From 25 different states, 347 people attended the annual national gathering.
At its 2023 Annual National Meeting in Columbus, Ohio, the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) achieved a watershed achievement by electing a diverse slate of officers to serve for the next year.
A total of 347 people showed up for the event that ran from November 15th to the 18th. Among them were 52 lawmakers from 25 different states, seven who were attending for the first time, six insurance commissioners, and officials from sixteen different insurance departments.
Selected officers of the NCOIL
New Orleans Edmond Jordan, a representative, will assume the position of secretary.
The state of Minnesota One of New York’s senators, Paul Utke, has been named treasurer. Pamela Hunter, an assemblywoman, has been appointed vice president.
The newly elected president is Tom Oliverson, MD, a congressman from Texas.
The position of immediate past president will be retained by the outgoing president, Rep. Deborah Ferguson, DDS.
While reflecting on NCOIL’s stellar 2023 performance and its dedication to diversity and inclusion, Ferguson, whose stint as president came to an end at the gathering, offered some thoughts.
Beyond pushing forward our policy aims, we have worked hard over the last year to foster an environment where individuals with different perspectives feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, which is essential for achieving a common ground on these matters. “Our officer group has evolved naturally to reflect America as a whole over the past few years as our membership has changed,” she explained.
The accomplishments of the organisation during Ferguson’s tenure were also emphasised by NCOIL CEO Commissioner Tom Considine.
With the help of the outstanding officer group consisting of Rep. Oliverson, Asw. Hunter, Sen. Utke, Rep. Jordan, and Rep. Ferguson, NCOIL is preparing for a busy 2024, as demonstrated by the model laws they adopted and the issues they discussed, according to Considine.
Catalytic converter theft insurance, public adjuster professional standards reform, medical loss ratios for dental health care services plans, the US Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule, and many more subjects were on the meeting’s agenda.
Under the leadership of West Virginia delegate Steve Westfall, the Health Insurance & Long Term Care Issues Committee passed a resolution endorsing health insurance coverage that are eligible for health savings accounts. Also, the committee kept talking about the NCOIL Model Act for Dental Health Care Services (DLR) Loss Ratios.
Rep. Forrest Bennett of Oklahoma, who chairs the NCOIL Financial Services & Multi-Lines Issues Committee, presided over a general session on artificial intelligence. The topic covered the fast advancement and influence of AI on several industries, including insurance.
Under the leadership of Ohio Senator Bob Hackett, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Committee deliberated on matters pertaining to workers’ compensation on a federal level, the effects of medical marijuana on the workers’ compensation market, and developments in medical diagnosis and treatment.
Discussing the NCOIL Life Insurance is a Promise for Life Model Act, the reinstatement of the U.S. Department of Labour Fiduciary Rule, and the operations of the NAIC’s Securities Valuation Office (SVO), South Carolina Rep. Carl Anderson headed the Life Insurance & Financial Planning Committee.
It was a privilege to be chosen president of the National Council of Insurance Agents (NCOIL), and Oliverson has already stated his intention to tackle important public policy concerns pertaining to insurance.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as president of NCOIL and eager to collaborate with my fellow officers to further the organization’s goals. Next year, there will be a plethora of insurance-related public policy concerns, but Oliverson is certain that his team is prepared to have an immediate impact.
Along with other recent occurrences, NCOIL has highlighted the significance of efficient disaster preparedness in light of the increasing likelihood of severe weather events, in observance of National Preparedness Month.
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