Janet Trautwein
Executive Vice president and ceo
National Association of Health Underwriters

Janet Trautwein is Executive Vice President and CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters in Arlington, Virginia.  The National Association of Health Underwriters represents more than 20,000 professionals involved in the sale and service of health insurance and related products.   Her responsibilities include oversight of all NAHU activities and primary representation of the association to the media, government agencies and elected officials at all levels, the insurance industry, and the public.  Prior to becoming the EVP/CEO of NAHU, Janet served for many years as the head of NAHU's government affairs department, working with members of Congress on Capitol Hill and agencies of the Executive branch, supervising NAHU government affairs staff, monitoring and analyzing legislation, writing and revising legislation and developing policy recommendations for NAHU. She has a particular interest and expertise in issues related to the uninsured, long-term care, high-risk pools and health insurance markets around the United States.  Reflecting that interest, Janet has participated in two GAO studies on health insurance markets, a study of the individual health insurance market with the Kaiser Family Foundation, and numerous NAHU sponsored research projects on health insurance markets and other relevant health issues. Additionally, Janet has worked extensively on the implementation of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act health insurance tax credit for trade displaced workers, working with state legislators, regulators and governors to implement approved purchasing options for eligible individuals.  In 2001, Janet was appointed to President Bush’s health advisory transition team to advise the president and the incoming Secretary of Health and Human services on health issues facing the nation.

Janet’s background includes 17 years in the insurance business as a principal in an insurance agency specializing in health insurance, employee benefits, and related products and four years and the Legislative Director and Lobbyist for the Texas State Association of Health Underwriters.  Due to her extensive “field” experience, Janet is a frequent consultant on “real world” health insurance issues.  In 2004, Janet received the Harold R. Gordon Memorial Award, which honors the “Health Insurance Person of the Year” and is considered to the most prestigious award in the health insurance industry.