We are
pleased to report to you that this past Thursday, IIAV's proposed legislation on
certificates of insurance - HB 867 – passed by unanimous
vote in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.
The bill was amended in order to accommodate federal or state
certificate requests where the language requested on the certificate was very
specific, but the cert must still reflect the underlying policy. EPA, DOD and DEQ certificates are
federal/state departments with specific certificate language. Our Senate bill has passed the Senate and when
it gets to the House it will be amended to mirror HB 867.
We are not out of the
woods yet. While it's unlikely (knock on wood) opposition could still come out
of the woodwork and attempt to do harm to our bills but at this point it would
be rather difficult. Having said that, both Joe Hudgins and I will be keeping an
alert eye on our bills to make sure nothing happens to them. Keep your fingers
crossed.
We've had a little
bit of "fun" this week. The Governor has supported two bills (HB 523 and SB 369) that would require a notice on
homeowner policies that "earthquake coverage may not be included" in the policy.
Additional proposed language requires that the notice be "conspicuous" and also
include language that states, "that information
regarding earthquake insurance is available from the insurer or the insurance
agent."
Of course, debate on this notice follows the debate
on the Progressive bill where virtually everyone agreed that people don't read
their insurance policies. And just how would you make the language "conspicuous"
over say, the flood notice?? And finally, we've had a bit of fun on this as our
friends at Allstate don't like the "contact the insurer or agent" language
because.... Allstate doesn't offer earthquake coverage! Senator Reeves
introduced the bill in the Senate on behalf of the Governor and of course he's a
State Farm agent.
Does seem odd however to simply have a notice that
says something might not be covered and NOT provide the consumer with some
recommended recourse.
Last week a House Commerce and Labor subcommittee
reviewed all of the legislative proposals on a Virginia State Health Benefit
Exchange. The Governor has strongly argued that we don't need legislation on a
HBE this year but many business interests have urged the legislature to craft a
bill that everyone could agree with and "carry it over" so if the Supreme Court
decision affirms the Federal Health Care Bill we would have a bill already
agreed to. Our interest in the debate is the ensure that insurance agents can
make positive contributions to the HBE Advisory Board or Governing Council, to
ensure that agents can sell policies both inside and outside the exchange and to
keep legislators out of the contracts between agents and companies. Debate on
the issue is contentious. In a surprise move this past week the House C&L
subcommittee voted to table all of the HBE bills - thereby setting them aside
for the year. The Senate has not taken action yet on the four bills in that side
of the Chamber dealing with an HBE but it appears that their fate would be
certain if they make it to the House.
During debate on the House bills, a representative
from AARP testified that insurance agents and companies have an inherent
conflict of interest and should not be represented on an HBE Board or Advisory
Council....of course AARP stands ready to be a navigator for the program. GEEE I
wonder if the AARP has any interest in health insurance plans.....
It's been a long time since I saw Joe Hudgins turn
such a bright shade of red. Let's just say that Joe and the AARP representative
had a bit of a discussion that may continue. I believe I see an amendment
supported by IIAV that "any non-profit organization with contractual interests
in an insurance program cannot be navigators for the HBE."
Take a look at the
Legislative Table and
if you have any questions or concerns about any of the proposals listed, please
don't hesitate to let me know. Also - PLEASE plan on attending IIAV's Insurance
Day on the Hill - co-hosted with the National Association of Insurance and
Financial Advisors - Virginia Chapter and the Virginia Association of Health
Underwriters this week. It's critically important this year that insurance
agents show their presence both from property/casualty industry but also the
health insurance industry. Click here to register for Day on the Hill.
As always, if you
have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me by e-mail at Rbradshaw@iiav.comor through my cell phone at
804-929-4134.
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