Celtic Insurance application without an agent

One of the most common inquiries we receive is "Why is the contact information of the agent not listed on my policy application?".

Celtic Insurance utilizes a secure online application process that allows applicants to enroll either with or without an insurance agent. The term used in the insurance agency is "agent of record" has the same meaning for this purpose and is interchanged with the term "agent" throughout this article.

Unfortunately there is no systematic safeguard to ensure that your application is encoded with the intended agent identification. So missing agent identification is an easily-overlooked problem. Sometimes this happens because computer systems place information called "cookies" into your Internet browser that causes the browser to act in unexpected ways. Other times it is caused when you hit the "refresh" button of a browser during the application process. Other times applicants simply forget or change their mind as to who they wish to use an their agent. When these error is discovered it can be easily corrected. See the article "Celtic Insurance agent of record" to change or add the correct agent.

This article is meant to help you understand the possible causes of a missing agent identification and what steps you should do to correct it. The article is broken down into the following topics for easier navigation:

• Why the agent identification is important
• Do I have the right to choose my own agent?
• My company, benefit plan or business association has an agent
• Is there any difference in price, coverage or service
• How to determine the agent
• Sample e-mail confirmation WITHOUT an agent
• Sample e-mail confirmation WITH an agent
• Can an OnlineAdviser affiliate be the agent?
• How to determine the agent
• How to add an agent
• How to change the agent
• Can there be more than one agent?
• Additional help
• Telephone support

Why the agent identification is important

There are two reasons why it is important that your application and policy be marked with the identity of the agent. First, we may only help provide enrollment support if the agent for the application is properly identified. The personalized services advertised under the trademark "OnlineAdviser" are only available if your insurance agent is properly recorded on the application. Second, we only get credit if the application is properly marked. If you are satisfied with the personal and electronic support of our OnlineAdviser support and wish to ensure that we are paid for this service then it is only necessary to see that the agent identifier is properly recorded on your insurance application.

Do I have the right to choose my own agent?

Yes, under state law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia a consumer may designate a properly licensed agent of record of their choice to conduct business with an insurance company.

This designation of agent of record may be made at any time: during the application process, while the policy is in force or when you are terminating or replacing the policy. You do not need to provide a reason for your request to change agents and a request to change agents does not necessarily mean that the former agent was underperforming in any way. In many cases there are other reasons for a change of agent including privacy considerations, financial planning, custodianship, estate, tax, legal or other considerations that are not directly related to insurance.  

My company, benefit plan or business association has an agent

Some health plans, often referred to as association health plans, come pre-packaged with a designated insurance agent. You may use this agent or name your own different agent; see the section above.

For online health insurance the agent of record is typically the agent affiliated with the insurance exchange that you used to enroll.

Is there any difference in price, coverage or service?

There is no difference in price, coverage or member service between a policy that lists an agent and a policy that does not. A policyholder that lists an agent has access to the additional services of the enrolling agent - that's the only difference.

Can an OnlineAdviser affiliate be my agent?

Yes, Tony Novak is licensed and contracted in the District of Columbia and in every state where Celtic Insurance Company does business. Just send the agent of record form following the instructions. Other OnlineAdviser affiliates may be the agent of records if licensed and contracted.

How to determine the agent of record

If an agent is assigned to an application made online, that information is included in each e-mail received from the insurance company. See the examples below of a confirmation e-mail WITHOUT an agent and confirmation e-mail WIH an agent. If you made an application but did not receive a confirmation e-mail, see the article "Status of Celtic Insurance application" for more information on how to correct that specific problem.

The agent of record of record for a policy already issued is printed in the declaration page (usually the first substantial page) of the policy.

How to add an agent to the policy or application

The agent of record can be added to an application or policy by written request. See the article "Celtic Insurance agent of record" for a form and further instructions.

How to change the agent of record

Use the same written form as described above.

Sample wording of a confirmation e-mail WITHOUT an agent

A confirmation e-mail that does not indicate the name and phone number of the agent indicates that your agent was not recorded on the application. The e-mail contains less information and appears more impersonal. Following is a sample wording of an application without an agent.

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your application with Celtic Insurance Company. Your application is presently being reviewed by our underwriting department.  If additional information is needed to complete the review of the application, this information will be requested via mail or by phone.

Thank you for your interest in Celtic Insurance. 

Sincerely,

Celtic Insurance Company

This message was sent from a notification-only email address that does not accept incoming email. Please do not reply to this message. If you have any questions regarding the information noted above, please contact cservice@celtic-net.com.

Note that this message is not personalized with the name, phone number or e-mail address of OnlineAdviser service. In contrast, the type of e-mail message below does include the name of the applicant as well as the name of the agent.

Sample wording of confirmation e-mail WITH an agent:

This sample wording of an application confirmation e-mail may help you identify whether you have received a similar confirmation. Note that this message is personalized with your full name and a salutation.

[Date]
[First name] [last name]
[address]

Dear [your first name]:
Thank you for applying for Celtic health insurance coverage! We've received your application and it is presently being reviewed.

As part of our commitment to providing the best customer service possible, we'll stay in touch with you throughout the review process. We'll notify you promptly if any additional information is needed to complete the review of your application.

Click here to see your application status. (Author's Note: The link does not function in this article but will be operable in your individual e-mail message).

If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact your agent:

Online Adviser at Celticenrollment

Phone: (800) 609-0683

Email: tnovak@freedombenefits.net

We are looking forward to meeting your health insurance needs!

Sincerely,

Blake Westerfield
Chief Operations Officer
Celtic Insurance Company

We respect your privacy. To view the Celtic Insurance Privacy Policy, please Click Here.

At Celtic Insurance Company we periodically contact our customers by mail. This email was sent to you because you provided your email address to us. If you prefer not to receive emails containing surveys or information about products and services, please reply to this message and replace the subject with the word "remove".

This message and any attachments may contain confidential information and is intended only for the individual named addresses. If you are not the named addressee, you must not review, retransmit, convert to hard copy, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail or any attachments. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. Email transmissions cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. If verification is required, please request a hard-copy version.

Celtic Insurance Company
233 South Wacker Drive #700
Chicago, IL 60606

Can there be more than one agent?

Celtic Insurance allows only one agent per policy, however, if that agent is a corporation then more than one agent may be affiliated with the insurance corporation. Currently all policies serviced by OnlineAdviser use an individual rather than a corporate agent.

Additional help

Onlineadviser can help with any other questions. Send a message to onlineadviser@celticenrollment.com for a fast response.

Most e-mail questions send during business hours are addressed on the same day. Otherwise, please expect a response on the next business day. We will respond to every message even if, under unusual circumstances, our only immediate response is "We received your message and will reply ASAP".

Telephone Support

A telephone call to the separate OnlineAdviser enrollment support number (800) 609-0683 or Celtic Insurance Company underwriting department at (877) 865-5478 is not useful for this purpose because a request to change or correct agent of record must be made in writing.