NAHU, NAIFA, CIAB, AHIA Send 1,000+ Lobbyists to Capitol Hill
Insurance trade groups send more than 1,000 lobbyists to Capitol Hill.
CQ HealthBeat (7/16, subscription required) reports, "Just as Congress moves into high gear on health overhaul legislation, insurance trade groups with a big stake in the outcome are packing the halls of the Capitol with members making the case against a public plan to their home-state politicians.
Wednesday saw the arrival on the Hill of more than 1,000 members of four associations whose members are deeply involved in the private health insurance process: the Association of Health Insurance Advisors, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, and the National Association of Health Underwriters." These lobbies are "often influential people in their communities who may have longtime ties with members of Congress." However, CQ notes that "it might seem the brokers and agents are fighting an uphill battle, given the support of congressional Democrats as well as President Obama for the public option."