Group Asks White House to Stop Picking on Medicare Agents

The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals wants the Biden administration to take NABIP members off a list of corporate rip-off bad guys.

The White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services included efforts to tighten the rules for Medicare Advantage plan brokers in a new list of administration efforts to lower health care costs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has “proposed a rule that, if finalized, will prohibit insurance companies from paying brokers to steer patients towards certain plans based on compensation, rather than options that meet best patient health needs,” the White House says in the statement, which also touts efforts to crack down on “junk fees” across the economy.

Jessica Brooks-Woods, NABIP’s chief executive officer, said in a response that Medicare Advantage plan satisfaction is high partly because agents work hard to match clients with the right plans.

“Medicare agents are vital advocates for seniors navigating the complex world of health care coverage,” Brooks-Woods said.

NABIP: NABIP is the Washington-based group formerly known as the National Association of Health Underwriters. It represents 100,000 health insurance agents, brokers, general agents, consultants and benefits professionals.

The Medicare Advantage controversy: The Medicare Advantage program gives private insurers a chance to offer plans that provide an alternative to traditional Medicare coverage.