Exchanges and Agent Commissions

[ksigmtsu]

We really need to be pushing at our legislators a LOT harder with communication about how they're overlooking a workforce that is already in place in favor of replacing it with untested, unproven workers that they'll have to train.

It's sort of the argument that the cloud is better than building our own internal infrastructure.

We are the cloud.

Also, agents as a whole own a lot of communication technology, we should all spend about 3 hours a week calling and emailing congressmen and senators, as if they were leads.
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Make a single line dialer list, and pop automatic messages on their machines, along with talking to everyone that answers, weekly, and email them with drip marketing.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

The MD exchange bill just passed the House - flew through actually, and passed the Senate finance committee. It's supposed to clear the Senate with no problems and there's an amendment to block all brokers from participating in the exchange.

It's a bit like passing a housing law that bars all real estate agents under the concept that anyone can go online, look at listings and buy a house by themselves.

But to assist, there will be "housing navigators." It's a 2 hour correspondence class.

Buyer: "So what can you tell me about this house and community?"

"Housing navigator: "Not too much but hey, let's move this crap along. I have to get to my 4pm shift at the Lowes warehouse."

 

[Yagents]

After reading this article, I say: "Vamos el barrios"

The light bulb looks to be turning on.

GAO: Broker Incentives Could Help Replace PPACA Mandate - Regulatory,Legislative and Tax Issues - Life and Health Insurance News

 

[AndreaSti]

The MD exchange bill just passed the House - flew through actually, and passed the Senate finance committee. It's supposed to clear the Senate with no problems and there's an amendment to block all brokers from participating in the exchange.

It's a bit like passing a housing law that bars all real estate agents under the concept that anyone can go online, look at listings and buy a house by themselves.

But to assist, there will be "housing navigators." It's a 2 hour correspondence class.

Buyer: "So what can you tell me about this house and community?"

"Housing navigator: "Not too much but hey, let's move this crap along. I have to get to my 4pm shift at the Lowes warehouse."

WTF'ingHELL. Tell me this, do you have to spend hours every year getting cont education, do you have E&O insurance because you can get your butt sued for doing something incorrectly with your clients, etc etc etc? I bet the DOI of Maryland is glad to take your money and your license if you screw up, and in some cases, send you to jail. SO, how can the DOI on the one hand hold you so accountable (and important), then on the other hand, the House throws you and your knowledge away like it has absolutely zero value?

This makes no sense, but I guess it doesn't have to does it? What a bunch of crap.

 

[ksigmtsu]

Lol thats just about as smart as a law barring all lawyers from practicing law, or barring all doctors from practicing medicine, or all bankers from working at banks, and replacing them all with wal-mart cashiers.

 

[HealthGuy]

ksigmstu: Thus is our new reality as a NAVIGATOR. Wow, I always wanted to be an Obama agent "navigator". How lame.

 

[Mark from WI]

ksigmstu: Thus is our new reality as a NAVIGATOR. Wow, I always wanted to be an Obama agent "navigator". How lame.

It will be interesting if this "navigator" concept even survives. What credentialing will a navigator require? If they need to be licensed / appointed, then they are an agent all over again. Who needs an unskilled person there helping a customer enroll?
Agents are and need to remain all the navigator any individual or group needs for sales and subsequent service. The original concept of the navigator as defined by the ACA incorrectly imagines that health insurance can just be "signed up for" and that it is so easy that anybody can do it, or can do it with just a little unskilled nudge. This is a slap in the face to brokers and the consumers they have assisted for so many years.

 

[AndreaSti]

This is a slap in the face to brokers and the consumers they have assisted for so many years.

Exactly, either we are important or we aren't. We can't be so important that we are licensed and regulated, then suddenly oh, we aren't necessary. Insurance won't change that much (in other words, it will still be complex), even if everything stays as Obama wants it and exchanges go through.

 

[HealthGuy]

Maybe Obama can hire Michelle and her mother to answer the 250 zillion navigator phone call questions regarding GOLD SILVER and BRONZE plans. Trust me, even if its that easy - three plans and you are done, people still won't be able to figure it out. Maybe Wal Mart greeters have a future selling Gold, Silver, and Bronze or maybe one of those 15,000 new IRS agents can assist? Obama is smart enough to get the stink out of his little poopie diaper health bill here isn't he? Maybe Sasha and Milea (or whatever her name is) have a career as Navigators?

 

[taterpeeler]

Maybe Sasha and Milea (or whatever her name is) have a career as Navigators?

Mileia... short for Malaysia... whick is probably when big ears was born