Misconceptions About Enhanced Direct Enrollment (EDE)

This article was originally published by Healthcare.gov.

The Enhanced Direct Enrollment (EDE) pathway can help agents and brokers in many ways, but there are some common misconceptions about EDE. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) addresses four misconceptions about using EDE:

Using EDE will take longer to assist consumers.
- Agents and brokers who used EDE during the plan year 2020 Open Enrollment period assisted more consumers than their colleagues who did not use EDE.*
My clients will have limited health plan options if I use EDE.
- Web-brokers that are approved EDE partners must display all qualified health plan (QHP) standardized comparative information provided by the Marketplace (including stand-alone dental plans offered through the Marketplace). Learn more.
EDE is not as secure as using HealthCare.gov to enroll consumers.
- Approved EDE partners must pass a rigorous CMS review process before being approved by CMS to offer an EDE pathway. This review process ensures that consumer information is safe and secure.
Using EDE is expensive.
- Generally, there is no cost to use an approved private partner’s EDE platform. Many partners offer their EDE services at little or no cost.
Eligibility results, consumer information, and advance premium tax credit amounts will not be accurate if I use EDE.
- EDE partners must go through a thorough audit that ensures all information produced is accurate.