A national insurance agents’ trade association is reminding Congress that whatever health care reform comes, consumers must not be denied access to the advice of licensed, professional, independent insurance agents.

The National Association of the Professional Insurance Agents, a group that represents independent agents, is concerned with one proposal for health insurance exchanges that eliminated the participation of all licensed insurance agents. Instead, the bill called for unlicensed individuals or community groups to support health care decision-making.

Kenneth R. Auerbach

The U.S. House of Representatives amended the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (HR 3200), giving explicit authority to insurance agents to sell insurance in any exchange approved by Congress.

“We find it incredible that any of the healthcare bills would attempt to ban the participation of licensed, professional, independent insurance agents,” said PIA National President Kenneth R. Auerbach in a statement. “In no other area is being certified and licensed considered a disqualifying factor. That’s like saying physicians cannot have medical accreditation, attorneys cannot be members of the bar or auto mechanics cannot be certified technicians.”

Auerbach said legislators misunderstood the role insurance agents play in the health insurance decisions.

“When the prohibition was included in one of the bills, it was suggested that unlicensed individuals with no training or expertise in health insurance would better serve as so-called ‘navigators,’ helping people choose which health plan they participate in,” Auerbach said. “Professional, independent insurance agents already help their customers navigate the health insurance choices that are currently available to them. The added complexity of a reformed system will make such assistance even more critical.”

The House amendment, sponsored by Blue Dog Democrats Reps. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), Mike Ross (D-Ark.), Baron Hill (D-Ind.), Jim Matheson (D-Utah), Zack Space (D-Ohio), John Barrow (D-Ga.) and Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), guarantees that agents and brokers can participate in the process.