UR Risk LLC

12/27/2025

12/08/2025

Here's a great post form LinkedIn I wanted to share because more people need to understand the political aspects, or influence on the high cost of healthcare. The healthcare industrial complex has the second largest political lobbying machine with both federal and state level impact.

New Jersey's $100M Settlement Exposes Billion-Dollar Problem and A Roadmap for Affordability | Chris Deacon
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New Jersey's $100M Settlement Exposes Billion-Dollar Problem and A Roadmap for Affordability | Chris Deacon

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10/18/2024

As a Houstonian, I felt compelled to share this LinkedIn post from Chris Deacon. For those of you that don't know, in my profession I work with employers and employees to get the best healthcare for their money. Our current healthcare system is rigged against employers, employees, plan members, and patients. There are numerous contributors to the high cost of healthcare, resulting in a "profits before patients" reality. This is just another example.

Memorial Hermann is one of the dominant health systems here in the Houston area. And according to their website:

"Memorial Hermann Health System is a non-profit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health."

So, based on this, how exactly does the $70,000,000 spent on promoting their system with the Houston Rockets benefit the community and improve health? If they are community-owned, as they say, I have to wonder if the community would support this expenditure versus putting it toward supporting the community and reducing the cost of care.

$70,000,000 would go a long way to help a lot of people. And to Chris's point, most likely have a significant impact on medical debt in our area.

The other point that I think is ironic, is that this is another "Non-profit" that is constantly saying they aren't making Money, that Medicare doesn't pay them enough, etc., etc. But somehow they have $70,000,000 to spend on an endorsement deal with the Rockets.

Which leads to the questions, how much will the cost of healthcare with Memorial Hermann increase to cover this $70,000,000 luxury expense.

As Peter Hayes put it in the comments below, "The $70 million is a direct health care tax to every patient. There is no free lunch. The $70 million ultimately comes out of patients' pockets without any increase in the value (cost and quality) of the healthcare they deliver to that community."

While Memorial Hermann Health System is spending $70M for the privilege to have its name grace an NBA jersey, many Houstonians are drowning in medical debt.… | 22 comments on LinkedIn

10/16/2024

I wanted to share this post from one of my associates on LinkedIn becuase she does a great job of pointing out the serious mismanagement by FEMA in where it's spending its funds. Are hosptials really in more dire need than those impacted by hurricans Beryl and Milton? I don't think so!

Hospitals constantly complain about not making enough money, that Medicare doesnt pay them enough, etc., etc. However, do your homework and understand how thye spend their revenue and the charity donations they receive. They don't have any money, but are building a new "Taj Mahal" hospital that makes many high-end hotels look bad. Look at the compensation packages for their top executives. They're pretty rich for a "non-profit" organization (in the millions), with base salaries typically being approx. 1/3-1/2 of their compensation and revenue and growth bonuses accounting for the remaining 1/2 to 2/3s. Most hospitals today have approx. 2/3 administrators and 1/3 healthcare professionals. And these days only approx. 25% of their boards of directors are medical professionals versus 75% 30 years ago.

I apologize for getting on my soap box, but this is one of the big contributors to our high-cost healthcare system that is hurting Americans.

Why is FEMA still doling out billions to wealthy hospitals while communities are drowning?! Literally. I was reading through CommonSpirit Health's most…

10/07/2024

This is a good article addressing some additional reasons for having life insurance, eveen if you're financially secure or well to do.
https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/should-you-add-life-insurance-to-your-estate-plan?cid=31236036|6069808|210485289|387790003

Adding life insurance to your estate plan can help give your heirs flexibility in the future.

10/07/2024

This is a good article form Charles Schwab about how much insurnace you really need. This will, or course, vary by each person spcific needs but gives a great overview.

Insurance offers not just downside protection but also financial stability. Here's a look at the costs and considerations of several types of insurance coverage.

