Day on the Hill

This event was jointly presented by NAIFA Washington and the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals Washington Chapter (NABIPWA).

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For the first time in a while, we hosted a social the night before for both associations, and we hope to keep that going forward. A special thank you to John Mangan for sponsoring the social! It was good to connect and talk about the day ahead on the hill.

 

On Tuesday January 21st, 2025 NABIPWA/NAIFAWA hosted their annual joint Day-on-the-Hill lobby day in Olympia. We had a great lineup of speakers and topics including the newly elected Insurance Commissioner, Patty Kuderer, who discussed her priorities for 2025. Other speakers and topics of note included John Mangan, Regional Vice President, American Council of Life Insurers and Peggy Fu, Executive Director, Association of Washington Healthcare Plans who covered health and life insurance industry policy priorities. I also found the information shared by Max Martin, Tax & Fiscal Government Affairs Director, Association of Washington Business on 2025 Budget Outlook to be very informative as well. 

 

It was a mostly sunny, but very chilly day on the hill, a great day to speak with a leader from each of the four of the legislative caucuses. Thank you Chris Bandoli for scheduling appointments for members of each association.

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To recap, our messaging was please don't raise the B&O (or any other) tax on brokers. Many of us are small businesses with slim margins. That we oppose any bills that have been introduced that would raise the cost of health insurance for our customers (mandates, prior auth restrictions, carrier tax, etc). Please keep affordability in mind as you consider which bills to advance.

What's more, that we support bills that reduce costs, such as ones that eliminate some inappropriate hospital facility fees or support the substitution of less expensive medications. 

 

A big thank you to members that did attend this event. Day-on-the-Hill is a premier event for NABIPWA, we hope to see you there next year. Save-the-date, day after MLK day! Remember, this is YOUR association and YOUR industry, come get involved - you do not have to be a board member to attend the board meetings.