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APNC merged with Atlas Acquisition Corp for $3.28 per share.
http://www.otcbb.com/asp/dailylist_detail.asp?d=05/31/2012&mkt_ctg=OTCBB
Had some under a buck I ended up selling.........too bad.
The insurance division always scared me. The wholesale and healthcare divsions continued to pick up slack.
Congrats to APNC holders, especially its founders and management.
These guys and gals built this from ground up and deserve a big payday.
Aon to acquire Access Plans for $70 million
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/aon-to-acquire-access-plans-for-70-million-2012-02-27
Aon Corp. /quotes/zigman/218101/quotes/nls/aon AON +0.30% plans to pay roughly $70 million to acquire membership benefits marketing company Access Plans Inc. /quotes/zigman/584008 APNC +1.09% , bringing a new market to the insurance brokerage and consulting firm.
The purchase of Access Plans, which offers bundled plans of non-insurance products and services like discounted medical coverage and hotel rooms, has been approved by a majority of the company's shareholders and the boards of both companies.
"Continued growth is a top priority at Aon Affinity, and the addition of Access Plans opens up an exciting new market and discount product portfolio for us, said Bill Vit, president of Aon Affinity, the consumer, association and group program business of Aon's risk management arm.
Access Plans will operate as a business unit of Aon Affinity. The deal is expected to close during the second quarter.
Aon earlier this month reported its fourth-quarter profit rose 20% as firm again logged solid results in its human resources business and saw restructuring efforts pay off.
Shares closed Friday at $47.53 and were inactive premarket. The stock is up 1.6% since the start of the year.
It was something CFO brought up before. From what I took from the exchange, they were gambling in California and if they had won, would have dominated that market because APNC was the only one who went ahead with idea Section 445 did not comply. Not sure if they will fight it out.
As far as numbers, I do not know what we are talking with this one program.
They still offer quite a few products through the insurance marketing division in California.
Thoughts on Lawsuit Ramifications?
On November 1, 2010 the Court issued a Statement of Decision in which it ruled that Section 445 applied to the Care Entrée program and that Section 445 had been violated. On January 21, 2011 the Court issued a judgment enjoining Defendants Precis, Inc. and The Capella Group Inc, and Defendants’ agents, employees and representatives, as of six months after the effective date of the injunction, from operating the Care Entrée program in the State of California as it pertains to referring people to a physician, hospital, health-related facility, or dispensary for any form of medical care or treatment. The Judgment also provides that it does not prohibit Defendants from operating a program that complies with California law. The Judgment further provides that pursuant to the prior settlement agreement the injunctive relief is stayed pending appeal and the effective date of the injunction is the date the appeals process ends. Precis, Inc. and the Capella Group, Inc. have until March 25, 2011 to appeal the Judgment. An adverse outcome in this case would have a material affect our financial condition and would limit our ability (and that of other healthcare discount programs) to do business in California. We believe that we have complied with all California statues and regulations. Although we believe the Plaintiffs’ claims are without merit, we cannot provide any assurance regarding the outcome or results of this litigation.
What do you think of the lawsuit? Am I reading it right that they would have to pullout of offering their alternative health products in CA?
There was talk about waiting for their PPS to show some kind of fair value before they looked seriuosly for merger candidates. If we break $2 and hold, I think that makes this whole "strategic alternatives" concept go into high gear.
Access Plans Reports 69% Increase in First Quarter Earnings to Record Levels, as Revenues Rise 7% From Prior-Year Period http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Access-Plans-Reports-69-Increase-First-Quarter-Earnings-Record-Levels-as-Revenues-Rise-1393620.htm
Diluted Earnings per Share up 100% to $0.08 in First Quarter of FY2011, Versus $0.04 in First Quarter of FY2010
NORMAN, OK--(Marketwire - February 10, 2011) - Access Plans, Inc. (OTCBB: APNC), a leading membership benefits marketing company, today announced its operating results for the first quarter of FY2011. An investor conference call is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EST today (see details below).
First Quarter Results
Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2010 increased 7% to approximately $14.3 million, compared with approximately $13.3 million in the first quarter of FY2010. Operating income increased 53% to approximately $2.5 million, versus approximately $1.6 million in the prior-year period.
Net income improved to approximately $1.5 million in the most recent quarter, which represented an increase of 69% when compared with net income of approximately $0.9 million in the year-earlier quarter. Earnings per share, fully diluted, increased 100% to $0.08, versus $0.04 in last year's first quarter. The number of weighted average diluted shares outstanding approximated 19.9 million during the most recent quarter, compared with 19.8 million shares in the first quarter of FY2010.
"I am very pleased to report record earnings for the first quarter of Fiscal 2011," commented Danny Wright, Chief Executive Officer of Access Plans, Inc. "While diluted earnings per share of $0.08 were 100% higher than the $0.04 reported in the prior-year quarter, the increase relative to diluted EPS of $0.02 in the fourth quarter of FY2010 was 300%. The most recent quarter was positively impacted as we began to realize some of the benefits from investments we made in our Retail Plans Division during last year's third and fourth quarters. The Wholesale Plans Division also generated higher revenue and exceptional growth in operating income as expenses related to the involuntary unemployment waiver program continued to decrease and our network benefits expenses declined. Meanwhile, we continue to work on transitioning the Insurance Marketing Division's sales mix from its previous emphasis on major medical policies towards innovative solutions that combine supplemental health benefits and life insurance products with major medical sales. We believe this new approach, which was prompted by certain aspects of the Healthcare Reform Act, should allow agents to maintain their commission income, while improving the division's operating margins. We introduced our Smart Solutions Plus product in 17 states in January and expect to double the number of states where the product is available during the balance of the second quarter."
Wholesale Plans
Revenues generated by our Wholesale Plans Division increased 20% to $6.1 million in the most recent quarter, versus $5.1 million in the prior-year period. The increase was attributable to improved sell-through at existing locations, as well as the addition of new accounts. Gross margin increased by 90% to $2.3 million in the first quarter of FY2011, versus $1.2 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting higher revenue and reductions in involuntary unemployment waiver and product service expenses. Operating income at the division increased 156% to $1.8 million, versus $0.7 million in the prior-year period.
Retail Plans
First quarter revenues increased 18% in our Retail Plans Division to $4.6 million, prior to inter-company eliminations, versus $3.9 million in the first quarter of FY2010. The increase was attributable primarily to revenues associated with new programs that offset revenue declines in the division's legacy business. Gross margins increased 7%, from $2.2 million in last year's first quarter to $2.4 million this year. Operating income rose 32% to $1.2 million in the first quarter of FY2011, versus $0.9 million in the first quarter of FY2010, as a result of the success of new product offerings and the realization of initial benefits from investments into new marketing channels during the second half of FY2010.
Insurance Marketing
Insurance Marketing Division revenues decreased 7% to $5.1 million, versus $5.5 million in the first quarter of FY2010. The decline was due, in large part, to a loss of revenue from two major medical insurance carriers that decided to exit the business earlier in calendar 2010. Operating income decreased to $0.04 million in the first quarter of FY2011, versus $0.3 million in the prior-year quarter. The Insurance Marketing Division has positioned itself, following the changes in the marketplace created by the Healthcare Reform Act, to offer an appropriate blend of major medical and supplemental benefit offerings that should deliver excellent value to our independent agents and their clients.
