At www.healthcare.com, the new web portal unveiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, you can get a listing of insurance companies able to sell you coverage, along with a breakdown of the various plans they offer. You can find healthcare facilities that provide different treatment options. You can get a wealth of information on the new healthcare reform law. But what if you need more personalized service — not just a computer database, but someone you can talk to about your options and who can help you navigate the numerous complexities of our evolving heathcare system? Where can you find a qualified agent? Not at www.healthcare.com — at least, not so far.
HHS has to this point provided no information on state-licensed health insurance professionals via the portal, despite calls from NAIFA and our association partners as well as members of Congress. In the wake of our country's massive healthcare overhaul, the role of the agent is more important than ever. An agent, for instance, can help a small business comply with complicated state and federal obligations, including COBRA, ARRA, CHIP, ongoing CMS reporting, HIPAA, and Mental Health Parity requirements. Also, licensed health insurance specialists design benefit plans, explain how individuals can coordinate available public and private benefits, and solve problems that may occur once coverage is in place. Insurance professionals also help create and implement wellness programs for employers, which everyone agrees are key to reigning in runaway healthcare costs.
The public should be able to turn to the government's premier resource on healthcare to find licensed agents they can trust. HHS plans to finalize the healthcare web portal on October 1. Up until then, you can write to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and tell her how important it is that the final website includes information on licensed agents and how they can help businesses and the public.
HHS has to this point provided no information on state-licensed health insurance professionals via the portal, despite calls from NAIFA and our association partners as well as members of Congress. In the wake of our country's massive healthcare overhaul, the role of the agent is more important than ever. An agent, for instance, can help a small business comply with complicated state and federal obligations, including COBRA, ARRA, CHIP, ongoing CMS reporting, HIPAA, and Mental Health Parity requirements. Also, licensed health insurance specialists design benefit plans, explain how individuals can coordinate available public and private benefits, and solve problems that may occur once coverage is in place. Insurance professionals also help create and implement wellness programs for employers, which everyone agrees are key to reigning in runaway healthcare costs.
The public should be able to turn to the government's premier resource on healthcare to find licensed agents they can trust. HHS plans to finalize the healthcare web portal on October 1. Up until then, you can write to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and tell her how important it is that the final website includes information on licensed agents and how they can help businesses and the public.