Xcel solutions:

• Go to: www.xcelsolutions.com
• Select “Enroll Now” under Standard Life and Health
• Total cost: $79
• Apply discount code "SPARK"
Spark Advisors.pdf313.0KB

Note: we formally worked with Exam FX but the code is not currently working. We are working with Exam FX to get the code working again.

Click here for our discount

Note for agents: The required E&O for Medicare is $1m per claim // $1m aggregate.

Note for agencies: If you have an agency, you can typically use the agency’s E&O for yourself as the Principal (in addition to the agency), and for your downline agents if they are employees and assigning commissions to you. If you have street agents, those street agents typically need to purchase their own E&O. Before purchasing agency E&O, ask your personal E&O carrier if you can add your agency name to the certificate of insurance rather than purchasing an agency policy. If they allow it, it may save you several thousand dollars. If they don’t allow it, you can purchase agency E&O with the link here: https://mga-eo.com/apply/nd/lha-eo

Business is good, and it's time to bring on additional agents! You want to make sure that you get credit for the agents you bring in. In order to do that, you need to create an agency. Here are the general steps to doing that: [First, a disclaimer: this is not legal advice, just a rough guideline of what you should do. Consult a lawyer in advance!]

1. You must create a business entity, such as an LLC, and register it with the state. See LegalZoom and Stripe Atlas to get started.
2. You must get the agency licensed in the state(s) in which you will be doing business. You'll want to sign into NIPR as a business entity. Go here.
3. First, you'll need a resident license. That's the home state where your business entity (e.g. LLC) is based out of. Submit the application and fees associated with the resident license. Note the approval time will vary by state. As the licensed agent, you will be the agency "principal".
4. If you want to add non-resident states, see the section below.
5. Tell your upline that you've added an agency, and you want to get the agency appointed with the carriers they support. For example, if you write as an individual agent for UnitedHealthcare under Spark, and then add an agency, let Spark know and we'll get your agency appointed.
6. Lastly, you'll receive an agency writing number, and for most carriers, a separate login for your agency so you can see your downline production.

For a more detailed guide, please see:

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Medicare Insurance Agency via NIPR

Take the training

[username = NPN, password for first-time users = your last name in lowercase; select “forgot your username” for more info]

Take the training

Select “Register Online” and create a profile

Once the contracting link is completed, most carriers (besides medicare supplements) also require their product certifications to be completed to become ready to sell. Generally, it may take 1-2 weeks for certifications to be verified by the carrier. You can find carrier certifications here.

• Transfer with Release: Your current upline has signed a release stating that you are free to move your contracts to a different upline.
• Transfer No Release: Also known as a delayed release, this means that you are not able to obtain a signed release from your upline.

You can obtain a release by requesting one from your current upline. If you don’t know who your top-of-hierarchy is, call the carrier directly. If the release is not signed by your current top-of-hierarchy, it can cause delays in processing the transfer and may be denied until the correct release is obtained. See Here for additional information including a list of carriers that require a specific release form.

Helpful hint: The fastest way to transfer your contracts is with an immediate release from your current upline. Otherwise, you may be subject to waiting periods or carrier blackouts.

You can request a new contracting link through your Spark Platform account. See here for a walkthrough.

Spark receives weekly reports from the carriers. Once received, we’ll update the contract status in your platform account to reflect the new data. We appreciate your patience as you wait for status updates to reflect in Platform. However, if it’s been over a week and the status was not updated, please submit a support request. We will investigate with the carrier and respond to your inquiry. You can view your current contract status within your platform account by following the walkthrough here.

For troubleshooting technical issues, your best course of action would be to reach out to the carrier directly. Check your Spark Platform account for carrier contact information. Please check it out here.

You can access Spark’s AHIP discount code here. See here for additional AHIP resources.

Some carriers can take up to two weeks to confirm your certifications and update your Ready-to-Sell status. We will update your contract status to Ready-to-Sell as soon as we receive confirmation from the carrier. You can check the status in your Spark Platform account (see here for instructions).

• We have step-by-step guides for each of the carriers to access certifications in the carrier portal. Please check them out here.