09/25/2024

Here's another great example of our congressmembers trying to regulate something they don't understand. In this case, Se. Sanders is beating his chest about accomplishing something that will most likely lead to the opposite result of what he thinks it will. He considers "possible" price reductions in exchange for access to a broader market a success.

Look deeper, understand how the numbers work.

An Open Letter to Senator Sanders: On this point, you are wrong. There’s no question that many of your efforts over the years have been instrumental in… | 10 comments on LinkedIn

09/03/2024

Mission K9 Rescue - Your Help Will Save Our Staff

This is a great organization that needs our support! If you can help, please donate so they can keep up their great work!

Dear Friends of Mission K9 Rescue,

It is with deep sadness that we reach out to you again with an urgent plea for support. Earlier this year, we found ourselves in a similar position and were overwhelmed by the generosity you showed us. Unfortunately, we must ask for your help once more.

Despite 10 years of hard work, during which we have rescued over 1,300 working dogs, reunited nearly 700 with their former handlers, and spent $2 million on veterinary care, we are facing an unprecedented challenge. The summer grant we typically rely on was not awarded to us this year, leaving us with less than two weeks of payroll remaining.

This is not where we expected to be after a decade of dedicated service, but without immediate funding, we will be unable to continue our mission. Our team, who have given their all to these dogs, are now at risk of losing their jobs.

If you can, please consider making a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help us continue our life-saving work and honor the sacrifices these dogs have made in their service.

We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support and hope you can stand with us in this critical moment.
With heartfelt thanks,

Kristen Maurer, Bob Bryant, and the MK9 Board of Directors

Donate - https://donate.missionk9rescue.org - Support

You honor both working dogs and handlers when you support our work.

93 cents out of every dollar donated goes to our work - no waste!

Dogs rescued from:
USA, Including Alaska and Hawaii, Germany, Italy, Guam, Kuwait, Jordan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, UAE, Japan, Korea, Bahrain, Mexico, Bosnia, Israel, Colombia, England, Turkey, and Canada.

No other organization even comes close to the work we have accomplished with your help!

Donate - https://donate.missionk9rescue.org - Support
If you prefer Paypal, we are listed as “Mission K9 Rescue”.

If you prefer to mail a check, please use this address for donations by mail:
Mission K9 Rescue
18640 FM 1488
STE A-238
Magnolia, Texas 77354

713-589-9362

EIN 46-4302698 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

Your Contribution Matters

Whether it's $10, $50, or $100, every contribution makes a real difference. Your donation today is an investment in the lives of these heroic dogs, who have given so much.

Donate - https://donate.missionk9rescue.org

Together, we can ensure that our four-legged heroes receive the love, care, and honor they so richly deserve after a lifetime of service.

Your support brings them home, keeps them healthy, fed, and into loving homes!

07/03/2024

I ran across a very interesting post regarding the healhcare/provider industry in Texas and thought it important to share. Please understand that in this day and age healthcare is big business, a multi-billion, if not trillion, dollar industry putting profits before patients.

Spotlight on our nation's largest medical society, the Texas Medical Association

01/19/2024

I hope this article is right and more employers start to look beyond the status quo options presented to them over the last 30+ years. The opportunity to take control of their employee benefits cost is there, it just needs to be embraced.

The other change that was left out of this article, is managing employee benefits like any other aspect of your business, know your cost and cost drivers, implement strategies to manage them, and leverage new technologies and strategies to your advantage.

When you have a business partner or supplier that you find out is working against you, or profiting at your expense, do you keep working with them? Or, do you develop an alternative strategy without them? While your premiums go up year after year, the major health insurance carriers report quarter after quarter of increased revenue, and stock prices that have increased 300%-400% over the last 10 years. Has you companies value grown at that rate?

Yes, it requires change, but the rewards are substantial, and your competition will be embracing them eventually so who do you want to gain the upper hand first, you or your competitors? Many are already doing this and the results there, but more need to join the shift to bring health care cost in line and reduce the financial drain our current health care system has created.

Leaner budgets will drive technology adoption and accelerate benefits automation.