Now that the new federal healthcare reform law has been enacted, professional insurance agents are beginning the process of coping with the changes.

What makes this difficult is that while some changes will occur soon, others won’t happen for years, but insureds have questions now – some of which may have no answers yet.

In addition to the fact that some major changes are years off, many specifics about just how they will be implemented won’t be known until regulations are written. All of this can put agents getting questions from their clients in a difficult position.

This week’s issue of the National Underwriter has as its cover story an article assessing the task facing agents. Leaders of the agent community were interviewed and offered their comments, including PIA National Executive Vice President & CEO Leonard C. Brevik.

“As a practical matter—like it or not—as of now, health care reform is the law of the land, and we must deal with that reality in a way that protects the business interests of independent agents,” Brevik said, noting that since the health care law was enacted, “the action has focused on two tracks—the politics and the practical."

He cited lawsuits filed by 13 state attorneys general challenging the constitutionality of the new law, and noted that Republicans have announced repeal as one of their top priorities. “So the situation may change as a result of the electoral or the judicial process. But until then, we must operate as if the law will continue,” he said.

Brevik said PIA’s goals include ensuring that independent agents will continue to be able to sell policies, “that they will be fairly compensated, and that agent compensation will be set by the marketplace, not by federal bureaucrats attempting to set or impose arbitrary compensation schedules.” You can read the entire article here.

Agents Scramble To Begin Transition (National Underwriter 4/12/10)

April 14, 2010