Managers of HealthCare.gov are starting to gear up for the open enrollment period for 2018.
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) is taking applications now for the HealthCare.gov training program for agents and brokers. Applications from would-be 2018 training vendors are due at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Nov. 23.
CMS has asked to submit a non-binding notice of intent to bid by 11:59 p.m., Nov. 10, according to the vendor application.
CMS offers its own HealthCare.gov producer-training program, and it also lets outside vendors provide training. The two outside organizations providing training for 2017 are the Washington-based America's Health Insurance Plans and the Washington-based National Association of Health Underwriters.
CMS is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS started HealthCare.gov to provide Affordable Care Act exchange enrollment and account administration services in states that are unwilling or unable to handle those jobs themselves.
The HealthCare.gov vendor-trainining program handles training only for HealthCare.gov producers. State-based exchange programs, such as the state-based exchanges in Massachusetts and Washington state, run their own producer training and certification programs.
