Welcome to the HealthSherpa for Agents: Resource Guide. If you want to get the most out of your HealthSherpa for Agents account then you’re in the right place. This guide is one of the best ways to learn more about the tools, training and support available to you. We recommend bookmarking this page for future reference.
Here’s everything that’s included in this guide — you can also click on a topic below to jump to that section:
HealthSherpa for Agents Overview
At HealthSherpa our goal is to provide you with the right tools and resources so you can easily manage and grow your ACA business.
With a free HealthSherpa for Agents account you can:
Get fast, accurate quoting with subsidy estimation
Compare plans from all carriers in your area
Use our redesigned application, now faster than ever
Keep all of your ACA clients and leads in one organized place
Easily pull existing applications from HealthCare.gov
Utilize your own branded website where clients can self-enroll
Plus more!
We also have been the largest ACA enrollment platform since 2013:
45,000+ agents
4,800+ agencies
10+ million enrollments
$71 billion in premiums
To learn more, watch this short video that walks you through our platform and how HealthSherpa for Agents can help you scale your ACA business.
We also recommend checking out these additional resources to get the most out of your HealthSherpa for Agents account:
Creating a New Account
Creating a HealthSherpa for Agents account is fast and easy. Most agents are able to go through this process in 3-4 minutes. Here’s how:
Step 1: Head over to HealthSherpa and click on the “For Agents” link
Step 2: Click on the blue “Start Enrolling Faster” button
Step 3: Enter your email address and password — and then click “sign up” (this email address will be your HealthSherpa login)
Step 4: Enter your name, company/agency name, preferred phone number, and select how you heard about us
Step 5: Select the type of account you would like to open:
“Create a solo agent account”
Independent agents (not part of any upline)
“Create a new agency account”
FMOs, GAs, MGAs or an agent with downline agents
“Join an existing agency”
An agent account linking up to an upline agency (requires agency’s join code)
Step 6: Choose each state and carrier you are licensed and appointed with as an agent (not at the agency level)
Step 7: Turn on the referral program — this is a great opportunity to get paid for ACA enrollments when you don’t have a contract with a specific carrier
Step 8: Enter your FFM Username (also known as your CMS portal login) and provide your individual NPN, not the agency’s
Step 9: Go through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) check (this must be authorized to finalize and open your account)
Step 10: Congratulations!! You’ve created a new HealthSherpa account!
Navigating Your Dashboard
Your HealthSherpa for Agents dashboard will make managing your ACA business easier and more efficient!
Inside your dashboard you can:
Enroll clients in ACA coverage, submit follow-ups, and track status
Access our redesigned application, optimized for speed
Utilize your own branded website where clients can self-enroll
Create a referrals account and get paid for every conversion
Quickly pull existing applications from HealthCare.gov
Report life changes and update client information
Manage your leads in one organized place
Enhanced Direct Enrollment
Enhanced Direct Enrollment (EDE) is a new and exciting technology that allows HealthSherpa to fully integrate with HealthCare.gov.
That means you can process applications, submit follow-ups, and track status without ever leaving HealthSherpa — so managing your ACA business is easier and more streamlined.
Here’s how to turn on EDE:
Log into your HealthSherpa for Agents dashboard and click on the “Enable EDE” button on the top
Enter your contact information on the “verify your identity” page and click "continue"
This will then pull up the ID proofing questions based on personal credit history through Experian, a partner of CMS
Please note: These questions are pulled from your personal information, so please answer with your own info (not relating to your business)
Upon successful ID proofing, you will be taken back to your dashboard and the "Enable EDE" button will be gone!
Once you’re EDE approved, you can do all of the following directly on HealthSherpa:
Shop for plans and submit applications
Upload documents and easily see required follow ups
Make binder payments
Renew plans with a pre-filled application
Report life changes
Download eligibility letters and 1095-A tax forms
Plus more!
FFM Account Integration
CMS requires agents and brokers to authenticate their accounts if they want to use Enhanced Direct Enrollment (EDE). Once you authenticate your account you can use your HealthSherpa for Agents account as usual and there will be no impact to your enrollments.
If you do not complete this authentication, you will not be able to use the EDE features of your HealthSherpa account. This includes major features such as the following:
Submission of EDE applications and enrollments
EDE application updates and cancellations
Follow-up document submissions for an existing EDE application
Search and Claim
Eligibility notice review and download
Luckily, this is a quick and easy process to complete. Here’s how:
Select your “Setting” tab and click the “Integrate My FFM Account” button
This will launch the “CMS Okta Identity Management” portal in a new window
Log in using your FFM username and password to authenticate and link your HealthSherpa account
Once your account is integrated, you will see a green check indicating your successful account integration the next time you log into HealthSherpa
You will need to complete this authentication process every 30 days to remain in compliance with CMS requirements. To see your re-authentication date, review the FFM Account Integration settings in your Agent Dashboard. To extend your authentication, click "extend my integration now".
