CMS Wants More Agents

[FLM2]

Off exchange apps, and 2013 apps are no brainers.

Question is, when do you tell your subsidy eligible clients they are on their own?

I don't tell them they are on their own.

I tell them the system is a disaster (which they already know), doesn't work yet reliably, and that there is no guarantee that they will actually get what they are entitled to receive.

If they are under 250% of FPL and get lower copays and deductibles, I have them on a list to work one at a time when there is actually a chance to get them enrolled.

If they are over that but subsidy eligible I show then Off Exchange and 2013 plans and ask them if getting the subsidy and all of the work and IRS oversight is really worth it-most times the answer is no,

Very few, if any, have policies terminating on December 31st.

They also have the option (if they are healthy) for a 2013 plan.

If someone want to work on their own, I'm fine with that. I have plenty of clients, particularly since so many with huge premiums are finding lower cost and better coverage through the off exchange process.

 

[somarco]

I bet insurers love seeing how we're helping the high utilization users enroll in health plans, and the government reading how we're helping the healthy enroll in 2013 plans to avoid the exchanges and expensive 2014 plans for another year.

Carriers are only slightly brighter than govt officials. Some of the products they have created over the years, expecting agents to embrace them, just make you say "Really?".

But govt takes the cake.

Let's create a health insurance plan for people with pre-existing conditions. The benefits are good, rates are roughly equal to standard or even preferred rates.

When enrollment doesn't meet expectations they lower the rates.

Then they can't figure out why PCIP is running 800% loss ratios.

On another note . . .

Earlier in the year I moved a lady off a BX plan with a $5k deductible, a $1200 monthly premium and a rider for an arthritic hip to Cigna.

Cigna premium was $600 and full coverage for her hip.

Moving her again in January to Humana plan for $550 while lowering her OOP for SCHEDULED surgery by $3000.

She thinks it is a scam

It is.

O'scamocare.

 

[bluediamond]

Well, I could not believe it just got a subsidy app through in about 10 minutes, went back to issuer picked a plan sign the app, she signed and that was it.

 

[HealthGuy]

blue what do you mean went back to issuer and picked a plan?

 

[AllenChicago]

blue what do you mean went back to issuer and picked a plan?

I believe he started out of the carriers website. The carrier then send him to healthcare.gov. Then health care dot gov sent him back to the carrier to pick up plan. That's the way it works with Blue Cross Blue Shield here in Illinois.

it sounds like Blue Diamond got lucky!

 

[Yagents]

Well, I could not believe it just got a subsidy app through in about 10 minutes, went back to issuer picked a plan sign the app, she signed and that was it.

Blue, please expand on the method you used?

 

[benwrigh]

I believe he started out of the carriers website. The carrier then send him to healthcare.gov. Then health care dot gov sent him back to the carrier to pick up plan. That's the way it works with Blue Cross Blue Shield here in Illinois.

it sounds like Blue Diamond got lucky!

Any issues with this method if the client has already submitted a subsidy app on their own?

 

[bluediamond]

Ok, have eye drops in my eyes and this is fuzzy but it exactly like Allen stated, went to BCBSFL, signed in as agent and it has the link to ffm, went there first completed subsidy app, returned a subsidy amount, clicked on return to issuer and that took a a minute or so while it was populating from the subsidy. Then decided on a plan and clicked apply now, came up with total premium the minus the subsidy, then I signed, she signed and she decided to pay premium, that was it. I did not have to enter any info about her because it populated. It worked the way it was suppose to and 4 other agents completed one or two today in office. They still, either BC or MP have the problem with kids worked out because it is still sending them to chip at the end of subsidy app. Boss say's that is a big glitch.

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Any issues with this method if the client has already submitted a subsidy app on their own?

No, as long as they have not submitted carrier app. You can do many subsidy apps on one person, nothing as been saved up to this point. In the past month have completed subsidy app 3 times on my wife, never followed through with carrier.

 

[houcoogster]

See folks it pays$$ to be a registered Democrat.

Naw...I got one today too.

Ok, have eye drops in my eyes and this is fuzzy but it exactly like Allen stated, went to BCBSFL, signed in as agent and it has the link to ffm, went there first completed subsidy app, returned a subsidy amount, clicked on return to issuer and that took a a minute or so while it was populating from the subsidy. Then decided on a plan and clicked apply now, came up with total premium the minus the subsidy, then I signed, she signed and she decided to pay premium, that was it. I did not have to enter any info about her because it populated. It worked the way it was suppose to and 4 other agents completed one or two today in office. They still, either BC or MP have the problem with kids worked out because it is still sending them to chip at the end of subsidy app. Boss say's that is a big glitch.

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No, as long as they have not submitted carrier app. You can do many subsidy apps on one person, nothing as been saved up to this point. In the past month have completed subsidy app 3 times on my wife, never followed through with carrier.

 

[benwrigh]

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No, as long as they have not submitted carrier app. You can do many subsidy apps on one person, nothing as been saved up to this point. In the past month have completed subsidy app 3 times on my wife, never followed through with carrier.

That's good to know. I have three families lined up to submit next week that had called the marketplace to do the subsidy app a few weeks ago. They never heard anything back then one decided to call me and referred the two other families to me. Getting dental and vision out if it too, so not bad. Going to try to throw some life at them to!

Anthem told be they would have their enrollment ready after an update this weekend. Im not messing with doing a whole app through healthcare.gov. Anthem is the only company in my area which simplifies things for me.