Advocacy in action blog

The campaigns are done, the voting is over, and the results are becoming clear. Donald Trump will return to the White House as the 47^th President of the United States. Republicans will also control the Senate with at least 52 seats. Races determining which party controls the House of Representatives have yet to be decided (and may not be for some time).

Here we go again! Two more insurance companies, Aetna and Anthem, have informed agents that they will no longer pay commissions on new enrollments to some Medicare Advantage plans. These announcements follow similar ones by insurers earlier this year. The most recent decisions are particularly jarring because they come in the middle of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, when many agents are deep into the planning process with clients.

2025 is gearing up to be a high-stakes year for tax reform. For financial professionals, it’s a lot like preparing for the Super Bowl. The clock is ticking as Congress pushes toward major tax legislation, driven by the impending expiration of individual tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Extending TCJA could add an estimated $4.5 trillion to the federal deficit over 10 years. With such a high price tag, lawmakers are on a relentless hunt for revenue, putting every corner of the financial landscape—including insurance and financial services—under intense scrutiny.

While MarketWatch columnist Brett Arends raises legitimate concerns about the complexities surrounding Medicare enrollment and the insurance brokers who assist beneficiaries (“The Medicare scandal hiding in plain sight,” Oct. 16), he unfairly paints a broad picture of financial professionals as profit-driven actors without considering the critical role brokers play helping consumers navigate the Medicare Advantage marketplace, which now accounts for more than half of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries. Agents and brokers educate consumers on how Medicare works, both broadly and in conjunction with other products such as Part D prescription drug plans, to simplify a complex decision-making process.

Throughout September, NAIFA and our Life Happens community promoted Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) to educate consumers about the importance of life insurance and empower financial professionals to reach wider communities with LIAM-themed resources and materials. As an important part of the LIAM campaign, NAIFA chapters worked alongside advocacy partner ACLI with elected officials to get proclamations or resolutions recognizing LIAM in at least 19 states.

As we approach the sunset of key provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set for 2025, taxpayers and businesses alike are bracing for significant changes. With the potential for major tax legislation on the horizon, now is the time to prepare.

More than 181,000 Americans living with disabilities have benefited from the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program, which NAIFA has advocated for since it was first enacted in 2014. The program gives people with disabilities and their families access to tax-free savings accounts without affecting their eligibility for federal programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Now that key provisions of the ABLE program are set to expire next year, NAIFA strongly supports the efforts of Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) to extend them.

A message to NAIFA Members:

Throughout September, it has been truly inspiring to witness NAIFA members actively participating in Life Insurance Awareness Month by shining a much-needed spotlight on the tremendous value of life insurance. Your commitment to highlighting the importance of this product while educating millions of consumers on the broader issues of financial literacy helps ensure that Americans understand the many tools available to secure their financial futures.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors is pleased to present NAIFA’s Defender of Financial Freedom Award to Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI).

American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO Susan Neely and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)—Louisiana Chapter President Blake Gillies issued the following joint statement on the best interest annuity rule adopted by the Louisiana Department of Insurance: