PIA Unveils 2018 Policy and Advocacy Priorities
Jan 31, 2018, 02:19 ET
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) has unveiled its 2018 Policy and Advocacy Priorities.
"PIA National consulted with PIA members across the country and reviewed current congressional priorities to develop our 2018 Policy and Advocacy Priorities," said PIA National Vice President of Government Relations Jon Gentile. "While these are our top priorities, PIA National is always working to promote and defend the interests of the independent agent, wherever those interests take us."
In its policy and advocacy document, PIA outlines its 2018 priorities in six areas:
Flood Insurance: PIA National supports a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that also promotes the growth of the private flood insurance market and protects the interests of independent agents.
Protection of State Insurance Regulation: PIA National supports a modern, state-based insurance system and opposes any federal office or international standard that would threaten it. As such, PIA supports the repeal of the Federal Insurance Office.
Role & Value of Agents in Healthcare Reform: PIA National supports the critical role that independent agents play in the sale and servicing of health insurance. PIA National supports legislation and efforts to exempt agent compensation from the administrative component of the medical loss ratio (MLR) formula, which has pushed many agents out of the health insurance industry. In addition, PIA National supports the recent delay of the so-called "Cadillac tax" on employer-sponsored health plans and will continue to seek its full repeal.
Promotion of Small Businesses & Tax Reform: PIA National supports a clear implementation process for the individual and corporate income tax laws that were passed late last year. PIA National opposes tax provisions and regulations that impede small business growth.
Cybersecurity: PIA National supports protection of sensitive consumer data using a harm trigger and other methods that are flexible, risk-based, and practical for small businesses.
Crop Insurance: PIA National supports the vital role that independent agents play in the delivery of crop insurance. PIA National will work closely with Congress as the 2018 Farm Bill reauthorization moves forward this year.
PIA National represents members' interests in state capitals and in Washington, D.C. to ensure that lawmakers and regulators understand and support the independent agency system. PIA's grassroots campaigns, including the annual PIA National Federal Legislative Summit (FLS) in April, give individual agents a powerful collective voice in government.
PIA National also works with insurance carriers and industry organizations — the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD), and others—to ensure that the concerns of independent agents are addressed.
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 America SM. PIA's web address is www.pianet.com.
This press release is online at:
http://www.pianet.com/news/press-releases/2018/pianationalunveils2018policyadvocacypriorites013118
SOURCE National Association of Professional Insurance Agents