Please note the following:
- If you are Medicaid eligible, then you must buy in the exchange and you must use a navigator. You cannot use a licensed agent.
- If you are eligible for a subsidy, you must buy in the exchange – but you can use either a navigator or a licensed agent.
- If you are not Medicaid or subsidy eligible, then you can buy in or out of the exchange. You can use a navigator or an agent inside the exchange, but only agents can sell outside the exchange.
Even the people that run the exchange are the first to say “The exchanges are basically there for Medicaid-eligible individuals. If you are not eligible for Medicaid, the you should use the services of an agent.”
Why? Because agents offer you more experience, more knowledge and more service during and after the sale. And there is absolutely no additional cost for an agent’s services.
Furthermore, agents can offer you more choice because they have access to the plans and carriers inside AND outside the exchange, while navigators only operated inside the exchange. You can work with a live agent and/or preview plans anytime at https://insurance-oc.com Healthcare Reform specific plans will be available 10/1/13.
Neil Steinman is the principal of Orange County Health & Life Insurance in Orange County, CA – and has been serving the needs of California residents for nearly 20 years.