Letter: Navigators, Marketplace Website Not the Only Healthcare Enrollment Options

Editor’s note: This letter to the editor was written by Les Saland, a licensed insurance agent in the Land O’ Lakes area.

Editor:

As the 2015 Open Enrollment for health insurance arrives I felt it was important to communicate several points that were not communicated by the government, the insurance companies or the media during the 2014 Open Enrollment. For some reason, the government and insurance companies keep stressing the use of a Navigator or for the consumer to use the website rather than a licensed agent.

There are so many reasons to use a certified, licensed agent but you have to find one that you can trust. From this point on, the term “agent” refers to a certified licensed agent.

First, using an agent doesn’t raise your premium. Your agent receives a commission from the insurance company and you help your community and possibly your neighbor by adding to your local economy. By not using an agent, you don’t get a discount. The insurance company just keeps the commission.

OK, so let’s say you do enroll via the website or a navigator. If you have any questions or issues, such as claims or pre-authorizations, you have to deal with it yourself. With my experience (and I do this for a living) it takes several calls to get to the right person and to get to a documented resolution. It is important to note that just because the person on the other end of the phone tells you it is resolved doesn’t actually mean that it was. The questions I ask are, “What is your time worth?”, “Are you spending your family or work time dealing with insurance matters?”, “Is it OK to do at work?”.

So, now you know that using a Licensed Certified Agent is an option, and I might add my fully biased opinion, the best option. OK, but why?, you ask. Let me explain.

An Agent and a Navigator can both help consumers apply for government subsidies to buy health insurance, help consumers understand insurance plans sold on the government marketplace, are trained for the Marketplaces that they work with and you should not have to pay for either.

However, there are several things that apply to Agents do not apply to Navigators.

• Agents can recommend a plan based on a consumer’s health needs and budget
• Agents are required to be licensed in the state in which they do business.
• Agents receive criminal background checks before working with consumers
• Agents can assist consumers by educating them on options not on the Public Marketplace
• Agents must pass a strict licensing exam and stay current with continuing educations classes
• Agents can advocate for a customer with the insurance company after the enrollment is complete.

I can’t think of one reason why a consumer would not want to use an agent. Think about all the things you do that you would have someone else do if it didn’t cost you anything. Here is a partial list of some of those things. You may not agree with all of them, but I’m sure there will be at least six or seven things on your list, too. Here goes … mowing the yard, raking leaves, trimming the trees, pressure washing the house, taking out the trash, vacuuming, dishes, cleaning bathrooms, changing the oil in your car, laundry, cleaning the kitty litter, cooking, driving the kids around, grocery shopping, home repairs, taxes.

What was the reason you don’t have an agent?

Les Saland

Marketplace ID: alsaland

NPN: 7639953

les@alsaland.com

Image via Shutterstock

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