All individual agent training for plan year 2021 now available
(Note: The step-by-step instructions listed below also are available in this downloadable PDF on individual agent annual training and Arkansas Exchange License renewal for plan year 2021.)
The Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) training for individual products is now accessible, so let the annual individual agent training begin!
PinPoint again will be the system used to track both under-65 (U-65) and over-65 (O-65) annual training requirements.
The FFM training was released on August 19, 2020. After completing the required FFM training, agents can access PinPoint to track FFM completion and complete required product training. Also, agents can renew their Arkansas Exchange Producer License (Note: Remember, this is not the same as the FFM certification. See the additional instructions below).
(Helpful hint: When you’re going through the online product training, the resource section will assist with your comprehension of the online trainings and will be helpful when taking your test!)
Medi-Pak® Choice milestones
Returning agents who have a Medi-Pak® Choice (O-65) appointment can access PinPoint to:
- Complete their annual Medicare training. See the instructions below if you’ve already completed this training through America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
- Take the Arkansas Blue Cross 2021 online product trainings
- Take the test
Helpful Hint: When you’re going through the online product training, take notice of the resource section to assist with your comprehension of the online trainings. The resource section will be helpful when taking your test!
Individual U-65 milestones
You can access PinPoint to track when you’ve been identified as having completed your FFM training.
The Arkansas Blue Cross U-65 content now is available. Agents will be required to take the Individual U-65 Product Training and Self-Assessment.
Zoom meetings
Instead of having face-to-face meeting this year, we will have Zoom meetings. Dates and times are listed on our agent blog.
Accessing PinPoint
Returning PinPoint users (you’re all returning PinPoint users if you’re currently appointed sell U-65 and/or O-65 products) visit the website here.
Your username will be your National Producer Number (NPN). Your password is unchanged from the one you set last year. (If you have forgotten, just use the Forgot password link and follow the instructions.)
Once you log in, select the Certifications icon to see your assigned tracks.
Based on your appointment (U-65 and/or O-65) you will see two tracks: Individual MA-Arkansas and/or Individual U-65 Arkansas. If you do not see a track assigned to you, and you think it should be there, email srfeemster@arkbluecross.com to research. Tracks are assigned based on your current appointment authority.
Individual Medicare Advantage – Arkansas track
AHIP Medicare Advantage & Fraud, Waste and Abuse modules:If you have already taken the AHIP Medicare Advantage and Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) modules for plan year 2021, Arkansas Blue Cross will accept AHIP’s 2021 training as a substitute for the PinPoint Medicare and FWA training, but you will have to tell AHIP to transmit your completion results to Arkansas Blue Cross. It just requires some simple steps:
- Visit this AHIP page
- You’ll be prompted to transmit your completed courses to Arkansas Blue Cross and will see confirmation of this transmittal (there is no cost to you to transmit completed module results).
- You also can complete the Medicare Advantage and FWA training through PinPoint. The cost is $89.95. There isn’t a cost to set up a PinPoint account or send your AHIP Medicare Advantage training results to us.
(Important note: Do not pay $89.95 if you already completed AHIP. If you have completed the 2021 AHIP training, see steps 1 and 2 above to transmit your AHIP results.)
PinPoint Medicare Certification System: If you take the PinPoint course to get your certification, select the appropriate link, and you will be redirected to the national annual certification. Farm Bureau agents and internal reps, for instance, will take this course. This page should look familiar to you.
Individual Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement course: After completing the Medicare Advantage certification course, you will be able to take the Individual Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement course.
Upon completion this course, you will get three attempts to pass the test. (Note: Refer to the resource section for supplementary materials that may assist with the test and training.) If you fail the test two times, contact your Individual Products representative prior to starting your third and final attempt.
Individual U-65 track
Below are instructions agents should follow. We will check the FFM completion list daily and update this course as complete (beginning August 28, 2020) for any agent who is on this list and registered with PinPoint.
Accessing online training: To access the training module, visit the CMS portal. If you have trouble logging in or have been locked out, you can call the CMS support desk at 855-267-1515, and they will reset/unlock your account. Many of you will need to do this, as passwords must be changed every 60 days. Arkansas Blue Cross is unable to help resolve these issues. Once you’ve accessed the CMS portal, choose one of two training vendors. The Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS) is free. No continuing education units are offered with this vendor, but it will satisfy your Arkansas Blue Cross certification requirements.
FFM training: You will not satisfy this requirement and cannot market or sell 2021 products until your National Producer Number (NPN) is on the FFM Completion List for 2021. Arkansas Blue Cross will check this list every business day, but it may take one to three business days to see your completion status reflected on your PinPoint dashboard. We look at the same list, and this must be complete before you can be renewed for 2021. The process for checking whether the FFM shows you as complete is detailed below.
Exchange Producer License
You must complete the FFM training before renewing your Exchange Producer License, and we recommend you wait one business day after completing the FFM certification. The Arkansas Insurance Department cannot process your renewal application until they confirm you have completed your 2021 FFM training. They check the same list that we do to confirm you have completed your FFM training.
All Arkansas Exchange Producer licenses are set to expire the end of September, so it is imperative that you are proactive in getting this license renewed. Arkansas Blue Cross will not be able to renew your individual U-65 appointment unless this is renewed. Detailed instructions on how to renew your 2021 exchange producer license are outlined in the next section.
Detailed Exchange Producer License Renewal
Start at the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) site.
1. Select Renew and then Resident Licensing Renewals.
2. Select Arkansas as your state.
3. Choose the green Renew Here button.
4. Select Individual and then select the Next button.
5. Enter your last name and NPN and then select Next after accepting the NIPR Use Agreement.
6. Select Start.
7. Select what you want to do (as shown below) and select Next.
8. Select Arkansas and select Next.
9. Select Exchange Health and then select Next.
If you have trouble, call NIPR Support at 855-674-6477. Arkansas Blue Cross support staff are unable to help.
10. Review the fee estimate
.
11. Begin your application by clicking on Biographic Data, and the system will take you through all the sections listed below.
Once finished, it will look like the screenshot below …
Your renewal application will begin processing. For most, the only verification to be done by the Arkansas Insurance Department is confirmation that you have completed the FFM training for 2021. They will check the same FFM completion list illustrated above.
After your Exchange License is renewed by the Arkansas Insurance Department, it will be reflected on the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) Producer Database (PDB). PinPoint will check for completions on a nightly basis, so within one or two business days of approval, this will be marked as complete within your PinPoint portal.