Insurance Agents Feel the Burden
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HAPPY HOMECOMING Powers beats Gilchrist, B1 Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2013 Affordable Care Act Insurance agents feel the burden I Some agents reluctant consists of an online, self-paced general overview about Cover Ore- to sign a contract with gon, insurance exchanges and the ACA. It also has a full-day, in-per- Cover Oregon son session that has technical instruction and portal training. BY EMILY THORNTON While two of Ellingsen’s agents The World have undergone training, he said he and other agents have been reluc- COOS BAY — The Affordable tant to sign a contract with Cover Care Act is causing some signifi- Oregon for several reasons, even cant changes in the health insur- though the contract is the only way ance world. agents can work with Cover Ore- “We’re changing a whole lot of gon. Photos by Alysha Beck, The World things,” said Ed Ellingsen, presi- One of the reasons Ellingsen and Twenty-seven microbrews are on tap at Coastal Growlers, a new growler station inside Ashworth’s Market in North Bend. dent and owner of Nasburg & others are reluctant is that the Company Insurance in Coos Bay. work involved to help consumers “It’s an enormous undertaking for could be pointless when con- all of us.” sumers can begin going When Oregon’s health through the portal them- care exchange begins selves beginning mid- signups Oct. 1, specially October. That means that trained insurance agents N a consumer could deal Growlers O are going to be on the directly with an insurance G front lines in the effort to E company without the get uninsured individuals R help of agents like Markets hop on the bandwagon and families enrolled in O Ellingsen and his agents. the new program. AFFORDABLE It could lead to agents Ellingsen said so far HEALTH CARE losing business even after BY CHELSEA DAVIS on the agenda. two agents at his compa- they’ve worked hard for The World “I don’t think it would be as ny are certified through the client, Ellingsen said. extensive as having 40 different Cover Oregon, the state’s exchange “Traditionally, we represent the NORTH BEND — Craft beer is varieties on tap, but maybe eight for managing the new health insurance company,” Ellingsen flowing on the South Coast. to 10,”Pestana said. insurance program. said. “Now, the company stays in a Ashworth’s Market owner Jim The South Coast is usually Cover Oregon is in the process of relationship with Cover Oregon.” Brown installed a growler station, “behind the times,”Brown said, so training agents across the state to Another concern was whether “Coastal Growlers,”in his store in he hopes growler stations will catch carry out the ACA’s enrollment his agency would be responsible June and his row of 40 taps is on, especially with nearby micro- process. should one of the insurance com- quickly filling up, with 27 craft Ashworth’s Market sells growlers from breweries like Arch Rock Brewing Agents must have a valid Oregon panies go out of business. Ellingsen beers and one tap of Rogue Root microbreweries around Oregon and cur- Company in Gold Beach and 7 Dev- health license, carry adequate said agents could be held liable if a Beer. rently has 27 mircrobrews on tap. ils Brewing Co. in Coos Bay. errors and omissions coverage and company went out of business. “We put growlers in because Growlers and growler stations’ have no regulatory administrative they’re very popular over in Bend depending on the beer. popularity have spiked the last few actions against them. The training SEE INSURANCE | A12 and they’re getting very popular in “People can come in, buy dif- years. Besides the growlers them- Portland,”he said. ferent growler containers, fill them selves being collectibles, Brown Growlers were originally small up and leave as happy campers,” said you also don’t have the hassle metal pails used at the turn of the said Lee Pestana, who sold Lan- of bottles and cans scattered Size of business to 20th century to carry fresh beer glois Market to his son, Jacob, last around your home when you use a home. It was said that as the car- year. “It’s like going to a bar and growler. Plus, he said, the beer bon dioxide escaped from the lid it the bartender just goes to the tap, tastes best when it’s been poured produced a growling sound, thus pours you a beer in a thermos and directly from the keg into a chilled determine impact the name. Today, growlers are 64- on you go.” growler. ounce glass or metal jugs; their 32- Langlois Market, which sits on “I believe they’ve grown popu- said Michael Cox, spokesman for U.S. Highway 101 south of Ban- lar because they have a better fla- BY EMILY THORNTON ounce