Advocacy

Abstract: This fall, Travis Wattie, Big I NY AVP of Government Relations, spoke at five legislative breakfast events across the state. Body: This fall, Travis Wattie, Big I NY AVP of Government Relations, spoke at five legislative breakfast events across the state. Each of the events—hosted by Big I Central New York, Big I Southern Tier, Big I Suffolk, Big I Tri-County, and Big I Western New York —brought together insurance professionals and state and federal lawmakers for meaningful conversations on public policy issues impacting New York's insurance marketplace.The breakfasts began with a high-level overview of the industry's legislative priorities, which focus on making insurance…

Body: ​ Big I New York Regional Director Eileen Frank and Assistant Vice President of Government Relations, Travis Wattie, recently participated in a series of Affordability Roundtables hosted by the New York State Senate Republican Conference. Their goal: help lawmakers better understand how insurance works and highlight practical reforms to address New Yorkers’ growing affordability challenges. During the Manhattan roundtable, Eileen Frank used a simple but powerful visual to explain the basics of insurance. Holding up a cup, she described premiums as what goes in and claim payments as what comes out. Insurance, she emphasized, is pooled risk—a modern extension of neighbors helping neighbors. But when claims are inflated or…

Body: ​For the fourth year in a row, Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed the “Grieving Families Act,” also known as the “Wrongful Death” bill. The proposal would significantly expand the types of damages families could recover after a wrongful death, adding broad noneconomic categories such as grief, emotional anguish, and loss of companionship.The Governor’s veto message emphasized affordability concerns, warning that the measure would sharply increase claim costs and, as a result, drive up insurance premiums for patients and consumers across New York.​In a letter urging the veto, Big I New York noted that the cost of these expanded awards would ultimately fall on policyholders…