With the release of SureLC 3.0, we now offer integration between SureLC and ClearCert to agencies who subscribe to this service. If you are not familiar with ClearCert, visit their website for more details: http://clearcert.com/. 

You can automatically validate a producer's training status through SureLC's integration with ClearCert using the same system as the Carrier. If a producer's status is not valid, SureLC tells you why so you can fix the problem fast. Business gets issued faster and producers avoid frustration.

 This article covers the following topics related to the integration between SureLC and ClearCert:

• Details related to the integration
• Overview Videos
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Pricing
• How to Get Started
• Additional Questions

 

DETAILS RELATED TO THE INTEGRATION

SuranceBay's integration with ClearCert allows you to validate producers' LTC training certification on a per-state basis directly in SureLC. ClearCert maintains a carrier-authorized state-by-state training rules engine that's incorporated into the SureLC integration so you can validate a producer's status with the carrier's LTC training requirements. ClearCert users also have direct access on the ClearCert website to obtain Annuity Training validation.

 Sample Certification Report

Click to see a SAMPLE CERTIFICATION REPORT returned to SureLC by ClearCert through the integration. Note that these Certification Reports are included in the producer's profile and in contracting paperwork processed through SureLC. This is literally the same "page" used by the carrier to check training compliance, listing the producer's status and nationwide transcript of long-term care training completions. A page is created automatically each time you validate a producer's status through SureLC is included with each contract you process to your carrier partners.

How It Works

Once integration is activated, agency workers can request validation through SureLC from ClearCert on a per-state basis to determine whether or not the producer is qualified.

• Qualification Status as of the Date of Query (Yes or No)
• Date when the current qualified status is projected to expire
• Reason not qualified (see sample text responses)

                    - Did not complete course in resident state
                    - Did not complete NAIC course
                    - Did not complete state-specific course
                    - Qualified status has expired

 

Submitting a Request to ClearCert through SureLC.

This screenshot shows what it looks like when you've selected LTC as a product line, and clicked Next.

 

Response Type #1 - ClearCert has 'No Records found for this producer.'

The following screenshot is what displays when ClearCert has No Records found for this producer. This screenshot is for Brian Morton who has never done long-term care training.

 

Response Type #2 - ClearCert Responded with NOT Qualified, Expiration Dates are in the Past, as well as Response Details:

 

Response Type #3 - ClearCert Responded IS Qualified in the Designated States, along with an Expiration Date, as well as Response Details:

 

When the producer is qualified during the SureLC contract processing phase, copies of the ClearCert Certification report for each state are included as part of the contracting bundles.

 

You can also see copies of the ClearCert Certification Reports within the producer's profile under the SCAN Tab. This allows you to download a copy of the reports anytime you need to provide them to your carrier partners without having to process a contract.

 

 

 

OVERVIEW VIDEOS

ClearCert Overview Video

 

SureLC-ClearCert Integration Overview Video

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Q1. Which carriers participate with ClearCert?

A1. John Hancock Financial; Genworth Financial; MedAmerica; Unum/Colonial Life;  Securian; Transamerica; Forethought Financial; Trustmark Financial; Pacific Life; Thrivent Financial for Lutherans; MassMutual; and Guardian Financial.

 

Q2. Can you give me an example of how this helps me?

A2. Tracking refresher training deadlines for long-term care producers is extremely challenging, especially for producers licensed in multiple states. That's because states use different deadlines and while a completion in one state may be reciprocal to another, the reciprocal state's training deadline still applies.

For example, an Iowa producer also licensed in North Dakota completes Iowa initial training on 6/1/2012. The producer's Iowa license expires on 12/31/2013. Because Iowa doesn't require refresher training to be completed until the end of the license period following the one in which initial training was taken, the producer has until 12/31/2016 to complete refresher training. 

However, North Dakota requires refresher training within 24 months of the last 8 or 4 hour course, so the producer's status expires on 6/1/2014 unless refresher training is taken before then. The next deadline in North Dakota is calculated based on the date on which that refresher course is taken.

The producer can take refresher training in Iowa or North Dakota.

If this relatively simple example has your head spinning, what about producers licensed in six, twelve, or even all fifty states? It can literally take hours to map out refresher training deadlines in that many states for a single producer.

Unless, you have integration set up between SureLC and ClearCert.  Through this integration you can instantly call on ClearCert's validation rules for each producer within SureLC to obtain status.

 

Q3. Why ClearCert?

A3. ClearCert is the industry authority on product-specific training.  ClearCert focuses full-time on removing the confusion of state-by-state regulations so you can spend your time more productively. You'll have access to ClearCert's definitive research on state-by-state training requirements if you need to be a "just-in-time expert". ClearCert's team of compliance gurus is ready to help with those really thorny issues.

