This course looks at the evolution of employee benefits. It features a high-level overview of major principles in today’s insurance marketplace — including when certain programs and requirements were launched, how and why, and a discussion of how they operate and fit into the health care and insurance space today.

Participants will learn why certain programs (like COBRA, Medicare, and Medicaid [Medi-Cal in California]) and laws were developed, resulting changes, and insurance and care issues solved by each.

Attendees will be more familiar with the insurance market, and will be better able to use that knowledge to discuss major principles with prospects and clients.

Learn the basic responsibilities of an honest, ethical agent in the health insurance space. The course looks at learned philosophical components of ethics — from principles taught in childhood to ethics and universal concepts, common sense principles, conduct in the workplace, and our industry’s code of ethics — and how to apply quality business practices and ethical solutions to real-life scenarios in health insurance sales.

Course previously offered

This course provides agents with an overview of everything they need to know about federal ERISA law — including big-picture concepts and important micro details.

Topics addressed include what ERISA is, how it applies to health and welfare benefit plans, the compliance obligations it places on employers, and the role of the insurance agent in ERISA compliance.

Agents will learn about required documents group health plans must have, whether or not they need to be translated, and how to distribute them in compliance with federal law. The program also features a discussion of common compliance pitfalls, practical tips, best practices, and steps employers need to take to comply with ERISA mandates.

This course is designed to educate and inspire brokers to make integrity and customer CARE (compassion, advocacy, reliability, education) the foundation for all ethical decisions and service to clients. The course objective is to equip and encourage brokers to set, and consistently adhere to, a high standard of accountability and integrity for themselves and the team members who are under their supervision.

Course previously offered

This course provides an overview of the current standing of the California legislature, with an emphasis on health insurance and health care laws, proposals, and ideas that could/will impact insurance agents, clients, and health care consumers.

Topics addressed include the legislature’s operation, key players, recent changes, and where the health insurance is heading from a regulatory and legal perspective in 2022.

Participants will be able to have better-informed discussions with clients about the industry in California and current proposals making their way through Sacramento. This is especially important as we approach a new legislative session in 2023, following the 2022 elections — with another Single Payer bill likely on the horizon.

This course challenges brokers to evaluate their own ethical practices to see how they align with the National Association of Health Underwriters Code of Ethics. We discuss NAHU’s principles as the “true north” of a broker’s moral compass and the importance of privacy, honesty, and professional conduct in sales, service, and all of your dealings with clients, associates, other brokers, and the companies you represent.

Course previously offered

This course educates agents on the evolving cybersecurity landscape in the health insurance space.

Participants will gain practical means for securing policyholder data and networks protect all aspects of their business under HIPAA and HITECH. There’s also brokers’ ethical responsibilities to act in the best interests of clients at all times, keeping health information private and systems secure.

Participants will gain practical means for securing policyholder data and networks to meet your obligations and ethical responsibilities. You will learn how cyberattacks are orchestrated and how to avoid them. You’ll get an overview of trending vulnerabilities and scam attempts impacting insurance transactions and clients’ data, including spyware, phishing, vishing, adware, smishing, brute force attacks, doxing, spoofing, scareware, browser hijacking and more.

This course explores topics of utmost relevance to brokers and employers as it relates to Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance. Participants will be able to discuss employer shared responsibility (employer mandate) principles, determine employer compliance responsibilities according to group size, calculate “Full Time” and “Full Time Equivalent” numbers, and learn about MEC and Minimum Value requirements, and varying plans available in the market.

Brokers will also learn the basics of ACA IRS reporting — including a review of reporting intentions and purpose. Ultimately, participants will be refreshed on the ACA and its mandates in the group health insurance space, so they can better advise clients and their employees.

This course examines legislative and regulatory actions taken by Congress and federal agencies in 2022 in response to COVID-19, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, trending compliance items, and more.

Participants will gain an understanding of federal congressional items impacting health plans, the political basis for policymaking, specific policy proposals under consideration or being developed, and policy positions of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) in affecting health reform change.

You will gain insight on Biden administration priorities for Congress, Build Back Better Act’s health care proposals, challenges with the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, implications of a 50/50 split senate, a midterm election overview, regulatory actions taken or expected, federal priorities of collective agents through NAHU, and how to get involved in regulatory and legal discussions.

Under the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (CAA), health insurance agents are required to create and share a written disclosure with customers detailing commissions earned for contracts entered into or renewed after December 27, 2021. The disclosure applies to brokers and agencies earning $1,000+ in direct and indirect compensation. Brokers taking this course will learn about CAA compliance, how to inform clients of changes, how to release required documents, and potential non-compliance penalties.

Participants will learn about “single payer” proposals across the country with an emphasis on efforts in California. This course will help you understand the complexities and better respond to clients’ questions, such as “What would single payer do?”, “How much would it cost?”, and “How would it change the health system — and why?”

Topics addressed include the challenges with implementing such a system, disruptions to the current system, estimated costs, changing roles for employers and insurance agents, and more. Agents will gain a deep understanding of California single payer proposals — especially the most-recent proposal (AB 1400) and its funding mechanism (ACA 11).

This course provides insurance brokers with an overview of account management service models, which are critical for client retention and success in group insurance. Topics addressed include the obligations brokers are entrusted with, and how agents can put their best-faith efforts into supporting clients. The course addresses technical components of the group insurance business and modern service models — as the role of brokers becomes more diverse and expansive. Also discussed are underwriting, group variances, key ACA compliance items, service issues, enrollment presentations, eligibility changes, planning for open enrollment, client education, and more.

Your enrollment in this course will help you evaluate and enhance your client service models.