Why Join NAHU: The Benefits of Membership

The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) has been a valuable resource for health insurance agents, brokers, HR professionals, and consultants for more than nine decades.

Founded in Chicago in 1930, membership organization represents 100,000-plus licensed individuals working within the healthcare insurance space, with a total of 18,000 members.

Currently, NAHU has more than 200 chapters across all 50 states. They serve members and non-members alike by advocating for beneficial legislation on a national level.

In addition, NAHU provides access to education programs, corporate partnerships, and other resources designed to be an asset to insurance agents, especially those dealing with Medicare.[CW1] 

“Some non-member agents don't realize NAHU has a strong focus on Medicare, from advocating directly with CMS on behalf of agents to offering the Medicare Advantage training certification program.”  — Michael King, president of Western NY AHU chapter

If you are an independent health insurance agent, you have likely heard of NAHU. You may have even considered becoming a member of this prestigious organization but might not be sure how doing so would benefit you.

With that in mind, we have created this guide to the benefits of NAHU membership and also discuss potential concerns that may be preventing you from joining. The goal is to provide you with the knowledge to make an informed decision and further your career as an independent health underwriter.

In addition to the plethora of resources as mentioned earlier, NAHU offers members access to several unique and impactful benefits, including:

Member Community and Professional Networking Resources 

Many members love being a part of NAHU because they have the opportunity to connect with other health insurance professionals across the nation. One popular resource is NAHU’s community discussion boards. The industry is full of complexities and members can use these boards to get input from leading authorities and peers and also exchange new ideas among communities across various marketplaces across the nation.

NAHU also hosts two annual national meetings, the Capitol Conference and the Annual Convention and Exhibition.

In addition, NAHU has 200-plus state and local chapters, each hosting meetings throughout the year. These meetings give attendees the chance to learn about new products, share sales strategies, and develop valuable skills.

For agents concerned about traveling or face-to-face gatherings, NAHU also hosts a monthly "Power Hour” online. This peer-to-peer virtual meeting is a popular alternative, mainly due to recent events such as COVID-19.

Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy

Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of becoming a NAHU member is that the group engages in legislative and regulatory advocacy at a state and federal level. The organization will actively support legislation that benefits the health underwriter industry while fighting against any unfavorable bills.

For instance, the New York State Association of Health Underwriters has been lobbying against the Single Payer Bill. This extremely costly bill would have negative consequences for the health underwriting industry, which is why NAHU has taken such a proactive approach to combating this piece of legislation.,

A Vital Connection With CMS and Medicare

Recently, NAHU has forged a direct relationship with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in an industry first. NAHU members now have the opportunity to have regular discussions with CMS leadership regarding how new policies impact beneficiaries. During these regular meetings, NAHU members can voice their concerns and work with CMS to develop a viable solution.

CMS offered NAHU this unprecedented access because of NAHU’s credibility as an expert in the health underwriting industry. This relationship allows NAHU to keep a finger on the pulse of CMS, which aids the association’s ability to provide guidance to its membership regarding compliance concerns.

NAHU membership provides independent agents with a clear pathway to becoming more well-versed in all things CMS and Medicare.

Hesitant About Joining?

While there are significant benefits to becoming a member of NAHU, one barrier that might discourage some agents from joining is the cost of membership.

The exact cost of membership varies from state to state and city to city. Still, the monthly membership cost is less than $50 per month everywhere except California and is even under $30 in some locations.

When considering all that NAHU does to help the health underwriting community, these membership costs will end up paying for themselves.

Join NAHU Today

As you can see, joining the National Association of Health Underwriters offers tremendous benefits with a relatively minimal investment. In addition to education, business, and technology services, you can gain access to the association’s invaluable community discussion boards and networking, expert insights, legislative advocacy, and Medicare resources.

When these significant perks are paired with a proprietary Medicare underwriting technology such as that offered by CareValue, the possibilities are endless. Join NAHU today and accelerate your career as a health underwriter.