As federal legislators in Washington, D.C., craft the future of health care coverage, a national health insurance agents’ organization is reminding them that professionals are a key ingredient in the final product.

The National Association of Health Underwriters has launched a new website and print publication entitled “Brokers Making A Difference,” answering questions and sharing firsthand accounts of the value of insurance professionals.

Janet Trautwein

Janet Trautwein, NAHU’s CEO, told IFAwebnews.com that when the organization reviews legislation, the agent/broker is often overlooked as a valuable entity.

“There is always the effort to cut administrative costs, indicating that this or that can be done if only they could cut out agent/broker commissions or that things would be easier so that the agent doesn’t have to do as much work,” she said. “It occurred to me that [legislators] don’t know what brokers really do and to me, that is concerning.”

A ‘challenging time’

The need for understanding is especially important now, Trautwein said, as President Barack Obama and members of Congress actively work to draft health care reform legislation many expect to come to fruition by the end of the year.

With everything from government-run insurance to the end of pre-existing conditions currently on the table, it is a critical time to be informed and have your voice heard, Trautwein said.

“I think certainly, agents and brokers are extremely worried that they will be cut out, either by legislators or maybe by insurers,” she said. “Insurers could say they are being forced to cut administrative costs and cut them out.”

Trautwein said that agents and brokers “believe in” the current private insurance system now and its service to customers and have dire concerns about a government-run format.

“If there is no private coverage, forget about agents and brokers,” she said. “[A public plan] is an extreme threat to private coverage as you are not on the same playing field and it could cause the demise of private insurance.”

Trautwein added that “there is a lot of work ahead” for NAHU and other agent-based organizations as reform ideas and legislation continues to be discussed.

“This will be a challenging time for us pretty much throughout the rest of the year,” she said. “I’m convinced Congress will pass something and then we will be involved in the implementation and regulation. I hope for a reasonable outcome and a decent compromise.”

Being heard through stories, numbers

Having already sent out legislative updates to members, NAHU began seeking personal stories earlier this year, Trautwein said, and what they got in return was remarkable.

“I got an amazing response, hundreds of responses and the stories were so powerful and showed so much service to clients,” she said.

Those stories are the heart of both the website and a 72-page book, which will be distributed by NAHU to every member of Congress.

Congress has also received a letter from NAHU and several other agent organizations that have joined together to advocate the role of the agent and the private insurance industry. In addition to NAHU, the partnership includes The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and its health arm, the National Association of Health Insurance Advisors, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America and the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents.

Together, the organizations represent more than 500,000 agents and brokers nationwide.

“That’s a pretty loud voice to Congress and a sign they have to pay attention,” Trautwein said.

“We all have the same goal and working together, there is power in numbers and numbers are important here as we want to be noticed.”

To read testimonials from agents nationwide and learn more about NAHU’s efforts to provide education on the role of agents, visit: www.brokersmakingadifference.org.

This story originally appeared in the July 2009 print edition of Insurance & Financial Advisor.