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Half of the document goes over differences between navigators, agents and web-brokers.
Final Rule For Health Insurance Exchanges
- Thread starter CHUMPS FROM OXFORD
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What is their distinction between a web broker and an agent? I consider myself as a web broker.
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Web brokers are licensed agents who will be enrolling people via their website. Guidelines will be put forth over criteria those websites must meet.
So you can be an agent and sign up someone in the exchange or you can also be a web broker and enroll them through your site.
"We also recognize that the role of web-brokers may evolve upon implementation of Exchanges, and that Exchanges may seek to involve web-brokers in the enrollment process using a variety of technologies. We have set forth standards in this rule to ensure that consumers enjoy a seamless experience with appropriate consumer protections if an Exchange chooses to allow web-brokers to participate in Exchange enrollment activities."
So you can be an agent and sign up someone in the exchange or you can also be a web broker and enroll them through your site.
"We also recognize that the role of web-brokers may evolve upon implementation of Exchanges, and that Exchanges may seek to involve web-brokers in the enrollment process using a variety of technologies. We have set forth standards in this rule to ensure that consumers enjoy a seamless experience with appropriate consumer protections if an Exchange chooses to allow web-brokers to participate in Exchange enrollment activities."
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- 4,096
HHS Releases Exchange Regulations - Meghan McCarthy - NationalJournal.com
Sounds to me that we could still be in business depending on your state.
"The concept here is the eligibility for determining the premium tax credit is going to be done by the exchange ... but it is also the case that in the state-based exchange to allow—whether it's a Web-based broker or a small-business broker or agent—to interact with the exchange in an automated way," Tim Hill, the deputy director in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services insurance-regulation office, told reporters in a conference call.
Hill said the federal government would not regulate how insurance brokers or other companies that crop up to guide people onto the exchanges charge and collect fees.
"Those are all relationships that are regulated on the state level … to determine the fee structure for how agents or brokers can be compensated for bringing business to the exchange," Hill said. "That's something we're going to leave to the state."
Sounds to me that we could still be in business depending on your state.
"The concept here is the eligibility for determining the premium tax credit is going to be done by the exchange ... but it is also the case that in the state-based exchange to allow—whether it's a Web-based broker or a small-business broker or agent—to interact with the exchange in an automated way," Tim Hill, the deputy director in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services insurance-regulation office, told reporters in a conference call.
Hill said the federal government would not regulate how insurance brokers or other companies that crop up to guide people onto the exchanges charge and collect fees.
"Those are all relationships that are regulated on the state level … to determine the fee structure for how agents or brokers can be compensated for bringing business to the exchange," Hill said. "That's something we're going to leave to the state."
ABC, you left out the best parts of the article below. I think they are finally getting it, and my exchange domains became more valuable overnight since we can now be:
1. that web "access" point to the state exchange and be a NAV,
or
2. be a private outside exchange selling QHP's to the higher income non subsidized folks and be an agent receiving commissions with NO NAV competition.
Nothing I've read excludes 1 or 2 above. Big firewalls would need to be in place if you want to do both. (separate companies and ownership). Your state will determine a lot.
In all seriousness, I can't handle the other 48 state domains listed above (Minus AZ & FL for now), and would hate for these domains to go to waste, because timing is everything. I know a lot of you out there can do much more with them than I could. Feel free to contact me if you want to negotiate for a piece of this newly defined marketplace.
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"That means a possible new business model for insurance brokers or any other companies looking to set up an access point to the state insurance exchanges.
Hill said allowing third-party companies or brokers access the exchanges would help spread the word about the insurance exchanges.
"There are lots of folks out there who can generate interest and marketing ... it's a source of leverage that we want to leverage if the states choose to," Hill said."
1. that web "access" point to the state exchange and be a NAV,
or
2. be a private outside exchange selling QHP's to the higher income non subsidized folks and be an agent receiving commissions with NO NAV competition.
Nothing I've read excludes 1 or 2 above. Big firewalls would need to be in place if you want to do both. (separate companies and ownership). Your state will determine a lot.
In all seriousness, I can't handle the other 48 state domains listed above (Minus AZ & FL for now), and would hate for these domains to go to waste, because timing is everything. I know a lot of you out there can do much more with them than I could. Feel free to contact me if you want to negotiate for a piece of this newly defined marketplace.
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"That means a possible new business model for insurance brokers or any other companies looking to set up an access point to the state insurance exchanges.
Hill said allowing third-party companies or brokers access the exchanges would help spread the word about the insurance exchanges.
"There are lots of folks out there who can generate interest and marketing ... it's a source of leverage that we want to leverage if the states choose to," Hill said."
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Yep. So UHC, for example, doesn't get to set agent comp. One state may allow up to a 5% max commissions, another state may allow a $150 per app commission and yet another state may allow no broker commissions.
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IL has been dreaming about a single-payer system for years. No way are they going to allow comp for brokers.
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A MD House rep introduced a bill last year to disallow all agent compensation through our exchange. It died on the floor, but this is the thought process.
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I agree 100%, Stuy119. PCIP (IPXP in IL) is the perfect example. Unlike the Federal PCIP, Illinois chose to administer the program itself and not pay us (agents) anything at all for referring people to the program.
The result has been a cumbersome enrollment process, with very little public awareness that IPXP even exists. As of Feb 23, 2012, less than 2,000 have enrolled state-wide over the past 2 years. Yet Governor Quinn calls the program a success.
Personally, I wouldn't enroll to receive commissions from any program run by the state or federal government. Once the government gets just a small piece of your life, they'll find ways to attach more strings and eventually have you dancing like a Marionnet puppet. The people who accept subsidies to buy health insurance on the exhange will eventually find themselves in this same predicament.
Hopefully the Supreme Court will start the repeal process by finding the Individual Purchase Mandate un-constitutional.
-Allen
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My view is that the broker community is still going to be around.
This could create huge opportunity if a state based exchange is established. If you are living in a liberal state it might be tough.
It will be interesting to see if all the states create a state based exchange. I don't think they will because there is no funds to admin the exchange on a state level. The federal gov. is asking for $800 million a year to admin the federal exchange. No way congress gives it to them.
This could create huge opportunity if a state based exchange is established. If you are living in a liberal state it might be tough.
It will be interesting to see if all the states create a state based exchange. I don't think they will because there is no funds to admin the exchange on a state level. The federal gov. is asking for $800 million a year to admin the federal exchange. No way congress gives it to them.
