Message from Your President – January
Dear Pennsylvania NABIP members,
Welcome to 2026! As we embark on the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, our Commonwealth will surely be in the spotlight at both a national and worldwide level. This year also brings the mid-term elections, with healthcare certain to be a leading topic of discussion and debate. Collectively, we will continue to advocate for the healthcare consumers of our State and educate our membership in this evolving landscape. I’m excited for what the new year brings for our chapter with a full calendar of events that will enhance the value of your membership. Our 2026 Virtual CE series kicks off on January 14th. As members, you will be able to earn 12 Continuing Education credits at no cost in the first 3 months of 2026 alone with PA-NABIP. Please see below for event details. I look forward to connecting with you throughout the year.
Legislative Update
- As expected, the Democrat-led bill in the House to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) premium tax credits passed. The only surprise was the larger than expected number of Republican lawmakers that also approved the measure. The bill in its current state was considered dead on arrival at the Senate. However, many expect bipartisan support for a likely updated version of the extension on the Senate side. PA NABIP will continue to watch and will be updating our LinkedIn page with the progress.
- Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, formally announced his intention to run for a second term. This came fresh on the heels of the Trump administration announcing that Pennsylvania received $193M in rural hospital funding, placing it 34th in the union for the dollar amounts handed out by the Trump administration. Neighboring New Jersey received the lowest amount in the country, at $147M. The program was designed to counter massive Medicaid budget cuts that are expected to devastate rural communities and their access to care. According to the non-partisan research organization KFF, the program is expected to offset just over one third of the estimated $137B cut to Medicaid spending in rural areas over the next decade.
While our plans and talking points for the NABIP Capitol Conference will be heavily influenced by the outcome of the expanded tax credits, planning for the event has not slowed down. This will be NABIP’s premier event of the year, and we expect to have a heavy Pennsylvania presence as in previous years. Watch for updates and an announcement for a Pennsylvania Day on the Hill in Harrisburg this Spring!
Please follow us and share our posts on LinkedIn. Feel free to contact me directly with any questions or thoughts at mcuomo@vbaplans.com.
Respectfully,
Matt Cuomo, PA-NABIP President
Vice President of Sales, VBA
