About time to wrap this first quarter up, huh? I mean, is there anyone not happy about getting the first part of this year over with? (I guess the only downside for me is that it brings me that much closer to the big 4-0 in September.)

But I digress. So, health care reform is now law. I know, it sucks, almost as bad as this year's crop of American Idol finalists, but now it's time to figure out what it means for each of us. And how we're gonna live with it.

I noticed some of the carriers tried a pre-emptive strike against covering children with pre-existing conditions, arguing over some fine print legalese in the legislation. Yeah, that was a bit of PR genius, but it looks like they've already relented in the face of some pretty harsh backlash. (Wow, who saw that coming?)

And it looks like some of the larger employers (AT&T, Boeing and Caterpillar, to name a few) are ringing up million-dollar first-quarter charge-offs in the face of a disappearing retiree drug benefit tax deduction. And Verizon's already fired off a memo to its employees, warning of possible changes to their health plans.

Forget about the pundits and the talking heads, because health care reform officially passed them by. Their predictions and pontifications are worthless now. We're already watching the aftermath of this historic legislation first-hand.

How quickly you respond - and adapt - will determine whether you get run over by this freight train or find a place on board.

One way that you can do that is to join us in D.C. next month to hash out how reform affects your business. Register for the Benefits Selling Expo today.

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