Other Matters
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $8.5 million at December 31, 2010, which represented a 39% increase when compared with such liquid assets at the end of FY2010. The Company has no long-term debt outstanding, and stockholders' equity approximated $15.7 million at the end of the most recent quarter.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Access Plans will host a conference call today, February 10, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. EST. To access the conference call, please dial 877-317-6789 (U.S.) or 412-317-6789 (international) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be available via "live" webcast under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.accessplans.com, or by visiting http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=76556 to access the webcast directly.
A replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, February 17, 2011 by dialing 877-344-7529 (U.S.) or 412-317-0088 (international) and entering the conference ID number 447968. An archived version of the webcast will also be archived for review through February 17, 2011 on the Internet at http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=76556 and under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.accessplans.com.
About Access Plans, Inc.
Access Plans, Inc. (OTCBB: APNC) is a leading membership benefits marketing company with two distribution channels. The Wholesale/Retail Plans distribution channel specializes in turnkey, private-label membership benefit plans that provide discount products and services, protection benefits and retail services to more than one million customers in the United States and Canada. America's Health Care Plans (AHCP), the Company's Insurance Marketing distribution channel, is one of the nation's largest independent agent networks and provides major medical, life and supplemental insurance products to individuals. For more information, please visit: www.accessplans.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act:
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may relate to financial results and plans for future business activities, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are competitive pressures, loss of significant customers, the mix of revenue, changes in pricing policies, delays in revenue recognition, lower-than-expected demand for the Company's products and services, general economic conditions, and the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Company assumes no responsibility for updating such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.
Contact:
Access Plans, Inc.
Robert Hoeffner
405-579-8525
bhoeffner@accessplans.com
Or
RJ Falkner & Company, Inc.
Investor Relations Counsel
830-693-4400
info@rjfalkner.com
Smart Solution Plus website up and running.
http://smartsolutionplus.com/
The regulatory hurdle is no small task but it looks like they got it in most states.
They are currently offering their agents an extra 3 month advance with the major med carriers on top of the six month, IF they are selling a certain percentage of Smart Solutions Plus with the policies. Also each policy means more points for their cruise getaway prize.
This looks very similar to what AccessPlansUSA had in force before the merger, only theirs was much more expensive and might have had a few more insured benefits.
Smart Solution Plus is basically a discount plan with 5,000 accident and 10,000 AD&D or 10k and 20k.
The part that looks like it could be the big selling point is the "health insurance insurance". It is a premium protection that will be paid for 3 months in the event you become unemployed. If it covers any policy that an AHCP agent sells, then the $19.95 per month basic plan could be marketed with every policy they sell. That could be huge and will likely be the one that sells. If you are buying a policy for a few hundred dollars per month, adding a little $19.95 insurance policy on the insurance policy sounds like a decent idea.
Next Q will give us an idea of how this is working out.
Possible route they could take when looking for M&A candidates.
Get more into the marketing area of healthcare, helping the whole industry as a whole improve sales and find new products and services.
http://healthcaremarketinggroup.com/
http://www.healthcaresuccess.com/
http://www.strategichealthcare.com/
I think it comes down to two major questions. Who really has these Alliance Healthcard memberships and is it a segment that is viable in the future. They give the generic 240 various companies, mainly financial institutions, but who and why will they continue this service when their customers can get healthcare for next to nothing in the near future. Also could the over reliance on Rent A Center end up killing them. Targeting Aarons, seems out of the question, with their warrenty program being run in house.
I have followed them for awhile and I do not know exactly where the vast majority of retail plan memberships come from. It seems that the market does not think it is something that will continue to grow, not withstanding the new FAMSA marketing.
Either the retail or the wholesale divison gets another large nationwide client, or I think they will never be valued at traditional norms.
Nice articles on "mini med" insurance plans. Most of these will be toast when the healthcare bill becomes full law. The people currently on them will need to look elsewhere.
http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2010/12/Pages/PPACA-HHS-Restricts-New-MiniMed-Plan-Sales.aspx
Here is the link from FAMSA USA which is selling one of their plans in store.
http://www.famsa-usa.com/eng/fsp.php
Well, just listened to the conference call. Chip Parker was not happy, I understand his concern. I have to say Brett and I had a regular back and forth via email this summer, Brett responded to every question and input I had.
But Chip has a point, Danny and Brett own many millions of shares, if they are not getting back with a player like Chip that is not good. Chip calls in on every CC and maybe they take his interest and support for granted. The PR flow and clear vision for APNC does seem to be lacking.
In regard to the details of the CC, the FAMSA account is going to be part of the retail plans division. I originally thought it was a wholesale account and was going to offer the same thing the Rent A Centers offer. But they are going to sell something similar to the HealthDiscountNow offering and it will be catagorized in the retail plans division. Getting that into a major known retail store is exactly what they need.
The Smart Solutions Plus offering will be under the retail plans division also. So it seems they are fully attempting to use the few thousand agents who are under contract or have a relationship with the insurance marketing division, as a marketer of their new offering. I have found health insurance agents as an independent and tuff bunch, they are not about to become tele marketers for Smart Solutions Plus for $10 bucks a plan. These guys have been making a living selling BIG plans to individuals, the kinds we hear horror stories about. An agent who lands a home based business owner who needs a $1500 per month premium, is going to go kicking and screaming to a plan that commands a $50 per month charge and a small commish.
APNC HAS to keep competative offerings in the traditional health, life and supplemetal insurance, or I fear many agents will hit the road. But this is exactly why they acquired Access Plans USA, so we will see if the rubber meets the road and they are able to keep a good amount of agents selling more traditional insurance, while offering a company owned Smart Solutions Plus to offset their decline in commish from the Healthcare Bill.
I do in the end, still think they are undervalued and feel they know what they want to do, will see it work out and do not expect a big drop off in numbers, only an increase.
I still want to see a large retailer added to their wholesale or retail side of the business. Every major retailer in the USA is now offering some kind of outsourced product protection or warranty program. They know how to do it on a large scale, RAC has over 4,000 stores, adding another retailer with a few hundred or a thousand stores could be what they need for the market to believe in what they do and give them a fair valuation.
I work for Sears now, I know how much the purchase agreements are pushed at the store level, if APNC is able to land a less controversial retailer, we could see some more confidence.
TAXES!!!
Only reason they did not beat last years numbers, 37% provision, that is a damn shame. If taxed at last years 23.4% you are looking at $3.7m net income.
About $1m spent on marketing and roll out of a new product in Retail plans? Not sure what they rolled out, but that will be interesting to see if a spike in revenue from it in 2011.
I think the market is underestimating their ability to transition from major medical to supplemental health insurance. I understand the concern, not seeing a major carrier in the line up for supplemental. But looking at the history of Access Plans USA, you clearly see a bottoming over the last few quarters in the insurance marketing division. The other two segments have seen continued growth Q over Q the last 5+ years.
The other big question some might have had is whether CVS will continue the Health Savings Pass . The yearly rate will become $15 per year compared to $10, so CVS seems to be fully willing to keep that program going nationwide and think a small price change will keep it viable.
Rent A Center is not going anywhere anytime soon. APNC's ability to get customers to sign up for the RAC Benfits Plus program is increasing. If they are ever able to get a second offering in these stores, that could translate into a surprising increase in revenue. If after every sale at RAC, APNC is able to pitch a company owned and run supplemental insurance offering, you will see the Access Plans USA acquisition come full cirle. That was the intention from day one with the merger of ALHC and AUSA. That non ability to get a supplemental offering to customers at RAC could also be the reason the market refuses to give them a fair valuation.
Posting 3rd Q results for easier comparison tomorrow.
Third Quarter EPS Increase 25% at Access Plans, Inc.
