Federally Licensed Exchanges: +36 of Them?

[AllenChicago]

I came across this article today http://www.chicagobusiness.com/arti...urance-shopping-site-for-round-2-of-obamacare and visited the guy's website, https://www.planmatcher.com/ .

Are independent agents like Christian Wells now building their own enrollment sites and obtaining some kind of special operating license from HHS? The article says that he was the 36th broker in the country to build a "Federally Licensed" healthcare exchange. I suppose HealthSherpa is an insurance agent/exchange too..but one who (supposedly) shares his resources with agents for a $25 per-app fee.

BTW.. I question the wisdom behind PlanMatcher.com allowing the applicant to enter a medical condition and have the monthly maintenance cost of that condition added to the premium estimate. What's the point of scaring people like that?

-Allen

 

[somarco]

I question the wisdom behind PlanMatcher.com allowing the applicant to enter a medical condition and have the monthly maintenance cost of that condition added to the premium estimate. What's the point of scaring people like that?

Just a wag, but probably to provide an opening for selling some kind of ancillary coverage or maybe one of those "free" Rx plans.

 

[Monti_Ray]

I am still trying to understand the significance of the following in this context,

"In a related enrollment decision, federal health officials recently told insurance-industry representatives said that one intended enrollment avenue that was unavailable last year, called "direct enrollment," would not be offered during the second enrollment period because the computer capacity will not be ready. In direct enrollment, customers can go to insurance agents and brokers to figure out their subsidies through the exchange and sign up for coverage."

(Source: HHS sets enrollment rules for year two of Obamacare - The Washington Post )

Monti
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[Ann H]

I am still trying to understand the significance of the following in this context,

"In a related enrollment decision, federal health officials recently told insurance-industry representatives said that one intended enrollment avenue that was unavailable last year, called "direct enrollment," would not be offered during the second enrollment period because the computer capacity will not be ready. In direct enrollment, customers can go to insurance agents and brokers to figure out their subsidies through the exchange and sign up for coverage."

(Source: HHS sets enrollment rules for year two of Obamacare - The Washington Post )

Monti
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I'm confused too. They described this "direct enrollment" as follows:

"customers can go to insurance agents and brokers to figure out their subsidies through the exchange and sign up for coverage"​

Then they say it wasn't available last year and won't be available in the coming OEP. What?

 

[kgmom219]

I'm confused too. They described this "direct enrollment" as follows:

"customers can go to insurance agents and brokers to figure out their subsidies through the exchange and sign up for coverage"​

Then they say it wasn't available last year and won't be available in the coming OEP. What?

I always feel better when I am confused and so is Ann.

 

[Guest]

i have entered a vortex.