New BPHC Grantee Spotlight 

Cherry  Health Services in Grand Rapids, Michigan partnered with AmeriCorps volunteers from the National Association for Community Health Center's Community HealthCorps Program to strengthen their efforts to educate and enroll people into health insurance coverage, made possible by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Read BPHC's Grantee Spotlight to learn how they have achieved success
 

Free Health Literacy Materials Offered to Support Open Enrollment

One of the biggest takeaways Consumer Reports heard from the first year of open enrollment is that people struggle with basic health insurance concepts, and that the confusion slows down the enrollment process and gets in the way of people finding the right plan and understanding what their insurance covers.  In response, Consumer Reports has developed new enrollment assistance materials and is offering them free for download and in limited hardcopy quantities. Each one page prop covers a different topic and you can order sets of all of them or pick the ones you need. Follow the link to place your order for free copies now.

 I. Assister Fall Webinar Schedule

Below is a list of dates for November assister webinars. Please note that next week, we will offer two webinars during the first week of Open Enrollment. Next week, webinars will take place on Wednesday, November 19 and on Friday, November 21.

Upcoming Webinar Schedule:

• Wednesday, November 19 at 2:00 pm EST
• Friday, November 21 at 2:00 pm EST

NOTE: The webinar schedule is subect to change in order to deliver late-breaking information.

Beginning this week, as discussed on today's supplemental webinar, consumers can visit the HealthCare.gov window shopping tool to review information on health insurance plans offered in their area, including information on covered benefits and physician and hospital networks.  There are  more plans on the market this year than there were last year.  After answering a few questions, such as place of residence and family size, consumers can compare plans and get an estimate on how much financial assistance they may qualify for before submitting an application. 

• This year consumers are able to email, share a link to a plan, and print information so they can review options when and where it's convenient for them.
• Window shopping has been optimized for smart phone and tablet use.
• Premium estimates are more accurate thanks to more robust data. For example, tobacco rates are included in the tool.
• It's important that current Marketplace enrollees also review new plan options. Every year insurance companies make changes to premiums, cost-sharing and benefits; also, new plans are being offered in 2015.

To preview plans in your area, visit: https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/

To view the press release on the window shopping tool, visit:

The countdown to the Marketplace Open Enrollment continues. Here are new resources that we hope are helpful to you in your outreach efforts.

Marketplace Widgets: 

Including two newly created widgets for the Window Shopping Tool

5 Steps to Staying Covered Promotional Materials:

To stay covered through the Marketplace for 2015, consumers need to follow 5 Steps during Open Enrollment.

Images and Promotional Materials:

Image: 5 Steps to Stay Covered (Small)

Image: 5 Steps to Stay Covered (Medium)

Image: 5 Steps to Stay Covered (Full)

Brochures: English | Spanish

Fact sheets: English | Spanish

Infographics: English | Spanish

Postcards: English | Spanish

Posters: English | Spanish

Drop in article: Take Action to Stay Covered through the Marketplace in 2015 

We've launched two videos on YouTube in the Korean language targeting uninsured Koreans living in the US. We hope these videos will help Korean Americans learn more about the Marketplace.

English Title: Health Insurance Marketplace Literacy

Korean Title: 마켓플레이스의료보험이해력

URL:

English Title: Health Insurance Marketplace 101

Korean Title: 마켓플레이스의료보험이란?

URL:

HHS News:

The Secretary in the News:  Secretary Burwell traveled to Philadelphia to speak with consumers and local health care stakeholders about the Open Enrollment period beginning on November 15. The Secretary was joined by individuals who purchased health care coverage in Pennsylvania last year during Open Enrollment and who emphasized the importance of getting covered. Use the following link to read about Anne, a young woman grateful to have purchased health insurance through the Marketplace shortly before receiving an unexpected cancer diagnosis: Anne's I'm Covered Story: Insuring Against the What-Ifs 

We would like to clarify information provided during the November 5, 2014 webinar about the Marketplace and immigrant families. If a person is a lawfully present immigrant with income under 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and their immigration status makes them ineligible for Medicaid, they are eligible for advance premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. It doesn't matter if they would have been ineligible based on other factors, such as income. This is true regardless of whether the person is in a state that expanded Medicaid or not. We apologize for any confusion. 