New Marketing Strategies Designed to Address Opportunities Created by Healthcare Reform Act
NORMAN, OK--(Marketwire - August 16, 2010) - Access Plans, Inc. (OTCBB: APNC), a leading membership benefits marketing company, today announced its operating results for the third quarter and first nine months of FY2010. An investor conference call is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EDT today, August 16, 2010 (see details below).
Third Quarter Results
Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2010 increased 3% to approximately $14.4 million, compared with approximately $14.0 million in the third quarter of FY2009. Operating income increased 7% to $1.34 million, versus $1.26 million in the prior-year period.
Net income for the third quarter of FY2010 improved to $0.95 million, which represented an increase of 10% when compared with net income of $0.86 million in the year-earlier quarter. Earnings per share, fully diluted, increased 25% to $0.05, versus $0.04 in last year's third quarter. The number of weighted average diluted shares outstanding approximated 19.8 million during the most recent quarter, compared with 21.6 million shares in the third quarter of FY2009. The decrease in the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding resulted from the Company's repurchase in the first quarter of FY2010.
"I am confident that we are taking the steps necessary to grow our revenues and earnings on a long-term basis," commented Danny Wright, Chief Executive Officer of Access Plans, Inc. "The Wholesale Plans division generated a 15% increase in revenues during the most recent quarter, reflecting increased customer participation at existing locations, along with an increase in the number of locations offering our plans. The Retail Plans division's growth continues to more than offset the revenue losses from the run-off of legacy programs that we inherited following the acquisition of Access Plans USA in April 2009. We are also investing in new product offerings and marketing strategies in the Retail Plans division. Meanwhile, we continue to work on transitioning the Insurance Marketing division's sales mix from its previous emphasis on major medical policies towards innovative solutions that combine supplemental and life products with major medical sales. We believe this new approach, which was prompted by certain aspects of the Healthcare Reform Act, should maintain commission income for agents, while improving the division's operating margins. We are in the final stages of designing this new supplemental offering, and rollout is scheduled for the first quarter of Fiscal 2011."
Wholesale Plans
Revenues at the Wholesale Plans division increased 15% to $5.8 million in the most recent quarter, versus $5.0 million in the prior-year period. The increase was attributable to improved sell-through at existing locations, as well as the addition of new accounts. Gross margin doubled to $1.8 million, compared with $0.9 million a year earlier, due to the revenue increase and a reduction in involuntary unemployment waiver expenses resulting from lower levels of national unemployment. Operating income at the division increased 169% to $1.4 million, versus $0.5 million in the prior-year period.
Retail Plans
Revenues at the Retail Plans division in the third quarter of FY2010 increased 9% to $4.9 million, prior to inter-company eliminations, versus $4.5 million in the prior-year period. The increase was attributable primarily to investments in new programs that offset revenue declines in the legacy business. Gross margins decreased $0.6 million due to upfront sales and marketing costs associated with a new product rollout. The division's operating income declined to $0.4 million in the third quarter of FY2010, versus $0.9 million in the third quarter of FY2009, as a result of expenses related to a new product rollout, as discussed above.
Insurance Marketing
Insurance Marketing division revenues decreased to $5.0 million, versus $5.7 million in the third quarter of FY2009. The decline was due in large part to the exit of two major medical carriers from the market. Operating income (loss) decreased to ($0.05 million), versus $0.1 million in last year's third quarter. As discussed above, due to the recent passage of the Health Care Reform Act, our Insurance Marketing division, AHCP, will shift its product mix over the next several quarters to emphasize association-based supplemental insurance products and membership plans offered in conjunction with individual health insurance policies.
Nine-Month Results
Revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 increased 61% to approximately $41.1 million, compared with approximately $25.5 million in the first nine months of FY2009. Operating income increased 35% to $4.2 million, versus $3.1 million in the prior-year period.
Net income for the first nine months of FY2010 increased to $2.6 million, which represented an improvement of 20% when compared with net income of $2.1 million in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. On a diluted per-share basis, earnings remained at $0.13 for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009. The number of weighted average diluted shares outstanding increased to 20.1 million during the first nine months of FY2010, versus 16.5 million in the year-earlier period.
Other Matters
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $5.1 million at June 30, 2010, versus $4.6 million at September 30, 2009. The modest increase resulted from a $1.0 million note payoff in the second fiscal quarter and higher upfront sales commissions on a new product in the Retail Plans division. The Company has no long-term debt outstanding. Meanwhile, stockholders' equity has increased 33% from $10.2 million on June 30, 2009 to $13.6 million on June 30, 2010.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Access Plans will host a conference August 16, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. To access the conference call, please dial 877-317-6789 (U.S.) or 412-317-6789 (international) and ask to be placed into the "Access Plans" conference call. The conference call will also be available via "live" webcast under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.accessplans.com, or by visiting http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=71766 to access the webcast directly.
A replay of the conference call will be available through August 24, 2010 and can be accessed by dialing 877-344-7529 (U.S.) or 412-317-0088 (international) and entering the conference ID number 443633. An archived version of the webcast will also be available under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.accessplans.com.
About Access Plans, Inc.
Access Plans, Inc. (OTCBB: APNC) is a leading membership benefits marketing company with two distribution channels. The Wholesale/Retail Plans distribution channel specializes in turnkey, private-label membership benefit plans that provide discount products and services, protection benefits and retail services to more than one million customers in the United States and Canada. America's Health Care Plans (AHCP), the Company's Insurance Marketing distribution channel, is one of the nation's largest independent agent networks and provides major medical, life and supplemental insurance products to individuals. For more information, please visit: www.accessplans.com.
RJ Falkner report on APNC.
http://www.otcmarkets.com/edgar/GetFilingHtml?FilingID=7558207
Interesting parts...
They believe expansion into Mexico at the 350 FAMSA locations is possible
New "Smart Solutions Plus" will hit market in December. Will be pushed to their agents as a way to recoup some commish cuts coming in January, product looks similiar to what they sell in Rent to Own stores
Of course talk of share buyback because of good cash flows
APNC..$0.7228..
Access Plans, Inc. Announces Intention to Explore Strategic Alternatives
Market Wire - Nov 11 at 15:05
Company Symbols: NASDAQ-OTCBB:APNC
NORMAN, OK -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/11/10 -- Access Plans, Inc. (OTCBB: APNC), which designs, markets and administers consumer membership and healthcare savings membership plans, and which is a leading marketer of individual major medical insurance products, today announced that it intends to explore a broad range of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value, including, but not limited to, entering into a "going private" transaction, raising or borrowing money for future acquisitions, or one or more other transactions. In this regard the Company has retained Southwest Securities, Inc. to serve as its financial advisor.
The Company's Board of Directors may determine that none of the strategic alternatives is appropriate, and there can be no assurance that the review of strategic alternatives will result in the Company pursuing any particular transaction, or, if it pursues any such transaction, that it will be completed. The Company does not expect to make further public comment regarding the review of these strategic alternatives until the Board of Directors has approved a specific course of action, the Board deems disclosure of significant developments to be appropriate, or the Company is legally required to do so.
About Access Plans, Inc.
Access Plans, Inc. (OTCBB: APNC) is a leading membership benefits marketing company with two distribution channels. The Wholesale/Retail Plans distribution channel specializes in turnkey, private-label membership benefit plans that provide discount products and services, protection benefits, and retail services to more than one million customers in the United States and Canada. America's Health Care/Rx Plans ("ACHP"), the Company's Insurance Marketing distribution channel, is one of America's largest independent agent networks and provides major medical, life and supplemental insurance products to individuals.
