ACA Express -vs- HealthSherpa

[KennyWest]

<BNIP>

With ACAExpress, you fill in sections and click "save", or something like that, after each one. After you finish/save a section of the application, it closes that section and opens the next one for completion. If you made an error in a "closed/completed" section, you can't go back to change it, I don't think. All I know is that it was a tad frustrating that I couldn't review everything I entered before final submission.

The experience of having both ACAExpress and HealthSherpa available must be what it's like to have two girlfriends. One is better at kissing (this is a PG-rated forum, OK?), but is a tad unstable, and prone to disappearing without notice. This other girlfriend always returns your calls, is never late for dates, but... well, you know.

Actually you can go back to any section and edit the data, just click the name of the section, "Household Details" for example.

To your analogy; we would be the one who everyone in HS knew then at the HS reunion were like WHOA! while the other one had ...

 

[AllenChicago]

Actually you can go back to any section and edit the data, just click the name of the section, "Household Details" for example.

That's what I get for not going through the ACA-Express training video. Thanks for letting me know that the fields are editable, Kenny. -ac

 

[Yagents]

Well, isn't that special? a willingness to give up distribution:

https://aishealth.com/archive/nhex1...Magnet&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=87010985

Although it doesn't propose a timeline, CMS's proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (BPP) notes that the agency is moving forward with technology that will allow web-broker entities (WBEs) to directly enroll members and determine federal subsidy amounts. WBEs contacted by HEX cheered the news, which they say could dramatically boost exchange enrollment.

"This is the first time [CMS] has acknowledged the concept publicly, and it looks like they're willing to engage in a policy conversation about it," says industry consultant Peter Nakahata, a former senior advisor on exchanges at CMS's Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). "If I were a WBE or issuer, I would be cautiously optimistic."

"It was a pleasant surprise to see we are finally getting some traction in creating a single, streamlined enrollment process without the confusion," says Eugene Sayan, CEO of Softheon, Inc., a WBE and cloud-based technology vendor that works with private and public exchanges.

While consumers can shop for exchange-based policies through a WBE or on a health insurer's Web site, they must be redirected to HealthCare.gov to complete the application and receive an eligibility determination. Once that process is completed, they are transferred back to the WBE or carrier.

WBEs complain the clunky process, dubbed the "double-redirect," is frustrating for consumers and causes many of them to abandon their application. If direct enrollment is allowed, consumers could remain on a WBE's Web site while eligibility is verified through the Federal Data Hub, which connects to federal agencies.

More Ladders in the Pool'

Although the BPP offers no timeline, its mention in a proposed regulation is seen as a significant step forward. "Our WBE and carrier clients were hoping for more detail, but are grateful that CMS has the functionality on their roadmap for 2017 open enrollment," says Toby Rogers, an executive at LinkedHealth, a technology firm that works with private and public exchanges. "Avoiding the redirect to HealthCare.gov will significantly improve the number of enrollments that WBEs and carriers can help CMS process."

"It's obviously a good sign for consumers if they have more choices and options when it comes to enrollment," adds eHealth, Inc. spokesperson Nate Purpura. "We need to get more people into the risk pool, which means we need more ladders into the pool."

CCIIO already has the technology needed to allow direct enrollment, but is working to resolve concerns related to oversight and privacy, says Chris Lunt, vice president of policy at GetInsured, an online insurance exchange and WBE. CCIIO already has the technology needed to allow direct enrollment, but is working to resolve concerns related to oversight and privacy, he says.

But Lunt says WBEs are ready to work with CCIIO on those issues. "Our consortium has a code of conduct that demonstrates our good faith….Rather than trying to structure oversight and security management in isolation, we're saying 'let us work with you.'"

GetInsured, along with GoHealth, eHealth.com and Towers Watson, launched the Association of Web-Based Health Insurance Brokers (AWHIB) a year ago to educate policymakers and governmental technical staff on the role WBEs play in helping consumers find appropriate health coverage.

CMS also must hammer out issues related to flexibility. For example, if a WBE is going to process an application through its own site, does that experience need to mirror HealthCare.gov, or is there room for flexibility?
WBEs Could Link to Myriad Groups

Along with reaching potential enrollees through their own websites and those of brokers, WBEs also could link to external partners such as tax preparation firms, employers, unions and retailers to further boost enrollment. "If someone is doing their taxes or filling a prescription, we could build customized experiences to make enrolling in insurance a natural part of that process," says Lunt.

