Agents and Exchanges

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

" It's called the internet."

That could kill us. Or quadruple our income. Again, it depends if folks can sign up for Exchange plans WITHOUT going through the Exchange (ie broker links etc...)

 

[jmilber]

People already have the capacity to sign up themselves... Ehealthinsurance anyone? Even my website has instant quote capabilities.

And yes... I understand the plan choices are going to be easier, but people still struggle knowing how a deductible, co-insurance, and out of pocket maximum work. People still get confused about what doctors will accept the plan, and what various terminology means. People still aren't sure which plan is best for them and would like professional opinions and help.

As long as we get comission, I think we will be alright. That way, for instance, I could send mailers to all my current clients and contacts to make sure they use me instead of going through the exchange directly.
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Jbage--- the future looks grim, but I think there are still powerful people out there who represent agents and brokers and will try, if possible, to salvage this profession.

Depending on how easy it is to get government subsidies for health insurance, plans outside of exchanges might be much more competitive since they wont be nearly as regulated. Possibly we could cater to the upper middle class self employed who dont get a large tax benefit from the exchange, and would prefer to get high a deductible type plan that is not offered in the exchange and thus cheaper.

 

[AllenChicago]

I didn't see anything about commissions unless I missed something.
PPACA: The NAIC Loves Agents - Regulatory,Legislative and Tax Issues - Life and Health Insurance News

Here is the actual "Resolution" document that the NAIC designed.
Link: http://www.naic.org/documents/index_health_reform_resolution_protect_insurance_professionals .pdf

And the NAIC page that links to the Resolution document: SPECIAL SECTION: Health Insurance Reform

Hmmm.. it's only endorsed by 25 state commissioners? I suppose those are the states that have the highest agent licensing fees. You can bet that those 25 do indeed Love us!
-A.C.

 

[jbage007]

But you will NOT receive any commissions on any plan inside the exchange! So what's the point of being able to send people there with a link or whatever??

That makes about as much sense as me sending someone to ehealth right now - I make zero, zip.

Quite literally, agents are going to be compensated to do one thing and one thing only: steer people AWAY from exchange plans.

Those Washington guys really are brilliant, aren't they?

And by the way, yep, our ehealth friends got the contract to run the exchange!

arg!

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

"But you will NOT receive any commissions on any plan inside the exchange"

You will. You won't. You'll get 5%. You'll get $12 per month.

Nobody knows.

 

[HealthGuy]

How and why did EHealth get the contract to run the exchange. Seriously there are like 10 websites like EHealth. This is such a cozy commie country club this gov't is turning into and EHealth is now in bed with the ruling class? Explain what happened here someone. This is disturbing if true.

 

[jbage007]

What's truly disturbing about the ehealth thing is that ehealth is just another damn insurance agency. Just like you. Just like me. Albeit with slightly more financial backing. (A big chunk of their original financing came from golden rule which is a main reason why you never see Assurant plans quoted on their site although they lead you to believe they include all plans from all companies.)

People think they are some kind of magical mystery tour angels out to help the world wade through the messy world of health insurance, when in fact, all they want is for you to click a button and buy a policy so they can earn commissions.

There are so many shady things about their website that it is beyond ridiculous. Apparently, no insurance commissioner has ever stepped up to put their feet to the fire.

And chumps, I think we're just kidding ourselves if we think that there is going to be any kind of "per sale" compensation paid to "guide" or "navigate" people through the Exchanges.

 

[nolaagent]

What's truly disturbing about the ehealth thing is that ehealth is just another damn insurance agency. Just like you. Just like me. Albeit with slightly more financial backing. (A big chunk of their original financing came from golden rule which is a main reason why you never see Assurant plans quoted on their site although they lead you to believe they include all plans from all companies.)

People think they are some kind of magical mystery tour angels out to help the world wade through the messy world of health insurance, when in fact, all they want is for you to click a button and buy a policy so they can earn commissions.

There are so many shady things about their website that it is beyond ridiculous. Apparently, no insurance commissioner has ever stepped up to put their feet to the fire.

And chumps, it is a fact - we do know for a fact that no compensation will be paid at all for "guiding" anyone through the exchange. The only people compensated for helping people through the exchanges will be the salaried navigators.

There's a thread on here with a link somewhere - that all came down and was verified at the recent NAIC Seattle meeting.

The navigators for the ehealth engined exchange will be none other than the salaried agents (navigators) that currently help ehealth customer via phone or instant messaging. Leveraging, ehealth's exising inside agents, they already have the navigators in place!!!

 

[Dave020]

Can someone post a link or provide verification that ehealthinsurance has a contract to run any state "exchanges"?

I have heard that they may have helped build the chassis for healthcare.gov, but have seen nothing indicating that they will be providing any exhanges.

The CA exchange most likely will be set up by Word & Brown via CaliforniaChoice and Choice Administrators since they currently offer the only true health insurance exchange (private). I have heard that many other states have approached Word & Brown about helping set up their state exchanges using the similar model.

Ehealthinsurance is an online agency selling the same plans from the same carriers as any other agent/agency. They DO NOT have an exchange or buying pool. Word & Brown via Choice Administrators operate a real already-functioning exchange/pool here in California (several actually -- CalChoice, CalChoice 51+, KP Choice Solutions, HSA California, Choice Builder and now a payroll solutions program-they also own a COBRA/Cal-COBRA TPA, Conexis).

When you buy though Choice Admin, you are not buying carrier plans direct (like ehealth) through a middleman. Choice negotiates large group benefit plan designs by exchange volume and offers plans down to 2 employees that have been negotiated for a group size of many thousands. You pay premiums to them, not the carrier, they handle billing, administration, claims, continuation and more. Often they have plans available from carriers like Anthem BC, Kaiser and so on which are not available outside of their exchange (selected benefit levels).

Here is an excellent exchange video by W&B (CalChoice)

http://www.choiceadmin.com/Exchanges/ExchangeIndex.aspx


As an aside, my sources at CalChoice have told me that their exchanges in California (at least) will include agent commissions. It is important to remember that the only approved health insurance exchanges in California are the Choice Administrators programs, especially CalChoice.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

"And chumps, I think we're just kidding ourselves if we think that there is going to be any kind of "per sale" compensation paid to "guide" or "navigate" people through the Exchanges."

I hear otherwise but in fairness, nobody knows. They are just guessing. It's early but the folks at Norvax, Quotit, etc... will need to get working with the carriers and others to make sure they can provide us with the embedded links.