The Company is headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma, and its common stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "APNC". For more information, visit the Company's website at www.accessplans.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and pursuant to the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may relate to financial results and plans for future business activities, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are competitive pressures, loss of significant customers, revenue mix, changes in pricing policies, delays in revenue recognition, lower-than-expected demand for the Company's products and services, general economic conditions, and other risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the Company assumes no responsibility for updating such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.
For additional information, please contact:
Robert Hoeffner
Sr. V.P., Administration
(405) 579-8525
bhoeffner@accessplans.com
RJ Falkner & Company, Inc.
Investor Relations Counsel
(800) 377-9893
info@rjfalkner.com
New site for America's Health Care Plan
http://www.ahcpsales.com/
More inside buying, Russell bought another 2,500 shares.
http://www.otcmarkets.com/edgar/GetFilingHtml?FilingID=7325970
APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Benefit Marketing Solutions
http://www.rtohq.org/02642apro-apro-special-productsservices-focus-britelite.html
August 18, 2009
Don’t lose your customers because they are losing their jobs.
Economic times are difficult. The jobless rate is at an all time high. Customers are being laid-off. Companies are downsizing or closing, Jobs are being terminated. This affects your business because when this happens to a customer they typically cannot keep their merchandise.
Help your customers and yourself by implementing a benefit program through Benefit Marketing Solutions that includes the Involuntary Unemployment benefit. This benefit can help customers keep their merchandise on rent when they are laid-off, when their job is terminated, when they lose their job due to downsizing or plant closure, or if there is a work stoppage or strike.
This benefit helps make the member’s rental payment until they return to work, or for four months or when $1,000 is paid in benefits. “A benefit like this can help customers get through a difficult time and help rental dealers keep good customers,” said Susan Matthews, Executive Vice President of Benefit Marketing Solutions. !
This isn’t the only benefit rental customers receive as a member of the program. They also receive a number of benefits that will save them money on every day needs like groceries, automotive service, prescriptions and much more.
“Our program provides companies a menu of benefits so they can select the ones that fit their customer’s needs such as service protection after the customers own the merchandise, replacement protection if the member’s merchandise is stolen, accidental death and dismemberment protection, savings through Entertainment and discount medical benefits,” Matthews added.
Rental dealers can sell this program in addition to their LDW coverage so they retain those fees and generate new revenue through the benefit program.
“There are no upfront costs or start up fees to begin selling our program so a company has nothing to lose by implementing the Club and they have so much to gain,” Matthews said.
If you are interested in learning more visit the Benefit Marketing Solutions booth (#304) at the APRO show in Las Vegas or call Susan Matthews at 888/322-6705. If you already have a benefit program through BMS, but don’t have the involuntary unemployment protection, talk to us about adding this valuable benefit to your offering. Let us help you increase your revenue and retain your customers.
Doctors, the unemployed squeezed by Congress's inaction
Doctors' Medicare payments cut; some jobless workers' benefits run out
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/doctors-jobless-squeezed-by-congresss-inaction-2010-06-18?dist=afterbell
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- About 1.2 million jobless workers are expected to lose unemployment benefits this month, and doctors are starting to see a 21% cut in Medicare payments Friday, following the Senate's inability to move forward with the far-reaching jobs and tax-extenders bill.
However, on Friday the Senate did approve a special measure to delay the Medicare payment cuts for six months. The House of Representatives is expected to consider the measure next week.
Insurers focus on customer serviceHealth insurers are ramping up their customer-service efforts ahead of millions of Americans joining the ranks of the insured in 2014. In this week's Health Minute, MarketWatch's Kristen Gerencher looks at what insurers are doing differently.
The American Medical Association said the cut is in place until positive action from the House. "Congress is playing Russian roulette with seniors' health care," said Dr. Cecil Wilson, president of the AMA, in a statement on Friday.
"Congress has finally taken its game of brinkmanship too far, as the steep 21% percent cut is now in effect and physicians will be forced to make difficult practice changes to keep their practice doors open," Wilson said, adding that a longer-term fix is needed.
"This is no way to run a major health coverage program -- already the instability caused by repeated short-term delays is taking its toll," Wilson said. "About one in five physicians say they have already been forced to limit the number of Medicare patients in their practice. Nearly one-third of primary care physicians have already been forced to take that action. The top two reasons physicians gave for these actions were the ongoing threat of future cuts and the fact that Medicare payment rates were already too low."
Thursday evening a Senate vote fell shy of the 60 votes needed to move forward with the far-reaching jobs and tax legislation that would have reversed the reduction in Medicare physician payment rates, increasing their rate by 2.2% through November. The Senate voted 56 to 40 on a motion to invoke cloture on the bill.
Movement on the overall bill has stalled amid ongoing concerns about widening the deficit. In an effort to woo votes, Democrats' latest proposal pared down various provisions of a prior version of the bill, including a reduction of the Medicare doctor rate patch to a period of six months, from a previously proposed patch that would have lasted 19 months.
Despite scaling down the bill, Democrats so far have failed to win the needed support.
"Every single Republican voted to give doctors a 21% pay cut, and prevent millions of seniors and veterans from getting the medical care they need," said Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader, in a Thursday evening statement.
There will be an impasse "until Republicans step forward," a Reid spokeswoman said Friday morning.
Unemployment benefits run out
Delaying the bill also means that more than a million jobless workers may lose unemployment benefits this month. A prior extension of some federally-funded unemployment insurance benefits recently expired, and the legislation proposed a new extension through November. As many as 1.2 million jobless workers will be cut off from federal unemployment benefits in June due to Congress's lack of movement on the bill, according to an estimate from the National Employment Law Project.
Trying to contain costs, the latest Democratic proposal would have cut weekly benefit checks by $25 for some job seekers.
Responding to concerns about adding to the deficit, the newest version of the Democratic bill would have slashed $22 billion in spending from a prior version of the bill that would have widened the deficit by about $80 billion over 10 years. However, the current bill still proposes new spending, plus controversial tax hikes on some investment-fund managers and certain service professionals.
Earlier this week senators voted against moving forward with an alternative tax and jobs bill proposal from Republicans that would have cut funds for state and local governments to invest in infrastructure, dropped a temporary funding increase to help states pay for Medicaid, and eliminated a proposal to raise taxes on hedge-fund managers, among other changes.
Dir CLEVELAND Buys 13,022 Of ACCESS PLANS INC >APNC
Dow Jones & Company, Inc. - Jun 18 at 12:14
Company Symbols: NASDAQ-OTCBB:APNC
SOURCE: Form 4
ISSUER: ACCESS PLANS INC
SYMBOL: APNC
FILER: CLEVELAND RUSSELL
TITLE: Director
DATE TRANSACTION SHARES PRICE VALUE
6/16/10 Purchase 13,022 $0.92 $11,952
OWNERSHIP: 657,339 (Indirect)
The Form 4 is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by insiders
to report transactions in their companies' shares. Open market purchases
and sales must be reported within two business days of the transaction.
Insider Data Source: The Washington Service
(info@washingtonservice.com or 301-913-5100)
Found the FAMSA website Access Plans is running.
http://famsafamilysavingsplan.com/
Looks similar to what they do for Rent A Center. Rough calculations, FAMSA has 47 stores in USA. APNC offers a product in 2850 Rent A Centers and it brings in $2.7m rev per Q. So about $1000 per store pre quarter. So $50k increase in coming Q.
Still can't find an ounce of info on Infinity Web Systems they referenced.