• You’ll receive access to your Sunfire Quote and Enroll account as soon as you are “Ready-To-Sell” with an Medicare Advantage contract with a carrier that supports enrollments through Sunfire (see a list HERE). As soon as your Sunfire account has been activated you’ll receive an email notification from the Spark team.
• Please note there is roughly a 5 business day turnaround from when you are confirmed as Ready to Sell and when you can expect to receive your Sunfire account.

Not sure if you have access, follow our Getting Started guide

HERE

For more information, please see:

Anthem Upline Transfer Information

You can find a list of available carriers here.

See here for instructions on how to view your contracts in your Spark Platform account.

You can view your contract statuses here in your Spark platform account under "My account".

• The carrier may not support Quote and Enroll in Sunfire at this time. See a list of supported carriers below:

• You may not be certified to sell that carriers policy in the corresponding state or plan year. You can confirm your current carrier and state appointment status’ in your Spark platform account HERE.
• Your ready-to-sell status has not been reported by the carrier and needs to be verified before being added to your account. You can confirm your reported contracting status in your Spark platform HERE. Please note: it may take up to a week after you complete your certification for Spark to receive your updated ready-to-sell confirmation.
• Helpful hint: Forward your official email from the carrier confirming your certifications were completed or a screenshot from your carrier portal with the following information visible-> the carrier name, your writing number, and appointed states. Please include this information in this form.

Still not seeing your carrier appointment in Sunfire? Submit this form and include the carrier and zip code for your plan search and our team will troubleshoot further.

• Please submit a new state appointment request via your platform account (See instructions here).
• If you don’t have platform access please submit your request via this form.

Approximately one week. In the meantime, you may use the carrier enrollment portals to submit enrollments!

You can request a new carrier via the Spark Platform. See here for details.

Carriers have two ways to appoint you in a state where you are licensed. Either (a) they can pre-appoint you in the state such that when you submit your first application, you are already appointed (b) they can wait until you submit your first application in a state, and then appoint you “just-in-time” as they process the application. The benefit of the “just-in-time” approach is that the carriers and the agent don’t have to pay any state appointment fees until an application is actually submitted. Most states and carriers have moved to just-in-time appointments. That means you just need to be licensed to submit the application. Just-in-time states include AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA,HI, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, RI, SC,SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA ,WV, and WY (leaving pre-appointment states: IN, LA, MT, OK, OR, PA, WI).

One problem that arises is that the carrier may not authorize you to use their enrollment tool - or Spark’s enrollment tool - until you are appointed in a state, which creates a catch-22 for just-in-time ones. Another issue is that you might think you hold the proper license but do not. For this reason, we highly recommend using Spark’s “request a state” feature to avoid these mistakes.

Please visit the Data Studio aka Looker here.

UnitedHealthcare and Anthem will bill you when you pre-appoint for a state. The fee grid can be found here. All other carriers do not have an additional fee to appoint.

If you are adding more than 5+ state licenses, we recommend working with a service to manage your new and renewing licenses. Spark works with Supportive Insurance Services and has negotiated a 10% discount for anyone referred by Spark. Email our contact ckrick@supportiveis.com and note Spark to get started.

Florida licensing is a big catch-22.

• In order to get an agency-appointment in Florida, you need to be appointed with a carrier in Florida individually.
• To be appointed individually, you need to write a policy in Florida because it’s a just-in-time-state (meaning, the appointment isn’t triggered until the policy is sold).
• Carriers won’t appoint you individually if your agency isn’t already appointed so you’re stuck.

What you need to do is have a carrier appoint you even though you haven’t written a policy. Not all carriers will agree to do that, but if you are appointed with Humana (agencymgt@humana.com) or Devoted (agent-support@devoted.com) or Cigna (CARL@cigna.com), email them the following: “I <name, npn> would like to be pre-appointed in Florida so I can receive my agency license. As it is a just-in-time state and I do not write business personally, I need to get appointed with the state now and do not want to wait to write business. Please confirm”

You need to apply for the LA license. You can read more here: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers/lic_app_la_lb

You can sell Medicare Advantage as long as you have the Health license in the state, with the exception of North Carolina where you need the 35-Med. Supp/LTC license in addition to the health one. See the grid below for details.