The Pennsylvania insurance commissioner met recently with the board of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers Service Group, discussing what the group described as “hot-button issues.”

Joel Ario

At the meeting Aug. 18, Commissioner Joel Ario talked about health care reform, industry regulation and the role of the agent.

“There is a great deal of uncertainty in the industry about various reforms and regulations,” said Kathleen Glattly, incoming chairwoman of IA&B, “so it was important for us to hear Commissioner Ario’s viewpoints and voice independent agents’ concerns and needs.”

The meeting was the second between the board and Ario. Following his 2007 appointment as commissioner, Ario met with the IA&B board in October 2007. The IA&B is a partnership of agents’ associations in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, with nearly 1,600 members.

Ario explained the need for health care cost control and agreed-upon reforms, including the elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions and discontinuation of community rating.

Ario said reform of health care at the federal level is a must. “It would be a real bad thing if the result of this is no reform at the federal level,” he said.

Ario said federal regulation of the insurance industry is less likely now than before the November 2008 elections, according to people who attended the meeting.

Ario said the state-based insurance regulatory system needs to be upgraded, and he touted the benefits of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ National Insurance Producer Registry, which seeks to modernize the licensing process.

In response to concern about the Internet and direct writers, Ario said he believes producers offer value-added services that will keep them competitive, according to attendees.