The CVS "Health Savings Pass" mentioned in HuffPo article.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-n-marcus-md/generic-medication-where_b_606413.html
Not sure what APNC's cut of that $10 a year, but imagine they are racking up millions of members there. Hope they can expand that program and have some pricing power.
The Rise of Consumer-Driven Care
Will ObamaCare put a stop to the most promising way of controlling health care costs?
http://reason.com/archives/2010/05/28/the-rise-of-consumer-driven-ca
Great piece from Reason.com
1 in 4 Americans Under 65 Lacks Dental Insurance
Latest stats, from 2008, show employment, education and race all affect access to care
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/managing-your-healthcare/healthcare/articles/2010/06/09/1-in-4-americans-under-65-lacks-dental-insurance.html
They have recently added a few dental insurance programs to their insurance marketing division. Becoming a major player in that field could mean many millions of customers.
Write up on Seeking Alpha about APNC
http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/418301-adam-sues/74488-apnc-boosts-operating-income-by-86-in-2nd-quarter
APNC..$0.8228
I am surprised to see APNC stock come in at this level.. When I was going into cash last month my APNC position was also liquidated above $1.10.. I thought it was a position lost and am surprised to be able to reload at these prices.. Some one seems spooked.. hank
06/02/10 11:56 AM EDT Buy 2888 APNC Executed @ $0.8228 Details | Edit
06/02/10 11:18 AM EDT Buy 800 APNC Executed @ $0.86 Details | Edit
06/02/10 11:16 AM EDT Buy 4088 APNC Executed @ $0.8628 Details | Edit
05/26/10 1:39 PM EDT Buy 4888 APNC Executed @ $0.91 Details | Edit
05/25/10 3:32 PM EDT Buy 3450 APNC Executed @ $0.91 Details | Edit
Here is that new UHC resaurant website.
http://restauranthealthcare.org/
This article and idea is getting alot of play, major media sites are writing up stories on it, here is the official PR.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/national-restaurant-association-and-unitedhealthcare-create-restaurant-health-care-alliance-2010-05-21-6000?reflink=MW_news_stmp
National Restaurant Association and UnitedHealthcare Create Restaurant Health Care Alliance
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- New alliance to provide easier access to health care coverage and related products and services to nearly 1 million restaurant owners and 13 million restaurant employees
The National Restaurant Association and UnitedHealthcare are launching the Restaurant Health Care Alliance, offering a suite of products that will help nearly 13 million restaurant employees gain easier access to health care coverage and related products and services. Today, 4 million to 6 million of the nation's nearly 13 million food service industry employees are uninsured at any given time.
The Restaurant Health Care Alliance, which has been in development for nearly two years, will provide restaurant owners and employees easy access to cost-effective health benefit options that meet the health care needs of this diverse industry. In addition, it will help restaurant owners and employees understand their health care coverage options as well as tax and eligibility changes that are occurring in 2010 and beyond.
The Restaurant Health Care Alliance launches May 22 and is available to restaurant owners and employees, as well as insurance agents and advisers who serve the restaurant industry. The resources and tools developed by the Alliance will be available online at www.restauranthealthcare.org.
"As the nation's second-largest private-sector employer, the restaurant industry is dedicated to finding affordable health care solutions for our workers," said Dawn Sweeney, National Restaurant Association president and CEO. "We are committed to reducing costs in the health care system and expanding health care coverage for our work force. UnitedHealthcare's vast experience and diverse capabilities make them the right partner in developing the Restaurant Health Care Alliance. Our members will benefit by providing them easier access to affordable health care coverage for their employees and dependents and allow for future opportunities to provide added benefits."
"We are excited about this unique opportunity to partner with the National Restaurant Association to tailor health care information and products that best meet the needs of restaurant owners and employees," said Gail Boudreaux president of UnitedHealthcare.
Qualified small-business member restaurants will be introduced to innovative health plan options offered by UnitedHealthcare that offer significant annual premium savings compared to traditional health plans. In some markets, UnitedHealthcare Catalyst(SM) is one of the options available and combines comprehensive catastrophic plan coverage with an up-front benefit allowance for certain preventive-care services. Individual employees who do not have employer-sponsored coverage can choose from a wide range of UnitedHealthcare's cost-effective individual and family plans, some of which start under $100 per month. Other products, including dental plans and discount health cards, will also be available.
About National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 945,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of nearly 13 million employees. Together with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to lead America's restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence, and participation, enhancing the quality of life for all we serve. For more information, visit our Web site at www.restaurant.org.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of approximately 25 million individual consumers, contracting directly with more than 600,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group /quotes/comstock/13*!unh/quotes/nls/unh (UNH 28.61, -0.35, -1.21%) , a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company
Watch out now, look at the article I just found. APNC's insurance marketing division is the number one writer of individual United Healthcare polices. Remember in the conference call just a few days ago, Access Plans CEO said they were going to start marketing to associations. They might just have a big role in this effort to insure 4 to 6 million poeple.
National Restaurant Assn. and UnitedHealth join on coverage effort for restaurant workers
The initiative is one of the largest private-sector efforts to expand health coverage. Its creators say it could help cover the 4 million to 6 million restaurant employees without health benefits.
By Noam N. Levey and Tom Hamburger, Los Angeles Times
May 21, 2010
Reporting from Washington
The National Restaurant Assn. and insurance giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. are teaming up in a bid to make coverage more accessible to millions of restaurant workers without health benefits — three years ahead of when the healthcare overhaul would require everyone to have insurance.
The initiative, though limited at the outset, marks one of the largest private-sector efforts to expand health insurance coverage.
And its architects said it could ultimately help cover the 4 million to 6 million restaurant employees without health benefits, or about 10% of the nation's current population of uninsured.
The company, however, could still retain the right to deny coverage to those with preexisting conditions, at least until 2014.
The association plans to announce Friday, at its annual convention in Chicago, a website and a menu of insurance plans in Pennsylvania and Colorado and then expand into California, Texas, Florida, Illinois and other states within a year.
"This is a business issue for the restaurant industry," said Dawn Sweeney, chief executive of the influential restaurant group, which represents about 380,000 employers nationwide.
"Because of the narrow profit margins of the restaurant business, it has been an ongoing real challenge for our industry to find affordable [insurance] products they could offer to employees," Sweeney said.
Sweeney, who began the push to create an insurance partnership more than two years ago, said the association's members had identified healthcare as a top issue of concern.
It also is a top concern for state officials such as Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. The Democrat is trying to stop the erosion of insurance coverage until the state can create an insurance exchange in 2014, as outlined in the recently passed healthcare law.
"At a time when we have 1 million uninsured Pennsylvanians, a program like this is very welcome," Rendell said Thursday, calling it a potential "gap filler" until 2014.
Pennsylvania, like many states, plans to operate a government-overseen insurance marketplace where small businesses and individuals should be able to shop for coverage that meets basic minimum standards.
The restaurant industry, which employs nearly 13 million people nationally, has among the lowest levels of health coverage, a reflection of the transitory nature of the workforce and the prevalence of part-time workers.
The new partnership will initially provide restaurant owners and employees with a Web portal to shop for insurance products currently offered by UnitedHealth, the nation's largest insurer by revenue.
The options would include policies that employers could select if they wanted to provide their employees with benefits, as well as individual plans that restaurant workers could select if their employer did not offer coverage.
UnitedHealth executives said the employer-sponsored plans — including one designed to cover preventive care, routine office visits and catastrophic events, with a gap in coverage in between — could be available for 10% to 20% less than traditional health-maintenance-organization and preferred-provider-organization health plans offered to small businesses.
