Walked into the office this morning determined to write about Medicare. Compelling stuff, I know, but as the staggering economy takes its toll on every other aspect of our lives, I thought it might be time to highlight the beating Medicare is taking because of the precipitous plunge in payroll taxes.

(The latest estimate has Medicare running dry by 2017, nearly two decades sooner than Social Security, which seems to get all the press.)

But before I could make my second trip to Starbucks this morning, a broker friend called me, a little freaked out by an e-mail she'd just received. Talk about your wake-up call; this thing was more jarring than an Eminem lyric.

She found a of tomorrow's Senate Finance Committee report, quietly dubbed, "Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans." Oxymoronic titles aside, this threatens to be this summer's real blockbuster.

What should you be worried about most? How about this proposed Health Insurance Exchange? You should look into it -- especially since this federal entity's role is designed to replace you, the broker. Scared yet? You should be.

I know it's not exactly summer beach reading, but do us all a favor and click on , download the PDF, read it and pass it on. It's time to get informed and get into the fray.

Look for a more in-depth examination of this in the July issue of Benefits Selling. Until then, keep reading.

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