AHIA Responds to Hillary Care '08
The Association of Health Insurance Advisors (AHIA), the health and employee benefits advocate for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, has issued a response to Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's American Health Choices Plan. Among the issues that AHIA identified as concerns is the elimination of the role of the agent in the health insurance market. In defense of the involvement of health insurance agents, AHIA president Thomas J. Vander Wal said, "Licensed, regulated, fairly compensated insurance agents offer a cost effective means of achieving personal and professional assistance in the selection of insurance coverage for individuals and employers of all sizes in all markets."
In response to Clinton's plan, AHIA has issued it's own statement for reform in Rx for Health Care - the Advisor's Perspective, which focuses on a set of principles that will "help lower costs and ensure coverage is available to all citizens without resorting to new government programs or jeopardizing the high quality of care we enjoy and expect as American consumers."
AHIA believes reform efforts should include the following key elements:
NAIFA-Texas Joins Fight Against Unfair Taxation
The NAIFA-Texas Board of Directors voted unanimously to support an amendment to the Texas Constitution that would end the insidious fee called mixed-use vehicle taxation that targets insurance agents, financial advisors and many other independent contractors. The amendment, which must be ratified by Texas voters on November 6, 2007, may save Texas agents and financial advisors $600 or more in additional taxes per year.
In its support, NAIFA-TX joins the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, the Texas Association of REALTORS, Texas Farm Bureau and several other organizations in Texans for Tax Relief. If Proposition 6 fails to be ratified, it will be a green light for central appraisal districts to target insurance agents, financial advisors and other independent contractors who drive their personally owned vehicle for business purposes.
All NAIFA-Texas members are encouraged to vote for Proposition 6 on November 6.
For more information, please visit http://www.voteforprop6.org or download these resources to help contribute to the campaign:
Use these remarks for speaking opportunities with your members (Word doc)
NAIFA-Texas Files Comments on Suitability/Replacement Rules
In response to the Texas Department of Insurance's (TDI) request, NAIFA-TX has filed comments on the upcoming rules put forth for the implementation of HB 1261 and 1262, relating to suitability requirements in the sale or replacement of life insurance products and annuities.
In a letter sent to TDI, NAIFA-Texas CEO/CLO Des Taylor noted that "companies, and the agents who sell their products, have adopted many of the practices to put them in compliance with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) regulations". Taylor, on behalf of NAIFA-Texas members, further called upon the department to follow the NAIC model regulations "as closely as possible," while allowing for the possibility that the Commissioner might add a Texas-specific warning to investors regarding the sale and replacement of these products.
In the coming weeks, TDI will consider formal comments on the published rule. Check back in the coming NAIFA-Texas eNewsletter for more information as the process continues.
NAIFA Board Votes to Support Federal Legislation to Address Designation Concerns
In response to action taken by the Policy Formation Subcommittee, the NAIFA Board of Directors voted to support federal legislation to address concerns regarding the designations used by agents and financial advisors. In a motion filed by the board, NAIFA leaders acknowledged "recent allegations that agents, advisors and registered representatives of broker/dealers are using designations that may convey an expertise in senior matters where such expertise does not, in fact, exist."
Further, the motion called upon the Congress to work with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the North American Security Administrators Association to draft model legislation determining which designations should receive "safe harbor" status "from claims brought against a producer based upon misleading use of a designation."
Finally, the NAIFA Board pledged the support of NAIFA members in the cause of educating consumers on the meaning and validity of approved designations. |