The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will give benefit advisers and small employers in five states early access to the federally-facilitated Small Business Health Options Program, but benefit brokers say few employers are interested so far.
Small employers, agents and brokers in Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Missouri will have access to SHOP in late October. Although enrollment in the states will still not start until the official Nov. 15 enrollment kick-off, small employers in the states will be able to use HealthCare.gov to do such things as establish a profile, assign an agent or broker to their account, complete an employer eligibility application, and browse plans and pricing when they become available.
The early access initiative is designed to allow CMS to collect information and feedback that will inform the full launch of the SHOP Marketplace in November.
Caren Neushwander, an adviser with Northern Insurance Service and president of the Illinois Chicago Southland chapter of the Association of Health Underwriters, agrees the early access will give benefit advisers and their clients a chance to walk through the process, see whats available and, importantly, understand the time commitment involved with the enrollment process from start to finish.
Still, she admits uncertainty about the marketplace has most small employers taking a wait-and-see approach to SHOP.
Theres still a lot of fear among employers about going into the SHOP, Neushwander says, adding that many questions remain to be answered.
No billing process has been announced yet. Affordability is a big question, she says. There are still a lot of unknowns.
Anne Petry, a broker with Jaggi Insurance and Investment Services in Illinois, says her small-group clients have shown little interest in SHOP, as well, although mostly due to the fact they did an early renewal last year and are doing so again this year.
A lot of small groups still did an early renewal, and the rates for pre-Obamacare plans have been significantly lower than the exchange plans, she says.
Next year, when small groups have to move to a metallic-style plan, I think were going to see more interest in SHOP, she adds.
Eligible small employers who purchase coverage through SHOP can qualify for a Small Business Health Care tax credit worth up to 50% of their contribution to employee premiums.
The online enrollment component for the SHOP exchange has twice been delayed.
When online enrollment on the federal SHOP exchange becomes active, agents and brokers assisting employers with obtaining coverage will use the SHOP Enrollment Pathway, according to CMS. In this pathway, licensed and registered agents and brokers will connect to the SHOP through the SHOP Agent Broker Portal available through HealthCare.gov.
Employers must create their own log-in through HealthCare.gov and confirm the authorization of an agent or broker before the agent or broker can gain access to their account, CMS adds. All agent and broker authorizations in SHOP will be established at the employer level, the agency says on its website. Employees cannot choose their own agent or broker but can enroll with the assistance of their employer-selected agent or broker.
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