NAIFA-Georgia is celebrating a win. HB 716 (Insurance; carriers issuing a health benefit plan in this state through an agent shall file proposed commission rates with the department) passed the Senate unanimously on June 26. 

One of the unintended consequences of the Medical Loss Ratio provisions of the Affordable Care Act has been the significant degradation and even elimination of health insurance agents’ commissions. Rep. Shaw Blackmon, a small business owner, sponsored the bill. Blackmon has worked for years to protect health insurance agents following the lead on legislation carried by the late John Meadows (R-Calhoun), a NAIFA member. 

This bill requires carriers to file their commissions as part of their rate filings and gives the Insurance Commission the power to enforce them.

“NAIFA-Georgia was extremely pleased to see HB 716 pass the Senate unanimously,” said Brad Carver, NAIFA-Georgia’s lobbyist. “It is a win for our health insurance agents who badly needed relief until we can get bipartisan federal health care reforms done in Washington, DC. We at NAIFA-Georgia are proud of Rep. Blackmon for his leadership on this important issue.”