Group calls broker bill a 'death blow' to consumers

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

As the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) hosts its legislative conference this week, nonpartisan consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog notes thousands of dollars in election campaign contributions have come from lobby associations, including the Big “I,” pushing for a bipartisan bill to protect brokers’ sales commissions.

The bill, H.R. 1206, Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2011, aims to preserve consumer and employer access to licensed independent insurance producers by exempting producer commissions from medical loss ratio formula enacted under federal health care reform.