With the House scheduled to begin consideration of a health reform bill proposed by three of its committees, the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia is urging its members to speak out against provisions of the pending legislation.

To date, the House Ways and Means and Education and Labor Committees have approved the America’s Affordable Health Choice Act of 2009, with the Energy and Commerce Committee continuing their markup of the bill. The bill seeks to fulfill President Barack Obama’s goals of reducing the nation’s number of uninsured by providing affordable, quality health care.

The IIAV and the nationwide Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, said in a recent message to its membership that the House Democrats Tri-Committee health reform bill “is not the right solution” and the groups are “strongly opposed to the bill in its current form.”

Among the concerns are a government-run health insurance program created by the bill to compete directly with private insurance companies, a 5.4% surtax on small businesses and an employer mandate that the groups feel would “shrink small business output and force small businesses to cut jobs,” according to a statement.

In Virginia, the IIAV is urging its member agents and broker to contact Democratic Reps Glenn Nye and Tom Perriello to voice their concerns prior to a full House vote regarding their concerns and share their experiences as insurance agents, working with carriers and customers every day.