Application Draft for 2013

[taterpeeler]

Subsidy re-calculation will have to be done EACH year, if paying $48 and your break even point is 4 months, it would be tough to survive. Maybe we can charge a fee for the subsidy calc, and then a commission on the sale of the policy. Two separate processes, and laws for each step.

well now wait a moment bill.... the avg premium will be a grand if I get 5% the break even is one month... next this is just for the first time ever enrollment when the dookie will hit the fan and I need to be selling.... I also said I would only pay the single people about half that.

in future years I would hope the client would sit tight for a year of so on the plan

also the process may be more streamlined although I have never known the govt to get eaiser as time passed....

the first year will be hell and we all will need help and this was also ONLY an idea

 

[Yagents]

CTG, Look at the app, no questions are based on past tax returns, all questions are based on future expected income. If you get a job, or lose a job, you can manually adjust your subsidies mid year. If you're a single person, the app is only a 4 pages long.

Tater, it's a valid idea, maybe use a navigator to determine medicaid eligiblity, then if not, kick it back to you. I see it as being like Part D each year, plan benefits will change, networks will change, prices will change, income will change, family make up will change. I doubt it will be a buy and hold situation.

 

[Ann H]

To make money in this market, you need a well-oiled machine to process this amount of volume in a short time frame. One niche is the Private Market (outside the Exchange) for folks above 400% of FPL, or folks that don't want narrow networks, tight Rx forumlaries and HMO/ACO tactics. The other niche is heavily subsidized folks who will take Exchange policies.

I say find your niche and serve it well. Some agents can handle both niches if they can process that much business, or if they have to help their current book of clients anyway.

I like the "hire a Navigator" idea. Dave020 said it's legal in California. Give them your Medicaid business, have them calc subsidies, and send you the Exchange or Private Market business. Give them $58 an app, since it appears that they will take that, and it also appears that it's not illegal (at least in CA). Or better yet, hire an accountant to calc subsidies, and the accountant might get the person's tax business too.

 

[ctg]

Quoting Goose to Maverick after the buzz-the-tower flyby:

"What was the number of that truck driving school? I may need that."

 

[Ann H]

And one piece of good news in all this, is that it appears that our competition is greatly lessened. Most agents have left this business. Just look at the HCR and IFP forums on this board as proof. Can you count the number of agents who were active in those forums 2-3 years ago, and now are designing websites or selling 65+ or FE? It also appears that carrier-direct sales will be lower. I doubt that they will calc subsidies, and from what I hear they can't sell on the Exchange unless they are fair to every insurer's plan. So, if you can navigate this new territory, it's an open opportunity.

 

[timsip]

How do you envision how running quotes will go? Run them without the subsidies and then let the client figure it out?

Am I correct in the assumption that the app and subsidies will be two separate processes?

"Do you use tobacco and how much money did you make last year?"

I don't think there will be a quoting process within the exchanges as we do it in today's market. The prices will be set as I understand it, the only decision basically for the client is if they want to get a lower premium by taking the lesser priced Silver plan or go to a Bronze plan, or pay additional for the higher metal plans or take the second lowest priced Silver plan. This is, of course if they qualify for the subsidy. If not, I don't see why they are in the exchange and you do business as usual.

 

[somarco]

I wonder if firms like H&R Block will get in to filling out these forms? Seems a natural transition.

 

[russelltw]

I don't think there will be a quoting process within the exchanges as we do it in today's market. The prices will be set as I understand it, the only decision basically for the client is if they want to get a lower premium by taking the lesser priced Silver plan or go to a Bronze plan, or pay additional for the higher metal plans or take the second lowest priced Silver plan. This is, of course if they qualify for the subsidy. If not, I don't see why they are in the exchange and you do business as usual.

Tim,
From what I am hearning in my state, the Actuarial values have a range (Gold - 79-82%, etc). So there is room for each carrier to modify their plans slightly, which will make this even more confusing. Also, they mentioned the exchange would check with IRS (income and fpl%) and Homeland Security (if you are legal) to determine subsidy.

I guess we will see. The carriers have to submit rates as of April 1st, so looks like we will see who is serious or not.

Either way, you had better have a plan B prepared. My feeling is this will be the last big fling for health brokers. You have 4-5 years to get your plan B going. However, you should have started on that on 3/24/2010.

 

[timsip]

Tim,
From what I am hearning in my state, the Actuarial values have a range (Gold - 79-82%, etc). So there is room for each carrier to modify their plans slightly, which will make this even more confusing. Also, they mentioned the exchange would check with IRS (income and fpl%) and Homeland Security (if you are legal) to determine subsidy.

I guess we will see. The carriers have to submit rates as of April 1st, so looks like we will see who is serious or not.

Either way, you had better have a plan B prepared. My feeling is this will be the last big fling for health brokers. You have 4-5 years to get your plan B going. However, you should have started on that on 3/24/2010.

Oh, you mean me doubling down on my Med Supp market and FE market? Yeah, got that!

With the metal plans, I am assuming that there isn't much quoting as you can pull up the plans and each one will be listed by it's premium. I guess there will have to be some quoting feature to narrow it down to age of youngest adult and size of family; but beyond that I don't see much more than that. I could be missing something (understatement of the year!)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

CTG, Look at the app, no questions are based on past tax returns, all questions are based on future expected income. If you get a job, or lose a job, you can manually adjust your subsidies mid year. If you're a single person, the app is only a 4 pages long.

This is true. As I understand it, you are locked in for a year unless you have a qualifying event that I assume to be similar to group plans. Heck, maybe qualifying events is a niche someone might try....If you see in the news that a local business is laying off workers, start putting your business card or a flyer under windshield wipers. Put flyers under windshield wipers at hospitals by the maternity ward. Would funeral homes be over doing it?!?

 

[Yagents]

Separate qualifying event allowing a purchase of a new plan, and changing your subsidy mid year. If you're looking for qualifying event people, picture my ReplaceCobra.com website and lil ol Bill placing cards on cars at job fairs back when everyone was losing their jobs.

Also:
The AP reported that the form is being revamped after critics feared it might be too daunting for some Americans, who then wouldn't finish the application.

Read more: New draft of healthcare reform application may get scrapped - The Hill's RegWatch
Follow us: @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook
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