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October 02, 2013 at 02:41 PM
Twenty-three new nonprofit, member-owned health plans opened their doors this week.
The “Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans” are out beating the bushes for enrollees. The first coverage sold will take effect in 2014.
The National Alliance of State Health CO-OPs, the plans’ trade group, said one of its member plans, Oregon’s Health CO-OP, signed its first members a few minutes after midnight Tuesday.
Most CO-OPs are emphasizing that they want to sell coverage through brokers.
In Oregon, for example, the Cover Oregon exchange enrollment website will not be up and running for a few more weeks. But Oregonians who want coverage can sign up directly through the CO-OP’s website – and through brokers.
Meritus, the Arizona CO-OP, has a broker link near the top of its home page, which leads to a broker application page. The CO-OP requires a would-be broker to fill in a national producer number, an Arizona insurance license number, a federal tax ID number, an errors and omissions carrier policy number, and the E&O policy expiration date. The broker also must upload an individual exchange and small-group exchange curriculum completion certificate along with an E&O insurance certificate.
Colorado HealthOP signed Warner Pacific as its first broker agent in May.
Louisiana Health Cooperative boasts that it offers “Real insurance for real people,” and a link at the top of its home page explains how agents and brokers can get welcome packets and appointment numbers.
