Message from Your President – February

Dear Pennsylvania NABIP members,

Welcome to February! First, I hope you this note finds you all staying safe and healthy during this challenging time. Weather is one part of life decidedly out of our control and the last week certainly tested our resolve across the state. I’m certain we’re all looking towards warmer weather, fresh air, and the inevitable great thaw. As we look ahead to February, the annual NABIP Capitol Conference is top of mind. Our chapter will once again have a strong presence at Capitol Conference, including 12 first-time attendees. This premier NABIP event offers a valuable opportunity to advocate on behalf of our clients and healthcare consumers. NABIP’s weekly Cap Con webinars cover everything from what to wear to key talking points. Registered attendees should be receiving invitations, but please review the link below, as the webinars began before many had registered. https://nabip.org/events/capitol-conference/webinar/series

We kicked off 2026 with our first virtual Continuing Education event, followed by an informative session with Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys (recording link below). Visit our website for the latest events and programming. Our Calendar of Events continues to grow in response to the needs of our membership across Pennsylvania.  

Legislative Update

On Friday January 30, the Senate passed a spending package referred to as a “minibus.”  This was a package of six different appropriations (the word congress uses for spending) bills.  Among those was the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations package that funds HHS programs.  Negotiations had heated up in the wake of the pushback related to ICE operations, since one of the six packages would fund the Department of Homeland Security, which includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The Senate amended the portion of the package that funded DHS to only include funding for a short time but not hold up funding for HSS.  

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