BIP Winter 2025

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When NABIP members talk about influence in Washington, they’re often talking about people like Lori Crandall and Jennifer Farrell.

Both long-time Arizona brokers and now national leaders of the NABIP PAC, Crandall and Farrell have spent nearly two decades translating everyday client challenges into legislative action. They’ve seen firsthand how policy and personal connection can move an industry forward. “Once you meet them, politics becomes personal,” Farrell says. “You realize members of Congress are people doing their best to make decisions with all the information they have, and we’re the ones who can help them get that information.” Chair and Vice Chair of NABIP's Political Action Committee, Crandall and Farrell trace their NABIP involvement back to the mid-2000s. Each began at the local level in Phoenix, eventually serving on the Arizona state board and the National Legislative Council. In

created an opportunity for brokers to start talking about compliance and all the pitfalls of the new system,” she says. “That’s what really pulled me in. I started reading everything I could. It’s fascinating how one small section of a bill can ripple into state funding or Medicaid rules. Once you start connecting the dots, it’s hard to stop.” Together, they turned that curiosity into action. At the state level, they helped craft surprise billing legislation and worked to establish continuing education requirements for agents and brokers in Arizona. “That one was huge,” Crandall says. “Up until then, there were no CE credits for our field. Getting that passed was meaningful for every professional in the state.” Making policy personal

2016, they co-hosted a local event with Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and John Barrasso (R-WY) during the height of ACA debates. “We brought the senators together with the local chamber to talk through what was happening,” Farrell says. In 2009, Crandall attended her first Capitol Conference. “That’s where I caught the legislative bug,” she says. “I saw how policy decisions directly affected my clients, and I wanted to be part of those conversations.” Farrell describes her entry point with the same conviction. “When the ACA passed, it

If there’s a through-line in their stories, it’s the belief that politics and relationships are inseparable. “Capitol Conference feeds those of us with the legislative brain,” Farrell says. “You get to meet your congressperson, have real conversations and give them usable information they can take back to the Hill.” Crandall agrees: “The more relationships you build, the more accessible policymakers become. I’ve had meetings in hallways, copy rooms, cafeterias — it doesn’t matter where. What matters is that they understand our issues and remember us when votes come up.”

KEY POINTS

▶ Advocacy as a collective responsibility: Protecting the industry’s future depends on active PAC participation from members. ▶ Strategic growth and education: New initiatives are expanding the PAC’s reach through leadership development, member education and engagement. ▶ Bipartisan credibility and impact: Through consistent relationship-building, the PAC has earned influence across party lines, positioning NABIP as a respected voice in shaping healthcare policy.

30 bip magazine Winter 2025