• The updated slides can be found at
  https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/training-materials/training.html
• For more information, you can find other resources related to immigrant families and the Marketplace at
  https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/special-populations-help.html

Consumers must update their application information for 2015 and select a 2015 plan by December 15, 2014 for January 1, 2015 coverage.   Consumers currently enrolled for plan year 2014 who take no action will most likely be automatically re-enrolled for January 1, 2015 coverage.   Please note that existing Marketplace consumers who are returning to the Marketplace to update their accounts for 2015 should NOT do so by submitting a paper application for 2015. Instead, like all other consumers, they should contact the Call Center or visit HealthCare.gov. 

New 2015 Applicants to the Marketplace

Applicants who are new to the Marketplace and want to submit a 2015 paper application may do so when Open Enrollment begins on November 15, 2014. However, we encourage all consumers to apply online or through the Call Center. For consumers that do choose to submit a 2015 paper application, the Marketplace will process the paper application and the consumer will receive an eligibility determination notice in the mail.  The consumer will need to take action after receiving their eligibility determination notice by calling the Marketplace Call Center or creating an account at HealthCare.gov in order to select a plan by December 15, 2014, for January 1, 2015 coverage.  Consumers may receive phone calls from the Marketplace informing them that their application has been processed and instructing the consumer to call the Marketplace Call Center to select and enroll in a plan.  Remember that paper applicants will need to act swiftly in order to enroll in a 2015 plan for coverage to be effective  January 1, 2015.    

Consumers with Existing 2014 Applications:

As directed in the Marketplace Open Enrollment Notice, the preferred path for consumers seeking to update their 2014 application for 2015 coverage is for consumers to call the Marketplace Call Center or to visit HealthCare.gov to update their account.  Again, existing Marketplace consumers should not update their account by submitting a 2015 paper application.   Existing Marketplace consumers who do submit a 2015 paper application to renew coverage or update their account will receive a phone call and a notice from the Marketplace informing them to call the Marketplace Call Center or visit HealthCare.gov as directed in the Marketplace Open Enrollment Notice.   The vast majority of currently enrolled 2014 Marketplace Consumers will be automatically re-enrolled for January 1, 2015, pending plan availability, if the consumer does not reach out the Marketplace to update his or her account or request a change.  

Key Points to Remember:

• 2015 paper applications will be processed for all new Marketplace applicants who choose to submit a paper application.  Once consumers receive their eligibility determination notice in the mail, they should call the Marketplace Call Center to proceed with the plan selection process.  A consumer may also create an account and proceed to plan selection through Healthcare.gov.  The consumer will need to select a plan by December 15, 2014 for January 1, 2015 coverage.
• Creating an account and applying through HealthCare.gov or contacting the Marketplace Call Center are the best options for consumers to apply and enroll in one step. 
• All existing consumers who submitted a 2014 Marketplace application, regardless of whether it was a paper-based application or online application, should call the Marketplace Call Center or visit HealthCare.gov to update their 2014 application for the 2015 coverage year if needed.   These consumers should have received a Marketplace Open Enrollment Notice with these instructions.  
• Consumers who began, but never submitted, a 2014 application are considered new applicants and may submit a 2015 paper application. Once they receive their eligibility determination notice in the mail, they will need to call the Call Center or go online to HealthCare.gov to proceed with the plan selection process (if applicable).

Please check out our November 4, 2014 assister newsletter for more information about the 2015 paper applications.

The identity proofing process is one of the key components of applying for coverage through the Marketplace.  To enhance this process for consumers, CMS has expanded Experian's call center support to provide assistance in over 200 languages for this upcoming Open Enrollment period.

This expansion of language services allows limited English proficient consumers who are unsuccessful in completing the on-line, remote identity proofing process and are referred to the Experian call center for phone-based ID proofing the ability to request a language interpreter who will be able to assist them in their native language.  The Experian call center will continue to support both State-based Marketplaces and the Federal Marketplace, including State Partnership Marketplaces, with the phone-based ID proofing process. This enhancement is part of our ongoing effort to improve the consumer experience when enrolling in quality, affordable coverage.