Customers also may qualify for discounts on other UnitedHealth products, such as dental and vision coverage.
But a UnitedHealth executive, Austin Pittman, said the company would continue its standard underwriting practices, which could include denying coverage to people with preexisting medical conditions. That practice will not be banned until 2014.
Sheryl Skolnick, a veteran industry analyst at CRT Capital Group, said the Minnetonka, Minn., healthcare company deserved credit for trying to serve a group of people who have not traditionally had health benefits. But she cautioned that the promised discounts might be inadequate.
"If this is going to be more than just good public relations, a 10% to 20% discount off the cost of a normal plan isn't enough," she said. "This is a relatively low-paid population... and I am concerned that this program may not be innovative enough."
Sweeney said that as the program develops, the restaurant association hopes UnitedHealth will develop insurance products specifically tailored to help restaurateurs and their employees. That, she said, should bring down costs further.
Executives at UnitedHealth, which also has a partnership with seniors group AARP to offer Medicare supplemental insurance, did not provide details of what they might offer. But Pittman called the partnership "an important opportunity for us."
The move comes at a time when the nation's leading insurers have been shedding customers and raising rates in a bid to placate nervous investors. Last year, four of the five largest for-profit insurance companies, including UnitedHealth, lost customers while significantly boosting their earnings, according to company financial reports.
UnitedHealth continues to raise premiums in what is known as the small group market, serving employers with fewer than 50 workers. This week the company filed an application in Rhode Island to raise premiums for small businesses by nearly 12% next year.
noam.levey@latimes.com
tom.hamburger@latimes.com
Health Purchasing Alliances and Association Plans
http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/benefits-insurance-health/779-1.html
For small businesses in need of affordable health insurance, purchasing alliances and association plans are alternatives to traditional group insurance. Health purchasing alliances, also called purchasing pools, are private, nonprofit organizations that bring small businesses together to buy health insurance as a
The idea is simple: strength in numbers. Because of their high numbers and purchasing clout, pools are also in a better position to negotiate premium rates with insurers. While some purchasing alliances allow individuals to join, most pools serve businesses with two to 50 employees. Premiums and rates are reasonable because more people are purchasing insurance, which brings down the risk to the insurance company.
Purchasing alliances are the result of three parties working together:
An owning company. The owner of the alliance is a company that operates on behalf of the smaller companies that make up a purchasing pool. Its purpose is to set the rules of the alliance; for example, it decides who is eligible. The owning company is also responsible for negotiating with insurance companies. Very often a state agency or a chamber of commerce takes on this function.
Health plans. Owning companies contract with insurance companies to provide coverage to members. A pool may contract with several insurers and offer individuals a wide choice of insurance options, including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and point-of-service plans (POSs).
A neutral third-party administrator. This is usually a company that specializes in health care administration. The administrator manages the day-to-day operations of providing benefits to members, and performs tasks like enrolling new members and providing customer service.
Legislation at the state level makes purchasing alliances possible. To find out if there is a health purchasing alliance in your area, call your state department of insurance, health and human services department, or local chamber of commerce.
If a purchasing alliance is not available to you, consider group health coverage through an association plan. Associations that offer health benefits to members must have a purpose for existing other than providing health benefits to members. Such associations include labor unions, credit unions, professional associations, alumni associations, trade associations, and lodges.
Association plans tend to have higher premiums and offer fewer plan choices than purchasing alliances. In addition, members must pay dues to the association to be eligible for insurance coverage and any other benefits the association might offer.
My guess on the recent selling pressure. They are basically scrapping the Americas Health Care Plans as it has operated for years. Having converted over 6 millions shares of the old AccessPlansUSA (NASDAQ:AUSA) into APNC shares, there are probably some old shareholders who want out. With the conversion price of about .70 last year, they have made a nice little profit. Still, upper management own over 70% of OS.
As long as they keep a few hundred committed agents who will still be selling health insurance and are excited about getting heavy into the supplemental market, that division will be fine. They expect revenue to remain flat but margins will increase, that divisions margins where not good, so this will help bottom line.
As the CEO said, the original intent of the acquisition was to use those insurance carrier partnerships to offer polices to their exsisting clients. They have almost 2 million people in their Wholesale and Retail divisions, yet only 24k policies in the Insurance marketing. There is huge upside when they really start marketing supplemental to all those people. The second offering at rent to owns could bring many, many thousands of polices alone.
Urgent-care center in St. Lucie County offers membership plans
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/apr/29/urgent-care-center-in-st-lucie-county-offers/
This is the area I am hoping Access gets more involved in. Going to urgent care type facilities and getting them to offer a discount membership program. Access could do the billing, marketing, and compliance. It is not exactly what they typically do, but is similar.
Where I am from, the local urgent care is the place to go instead of hospital for semi emergency care, they are much cheaper. Everyone of them should be selling a brand specific program in their communities.
Here is the urgent care companies site where they offer the plan.
http://www.immedcare.com/medical-membership-plan.htm
Interesting merger I found.
I would not rule out a LifeGuard benefits acquisition. They are currently owned by Amacore Group. Amacore is a total mess, only surviving because hedge fund Vicis Capital dumps millions in to them every year for shares.
Access Plans USA is located in the same building in Texas as LifeGuard. They bring in over $20m in revenue annual, but lose alot of money. APNC would certainly be able to bring some synergy and combination to cut costs. If management think they could make is profitable, I am sure it would be something they consider.
Another thought on CC.
They said their health carriers were open and interested in them transitioning to supplemental. CEO mentioned they are largest United Healthcare/Golden Rule independent brokerage. UHC does not offer a supplemental kind of insurance they want to sell. So hopefully they are working on getting into that market with APNC's agents leading the way selling it.
Also from what I see, none of the carriers they sell, use their association benefits products. Most carriers throw in discounts through an association with their plans, if APNC can get a larger carrier to also use them to operate their association benefits, every policy written has two revenue streams. That would be huge, I figured that was something that would have already been done. Without a large carrier offering APNC managed association benefits, this move might not work. Just collecting commissions on supplemental will not work, but if the company takes a few bucks more per policy by doing what they do best, then things will only look up.
I could be wrong, but I can't find any that use their services, I am hitting up management to make sure I did not miss something.
Thoughts on conference call.
The thing that sticks out is the shifting from major medical to supplemental in the Insurance Marketing division. I would really like to see big name companies added to their list. I expect we will see a few coming. Because it does no good to put emphasis on selling supplemental if the carriers they are selling are not also ramping up sales and making a big push to capitalize on this opportunity the healthcare bill provides to the supplemental industry.
Also the fact they are very close to offering a second product at rent to own stores is huge. If after every purchase the customer is offered a supplemental insurance plan, you could see a big increase in revenue.
It does sound as if M&A is a possibility at any time.
We need a catalyst the market sees as a big revenue grower. Maybe a deal with a large association to provide benefits, or coming together with a large nationally known carrier to sell their products and the carrier acknowledging the relationship in some form.
We also need more press releases throughout the quarters. I feel uncertain every earnings release because of ZERO news flow. Everytime they add a carrier, they should PR it. Every customer signed in retail plans should be the same. Not sure they are scared of them.
APNC Reports Fiscal 2010 Second Quarter Results
2Q 2010 EPS Increases 100% Over 2Q 2009
NORMAN, OK, May 13, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Access Plans, Inc. (APNC 1.20, +0.05, +4.35%) , a leading membership and insurance marketing company, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2010 second quarter ended March 31, 2010. The results reflect the Company's acquisition of Access Plans USA, Inc., completed on April 1, 2009.
