We've got Answers!

Recently, I was invited to apply for the position of Content Expert Writer (CEW):Insurance for Answers.com. The process was interesting: an intense, comprehensive on-line writing and editing test and a requirement to craft real answers for several Answers.com entries (both within and without my subject area).

They took a few weeks to evaluate the candidates (there were apparently several); I have been offered the position ("there can be only one").

I am very flattered, and eager to begin.

Needless to say, this position is in addition to my real job and InsureBlog, so I'll be learning (re-learning?) some time management skills. Fortunately, I have the best co-bloggers on the 'net, so if I end up slacking in my IB duties for a brief while as I come up to speed, I know that our readers won't be neglected - Thank you all!!

Obamacare for Dummies: Navigator Edition

Navigator grants have been awarded! HHS announced that funding would be $67 million spread across 33 states. As Mike noted in his post earlier, the funding magically increased from $54 million thanks to the Prevention and Public Health Fund Obamacare Slush Fund  that authorizes Kathleen Sebelius free reign over how to use it.

Anywho, with funds distributed, the hiring should begin and Navigators will soon be able to go online and complete their required training. In fact, they can already get a head start on the educational part.

Today CMS released a 217 page Standard Operating Procedures Manual for Navigators. The manual includes important stuff such as: making sure you smile, occasionally nod, say thank you, and most importantly, become an expert...in 34 days.

This is going to run so smoothly...

Such a deal!

I'm from the Government and I'll take you to the New World. Trust Me. Uh, do you happen to have a map?

In Connecticut, "Navigators" have been designated in each county -  after a nominally competitive bidding process - to manage "assisters" in the county who will actually be responsible for helping people enroll in Obamacare.  Connecticut is operating its own Exchange.   More info here. 

Here is Connecticut's definition of "Navigators"

The following organizations can qualify as Navigators:

• Community and consumer¬focused nonprofit groups
• Trade, industry and professional associations
• Unions
• Resource partners of the Small Business Administration
• Indian tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations
• Other public or private entities that meet Navigator requirements

The following organizations cannot be Navigators:

• Health insurance issuers
• Subsidiaries of health insurance issuers
• Associations that include members of the insurance industry or that lobby on behalf of the insurance industry

Actual advice to real people will be doled out by the "Assisters".  Connecticut promises this:

Assisters are individuals in your community – they work at nonprofits, small businesses, faith-based and other community organizations . . .  Assisters will be:

• Certified with training in the Affordable Care Act, Access Health CT, providing appropriate support based on language and culture, and more
• Trusted community members who have undergone thorough background checks
• Ready to help individuals, families and small businesses during the initial enrollment period (October 1, 2013-March 31, 2014)

Assisters apparently cannot be licensed insurance agents unless they happen to work for one of the specified community organizations.  So it appears Connecticut is not allowing anyone to become either a Navigator or an Assister who might actually, you know, have expert insurance knowledge but instead intends to employ people who must learn everything they need to know about Obamacare in what? - 30 days?  But - don't worry! - they will all be "certified" and "trusted" and they will all have undergone "thorough background checks."   All information they give you will be "based on language and culture".  Oh,  "and more".

Well, what can possibly go wrong?

Underwriting Cancer

Recently, I had an interesting experience with a client which I'd like to share as an example of how important agent communication can be.

A gentleman called up inquiring about some additional life insurance. I did my usual pre-screen process, and he was in decent health, no tobacco use, "normal" height and weight. Got the quote, agreed on a plan design, and sent in the application.

As with most policies nowadays, this one required a routine "paramed" exam (blood, urine, physical measurements, nothing major). The exam was scheduled for this coming Friday.

Today he called with some discouraging news: as part of a routine test last week, he learned that he had prostate cancer. Thankfully, it's in the early stages, but of course this poses a problem with the new life insurance application.

When he called to tell me the news, he assumed that we'd just pull the plug on the application, but I suggested that perhaps all was not lost. There have been some significant changes in life insurance underwriting the past few years, and all was not necessarily lost. I promised to call my underwriter and then we'd go from there.

So, I called my underwriter (one of the perks of my primary carrier is that I have access to the actual underwriter, not just an assistant), and explained the situation. I expected that she'd agree with the client, and pull the application. To my surprise, however, she started asking questions. Turns out, their underwriting guidelines are more flexible than I'd believed, and there's actually a decent chance that we can still get the policy issued (albeit at a temporarily much higher rate). All of this will depend on the conversation my client has with his surgeon next week, but things are at least hopeful.

Live and learn.

Early Renewal Fever - catch it!

Previously, we reported that several carriers have begin offering early renewal options to  small group clients in an effort to stave off (if only for a while) some of the more egregious effects of the ObamaTax.

This morning's email brought the first such offer I've seen for individual clients. From Medical Mutual of Ohio:

"For your clients in a non-grandfathered plan.... an opportunity to consider an early renewal of their individual plan for December 1, 2013.  This will allow them to keep their current plan until December 2014 if they choose."

Again, this is only a short-term fix; eventually, they'll have to move over to an ObamaTax-compliant plan. But for a little while at least, they'll be able to keep the insurance they currently have.

And the check'll be in the mail.

Crash Landing