BIP Winter 2024

“ I want every member in my region and across NABIP to know our RVP team is dedicated to our

to have an industry navigator who provides positive reinforcement to be the best industry professional they can be.” Like other regions, the NABIP heartland will focus on protecting the industry’s future, from nontraditional benefits to Medicare reform. “In the Medicare world, none of our states have issued a birthday rule that has protected the supplement rates. However, healthcare systems have had significant opposition to participating in Medicare Advantage plans, forcing guaranteed issue SEPs in areas losing coverage,” says Ideus. “The reality of these impacts is soon to be determined and has caught national attention.” Region IV members will continue to reach out and advocate for Medicare beneficiaries. “I believe that there are ways to navigate these obstacles and to create opportunities to safeguard Medicare and its beneficiaries; we just need to have all the seats at the table actively advocating for the whole, not independent gain,” says Ideus. She also looks forward to the growth of NABIP’s Cyber Security and AI Task Force, launched in November 2024. The mission is to educate, advocate and provide resources to NABIP members in areas like cyber security physical assessments, incident management, liability training, AI education, compliance, government relations and more. “I want every member in my region and across NABIP to know that our RVP team is dedicated to our membership,” says Ideus. “As a progressive industry, we take seriously the need to recognize lessons learned in our past, continually evaluate the potential of our future, and, more importantly, take proactive action when we have an opportunity to make a positive impact.”

membership.” — CALLY IDEUS, REGION IV VP

Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia L ike other regions, Region III’s top goals for 2025 center around membership growth and retention — with a particular focus on each new member’s first-year experience, according to longtime regional leader Valerie Cramer. Chapter leaders

REGION III

nationwide have access to the 7 Touches program that ensures each new member receives at least seven communications, either via email or phone call, throughout their first year in the association. “We know these touches will impact the level of engagement and welcoming our new members feel,” says Cramer, vice president of sales at HealthBridge. Additional goals for Region III include: • Offering quality programming and education. • Increasing PAC contributions to support NABIP’s legislative agenda. • Supporting local needs to ensure chapter success. To strengthen these objectives, “Succession planning is a critical focus for us,” says Cramer. “Building committees to recruit future leaders and retain leaders to ensure continuity and growth in our chapters.”

TIP: NABIP recently established the Cyber Security and AI Task

Force, where members can find extensive resources.

40 bip magazine Winter 2024