Vacco Insurance LLC

09/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18PBSJbBBQ/

Despite more than a year of consistent efforts by CHI St. Vincent to reach a sustainable contract renewal, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas has been unwilling to agree to a fair contract that recognizes the vital role our hospitals, facilities and providers play in this community. As a result, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas no longer considers CHI St. Vincent as part of its network.

CHI St. Vincent sought a fair reimbursement agreement that would allow the health system to continue investing in the equipment, technology and staffing required for quality care. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas’ refusal to offer rates that reflect the actual cost of providing care has led to this disruption.

“Since 1888, our mission has been to provide essential, life-saving care to all Arkansans, and we are disappointed that we have not been able to reach an equitable agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas,” said Dr. William G. Jones, CHI St. Vincent market president. “We have worked tirelessly to avoid this outcome, and believe that affordability and sustainability can coexist; however, we cannot continue to subsidize inadequate, unfair reimbursement rates at the expense of our clinical operations and the patients we serve. Fair reimbursement is not separate from our mission; it enables our mission.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas is limiting access to critical services its members rely on, unique to CHI St. Vincent, including:

▪️CHI St. Vincent's Advanced Neuroscience program is home to world-renowned neurosurgeons treating patients with complex brain tumors and serious neurological conditions.
▪️The largest provider of heart surgery in Arkansas, recognized by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for outstanding outcomes and named a Top 50 U.S. Hospital for Cardiovascular Care by Modern Healthcare in 2026.
▪️The only Labor and Delivery hospital in Southwest Arkansas.
▪️The only Pancreatic Disease Center of Excellence within 400 miles.
▪️A critical rural primary care lifeline — CHI St. Vincent's broad primary care network reaches deep into Arkansas's rural communities, where patients and families have no other options.

CHI St. Vincent remains committed to reaching an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas.

“We have not walked away from the table. We are doing everything we can to restore in-network access for the thousands of patients who rely on us for their care,” Dr. Jones said. “We urge Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas to consider the needs of their members and accept our proposal, which reflects the true cost of care and prioritizes the health of our community.”

For more information, patients should visit https://ow.ly/lbIi50ZHMvW or call 800-258-5075, Monday–Friday 10am–10pm and Saturday–Sunday 10am–6pm.

08/31/2026

I would like to announce that my Sister, Jackie Janicak Pool, is now licensed and contracted and ready to serve you for all your health insurance related needs. She joins the team of myself, and 3 other agents, to make our staff of 5 now. Please don't hesitate to reach out to anyone of us as we have put together a fully staffed, highly trained, team to assist everyone.

08/28/2026

36 years ago today I was involved in one of the worst tornadoes in IL history. A F5 hit without warning. 16 miles long and 700 ft wide. It killed 29 and injured 353. I was 16 and driving my brother and his friend in my Mom's van to the bike shop in a neighboring town. We were right next to the High School (pictured) when all the glass in the van shattered, picked us up, twirled us around, and dropped us. I was the only one injured with glass embedded in my arm. The only thing that explains how lucky we were was God's hand over us. I believe that set me on the path to try to help and protect others. Community became important. From military, to local and State Police, and now to helping people navigate through their health options to prevent them from being taken advantage of, my life has been spent trying to help and serve others. I have coached both girls and boys T-ball and Baseball teams over the years. I have donated both time and money to local organizations. I have given back everything I can thanks to you affording me the opportunity to continue to be a part of this community. I hope this gives you a little more insight as to who I am and what I represent.This Annual Election Period I hope you can support my business the way I've tried to support you. Thank you!

08/10/2026

Medicare Supplement rate increases have started to come out (I'm not talking about Medicare Advantage Plans). My phone has started ringing with inquiries about it. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do when a company raises their premiums. That is why we try to sell for the companies with a track record of lower increases over a long period of time. There are new companies that swoop in with low rates, get you locked in, and then explode their premiums. We don't sell new companies without a track record. With a Supplement plan, you do have the option of trying to be re-written into another Supplement option or company with lower rates. However, you will have to pass underwriting questions to do so. If your rates have gotten out of hand, and you think you can pass the underwriting, give us a call and we can go over your options. With a Supplement plan, you can switch to another Supplement all year round pending approval of the underwriting.

08/05/2026

This is a really good checklist to go over before getting on Medicare. The only thing I would add would be to see if you qualify for any "Extra Help" that may cover your Part B premiums, help with prescription drug costs, and even help cover your medical copays. Different levels of Extra Help could qualify you for different plans that will add even more benefits than the regular plans. We can help navigate you through all of this and take the "deer out of the headlights" look we see with so many Customers that come to us overwhelmed. I've been helping people with their health insurance needs since the beginning of 2011. Let me help you too! Give me or my staff of Agents a call or stop in. Don't trust the phone solicitors, mailings, or TV commercials claiming they have the next best plan in your area when they are states away! Stay local and have a trusted Agent that knows the area, and the accepted plans, that you can reach if needed.

07/31/2026

When someone tells you you don't need any other type of plan, be it a Supplement or an Advantage Plan, please don't listen to them until you know all the facts. No plan is 100%. But having just Medicare in the event of a serious issue can totally wipe you out. Give us a call and let us show you your options. In the end, it's always YOUR decision. But at least you'll know what's out there.

07/08/2026

When you invest in area businesses, they in turn invest back into the community. It's especially rewarding to help out children with their opportunities to do special things. Congratulations to these Mtn. Home FBLA kids!

06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day to all the men out there doing their best to be a Father figure in someone's life. Enjoy your day!

06/09/2026

06/08/2026

I found out this morning that I have several Clients all in one small town that switched plans without letting me know. This isn't the first time this has happened in this town, and I know exactly why. I'm not going to point fingers. All I'm going to say is before you trust someone that doesn't have an insurance license, doesn't have the training, and only cares about one aspect of the plan that benefits their own business, PLEASE contact me before you do something you will regret later. There's a reason why I sit down with you face to face, go over everything, and explain why the plan you're selecting is the one that meets your all around needs the most. If there is an issue, contact me. Don't get caught up in someone trying to tell you the grass is greener with another plan. Plus, when you redo your plan this way, you lose your local representation. And I guarantee the person who switched you doesn't have the ability to help. This also applies for phone solicitors.