NU Online News Service, Sept. 30, 10:08 a.m.EDT

WASHINGTON–A new section of a health care reformlegislation proposal would let agents sell insurance to individualsand businesses purchasing health insurance through the healthexchanges being proposed.

The measure is being drafted in the Senate Finance Committeeunder terms of language included in the revised committee bill.

The altered draft, being amended for the second week through thecommittee, contains an amendment offered by Sen. Tom Carper,D-Del.

Specifically, the language says that "exchanges have access tothe same industry professionals as those working outside theexchange."

Tom Currey, president of the National Association of Insuranceand Financial Advisers, Falls Church, Va., noted that the provisionin the Senate Finance bill is consistent with amendments to healthcare reform legislation adopted by the Senate Health, Education,Labor and Pension Committee and by the Energy and CommerceCommittee.

Officials of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, theIndependent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, and theNational Association of Health Underwriters also confirmed that theprovision is now part of the bill, "America's Health FutureAct."

Joel Kopperud, a director in the legislative affairs unit of theCIAB, said, "The Carper amendment guarantees that individuals andbusinesses purchasing insurance through the proposed exchanges haveaccess to the same industry professionals as those working outsidethe exchange."

He added, "We are very grateful to Senator Carper forrecognizing and preserving the value of agent's expertise."

NAIFA's Mr. Currey cautioned that "numerous amendments to thebill are still pending."

"However, NAIFA is pleased that the Carper amendment recognizesthe valuable role that agents play in helping consumers with theirinsurance choices," he added.

Sen. Carper added, "Agents do so much more than sell a policy.The continual refinement of the proposals to ensure that consumershave access to professional guidance both inside and outside ofexchanges is encouraging."