- 8,448
I see. Thanks TxOnline. They're probably best for newbies. Experienced agents already have contracts with major carriers.
I see. Thanks TxOnline. They're probably best for newbies. Experienced agents already have contracts with major carriers.
I saw something potentially exciting on the short 2-minute ACAexpess video clip.
I saw deductibles listed like they were in the past.
$6000 Deductible (cheapest plan) 1st.
....instead of $12,700
Was this because the quote (in video) included only ONE individual?
My "family" clients get SO confused when they see $12,700 deductibles on my Norvax quotes.
...Especially when it's a 2-member family...(which is $12,000 ded)
Ideally, we should see HSA-plans listed as FAMILY deductibles...
...and all other plans listed as Per Person Deductibles...
...or BOTH (on the quote screen):
$6,000 Deductible per family member
12,700 Max deductible per family
It's also VERY helpful to see HSA-compatible plans clearly marked.
...
I saw deductibles listed like they were in the past.
$6000 Deductible (cheapest plan) 1st.
....instead of $12,700
Was this because the quote (in video) included only ONE individual?
My "family" clients get SO confused when they see $12,700 deductibles on my Norvax quotes.
...Especially when it's a 2-member family...(which is $12,000 ded)
Ideally, we should see HSA-plans listed as FAMILY deductibles...
...and all other plans listed as Per Person Deductibles...
...or BOTH (on the quote screen):
$6,000 Deductible per family member
12,700 Max deductible per family
It's also VERY helpful to see HSA-compatible plans clearly marked.
...
My ACA client facing website went live today-all you can do now is have people enter their basic information (zip, DOB, income, email and phone) but it seems to work very, very smoothly.
I am going to follow up with clients who are subsidy eligible and capture their information over the next month, that will simplify the enrollment process once OEP begins.
I am going to follow up with clients who are subsidy eligible and capture their information over the next month, that will simplify the enrollment process once OEP begins.
Last edited:
Hi all! This is Ning from HealthSherpa. I wanted to announce a few quick things relevant to the conversation above:
1) Our application flow is the fastest available for OEP (~5 minutes on avg). There is no double redirect to Healthcare.gov. We have discussed our implementation with CMS and we are completely in compliance. We will also have payment integration in place for OEP.
2) Every agent gets a whitelabeled site with a link, which they can either send out to clients or host. Consumers visiting your site get the same, lightning fast enrollment experience.
3) Our agent dashboard is a complete CRM, allowing you to track, view details and export your book of business. We also have allow agencies with multiple agent logins, with the agent administrator able to view all subagent enrollments.
4) We have no monthly minimums or setup fees - pay as you go for each successfully submitted application. In addition, when you refer another agent to HealthSherpa, and they run an enrollment, you get a $5 credit. No limits - if you get enough credits, you can basically use our service for free.
For more details or to signup, please see www DOT healthsherpa DOT com / agents / features.
You can also call us at 866 796 6017.
1) Our application flow is the fastest available for OEP (~5 minutes on avg). There is no double redirect to Healthcare.gov. We have discussed our implementation with CMS and we are completely in compliance. We will also have payment integration in place for OEP.
2) Every agent gets a whitelabeled site with a link, which they can either send out to clients or host. Consumers visiting your site get the same, lightning fast enrollment experience.
3) Our agent dashboard is a complete CRM, allowing you to track, view details and export your book of business. We also have allow agencies with multiple agent logins, with the agent administrator able to view all subagent enrollments.
4) We have no monthly minimums or setup fees - pay as you go for each successfully submitted application. In addition, when you refer another agent to HealthSherpa, and they run an enrollment, you get a $5 credit. No limits - if you get enough credits, you can basically use our service for free.
For more details or to signup, please see www DOT healthsherpa DOT com / agents / features.
You can also call us at 866 796 6017.
the battle of WBE's... love it.... your turn Kenny
- 508
We are confident our enrollment platform provides the most complete list of features and benefits and the best pricing (not even speaking of our Affiliate program) out there. PERIOD. Even at our highest pricing level, which can be reduced dramatically with even average production, we are 50% lower than the competition with our Pro plan and 20% lower on the Standard.
Frankly, I would be very, very curious and cautious about a few things...
First - The delays in agents receiving the certification of eligibility letters and such when submit via them (sometimes more than a day later) as this indicates the process outlined by CMS for WBE's is not the process they are following. When an application is submitted via ACAExpress, the letter is generated almost instantly and emailed to the customer almost instantly as well. In fact, the certification document is displayed to you the agent via ACAExpress online instantly, not delayed and cnce the application is submitted via us it it is done and the customer is emailed at the same time as well.
