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    Time to Brush Up on HSAs

    January 11, 2016
    Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) first hit the scene back in 2004, and since that time they’ve grown at a steady pace. Every year, more and more brokers get on board with consumer-directed health plans and HSA plans in particular. Still, not every agent is a fan. It’s not easy to create conscientious healthcare consumers. Americans have shown an unwillingness to save their money, and, without up-front copayments, some people go without needed care.
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    Understanding the ACA’s Cost-Sharing Subsidies

    December 28, 2015
    A lot of emphasis has been placed on the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits over the past couple years—and rightly so. The Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) makes it possible for millions of Americans to purchase health insurance; without the financial assistance, many would likely remain uninsured.
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    What’s going on with commissions?

    December 8, 2015
    In what seems like a strange move to most brokers, some carriers have stopped paying commissions on their most desirable plans, those with larger provider networks and out-of-network options. Why in the world would they do this? Do they not value the agent anymore?
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    This Year, Agents are More Important Than Ever

    November 30, 2015
    It’s funny to think that, just a few years ago, many of us were worried that the government was creating a do-it-yourself, Travelocity©-like website that might eliminate the need for health insurance agents altogether. Boy, were we wrong.
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    Spread Out Your Pitches for More Sales Success

    November 10, 2015
    Are you striking out when trying to sell supplemental and ancillary insurance? Maybe it’s because you’re trying to cram all of your sales efforts into a single call or appointment. There are three big reasons why this may not be a good idea.
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    3 Open Enrollment Tips for Brokers

    November 2, 2015
    It’s that time of the year again—open enrollment. The 2016 individual open enrollment period begins November 1 and ends January 31, which means that brokers who specialize in individual coverage will be very busy for the next three months. To help make sure this is a successful selling season for you, we thought we’d share a few quick thoughts.
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    Congress Votes to Preserve Definition of Small Group

    October 21, 2015
    One of this fall’s “hot topics” highlighted in this month’s AHCP newsletter, was the definition of small group for purposes of the plan design and rating rules and how it varies and may change. One such change is that brought about by the Affordable Care Act. Starting in 2016, companies with 100 or fewer employees will be considered small employers and be subject to the essential benefits requirement and the modified adjusted community rating rules. Currently, every state sets the cutoff at 50 employees, rather than 100.
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    This Fall’s Hot Topics

    October 4, 2015
    A lot of the brokers who work with AHCP focus on both group and individual health insurance. Sure, most of you also market a full range of voluntary and supplemental products to your clients and prospects, but there’s no denying that health insurance is at the top of everyone’s priority list.
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    Special Enrollment Periods (how they work)

    September 1, 2015
    Special enrollment periods (SEPs) are nothing new. For health insurance agents working with groups, HIPAA regulations have meant that employees and family members who originally waive coverage on a group plan have special enrollment rights if they lose other qualified coverage or have a life event such as marriage, birth or adoption. During these special enrollment periods, employees and their family members usually have 30 days to sign up for the group health plan.
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    Be Aware of the Subsidy Trap

    August 3, 2015
    The Affordable Care Act’s advance premium tax credit (APTC) has been wildly successful. It’s helping millions of Americans pay for health insurance purchased through the individual Marketplace. However, something that’s been confusing for many is the fact that it is an advance. The tax credit is based on the estimated amount that an individual believes they will earn in the coming year. This estimate must be made at the time of the insurance purchase, and, of course, the actual amount earned could ultimately be more or less than anticipated.
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