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How Can I Stop Foreclosure with a Forensic Loan Audit?

Joseph Vickers — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:59:03 +0000

When homeowners get turned down by the bank for a loan modification, a forensic loan audit is the essential tool to use in turning that around. Banks are not and never have been in the business of helping people; they are in the business of making money. The lender sees no good reason to give you a lower payment just because you are experiencing hard times. They are only interested in seeing the loan they gave you “perform” – which equates to monthly payment made on time.

In many cases, when the lender is reviewing your paperwork to see if they will give you a loan mod, calculations will show that they can make more money at less risk if they do not give you a loan modification. That is usually why you find yourself in foreclosure. The Forensic Loan Review is your most essential tool to show that foreclosure is no longer a money-making option for the bank –imagine if there is fraud – now there’s some risk to the bank!

A Forensic Loan Review or Forensic Loan Audit, sometimes also called a Mortgage Audit is a complete investigation of the loan that the bank gave you. The audit is done specifically to find all the Federal Laws that the lender violated.

Tila Solutions is an Audit Company that investigates loans. If you have a predatory loan, you will need a Forensic Loan Audit. If you feel that the lenders, withheld information from you, rushed you, mislead you or perhaps gave you a loan that could contain fraud, then you need to get your loan investigated. It gives you ammunition to stop the bank in their predatory servicing practices. It helps you get that loan mod you’ve been trying so hard to get.

As you may recall, when you signed your loan documents you heard or saw reference to TILA, RESPA, HOEPA and ECOA. Those laws were passed to help prevent you from getting a predatory loan – which is a loan that consumes you financially, and inevitably puts you on the road to foreclosure. These laws are also supposed to ensure that you understand what you are getting before you sign, and give you a choice to back out. Tila Solutions Examiners review all these Federal Laws that protect you as a borrower.

While Tila Examiners are investigating the loan to see if it complies with federal regulating bodies and their guidelines as well as TILA, RESPA, HOEPA, and ECOA they are on the lookout for fraud committed by the banks – and their investigations have shown that the banks are guilty of much fraud over the past decade!

Remember this: A performing loan is a loan that has a monthly payment coming in on time every single month. The lender loves that nice profit with hardly any risk. This is all they want, and you will be their valued customer if you do it. If you are not going to give them their money, then the bank will calculate the risk of modifying your loan against other methods of making money. And you will no longer be a valued customer to them!

And that is why you need to get Tila Solutions to perform a forensic loan audit for you. The bank loses much of its firepower against you and no longer has the ability to travel down other money-making avenues if the loan contains federal violations or fraud. Tila Examiners will methodically go through your loan sometimes producing a report numbering in the 40-page range.

Sadly, some people have been told that a Forensic Loan Review will do them no good! This is absolutely false. Once the Forensic Loan Review is done, something effective must be done with it. Because lenders, who often act like they can operate above the law, will tell homeowners it means nothing and that the homeowner just wasted his money! That is why Tila Solutions offers a free service to help negotiate on your behalf once his investigation is completed. The Lenders push borrowers around and mislead them all the time. Borrowers have to remember that it was these people who lied to him in the beginning, and it is these people who are still lying to him today. Tila Solutions Negotiators work on behalf of the homeowner to make sure that you get your loan modification.

There is a homeowner hotline at Tila Solutions that you can call. Their consultants will interview you and help you identify whether or not you have a need to get your loan investigated because of the possibility that you have predatory loan. They can help you determine if your loan is in need of a Forensic Loan Audit.

If you have been turned down for a loan mod then contact a Tila Consultant. If you are nearing or are in foreclosure, a Tila Consultant can help. They can also help people who are current on their loans or those with investment properties. A Forensic Loan Audit helps with commercial loans as well.

You can call a Tila Solutions Consultant at 1 — 3 0 7 — 4 5 9 — 0 2 3 2 .

Visit http://www.tilasolutions.com/ to learn more about a Forensic Loan Review and to learn how to take advantage of the free negotiation service offered by Tila Solutions. The Tila Solution website is loaded with information and solutions.

Tags: foreclosure, forensic-loan-audit, loan mod, loan modification, foreclose, foreclosure, Goldman Sachs, Tila Solutions, Tila, loan, audit, fraud, forensic loan audit, forensic audit, subprime, mortgage, predatory loan, mortgage fraud, Loan modificationinformation, short sale, 2 stop foreclosure

Why Are You Listening to Your Lender?

