Affordable Care Act

Talk of repealing the health care law is nothing new. Republicans have requested the law be revoked since the moment it passed. As the November elections close in, Republicans feel that their call to rescind the law will gain them votes. After all, many Americans still do not like the legislation that passed.

What is surprising is just why many do not agree with the Affordable Care Act. According to a new Associated Press poll, 30 percent of respondents favor the law, another 40 percent oppose it and another 30 percent remain neutral.

In fact, many feel that the law doesn’t go far enough. 4 in 10 adults thought the law should go further, regardless if they support the current law, oppose it or remain neutral, while 2 in 10 think the government shouldn’t have been involved in health care in the first place.

When the Affordable Care Act was initially passed, there was quite a bit of concern on the part of insurance brokers and agents throughout the country. How would this effect the industry? What would be the impact on business and commissions?

The Act calls for “Navigators” to help educate the public and provide impartial information on plans. A big worry that arose is the qualifications of these Navigators asking the question whether consumers would be put at risk by having unlicensed, minimally-trained Navigators in place performing part of the function that has traditionally been done by agents and brokers.

To prevent this from happening, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) just passed a resolution recognizing brokers’ and agents’ roles in the country’s health care delivery system. This will limit the Navigator’s role to directing Exchange consumers to government agencies and licensed insurance professionals.