CMS FFM Agent study plan

Map the Marketplace registration pathway end to end, listing each required registration step and the document or attestation tied to it

Define the roles of agent, broker, and Navigator in Marketplace enrollment and state where their authority differs

Explain the annual training and certification cycle, including deadlines, renewal expectations, and consequences of a lapse

Identify the compliance obligations that attach at registration, such as disclosure of conflicts and consent to monitoring

Distinguish permitted from prohibited marketing and outreach conduct, including unsolicited contact rules and misleading statement prohibitions

Describe how consumer consent, authorization, and recordkeeping requirements apply to enrollment assistance

Outline the standards for safeguarding personally identifiable information and health information collected during enrollment

Practice applying a conduct rule to three short hypothetical scenarios and justify each conclusion

List the eligibility criteria for Marketplace coverage and the categories excluded from it

Differentiate qualifying immigration statuses and explain how status affects eligibility and documentation

Explain the special enrollment period triggers, their notice and verification requirements, and the coverage effective dates that follow

Compare Medicaid, CHIP, and Marketplace eligibility screening pathways and describe the referral flow when an applicant appears Medicaid-eligible

Walk through the application process from account creation to plan selection, noting where identity proofing and data matching occur

Explain premium tax credit and cost-sharing reduction eligibility mechanics at a conceptual level, including what the agent may and may not state

Describe the verification and inconsistency resolution process an applicant may face after submitting an application

Identify common enrollment errors and the correction or appeal routes available

Define the metal tiers and actuarial value ranges and explain how cost-sharing structure differs across them

Compare plan types by network design, referral requirements, and out-of-network coverage rules

Explain the essential health benefit categories and how to verify whether a specific service is covered

Describe the standardized plan option concept and how to help a consumer compare plans on total expected cost rather than premium alone

Explain the preventive services rule and how to confirm whether a service must be offered without cost sharing

Describe the appeal and grievance processes available to enrollees, including internal appeal, external review, and timelines

Summarize the consumer protections that apply to rescission, premium rating, and guaranteed availability

Identify the disclosure and transparency materials an agent must be able to point a consumer toward

Explain the fraud, waste, and abuse framework as it applies to agent conduct, including reporting duties

Describe the consequences of noncompliance for an agent, from corrective action through termination and referral

Review the standards governing compensation, steering, and conflicts of interest

Apply the full compliance framework to four mixed-domain scenarios combining registration, marketing, and enrollment issues

Synthesize all four domains into a single reference sheet organized by consumer interaction stage

Complete two full-length timed practice sets and score each domain separately to locate remaining weak areas

Re-teach the two weakest domain areas in writing without consulting notes, then verify accuracy against source material

Finalize a personal pre-appointment checklist that covers registration status, eligibility screening, plan comparison, and required disclosures