Why Patrick Burns
About me
LEADERSHIP, EXPERIENCE AND CONVICTION
It has been my great honor of SERVING AND LEADING at all levels of our association. In my position as Regional Vice President of the largest region within NABIP, and through the years of volunteering at the Regional, State and Local levels, I’ve had the privilege to work along-side many great leaders of NABIP. My CONVICTION that this industry as the most effective and efficient way of providing health care financing to our clients is unshaken. Our association has meant so much to me professionally and personally. I’m ready put my EXPERIENCE to work for you at the Executive Level of our National Board and that is why I want you to select me as
the next NAHU Secretary.
Background
I have been in the health insurance industry for over 35 year, after I graduated from University of California, Berkeley. I worked and was trained in the old school big carrier training programs at MetLife, and performed many different roles which culminated in leadership of their Jumbo accounts on the West Coast with revenues over $1 billion. In this role, I worked with all phases of the insurance process including underwriting, contracting, claims and employer/provider relations with P&L responsibility.
After a going through a few mergers and acquisitions on the carrier side, my wife and I decided to start our own independent health insurance agency in Oakland CA. We had two small children, a mortgage, and one decent sized client. Together we knew our drive for success would help us make it work! That is when I discovered the values of NAHU / NABIP and I’ve been hooked since!
NABIP has been an integral part of my professional life. Developing relationships with NABIP members from not only California, but across the country has helped me with my business in so many ways.
I’m passionate about doing the right thing for my clients and our industry! There is little true understanding of our business from the general public - specifically how the independent agency model is the most efficient way to deliver health care financing to individuals and companies through insurance and other products, why competitive, private insurance is the most cost-effective way to provide health care financing without causing rationing or stifling innovation, and how agents are truly consumer advocates for their clients.
I’m a firm believer, like you, that giving back for the greater good is important in all aspects of life, and that professionally you have an obligation to those who come after you to do your best for your industry. As a NABIP member, I have been consistently working to better the lives of my clients and my fellow agents through NABIP leadership, political activism and fundraising. I’m proud that my involvement working alongside many of you has made a significant impact on the health care in my state and across the country. As a member of the National Board of Directors for four years representing the largest region of NABIP, and through local, State, Regional and National committees and councils prior and current - I have been an advocate of communication, leadership and education for members, legislators and the public.
AND NOW I WANT TO USE THE SKILLS I BRING TO HELP OUR ASSOCIATION AT THE NEXT LEVEL!
Opportunities
Our future is bright. NABIP is the premier organization for the independent health insurance broker. But we have many choices and challenges ahead as well. We need leadership to forge the future and carve a path to the best healthcare solutions in America.
Technology
At our heart, we are a communications organization - to Legislators, to members and the public. Communication technology is changing constantly. Our communities are changing as well. COVID and the fallout has accelerated the gig economy which impacts our industry and our membership including how people access the insurance programs at their disposal.
NABIP must become more tech focused including communication and engagement. We need a member experience and engagement model that comes to our members where they live, not where NABIP has been comfortable. By supporting our volunteers with better information, easier access and faster communication, they will be able to better serve our members. By engaging our members with timely, compelling information and engaging communities, they will find us indispensable.
Leverage
Expansion of our state-level legislative expertise is a must to capitalize on a national basis. Our many state volunteers and lobbyists employed by our state chapters are a gold mine of valuable information. We should be sharing and leveraging that information to drive optimal results in all corners of the country.
Fact-based information regarding our efforts nationally must be communicated to help fight the ongoing battles that will and are surfacing at the state level. Battles about public option, single payer, global price-setting, global budgets will be made in state after state. We must be the voice of authority on those items!
Deliver
Consumers need the information to push health reform in the right direction also. As a trusted source we must deliver to our members, legislators and the public the answers. Addressing the many intricate workings of our healthcare system are difficult and we require careful communication. Questions about social determinants of health, equity and access must also be addressed by us because the public believe these to be health insurance issues. Transparency in price, outcomes and quality are major issues that have to continue to be addressed. These issues drive costs - we need to articulate our solution!
Develop
Our members professional knowledge is second to none. We need to continue to develop and provide courses to not only NABIP members but also other constituencies, like we have begun doing for Medicare Certification. While on-line education is becoming more prevalent and less expensive, quality courses are still of value. Our members need access to our educational portfolio to become better equipped in helping their clients. We need to solidify our position as the premier provider of Health Insurance education for not just brokers but for the general public as well.
Association Experience - 18 years
Golden Gate Association of Health Underwriters
- Golden Gate AHU President (2008 - 2010)
- Treasurer (2005 - 2008)
- Legislative chair (2010 - 2015)
- PAC chair (2018 - current)
California Association of Health Underwriters / CAHIP
- Legislative Vice President - 2012 - 2014
- President Elect - 2013 - 2014
- President - 2014 - 2015
- Past President - 2015- 2016
- VP Corporate Relations - 2016 - 2017
- VP Community Outreach - 2017 - 2018
- PAC Board Chair - 2016 - 2020
- Pac Board member 2014 - current
- Foundation Board member - 2017 - current
- Foundation Chair - 2017 - 2018
National Association of Health Underwriters / NABIP
- NAHU 2020 Focus Group - 2016
- Regional Media Chair - 2015 - 2018
- Regional Legislative Chair - 2016 -2018
- Legislative Cost Containment Working Group - 2015 - 2018
- Regional Vice President - 2018 - 2022
- Personnel Committee - 2019 - 2020
- Finance committee - 2020-2021
- NAHU 2020 focus groups
- NAHU 2025 Goal Champion - Major Health Policy (goal 6)
- NAHU 2025 Goal Manager - NAHU Restructuring (goal 7)
California Senate Legislative Committee on Health
- Working with the Senate Health Committee consultant on legislative priorities for the roll out of the ACA - 2013 - 15
- Continue to work with Senate Health Committee consultant as a regular industry point of contact on California Health Insurance questions
Covered California Employer Working Group
- Worked on the stakeholder group for Covered California (California's State based exchange) representing the interests of agents during the roll out of Covered CA - 2014 - 2018
Covered Department of Insurance Curriculum Committee
- Worked on the California Curriculum Committee for the Insurance Department to review education and testing process for new agents. - 2015 - 2019