Agent authorization is coming soon
CMS is introducing a new authorization process for all plan year 2027 agent-driven enrollments. HealthSherpa will help you prepare early and manage these new requirements efficiently.
What you can do now: Start collecting PY27 authorizations now to start getting your consumers ready before Open Enrollment begins.
Agent authorization feature walkthrough
When agent authorization is available in your account, go to your PY2027 Authorizations tab and request authorization from your consumers in bulk or individually. HealthSherpa handles any required consumer identity verification as part of the same step.
Read more about agent authorization, how agent authorization and consent differ, and other frequently asked questions in our Agent Help Center.
Follow up with your consumers directly
Follow up on your bulk outreach with a direct call, email, or text. Let consumers know to expect an authorization request from HealthSherpa and why they need to complete it: to authorize you to help them with their Marketplace coverage. More of your consumers will complete the authorization request with a personal followup.
Your consumer's experience
Your consumer gets an email or text with a simple agent authorization step. If your consumer requires identity verification, they’ll complete it during this workflow, simplifying the new requirements to one step for you and your consumer.
If you're working on PY26 applications
Starting October 13, the Marketplace's current Invalid Action error will go away. Until then, some PY26 applications may temporarily require both Invalid Action follow up and the agent authorization workflow. If you're working on a PY26 application and see both, follow the prompts in HealthSherpa.
Your consumer will need to authorize you before you can access their application.
Beginning in plan year 2027, all consumers will need to authorize you as their agent before you can access, update, or submit their Marketplace application. With this new agent authorization step, you will be able to use HealthSherpa for all agent-assisted enrollments and application updates.
For Open Enrollment 2027 and beyond, CMS is sunsetting the three-way call for AOR changes. The Marketplace Call Center will no longer support enrollments or application updates with a broker’s NPN attached, except in certain special or complex situations.
HealthSherpa will make the agent authorization process as seamless as possible:
- You send the request. Send the consumer an authorization link by email or text.
- The consumer authorizes you. The consumer opens the link and completes a simple authorization step.
- You access the application. Once authorization is complete, you can begin assisting with the application in HealthSherpa.
Agent authorization stays with the EDE platform
Authorization completed through HealthSherpa is valid only through HealthSherpa and does not transfer to another EDE platform. The authorization remains active for the plan year while you continue assisting the consumer through HealthSherpa.
If you move the consumer to a different EDE platform, the consumer will need to complete that platform’s authorization process using a new and different workflow.
Some consumers will need identity verification
CMS may require additional identity verification for certain higher-risk applications. A consumer may be asked to verify their identity when:
- They submit a new Marketplace application, including an application in a different state
- They have an active Marketplace enrollment with a monthly premium of $30 or less after APTC
- They begin working with a new or different agent or broker
HealthSherpa’s identity verification experience will include multiple approved options, including the CMS-provided Experian Remote Identity Proofing process (RIDP), which happens in the background without impact to the user, ID.me, and other available methods.
Our goal is to help more of your consumers successfully complete identity verification without needing to complete the enrollment on their own using HealthCare.gov.
Learn more about the consumer experience when completing agent authorization.
Consent documentation is still required
Agent authorization provides access to the application. It does not replace CMS’consent documentation requirements.
Agents will still be required to obtain and document consent from their consumers. This includes::
- consent documentation before person search
- Application review and consumer attestation
- Any other applicable CMS documentation requirements
We’ll continue sharing updates as CMS finalizes additional details and HealthSherpa tools become available.
Read more about agent authorization, how agent authorization, consent, and CMS' Invalid Action error differ, and other frequently asked questions.
Join the next session of Everything you need to know for OEP 2027. Learn more about agent authorization, other new policy updates for plan year 2027, and how to prepare for a successful OEP!
Check back regularly for the latest HealthSherpa updates, tools, and resources to help you support your clients and manage your book of business. We’re continually improving HealthSherpa for Agents to make it easier to connect consumers with quality, affordable health coverage.
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