Bush Advisor To Address CIAB

NU Online News Service, April 3, 11:49 a.m. EST- Karen Hughes, a close advisor and speechwriter for PresidentBush, will address the annual Employee Benefits Leadership Forum,sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based Council of Insurance Agents& Brokers.

The forum will be held May 28-31 at the Greenbrier, in WhiteSulphur Springs, W.Va.

Also addressing the conference is Karen Ignagini, president andchief executive officer of the American Association of Health Plansheadquartered in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Hughes is scheduled to address the session on May 29, andMs. Ignagini is scheduled to speak on May 30.

The conference brings insurance brokers who handle benefitslines together with insurance carriers from throughout the countryto discuss critical issues in the benefits sector.

The conference includes panel discussions on new trends inbenefit plan design and the outlook for major legislativeinitiatives or regulatory changes affecting the benefits arena.

There are also specialized sessions on the implementation of newHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacyregulations.

"With health care costs increasing at double-digit rates and theeconomy still in the doldrums, many of the givens of employeebenefit plans are being scaled back and traditional solutions areno longer working," said Robert N. Munao.

Mr. Munao is chair of the Council of Employee BenefitsExecutives and president of Thesco Benefits, LLC, based in New YorkCity. He added that the forum is coming at a critical time forbrokers who "must prepare for changing market conditions and thenew opportunities they bring."

Additional information is available at the association's Website at www.ciab.com.