Revenues for the fiscal 2010 second quarter increased to $13.5 million compared to $5.9 million in the prior-year period in large part as a result of the acquired Access Plans USA operations in April of 2009. Operating income increased 86% to $1.3 million versus $0.7 million in the prior-year period, which reflected the impact of the acquired Access Plans USA operations and organic growth.
Net income for the fiscal 2010 second quarter increased 133% to $0.7 million up from $0.3 million for the same period. On a per share basis, earnings increased 100% to $0.04 versus $0.02 per diluted share in last year's second quarter. The Company had 19.8 million weighted average shares outstanding at March 31, 2010, versus 14.9 million shares at the end of last year's second quarter. The increased share count reflects the Access Plans USA acquisition in April 2009 and is factored into the EPS for this quarter.
"We generated improved top-line performance and solid profitability in the period as we continued to build on our broad portfolio of membership services programs for multiple distribution channels," commented Danny Wright, Chief Executive Officer. "Our Wholesale Plans Division generated 15% organic revenue growth on the strength of new and existing business partners who value our products as a highly profitable source of income to complement their core businesses. At our Retail Plans Division, we are benefiting from recent customer additions that are still early in their maturity cycle and in revenue ramp-up mode. Within the acquired Insurance Marketing Division, we are focusing our efforts on transitioning the Division's mix from major medical insurance to emphasize more profitable supplemental insurance products. These products are structured typically as association memberships that are more in keeping with our offerings in our Wholesale Plans and Retail Plans Divisions."
Wholesale Plans
Revenues for the Wholesale Plans Division in the fiscal 2010 second quarter increased 15% to $5.6 million, or 42% of total revenues, versus $4.9 million in the prior-year period. As noted, the increase was attributable to improved sell-through at existing locations resulting from improved focus and sales training as well as the addition of new accounts. Gross margin improved 20% to $1.0 million on a year-over-year basis versus $0.8 million due to the revenue increase and a reduction in involuntary unemployment expenses resulting from moderating unemployment claims. The increase in gross margin was partially offset by higher product service expense on existing contracts related to increased program participation and benefits usage. Operating income in the fiscal 2010 second quarter increased 20% from $0.5 million versus $0.4 million in the prior-year period.
Retail Plans
Revenues for the Retail Plans Division in the fiscal 2010 second quarter increased 132% from $4.1 million, prior to inter-company eliminations, versus $2.2 million in the prior-year period. The increase was attributable primarily to the acquired Access Plans USA operations which expanded the Company's discount health membership offerings. Additionally, fiscal 2010 second quarter results include the impact of two previously announced contracts which continue to ramp up and an increased contribution from a membership plan with the nation's largest pharmacy retail chain that was launched in October of 2008. Operating income in the fiscal 2010 second quarter increased 80% to $0.9 million compared to $0.5 million in the prior-year period.
Insurance Marketing
Insurance Marketing Division revenues in the fiscal 2010 second quarter decreased to $4.9 million versus $5.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The sequential decline was due in large part to the exit of two major medical carriers. Operating income decreased to $0.1 million income versus $0.3 million income in the fiscal 2010 first quarter. The Insurance Marketing Division comprises the America's Health Care Plans (AHCP) insurance agency operations acquired as part of the Access Plans USA acquisition. As a result, there are no comparable results from the prior-year period. With the recent passage of health care reform, Access Plans, in partnership with its agent network and the insurance carriers it represents, will be transitioning its product mix over the next several quarters to emphasize association-based supplemental insurance products over lower-margin, higher-volume individual health insurance policies.
Other Matters
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $5.2 million at March 31, 2010 versus $5.7 million at December 31, 2009. This decrease is a result of a $1.0 million note payoff. As a result of the note retirement, the Company has no long-term debt. Stockholders' equity has increased 196% from $4.6 million on March 31, 2009 to $12.6 million on March 31, 2010.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Access Plans will host a conference call today, May 13, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. ET. To access the conference call, please dial 877-869-3847 (U.S.) or 201-689-8261 (international) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be available via live webcast under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.accessplans.com, or click here to access the webcast directly.
If you are unable to listen to the live call, a replay will be available through May 20, 2010, and can be accessed by dialing 877-660-6853 (U.S.) or 201-612-7415 (international). Callers will be prompted for replay account number 355# followed by conference ID number 350658#. An archived version of the webcast will also be available under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.accessplans.com.
About Access Plans, Inc.
Access Plans, Inc. /quotes/comstock/11k!apnc (APNC 1.20, +0.05, +4.35%) is a leading membership and insurance marketing company with three complementary distribution channels offering multiple opportunities for growth. The Wholesale Plans Division specializes in turnkey, private label membership benefit plans offered through retail outlets including rent-to-own centers. The Retail Plans Division markets healthcare-related discount products and services to consumers through third-party marketers. Program components in both membership plan divisions range from medical, dental and pharmacy discounts to grocery, restaurant, automotive, travel and other consumer discounts. The Insurance Marketing Division comprises America's Health Care Plans (AHCP), one of the nation's largest independent agent networks for distributing individual major medical health insurance. For more information, please visit: www.accessplans.com.
Thought this was interesting
U.S. Bank Rolls Out Comprehensive Consumer-Directed Healthcare Solutions
Simplifies Program Management for Employers and Reduces Complexity for Consumers
MINNEAPOLIS, May 12, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- U.S. Bank Healthcare Payment Solutions is expanding its consumer product suite beyond health savings accounts (HSAs) with a comprehensive set of services designed to make consumer-directed healthcare (CDHC) easier to manage. U.S. Bank's new integrated set of card-based payment solutions enables employers to offer competitive benefits plans, with tax savings to employees, while managing costs.
U.S. Bank is complementing its HSA offering with the addition of multi-purse cards attached to flexible spending accounts (FSAs), limited purpose flexible spending accounts (LPFSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), as well as accounts for dependent care reimbursement and parking/transit. By managing all of these tax-advantaged accounts together, employers reduce time and expense and simplify healthcare-benefits management for employees.
"Employers are simply unable to continue absorbing double-digit increases in health insurance premium costs," said Ralph Bernstein, senior vice president of Healthcare Payment Solutions at U.S. Bank. "By offering consumer-directed health plans and the tax advantaged accounts that go along with them, employers can lower health benefit costs through related tax breaks and cost-sharing with employees. U.S. Bank continues to show its commitment to consumer-directed healthcare with a dedicated healthcare division offering a complete and integrated set of consumer-directed benefit payment solutions."
U.S. Bank's new offering makes it easier for consumers to manage their healthcare accounts with two important, user-friendly features: a single payments card and a single Web portal for online account management. Consumers present one benefits card for payment, and the funds are withdrawn automatically and seamlessly from the proper account based on advanced card technology and program design. In addition, the online account management system allows consumers to check balances and activity for all their various U.S. Bank healthcare accounts through one convenient log in.
"Consumers see the healthcare payment process as unnecessarily complex," Bernstein said. "We're giving them a full array of tools to manage these types of accounts and make informed decisions about how they spend their healthcare dollars."
The underlying technology platform, including that of the employer and consumer web portal, is provided by new partner, Lighthouse 1. Lighthouse1 and its partners serve more than 2.5 million consumers, making Lighthouse1 the nation's largest web-based healthcare solution. It is the only solution available today that simplifies the user experience, and satisfies workflow management needs of administration partners, employers, and consumers.
