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GMFA Hosts Obamacare Seminar
March 4,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on March 5, 2013
The Greater Metropolitan Furnishings Association recently held a breakfast seminar on the Affordable Care Act's implications for retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, industry suppliers and reps.
The seminar, held in Woodbridge, N.J., at the Fiesta restaurant, was the second in a series of free seminars produced by the association, which has furniture industry members in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The featured speaker was Harvey Mishkin of Association Master Trust, the company that administers GMFAs health program. During his two-hour talk, Mishkin presented numerous graphs and charts explaining the how the law, also known as Obamacare, that impacts large businesses, small businesses and individuals in different ways.
Addressing why the Affordable Care Act might not seem so affordable to his audience, Mishkin noted that, You may wonder why this legislation is called the 'Affordable Care Act.' Thats because its designed to be affordable for lower income people to allow them to get health insurance coverage.
The seminar included ample time for questions and answers that evidenced a keen interest in the subject matter.
We were all blown away by Harveys talk," said Patrick Cory, GMFAs current president and the CEO of Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery. The changes to our health care laws will affect everyone in the furniture industry, from the largest retailers to part-time employees. The seminar attracted retailers and reps who learned about the individual mandate; how larger companies with 50 plus equivalent employees will need to provide certain levels of affordable coverage or pay penalties; subsidies for earners making less than about $99,000; and some possible unintended consequences of the legislation.
Since the merger of the GNYHFA and MFA in 2011, we have strengthened our social and networking events and have created a robust list of our own member discounts to supplement the ones we offer through IHFRA, said Mike Fischer, president of New Jersey retailer Sofas Plus Inc., who chairs the Seminar Event committee for GMFA. "These educational seminars are have turned into one of our most popular events and a significant service we can provide to help our local home furnishings community do a better job of staying profitable while selling home furnishings.
Directly following the presentation, a big-screen television set donated by Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery was raffled off.
Sponsors of the event included Association Master Trust, Profit Management Promotions, Assuranty, North East Home Delivery Service and David Lerner & Associates.