Insurance regulators pass controversial resolution to amend the Affordable Care

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) gathered this week to vote on a controversial resolution that would have drastic effects on a consumer protection clause of the Affordable Care Act. The provision would have saved consumers nationwide approximately $1 billion in premiums while offering them protections from future rate hikes. The provision is also part of the controversial medical loss ratio provision of the health care law – which requires insurers to pay no less than 80% of their premium money on medical care. Regulators have been divided on…

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Digital Insurance Inc. offers complimentary healthcare reform webinar

The top employee benefits agency for speed of growth, Digital Insurance Inc., has sent out invitations for a free webinar that they have entitled “The Agency of the (Not So Distant) Future”, which will be held on Thursday, November 3, at 2 pm. The chief marketing officer and executive vice president of Digital Insurance, Mike Sullivan, will be using the seminar to make a presentation of his vision of the successful agency of tomorrow, and to go over the type of knowledge and infrastructure that will be required in order…

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Study shows that the number of young adults without health insurance has fallen

A recent survey has shown that as a result of the Obama healthcare law that allows young adults to maintain coverage through their parents’ health insurance plans, the number of uninsured people in that age group has fallen dramatically. The survey was performed by Gallup, and indicated that there are now approximately 1 million more young adults who are covered by health insurance. At a time that the economy continues to struggle and the future is uncertain, it has been challenging for young adults to take those first steps into…

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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners withdraws its support of an insurance bill on its way to Congress

Insurance brokers have been rallying behind a controversial bill before Congress. The bill was first introduced last month by Senator Mike Rogers of Michigan. The legislation seeks to remove the sales agent fees from insurers’ administrative costs. Supporters of the bill assert that it will help protect the jobs of agents. Furthermore, by reducing costs, insurers will be able to transfer the savings down to consumers. For insurers, the bill holds such promise that they were hoping that federal insurance regulators would endorse it. Regulators, however, have a much different…

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New legislation seeks to protect agency role in health coverage

With states making moves toward establishing health insurance exchanges, the role of agents has been a subject of debate – specifically whether they will still be necessary. In New York, new legislation has been introduced that will protect the role of insurance agents and brokers. The state is one of the leaders in pioneering insurance exchanges, but has not forgotten the importance of independent insurance agents. The bill guarantees that agents will continue to play their part parallel to the state’s exchange program. The bill was introduced by Senators James…

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