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Thursday, September 2, 2010 |  |
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Resources on Health Reform Client Resource Center Highlights Grassroots Legislative Tools Legislative Tracking Newsletters HUPAC |
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Value of Agents, Brokers and Consultants
As Congress and the Administration consider meaningful proposals for national health reform, one key test of public approval for any sustainable and equitable plan will be ensuring continued access to the services of state-licensed agents, brokers and consultants who serve as American consumers' counselors and advocates. Professionally licensed health insurance agents, brokers and consultants provide valuable services to individuals and employers to obtain prices for coverage that best fits their needs. Licensed specialists design benefit plans, explain coordination issues of public and private benefits to individuals/employees, and solve problems that may occur once coverage is in place. They are also at the forefront of helping to design and implement cutting-edge health promotion and wellness programs for employers—a focus that everyone agrees is key to combating increasing health care costs. Some contend that agents and brokers add unnecessary expense to the cost of health insurance and that a government-run entity can substitute for the role and value of professional benefit specialists. However, the record clearly indicates that government bureaucrats are ill-equipped to provide the personal service, timely objective information, guidance and accountability that professionally trained and licensed agents and brokers deliver on a daily basis.Resources
NAHU Issue Summary on the Role of Agents, Brokers and Consultants in Health Reform In order for health care reform to be successful, NAHU belives Congress must include health insurance agents, brokers and consultants in any reformed health care delivery system.Joint Letter to House and Senate Leadership on Concerns with the House and Senate-Passed Health Reform Bills NAHU, along with other members of the Agent/Broker Alliance, sent this letter to congressional leaders in January 2010 outlining concerns specific to health insurance professionals.
Joint Letter to Senate Leadership NAHU, along with other members of the Agent/Broker Alliance, sent a letter to the Senate leadership on December 11 regarding the role of licensed health insurance agents, brokers and consultants in any revised Senate comprehensive health reform legislation.
Survey Shows Consumers Prefer Agents When Shopping for and Purchasing Individual Medical Insurance On July 23, Assurant Health released the results of a national survey, finding that people who purchased individual health coverage through a professional agent were significantly more satisfied with their health plans than those who bought individual insurance online.
The Role of Agents and Brokers in an Exchange NAHU prepared and released a white paper commenting on the role of agents, brokers and consultants in a health insurance exchange.
Agent Association Joint White Paper on the Value of Agents, Brokers and Consultants NAHU, along with four other professional organizations representing licensed agents, brokers and consultants, has developed a white paper detailing why a government-run entity could never replicate the services our members provide to their clients on a daily basis.
Joint Letter to Congress NAHU joined with CIAB, IIABA and NAIFA/AHIA to send a letter to congressional leaders that encourages the inclusion of agents, brokers and consultants in any comprehensive health reform effort. Brokers Making a Difference Website NAHU has dedicated a website to promote how agents and brokers are making a difference in the lives of their clients every day. The site includes resources for the uninsured, information about finding a licensed insurance professional and also a book of real-life testimonials from agents and their clients about the value of the services agents and brokers and consultants provide. Current Regulation of Agents, Brokers and Consultants Agents and brokers are subject to rigorous licensing and continuing education laws and many other state-level requirements. This chart details the regulation of agents and brokers on a state-by-state basis.
Content copyright © 1998-2010 National Association of Health Underwriters. All rights reserved.
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