counterparts have been Cover Oregon. don, could be the next coastal stop vor in their beer,”he said of craft The World dubbed “growlettes.”At Ash- Cox suggested large employers to install growler taps. Pestana worth’s, it costs anywhere from COOS BAY — If you are a busi- find agents at http://bit.ly/OR- said installing a growler station is $7.50 to $15.50 to fill a growler, SEE GROWLERS | A12 ness owner, the Affordable Care Health-Ins. Act is going to impact you. But by Employers with 50 to 100 how much will be a matter of the employees can shop on Cover Ore- size of your business. gon in October 2015. They must If you’re a large company, have insurance by Jan. 1, 2016. Man arrested with shotgun defined by the Internal Revenue The penalty for those with more Service as employing 50 or more than 50 employees depends on the people, you’ll be required to pro- number of full-time employees (30 inside Myrtle Point home vide health insurance under the or more hours per week) who law beginning in 2015. weren’t offered affordable health If you employ fewer than 50 insurance. BY THOMAS MORIARTY pending. ly with the intent to commit a crime. people, you can opt out and not Employers must communicate The World According to the Coos County Downing said the firearms pos- offer health insurance. But there with employees about their health Sheriff’s Office, Freeman was session charges were enough to are tax advantages if you do. coverage options by Oct. 1. This COOS BAY — Sheriff’s deputies arrested after law enforcement got trigger the burglary charge. The requirement to provide notice must go to anyone, regard- arrested a 55-year-old man at gun- a report of a The National Firearms Act of insurance under the Affordable Care less of plan enrollment status or point Wednesday on multiple restraining order 1934 makes it a federal crime to Act goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014. All part- or full-time status. felony charges, after they say he violation in possess a shotgun with a barrel less businesses may shop for insurance Employers with fewer than 25 broke into a Myrtle Point home progress at 13505 than 18 inches long without regis- through agents beginning Oct. 1, employees that use Cover Oregon armed with a short-barreled shot- Sitkum Lane. tration and the payment of a $200 2013. The portal will be available are eligible for tax credits up to 50 gun. Deputies found transfer tax. mid-October. But, representatives percent of premium costs. But, Donald L. Freeman, 55, is him hiding with Downing said prosecution of the for Cover Oregon advised businesses employers must cover at least 50 charged with four counts of being a the shotgun in an shotgun possession charge will be should use agents rather than shop percent of the cost of coverage and felon in possession of a firearm, attic crawl space. handled at the state level. online. pay average annual wages below possession of a short-barreled Donald Freeman Sgt. Pat Down- Reporter Thomas Moriarty can “Businesses with more than 50 $50,000. Coveroregon.com has a shotgun, first-degree burglary, ing said the ele- be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. employees, who are eligible for calculator for business owners to first-degree criminal mischief and vated burglary charge stems from 240, or by email at thomas.moriar- large group plans, can continue determine their possible tax credits. felony probation violation. the fact that Freeman entered the [email protected]. Follow him receiving insurance from carriers For more information on tax cred- Possible drug charges are also home and remained there unlawful- on Twitter: @ThomasDMoriarty. directly, outside of Cover Oregon,” it, visit http://bit.ly/SmBizACA Velma Chastain, Bandon Martha Yee, Winchester Bay South Coast. A2 Sports . B1 Homer Oldham, Coos Bay T S S James Rowe, North Bend E A H Thomas Kyelberg, North Bend D Police reports . A3 Comics . C5 Harold Wrigley, Coquille I C T Beverly Brewster, Myrtle Point E A S What’s Up. GO! Puzzles. C5 Thomas Brown, Brookings Rain E R N Jane Ehrman, Reedsport Robert Brewster, Myrtle Point 67/58 I D Opinion. A4 Classifieds . C6 O Robert Bond, Reedsport Obituaries | A6 F Weather | A12 A2 •The World • Saturday, September 28,2013 South Coast Executive Editor Larry Campbell • 541-269-1222, ext. 251 theworldlink.com/news/local Applause Anniversaries Helping senior caregivers prepare BY TIM NOVOTNY ness Employment Corpora- his goal he will have come Coast, in conjunction with The World tion. The Caregiver Help- close to raising, from his own the Coos Curry Bar Associa- book is also provided at no donations, enough to send a tion recently awarded a $750 A local group is back at it charge.