Exchange Application Demo / Videos

[Yagents]

Ohhhhhhh, this is a doozy of an application. Just Soooo easy........NOT. I see major headaches helping clients fill this puppy out. I'd rather go through health questions vs financial questions. The whole thing is worth a read, and check out the CAC / Navigator section at the end.....where's an agent listed? Employers will be called to verify coverage, employees are asked "is your group coverage affordable"? 99% will say NO

http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/nahuw/downloads/21pagePaper_Application.pdf

And some "how to fill out an app" videos for your enjoyment:
CMS.gov - YouTube (individual)

(families)

 

[taterpeeler]

I like it.... str8 forward to us... confusing to anyone else.

 

[Ann H]

Well, I have some initial thoughts from viewing the 17 minute video that you imbedded in your initial post.

1. I'd rather do this step-by-step along with the client to explain it.
2. Starting out by delving into personal financial information will scare many clients. A better approach is to look briefly at health plans and their costs, then move into how you can lower the cost.
3. There was no clear explanation to the client about subsidies, or the rich amount of subsidies to give the client an incentive to complete this app. Clients will say, "Why should I tell them this information? This is a government website, I had better be very careful about what I disclose."
4. At about minute 14 on the video imbedded in the original post, they talk about whether any family member qualified for group insurance that was affordable. They mentioned the phrase "self-only premium", which seems to reinforce a concept we are discussing on another thread about how "affordable" is defined - is it a family premium that costs 9.5% or less of family AGI, or a self-only premium that costs 9.5% or less of family AGI? EDIT - on 1/30/2013 the IRS clarified that it's self-only premium on a group plan. See this thread http://www.insurance-forums.net/for...forum/obamacare-glitch-t49425.html#post643653
5. It's not a badly designed app as far as online apps go. I've seen worse. Used correctly, it will be a good tool to determine eligibility for subsidies. Hopefully, agents will have an electronic way to follow along on our computers while the applicant is on the phone and doing the app on their computer. If we can be named as agent early on and have access, or use their log-in and follow, or at least input a dummy application with very similar data and follow along.
6. There has to be a good way to not lose the client if you've worked with them, and then they do this by themselves.

 

[pahealthquotes]

Good Lord, what happened to that 2 page app with no medical questions we all hoped for. Looks like something an accountant would complete.

 

[ABC]

Yep, looks like something the gov. would develop.

 

[stuy119]

I watched the clip. I have these thoughts:

1. Time needed to complete the eligibility section alone was around 15-20 minutes. The video, which breezes through the process, was 17. Good luck keeping someone's attention for that long without making mistakes.

2. I see families not liking that children are, by default, put into a Medicaid/CHIP-eligible situation, rather than the option to be on their parents plan. That won't go over well with middle-class families.

3. Will this be compared to census data? If so, LOL.

4. The information requests seem excessive. It's more detail about financial information than it is a health insurance process. I'm curious to see how many people throw in additional income vs. what the IRS has to compare to during the process, and how many audits it will trigger.

5. The income of children gets factored in to premium calculations. Back to a previous point, I can't wait to see how that flies with middle-class families who miss out on a healthier subsidy because their kid flips burgers for spending cash.

 

[Yagents]

I watched the clip. I have these thoughts:

1. Time needed to complete the eligibility section alone was around 15-20 minutes. The video, which breezes through the process, was 17. Good luck keeping someone's attention for that long without making mistakes.

2. I see families not liking that children are, by default, put into a Medicaid/CHIP-eligible situation, rather than the option to be on their parents plan. That won't go over well with middle-class families.

3. Will this be compared to census data? If so, LOL.

4. The information requests seem excessive. It's more detail about financial information than it is a health insurance process. I'm curious to see how many people throw in additional income vs. what the IRS has to compare to during the process, and how many audits it will trigger.

5. The income of children gets factored in to premium calculations. Back to a previous point, I can't wait to see how that flies with middle-class families who miss out on a healthier subsidy because their kid flips burgers for spending cash.

Great points. I watched the "individual" video, which used an example of "William in Arizona".....wonder if they did that on purpose?

Can't wait for people to freak out when the system verifies with IRS, Dept of homeland security, and social security.

Noticed they want expected income for next year....how and why?

Form asks for income before taxes.......most will put in their take home pay. How about asking for box 1 amount on w-2.

Deductions section is limited, no area for Fica/Futa/HSA/401k/insurance premiums and HSA deductions. throw in the "other" section?

Guarantee you that people will purposely under estimate income, get more subsidies, and get a SHOCKER subsidy "clawback" in the following year

Here is another doc on the topic: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-01-29/pdf/2013-01770.pdf

 

[Ann H]

As agents, it would be best for us to get a copy of the client's 2012 tax return including W2's and 1099's, so we can show them how to put in the right numbers, and where to find AGI or Box 1 on the W2.

Agents planning to sell in the new market should familiarize themselves with tax returns and where to find the correct data.

The sales process will be - Questions: Who's your doctor, what prescription are you taking, and will you get a subsidy? Answer: then here are your best choices, let me explain it and help you complete the applications.

 

[taterpeeler]

As agents, it would be best for us to get a copy of the client's 2012 tax return including W2's and 1099's, so we can show them how to put in the right numbers, and where to find AGI or Box 1 on the W2.

Agents planning to sell in the new market should familiarize themselves with tax returns and where to find the correct data.

The sales process will be - Questions: Who's your doctor, what prescription are you taking, and will you get a subsidy? Answer: then here are your best choices, let me explain it and help you complete the applications.

no no no... I do not want to have that return in my hands and from what I understand if they don't have it and I have to get it from their cpa is is a felony unless I have the written permission of the client for the cpa to provide it to me.... we don't nor wont have the time to play chase the tax return once this mamma hits and we start selling

just tell me the truth under pentaly of perjury and if you lied mr client you will get the "claw" back of the IRS

 

[Ann H]

Oh my! We all looked at the video that YAgents imbedded in the original post, but did anyone look at the paper app he linked to? Here's the link again.

http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/nahuw/downloads/21pagePaper_Application.pdf

It's a 21 page app, entitled "Application for HEALTH INSURANCE" in bold, and underneath in smaller font "and to find out if you can get help with costs". Then the 21 page app is about finances and other coverage!

Page 19 has a place for an "authorized representative" described as a trusted friend or partner, and for Navigators and Certified Application Counselors (CAC's), but not agents.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

no no no... I do not want to have that return in my hands and from what I understand if they don't have it and I have to get it from their cpa is is a felony unless I have the written permission of the client for the cpa to provide it to me.... we don't nor wont have the time to play chase the tax return once this mamma hits and we start selling

just tell me the truth under pentaly of perjury and if you lied mr client you will get the "claw" back of the IRS

Actually, those of us who sell disability insurance and higher benefit life insurance have gathered copies of tax returns and financial statements quite often because they are required for the application. The authorization form is simple. My husband is an accountant and he gets requests for copies of the tax return a lot - for mortgage loans, scholarship applications, etc. So long as the client signs an authorization (and you don't fraudulently misuse the data), it's fine.