November 2025 Newsletter

NABIP-Dallas wrapped up October with their popular "Legal Sips and Tips" event featuring Shannon and Mike Meroney from Meroney Public Affairs. The well-attended gathering provided members with valuable legal insights while fostering networking opportunities within the Dallas chapter community.
Upcoming Events and Community Engagement
Virtual Food Drive
NABIP-Dallas is hosting a Virtual Food Drive to support the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) and their mission to close the hunger gap across North Texas. Every dollar donated equals three meals, making a significant impact for children, older adults, and families facing food insecurity. Members can participate by shopping from NTFB's most-needed items cart or donating directly at the designated link.
NABIP-TX Day at the Capitol
Scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 2:00-5:00 PM, this virtual event will bring together Texas health insurance professionals to hear from leading legislative sources including Shannon and Mike Meroney. Attendees can earn a minimum of 2 CE credits while staying informed about Texas healthcare legislation. The event includes opportunities to contribute to the NABIP-TX PAC Admin Fund and participate in a virtual raffle with proceeds supporting legislative efforts.
NABIP Capitol Conference 2026
Taking place February 22-24, 2026 in Washington, D.C., the 36th Annual Capitol Conference has been completely redesigned for maximum advocacy impact. The new structure features a streamlined schedule where Sunday focuses on orientation and connection, Monday provides recognition and Hill preparation, and Tuesday is entirely dedicated to Capitol Hill advocacy meetings—with no competing sessions. Professional scheduling firm Advocacy Associates will handle all congressional meeting logistics, while the new AdvocacyDay app will provide attendees with schedules, talking points, legislator bios, and real-time updates. Capitol Club members will start Tuesday with breakfast alongside legislators before the full delegation gathers for a group photo at the Capitol Reflecting Pool.
NABIP-TX Annual Conference
The state conference returns to Corpus Christi at the Omni Hotel on April 14-15, 2026, with the theme "Riding the Tides of Change: Navigating Success Together." Early bird registration is available through March 24, with member rates starting at $195. Agency sponsorships are also available, including conference registration, event signage, and legislative lunch attendance.
Legislative and Advocacy Updates
Federal Legislative Landscape
Legislative Chair Charles Rosen provides a comprehensive update on the evolving federal healthcare policy environment. With the government shutdown extending beyond one month, negotiations remain gridlocked over enhanced ACA subsidies set to expire at year-end. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is working with committee chairs from Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce to assemble a Republican healthcare plan framework. GOP lawmakers including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Sen. Josh Hawley have voiced concerns about the impact of expiring subsidies, particularly following Medicaid funding cuts in the recent reconciliation bill.
Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that Republicans won't negotiate on ACA subsidies until the government reopens, calling the expiring subsidies "a serious problem" but noting that fixing the system is "very complicated." Republican proposals include expanded health savings accounts and cost-sharing reduction reimbursements—provisions that were removed from the final Senate tax package.
NABIP Advocacy Efforts
NABIP recently submitted a formal letter to the NAIC titled "Protecting Consumer Access and Fair Competition: NABIP Recommendation on Medicare and ACA Carrier Practices." This letter calls for coordinated state-level review of carrier tactics that restrict consumer access and distort fair competition across Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medicare Supplement, and ACA markets. These concerns align with Idaho's Department of Insurance Bulletin No. 25-06, which several state chapters including Texas have referenced in their regulatory outreach.
Additionally, NABIP led a coalition letter to CMS addressing ongoing Medicare compensation issues, with multiple agent associations signing on to reinforce the industry's commitment to transparency, equitable pay structures, and preserving consumer access to licensed professionals.
Nationwide DEI & B Video Campaign
NABIP's DEI and B Committee is collecting selfie videos from members nationwide to showcase the strength and unity of the community. Members are invited to record a short video saying "I am NABIP" (pause) "We are NABIP" in any language. The videos will be professionally edited and showcased at NABIP National Events, with the final montage concluding with NABIP CEO Jessica Brooks-Woods stating "We are NABIP."
Membership Benefits and Resources
Membership Opportunities
NABIP-Dallas offers two membership options: Individual membership at $44.42/month or $523/yearly, with dues divided between National, State, and Local chapters; and Agency membership for qualifying agencies, which may provide cost savings. New members joining NABIP-Dallas also gain membership to NABIP-TX and the national organization, accessing continuing education, professional designations, business development tools, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts at state and federal levels.
Recharge Your Membership
NABIP-Texas is offering a limited-time incentive for lapsed members: renew your membership and receive a $25 Giftogram gift card redeemable at more than 250 retailers locally and nationwide. This offer applies to memberships that have lapsed more than six months ago. After rejoining, members should email admin@nabip-tx.org with the subject "I'm Recharged" to receive their gift card.
