Happy Wednesday! In this week's Big I Buzz, we are discussing the educational opportunities available for IIAW members, home renovation risks and the number of Americans facing health care debt. 

IIAW Educational Opportunities

The IIAW is an honored recipient of the Big "I" National 2022 Excellence in Insurance Education (EIE) Diamond Award. This award recognizes state associations and staff who have made significant contributions to insurance educations for their members and the industry. The IIAW offers various traditional and cutting-edge professional development programs! IIAW members have access to our educational opportunities. 

First, we offer in-person and online prelicensing options for Wisconsin insurance professionals. The in-person and online insurance licensing course is led by Gabrielle O'Brien, who has taught more than 20,000 prelicensing students! The IIAW prelicensing course is designed to help you pass your state licensing exam by the quickest method of meeting the WI educations hours requirement. 

Next, we offer online continuing education courses. The WI OCI requires insurance agents in Wisconsin complete 24 hours of continuing education credits with three of those being in ethics every two years. The IIAW provides unique and attention-grabbing courses through our partnership with ABEN. ABEN offers high-quality CE and professional development online webcasts. Now through the end of the month, you can receive 20% off online CE through ABEN with code SUMMERCE. 

Last, but certainly not least, we offer employee training through MyAgencyCampus. MyAgencyCampus offers employee training ranging from insurance basics, specific job roles or even specific business skills. A few bundles we'd like to mention are the Commercial Lines Coverage Basics which includes 25 courses in one bundle, their Introduction to Employee Benefits Insurance Basics and the Personal Lines Coverage Basics. MyAgencyCampus has these bundles and so much more (four pages worth of courses) that you can take to enhance onboarding new employees. 

To learn more about the educational opportunities we offer IIAW members, visit iiaw.com/education.

Insureds Need Help Avoiding Home-Renovation Risks

According to NU Property Casualty 360, "Over a third of homeowners in the U.S. and Canada embarked on renovations during the last year." With the number of homeowners starting home renovations, it's a great time to help them avoid the risks of renovation. [Home renovation projects] "are a chance for home insurance agents to step up for their clients, who may not realize the high chance that their property may sustain water damage during a renovation, or that certain updates, such as finishing a basement or installing a swimming pool, will require additional coverage. One great way to put yourself front-of-mind for your clients is by utilizing your social media sites. IIAW members have access to Trusted Choice's Content to Share. Trusted Choice puts together graphics and captions that you can use on your social media page, and they have great reminders for your social media followers to reach out to you when considering home renovation.

100 Million People in U.S. Saddled With Health Care Debt

Benefits Pro has reported that, "6 in 10 working-age adults with coverage have gone into debt getting care in the past five years, a rate only slightly lower than the uninsured." A nationwide poll from KFF found that about 1 in 7 people said that they've been denied access to a hospital, doctor or other provider because of unpaid bills. "Patient debt is piling up despite the landmark 2010 Affordable Care Act. The law expanded insurance coverage to tens of millions of Americans. Yet, it also ushered in years of robust profits for the medical industry, which has steadily raised prices over the past decade," according to Benefits Pro. This article from Benefits Pro goes in depth about the the KFF Health Care Debt Survey and additional research conducted by the Urban Institute. Read more from this article here. 

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