Monday, August 22, 2016

This weekly email summarizes the content of emails distributed by CMS to agents and brokers during the preceding week to keep you up-to-date on the Federally-facilitated Marketplaces (FFMs).


As these sent emails are not posted publicly, to retrieve the complete email messages, use these email subject lines, dates of receipt (noted in parentheses), or keywords derived from the summaries to search for them in your email account. You can also refer to the additional resources noted as hyperlinks in the summaries to learn more.

 

Agents/Brokers: It’s easy to reset your forgotten CMS Enterprise Portal password to access your account and start plan year 2017 registration (August 16)

 

If you have an existing CMS Enterprise Portal, but cannot remember your password, you can reset it yourself in three simple steps and get started with plan year 2017 registration right away. Here’s how:

  1. On the CMS Enterprise Portal home page, select the “Forgot Password?” link in the upper right corner.
  2. Respond to a set of challenge questions you selected when you created your account. Then enter a new password that meets these standards:
    1. Contain a minimum of eight and a maximum of 20 characters
    2. Contain at least one letter and one number
    3. Contain at least one upper case and one lower case letter
    4. Contain at least one special character
    5. Be different from the previous password used
    6. Not contain your FFM User ID
    7. Not include the following special characters: ? < > ( ) ' " / \ &
  3. Once you have reset your password, return to the CMS Enterprise Portal home page and select the “Login to CMS Secure Portal” button.

For screenshots showing these steps, see the Avoiding the Creation of a Duplicate CMS Enterprise Portal Account Quick Reference Guide. This guide also explains how to find out if you have an existing CMS Enterprise Portal account and how to retrieve your FFM User ID.

 

Agents/Brokers: Find answers to your questions about how to complete plan year 2017 FFM registration and training (August 16)

 

CMS continues to make it easier for you to complete FFM registration and training so you can help consumers enroll in health coverage through the Individual Marketplace or Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace.  

 

Most aspects of registration and training are the same as they were for plan year 2016, but CMS has posted two resources that will help you understand plan year 2017 improvements:


Deadline to Sign-up (August 31): 2017 Walmart Marketplace Open Enrollment Opportunity (August 17) 

Last year during Open Enrollment 2016, agents and brokers enrolled consumers in Marketplace plans at a variety of retail locations, including Walmart stores across the country. The opportunity to be in Walmart stores will be available again this year during Open Enrollment for 2017. In order to participate in this Walmart event, you must hold a valid state license and be trained and registered to participate in the Marketplace for 2017. Click here for more information on how to train and register to assist consumers enroll in Marketplace plans for Open Enrollment this year.

To learn about this Walmart opportunity and to indicate your interest in participating, click here. As other opportunities arise, we will keep you informed.

 

Registration and training for Plan Year 2017 is now open! (August 18)

 

Registration and training for Plan Year 2017 is now open! Log in or create an account to get started today.

 

Here are some important things for you to know:

Registration is required, but training is optional.

In order to help your small business clients enroll in SHOP Marketplace coverage, you must complete registration by signing the SHOP Privacy and Security Agreement for the 2017 plan year. While training is not a requirement, it is highly encouraged.

The SHOP Marketplace makes it easy for small employers to find you.

Once you complete registration, small employers in your area will be able to search for you by name, National Producer Number (NPN) or location through the SHOP Marketplace when they need help.

Make updates to your account online.        

Making changes to your account is easier than ever. If you need to change your registration information simply log into your CMS Enterprise Portal account to make the changes you need. The updates will display in the SHOP Marketplace Agent/Broker Portal within 24 hours.

Visit HealthCare.gov/small-business to learn more.  

Need Enrollment Assistance?  Call the SHOP Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-706-7893 (TTY:711) Monday through Friday from 9am to 7pm ET or visit HealthCare.gov/small-businesses.  For in-person assistance, find a SHOP Marketplace-registered agent or broker in your area.

 

Upcoming Webinar Reminder - Periodic Data Matching (PDM) for Consumers with Medicare (August 18)

 

Don’t miss the upcoming “Periodic Data Matching (PDM) for Consumers with Medicare” webinar on August 24, 2016, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern Time.

 

This webinar will review the PDM process in advance of CMS sending initial warning notices regarding potential tax liability to consumers who are enrolled in a Marketplace qualified health plan (QHP) with advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC) and Medicare, or who are eligible for Medicare, but enrolled in a QHP with APTC.

 

To register for the webinar, log in to www.REGTAP.info. Registration closes 24 hours prior to each event. If you require assistance with registration or logistics, you may contact the REGTAP registrar at 800-257-9520, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday or email registrar@REGTAP.info.

 

Resources are available for plan year 2017 FFM registration and training (August 18)

 

There are a number of resources available for agents and brokers on the Agents and Brokers Resources webpage that explain the plan year 2017 FFM registration requirements. These resources include: 


Remember plan year 2017 registration and training is now available and can be accessed on the CMS Enterprise Portal

Agents/Brokers: Avoid issues accessing the MLMS by turning off pop-up blockers (August 19)

 

Agents and brokers are still having issues with delayed access to the Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS) when logging on to complete plan year 2017 registration and training. Make sure that you turn off your computer's pop-up blockers and review the CMS Plan Year 2017 Computer Configuration Requirements Quick Reference Guide to make any additional adjustments to your computer configuration, as needed.

 

See the quick reference guide for step-by-step instructions to address the following possible issues:

  • Turn off your computer’s pop-up blockers.
  • Download and use the free web browsers that work best with the MLMS: Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • Download the latest version of Adobe Flash to optimize display of animations.
  • Allow cookies.
  • Access the training for registration on a desktop or laptop computer. (The Marketplace training cannot be accessed on a tablet or other hand-held/mobile device.)
  • Check with your network provider for more assistance if you encounter bandwidth and server issues. 

Remember, you must access both the MLMS and CMS-approved vendor training via the CMS Enterprise Portal. For a better user experience, the best days and times to access registration and training are Monday through Friday, between 5:00 PM and 11:00 AM ET and on the weekends.
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