Second - Why is a phone call from them is required? (see this post http://www.insurance-forums.net/for...m-forum/healthsherpa-t67451-3.html#post914389 )
where they send an email to the customer which says (in italics):
===========================================
Thank you for your application. To complete your enrollment, we'll give you a quick call within one business day. The call should take less than 5 minutes.
If you don't hear from us in the next day, please give us a call at (MY Agency Phone Number listed HERE).
===========================================
This is not required via our system, period. When an application is submitted via the Agent Facing Site, we pass through to CMS the agent FFM id and password and the application is instantly connected to them as the AOR. If you the agent are not providing this info in your profile or otherwise with hs, then they are using the client direct enrollment method which REQUIRES the customer either create a profile or log into an existing one. As all of you know, it is NOT ALLOWED for ANYONE EXCEPT the actual customer to create a healthcare.gov profile or log into an existing one.
- At the end of the day, is it really 5 minutes to apply when a follow up phone call is required for the enrollment to occur?
- Who is calling your customers?
- What are they gathering when they call?
- Is the person who calls them a licensed agent? and thus are using the WBE direct agent enrollment method? If so how are you represented as the agent when you are not the one who completed the process? What would your E&O carrier say about applications being submitted with you as the agent of record when another person (licensed or not) is the one who completes the enrollment?
- If their method is approved by CMS then A. why is it counter to CMS WBE guidelines? If they did get approval then why have they not posted the process and email or what not from CMS for all agents to see their actual step by step process and confirm it is approved by CMS?
----------
> Want your applications submitted instantly online from beginning to end with no contact being needed by a third party?
> Want you and your clients to instantly get the certification of eligibility and subsidy?
Then the only choice in this comparison is ACAExpress.com
We are fully compliant with CMS and HC.gov guidelines. Regardless of what others may say or post, the redirect to healthcare.gov is REQUIRED by CMS rules to which all WBE's are contractually bound by. PERIOD. The remedies for violation of CMS rules by WBE's or agents are stiff and very specific, including but not limited to loss of license and commissions. Simply put, could we make it so it is skipped? Sure, but it is our belief that putting an agents license and income at risk is not a road we feel is prudent.
Other than that not going to go over all the benefits, strategic or tactical advantages here. Not the time or place."
Below is a link to the document from CMS which all WBE's must agree to and the proper way to do things via the API connections. Specifically look at pages 11, 92, 97 for the proper workflow that shows the redirects. Page 92 shows client only and points out the account creation step with the FFM. 97 shows the proper way that we have lined out.
LINK TO >>> Direct Enrollment API for Web Brokers/Issuers
Review then ascertain for yourself.
Frankly, I would be very, very curious and cautious about a few things...
First - The delays in agents receiving the certification of eligibility letters and such when submit via them (sometimes more than a day later) as this indicates the process outlined by CMS for WBE's is not the process they are following. When an application is submitted via ACAExpress, the letter is generated almost instantly and emailed to the customer almost instantly as well. In fact, the certification document is displayed to you the agent via ACAExpress online instantly, not delayed and cnce the application is submitted via us it it is done and the customer is emailed at the same time as well.
Second - Why is a phone call from them is required? (see this post http://www.insurance-forums.net/for...m-forum/healthsherpa-t67451-3.html#post914389 )
where they send an email to the customer which says (in italics):
===========================================
Thank you for your application. To complete your enrollment, we'll give you a quick call within one business day. The call should take less than 5 minutes.
If you don't hear from us in the next day, please give us a call at (MY Agency Phone Number listed HERE).
===========================================
This is not required via our system, period. When an application is submitted via the Agent Facing Site, we pass through to CMS the agent FFM id and password and the application is instantly connected to them as the AOR. If you the agent are not providing this info in your profile or otherwise with hs, then they are using the client direct enrollment method which REQUIRES the customer either create a profile or log into an existing one. As all of you know, it is NOT ALLOWED for ANYONE EXCEPT the actual customer to create a healthcare.gov profile or log into an existing one.
- At the end of the day, is it really 5 minutes to apply when a follow up phone call is required for the enrollment to occur?
- Who is calling your customers?
- What are they gathering when they call?
- Is the person who calls them a licensed agent? and thus are using the WBE direct agent enrollment method? If so how are you represented as the agent when you are not the one who completed the process? What would your E&O carrier say about applications being submitted with you as the agent of record when another person (licensed or not) is the one who completes the enrollment?
- If their method is approved by CMS then A. why is it counter to CMS WBE guidelines? If they did get approval then why have they not posted the process and email or what not from CMS for all agents to see their actual step by step process and confirm it is approved by CMS?
----------
> Want your applications submitted instantly online from beginning to end with no contact being needed by a third party?
