PIA National Releases Advocacy and Policy Priorities for 2016
January 29, 2016WASHINGTON – The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) this week released PIA’s 2016 Advocacy and Policy Priorities, which include preserving the role of agents in healthcare reform; defending state regulation of insurance; cultivating agent licensing uniformity; promoting small business & tax reform; and safeguarding important property/casualty programs.
The full document is available at: /docs/2016/piapolicyplan2016/.
“In 2015, PIA had great success in advocating for independent insurance agents at the federal and state level,” said PIA National Executive Vice President & CEO Mike Becker. “PIA successfully defended the independent agency system and advocated on behalf of independent agents at the federal level. We intend to build on that success in 2016.”
PIA helped achieve two victories in the year-end “omnibus” appropriations funding measure: a two-year delay of the “Cadillac Tax,” a 40% tax on certain employer-based health plans, and the passage of the Policyholder Protection Act, which prohibits federal regulators from using assets designated to pay out insurance claims to “prop up” an affiliated bank.
PIA also successfully advocated for the reversal of a $3 billion cut to the Federal Crop Insurance Program. In addition, PIA actively advocated for the passage of the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act (PACE), enabling states to keep the current definition of a small group market in health insurance at 50 or fewer employees.
“This Congress has broken free of gridlock to act on many issues to the benefit of professional insurance agents and their customers, approving bills endorsed by PIA,” said PIA National Vice President of Government Relations Jon Gentile. “We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers to support the independent agency system and Main Street insurance agents everywhere.”
Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street AmericaSM. PIA’s web address is www.pianet.com.