Sacramento, CA. At today’s Covered California Health Exchange press conference Peter Lee, Executive Director, gave full credit to licensed agents along with certified enrollment partners, Covered CA staff and county workers, for the huge success of the 6-month healthcare exchange enrollment process in our state. Certified licensed insurance agents played a key role in helping people pick plans and “cross the finish line” in the final days before the application deadline that had been extended to April 15th. “We are proud of what California has achieved, but recognize this is only the beginning of a long road of expanding affordable coverage to all Californians,” said Lee. Initial statistics show that 39% of the 1.5 Million Californians who signed up for coverage sought help from a Certified Licensed Agent. Only 9% of enrollees got assistance from Certified Enrollment Counselors, and 40% signed up through self-service. Lee stated that the most important lesson learned is that even those who used self-service needed support from trained advisors. In fact, most people said they preferred face-to-face support to guide them through the complicated enrollment process and to explain how medical plans work. According to Brad Davis, President of the Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters, “Agents, are no strangers to health insurance and know that the real work is just beginning. We expect to see a great number of issues arising in the near future over access to providers and prescription coverage as these newly covered consumers begin to utilize their medical benefits.” He went on to say that “it is unfortunate that such a large number of people did not select an agent to represent them through the difficult waters that go beyond the enrollment event.” In any event, says Davis, “this is a great beginning that we should all celebrate as Californians.”

###

The Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) is a local chapter of the California Association (CAHU) and the National Association (NAHU). Our vision is that every American will have access to private sector solutions for health, financial and retirement security, as well as the services of insurance professionals to assist in navigating these areas. SAHU’s mission is to improve our members’ ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs of all Americans through education, advocacy and professional development.

Photo: Sacramento Brokers recognized today for their part Covered California’s enrollment success.
From Left to Right: Peter Lee, Executive Director, Covered California; Brad Davis, CEBS, Wraith, Scarlett, & Randolph; Susan Duane, Duane Benefits; Cerrina Jensen, Armstrong & Associates; Alex Wiens, Clifford Benefits Group; Carolyn Lewis, MBA, The Lewis Group