Changes from 2015 to 2016... Rules, Premiums, Plans, Exchanges, Etc.

[sman]

Stabilize the market Since when are you a comedian?

FLM2 performs at open mic night regularly. He calls it political satire.

 

[FLM2]

Stabilize the market

Since when are you a comedian?

Only as it relates to rate increases, we all know the rest of it is completely screwed up...

 

[AllenChicago]

July 22, 2015

Is CMS smoking can-e-bus? Or, is this what we can expect for the 2016 Marketplace Certification process?

"CMS officials say the HeathCare.gov agent training and registration process takes an average of just 25 minutes per agent, and those agents get an average of $35.30 in cash and fringe benefits per hour."

Source: CMS Boasts 46% More PPACA Exchange Agents | Insurance Leads News from Precise Leads/

Fringe Benefits? Yep...they're smoking.

 

[FLM2]

July 22, 2015

Is CMS smoking can-e-bus? Or, is this what we can expect for the 2016 Marketplace Certification process?

"CMS officials say the HeathCare.gov agent training and registration process takes an average of just 25 minutes per agent, and those agents get an average of $35.30 in cash and fringe benefits per hour."

Source: CMS Boasts 46% More PPACA Exchange Agents | Insurance Leads News from Precise Leads/

Fringe Benefits? Yep...they're smoking.

$35 per hour?

That's way too much for in house reps and not in the same universe as good independent agents.

For most of us, if you take the hours worked during OEP (probably 700) only, we are making well over $100 an hour and worth every penny of it (and more) to have to deal with all of the support crap.

 

[RayNY]

July 22, 2015

"...and those agents get an average of $35.30 in cash and fringe benefits per hour."

Since when is there a cash value on that wave of relief we feel after a successful enrollment?

 

[russelltw]

Interesting, I know our big carrier is dropping about 1000 agents and putting production requirements in to keep your contracts. They did bring on a bunch of people for ACA, but have since decided that hiring anyone who can fog a mirror was not a good idea. Lots of people who had no insurance experience and were not in this for a "career" but were simply trying to make a quick buck....ironically, I think I just described "career agents" future also...

 

[AllenChicago]

July 22, 2015

CMS Slides explaining 2016 re-enrollment options for current Marketplace clients.

Ref: https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/2016-redetermination-and-reenrollment.pdf

Note on slide #15 that APTC (subsidy) removal will occur on 1/1/2017 for clients who passive auto-renewed 2 years in a row. They'll have to do an "active" renewal/re-enrollment to keep receiving APTC.

Slides source: https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/eligibility-and-enrollment-resources.html

 

[somarco]

clients who passive auto-renewed 2 years in a row. They'll have to do an "active" renewal/re-enrollment to keep receiving APTC.

That's similar to proving you are still disabled if you want to keep your SSDI

 

[FLM2]

July 22, 2015

CMS Slides explaining 2016 re-enrollment options for current Marketplace clients.

Ref: https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/2016-redetermination-and-reenrollment.pdf

Note on slide #15 that APTC (subsidy) removal will occur on 1/1/2017 for clients who passive auto-renewed 2 years in a row. They'll have to do an "active" renewal/re-enrollment to keep receiving APTC.

Slides source: https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/eligibility-and-enrollment-resources.html

From an agent standpoint this seems OK-our existing clients with APTC (assuming their plan continues) don't have to do anything before December 15th, and then, if they are unhappy with the result, have until January 31st to make a plan change or APTC adjustment.

I wasn't exactly sure why the OEP dates were changed until Jan 31st but I think this scenario actually helps us for once-we can focus on new client acquisition (and plan changes due to plans being terminated-I have lots of Assurant people for that) in November and December, and then clean up those who aren't happy in January.

Thanks, Allen, you are so good at digging stuff out late at night

 

[AllenChicago]

Thanks, Allen, you are so good at digging stuff out late at night

Thanks FLM2, but I'm in a different zone, so no big deal. By the way, those of you who are licensed in Illinois, check out the BCBSIL thread in the Illinois sub-forum. The company is cancelling almost every PPO and Multi-state plan on 12/31/2015.. 268,000 policies. Big shocker, if I interpreted the info correctly.
-allen