ACA Express -vs- HealthSherpa

[KennyWest]

I just did my first app with ACA Express since last open enrollment. What's the point of using them or Healthsherpa if we still have to go through healthcare.gov. Am I missing something?

While it is true that the marketplace redirect function is not quite as straightforward as the way thing used to work, CMS regulations require all WBE's (Web Broker Entities) use this process. This new method does allow for more complex household situations such as:

- Clients with different mailing addresses
- Clients who are members of federally recognized native american tribes.
- Including kids who were denied medicaid
- Etc.

ACAExpress provides a much more streamlined application process than what you would deal with directly at Healthcare.gov.

The only two options available directly, other than through a WBE like ACAEXpress, at Healthcare.gov is you must either submit the application by phone or walk your client through creating their own Healthcare.gov account and walking them through submitting their own application. Both of these methods have their obvious efficiency issues, as well as the risk of your NPN not being attached to the application so that you get credit for the enrollment. It is expressly forbidden by CMS regulations and ACA Certification for an agent to create or have access to a consumers log in at healthcare.gov

ACAExpress enrollments are guaranteed to have your agent information attached when they reach the marketplace and you are able to bypass the "Identify Verification" process which occurs when doing an enrollment at healthcare.gov. In addition, ACAExpress offers several post-enrollment tools to help you get paid such as AgencyBloc integration, document upload and a central location for looking up, etc. all of your applicants and enrollments both. All of this combined makes ACAExpress the number 1 enrollment platform even with the new CMS regulations.

Stay tuned for a couple new features to be launched in a few days which will make it even better!

 

[SamIam]

Bottomline is your still doing the whole app on healthcare.gov then go back to ACAexpress or whatever WBE for the selection of the plan. I did a app yesterday 25 min (actually longer but it was her fault) then have to pay to do it. I just don't see it.

Where the WBE had value is doing a app in 5 min. Just my take!

 

[KennyWest]

Bottomline is your still doing the whole app on healthcare.gov then go back to ACAexpress or whatever WBE for the selection of the plan. I did a app yesterday 25 min (actually longer but it was her fault) then have to pay to do it. I just don't see it.

Where the WBE had value is doing a app in 5 min. Just my take!

As an agent enrolling via agent Dashboard we are not seeing enrollments taking anywhere near 25 minutes. I just did one and time it, beginning to end took a shade over 5 minutes. Husband and wife, two incomes, two different carriers in their zip, getting a subsidy, etc.

There are advantages though as compared to last year in that the Launch Marketplace allows submission of scenarios such as including a child who was denied medicaid, including non immediate family member such as brother (rules for this are on a carrier by carrier basis and displayed at the bottom of plan info at ACAExpress before Launch Marketplace), etc.

Not to mention centralized area for all enrollments, regardless of the carrier, etc.

On the Consumer facing site, stay tuned for some enhancements on this from us very soon.

 

[TXINSURANCE]

There are some advantages of using a WBE (Both ACA and Sherpa are the #1 and #2 platforms, you decide the ranking...).

1. You can bypass identity verification as you are logged in as the authorized (by CMS) broker

2. You have a shop / compare quoting tool

3. You have a CRM to manage your clients. View documents. Upload documents. Make payments (varies by carrier), etc., etc., There is a lot of value having everyone in one searchable portal. Renewal button is very important as well.

4. Still saves you time vs. hc.gov direct however as stated many times the "fast app" is gone for 2017 as CMS made many incorrect decisions for this OEP - don't get me started

There are some disadvantages to a WBE:

1. Cost (although these days that is minimal

2. Client is confused about WBE as CMS STILL emails them to "go online and choose a plan" even though the app is complete - WE CAN NOT turn off these emails - WBEs need to speak up and do something about these poor decisions at CMS

3. Client is told to go to healthcare.gov every year or be fined. Bottom line - your biggest competitor is your regulator and that is a battle you WILL NOT win.

4. Broker strips anytime someone calls the MP they WILl strip your BOR 90% of the time as CMS does not care and neither does the carrier (who does not want to pay you anyhow...)


I see plus and minus of both Sherpa and ACA both are good people and both have good platforms. I don't think you can go wrong either way and I think both are offering 5 free apps so why not try it?

While it is getting better since November 1st I still have about 10 to 20% of apps that are STUCK and this has NOTHING to do with the WBE, but CMS has so many glitches there is a percentage of apps you WILL NOT get through EITHER WBE for 2017 OEP and you must do a 3 way call with MP or let them go... Trust me I have apps I have spent 3 hours on and tried to process 20 times... This is NOT either WBE fault, this is 100% CMS fault.

Hopefully this will get better as OEP 2017 is plagued with CMS issues and the processing is very slow - even slower without a WBE.

Without a WBE I would simply shut down.

Hope this helps... Have fun... G-d bless President President Obama, and Welcome to TRUMP Care!

 

[G.Gordon]

Where is the access button to back door get into the marketplace?

 

[KennyWest]

Where is the access button to back door get into the marketplace?

In the agent Dashboard click FAQ at lower left and review the article named:
"What happened to the "Marketplace Access" button?" for info on the features it provides.

 

[AllenChicago]

Just now getting caught up. No apps yet. Which wbe should we send clients to, to enroll themselves? Easiest for them, unassisted?

 

[KennyWest]

Just now getting caught up. No apps yet. Which wbe should we send clients to, to enroll themselves? Easiest for them, unassisted?

Check your PM Allen..

 

[Welltheos]

Just now getting caught up. No apps yet. Which wbe should we send clients to, to enroll themselves? Easiest for them, unassisted?

We may not have the most features, yet, but we are still 100% free with no charges.

Once you sign up with us, you have the ability to send out a link to your clients that will have your NPN attached, and that will carry over through HC.gov.

Additionally, we have an Agency Portal that will allow you to brand your page so it is more professional, all while giving you detailed analytics. All of the other WBEs offer similar features, we just don't charge a penny for it.

welltheos.com

 

[taterpeeler]

As an agent enrolling via agent Dashboard we are not seeing enrollments taking anywhere near 25 minutes. I just did one and time it, beginning to end took a shade over 5 minutes. Husband and wife, two incomes, two different carriers in their zip, getting a subsidy, etc.

There are advantages though as compared to last year in that the Launch Marketplace allows submission of scenarios such as including a child who was denied medicaid, including non immediate family member such as brother (rules for this are on a carrier by carrier basis and displayed at the bottom of plan info at ACAExpress before Launch Marketplace), etc.

Not to mention centralized area for all enrollments, regardless of the carrier, etc.

On the Consumer facing site, stay tuned for some enhancements on this from us very soon.

kenny... no offense son but it takes 25 mins.....but what do i know...????