Advocacy in action blog

Representatives of NAIFA’s Medicare Collective, an initiative of the Lifetime Healthcare Center, met with officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss the role of brokers and agents in providing vital guidance, services, and protections to consumers in the Medicare space. They presented the Collective’s plan to work with CMS and insurance carriers to ensure Medicare beneficiaries receive the best possible coverage and care in these challenging times. They also addressed rising concerns that the failure to adequately compensate agents for their work would harm consumers by leaving them vulnerable to misinformation or without competent, personalized assistance as they navigate complex coverage options, plans, and regulations.

UPDATE: New Hampshire, Oklahoma,  North Dakota and Montana join Idaho and Delaware in addressing unfair trade practices.

In a powerful display of grassroots advocacy, hundreds of NAIFA members representing all 50 states have written to their state insurance commissioners urging immediate action against unfair trade practices harming Medicare beneficiaries and the licensed professionals who serve them. These letters, sent following NAIFA’s nationwide regulatory alert, underscore the profession’s determination to protect seniors during a particularly challenging enrollment period.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) acknowledges the recent actions taken by the Idaho Department of Insurance, which issued two cease and desist orders to address concerns in the Medicare Advantage marketplace. We appreciate the Department’s commitment to maintaining a fair, transparent, and competitive environment for both carriers and consumers and applaud Director Cameron’s leadership.

NAIFA President Doug Massey has called on state insurance regulators to take decisive action to protect consumers and insurance professionals from unfair trade practices in the Medicare marketplace. In a letter submitted to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Massey praised Idaho Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron for his leadership in issuing Bulletin No. 25-06, which condemns carrier practices that restrict consumer access and manipulate compensation structures for agents serving Medicare beneficiaries.

The Medicare system, including various Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans, can be very confusing to beneficiaries and older Americans exploring their healthcare options. The guidance of experienced, licensed professionals is often indispensable. NAIFA President Doug Massey recently sent a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health, and Subcommittee on Oversight outlining the role of the agent and suggesting ways Congress can strengthen consumer protections while preserving access to professional guidance. 

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) strongly objects to United Healthcare’s decision to cut agent commissions on more than 100 Medicare Advantage plans across over 20 states. This action undermines the value of professional guidance at a time when seniors need it most.

NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) press release announcing an aggressive strategy to enhance and accelerate Medicare Advantage audits:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has withdrawn a memo issued during the previous administration that would have restricted how Medicare beneficiaries may enroll using a Special Election Period (SEP) when affected by a Government Entity-Declared Disaster or Other Emergency. Under the new direction, the process will not change and individuals will not be forced to enroll by calling Medicare directly.

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D consumers rely on agents and brokers to help them understand and make informed decisions about these often complex products. Yet, ongoing instability in the marketplace and uncertainty about compensation for agents and brokers are making it difficult for professionals to give critical guidance to their clients.

NAIFA has joined NABIP, HAFA, the Big I, and the CIAB in asking Congress to address these challenges.

NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux sat down with Senior Director for Government Relations Michael Hedge to discuss some ways the incoming administration could change the regulatory landscape surrounding Medicare and how this could present opportunities for NAIFA to get involved. Insurance professionals are crucial to helping consumers navigate the complicated Medicare plans and NAIFA is dedicated to keeping agents involved and ensuring they are properly compensated.