AHIP certified
If you want to sell either Medicare Advantage and/or Part D prescription drug plans, most carriers require you to be AHIP certified before you can make a sale.
What is AHIP and why do I need to be AHIP certified:
AHIP is a national association that exists to protect both the financial security and health care rights of senior citizens. This course is used to ensure that the agents entrusted to sell Medicare plans follow all guidelines put in place by the CMS.
The AHIP certification course for 2021 will be available starting June 22, 2020.
The cost for the AHIP test is $175. However if you take the test through a carrier’s website, you will pay a reduced fee of $125. Agents who are contracted with Crowe and Associates can access the test through a carrier; click here and go to compliance tab.
Training is required for Medicare agents who sell both MA or PDP plans. This certification is accepted throughout the Medicare insurance industry and provides agents an up-to-date understanding of Medicare sales regulations.
AHIP is required in order to be compliant with the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). Once you pass the AHIP, you should have a good understanding of the rules for selling Medicare plans.
click here to view our webinar on the 2021 AHIP certification
Agents must take 2 courses to pass the AHIP test. The courses are Medicare and FWA(Fraud Waste and Abuse).
Medicare training for AHIP
This course covers topics such as; eligibility, benefits, marketing compliance, enrollment procedures as well as Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans.
FWA training for AHIP
The FWA training goes over ways to recognize and report fraud in Medicare sales. This ensures that all agents who offer these plans are in compliance with the federal guidelines and gives you the federal government takes fraud very seriously. This training educates you on the human and financial cost of FWA, as well as the proper reporting techniques. You will also learn what efforts the industry is using to detect fraud.
Because the regulations change every year, it is a good idea to take the test annually.
The test is a 50 question, open book format. Each person has 2 hours to complete the test and must pass both sections of the test in order to be AHIP certified.
Although most carriers require you to have you to be AHIP certified, you still need to complete the certifications that are specific to each carrier.
Keep in mind; most carriers will not allow you to sell their products for the year, if you do not pass the test within the first three tries.
It is wise to study for this test before attempting to take it. Find a training course click here for AHIP training.
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