Insurance - New Issues Facing Our Communities

By Nicholas A. "Nick" Micozzie

You and I need Insurance coverage whether for our heath, our home, our car, our business, our family or our retirement. It is something all of us need to have some security in these tough and volatile times.

The members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor have a responsibility and opportunity to bring the jobs and investment insurers provide to our community. As the long-time Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, I've been heavily involved in insurance issues, and I'd like to share my thoughts on the major ones facing our community:

Health Insurance

We are just beginning the process of implementing the health insurance reforms signed into law by President Obama + because many of those reforms are left to the states rather than the federal government. We need to focus on three basic functions in doing this.

First, we need to make sure that the law's promise of getting more people covered is fulfilled.

Second, we need to make sure that the new reforms don't just get insurance to more people, but improve the quality of care and hold down cost.

Third, we need to make sure our community continues to have enough hospitals, doctors and nurses to care for our needs.

That's not an easy balance + my worry is that the new law doesn't do enough to hold down costs or improve care or give consumers real competition and choices, and it may come with costs to the state that could mean higher taxes. That's going to be determined in the early stages. I bring the seniority and experience to help get the best results in these challenges for our community.

Auto and Homeowner Insurance

These are just as important as health insurance, and for most of us, the bills are paid directly out of our own pockets. Pennsylvania has done pretty well in these areas: consumers have real competition for their business, and rates for most of us have been relatively flat the past 10 years. But it is always a challenge. We need to make sure insurers handle claims quickly and fairly. At the same time, we need to make sure that people not abuse insureds and their insurance coverage, whether it is an unscrupulous tower or a dishonest claimant. That's why I've been involved in fraud legislation and measures that bring fair standards to towers and public adjusters, while also making sure insurers are scrutinized in how they handle claims.

Family and Retirement Needs

We're all getting older, and we all need to pay mere attention to our retirement needs and family protections. That makes life insurance, annuities and long-term care insurance all the more important.

As Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, I've been involved in passing some crucial reforms in these areas + as with our just-enacted law requiring that insurers pass suitability standards in selling annuities, and in the House's recent passage of a bill setting standards for long-term care insurers in handling claims.

Economic Development

We need to bring good jobs into this area, and insurance plays a key role.

First, we need to make sure businesses can afford the insurance they need + as with workers compensation.

Second, we need to make sure this is a state and an area where insurance companies want to bring their own jobs. That means a tax structure, a transportation system, an education system and local community developments as demonstrated in grant funding received and approved from Harrrisburg by the Greater Lansdowne Civic Association -the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation,The Clifton Heights Community and Economic Development Corporation and Delaware County Redevelopment Authority.Initiatives that attract employers + including insurers + to this area.

We have highly qualified workers + but we need to make sure this is a community where employers want to be, and that means more than just the workers. As active as I've been in Harrisburg, I've been equally involved in local efforts to make this a good place to live and a good place to build a business.