Memorial Day has come and gone again, not only to remind us of those who gave everything, but to remind us to learn from and not repeat mistakes of the past.
In 2010, I was invited to Congress to present a proposal for a pilot project involving severely disabled veterans. The goal was to demonstrate how a national healthcare plan could work, with both public and private sectors working together, gain the respect of the American people across the board, and be the momentum to solving many issues. It had 3 main areas to address:
- Lower cost of premiums without reducing options or benefits
- Cover all including those with pre-existing conditions
- Develop jobs for disabled veterans and others while rebuilding economically distressed areas such as Detroit and Appalachia
Although it was not heard by Congress and the ACA was launched, it offers an opportunity even more so today to be heard by the American people. Timing may be everything but evidence is critical.
Evidence to support the plan was based on:
The health insurance agent in the field
The need for jobs for disabled veterans and others
The historical landscape of healthcare in Oregon
First the health insurance agent in the field
Agents in the field bring a unique perspective to the health care table.
Agents in the field often encounter real life health situations with their clients.
Agents in the field were more often than not attracted to the health insurance profession due to their own personal exposure. An agent’s family member, friend of themselves may have had their health or healthcare threatened through an illness, accident or just aging in general.
The vast majority of agents have an innate belief system of honor which is relevant to a career position requiring fiduciary responsibility. The system demands an ethical core to help others just like any other highly regulated profession. Agents appreciate this to protect us all.
Evidence to Support the Independent Agent Plan Concept
1. Agents can keep clients healthy. Recently a carrier exposed that the agent in the field keeps ‘clients on the books’ longer than any in house carrier agent or government run program. Clients trust agents who guide them through the maze of healthcare planning. Whether it is a public, private or dual eligible plan, a highly skilled experienced broker can adjust to a client’s changing healthcare needs. Agents are often the first to calm the waters when an anxious client calls and this relationship can become life-long.
2. Agents contribute to their communities. With 5,10, 15, 20 plus years of experience, they know health care planning and understand clearly “health affects wealth and wealth affects health”.
3. Agents, like any other highly regulated profession must meet strict standards. They must pass rigorous exams, take continuous CE courses to maintain license, be certified by government programs, carriers and or systems they participate in. Held to strict rules and regulations, they are scrutinized by state and government agencies, must follow strict ethics code and face severe penalties and fines. Most welcome the oversight and have upmost respect for the Insurance Commissioner’s job. The ACA, Affordable Care Act, provided a blue print creating a foundation on which healthcare plans for the future can be built.
4. Agents are diversified. Every race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion or not, sexual identity and profession are the face of a health insurance agent across the country. Agents may specialize in areas more personal to them and critical to their own community; whether it is a health specialty plan or more focus towards a particular group. They daily dedicate themselves to helping clients gain quality care.
The State of Oregon for many years has involved the agent in the field as a partner to introduce state supported healthcare related programs to Oregon communities. Agents are the often the first messenger when a carrier or government program in announced. In Oregon, public and private entities proved working together in a collaborative effort asthe FEB; Federal Executive Board had envisioned. The (FHIAP)Federal Health Insurance Assistance Program, (subsidy program) and (OMIP) Oregon Medical Insurance Pool (pre-existing conditions) and (CHIP) Children’s Health Insurance Program and other programs were launched with this partnership-prior to the ACA.
5. Agents know healthcare planning, carriers know healthcare. With hundreds and hundreds of years of combined experience, data, and expertise both must be at the national healthcare planning table. They have been a missing link of data and expertise. Any national plan faces a tremendous gap of valuable knowledge if agents and or carriers are not included.
6. Agents are incentivized to provide excellent service. Agents are not paid by the hour or monthly, and more often than not, benefits are not provided, as they take on the role of a small business. The lifeblood of a small business is to maintain customer satisfaction and retention. In the health insurance agency world, this means residual income.
7. Agents in the field can contribute to reducing the cost of premiums. If you take the high cost of any government run program back to the private carrier system, it is the carrier’s responsibility to maintain to their best ability the cost structure to not only provide quality care but to be competitive. Therefore in order to provide the best plans and cover all pre-existing conditions it is necessary for all to trim expenses. By referring to the skilled agent in the field, this eliminates both government and carrier tremendous overhead cost of employed in-house agents, including salaries, benefits and reduced building/office size. The agent in the field does not cost the insurance company or government anything until a client enrolls in a plan.
Veteran Job Opportunity, another Premium Reducer; Shopping Internationally for Drugs Creates Competition, and Historical Oregon Data …..Stay Tuned
“I definitely believe being a health insurance agent is a good job for veterans. The integrity and values that are the core of military service are exactly the same values needed to help individuals with their health care needs. I have a rated disability from my service in the military. My particular disability doesn't affect my day to day duties but some service connected disabilities could prevent veterans from doing certain jobs. Presenting health insurance is about what you know more than about physical handicaps. I believe many veterans could benefit and lead a productive career in insurance regardless of any physical disability. “
A health insurance agent, who is also a veteran.
