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Health care reform implementation is a concern for property/casualty groups

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Health care reform implementation is a concern for property/casualty groups

Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act continues to be of concern for property/casualty producer groups as the new Congress begins business.

For example, the medical loss ratio provision of the health care reform law remains an issue for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, said Charles Symington, senior vice president for government affairs for the Alexandria, Va.-based producer group.

Under the health care reform law, health insurers must spend at least 85 cents of every premium dollar collected on health care in the large-group market and 80 cents in the individual and small-group markets. Agent and broker groups have tried to have their members' commissions excluded from this requirement.

“Our membership is continuing to be very concerned about the MLR impact on our small-business owners as well their customers,” said Mr. Symington. “We will continue to support legislation to exclude agent compensation from the (MLR).”

“We are very focused on other components of the Affordable Care Act as they are implemented, most notably exchange creation and the proper oversight of the navigator programs,” he said.

The navigator programs are created by the Affordable Care Act in an effort to educate consumers on the various options they would have in the new health care marketplace. Concerns have been raised about the proper oversight of the navigators to protect consumers.

“Employee benefit issues continue to be dominant with us, especially as we are now in the whirlwind of PPACA implementation,” said Joel Wood, senior vice president for government affairs for the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers in Washington. “We are engaged in trying to influence the hundreds of regulations to preserve and enhance the employer-provided group health insurance marketplace.”