“It is exciting for us to collaborate with an esteemed organization like NYSAHU on the certification course,” said Kathy Lawler, IIABNY’s assistant vice-president of education. “This course will prepare insurance producers to serve New Yorkers through the exchange. We are pleased to offer it with respected and knowledgeable instructors such as Dan Colacino and Gerry Gershonowitz.”
The federal Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” requires every state to have health insurance marketplaces, known as “exchanges.” The exchanges will start enrolling residents in health plans on October 1, 2013. They may have two separate marketplaces for buying coverage – one for individuals and another for small businesses. New York’s marketplace, called the New York Health Benefit Exchange, will have a separate Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchange.
Insurance producers who wish to arrange coverage for their clients on either exchange must take and pass a certification course. IIABNY and NYSAHU are jointly offering the SHOP certification course to their members.
NYSAHU President Renee Guariglia said, “This course will deliver the high quality instruction producers have come to expect from IIABNY’s education program. Our members look forward to helping New Yorkers obtain the health insurance protection they need through the exchange.”
NYSAHU, IIABNY and the New York exchange’s staff have been communicating about the course for months, including consulting on the core curricula for producer certifications. Twelve dates are scheduled; more may be added. The schedule and online registration are available on the IIABNY Web site, www.iiabny.org.
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc. has represented the common business interests of independent insurance professionals since 1882. More than 1,750 agencies and their 13,000 plus employees currently rely on the DeWitt, New York-based not-for-profit trade association for legislative advocacy, continuing education and other means of industry support. In addition, most IIABNY members proudly identify themselves as Trusted Choice® agents and brokers, a national consumer brand uniting more than 21,000 independent agencies across the United States. For more information, go to www.trustedchoice.com or www.iiabny.org.
The New York State Association of Health Underwriters, a chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters, represents licensed health insurance agents, brokers, general agents, consultants and benefit professionals across New York State. NYSAHU members service the health insurance needs of large and small employers as well as people seeking individual health insurance coverage. For more information, visit www.nysahu.org.