BIP Summer 2024

NABIP OUT IN FRONT FOR AGENTS

“Every time the administration came out with a press release which was negative about agents, we responded the same day,” says John Greene, senior vice president of government relations at NABIP. “We got terrific media attention, and we became known as the people to go to for information about what’s happening with this rule because we were on top of it.” As a result, NABIP staff were among the few people in the audience when the Finance Committee conducted a hearing on the issue in January. “We’ve talked to staff on the Finance Committee, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means committees,” says Greene. “And we’re still doing meetings now, even after the rule was released.” Agent Michele Malooley, who serves on NABIP’s Medicare Committee, has had a front-row seat for the association’s advocacy work. “NABIP is working really hard to bring about change,” Malooley says. This year, the Medicare rule fight was public and waged on multiple fronts — in federal agencies, Capitol Hill, and the media. And NABIP was there every step of the way.

“And the one thing that I’ve had to learn about Washington, D.C., is that change is slower than a turtle sometimes. As agents, we see problems and we know what needs to be done to fix them, but that’s not necessarily the way it’s done in D.C. Change takes time.” Scotty Elliott, chief distribution officer of Health Distribution for AmeriLife, says FMOs like his company also benefit from the association’s

advocacy. “NABIP has been critical to helping lead our advocacy efforts. They created a forum that brought together the top FMOs from all over our industry to ensure we were apprised of the most current news from CMS and the Hill,” he says. “Moreover, they facilitated meaningful conversation, helped cultivate one voice that effectively articulated a strong distribution perspective, and helped educate CMS on the value

that FMOs bring to the marketplace,” Elliott adds.

Adds Malooley, “NABIP is out there pounding the pavement, and the Medicare Advisory Committee is getting information out to agents. We need everyone to get involved. The more voices and stronger we are, the more we can continue to make things happen. NABIP is looking out for us and our customers — the people we need to protect.”

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