Mr. Strickland's Washington Agenda...

As a member of the Florida Association Of Insurance Agents, Benefit Advisors' President/CEO Ray Strickland, Jr. will be flying to Washington, D.C. this week (July 14-15) to speak with our legislative representatives about health reform.

With a comprehensive agenda, Mr. Strickland, and 52 of his fellow Florida insurance agents, plans to lobby on behalf of consumers and agents nationwide in regards to proper health care utilization and dissemination.

Key points to be discussed will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Recognizing the Need for Reform

• Bipartisan efforts to enact comprehensive health reform could not be more timely or necessary.
• Far too many Americans are uninsured, and the sky-rocketing cost of medical care has made health insurance unaffordable for many.
• Our country must take significant steps to address these problems, and health insurance agents and brokers are committed to real and substantive private market reform to provide all Americans with access to affordable health care.
• The agent and broker community stands ready to work with Congress to leverage health care resources in enrolling uninsured Americans, educating new enrollees and businesses about new available options, and helping all health insurance consumers to be smart shoppers and find the right solutions to meet their needs.

Understanding the Value of Agents & Brokers to Consumers

• Health insurance agents and brokers will be needed more than ever to serve as counselors and advocates in a reformed health care system.
• Every day, agents and brokers guide millions of consumers through the complexities of health insurance purchasing and enrollment, designing sophisticated programs individually tailored to the unique needs of each group.
• Agents and brokers serve as consumer advocates for individuals and businesses of all sizes, helping clients and employees with claims issues, service questions and compliance matters throughout the life of each policy.
• Agents and brokers are also subject to strict licensing and continuing education laws which protect consumers and ensure that we provide the highest level of advice and services.

Please stay tuned for updates from our President on his very important trip to our nation's capital...