Navigators Wanted - $48 Per Hour

[somarco]

Almost everyone that supported Obamacare when it was in the planning stages starting in 2009 got screwed over. Carriers, big pharma, physician groups . . . all of them.

Carriers didn't count on or anticipate MLR, rate caps, rate review, etc.

This is no windfall for carriers. Never was.

If you want to see bogies everywhere, go for it. Carriers have skinnied down so much they still need agents to handle some of the service work. Several have tried direct marketing and they still can't gin up more than 15% of new business sales. The exception is Blue which will always be dominant in DTC sales.

Even with no underwriting, carriers still need agents to drive business, especially non-HIX sales.

 

[Yagents]

Spot on Bob. Mandated profit levels was not what carriers envisioned. Off exchange sales will be 80% driven by agents, and that's why Assurant won't be participating in the exchanges. They are banking on higher commissions to attract sales off-exchange, since they don't have to adhere to "similar" on-exchange commission levels, as they won't be on them. "No play, higher pay" (trademarked)

 

[somarco]

Assurant won't be participating in the exchanges

Cigna has indicated the same stance.

I am under the impression you have to participate in HIX if you want to sell off exchange.

Also, I find it odd that Assurant recently introduced higher deductible plans in some markets. Seems like they are the only carrier developing and filing new "lower cost" catastrophic plans.

Haven't considered them a real player in the major med market for some time but they have been innovative in the last few years with things like the CSD.

Maybe they are smarter than I thought.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It is there annual conference that high producing agents get invited to.

BX GA tried something like that a few years ago. They invited top producers, those that wrote xs of 250 apps a year, to a "secret" meeting. Told attendees about a quota designed to eliminated 70% of their brokers.

Word got out before the last car left the parking lot.

They did send out warning letters to their low information brokers, threatening to cancel their contract if they did not generate 10 apps a year.

Keep in mind that BX has not been competitive here for several years but write mostly on their name.

What followed was a wholesale replacement of healthy folks leaving behind the sick ones.

Blue decided not to terminate anyone for lack of production.

IMO, its not because cost of healthcare has gone up...that drives the huge consumer price....it is the corporate shareholders and greedy profit requirements that are responsible...

You are entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong you are.

 

[Yagents]

Anyone see Greta last night talkin' navigators:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABk6e9ORBMA&feature=player_detailpage

 

[supersupps]

Sign me up for the 96k.. wow.. i can leave kfc.. amazing.. maybe I will do both..where can i send my resume?

 

[Yagents]

From NAHU:

Another issue that got a lot of media attention with the proposed rule was a section in the cost impact analysis that goes along with every federal regulation, which seemed to estimate that navigators would be paid anywhere from $20 to $48 per hour. This was picked up by various media outlets including the Drudge Report. HHS quickly responded that their regulatory impact analysis is just a guess as to what navigators might be paid and is in no way binding. "There is nothing in the proposed regulations released today that would require any of these workers to be paid $20 an hour, $48 an hour, or any other amount of money," CMS spokesman Brian Cook said in a statement to POLITICO. "These are estimates, not a recommendation or a requirement. Nothing in the law or proposed regulation set payment levels for these employees. These are estimates commonly used for estimating paperwork burden — and along with all the other policy in the regulation, this is a proposal and open for public comment."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Anyone see Greta last night talkin' navigators:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABk6e9ORBMA&feature=player_detailpage

And O'Reilly blasted Navigators too, but not one mention of existing agents to help navigate the law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO0I77vZj0Q

 

[xrac]

From NAHU:

Another issue that got a lot of media attention with the proposed rule was a section in the cost impact analysis that goes along with every federal regulation, which seemed to estimate that navigators would be paid anywhere from $20 to $48 per hour. This was picked up by various media outlets including the Drudge Report. HHS quickly responded that their regulatory impact analysis is just a guess as to what navigators might be paid and is in no way binding. "There is nothing in the proposed regulations released today that would require any of these workers to be paid $20 an hour, $48 an hour, or any other amount of money," CMS spokesman Brian Cook said in a statement to POLITICO. "These are estimates, not a recommendation or a requirement. Nothing in the law or proposed regulation set payment levels for these employees. These are estimates commonly used for estimating paperwork burden — and along with all the other policy in the regulation, this is a proposal and open for public comment."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


And O'Reilly blasted Navigators too, but not one mention of existing agents to help navigate the law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO0I77vZj0Q

Agents are going to be left out in the cold on this until someone realizes that they are vital to educating the public.

 

[Yagents]

I just sent this email to Bill O'Reilly:

Bill, thanks for your talking points memo regarding the hiring of navigators. Please don't forget that health agents like myself currently fulfill this role. We are licensed, insured, and have years of experience to help explain this complicated law to the masses. The government is trying to replace us with unlicensed, uninsured, and unaccountable navigators. This law is going to be implemented, and American's deserve the best advice.


William Steffen, Peoria AZ

 

[b61mack]

We are the bad guys! Greedy insurance men. Another step to single pay!

 

[Dave020]