Resources for Agents and Brokers in the Health Insurance Marketplaces

Welcome

Welcome to the Agents and Brokers Resources webpage. This page is the primary outlet for agents and brokers to receive information from CMS about working in the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).

Background

To the extent permitted by states, licensed agents and brokers may assist consumers determine their eligibility for insurance affordability programs, including advance payments of the premium tax credit and cost-sharing reductions, and enroll them in qualified health plans (QHPs).

Agents and brokers play a crucial role in educating consumers about the Health Insurance Marketplace, both during annual Open Enrollment and throughout the coverage year. Agents and brokers may also help employers understand their options for enrolling in SHOP coverage and assist them and their employees through the SHOP application and enrollment process.

Some states have set up their own State-based individual and small business Marketplaces, while the federal government runs the Individual Marketplace through HealthCare.gov and/or SHOP in other states. You can find out if a state is running its own Marketplace by visiting HealthCare.gov and selecting the state from the drop-down list. Agents and brokers can help consumers apply for and choose insurance options in any state in which the agents and brokers have an active state license that is approved for a health-related line of authority, regardless of whether the Marketplace is operated by the state or federal government.

Agents and brokers who wish to assist consumers in the Individual Marketplace on HealthCare.gov and/or SHOP must complete registration and required training on an annual basis—prior to assisting consumers enroll in a plan.

Plan Year 2020 Registration and Training is Now Available

Plan year 2020 Marketplace registration and training for agents and brokers is now available on the CMS Enterprise Portal!

For more information and resources on registration and training, visit the Plan Year 2020 Registration and Training page.

Latest News

2020 Open Enrollment Period Scheduled Maintenance Windows 

Every year, CMS establishes scheduled HealthCare.gov maintenance windows that provide periods of time when CMS and its partners can make updates or resolve issues. Please note that maintenance will only occur within these windows when deemed necessary to provide consumers with a better shopping experience. Consumer access to HealthCare.gov may be limited or restricted when this maintenance is required. CMS plans to continue working with agents and brokers to ensure they have the information necessary to plan for Open Enrollment. Learn more about the scheduled maintenance windows here.

2019 CMS Marketplace Agent and Broker Summit

Thank you to all who joined the 2019 CMS Marketplace Agent and Broker Summit! To review presentation materials from the Summit, please click on the links below:

• Agents and Brokers in the Marketplace (PDF)  
• Agent and Broker Program Overview (PDF)  
• Mastering Agent and Broker Compliance: Tips on Obtaining Consumer Consent and Appropriately Using CMS Marketplace Systems (PDF)  
• Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program Periodic Data Matching (PDF)  
• Circle of Champions (PDF)  
• Compensation – Tips for Making Sure You Get Paid (PDF)  
• Exchange Applicants and Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance – What’s Your Role? (PDF)  
• Overview of Plan Year 2020 Registration and Training for Agents and Brokers and Resources to Master the Marketplace (PDF)  
• Working with Navigators and Other Assisters (PDF)  
• Demystifying Consumer Documentation Requirements: An Overview of Data Matching Issues and Special Enrollment Period Verification Issues (PDF)  
• State Relief and Empowerment Waivers (PDF)  
• Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements and the Marketplace (PDF)  
• Maximize Marketplace Enrollments by Leveraging Find Local Help and Help On Demand (PDF)  

Help On Demand for Agents and Brokers

Help On Demand is a real-time consumer assistance referral system operated by BigWave Systems that connects consumers seeking assistance with Marketplace-registered, state-licensed agents and brokers in their area who can provide immediate assistance with Marketplace plans and enrollments. The Help On Demand technology is hosted by BigWave Systems. Only agents and brokers who have completed Marketplace training and registration are eligible to participate in Help On Demand. For more information and resources on Help On Demand, visit the Help On Demand page.

Upcoming Webinars and Office Hours

CMS hosts webinars and office hours throughout the year to help agents and brokers assist Marketplace consumers. For information on upcoming events, topics, and registration, please log on to REGTAP and register for Health Insurance Marketplace Updates for Agents and Brokers under Training Events.

Manage your Email Preferences

Agents and brokers can now choose the types of emails they want to receive from the Marketplace by updating Subscriber Preferences. Click here to find out how. To get started:

1. Log in to the Subscriber Preferences webpage using the email address at which you receive emails from CMS and your password, if you’ve set one up
2. Select the Email Frequency tab
3. Next to Send Me Fewer Emails, select the Yes radio button
4. Select the Save button 

Agent and Broker Newsletter

News for Agents and Brokers is an electronic source of information for agents and brokers assisting consumers in the Marketplaces on HealthCare.gov. Check out the latest edition here.

Additional Resources

For a collection of notices including Eligibility, Special Enrollment Period Pre-enrollment Verification, Cross-Issuer, Data Matching, and Account Transfer notices, visit the Marketplace Notices webpage.

When helping consumers enroll in health coverage, the Marketplace may ask for documents to confirm information on the application. Agents and brokers can access more information regarding how to submit documents online or by mail by clicking here.

The Affordable Care Act includes the individual shared responsibility provision and the premium tax credit that may affect your clients’ tax returns. For more information on Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions for Individuals and Families, click here.