What is AHIP and Why Do You Need It?

As an agent, there are many tools in place to help people who are selling Medicare Advantage plans. Because these are plans that the government administers, there are rules and restrictions for selling them. The required certifications, and plans like AHIP training are put in place to help protect senior citizens, as well as to reward agents who are doing things properly. Keeping up-to-date on the required certifications is required to continue selling plans, and knowing the requirements for AHIP is a fantastic first step.

AHIP represents over 1,300 companies that offer health insurance plans to over 200 million Americans. AHIP is also sometimes referred to as America’s Health Insurance Plans. In the year 2013, they were formed. This happened when the Health Insurance Association of America and the American Association of Health Plans merged. With hundreds of millions of Americans looking for health insurance plans, there are many ways that competition happens.

AHIP is a trade organization that lobbies to help create a more efficient and affordable healthcare system. This is done through both research and policy.

What’s Required?

To be able to sell Medicare Advantage plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, most insurance providers require agents to complete AHIP’s Medicare training courses. By requiring these courses, insurance companies are proactively making sure that agents are compliant with the latest CMS regulations and guidelines.

How Do You Get AHIP Certified?

This site gets a lot of questions in regards to how people can get AHIP certified. With two courses that are required in 2020, which can be found on the AHIP website, the process is straightforward and simple. Agents need to complete Marketing Medicare Advantage and Fraud and Waste and Abuse, the two courses that are offered. These training courses, part of AHIP Medicare training, cover not only the basics of benefits and eligibility but also the different types of Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are also included as part of the training.

Being compliant is essential to getting people the plans and policies they need. It also helps to avoid penalties and problems that can arise from not fulfilling the requirements of being an agent. An important aspect of this course is that it covers compliance with the marketing guidelines and enrollment procedures necessary for selling Medicare plans.

The Waste and Abuse (FWA) class will show what the industry efforts are to detect fraud in the Medicare system. It will also show the tools to detect this type of fraud. The United States government takes the issue of fraud quite seriously. By educating you on both the financial cost of FWA, as well as the human costs, you will be better able to do your job and protect yourself. Reporting techniques will also be covered in the FWA course.

In addition to AHIP courses, the insurance providers who sell Medicare Advantage generally require their own product certifications. This helps them make sure that you know the differences between what their company offers and what other companies offer. The courses and requirements can vary from one insurance carrier to another, and the courses focus on specific plans that the healthcare insurance companies provide. Most carriers have a broker portal where agents can complete these certifications. This helps keep things easy and convenient to do. It also means that if you are looking to sell multiple products from multiple insurers, you may need to invest time in completing a variety of courses.

What Is Covered By AHIP?

There are two classes offered by AHIP. The first class, Marketing Medicare Advantage, will go over the basics of Medicare fee-for-service eligibility, as well as benefits. It will also educate agents on the different types of Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. This will include the latest information and keep people up with the latest updates. Other topics that are covered include eligibility and coverage, as well as nondiscrimination training. Lastly, requirements for marketing and enrollment under the Medicare Advantage and Part D program will also be covered.

The second class that is offered is Fraud, Waste & Abuse. A primary focus of this class is how to identify FWA. The course also covers updated industry efforts and how to detect fraud. By knowing the legal tools to use to combat FWA, as well as having an understanding of the costs fraud, waste, and abuse have on the system, you will be ready to do your job properly and efficiently. Other elements of this course are reviewing Medicare Parts C and D fraud, waste, and abuse. General compliance requirements and information about who commits FWA are also part of the course. Importantly, how to report FWA, as well as loopholes and obligations that you have as an agent, are part of the curriculum.

Tips On AHIP Training

There are other things that you should know about AHIP training, especially if you are just considering selling policies for the first time. First off, AHIP courses are not free. In most cases, the certification for AHIP will cost between $100 and $200. This is if you take the examination through the carrier portal. It can be possible to find discounted rates for the program, which is why the cost range is so large.

By completing the AHIP certification, you are showing that you are dedicated to your craft. These courses provide separation between the highest quality agents and other agents out there. Utilize the many self-study courses for AHIP that are available to get the education you need to be a top-quality agent and the healthcare marketplace. These courses improve the knowledge you will have as an agent. Keep in mind that there is a time limit for the exam, so these self-study AHIP courses can be a huge help.