Chamber Academy tackles health care reform, solutions

SANDPOINT — Are you looking for solutions and options for the current health care changes?

Come and learn at the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and Business Development Committee’s March Chamber Academy. The event is sponsored by AmericanWest Bank, with Angela Oakes of Summit Insurance Resource Group.

The Chamber Academy workshop will be held Friday, March 22, from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 477326 Highway 95, in Ponderay.

Oakes will present an informative workshop on current and upcoming health care reform.

This year has seen many changes to the health care system. However, 2013 is only the start and there are many more upcoming changes due to health care reform legislation passed at the federal level.

The state of Idaho is in the progress of developing its own insurance exchange so that way they can offer their own program, instead of the federally designed one, and still get federal subsidy money. Oakes will cover these things plus alternative health insurance funding techniques for small, medium and large businesses.

Oakes has been in the insurance industry for more than 30 years and is a preferred broker by Blue Cross and Regence of Idaho. She started her career with Royal Insurance Company, the world’s fifth largest insurer, as an underwriter and marketer. She holds credentials of Accredited Advisor in Insurance, Certified Professional Insurance Woman and a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter.

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and its Business Development Committee at the workshop and learn what about health care reform.

Advance registration and prepayment are required.

The cost is $20 for chamber members, $25 for non-members and includes a boxed lunch. Check-in and lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. with the workshop starting promptly at noon.

Information and registration: online, www.sandpointchamber.org; or by phone, 263-2161.