Covered California presented a short seminar and long video about the updates and changes to the CalHEERS online enrollment system. The presentation should have been entitled Bugs and Workarounds because there are more known issues than anyone at Covered California is willing to admit with the program. The breadth of the issues and challenges with the Covered California system is documented in six different Job Aids or technical guides. Download all the Job Aids and technical work-a-round guides at the end of the post.
Job Aids provide work-a-round solutions
The webinar was only about 10 minutes in length with another 48 minutes devoted to a painfully slow video walking through an online application. One issue not addresses is either the lack of functionality for uploading documents or intelligible instructions. Several agents and consumers have complained they can’t upload documents on the CalHEERS program. I wasn’t able to do it and the job aids don’t mention any issue with uploads. The significant issues presented in the live portion of the webinar were
- New collateral and yard signs
- CECs, unlike CIA, cant access the accounts of individuals and families they enrolled in 2014. The work around procedure to CECs to get access codes to clients accounts.
- Delegation issue: CalHEERS Workaround procedures for CEC/PBE via Find Local Help.
- Small Business special enrollment period for employers not meeting contribution and participation requirements.
A yawning video
The live webinar was then turned over to a recorded video on all the issues of enrolling a new client, changing 2014 information, and renewing households with changes for 2015. The lengthy video reference the numerous workaround Job Aids and where each one fit into the enrollment process. For agents who are familiar with the CalHEERS program, the video is of limited value. However, it would be wise to review the various Job Aids and documents to familiarize yourself with the variety of potential enrollment snags during the period of updates, changes, renewals and new enrollments. Eventually they will post the video to at this web page, http://hbex.coveredca.com/agents/webinars/ to be view.
Job Aids and work-a-round guides
Below are the files released by Covered California to explain some of the known issues and work-a-round solutions to actually enrolling in Covered California or 2015.
- Online Application Functionality
- Address Validation
- Apply for 2014, SEP
- CalHEERS new global header and footer
- Change plans after renewal
- Initial consumer premium payment, pay now binder
- Report a Change for 2014
Address Validation (0.5 MiB) Apply For 2014 (0.3 MiB) CalHEERS Global Header And Footer (0.8 MiB) Change Plan (0.5 MiB) Initial Consumer Premium Payment - Pay Now Button (0.8 MiB) Online Application Functionality Updates Talking Points Final (0.5 MiB) Report A Change For 2014 (1.0 MiB)