NABIP-NN April 2026 Newsletter 
Chapter Updates
Annual Membership Meeting and Exposition
Northern Nevada chapter’s annual membership meeting will be held during the Benefits and Medicare Expo luncheon on April 29th at the Atlantis Resort and Casino.
As called for in the organization’s by-laws, the key event of the luncheon will be the election of the 2026-27 officers to serve as the chapter’s Board of Directors. Those elected will take office on July 1st and serve for one year.
As announced by the Nominations Committee Chairperson, Don Goldmann, this year’s nominations include:
- Georgana Cepeda for President
- Joy Gardner for Vice President of Finance
- Chanté Padilla for Secretary
- Julie Ann Evans for Vice President of Professional Development
- Don Goldmann for Vice President of Media & Communications
- Ross Pendergraft for Vice President of Awards
- Mary Lou Urrutia for Vice President of Legislative Affairs
- Aliana Rushing will assume the position of Immediate Past President per the chapter’s Bylaws.
What’s Actually Holding You Back?
by
As open enrollment ends and things begin to slow down, it creates a moment most of us don’t take advantage of often enough, which is a chance to step back and really look at our business.
This is usually when I start asking myself the honest questions. What am I not working on that I should be? Where are the gaps, I’ve been too busy to notice?
Maybe it’s something simple, like getting emails organized or creating a better system to return client calls on time. Maybe it’s reconnecting with referral partners before those relationships quietly fade. Or, on a bigger scale, thinking ahead…do I have the right staff in place for next OEP? Should I be bringing on another agent now, so growth doesn’t come at the expense of service later?
The truth is, every one of us has areas in our business that need attention. There’s always that one project (or even a few) that keep getting pushed to the back burner. Not because they’re unimportant, but because they’re easy to delay.
So, the real question becomes: why?
What’s standing between us and getting those things done? And, more importantly, what is it costing us by continuing to put them off?
This slower season isn’t a setback. It's an opportunity and a time to reset, clean things up, and get intentional about how we’re running our business before things pick up again.
Take this time to step back, refocus, and identify what truly needs your attention. Be honest about what’s been pushed aside, and decide that now is the time to address it. The effort you invest today is what sharpens your business, and sets you up for a smoother, stronger, and more successful season ahead.
More than 10,000 people have enrolled in Nevada’s new public option health plans, which debuted last fall with the expectation that they would bring lower prices to the health insurance market.
Those preliminary numbers from the open enrollment period that ended in January are less than a third of what state officials had projected. Nevada is the third state so far to launch a public option plan, along with Colorado and Washington state. The idea is to offer lower-cost plans to consumers to expand health care access.
The public option gained attention in the late 2000s when Congress considered but ultimately rejected creating a health plan funded and run by the government that would compete with private carriers in the market. The programs in Washington state, Colorado, and Nevada don’t go that far — they aren’t government-run but are private-public partnerships that compete with private insurance.
In recent years, states have considered creating public option plans to make health coverage more affordable and to reduce the number of uninsured people. Washington was the first state to launch a program, in 2021, and Colorado followed in 2023.
Washington and Colorado’s programs have run into challenges, including a lack of participation from clinicians, hospitals, and other care providers, as well as insurers’ inability to meet rate reduction benchmarks or lower premiums compared with other plans offered on the market.
Nevada law requires that the carriers of the public option plans - Battle Born State Plans, named after the state motto - lower premium costs compared with a benchmark “silver” plan in the marketplace by 15% over the next four years.
Insurance companies attempted to meet the lower premium cost requirement in Nevada by cutting broker fees and commissions, which prompted opposition from insurance brokers in the state. In response, Nevada marketplace officials announced that they will give a flat-fee reimbursement to brokers.
Group Carrier Panel Featured at March Membership Luncheon
Three carrier representatives provided chapter members, attending the March luncheon program, a wide range of observations about each of their carrier’s approaches to handling the economic pressures shaping the Nevada group market including comments about premium increases, renewals, plan designs and how brokers can bring greater clarity and transparency to their clients.
Participating on the panel were Carolyn Murray of United Health Care, Art Vasquez of Anthem Nevada and Brenda Grace-Smith of Hometown Health.
The panel discussion was moderated by NABIP-NN Vice President of Legislative Affairs, Mary Lou Urrutia.
Snapshot of NABIP End-of-Year Impact Report
by Susan Rider, NABIP National President
The 2025 NABIP End-of-Year Impact Report (Q3 & Q4): “Advancing Our Mission”, highlighted the progress NABIP has made to strengthen the profession, expand its reach, and amplify the voice of benefits professionals nationwide.
From increased membership retention and professional development milestones to advocacy engagement and national recognition, the report reflected the power of NABIP’s collective efforts and the momentum for carrying NABIP into the future.
Here’s a snapshot of that shared success:
Together, these milestones demonstrated NABIP’s continued leadership in advocacy, education, and member engagement — and the growing impact of its nationwide community.
The report isn’t just a recap. It’s proof of NABIP’s shared impact and a powerful tool to showcase the value of NABIP membership to colleagues, partners, and prospective members.
A full copy of the report is available on the NABIP website and members are encouraged to use the report, share it and recruit new members with it.
May Member Luncheon – “The 2027 Medicare Final Rule: Education, Impacts and Broker Perspectives”
This program will consist of a panel of three Medicare expects from the Reno community. It will feature Merre Gregory, Robbie Rushing and Jay Eldridge.
The presentations will included education and discussion on the 2027 Medicare Final Rule, what the Final Rule is, how it is proposed and who governs it.
Topics to be discussed include:
- Third-Party Marketing Organization (TPMO) Updates
Calendar of Events
NABIP - Northern Nevada May Monthly Meeting
NABIP - Northern Nevada June Monthly Meeting
NABIP Happenings
New Member Orientation
One of the best ways to maximize the value of a NABIP membership is to learn about all the benefits at any monthly New Member Orientation!
Monthly orientations are held by Zoom at 9 AM on every 4th Thursday of the month.
The Zoom meeting ID is 826 3420 3381 and the passcode is “Membership”.
The program can also be accessed here: http://welcometonabip.org
Member Resources
Online Learning Institute
Earning the Registered Employee Benefits Consultant® (REBC®) designation elevates your credibility as a professional. The field of employee benefits continues to evolve rapidly. A year does not go by without new government regulations, new or modified coverages, and new techniques for controlling benefit costs. To best serve their clients, professionals need to have a current understanding of the provisions, advantages, and limitations associated with each type of benefit or program as a method for meeting economic security.
Affordable courses are available by visiting the NABIP site here.
Did You Know
There are many resources available to every member. Below are active links to a world of benefits that come from being a member of NABIP.
This collection of logos contains active weblinks to make it very easy for you to click and be led directly to the appropriate section of the national NABIP website.
Apply today for one of NABIP's highest honors - Leading Producers Round Table (LPRT). Click here for more information.
NABIP's Leadership Academy assists chapter leaders and members to become better leaders in life and NABIP. This 12-module program provides a wide variety of topics touching on many areas to provide students with a well-rounded experience. Programming can be done through attending pre-recorded programming, by attending monthly webinars or as a mix of the two formats.
NABIP created the President's Triple Crown Program to recognize those members whose individual contributions help advance the association's mission.
NABIP Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB).
Vision & Core Values, DEIB Training & DEIB Resources. Click Here to learn more.
Leadership Mentorship Program
Provides senior leadership support to new and current members professionally and in their leadership roles. Click Here for more information