President Obama, along with the Senate and House health reform proposals, support the idea of a “health insurance exchange” run by the government. The idea is that people would go to the government exchange to get their personal or small business health insurance. This is supposed to somehow replace the nations’s 500,000 licensed health insurance agents and brokers.

What’s next? Are we going to fire all the accountants and have the IRS to do our taxes for us?

Americans value choice and it is expected that the health reform movement will continue to offer Americans a choice in health insurance benefits. A young person has different needs than someone starting a family, who has different needs than someone in their late 50’s or early 60’s. Health insurance is complex and the average American, regardless of profession or level of education, simply will not take the time to properly research and understand the differences in health insurance coverage.

The right plan is based upon many factors and it is not uncommon for health insurance agents to spend anywhere from 1-3 hours meeting with a client just helping them choose the right plan for their needs. The education process that health insurance agents provide is vital to helping Americans understand what their options are and what the trade offs are for the varying options. A web site or government run exchange program simply can not replace the hard work performed by the 500,000 licensed health insurance agents across America.

Agents should be considered a valued ally to assist individuals and businesses across the nation in adapting to the changes that will be brought about by health care reform. The Agent/Client relationship is built on trust and responsibility.

Clients’ value having someone that can get past all the marketing information and explain to them how a policy works and give them real world examples. Clients’ value having someone that will take the time to answer their questions without hurrying them off the phone. Clients’ value having someone they can look in the eye and hold accountable for their family’s protection. Clients’ value having an Agent to act as their advocate when things go wrong and to help them hold the insurance companies accountable.

I believe that America needs health reform. But, health reform that puts the nation’s 500,000 health insurance agents and brokers out of work would be both a mistake and a missed opportunity. Health Reform should instead leverage the talent and efficiency of hard working licensed health insurance agents and brokers to serve Americans as we go through this period of change.

For more info on what’s going on with health reform, visit the Health Insurance News blog.