Navigators Wanted - $48 Per Hour

[Crabcake Johnny]

Dave, it'll all settle with the dust. I was hired quite literally the day after gas/electric deregulation and ended up overseeing 8 states for reps going to residences and businesses signing people up with another gas supplier - much to the dismay of those state's public utility commissions who claimed there was much more to it than just having reps sign people up.

As time went by and more people were getting "screwed" they all dropped the hammer regarding regulations. Imagine CMS regulations X 5.

Same with the navigator program. You all envision thousands of untrained people fumbling around while "enrolling" clients....until the complaints come in. Then CMS will put the clamp down on navigators and that'll be that.

 

[Dave020]

I agree, there will likely be a myriad of problems and issues.

My real concern is that it appears that CA HBEX does not seem to realize that there are brokers/agents who don't just sell group plans and actually sell IFP.

Agent playground initially for a protected market will be SHOP, Medicare and IFP sold outside of the exchange. All of these markets will still require a licensed agent.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

The issue at hand is what "facilitate in the enrollment of" means. In MD, navigators will not be able to to "sign up" or "enroll" anyone in a plan. They can only offer "facilitation."

What exactly does that mean? No one seems to know.

 

[STIBROKER]

The issue at hand is what "facilitate in the enrollment of" means. In MD, navigators will not be able to to "sign up" or "enroll" anyone in a plan. They can only offer "facilitation."

What exactly does that mean? No one seems to know.

I see the medical marijuana is starting to kick in..... if both sides are stoned this will work....duuuuude
Maryland

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I see the medical marijuana is starting to kick in..... if both sides are stoned this will work....duuuuude
Maryland

Well....if I still lived in MD.....

 

[Dave020]

The issue at hand is what "facilitate in the enrollment of" means. In MD, navigators will not be able to to "sign up" or "enroll" anyone in a plan. They can only offer "facilitation."

What exactly does that mean? No one seems to know.

In California they can do the actual enrollment and with a few exceptions, can earn the $58 fee per enrolled app. That is why it is disconcerting out here.

Oddly, they cut out medical groups, hospitals and county health from the $58, and true "navigators" are not allowed either they have to work off of entity grant money/salary.

On page 23 of the slideshow (link below) HBEX covers compensation for Covered California. Note they also include CPAs, Attorneys and so on.

http://www.healthexchange.ca.gov/StakeHolders/Documents/Assisters2ndWebinar March14-2013_FINAL.pdf

 

[Yagents]

How can they forecast that 80% who now buy from agents, will switch and buy direct or through an assister. Read the whole article, going after the easiest cuts first........us

Milliman: Comp cuts could cool individual premiums | LifeHealthPro

Cuts in the amounts of commissions California individual health insurers pay agents and brokers could help offset the effects of new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) taxes and fees on individual health premiums.
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"Currently, broker-driven sales represent a large portion of individual health insurance sales in California," the consultants said.
Covered California has estimated that "up to 80 percent of this business will transition from the broker distribution channel to the exchange," the consultants said.
But brokers perform a variety of administrative services for purchasers, and it might take years before the exchange succeeds at displacing that many brokers, the consultants said.
Covered California also plans to sell coverage through "certified assisters" who received a fixed fee per consumer enrolled.
Covered Califoria "estimates that 20 percent of exchange enrollment will be subject to plans paying agents' commissions and 80 percent will be subject to Covered California paying a fixed 'certified assisters' fee," the consultants said. "If these assumptions are borne out, then this shift could drive a reduction in administrative expenses."
When Milliman consultants predict that administrative expense cuts will lower premiums by about 4.5 percent, they are assuming an 8 percent average commission rate and 60 percent of sales being through Covered California.

 

[Ann H]

Good news - they expect an 8% average commission rate.
Good news - they admit the exchanges are trying to replace us.
Bad news - all the rest of it.

 

[toddoxley]

State or FFE exchanges are the biggest threat to a independent agents livelihood. I wish we could all just boycott the exchanges and do nothing to help them replace us....

 

[Justin Bilyj]

I see the medical marijuana is starting to kick in..... if both sides are stoned this will work....duuuuude
Maryland

You are hitting up those keywords hard my friend