IIABA Health Care Reform Kit

During our visits to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., our agents and brokers heard loud and clear that our industry is in the crosshairs of potential government interference like never before, most notably with regards to the sale and delivery of health insurance.

The Obama Administration is actively working with Congress and interested parties to craft a major health care reform proposal.  While still being developed, this proposal could potentially eliminate or severely curtail the agent/broker role in health insurance sales.  The entire debate is on a fast track with draft legislation expected to be circulated in late May, consideration and votes by Senate committees of jurisdiction in June and floor consideration as early as July.  The House is expected to follow suit with consideration of legislation in the late summer or early fall.

Any government effort to replace or supplant the private industry in the sale and delivery of health insurance will have disastrous effects on independent agents and the consumers you serve.  A recent survey of our national membership indicated that 62% of our agencies sell health insurance, and health insurance products account for more than 14% of our agencies' revenues.

To counter the efforts that threaten our livelihood, IIABA has assembled a Health Care Reform Kit to educate you on the issue and help you advocate in your community.  The kit is included below.  Also included is Health Care Reform Kit #2 with additional resources.

IIABA is co-hosting a fly-in with the other health insurance producer groups on July 15th to collectively voice our concerns to Members of congress prior to their important votes on the issue.  Please save the date of July 15th for this important event.

Health Care Reform Kit:

Please read these documents carefully and immediately begin educating your colleagues, clients and business associates.

Health Care Reform Kit #2:

1.  Joint Producer Group Document:  Americans Deserve Access to Professionally Licensed and Trained health Insurance Agents
2.  Five Things You Can Do To Effectively Advocate At Home:
3.  Des Moines Register Editorial touting the misguided virtures of the public plan
4.  Bob Skow's Letter to the Editor that sets the record straight

Items 3 & 4 are intended to serve as an example of how you can respond or proactively write to your local newspaper about the fallacies of the public plan.

Congress is adjourning on Friday for the Memorial Day recess (May 23 - June 1) and presents an excellent opportunity for our membership to voice their concerns to their Member of Congress and two Senators at either a personal meeting or a town hall event.  If you can't meet with them then, try for the July 4th Congressional recess (June 27 - July 6)