Only 27 percent of Maine businesses with fewer than 50 employees offer health coverage to their employees. Most don’t have enough staff to obtain affordable coverage from the private market, and many small business owners and their family members earn too much income to qualify for Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Business reporter J. Craig Anderson will moderate a panel of insurance specialists and small business experts. This solution-oriented forum will provide insights on how to navigate a complicated system, allow attendees to make connections with businesses experiencing similar challenges, and forecast different scenarios that could change the way health care is administered in coming years.

This free, live event offers the opportunity for you to join in the conversation while connecting with people in the Greater Portland business community, and enjoy complimentary coffee and light breakfast.

Doors open at 7:15 a.m. Program begins at 7:45 a.m.

 

J. Craig Anderson covers a wide range of topics including banking, finance, real estate, technology and entrepreneurism. Originally from Arizona, Craig graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona journalism school and has gone on to report for a variety of business and consumer publications such as the Business Journal of Phoenix, the Las Vegas Sun and the Arizona Republic. His work has earned him national recognition including Sigma Delta Chi and APA Journalism awards. Craig also served in the Army for four years, working as an intelligence analyst and Arabic linguist for the National Security Agency in Maryland. He currently lives in Freeport.

Steven R. Gerlach, Shareholder, Bernstein Shur

Steve is a tax attorney who specializes in employee benefits, executive compensation, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). He works with employers of all stripes—including businesses, nonprofits, and ESOP-owned companies—on tax, ACA and ERISA compliance and representation.

Joseph King, Account Executive, Cross Employee Benefits

With over 24 years of experience in the field, King challenges his clients to establish long term benefit objectives to help with regulatory compliance, controlling costs, providing greater employee choice, and improving administrative efficiencies. A graduate of St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, Joe looks to engage employees in the benefit purchasing process and help them become better consumers of healthcare.

Joanne Rawlings-Sekunda, Director of Consumer Health Care, Maine Bureau of Insurance

Rawlings-Sekunda is involved in a broad range of regulatory, consumer protection, and policy matters related to insurance for health, life, disability, and long-term care.  Since joining the Bureau in 2001, she has worked on both plan management activities related to the Affordable Care Act, and Maine’s home-grown efforts to improve the healthcare system.  She is also a member of the Public Sector Advisory Council for the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

 

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