Health Insurance Marketplace Certification Course

Health Insurance Marketplace Certification Course

ALBANY, N.Y.—Following up on their earlier success, The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York (IIABNY) and the New York State Association of Health Underwriters (NYSAHU) have announced another joint project to certify insurance producers for the state’s new individual health insurance marketplace. The organizations are offering a course for producers in six locations across New York through the end of October.

“Our partnership with NYSAHU paid off with the success of the course we offered earlier this year,” said Kathy Lawler, IIABNY’s assistant vice-president of education. “The new course builds on the first one and will enable producers to help individuals and households get the coverage they need. Instructors Dan Colacino and Gerry Gershonowitz have done a fine job on the first course, and we’re excited to have them presenting the new one.” The Federal Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” requires every state to have health insurance marketplaces, known as “exchanges.” The exchanges started enrolling residents in health plans on October 1, 2013. They may have two separate marketplaces for buying coverage—one for individuals and another for small businesses. New York’s marketplace, called New York State of Health, will have separate marketplaces.

Insurance producers who wish to arrange coverage for their clients on either exchange must take and pass a certification course. IIABNY and NYSAHU have jointly offered the small business marketplace certification course to hundreds of producers since August. The new individual marketplace certification course launched on October 4th.

NYSAHU President Renee Guariglia said, “We are pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to New York insurance agents and brokers. The response to the opening of New York State of Health shows that New Yorkers want health insurance protection. Those individuals want and need the knowledge and expertise of a certified agent or broker to help them achieve this. After taking this course, our members will be ready to help those individuals obtain it.”

New York State Department of Health has reported that its web site received millions of visits shortly after enrollment opened.

NYSAHU, IIABNY and New York State of Health staffs have been in communications about both courses all year. The organization consulted on the core curricula for producer certifications.

More dates beyond the original six may be added. The schedule and online registration are available on the IIABNY web site.