Professional Development
NABIP provides extensive educational opportunities including advanced designations, certifications, continuing education, and online learning through the Online Learning Institute. The organization also offers the REBC® Designation, Medicare Advantage Certification, DC Health Link Broker Training, a Speakers Bureau, and a Career Center. NABIP-Dallas meetings occur every third Wednesday of the month (except December) at rotating locations, and new members can attend their first lunch meeting at no cost.
2026 Compliance and Benefits Updates
High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)
For the 2026 plan year, HDHP minimum deductibles are set at $1,700 individual / $3,400 family, with out-of-pocket maximums of $8,500 individual / $17,000 family. Significantly, the Telehealth Safe Harbor has been permanently extended, allowing HDHPs to cover telehealth services before the deductible without affecting HSA eligibility, retroactive to January 1, 2025.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Direct Primary Care fees up to $150/month (individual) or $300/month (family) now qualify for HSA use, with additional requirements potentially applying. Marketplace Bronze and Catastrophic plans in the individual market are now HSA-eligible. Contribution limits for 2026 are $4,400 individual / $8,750 family.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
The Medical FSA maximum increases to $3,300, while the Dependent Care FSA maximum rises to $7,500. Nondiscrimination testing requirements continue to apply.
Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notices
Employers must notify Medicare-eligible employees by October 14 each year whether their prescription drug coverage is creditable. For notices due October 14, 2025, employers may use either the current or new CMS test. However, for notices due October 14, 2026 and beyond, employers must use the new CMS methodology exclusively—old methods will no longer be valid.
ACA Requirements
Applicable Large Employers (50+ full-time employees including FTEs) must ensure coverage affordability at 9.96% of income using one of three safe harbors: W-2 Wages, Rate of Pay, or Federal Poverty Line. The 4980H(a) penalty for not offering coverage to at least 95% of full-time employees is $3,340 per full-time employee (excluding the first 30), while the 4980H(b) penalty for unaffordable or inadequate coverage is $5,010 per affected employee.
Marketplace Updates
Open Enrollment runs November 1 – December 15, with the affordability threshold increasing to 9.96% of household income (up from 9.02% in 2025). Marketplaces must now verify income, residency, immigration status, and family size before enrollment. APTC eligibility must be confirmed before plan selection, and passive reenrollment subsidies are no longer allowed—consumers must reverify annually. Income-only Special Enrollment Periods no longer trigger subsidy eligibility without another qualifying event. Enhanced APTCs are scheduled to expire December 31, 2025. Implementation of portions of the Marketplace Integrity & Affordability Rule is paused due to ongoing litigation in City of Columbus et al. v. Kennedy et al.
Political Action and Support
NABIP TX PAC
The Texas Association of Health Underwriters formed NABIP TX PAC over a decade ago to support Texas Legislature candidates who understand health insurance dynamics and are committed to bringing Texans more affordable health insurance plans. Members can make one-time or monthly contributions online, with paper contribution forms also available. The PAC operates with a legislative program focused on maximizing the number of insured Texans with comprehensive coverage at the lowest possible cost.
Shirley Hutzler Legislative Excellence Award
Nominations are now open for the Shirley Hutzler Legislative Excellence Award, recognizing members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to legislative advocacy. Shirley Hutzler created the basis of NABIP-TX's legislative groundwork through her dedicated service starting in 1991 while serving as NABIP-TX 1st Vice President. Her involvement included acting as volunteer liaison to the Texas Legislature and TDI, serving on panels, testifying before committees, and making presentations to chapters across Texas. The nomination deadline is December 15, 2025.
NABIP Resources and Communications
Washington Update
The latest Washington Update covers the ongoing federal shutdown (now past one month), key dates affecting SNAP benefits, federal employee paychecks, and Head Start programs. Registration details for Capitol Conference 2026 are included, along with OEP resources, the Medicare AEP Toolkit, grassroots gateway materials on federal priorities and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and links to Medicare and ACA testimonial surveys. Members are encouraged to log all meetings with lawmakers and to maintain NABIP's bipartisan stance when representing the organization.
Resource Hub and Magazine Survey
NABIP's Resource Hub offers a library of free downloadable content including white papers, guides, eBooks, case studies, and industry analysis. The featured resource covers "How Section 105 Medical Reimbursement Plans Save on Taxes," explaining Health Reimbursement Arrangements and Medical Expense Reimbursement Plans as alternative ways of funding medical costs. Additionally, NABIP CEO Jessica Brooks-Woods is requesting member feedback through the bip Magazine Readership Survey to help improve the content, design, and overall value of the quarterly publication.
Sponsors
NABIP-Dallas recognizes its valued sponsors including United Pet Care, APS (Your Workforce Partner), NueSynergy, LeaveChamp/ACAChamp (Compliance tools from AFAs), CRC Benefits, Texas Legal, Tokio Marine HCC, MedPlus, SwyftScripts, IIS Benefit Administrators, and Oxbridge Health.