 

Q4. What if I need to research more information on a producer than provided by ClearCert to SureLC?

A4. Integration between SureLC and ClearCert is designed to provide you a "snapshot" of pertinent information as it relates to contracting a producer. However, there are circumstances that you need out more details. Once your ClearCert account is activated, your agency is provided direct access to ClearCert's website so that you can "dive into more details" outside of what's provided to SureLC.  There is also a hyperlink in SureLC that opens the ClearCert web-page for you.

 

Q5. When my producers select LTC as a product line will they be presented with the ClearCert validation tool or is the ClearCert validation only active for my agency's administrators?

A5. The integration only allows agency administrators to use the ClearCert integration/validation tool. Providing this integration tool to your producers when they request appointments would cause more questions than answers for them.  ClearCert’s carriers prefer to work directly with their producers regarding questions about state licensing and appointments and that validation data not be provided directly to producers. Of course, you can share the results of your research with your producers to help troubleshoot issues but at this time producers cannot access their validation status through the SureLC platform. You should direct producers to their training provider or carrier to resolve any issues, not ClearCert.

 

Q6. I tried validating against ClearCert using SureLC, but was told the producer is not qualified.  Can you provide me more details?

A6. First, you can always login to www.clearcert.com to do more research on answers to status.

The Certification Report has determined that this producer is not certified to sell long-term care insurance for the state and date you selected. The following recommended actions should be taken based on the reason given.

• No Record of Initial Training Found - This means the ClearCert database does not have a record of a course that meets the initial training requirement for the given state. An 8-hour course is required in most states but Colorado, Kansas and Utah have different requirements. Obtain a record from the producer or state-authorized transcript service and e-mail it to info@clearcert.com to request a transcript update if the record shows the producer completed a ClearCert Certified course.
• NAIC Status Expired on XX/XX/XXXX - The producer’s status expired on that date. Ask the producer to complete a course. It may take several days for course completions to be reported to ClearCert. 
• Did Not Take Course in Resident State - Some states require producers to complete courses in their resident state. Texas requires non-resident producers to do so (or to take Texas courses).
• State-Specific Course Not Completed - Six states – GA, MA, SD, WI, VA and VT – require producers who complete courses in a different state to also complete a state-specific course to fullfil initial training requirements. Three of those states MA, SD and WI, also require their own course for refresher training completed in another state.
• NAIC Status Expired Before State-Specific Course Was Taken - More than 24 months have expired since the producer’s last initial or refresher course. If it has been more than 24 months since the last course, the producer should take initial training which restores his or her status in conjunction with the state-specific course.
• Additional Response Types provided through SureLC - please login to www.clearcert.com to research additional details based on the response provided to SureLC.

 

PRICING

ClearCert will invoice your agency directly based on the TOTAL # of active producers you have within SureLC.  You may query ClearCert an unlimited # of times as well as receive an unlimited # of Certification Reports in SureLC or directly from ClearCert's website. As a reminder - Phase I of the integration between SureLC and ClearCert incorporates LTC Training certifications, but for Annuity Training certifications - you'll need to access ClearCert's website directly. This service is included in the pricing described below.

The pricing described below is discounted significantly compared to direct subscription to ClearCert's services without the integration with SureLC. SuranceBay worked very hard to provide our users the discounted rates shown below. For comparison between the rates shown and the rates you would pay by going directly with ClearCert, see their pricing page here: www.clearcert.com/pricing.htm 

Since your agency is a SureLC subscriber, access to ClearCert directly as well as the integration between SureLC and ClearCert is included in the pricing. The quantities below reflect the active # of individual producer's you have within SureLC:

Your monthly invoice from ClearCert to your agency reflects the active # of producer's within your SureLC account at the end of each month. Also note that for calculation purposes, producer quantity is only for individual producers and does not count business entities.

 

 

HOW TO GET STARTED

To activate the integration, your agency must execute the ClearCert Subscription Agreement. Once it's completed and returned to ClearCert, they will work directly with SuranceBay to activate your integration.  

DOWNLOAD the Subscription Agreement, email info@clearcert.com asking for the ClearCert Subscription Agreement, or call them directly at 800-653-3122 x 3. Mention in either your phone call or email to ClearCert that your agency is a SureLC Subscriber to obtain the discounted rates.

It should take approximately 2-3 business days in order for the activation to complete. SuranceBay will contact your agency directly to let you know once it's active.

 

 

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

Please post your questions below.

For questions on the integration, you may also contact SuranceBay via email at support@surancebay.com or by calling us at 877-264-6888.

For questions on ClearCert's services, email info@clearcert.com, or call them directly 800-653-3122 x 3.