CMS has provided guidance for how to terminate coverage for a deceased consumer. Consumers who are enrolled through the Federal Marketplace must report the death of an enrollee through their online Marketplace account or by calling the Marketplace Call Center. Assisters should be aware of the following:

• The application filer, or anyone in the household of the deceased enrollee who was included in the initial application for Marketplace coverage and is at least 18 years old, may report the termination of an enrollee's coverage. If the person taking the action to terminate the deceased person's coverage is the application filer, he or she can do so online through HealthCare.gov and then contact the Marketplace Call Center to report the date of death to make sure the termination is effective retroactive to the date of death, or he or she can take both actions through the Call Center.  If the person taking the action to terminate the deceased person's coverage is not the application filer, but was on the original application and is at least 18 years old, they must contact the Marketplace Call Center.  
• Consumers reporting a death should also contact the issuer regarding any applicable premium refunds or adjustments.
• If the consumer reporting the death is not the application filer, or not anyone in the household of the deceased who was included in the initial application for Marketplace coverage and is at least 18 years old, he or she must submit documentation of death to the Federal Marketplace. Consumers in this circumstance may submit documentation to the Marketplace prior to calling the Marketplace Call Center. Documentation may include a death certificate, obituary, power of attorney, proof of executor, or proof of estate. The documentation, or an attached cover note, should provide the following information: Full name of the deceased, date of birth of the deceased, FFM application ID (if known) of the deceased, Social Security Number (if known) of the deceased, and contact information for the person submitting the documentation.  All documentation should be mailed to:
  
  Health Insurance Marketplace ATTN: Coverage Removal
  Dept. of Health and Human Services
  465 Industrial Blvd.
  London, KY 40750-0001

The Marketplace Call Center will contact the individual who submits documentation of death regarding the termination of the deceased and re-enrollment of any remaining enrollment group members. The remaining qualified individuals or enrollees may need to update tax filing status, financial information, or other information on their FFM application. These additional changes may qualify the remaining enrollees for a special enrollment period (SEP).

Assisters may read the guidance provided to issuers at this link: http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/ENR-RemovalDuetoDeath-102414-5CR-102414.pdf

Last week, Healthcare.gov was updated with new content pertaining to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) consumers.

First, a Q&A was added on what income AI/AN consumers should include in their Marketplace applications. In general, these consumes will not report AI/AN income that the IRS exempts from taxes. Most AI/AN trust income and resources aren't taxable and therefore aren't counted, but per capita income derived from gaming is taxable and therefore is counted.

Second, a Q&A was added on how AI/AN consumers can change Marketplace plans, including instructions for doing so during Open Enrollment and outside Open Enrollment.

• For more information, go to the "More Answers" section of this page:
  https://www.healthcare.gov/american-indians-alaska-natives/

Assisters may now order "From Coverage to Care" (C2C) materials online in English and Spanish. C2C is the initiative from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designed to help people with new health coverage understand their benefits and connect to primary care and the preventive services that are right for them. Print resources now available to order in English and Spanish include the full Roadmap booklet, booklets by individual step, Discussion Guide, poster size Roadmaps,  a CD on  "Road Map Steps Video Loop," and one-page consumer tools.

In addition to new Spanish language materials, C2C video resources are now available.  Assisters may order DVDs of the 11-part video series "Road Map Steps Video Loop: Coverage to Care" (11848-CD) in English and Spanish, which walks consumers through the Roadmap and explains what health coverage is and how to use it to get needed care.

Assisters can also view and share a new From Coverage to Care PSA featuring MLS player Eric Ávila, "From Coverage to Care to a Healthier You." This 30-second spot can be used during Open Enrollment to encourage consumers to 'Get in the Game' and enroll in coverage. The video is in Spanish with closed captions (in English). It is available on CMS' YouTube channel here:

To order resources, you will need to create an account on the CMS product ordering website. To do so, please go to http://productordering.cms.hhs.gov and select "create an account." There will be a text box at the bottom of the account creation form titled, "Why I need access? (Explain in 250 words)." In this section, please include a brief description of the organization for which you work that indicates why you plan to order CMS materials (for example, "ABC Partnership Group," an advocacy group of seniors with diabetes). This information will allow us to properly process the request. CMS will grant approval of the account within three business days, after which you can log in to order products. Please note that your account won't be accessible until your access is approved. You will receive an email notice of approval and then you may log in.

As we have noted in past newsletters, we also encourage assisters to:

• Sign up for the CMS Minority Health listserv for notification when new resources can be ordered by entering your email at
  https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMS/subscriber/new?topic_id=USCMS_610
• Contact C2C at coveragetocare@cms.hhs.gov for questions or feedback, to share your stories about consumers learning to use their coverage to get the care they need, and to request professional print-ready versions of any of our resources, so that you may print your own From Coverage to Care materials.