Melanie Atherton — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:22:22 +0000

By Melanie Atherton

Looking around on the internet, one very clear statement comes across — Lenders lie to homeowners. Why are you listening to your lender? The most common lie is that the lender really wants to help you, and is working on a loan mod for you, but actually he is just stalling while he waits for the foreclosure to complete.

Tila Solutions saves homeowners from these lies every day. Tila Solutions conducts forensic loan reviews for homeowners. Tila then helps them get a loan mod, using those results to show the lender that he has given the homeowner a predatory loan. The forensic audit shows that there are numerous TILA and RESPA violations (and often there is fraud) in the loan.

You can find thousands of stories online that show what is happening to homeowners.

The lie: «We are working on a loan mod for you.»

The truth: «We are foreclosing on you and expect that you will be stupid enough to ignore the foreclosure proceedings waiting for the loan mod that will never come.»

Here s an example of the lies from Rip Off Report (a small excerpt only) — as far back as 2002!

"My loan was assigned to Chase in February of 2002. Chase contacted me in December of 2003 offering me a loan modification. This sounded good to me because I was struggling due to a horrible payment plan they offered me when I had fallen behind in May of 2003 due to an illness. At that time, they took me from paying $710 to $1,310. In hindsight, this is when I should have gotten an attorney involved.

"I was given the particulars of my new «loan modification» by a Chase representative and was waiting to receive the papers to sign. I waited six months! I called and I called and I called again. I finally called a lawyer. Once Chase received his letter, they responded to me. They responded by telling me that they would not give me the modification that «I» had requested, and that I should find a way to either pay off my entire loan or get financing elsewhere. I was in shock!

"Little did I know, this was only the beginning. What Chase failed to tell me was that, while I was waiting for my loan modification papers, they had commenced foreclosure proceedings against me. "Phyllis Riverdale, New York

Heres another:

"My complaint concerns the Loan Modification that I've been dealing with BofA and BAC Home Loans since October of 2009 to help me with my Mortgage payments. "
"My home equity loan was with BOA for 4 years. When BAC took over and talked to me about their Loan Modification Program, they started splitting my payment letting me pay only half of my mortgage. In the meantime, BAC will be looking into my loan to see if I qualify for a Loan Modification. I sent in all the requested docs, never make a Late Payment, and now after six months BAC is telling me that I have not been accepted into the program and I have to pay the full amount of $16, 051.01 by April, 24 2010 (They NEVER mentioned that if I do not qualify I have to pay whatever the full amount is by he time that they finish the paperwork) They are not giving me the chance for a repayments plan. I looks to me that they are trying to force me out to pay this amount if not I am going to lose my house! I need someone to help us. We have no other choice but to send this letter to everyone to know about this after they told us and told us that we would get help! "

Today, many homeowners contact Tila Solutions looking for a solution to get their lender to stop disqualifying them, and stop the foreclosure process on them. Through the use of Forensic Loan Audits, Tila Solutions does just that. First they investigate. Then they negotiate.

Thousands of homeowners are stuck in predatory loans today. It was actually the first round of lies from the lender — «these are good loans, and you can always refi in a year or so.» No they were loans that put you on the road to foreclosure the moment you signed the documents and the lenders knew it!

There are several federal laws that protect borrowers. A Tila Solutions Investigation locates the laws the lender violated, and uses that information to get the lender to give you a loan mod. You can find out more about Forensic Loan audits and predatory loans at tila-y.com.

You do not have to let the bank rip you off. Just contact a Tila Solutions Consultant. They can help you. Tila Solutions uses loan Forensics to locate all the federal laws that were violated when the lender gave you the loan.

Contact a Tila Solutions Consultant at 307 459 0232 or visit their website at http://www.tila-y.com/. They can help you — often when nobody else can.

Tags: Tila Solutions, Tila, Tila-y, Loan Mod, Loan Modification, Forensic Loan Audit, Loan forensics, Foreclosure, stop foreclosure, predatory loans

City dropping health coverage at 20 agencies

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:11:12 +0000

Health Insurance asked:

Lexington's Urban County Government is dropping health insurance coverage for 556 employees of «outside agencies» — organizations that are affiliated with, but not directly run by, city government.

Based on 2008 spending, dropping employees of the 20 organizations from Lexington's insurance plan would save the cash-strapped city $506,218 a year, the difference between what it took in and what it had to pay out.

