The National Association of Health Underwriters held its annual convention in late June amid a mood of apprehension, as the attendees expected a Supreme Court ruling on health care reform during the convention.
Despite the high court ruling coming days later, attendees left the conference with an optimistic outlook toward the future of their business after attending panels on topics from essential benefits to health care exchanges - topics that prepared them for any eventuality.
"Our convention each year is a celebration of what we do ... and in spite of everything we are experiencing, we've made a lot of strides this year," said NAHU CEO Janet Trautwein in front of nearly 800 attendees - a record crowd - in Las Vegas. "[NAHU has] achieved many of the goals we set for ourselves."
Among the highlights Trautwein outlined were NAHU organized compliance conference calls that constantly hit the maximum of 1,000 participants, and wellness videos which had exceptional viewership.
She also looked toward the future, saying that in the next year NAHU will revamp its website, and recently moved into new offices in Washington. "This is the new and improved future and we are ready for whatever the future might bring, whatever it is," she said.
Also speaking at the convention was NAHU immediate past president and EBA columnist Mel Schlesinger, who reflected on his time at NAHU. For him, the biggest takeaway was all of the friendships he made traveling the country, he said.
Yet, as Bruce Benton of Genesis Financial & Insurance Services takes his reign as president, Schlesinger also looked toward the future. "I think the future for insurance agents is amazingly bright," Schlesinger said. "The future is incredible because the American consumer is going to need insurance agents to help them protect their families."