To download and print your own booklets, go to

Know Your Rights - A Guide For Consumers Navigating Health Care

The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) helps consumers understand their civil rights and right to the privacy of their health information. OCR has recently posted a resource to help you communicate this important information to consumers.

• To view the resource, use this link:
  https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/ocr-know-your-rights.pdf

Spanish Language Instructions Available for Federal Assister Training

As we announced on the October 31, 2014 assister webinar and in the November 4, 2014 assister newsletter, the 2015 Assister Training is now available in Spanish; you can access both the Spanish and English assister training curriculum on the MLN website using the following link: http://Marketplace.MedicareLearningNetworkLMS.com.

This past week, the assister training instructions are also available in Spanish on Marketplace.cms.gov. The instructions include the process for selecting a User Type/User Role, Primary Language, and enrolling in a curriculum.

• To view training resources on CMS.Marketplace.gov, use this link:
  https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/training-materials/training.html
• To view the assister training instructions in Spanish, use this link:
  https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/training-materials/training-instructions-spanish.pdf
• To view the assister training instructions in English, use this link:
  https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/training-materials/assister-training-instructions.pdf

HRSA Outreach in Rural Communities: Presentation Slides

The Friday, October 17 assister webinar featured a presentation by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on best practices for reaching out to individuals in rural communities and helping them apply for coverage through the Marketplace. A summary of this presentation, along with a list of additional resources, was included in the October 21, 2014 assister newsletter. Please note that the presentation slides for this webinar are now available at the following link.

• To view the presentation slides for "HRSA and the Affordable Care Act : Rural Outreach and Enrollment Efforts from the first Open Enrollment Period," use this link:
  http://www.hrsa.gov/affordablecareact/marketplaceassisterwebinar.pdf
• A link to this presentation, along with other outreach resources, is available on the "Special populations" section of the Marketplace.CMS.gov "Outreach & Education" resources page https://marketplace.cms.gov/outreach-and-education/special-populations.html (Scroll down to view resources on rural populations)

HRSA Outreach to Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS: Presentation Slides

The Friday, October 31 assister webinar featured a presentation from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau on how to help consumers living with HIV/AIDS during Open Enrollment. A summary of this presentation, along with a list of additional resources, was included in the November 4, 2014 assister newsletter. Please note that the presentation slides for this webinar are now available at the following link.

• To view the presentation slides for "Assisting People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Marketplace," use this link:
  http://hab.hrsa.gov/affordablecareact/assisterpresentation.pdf

Application Spotlight on the Assister ID Number: Power Point Slides

On the Friday, October 31 assister webinar, CMS provided an application spotlight on how the Federally-facilitated Marketplace and State Partnership Marketplace applications capture an assister's ID number. 

• A slide deck to this presentation can be found here: Application Spotlight on the Assister ID Number - October 31, 2014 (slides with speaker notes)

Many of our external partners have developed tools, tips, materials, or training sessions that assisters can use.  We are sharing those resources through this weekly newsletter and by posting on Marketplace.cms.gov.  If you would like to recommend helpful resources, please email

On this past Friday's assister webinar, the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) joined us to provide an overview of when to use MAGI and how to calculate total household income. The Affordable Care Act established Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) as a new method for calculating income and household composition. MAGI applies to eligibility determinations for advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC) and cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) for health coverage purchased through the Marketplaces, as well as eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and many Medicaid categories.

• Part I - Income. The slides from NHeLP's Friday, November 7 presentation on how to calculate total household income are available here:
  http://www.healthlaw.org/publications/MAGI_Webinar_Part%20I_%20Income#.VF1F08ntiyI
• Part II - Household Composition. NHeLP joined us again for our assister webinar today, Wednesday, November 12 to walk through the rules assisters should use to determine household composition, including differences in the Marketplace and Medicaid/CHIP households, using typical, hypothetical family scenarios. Slides from this presentation will be available shortly.
  
  In the meantime, assisters can check out NHeLP's MAGI Household Composition Quick Reference Guide, available here:http://www.healthlaw.org/component/jsfsubmit/showAttachment?tmpl=raw&id=00Pd000000E9DrPEAV.