Among the organizations that will be making new health insurance arrangements are the Fayette County Health Department, Kentucky League of Cities, Lexington Housing Authority, Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lexington Parking Authority and the Lexington Urban League.

«The satellite agencies had been paying only their premiums,» said Susan Straub, spokeswoman for Mayor Jim Newberry. "... They were not funding the full cost of their health care.
"
Over the past three years, the city has shelled out $2.2 million to supplement the insurance premiums paid by the employees of outside agencies.

In late November, Newberry said the city might consider layoffs, pay cuts, furloughs and the elimination of city programs to stem an estimated shortfall of $12 million to $13 million. City government division directors were asked to propose ways to cut expenses by 5 percent.

The council approved cutting health insurance for outside groups on Dec. 8. In all, the city offers health insurance to 3,622 workers and retirees, whose health claims outpaced revenue by $8.5 million last year.

Most of the agencies will have until Dec. 31, 2010, to finish their new health care plans, but some — such as the Fayette County Health Department — will switch to new insurers within the next month.

Health Department Commissioner Melinda Rowe said city officials told her the agency should be covered by the state's health insurance program. Instead, the department chose a plan offered by Bluegrass Family Health.

Still, the cost of premiums paid by the department could go up by more than $600,000 over two years, Rowe said.

Not providing health insurance to employees was never considered, she said.

«Obviously, we're the health department; we have got to concentrate on our own employees and their wellness,» Rowe said.

P.G. Peeples, president of Lexington's Urban League, said his organization's insurance options are limited because it has only six employees. He hopes to band with United Way agencies or other Urban League offices to build the number of employees needed for a large bargaining pool.

«I'm disappointed they're going to remove this option,» Peeples said. "I understand that they're trying to do cost savings.
"
How did the city wind up providing insurance benefits for agencies outside city government?

«For the most part, we don't really know,» Straub said. "We inherited this situation, and the arrangements have apparently been in place for a number of years.
"
Jan Isenhour, director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy, said the center's budget initially came from the city, so its inclusion in the health pool seemed logical.

In 2003, the center became an «outside agency» and started taking over its own finances but remained in the city insurance group. The Carnegie Center hasn't started pricing outside health policies; it has another year on the city's plan.

Meanwhile, the city continues to look for other ways to shift expenses to outside agencies.

Ed Lane, councilman for Lexington's 12th district, said the city might soon consider asking outside agencies to contribute money toward the upkeep of city office space they occupy.

«The recession puts a lot of strain on government to provide all the services necessary for the taxpayers, but it also gives us an opportunity to look at what are essential services and what are non-essential services ... to try to maximize the efficiency of government as much as we can,» Lane said.

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:18:18 +0000

CharlesPeter asked:

An individual health insurance cover, simply stated, is an agreement between you and the insurance firm, aimed at protecting you against any financial constraints on account of a medical emergency. The one pertinent question you need to ask yourself is -what are the factors to be analyzed before deciding on an individual health insurance policy?

It is indeed a fact that medical and preventive sciences have made rapid advancements in today's world. Nonetheless, it would be prudent to arm yourself with the best individual health insurance cover to protect yourself against any unforeseen illness. Indeed, America's best health insurance companies are vying with one another in putting together some of the most imaginative individual health insurance policies designed to overcome any medical contingency. If you are unemployed, or self-employed, an individual health insurance policy is the right choice.

Consult with your insurance company if you can have your individual health insurance policy incorporated in its group policy. You may be paying a higher rate but the terms would be more advantageous than if you had to buy your own individual health insurance policy. If you are married, find out if your spouse's employer is willing to include you in its group policy. If you are left with no option, then it is wise to buy an individual health insurance policy. Even though the insurance cover may be limited and the rates high, you would still be ensuring protection for yourself or your family against financial problems if you are suddenly confronted with a serious illness or medical emergency. Search for a good health insurance professional to help you with the best individual health insurance policy that offers you good value for money.

You have plenty of choices while selecting individual health insurance plans — The PPO Plan or the Preferred Provider Organization, the HMO Plan or the Health Maintenance Organization, the HDHP or the High Deductible Health Insurance and HAS or the Health Savings Accounts Qualified High Deductible Plan.

When considering individual health insurance plans a worthwhile option may be a health savings account plan which has few unique benefits. With individual health insurance plans, you can trade lower deductible health insurance for a plan that has a higher deductible. This will help you save money each month by lowering your premium. Besides the lower cost, higher deductible health savings account plan also has the added benefit of a tax favored savings account. Yet another interesting aspect of these individual health insurance plans is that the money you save rolls over year after year.

