Message from the IA&B Chair

PERSPECTIVES ON IA&B’S ADVOCACY

If you’re reading this, you’re likely interested in insurance. But, for the purpose of this article, I’d like you to put yourselves in the shoes of a consumer who doesn’t really care about it. Think about that person who never bought insurance, and then has a loss and is left with nothing. Do you ever cringe when an uninsured person starts a GoFundMe page, knowing there was such an easy and affordable alternative?

I appeal to you not to treat IA&B’s government relations work like that apathetic consumer.

In many ways, IA&B does for independent agents what we do for our customers: educate and advocate. Often those efforts go unnoticed or underappreciated. I’d like to brag about some of IA&B’s legislative wins so you can appreciate what they’ve delivered for us recently:

▲ In Pennsylvania, IA&B successfully lobbied for several changes to the Insurance Data Security Act, including exemptions for licensees and the prevention of agent fees.

▲ In Maryland, IA&B vehemently opposed a bill to establish mandatory EUIM coverage. While it passed, IA&B secured several amendments to significantly limit its scope.

▲ In Delaware, IA&B successfully pushed for passage of a workers’ compensation exemption bill, introduced in response to IA&B members whose policyholders were impacted by the previous exemption limit.

For this important mission to continue, we must contribute to their efforts. There are a few ways you can do that:

▲ Support your state political action committee, AgentPAC: IABforME. online/AgentPAC

▲ Support your federal political action committee, InsurPac (for Pennsylvania and Delaware members) and PIAPAC (for Maryland members).

▲ Attend a Big “I” Legislative Conference, held each spring in Washington, D.C.

No one else is looking out for our best interests. Do for yourself and your peer agents what you do for your customers every day. After all, there is no GoFundMe page for independent insurance agents.

Until next time,

Sarah Brown, CIC, CRM, AFIS

Chair of the Board