We did lose a ton of people straight to the exchanges,' and other quotes of the month

1. We did lose a ton of people straight to the exchanges

There was a huge disconnect, we did lose a ton of people straight to the exchanges, said Connie Framberger, president and broker at Framberger Employee Benefits & Insurance Services Inc., in a story about how the exchanges are measuring ACA enrollment success versus how brokers are perceiving it. Thats the most tragic thing looking at some of my clients that Ive had for 30 years. The owner would contact us but the employees would not.
Read the full story here: How do you measure ACA enrollment success?

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2. Flexibility beyond that scope

With a consumer having a choice between a marketplace product that has a limited provider offering and a private insurance market product that gives them flexibility beyond that scope, were seeing people choose the latter, said J.J. Flotken, partner with St. Louis, Mo.-based employee benefit firm Caravus, in a story about how nearly half of the newly insured signed up off the exchanges. Read the full story here: Why the uninsured flocked for coverage off the exchanges

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3. The 30 hour per week definition

Independent agencies serve many clients who have struggled with the prospect of complying with the employer mandate, and in particular the 30 hour per week definition of a full-time employee, said Robert Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Big I, while applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a bill to change the ACAs definition to 40 hours per week. Read the full story here: Bill bumping ACA to 40-hour work week passes House

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4. Bring an exchange to their customers

We really want to empower every agent in the country to bring an exchange to their customers, said Brian Harrigan, chairman, president and CEO of Group Benefit Options, about his new private exchange platform for smaller, independent agents and agencies. Read the full story here: A private exchange for every agent?

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5. She doesnt have much health experience

The fact that she doesnt have much health experience is not good for the industry but helpful to the Obama administration in that they can continue to place blame for the failed law on someone other than Obama, said Kelly Fristoe, a broker at Financial Partners in Wichita Falls, Texas, about the presidents pick to replace outgoing Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Read the full story here: Mixed hopes for Sylvia Mathews Burwells HHS future

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6. It can get pretty expensive

It becomes expensive when you have to do it for say six, seven brokers and then on top of that they have separate appointments for the agency too, said Chris Mele, broker marketing and sales manager for Connecticuts exchange, in a story about carrier fees creeping up on brokers. It can get pretty expensive just to get people started and appointed with them. Some of these carriers want to make sure, with the fees, that brokers are serious about their product.
Read the full story here: Are ACA exchange carriers swindling brokers?

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