Despite many challenges since its enactment, the Affordable Care Act remains in place, as do the health insurance exchanges through which many individuals buy their health insurance coverage. Consumers who seek health insurance through an exchange can receive assistance in a variety of ways. Licensed insurance producers, agents, and brokers are among those who can provide this assistance.

This course provides an overview of health insurance exchanges and their basic requirements and objectives set forth by ACA. It offers a general discussion of exchanges and how they are intended to function under the law. It does not delve into the specifics of any single state exchange nor does it describe the role of licensed producers on anything but a very general level. For those who want a basic understanding of the environment in which health insurance is available and can be delivered to millions of Americans, this course explains the fundamentals of health insurance exchanges.

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and functions of a health insurance exchange
• describe the kinds of health plans and other coverage that exchanges offer
• describe the financial assistance available through an exchange to certain low- and moderate-income individuals and their dependents
• explain how individuals and small businesses can enroll in exchange plans
• demonstrate an understanding of the types of consumer assistance available through the exchanges, and the role the law envisions for agents and brokers in federally facilitated and partnership exchanges

Note: This course is not intended to provide the required training for those who want to work with the federal or a state's exchange nor may it be used as a substitute for the required exchange training.