Some public health insurance executives told Congress today that they wished they had worked more closely with insurance agents and brokers.
Scott Leitz, the interim chief executive officer at the state-based MNsure exchange in Minnesota, talked about producers when asked what his exchange might do differently in the future.
“We have certainly seen the importance of working with agents and brokers,” Leitz said at a hearing on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act exchange program organized by two House Oversight subcommittees. “They’re in every community. They know the communities very well.”
Greg Van Pelt, an advisor at the state-based Cover Oregon program, also talked about the importance of working closely with agents and community partners.
“They have walked many citizens step by step through the application process,” Van Pelt said.
Peter Lee, executive director of the state-based Covered California exchange, said successful exchanges have already reached many of the uninsured people who are easiest to enroll.
“It’s going to get harder and harder,” Lee said. “Many of the uninsured don’t believe insurance could be affordable.”