Kreidler, other insurance commissioners meet with President Obama this morning

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler had an experience this morning that few people get--an hour with the President of the United States at the White House.

Kreidler shared that time with 43 other state insurance commissioners, whom the White House invited on short notice to discuss the progress of and the challenges ahead for the Affordable Care Act. The legislation is often referred to as President Barack Obama’s “signature” achievement during his tenure.

Vice President Joe Biden and key members of the White House staff also joined the discussion.

"It was a remarkable experience to spend an hour with the leader of the free world," Kreidler said. “The president was fully engaged.”

Key topics for the hourlong discussion were potential premiums for 2015, the adequacy of medical provider networks and changes at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees many of the national regulations of the Affordable Care Act. The agency is undergoing a change in leadership with the departure of former Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

 

Kreidler said the president was scheduled to talk with representatives of the insurance industry in an afternoon meeting.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) shared details about the visit in a news release and also posted a photo from the nation's capital of the insurance commissioners who participated.

This morning, we shared a photo of Kreidler in front of the White House as our inaugural Instagram post.