A recent article in The Sun reported that "13 states will split grants totaling nearly $220 million to help set up health insurance exchanges" under the terms of the health care law. As officials in these states establish the marketplaces newly mandated by federal law, they must ensure that individuals and small businesses have access to licensed, professional insurance agents through them.
Many small businesses depend on agents to effectively run their health benefits programs. The Congressional Budget Office reports that brokers "handle the responsibilities that larger firms generally delegate to their human resource departments — such as finding plans and negotiating premiums…and processing enrollees."
Individual consumers rely on brokers, too. A recent IBM survey revealed that 75 percent of those who have worked with agents are very satisfied. Fifty-four percent said no amount of savings would cause them to drop their brokers.
Janet Trautwein, Washington, D.C.
The writer is executive vice president and CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters.