Exchanges Absorbing Agents?

[Yagents]

I like the 3rd option below...self emp contractor. Otherwise, start looking for that prime storefront! Or, if you're ready to throw in the towel, salaried call centers may be your calling

PPACA Toolkit: Exec Expects Exchanges to Absorb Producers | LifeHealthPro

At Connextions, "we'll be hiring thousands of agents that will work in retail stores" and talk to consumers one on one, Auerbach said.
Connextions also is hiring licensed producers to work in contact centers.
Some producers may become exchange employers, but others likely will continue to be self-employed and work for the exchanges on a contract basis, Auerbach said.

 

[b61mack]

Yes sign me up for that minimum wage job.

 

[WinoBlues]

I like the 3rd option below...self emp contractor. Otherwise, start looking for that prime storefront! Or, if you're ready to throw in the towel, salaried call centers may be your calling

PPACA Toolkit: Exec Expects Exchanges to Absorb Producers | LifeHealthPro

At Connextions, "we'll be hiring thousands of agents that will work in retail stores" and talk to consumers one on one, Auerbach said.
Connextions also is hiring licensed producers to work in contact centers.
Some producers may become exchange employers, but others likely will continue to be self-employed and work for the exchanges on a contract basis, Auerbach said.

I envision some pimpled faced kid from the Sear appliance dept.

 

[Ann H]

He's dreaming. His job is to create the technology behind exchanges, and his vision is a little self-serving. The data feed between the HHS, IRS and Homeland Security will be a nightmare and probably doom exchanges from the beginning. Even HHS admits this.

After that, you have to deal with a population that wants good service. HHS feels that most people will flock to buy off the exchange on 1/1/2014, but think about this. They don't buy from PCIP right now - a marketing failure. Do they make a purchase decision after viewing medicare.gov? Laughable. What are they going to do on 12/31/2013? Stay up all night and try to figure it out on their own? No. They will be talking with you and me to help them make sound decisions.

And finally, take the fact that people can buy coverage direct right now, but they usually don't. They can go direct to the carrier, use e-health insurance, use your website or mine or a myriad of others. Some do. Many prefer a professional broker. If we can get paid (appropriately), we can remain. The govt says health insurance will be a commodity and very easy to purchase, making exchanges attractive. All righty... Term life insurance is simple to understand. How many people buy their life insurance from the large term quoting websites? How many buy it from their agent? If agents are a viable option (paid appropriately), agents will be preferred.

Our biggest issues are to be paid appropriately, without a single payer or universal system. In Utah the exchanges sell very very few policies, because it's not single payer or universal coverage. In the states back east where there's universal coverage and few carriers, health insurance agents are doomed. Our focus should be this - to to keep a robust market inside and outside the exchanges with fair compensation. If we do, a small portion of the population will purchase directly from the exchange. If we can add this issue to our focus, it will be better - to have subsidies available to those who purchase outside the exchange as well as inside. All the other issues are minimal if we win on those issues.

 

[Guest]

You're right Ann, he is dreaming. I read the article and I was thinking what you said. Seems States with exchanges now have driven the agent out of the equation. If that isn't true please feel free to correct me.

 

[Yagents]

He's dreaming. His job is to create the technology behind exchanges, and his vision is a little self-serving. The data feed between the HHS, IRS and Homeland Security will be a nightmare and probably doom exchanges from the beginning. Even HHS admits this. quote]

They've got things in control, supposedly this company will be the holy grail of IT integration. There's a lot of money being thrown at these exchanges.

NAHU Washington Update - 10/11/2011

HHS Names Federal Exchange VendorsHHS took a big step towards the creation of a federal fallback health benefit exchange on Friday when it announced its intent to contract with several key vendors to assist with the development of the federal exchange's framework. These vendors are also expected to work with the states who opt for the state/federal "partnership" model that was announced by HHS several weeks ago.
CGI Federal Inc. was awarded a five-year contract worth approximately $93.7 million to create and support the integral IT portion of the federally run exchange. Approximately $55 million will be paid to the company in the next year to get the federal exchange framework up and running.
HHS also announced a $68 million, five-year contract with Quality Software Services Inc. to set up a "data services hub" that will provide eligibility verification (general eligibility, Medicaid and CHIP) for all exchanges. Three separate contracts were also awarded to the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. One is to work on the federal exchange eligibility appeals process, and another is to handle exchange certification, implementation and oversight. The final contract covers exchange eligibility and enrollment strategy and planning. The total of these contracts exceeds $77 million over five years.

 

[Guest]

He's dreaming. His job is to create the technology behind exchanges, and his vision is a little self-serving. The data feed between the HHS, IRS and Homeland Security will be a nightmare and probably doom exchanges from the beginning. Even HHS admits this. quote]

They've got things in control, supposedly this company will be the holy grail of IT integration. There's a lot of money being thrown at these exchanges.

NAHU Washington Update - 10/11/2011

HHS Names Federal Exchange VendorsHHS took a big step towards the creation of a federal fallback health benefit exchange on Friday when it announced its intent to contract with several key vendors to assist with the development of the federal exchange's framework. These vendors are also expected to work with the states who opt for the state/federal "partnership" model that was announced by HHS several weeks ago.
CGI Federal Inc. was awarded a five-year contract worth approximately $93.7 million to create and support the integral IT portion of the federally run exchange. Approximately $55 million will be paid to the company in the next year to get the federal exchange framework up and running.
HHS also announced a $68 million, five-year contract with Quality Software Services Inc. to set up a "data services hub" that will provide eligibility verification (general eligibility, Medicaid and CHIP) for all exchanges. Three separate contracts were also awarded to the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. One is to work on the federal exchange eligibility appeals process, and another is to handle exchange certification, implementation and oversight. The final contract covers exchange eligibility and enrollment strategy and planning. The total of these contracts exceeds $77 million over five years.

Gotta love that Government Cash Cow! What exactly is a "federal exchange eligibility appeals process"? A data services hub sure sounds like Big Brother to me. Hm...

 

[stuy119]

Why do you need a fallback solution for the plan that's going to cure the ills of the healthcare system, unless it's not a cure? Oh, that's right, you wanted single-payer all along.

 

[Ann H]

You're right Ann, he is dreaming. I read the article and I was thinking what you said. Seems States with exchanges now have driven the agent out of the equation. If that isn't true please feel free to correct me.

You're right, runner, states with exchanges have driven the agent out of the equation when the exchange is paired with mandated universal coverage (like MA). There are exchanges or quasi-exchanges in other states, but when there's a competitive health insurance market rather than universal or GI coverage the existence of the exchange has not driven the agent out.

 

[AllenChicago]

You're right, runner, states with exchanges have driven the agent out of the equation when the exchange is paired with mandated universal coverage (like MA). quote]

Now I understand why there are no Massachusetts agents in this forum. It seems to me that an exchange is nothing more than a quote engine that companies choose to participate in. Because the government is throwing so much cash at this initiative, it's no wonder that the companies who stand to profit are making the exchange design process a bigger deal than it needs to be.

There's probably lots of these company executives who throw darts at bulls-eyed photos of the Republican candidates!
-ac