Even if you are already covered by your employer's insurance scheme, you may still need to get additional coverage through an individual health insurance plan. This becomes necessary because employer-sponsored programs often fall short of individual needs. Extensive coverage for self and family can be achieved through a separate individual health insurance plan.

Individual health insurance plans are of two types: — Indemnity plans — Managed care plans. Indemnity plans are costlier but best suited for those who have particular health issues and need to be treated by specific doctors. Managed care plans cost less because you will be visiting a doctor or a hospital that is provided under the plan. If the treatment requires you to visit a specialist, you will need special permission from the insurance service provider. This plan is best suited for individuals without specific health problems, and wanting to pay less.

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:36:22 +0000

Ed Harris asked:

Barack Obama's ambitious health care plan is fairly simple and straightforward. His plan seeks to dramatically and swiftly increase the number of people that have health insurance. He insists that this plan will save the typical American family approximately $2500 in annual costs. Since the average Ohio health insurance premium is less than most other states, savings to Ohio residents may average less than $2500.

The Obama plan is designed to give the federal government more control over health care decisions and dollars, a major difference from the current decentralized system of employer-based insurance and state-based insurance regulation. Here in Ohio, health insurers have been effectively held in check by the Ohio Department of Insurance. This, however, is not the case in many other states.

The Obama Plan

Many parts of the Obama plan resemble initiatives from the Clinton health plan of 1994 and the Kerry Health plan of 2004.

Essentially, Obama's health care plan is divided into three sections:

1. Modernizing the US health care system to lower costs and improve quality

2. Promoting prevention and strengthening public health

3. Quality, portable and affordable health coverage for every person

The «Savings»

The $2500 in savings will come from health care reform, using some of the following initiatives:

*Making health insurance universal, which may reduce spending on uncompensated care.

*Improving management and prevention of chronic conditions.

*Increasing insurance industry competition and reducing underwriting costs and profits.

*Providing reinsurance for catastrophic coverage, which will reduce insurance premiums.

Shifting Cost Burden

While all of these ideas are feasible, the underlying theme seems to be simply shifting some of the cost burden from the private sector to the government. And of course, much more control of our health dollars and decisions would come from Washington D.C and not Anthem or UnitedHealthCare.

The Obama plan will actually compete directly with Ohio private health insurance companies in a «National Health Insurance Exchange.» The federal government (not health insurance carriers) would determine the quality of health benefits that Americans would receive. And these new rules would apply to both the new national health plan and all participating private health plans.

Preventative Coverage Would Be Emphasized

Obama's health care plan will encourage «healthy lifestyles» with specific emphasis on wellness. Employer wellness programs will be increased, and cafeterias and vending machines in the workplace may see healthier food.

School-based health screening programs may increase along with increased support for physical education.

For Ohio individuals and families, the Obama plan would require preventative services on many federally-supported health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP. One benefit may be possible discounts to on health insurance premiums for enrollment in wellness and prevention programs.

Currently, some Ohio individual health insurance policies offer a similar discount, such as Anthem's Lumenos Health Incentive Account (HIA).

Ohio Group Health Insurance

Employer-based health insurance would radically change under the Obama plan. Here in Ohio, both small and large employers are able to choose among many different health plans for their employees. The Obama plan would force employers to offer a specific level of health benefits to their employees or pay a tax to finance a national health program. Currently, the amount of provided health benefits and the size of the tax have not been specifically discussed.

Perhaps the best and most economical health insurance plan for Ohio residents would be a concept already in place...HSAs (Health Savings Accounts). Thus, instead of imposing a top-down change on the health care system, it would seem to be prudent to transfer direct control of health care dollars to individuals and families. This would allow Americans to choose their own health plans and benefits, while making health insurance companies compete directly for consumer's dollars by providing a real value to patients.

All of this could be accomplished by specific tax and regulatory changes designed to utilize the power of free-market competition. Health care spending could be reduced, preventative treatment could be emphasized and portability could be promoted. Reforming the tax treatment of health insurance and aiding employers that help their employees buy health insurance would help quite a bit.

For now, Ohio health insurance rates are remarkably low compared to many other states. There are many reputable health insurance companies that offer a wide array of policies, including Health Savings Accounts. That shouldn't change much for the next two years. In 2011, things might change...hopefully, for the better.

