National Flood Insurance Program
No Longer Mired in Congress

Trade Groups Lobbied Heavily for Longer Extension,
Say Reforms Must Be Focused for Next Congressional Session

WASHINGTON—The United States House of Representatives and Senate has passed a bill reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for one year, to Sept. 20, 2011, to the approval of insurance trade groups that have been fighting for longer-term extensions.

Keeping Heads Above Water
“This extension means that property owners across the coun-
try who need flood insurance coverage will continue to be
able to obtain it while the NFIP reform process proceeds,”
said Mike Becker, national director of federal affairs for
the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents.
“While we’re grateful for this critical extension, much work
remains to be done in order to improve the NFIP for the
benefit of consumers. Local communities, states, and the
federal government all have a stake in making the flood in-
surance program work better for property owners and our
continued on page 4

health Insurance Market
Reforms effective Sept. 23

In This Issue

TDI Announces August enforcement Actions

AUSTIN—The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and related Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, enacted by Congress in March 2010, include significant insurance market reforms effective for most group and individual health insurance policies with plan years that begin on or after Sept. 23, 2010.

Special Focus: Excess and Surplus Lines

A Look at the New Surplus Lines Regulatory environment

Insurers, RIMS Comment on Terror Backstop

Under the Act, most health benefit plans in Texas (including both fully insured and self-funded ERISA plans excluded from state regulation) are affected by these provisions. Fully insured plans that are subject to Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) regulation must file with TDI health benefit plan amend- continued on page 16

SELLING STRATEGIES:

The Best Questions You Can Ask

IMS Acquires London American Risk Specialists

Victoria Weir Leads IIATC

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