Tuesday, December 15 is the last day for consumers to enroll in or change plans ...

... for their new coverage to start on January 1, 2016. Help your clients submit their applications early to avoid heavier-than-normal traffic at the Marketplace Call Center and at HealthCare.gov.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offers the following suggestions to help you and your clients have a better experience working with the Health Insurance Marketplace:

·         Reduce your wait time when contacting the Marketplace Call Center by avoiding calling during the following peak periods:

o    9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)

o    4:00 to 6:00 PM ET

o    December 13 to 15 (other peak periods will include January 13 to 15 and January 29 to 31)

·         Share this Marketplace Application Checklist with your clients to be sure they have gathered all the information needed to complete the enrollment process successfully.

·         Remember that consumers need to tell the Marketplace every 365 days that an agent or broker is authorized to work on their behalf.

o    If you don’t have a current authorization in your client’s file, he or she must provide verbal authorization to a Marketplace Call Center customer service representative before you can access the client’s information and ask questions on his or her behalf.

o    Avoid delays by working with your clients to complete these reauthorizations during off-peak hours and before the enrollment deadline days noted above.

CMS has different call centers available to help you and your clients:

·         The Agent and Broker Call Center can answer questions about how agents and brokers can complete training and get registered to participate in the Marketplace, and their National Producer Numbers (NPNs). Call 855-267-1515 and select option “1,” Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM ET through December and January. The Agent and Broker Call Center is closed on Sundays and holidays, but will be open 24 hours on Sunday, January 31, 2016.

o    Also refer to the Agents and Brokers Resources webpage, which contains resources for agents and brokers assisting clients to select and enroll in coverage through the Individual Marketplace, as well as employers and employees obtain coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace.

·         The Marketplace Call Center can answer specific questions or issues with a consumer’s Individual Marketplace application at 1-800-318-2596. The Marketplace Call Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Remember that you must either have a current authorization in your client’s file to access his or her information, or your client must provide such an authorization to this call center by phone.

o    The SHOP Marketplace Call Center can answer questions about SHOP coverage at 1-800-706-7893, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET.

CMS appreciates your assistance in helping your clients make best use of Marketplace resources to get enrolled in coverage for plan year 2016.