For additional information on Ohio health insurance plans, or an instant Ohio health insurance quote, please visit http://www.ohioquotes.com

What happens to private health insurance companies if American health care is nationalized?

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:54:11 +0000

bdunc295 asked:

Few would be willing to dish out for private coverage while they are receiving health care from government taxation. Would the private health industry perhaps dwindle down to a few big players and be forced to take a hit by improving coverage and care?
I'm well aware health care won't be nationalized. I meant to indicate this is a hypothetical question.

Alexander, Corker criticize passage of Senate health care bill

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:37:36 +0000

Health Insurance asked:

Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander released a statement this morning saying the Senate-approved health care bill is riddled with “sweetheart deals” that will increase taxes and damage education.

Fellow Republican, Sen. Bob Corker, said the bill is “fundamentally flawed” and called for bipartisanship.

The bill, approved on a 60-39 vote, must still be merged with legislation passed by the House.

“The Senate health bill will prove to be an historic mistake if this or anything like it is ultimately signed by the president,” said Alexander, who is chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.

“Congress set out to reduce health care costs to Americans and Democrats have managed to do the exact opposite. Their written-in-secret bill will increase health insurance premiums, raise taxes, cut Medicare and dump millions of Americans into Medicaid.

“For Tennessee, Medicaid’s expansion and the bill’s ‘sweetheart deals’ would cost our state more than $750 million over five years when fully implemented, forcing tax increases or damaging higher education—or both.

“Instead, we should start over and move step-by-step to reduce health care costs using the steps that Republicans have repeatedly proposed: let small businesses pool resources for health insurance; allow purchasing of health insurance across state lines; end junk lawsuits against doctors; eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse; expand health savings accounts; and promote wellness and prevention.”

Corker said in his statement, “I’ve spent almost three years and countless hours in bipartisan meetings working toward reforms that would enable all Americans to access affordable, private health insurance.

“I wanted a bipartisan health care reform bill that would stand the test of time. Instead, we were forced to vote on a 2,000-plus page, fundamentally flawed, partisan bill that expands Medicaid by sending $25 billion in unfunded mandates to states, takes $464 billion away from Medicare and leverages it to create a new entitlement, uses budget gimmickry to hide its true cost; increases federal costs, and actually causes Americans to face increased taxes and premiums.

“It’s my sincere hope that Congress returns in 2010 more willing to work in a bipartisan fashion, and my work on financial regulatory reform gives me hope that that’s possible.”

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:37:15 +0000

Health Insurance asked:

An Iowa health care provider is one of 85 community health centers nationwide to receive a significant monetary boost from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, President Barack Obama announced Wednesday.

“… Funding for construction, technology and a medical home demonstration project won’t just save more money, and create more jobs, they’ll give more people the peace of mind of knowing that health care will be there for them and their families when they need it. Ultimately, that’s what health reform is really all about,” Obama said.

Primary Health Care Inc. of Des Moines is slated to receive more than $2.6 million. The nonprofit organization maintains dental and medical clinics in Des Moines as well as a community access pharmacy, HIV services and outreach project. It also operates a medical and dental clinic in Marshalltown.

Although the clinics provide services to patients who have insurance, they specifically cater to those who are uninsured or underinsured. According to their Web site, Primary Health Care Inc. strives “to find and successfully treat medical condition before they become serious enough to require hospitalization or emergency treatment.”

It has also developed several specialized programs.

The Outreach Program specifically targets populations that often fall through the cracks in existing health care.

Health Care for the Homeless is a federally funded program that serves individual, families, street youth and homeless children in a non-traditional clinic setting. A federally-funded program called Enhancement provides mental health and substance abuse care for homeless clients.

The organization has also developed a four-point program for maternal child health that consists of a combination of state and federally-funded programs to provide service to pregnant women, newly expanding families and newborns up to age 6. Their Families in Transition program, which is funded through U.S. Housing and Urban Development, serves both prenatal or parenting families up to a child’s 15th birthday, and allows case workers to link homeless individuals to medical and mental health services as well as affordable and safe living environments.

Clinics that participate in the Outreach Program are located in six different sites throughout Des Moines, placing them within the areas of the community that are experiencing the most need.

To qualify for funding, the health facility had to be a federally-qualified community health center. Grants of $508.5 million were provided through the Facility Investment Program to address pressing health center facility needs. Also, as much as $88 million was made available to help Health Center Controlled Networks improve operational effectiveness and clinical quality in health centers by providing management, financial, technology and clinical support services.

