When it comes to protecting producers and the consumers they serve, PIA Northeast doesn’t hesitate to act—and this time, it did so across five states.
On Oct. 31, 2025, each of the PIA Northeast affiliates—PIANY, PIANJ, PIACT, PIANH and PIAVT—sent formal letters to their respective state insurance departments, raising alarm over troubling carrier practices in the Medicare insurance space. These letters weren’t just routine correspondence—they were a unified call for regulatory scrutiny and accountability.
Across the region, producers have reported a disturbing trend: carriers slashing or eliminating commissions mid-year, often without warning. In some cases, access to enrollment materials has been restricted and producers have been discouraged from marketing certain products altogether. These tactics not only undermine the role of licensed professionals, but they also threaten consumer access to the guidance they need—especially senior citizens navigating complex coverage options.
Each affiliate’s letter laid out a clear legal basis for regulatory action under state-specific unfair trade practices laws. Whether it’s New York state’s Insurance Law Section 2401, Connecticut’s CUIPA statute or Vermont’s 8 V.S.A. Section 4721, the message was consistent: these practices may violate state law and deserve immediate investigation.
The impact is real. Producers are being sidelined, and consumers—particularly older adults, those with limited digital literacy or language barriers—are left without the support upon which they rely. When compensation is quietly removed from filed products mid-year, it raises serious questions about transparency, fairness and the integrity of the rate filing process.
PIA Northeast affiliates didn’t just raise concerns—they demanded action. Each state association urged regulators to investigate, issue guidance and require transparency in carrier compensation policies moving forward.
This coordinated advocacy effort sends a powerful message: producers matter. Their role in the insurance ecosystem is vital, and their ability to serve clients must be protected. PIA Northeast stands firmly behind its members and will continue to fight for fair treatment, clear rules and a level playing field.
Bradford J. Lachut, Esq.
Bradford J. Lachut, Esq., joined PIA as government affairs counsel for the Government & Industry Affairs Department in 2012 and then, after a four-month leave, he returned to the association in 2018 as director of government & industry affairs responsible for all legal, government relations and insurance industry liaison programs for the five state associations. Prior to PIA, Brad worked as an attorney for Steven J. Baum PC, in Amherst, and as an associate attorney for the law office of James Morris in Buffalo. He also spent time serving as senior manager of government affairs as the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, a chamber of commerce serving the Buffalo, N.Y., region, his hometown. He received his juris doctorate from Buffalo Law School and his Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Politics from Utica College, Utica, N.Y. Brad is an active Mason and Shriner.
