Background
On September 1, after a very informative meeting with broker Davis Pacific Insurance, the Utah Health Policy Project decided to sign up for the re-launch of Utah's Health Insurance Exchange. Davis Pacific Benefits was able to answer our questions and to provide assurance around this initial stage of the application process. We learned there’s no risk to employers and employees from filling out the initial application. Employers have until September 15 to take this first step on the Exchange website: http://www.exchange.utah.gov/. The health questionnaire will be reviewed by 1-2 randomly assigned underwriters from one of the carriers participating in the Exchange. If UHPP can accept the new rates and terms, the nonprofit’s employees will be able to make their selection of plans starting on November 1.
As the person who manages UHPP’s money, I can't say that I'm entirely at peace with the whole exchange idea. I operate with the mindset of, "if it ain't broke, don’t fix it." Since UHPP started offering health insurance in 2006, our broker has been able to score us good premiums for a decent benefit package. Over the past 3 years our premium increases have been minimal, but that's not to say the entire staff has been entirely happy with the benefits available…
Since Exchanges are here to stay, we figured, why not join? We want to to see if the program really does provide employees with better choices at a reasonable cost. So here is the UHPP's experience, from day one, enrolling in the Exchange.
Step 1: Employer Application Process
I went to the Exchange site here, a simple page that breaks down the basics of enrolling. I found clear information and additional information about the application process, defined contribution, working with a "producer," (a fancier term for broker) etc. I also like how this page lists the participating carriers: SelectHealth, United Healthcare, Regence, and Humana.
To start the employer application, I had to click on a link that brought me to the login page for employees. Since the UHPP has yet to enroll, I had to click on another link to register as an employer. Quite a few clicks to get to the right place, but not too bad.
Due to the paperwork requirement, I must have started the registration process at least 3 times. The Exchange site provides a list of everything you need to complete the registration, and while I am a reasonably organized individual when it comes to paperwork, this enrollment page does not offer the opportunity to save for a later time.
You need to have everything ready to go, all at once.
Note to new employer applicants: get all your information scanned and in one place—before you apply! Information I did not have on hand: Our broker’s license # and their Health Equity ID #. I also had to download a form from the site to my desktop, fill it out, and upload it again. This too timed out my registration, so I had to start over again. All the information that was requested was nothing too personal; social security number, date of birth, etc.
Aside from the paperwork, the employer application was a piece of cake. Not long after clicking the SUBMIT button, I received an email from an underwriter with United Healthcare, who kindly asked for a wage statement that I failed to upload.
When the application was completed, I wasn't really informed as to when employees can shop around for insurance, other than it can take up to two weeks to receive notification that UHPP has met all the requirements, that we've been given the green light to join the Exchange.
So now we wait… are you waiting too?
What was your experience like? If you are an employer, broker or “producer” considering the Exchange for your employees, please consider joining the Exchange Learning Network (ELN). The ELN is an interactive blog discussion group for employers (like UHPP) who want to give their employees more choice of plans and decent benefits but only if the price is right (for employers and employees). ELN participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences (positive or negative) and pose questions to UHPP, Exchange administrators, and brokers.
by UHPP Operations & HR Manager Stacey Earle