The new Recovery Act funds are the latest in a series of grants awarded to community health centers, which deliver preventive and primary care services nationally at more than 7,500 service delivery sites around the country to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Across the country health centers serve more than 17 million patients, about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance.

Ohio Health Insurance Online

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:00:56 +0000

Health Insurance asked:

Below are a few insurance companies that have done a great job setting up specific health insurance plans that will fit the needs of health_insuranceresidents within the State of Ohio.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio:-The (BCBSA), Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association, is the national federation of thirty-nine independent, locally operated Blue Cross / Blue Shield companies.The (BCBS) of Ohio online resource offers loads of information including the ability to obtain quotes, physician searches and information packed webinars. This company is also one of the top 100 employers in Ohio. With this being said the Blue Cross and Blue Shield has made a significant employment impact in Surrounding Ohio cities including Akron, Cincinnati, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton and Youngstown. With well over 6,000 insurance Agents in the state of Ohio, you will have no problem finding answers to any health coverage related questions you may have.

Humana One Insurance:-Humana One’s online resource has a user friendly interface with the, “Plan Pointer”, a tool to help you locate the right health insurance plan for you. Humana One has networked physicians statewide.

Golden Rule of Ohio:-Health Insurance by Golden Rule of Ohio provides both health and dental health plans available to residents within the State of Ohio. Golden Rule in Ohio also offers (HSA’s) health saving accounts. Golden Rule also has health agents and a wide variety of networked physicians Statewide as well as nationwide.

Other Health Option for Ohio Residents:-Sometimes existing conditions can be a pain when searching for a health insurance plan that can fit your personal needs. There are State subsidized programs available for uninsurable individuals. In June 2005, Ohio completed their high-risk pool feasibility study. While these particular health plans to develop the high-risk pool are still in an active state, the pool itself may not be fully completed until 2011 or later.

admin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:38:06 +0000

Health Insurance asked:

Why? Because Congress wants to levy a $6.7 billion premium tax on all private health plans each year for the next decade to pay for reform.

That's a $67 billion tax.

Health plans will have no choice but to pass these costs on to the consumer. This tax will make it tougher for families to afford coverage, increase the difficulty for small-business owners trying hard to insure workers, and stifle job creation.

In Florida, small businesses are the bedrock of our economy. This tax will hit our economy especially hard. It's just not what families and small businesses need as they dig their way out of a severe recession.

The Congressional Budget Office evaluated this tax and found it will lead to «higher premiums for private coverage.» The nonpartisan CBO estimated that premiums for individual coverage could rise by as much as 13 percent.

This tax also might be disruptive to policyholders, because it could damage the ability of health plans to deliver all the benefits that members expect.

That's because Congress is ready to impose this health-insurance tax in 2010. That's after families have already signed up for coverage for next year, and after small businesses have already negotiated coverage contracts.

The result? Health plans may not receive enough premium to cover the costs of the massive tax, and benefits might suffer.

Unfortunately, health plans have been demonized in the pursuit of reform. But in reality, it's not true to claim that health plans make a lot of money; their profit margins are actually pretty small.

In 2008, private health plans made $8.61 billion in total profits nationally, according to Forbes magazine. The industry's profit margin was just 2.2 percent, ranking health plans 35th out of 53 industries in terms of profitability.

As the president and CEO of SantaFe HealthCare — the parent company of AvMed Health Plans — I am truly concerned by this proposed tax. As one of Florida's oldest and largest nonprofit health plans, AvMed reinvests its earnings each year to continually improve on the benefits and services it offers to members in Orlando and elsewhere.

Obviously, a health-insurance tax that wipes out most of our annual earnings is counterproductive to our mission. Surely, congressional leaders must grasp that this tax doesn't make sense.

There are better ways to pay for the systemic health-care reform that AvMed and other health plans support.

Instead of taxing health insurance, Congress should focus on the underlying costs of medical care. We can achieve huge cost savings by ending unnecessary treatments and services, rooting out rampant fraud and ending frivolous medical lawsuits filed by trial lawyers.

Health reform shouldn't hurt Florida's families and small businesses. It shouldn't hamper the ability of health plans to provide benefits.

Time's running out.

Please contact your congressional representative and Florida's two senators today. Ask them to vote against this harmful health-insurance tax. We can achieve true, lasting reform in better ways.