On the other hand, some brokers view serving the new customer base as an opportunity. Edward Rapacky, president of Benefits Resource Group in Plantsville, said he increased his staff by 33% in order to stay on top of the new ACA regulations. Rapacky now spends twice as much time with each of his clients (an increase from 40 hours to 80 hours annually). He believes that employers will need help sorting through the new rules and regulations, some of which will require them to overhaul their benefits packages.
Brokers also raised concerns initially about the state's new health insurance exchange, Access Health CT, through which individuals and small businesses will be able to shop for competing insurance plans. Brokers worried that the exchange would threaten their business by eliminating the middleman between the customer and insurer. According to the article, "those fears have retreated because insurance agents will be able to collect commissions for bringing customers to the exchange."
Commissions will be paid by insurance carriers, not Access Health CT, but insurers haven't shared their rate schedules with brokers.
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