If you run into problems connecting your accounts, double check that one of these issues isn’t the cause:
Make sure you’re typing everything correctly: Entering incorrect or mistyped CMS account username or password (e.g. forgetting to include dots (.) or characters) will cause your account authentication to fail.
Ensure you have completed FFM Plan Year training: if you haven’t completed this CMS required training, your account authentication will fail. You can check your status on the AB Registration Completion List.
Ensure your NPN is not banned: You can check your status on the AB Suspension and Termination List.
Check your status on the CMS portal: If you have one or more invalid statuses visible on your CMS portal, your account authentication will fail. You can check your status at Agent and Broker Marketplace Registration Status.
Shopping & Enrollment Tools
With your HealthSherpa for Agents account you get access to powerful shopping and enrollment tools so you can:
Easily filter, compare, and share plans with your clients
Access fast, accurate quoting with subsidy estimation
Quickly search for providers and prescriptions
Find plans from all carriers in your area
Access pre-filled renewal applications
Plus more
To start the shopping and enrollment process all you have to do is click on the “Quote” button on the top of your dashboard!
Fast & Optimized Application
HealthSherpa is fully integrated with HealthCare.gov through Enhanced Direct Enrollment. That means, once you get EDE approved you can process applications, submit follow-ups, and track status without ever leaving HealthSherpa.
Here’s why agents love our optimized application, designed for speed:
Every application is synced with HealthCare.gov
Completing our app is faster than ever (9 minutes on average)
All renewal applications are pre-filled
Clients never have to log into HealthCare.gov
Easy Renewal Process
On HealthSherpa the renewal process is quick and easy, saving you time to focus on other parts of your business.
Here’s how it works:
Log into your HealthSherpa for Agents account and select the "Clients" tab
Search for your client and click on the "Renew" button to the right of their name
From there, the application will automatically get pre-filled
Go through the app and make any updates that are needed
Choose a plan and submit the renewal
Client & Lead Management
Being able to easily manage, track, and follow up with your clients or leads is important. It will help you stay organized, work more efficiently, and most importantly grow your business.
That’s why we have spent so much time creating client and lead management tools inside your HealthSherpa for Agents account.
Here are a few helpful features you can start using today:
Resume an application in just one click
Filter your clients or leads to see where they are in the enrollment process
Import new clients or leads to your HealthSherpa for Agents account
Add notes to each client or lead to keep track of important information
Easily pull existing applications from the Marketplace
View follow-up items & plan details
View and submit Marketplace documents
Plus more!
Branded Enrollment Website
With a HealthSherpa for Agents account, you get access to your own branded enrollment website where your clients can easily search for and self-enroll in ACA health coverage.
Here’s how it work:
Easily update your own custom landing page using the “Marketing” tab
Share your direct link with clients and track their progress
Every completed application automatically has your NPN applied
Here’s why we love this feature:
It gives your clients the opportunity to self-enroll
It gives you more time to focus on other parts of your business
It’s a great tool for marketing and promotion
You can easily track and follow up with leads
Click here to learn more about the branded enrollment website and how to use your direct marketing link.
Post Enrollment Tools
Now with Enhanced Direct Enrollment (EDE), you’re able to easily maintain applications directly from HealthSherpa. After you have completed an enrollment, here’s what you can do inside your dashboard:
Make binder payments
Upload follow-up documents
Track the status of documents
Report life changes
See application history
Update applications
Change plans
Agent Support Team
With a HealthSherpa for Agents account you get access to our Agent Support Team year-round. If you have any questions, issues or want to share feedback, you can reach out to us by phone, chat or email:
Phone: (888) 684-1373
Chat: you can chat with us directly from your dashboard by clicking on the chat icon in the bottom right corner
Referral Program
Our referral program is a simple way to help your clients get ACA health coverage while you get paid for every enrollment.
Here’s how it works:
Log into your HealthSherpa for Agents account
Select the "Bonuses" tab and turn the referrals setting to "On."
Under your “Carrier” settings, choose which carriers you would like to refer
Submit enrollments and track your referrals
Earn up to $200 for every OEP referral and $50 for SEP referrals.
After you submit your first referral, you will be prompted to set up payments and a W-9 on your "Referrals" page. You can submit a W-9 by selecting “Submit W-9” within the “Bonuses” tab.
It’s also important to know that HealthSherpa’s only focus is ACA/Marketplace enrollments so you can continue working with your clients for any other products outside of ACA. Plus, you can always renew these clients under your AOR (Agent of Record) the following year.
Our referral program is a great opportunity whenever you don’t have a contract with a specific carrier.
Also, if you’re licensed but not FFM certified you can create a referral account here.
Thank You!
Thank you for visiting the HealthSherpa for Agents: Resource Guide. If you have any additional questions please reach out to our Agent Support Team at (888) 684-1373 or email us at agent_support@healthsherpa.com.