> Want you and your clients to instantly get the certification of eligibility and subsidy?
Then the only choice in this comparison is ACAExpress.com
We are fully compliant with CMS and HC.gov guidelines. Regardless of what others may say or post, the redirect to healthcare.gov is REQUIRED by CMS rules to which all WBE's are contractually bound by. PERIOD. The remedies for violation of CMS rules by WBE's or agents are stiff and very specific, including but not limited to loss of license and commissions. Simply put, could we make it so it is skipped? Sure, but it is our belief that putting an agents license and income at risk is not a road we feel is prudent.
Other than that not going to go over all the benefits, strategic or tactical advantages here. Not the time or place."
Below is a link to the document from CMS which all WBE's must agree to and the proper way to do things via the API connections. Specifically look at pages 11, 92, 97 for the proper workflow that shows the redirects. Page 92 shows client only and points out the account creation step with the FFM. 97 shows the proper way that we have lined out.
LINK TO >>> Direct Enrollment API for Web Brokers/Issuers
Review then ascertain for yourself.
cat fight... cat fight... there gonna be hair pulling... Kenny just called HealthSherpa illegal..... here we go!!!!!
cant wait... been waiting for the aca boys to respond to the Sherpa.... get it girls.......
cant wait... been waiting for the aca boys to respond to the Sherpa.... get it girls.......
Wanted to quickly respond:
1) There will be no phone calls during OEP. We have to do phone calls for our own enrollments during SEP as CMS has disabled the WBE enrollment APIs during SEP, and the only efficient compliant way to do an agent assisted enrollment right now is a 3 way call. This is why our agent product is in "test" mode right now. We will never directly contact your client.
2) As you can tell from the answer to 1), we have taken extreme care to be compliant, during both SEP and OEP. We have vetted our process several times to ensure that we are compliant year round.
We encourage everyone to take a look at our product. We believe you'll find that besides having a fast enrollment flow, it also has an excellent shopping interface and management dashboard.
Pricing wise, Kenny has conveniently left out their setup fees and monthly minimums. We have neither. We also have volume discounts for larger agencies.
In addition, we have a drop dead simple way to get even lower rates - when you refer other agents, you get a $5 credit for every application they run. Some of our early adopters are effectively getting our service for free.
Thanks,
Ning
----------
p.s. we are happy to go into the details of how we are able to do a fast enrollment - please PM me and we can chat directly.
1) There will be no phone calls during OEP. We have to do phone calls for our own enrollments during SEP as CMS has disabled the WBE enrollment APIs during SEP, and the only efficient compliant way to do an agent assisted enrollment right now is a 3 way call. This is why our agent product is in "test" mode right now. We will never directly contact your client.
2) As you can tell from the answer to 1), we have taken extreme care to be compliant, during both SEP and OEP. We have vetted our process several times to ensure that we are compliant year round.
We encourage everyone to take a look at our product. We believe you'll find that besides having a fast enrollment flow, it also has an excellent shopping interface and management dashboard.
Pricing wise, Kenny has conveniently left out their setup fees and monthly minimums. We have neither. We also have volume discounts for larger agencies.
In addition, we have a drop dead simple way to get even lower rates - when you refer other agents, you get a $5 credit for every application they run. Some of our early adopters are effectively getting our service for free.
Thanks,
Ning
----------
p.s. we are happy to go into the details of how we are able to do a fast enrollment - please PM me and we can chat directly.
Oh goodness....
Unless you are writing "TX" sized business, its not going to be a deal breaker either way.
Either one of them will work great. They are both going to have bugs. (It certainly can't be any worse than hc.gov)
If there is a legal issue, its their problem. Not the agents.
Personally, I went with Sherpa. Mainly because I like how Ning has handled the forums questions.
Unless you are writing "TX" sized business, its not going to be a deal breaker either way.
Either one of them will work great. They are both going to have bugs. (It certainly can't be any worse than hc.gov)
If there is a legal issue, its their problem. Not the agents.
Personally, I went with Sherpa. Mainly because I like how Ning has handled the forums questions.
I went with both of them. And carrier direct. And healthcare.gov. May they all have well-tuned websites, but just in case one of them doesn't, I have plan B available. Hnt, hint, hint - the one that will probably fail most often is the .gov one!
I hope both Health Sherpa and ACAExpress do an incredible amount of business! There is enough business to keep us all happy.
Here's a toast to the two best WBE's around. Let's have a great OEP!
I hope both Health Sherpa and ACAExpress do an incredible amount of business! There is enough business to keep us all happy.
Here's a toast to the two best WBE's around. Let's have a great OEP!
Similar threads
