Registration and Training for Marketplace Agents and Brokers
Plan year 2025 Marketplace registration and training is now available for new and returning agents and brokers on theMarketplace Learning Management System (MLMS). Plan year 2025 Marketplace training is available in English and Spanish.
New Agents and Brokers
Agents and brokers who are new to the Marketplace this year, or who did not complete plan year 2024 registration and training, are required to take the full Individual Marketplace training for plan year 2025. New agents and brokers can take Individual Marketplace training through the MLMS or the HHS-approved vendor(s).
Agents and brokers who completed plan year 2024 Individual Marketplace registration and training will be eligible to take a shorter training for plan year 2025 as well as optional review modules. Returning agents and brokers can take training through the MLMS or the HHS-approved vendor(s).
Help On Demandis a consumer assistance referral system that connects consumers seeking assistance with Marketplace-registered, state-licensed agents and brokers in their area who can provide immediate assistance with Marketplace plans and enrollments. Help On Demand is a CMS-contracted service developed and hosted by Help On Demand (formerly known as BigWave Systems). Only agents and brokers who have completed Marketplace training and registration are eligible to participate in Help On Demand. If you are already registered to participate in Help On Demand, you can log into your account athttps://marketplace.helpondemand.com
For more information and resources on Help On Demand, visit theHelp On Demand page.
Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)
To participate in SHOP, agents and brokers must complete an MLMS profile and execute the SHOP Privacy and Security Agreement. Agents and brokers are strongly encouraged to complete the associated training, but it is not required.
Agent and Broker Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) Registration Completion List
The Agent and Broker FFM Registration Completion List (RCL) contains the National Producer Numbers (NPNs) for agents and brokers who have completed Marketplace registration for the current year. CMS posts this list as frequently as daily. All NPNs are self-reported by the agent or broker during Marketplace registration, and should be validated against state and/or other The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) records to confirm state licensure.
CMS is updating the agent/broker licensure validation methodology in some states. Agents and brokers who do not have an approved health-related Line of Authority (LOA), as determined by their resident state, do not have access to Marketplace systems and are not allowed to assist consumers with Marketplace enrollment.
The Agent and Broker FFM Registration Termination List (RTL) contains the NPNs for agents and brokers whose FFM agreements and registration have been terminated by CMS. Termination is described in regulation at 45 CFR 155.220(f)-(g).
Issuers, web-brokers, and agents and brokers can access the RCL and RTL by following the link below:
As of the first quarter of 2024, the U.S. individual health insurance market has reached unprecedented heights, with enrollment totaling approximately 24.3 million. This marks a significant increase of 4.9 million enrollees from the previous year, driven by several factors including regulatory changes and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) initially spurred enrollment, though it faced declines due to legal challenges and policy changes. Since the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency in May 2023, enrollment has surged, partly due to individuals transitioning from Medicaid to subsidized individual plans and the rising popularity of Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs).
Despite these gains, insurers face financial challenges with premium growth struggling to keep pace with rising medical expenses, leading to shifts in market participation. The average premiums per member per month (PMPM) increased to $542 in 1Q24, while claims rose to $427 PMPM, reflecting a market attempting to balance growth with cost management.
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