Nakahata says WBEs likely will have a bigger impact on exchange membership once they're able to directly enroll members. Despite limited functionality, WBEs already are responsible for about 12% of active exchange enrollment.

Sayan says WBEs are far more technologically agile than government-operated entities and generally are better able to communicate with consumers. The complex systems developed for HealthCare.gov as well as for state-based exchanges are already three years old and rapidly depreciating.

"Typically, after three years, you start to look for replacement technology," he says. Many consumers would prefer to use a mobile device to shop for and enroll in coverage. But the technology available through state and federal exchanges makes that difficult. The technology used by the exchanges is lacking compared to other industries, he adds.

Lunt says the consortium is in talks with state-based exchanges in hopes they will follow CMS's lead in allowing WBEs and carriers to enroll applicants directly. Covered California, Lunt says, filed a request for information this year, but notes that SBEs are hampered with budget concerns and will lag behind HealthCare.gov.

"I've flown out to Washington, D.C., many times…and I always come back disappointed. This was the first time I've gone out with the feeling that this is actually going to happen," says Lunt.

 

[WiscBroker]

That's what I get for not going through the ACA-Express training video. Thanks for letting me know that the fields are editable, Kenny. -ac

yet again it proves HS is more user friendly as no video training required- just using HS is self-explanatory

 

[TechBroker]

We are actually wondering if the notice of proposed rulemaking that addressed the issue of 'direct' enrollment was one of the catalysts behind the arbitrary and unilateral decision by CMS to force web-brokers like ACA and healthsherpa to disable their well-established "direct enrollment" capability and implement the standard double-redirect for the 10-day period after thanksgiving. As this was devastating for many online brokers, including large public companies, we also wonder if the reversal of that decision was driven by some very powerful behind-the-scenes political force that got a call...

 

[TN_agent]

Kenny,

I have two apps submitted on the 15th that are not showing with my carrier (presume that ACA express has updated since then) Going in through the back door shows they are enrolled in the plans, I am just not the AOR in my carrier portal.

 

[KennyWest]

Kenny,

I have two apps submitted on the 15th that are not showing with my carrier (presume that ACA express has updated since then) Going in through the back door shows they are enrolled in the plans, I am just not the AOR in my carrier portal.

Want to help but no idea who TN_Agent is when looking up in in users list at our site.. Please email me at kenny.west@acaexpress.com

 

[TN_agent]

Want to help but no idea who TN_Agent is when looking up in in users list at our site.. Please email me at kenny.west@acaexpress.com

Thanks Kenny,

My portal has been updated with the carrier! Thanks for such responsive service!

 

[djumterps]

Yeah,
I want to thank you guys again , Kenny.

I just confirmed that my two enrollments that hung for 4 weeks on ACA axpress now have new enrollment dates - after the commission changes by UHC on 11/17. So I have taken a 5% haircut on each because of that.

I had asked multiple times to have those killed because I had enrolled using another system.

I am open for any idea on how you guys can pay me for that loss.

 

[KennyWest]

Yeah,
I want to thank you guys again , Kenny.

I just confirmed that my two enrollments that hung for 4 weeks on ACA axpress now have new enrollment dates - after the commission changes by UHC on 11/17. So I have taken a 5% haircut on each because of that.

I had asked multiple times to have those killed because I had enrolled using another system.

I am open for any idea on how you guys can pay me for that loss.

Want to help but no idea who "djumterps" (user name here) is when looking up in in users list at our site since we use first and last name and email addresses. Please email me at kenny.west@acaexpress.com

In general to UHC cut of commissions, we posted on the forum here and as well had messages posted on all users Dashboard letting them know they needed to take into consideration the huge spike in submission of UHC apps during that time frame, that we were ramping up support, etc., etc.

EDIT:
FYI to you and others (also posted at top of Dashboard when logged in)
While you will still be able to submit applications, support will be limited or not available from 12/24/2015 through 12/27/2015 so the ACAExpress team members may spend time with their families and loved ones during the Christmas holiday. Please feel free to email support and rest assured they will get back to you as quickly as possible. We wish one and all a safe and joyous holiday.

I am wheels up in a few hours.