How will Covered California for Small Business underwrite start-ups (i.e. payroll records)?

See the list of required documents for the various business entities on page 1 of the Covered California for Small Business employer application:
https://www.coveredca.com/hbex/agents/PDFs/CC_shop-employer-application%20092513.pdf

Will employers be allowed to offer varying plans/benefits and/or premiums among their employees based on job description and/or tenure?

A plan cannot discriminate in favor of highly compensated individuals as to eligibility to participate; and the benefits under the plan cannot discriminate in favor of highly compensated individuals. Highly compensated individual is defined as (1) one of the 5 highest paid officers; (2) a shareholder who owns more than 10 percent in value of the stock of the employer; or (3) among the highest paid 25 percent of all employees.

Moreover, in Covered California for Small Business, employers will not be able to have different contribution levels within their selected metal tier based on employee classification.

Is there a time limit for the exam?

There is no time limit, however, the website cannot be inactive for 20 minutes.  If it is, it will time-out and it will count as one attempt at the exam.

Can commissions in the individual marketplace be set-up to pay an agency and then the agency pays agents down the line?

Since commissions will be paid by each health insurance company it will depend on the health insurance company’s policies and procedures.

In Covered California for Small Business, agents have to be certified independently, however, they will be given the option following certification to identify payment as either the individual agent or the agency.

Note: Certified Insurance Agents are permitted to split or share commissions provided the other agent is also a Certified Insurance Agent authorized to sell through Covered California.

If certified insurance agents are not allowed to share or split commission, does that mean Claremont or another GA cannot help with Covered California for Small Business programs?

Certified Insurance Agents are permitted to split or share commissions provided the other agent is also a Certified Insurance Agent authorized to sell through Covered California. GAs that have a contract with Covered California for Small Business are able to assist agents with Covered California for Small Business.  GAs that have a contract with Covered California for Small Business will be paid separately and directly by Covered California for Small Business.

Is the exam taken online at your office/home or at a testing facility?

The agent certification exam is taken online at a time and place of your convenience.

How many questions are on the exam?

75 multiple choice questions.

What is the passing score?

80%

HHS/CMS has a certified agent process. How does this impact the Covered California certification?

HHS’ certified agent process is for the federally-facilitated exchanges.  California has opted to operate its own exchange.

Do agents have to be recertified with Covered California annually?

After careful consideration, and in an effort to support agent partners, Covered California has removed the annual requirement for agent re-certification.

The Covered California Certified Insurance Agent agreement previously required agents to participate in at least four hours of Covered California re-certification training each year in order to maintain certification status. The agent agreement will be updated soon to reflect this change.

Please note: Covered California is only removing the re-certification requirement. Licensed agents who are interested in selling products on behalf of Covered California must complete the initial training and certification process in order to become a Covered California Certified Insurance Agent.

Covered California is currently reviewing its entire training program and will be offering supplemental education through e-learning and other methods to help support enrollment efforts. Certified Insurance Agents are strongly encouraged to make use of these resources when they become available. Continued training will help to ensure agents have the latest updates on the individual and Covered California for Small Business marketplaces as well as Covered California’s policies and guidelines. More information on the supplemental education will be coming soon.