About U.S. Bank Healthcare Payment Solutions
Healthcare Payment Solutions helps patients pay and providers collect. An outgrowth of U.S. Bank's long-standing commitment to the healthcare community, Healthcare Payment Solutions delivers innovations that simplify the receipt and processing of payments, provides new and better ways for patients to meet their financial obligations, and supports the relationship among the participants in the healthcare continuum. For more information about Healthcare Payment Solutions, please contact usbankhealthcare@usbank.com or call 866-285-0933.
About U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bancorp /quotes/comstock/13*!usb/quotes/nls/usb (USB 26.77, +0.09, +0.34%) , with $282 billion in assets as of March 31, 2010, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 3,025 banking offices in 24 states and 5,312 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at usbank.com.
My guess is top line around $13.5m, anything over would be nice. Bottom line could be little higher with improving unemployment claims from the rent to own business. That segments top line has steadily grown for awhile, same for the retail discount card market. CVS, Medicine Shoppe, and others should be enough to keep that divisions revenue up or even. Cash on hand could be well over $7m. Hope to see .05 EPS in the end.
As it has been since merger in June 2009, insurance marketing division is the wildcard. They seem to be pushing as of late, the supplemental, ancillary, and other forms of insurance. That increase could be enough to offset any small decline in major medical policies. That is more of a longer term revenue growth area. New changes to their commission and processing will help get more agents selling. 3rd and 4th Q should show that.
Access Plans, Inc. Schedules Fiscal 2010 Second Quarter Conference Call
NORMAN, OK--(Marketwire - 05/10/10) - Access Plans, Inc. (OTC.BB:APNC - News), a leading membership and insurance marketing company, today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss the Company's results for the fiscal 2010 second quarter ended March 31, 2010. The conference call is scheduled for Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Access Plans will release its fiscal 2010 second quarter financial results on Thursday morning prior to the call.
To access the conference call, please dial 877-869-3847 (U.S.) or 201-689-8261 (international) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be available via live webcast under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://www.accessplans.com/.
If you are unable to listen to the live call, a replay will be available through May 20, 2010, and can be accessed by dialing 877-660-6853 (U.S.) or 201-612-7415 (international). Callers will be prompted for replay account number 355# followed by conference ID number 350658#. An archived version of the webcast will also be available under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://www.accessplans.com/.
About Access Plans, Inc.
Access Plans, Inc. (OTC.BB:APNC - News) is a leading membership and insurance marketing company with three complementary distribution channels offering multiple opportunities for growth. The Wholesale Plans Division specializes in turnkey, private label membership benefit plans offered through retail outlets including rent-to-own centers. The Retail Plans Division markets healthcare-related discount products and services to consumers through third-party marketers. Program components in both membership plan divisions range from medical, dental and pharmacy discounts to grocery, restaurant, automotive, travel and other consumer discounts. The Insurance Marketing Division comprises America's Health Care Plans (AHCP), one of the nation's largest independent agent networks for distributing individual major medical health insurance. For more information, please visit: http://www.accessplans.com/.
I am betting on them making a life insurance brokerage play. With America aging, life, annuities, and long term care insurance, are going to be ever expanding. Giving health insurance agents a way to hedge against any bad, unforseen developements in how healthcare reform plays out, seems wise.
The idea everyone NEEDS life insurance is something I believe in. It is as essential as health insurance.
Also, Social Security cuts WILL HAPPEN, so annuities could benefit big time.
Documents reveal AT&T, Verizon, others, thought about dropping employer-sponsored benefits
http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/news/companies/dropping_benefits.fortune/index.htm
A good read. My hope is that if something like this happens (as in millions getting dumped on the individual market) APNC will be right there to scoop them up.
I am feel that alot of independent agents are not sure as to whether insurance companies are going to start learning on producers, or more toward letting agents contracting directly.
APNC's insurance marketing division is set to go right after employees who lose employer provided coverage. With under 30,000 policies in force as of Jan, there is a ton of upside.
I hope some in management plan on going to the Voluntary Benefits Conference in LA.
http://www.voluntarybenefitsconference.com/
For mini med and limited med companies.
They do have the "HealthCard Now". The discount cards are not considered mini med or limited med.
Offering some form of mini or limited med to Rent A Center customers would be a HUGE revenue grow area, if that comes to fruition watch out.
Right now it is just the discount aspect is availible, along with entertainment, product replacement and unemployment waiver. Having another product to offer those 500,000+ customers would really be interesting. Don't think it would offered along with the RACBenefitsPlus, but as a stand alone product.
These products can be very cheap, even under $50 for young people. That broke down weekly added to the big screen or couch payment could look attractive for many.
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Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $5.2 million at March 31st 2010
Feb 03, 2010 Access Plans Reports Fiscal 2010 First Quarter Results | |
Jan 29, 2010 Access Plans, Inc. Schedules Fiscal 2010 First Quarter Conference Call | |
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Dec 11, 2009 Access Plans Reports Fiscal 2009 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results | |
Dec 07, 2009 Alliance HealthCard, Inc. Changes Corporate Name to Access Plans, Inc.; Stock Symbol to Change | |
Nov 05, 2009 Alliance HealthCard, Inc. Announces Officer Promotions | |
Aug 18, 2009 Alliance HealthCard, Inc. Names Michael Shiomos President of AHCP, Its Insurance Marketing Division | |
Aug 13, 2009 Alliance HealthCard Reports Fiscal 2009 Third Quarter Results | |
May 14, 2009 Alliance HealthCard Reports Results for Second Fiscal Quarter 2009 | |
Apr 01, 2009 |
Feb 12, 2009 Alliance HealthCard Reports 19% Revenue Growth, 50% Increase in Net Income and Earnings per Share of $.06 for Quarter | |
Dec 30, 2008 Alliance HealthCard Reports 2008 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial Results | |
Nov 14, 2008 Alliance HealthCard, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Access Plans USA, Inc. | |
Aug 28, 2008 Susan Matthews, Alliance HealthCard EVP of Sales and Marketing Named Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' 2008 Vendor of the Year | |
Aug 27, 2008 Alliance HealthCard Announces the Move of Its Headquarters to Norman, Oklahoma | |
Aug 25, 2008 DentalPlans.com Adds Alliance HealthCard to Its Extensive Selection | |
Jul 31, 2008 Alliance HealthCard Reports Fiscal 2008 Third Quarter Results | |
May 06, 2008 Alliance HealthCard Reports Fiscal 2008 Second Quarter Results Company Reports Record Revenues with Operating Income Growth of 268% | |
Apr 28, 2008 ALLIANCE HEALTHCARD ANNOUNCES MAY 6, 2008 CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS RESULTS FOR SECOND QUARTER FY 2008 | |
Feb 13, 2008 Alliance HealthCard Reports Fiscal 2008 First Quarter Results Gross Profit Increased 123% With Revenue 30% Higher Compared to Prior Year | |
Jan 22, 2008 Alliance HealthCard to Present in New York City at Friedland Investment Undiscovered Equities Conference | |
Jan 15, 2008 Alliance HealthCard Reports 2007 Fourth Qtr. and Year-End Financial Results | |
Nov 06, 2007 Alliance HealthCard Signs Agreement for Acquisition of HealthExtras Supplemental Benefits Business Unit | |
Aug 01, 2007 Alliance HealthCard Reports First Combined Operating Results with Benefit Marketing Solutions (BMS) | |
May 16, 2007 Alliance HealthCard 2Q Profit Rises 57 Percent | |
Mar 01, 2007 Alliance HealthCard Completes Merger with Benefit Marketing Solutions |
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