Kaiser Family Foundation Resources on Open Enrollment and LGBT Access to Coverage

1.       Report: Gearing Up For Round 2 of Open Enrollment - Some Lessons from Round 1

Last week, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report on lessons learned from last year's Open Enrollment period. The report, entitled, Data Note: Gearing Up For Round 2 of Open Enrollment: Some Lessons From Round 1, looks at how people navigated the new options and choices available under the ACA, with the goal of contributing to a better understanding of individuals' potential needs during the second Open Enrollment period beginning this November 15, 2014.

• The report is available at:
  http://kff.org/health-reform/poll-finding/data-note-gearing-up-for-round-2-of-open-enrollment-some-lessons-from-round-1/?utm_campaign=KFF%3A+The+Latest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=14780684&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--W9xhwNyTHMIzIp7vbnut1sQUZdu8F08Y5Ol0vHsK6U5Ick80gmoyj3pfuz-YJL8UM6oKj9VWQEf5YeroDQQWvr7tc89MmfCyBEyNwTwwKoR6k-ZY&_hsmi=14780684

2.       Issue Brief: Explaining the 2015 Open Enrollment Period

Last week, the Kaiser Family Foundation released an issue brief on what to expect during the upcoming Open Enrollment period and the tax season that will follow it. The brief reviews important changes, such as an increase in plans available through the Marketplace and factors influencing consumers' financial assistance, and describes aspects of Open Enrollment that will be new, such as renewal and reenrollment for consumers who have already purchased health insurance plans through the Marketplace.

• The issue brief is available at:
  http://kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/explaining-the-2015-open-enrollment-period/?utm_campaign=KFF%3A+The+Latest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=14819437&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--5t85wjDNj_P8lDD9_WGQVF7dBXAHlJG3Ecus-JuHJ0z90PFOc7tHuHZlAld0KG0dyLlwX2VTEiwcrc8L4UW91iIa-i5BUc3THoGIip1WZ0h1BX2o&_hsmi=14819437

3.       Tool: Health Reform FAQs

To help assisters and consumers prepare for Open Enrollment, KFF has released a list of "Frequently Asked Questions" about health reform. The FAQs are organized by topic areas that include, "Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage," "Young Adults and Students," "Non-Traditional Households," and "Uneven Income."

• The list of FAQs is available at:
  http://kff.org/health-reform/faq/health-reform-frequently-asked-questions/?utm_campaign=KFF%3A+The+Latest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=14819437&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9-yA8rdeOFsLnJWRw-qelHu0_vWfHGe40O2nLaOg4kbemerxt1aJd1haK5YCiHUf9SHT-WIUiOJc5yrJGJOHG4I_yCGXewuwLBNHBOCB2JLcWOiZk&_hsmi=14819437#question-i-signed-up-for-a-bronze-plan-with-a-high-deductible-during-open-enrollment-now-six-months-later-i-need-surgery-and-would-rather-be-in-a-different-plan-with-a-lower-deductible-can-i-change-plans

4.      Issue Brief: Health and Access to Care and Coverage for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Individuals in the U.S.

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently published an issue brief that provides an overview of what is known about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) consumers' health status, coverage, and access in the United States The report includes a look at the causes of health disparities and barriers to care that LGBT people experience. It also reviews the implications of the Affordable Care Act, the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and other recent policy developments for LGBT individuals and their families going forward.

• The issue brief is available at
  http://kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/health-and-access-to-care-and-coverage-for-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-individuals-in-the-u-s/

NOTE: Marketplace.cms.gov includes links to other federal agencies and in some instances, non-government Web sites. We provide these links because they contain additional information that may be useful or interesting and is consistent with the intended purpose of Marketplace.cms.gov. We cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by these third-party sites or any other linked site. We are providing these links for your reference. Linking to a non-Marketplace.cms.gov Web site does not constitute an endorsement by CMS or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the Web site. Also, please be aware that the privacy protection provided on Marketplace.CMS.gov does not apply to these third-party sites.

Q1: If I started the training in English, can I stop half-way through and take the Spanish language training now that the training is available in Spanish?

A1:  Assisters can change to the Spanish curriculum by accessing their MLN profile and selecting the corresponding Spanish role. Once that is saved, the new Spanish curriculum will be auto-assigned to the user within a few minutes.  The process for selecting a User Type/User Role, Primary Language and enrolling in a curriculum is outlined in both the  English and Spanish training instructions.

