Advocated for State-Led Insurance coverage Options and Market-Pushed Reforms
Final week, New Hampshire Insurance coverage Commissioner DJ Bettencourt and Deputy Commissioner Keith Nyhan traveled to Washington, D.C. as a part of the Nationwide Affiliation of Insurance coverage Commissioners (NAIC) 2025 Commissioner Fly-In. Over the course of two days, they joined state insurance coverage regulators from throughout the nation in conferences with members of Congress to advance a legislative agenda centered on client safety, insurance coverage market stability, and a steadfast protection of the state-based system of insurance coverage regulation.
As a part of the Division’s direct engagement with New Hampshire’s federal delegation, Commissioner Bettencourt met personally with Congressman Chris Pappas and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. In each dialog, the Division emphasised its core message: that selections affecting shoppers are finest made by these closest to them.
“New Hampshire is aware of tips on how to govern itself,” mentioned Commissioners Bettencourt. “Granite Staters are finest served when insurance policies are formed by those that perceive our values, our communities, and our markets. Below Governor Ayotte’s management, New Hampshire hasn’t merely stood agency on these ideas—she has led. We had been proud to hold her message to Washington and advocate for considerate, state-led options that shield our residents and uphold our custom of accountable governance.”
All through the Fly-In, the Division championed six key priorities that mirror New Hampshire’s dedication to sensible, principled policymaking:
- Elimination of the Federal Insurance coverage Workplace (FIO):
The Division renewed its name for the elimination of the FIO, a federal entity whose operate overlaps considerably with longstanding state tasks. The FIO’s duplicative information assortment efforts, lack of subject-matter authority, and potential to erode the jurisdictional readability between federal and state governments are deeply regarding. Insurance coverage regulation has all the time resided with the states for good purpose—and it ought to stay there. - Assist for Enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTCs):
Whereas the Reasonably priced Care Act accommodates structural shortcomings that warrant reform, enhanced premium subsidies have helped 1000’s of New Hampshire households afford protection beneath the present framework. The Division continues to advocate for critical, market-based reforms, however burdened the pressing want for well timed federal steerage heading into the 2026 plan yr to make sure readability, stability, and affordability for shoppers. - Strengthening Property Insurance coverage Resiliency:
New Hampshire highlighted its management via the Granite State Residence Mitigation and Resiliency Program, a forward-looking initiative designed to cut back danger earlier than catastrophe strikes. The Division inspired federal assist for states enterprise related efforts, emphasizing that empowering people and communities to behave proactively is much preferable to relying solely on post-disaster intervention. - Reform of the Legal responsibility Danger Retention Act:
Nonprofit organizations, significantly these delivering important behavioral well being companies beneath state contracts, face rising issue in accessing reasonably priced legal responsibility protection. The Division known as for focused reforms to cut back regulatory obstacles whereas sustaining applicable oversight, permitting these organizations to give attention to their missions fairly than navigating pointless bureaucratic hurdles. - Enhancing Oversight of Medicare Benefit Advertising and marketing Practices:
State regulators have reported an increase in misleading advertising and marketing techniques in Medicare Benefit and ACA plans, typically ensuing within the unauthorized or inappropriate enrollment of weak shoppers. Regardless of engagement with federal companions, these practices persist. The Division urged Congress to revive and broaden the authority of state regulators and CMS to safeguard the integrity of {the marketplace} and shield shoppers. - Lengthy-Time period Reauthorization of the Nationwide Flood Insurance coverage Program (NFIP):
With the NFIP set to run out on September 30, 2025, the Division advocated for a long-term reauthorization that features stronger mitigation elements and larger alternatives for personal market participation. The continued uncertainty surrounding this system undercuts public confidence and deters the event of a extra resilient, aggressive flood insurance coverage market.
“On the coronary heart of every of those priorities is a unifying precept: authorities capabilities finest when it respects its applicable bounds, empowers people, and reinforces—fairly than replaces—the ingenuity of free markets and the competence of state establishments,” mentioned Commissioner Bettencourt.
“New Hampshire has by no means waited for Washington to inform us tips on how to do what’s proper,” Deputy Commissioner Nyhan concluded. “With Governor Ayotte’s management and the confirmed energy of our state-based regulatory system, we’re displaying that good, accountable, and restricted authorities nonetheless delivers the most effective outcomes.”
The total listing of the NAIC’s 2025 state insurance coverage regulatory priorities is offered at https://www.naic.org.
Supply: NH Division of Insurance coverage
