. It is a problem that occurs in all countries, regardless of the level of development. Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children so for expatriates with families, it is a concern that should be considered, especially as on-going treatment costs can be significant. Most expatriates are away for a number of years and during this time, many are likely to have a growing family who will face all kinds of challenges as they get older.

Read more: Living with Asthma

Our client AOC Insurance Broker is now recruiting for the position of International Health Insurance Adviser. To apply for this position and others like it please visit the brand new International Health and Medical Insurance Recruitment platform, produced by iPMIM @ http://iprivatemedicalinsurance.com

International Health Insurance Sales Consultant Profile:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Insurance degree is a plus
• Bilingual English/French.
• Fluent in German (or another language) would be very appreciated
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office products
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• An outgoing, positive person who enjoys building relationships
• Minimum of 3 years experience in health insurance
• Experience in a sales related role would be a plus

Duties:

• Advising expatriates and helping them compare International medical and health insurance.
• Treatment of leads provided by comparator web site AOCInsurancebroker.com
• Utilize marketing tools, networking and resources to generate new business
• Secure referrals and set appointments to present to prospective customers
• Deliver excellent customer service to existing portfolio and prospective customers alike

Salary: CDI full time. Based in Paris, FRANCE Fixed basic salary + Commissions + Bonus (On objectives)

To apply for this position and others like it please visit the brand new International Health and Medical Insurance Recruitment platform, produced by iPMIM @ http://iprivatemedicalinsurance.com

iPMI Magazine is pleased to announce that MedCare Professional are our most popular ground ambulance company.

MedCare Professional provides Ground Ambulance and Air Ambulance Services to the International Travel, Medical, Health, Expatriate Insurance and Assistance Marketplace.

MCP is a leading medical transportation services provider and offers national and international patient transport. We operate reliably and economically with leading insurance companies, hospitals and groups together, our team has won several awards for its outstanding quality.

MedCareProfessional is as the name of the program: Only highly qualified medical staff takes care of the patient, our equipment is many-to-date national and international certifications out for us self-evident proof of our own standard of quality - as a guarantee for our customers and their own motivation. You can rely on us. Always.

Operations center

The operations center is the heart and the hub of our company: This is where all the information here makes the team together between uses. In the center offers will be created to advise people in emergencies, international missions planned, conducted exploratory conversations, solutions found and coordinated operations. From the first contact ask our staff all the necessary information to determine together with the respective client that's right for the patient Transportmodalität. 24 hours a day medical staff are on hand to take on missions to counsel patients and to make medical inquiries as members. Our ground ambulances, mobile intensive care and ambulance and commercial aircraft, we help injured and sick people with professional help all over the world. We work on all transport routes and in Auslandsrückholdienst, anytime, anywhere.

Company: MedCareProfessional GmbH

Address: Kerkenbusch 15 45529 Hattingen / Ruhr

Tel: +49 (0) 2324 - 919980

Fax: +49 (0) 2324 - 9199820

Serviceline: +49 (0) 700 555 00 100

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web: http://www.medcareprofessional.com

Underscoring its commitment to the health and well-being of the people of China, the Cigna Foundation is the sponsor of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 40th Anniversary Tour of the People’s Republic of China kicking off May 31 and running through June 9. This tour celebrates the Orchestra’s anniversary of its first China tour in 1973 while signaling the future, as the tour runs concurrently with the Orchestra’s innovative new residency program that will bring classical music to China’s major cities and further into its provinces.

International Private Medical Insurance Magazine is the ultimate health insurance magazine and guide to private medical insurance, medical assistance, travel assistance, cost containment, air ambulance, ground ambulance, third party administration, claims management, travel, travel insurance, medical tourism and expatriate life.

Providing mission critical business information International Private Medical Insurance Magazine has you covered and has been in operation since 2011. With over 100 clients, iPMI Magazine quickly established itself as the industry standard media for the international health insurance and assistance industry. News that travels as fast as your internet connection, International Private Medical Insurance Magazine remains digital to serve what is a nomadic industry.

Reaching further than any news paper, magazine or journal International Private Medical Insurance Magazine publishes and distributes international healthcare industry, market, company and executive news, as it happens, from where it happens.

• Sister Cities International to Offer IMG International Insurance Products to its Members.

International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®), a worldwide leader in designing, distributing and administering global health care benefits, today announced its international medical insurance products will be available to members of Sister Cities International effective July 1, 2013. Members will be able to view and purchase a variety of IMG products at www.sister-cities.org. The new relationship is designed to enhance the services offered to Sister Cities International members. Read more: IMG and Sister...