Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA), according to their website, " is a national alliance of 300,000 business owners and their employees who offer all types of insurance and financial services products. Unlike company-employed agents, IIABA independent insurance agents and insurance brokers represent more than one insurance company, so they can offer clients a wider choice of auto, home, business, life, health coverages as well as retirement and employee-benefit products.  ...  IIABA was founded in 1896 as the National Local Association of Fire Insurance Agents. With the expansion of property-casualty business and coverages, the organization’s name was changed to the National Association of Insurance Agents in 1913. To emphasize its members’ ability to work with a variety of insurance companies, the organization became the Independent Insurance Agents of America in 1975. The Association’s name was changed in 2002 to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America to reflect the diversity of its membership, which includes both independent insurance agents and insurance brokers. IIABA is a voluntary federation of state associations and local boards, with affiliates in every state and the District of Columbia. Its independent insurance agents and brokers are politically astute and are involved both locally and nationally. They monitor and affect consumer, insurance agent and broker, and small business issues in Washington through IIABA’s active, professional staff on Capitol Hill.

The organization is one of the leading and most powerful opponents of health care reform. It is their opinion "the creation of a public plan would have a devastating effect on the private market, on health care consumers, and on independent agents," according to a statement that appeared on their website on August 24, 2009.

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 * Robert Hoopes