Important: If assisters wish to take the Spanish curriculum after starting the English curriculum, they can follow the process outlined above. However, the modules completed in English will not count towards your progress in the Spanish language training. In other words, assisters can change to the Spanish language training, but they will have to re-start the Spanish training from the beginning.

The following Q&A offers advice for assisting consumers who have forgotten their HealthCare.gov log-in information, including their email address.

Q2: What options are available for consumers who don't remember login information for their HealthCare.gov accounts, or who forget the email address that they created in order to create an account?

A2: Consumers who have forgotten their HealthCare.gov account passwords can use the "Forgot my Password" or "Forgot my Username" links on HealthCare.gov, which will send the requested information to the consumer's email address if there is one on file. If that does not work, consumers can call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (or TTY: 1-855-889-4325), where a representative can reset a consumer's password and/or unlock a consumer's HealthCare.gov account.  The Call Center will always ask for the consumer's full name, address, and two additional pieces of identifying information such as a Social Security Number, Application ID number, User ID, date of birth, or phone number prior to releasing any information. 

• For more information on problems logging in to Healthcare.gov, see: 
  https://www.healthcare.gov/help/i-am-having-trouble-logging-in-to-my-marketplace-account/

More information on resetting account passwords and log-in information is also provided in the Q&A section of the November 4, 2014 newsletter.

1.       OPEN ENROLLMENT: NOVEMBER 15, 2014 - FEBRUARY 15, 2015

The Open Enrollment period for the 2015 plan year will begin on November 15, 2014 and continue through February 15, 2015.  

As a reminder, while Open Enrollment offers the opportunity for all qualified individuals to apply for coverage, consumers may be able to enroll in health coverage outside of open enrollment if: 1) they qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP); 2) they are enrolling through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP); or 3) they are eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

• For more information on open enrollment, check out the fact sheet found here:
  http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2014-Fact-sheets-items/2014-03-05-2.html
• For more information on SEPs, see this page on HealthCare.gov:
  https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-get-coverage-outside-of-open-enrollment/
   

2.       STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSISTERS

In addition to the federal training and certification requirements, many states with Federally-facilitated Marketplaces have additional state-specific requirements for Navigators, in-person assisters, and/or certified application counselors. Most state assister laws require state licensure or approval before operating in the state, and many have training requirements, require background checks, or require some assisters to secure financial protection against wrong-doing.  Please reach out to your State Department of Insurance to familiarize yourselves with your state's requirements.  Assisters should comply with any state and all federal requirements prior to assisting consumers.  Again, you must meet both state AND federal requirements prior to assisting consumers.

Please remember, you are not authorized to assist consumers until you have received an official Assister Certificate. Navigators receive their certificates from CMS; CACs receive their certificates from their CAC designated organization.   We encourage assister entities to have all staff and volunteers complete federal and state required training, certification, licensing, and registration prior to the beginning of the Open Enrollment period for the individual Marketplace on November 15, 2014.

3.       ACCESSING FEDERAL TRAINING MATERIALS

• The Federal training required for Assisters can be found at:
  http://Marketplace.MedicareLearningNetworkLMS.com
• Instructions for accessing and completing the Federal training requirements are available at:
  http://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/training-materials/assister-training-instructions.pdf

Additional information and resources regarding the 2014 Federal assister training are available through the assister resources webpage at:

1.       Standing Assister Resources

Below are some resources that assisters use on a regular basis. 

• Technical Assistance Resources
• CMS Marketplace Applications & Forms 
• CMS Outreach and Education Resources
• Marketplace.CMS.gov Page
• HHS.gov Healthcare Web Page
• Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight Page
• Find Local Help
• CAC Email Inbox Address (CACQuestions@cms.hhs.gov)
• HealthCare.gov Website
• Medicaid.gov Website
• Department of Labor Affordable Care Act Page
• IRS Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions Page
• Department of Veterans Affairs Affordable Care Act Page
• OPM's Multi-State Plan Program and the Marketplace Page

2.       Stay in Touch

To sign up for the CMS weekly assister newsletter, please send a request to the Assister Listserv inbox (ASSISTERLISTSERV@cms.hhs.gov) and write "Add to listserv" in the subject line.  For requests to be removed from the listserv, please write "Remove" in the subject line.