NEWSROOM

Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the transition from Ease to Employee Navigator (EN).
 
As reminder, we will continue to support your business in Ease until the transition is complete.
 
To get the most current information on updates and training, please check out the EN website.
 
What level of access will Word & Brown (W&B) have to EN groups?
Currently, EN does not have a GA Partner Portal (Ease) for GAs to access broker retail accounts. The support to invite GAs and other broker services providers via teams invitation is part of the EN road map. We are waiting on information from EN.

In the meantime,  we can access your EN groups if W&B is given a seat, and we have access to the specific group. This is an interim solution until GA teams access is made available by EN in the future.

How is W&B staff preparing to support EN?
W&B Client Experience training is underway to cross-train the entire team on EN support. We are also looking at technology and vendors to help support the expected volume to transition groups from Ease to EN.

How will the W&B intake process change?
W&B has created an EN intake form that is like the form you are using with Ease today. The form is updated to reflect fields and information needed for EN.

What will the turnaround time (TAT) be for an EN build?
We are currently working at an extended TAT and review each request with you and a goal due date. As EN continues to release new enhancements (such as its transition tool and GA library), we will work to decrease TAT.

How will W&B prioritize builds and volume?
We will be reviewing each build to set goal due date and turnaround times. We will be prioritizing work based on new business and our broker tier model.

Will W&B have technology to help with builds?
W&B is currently meeting with Employee Navigator IT to build technology to reduce required manual entry in the build process; that includes building a GA Small Group benefit library, census conversions for new case installation, and reviewing API capabilities.

Will brokers have access to a GA Library, like we have in Ease, to help with builds?
Currently, EN offers the Ideon rate library, which pulls rates and benefits for Small Group Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medical plans. The availability of a GA library is on the EN road map.  W&B is working with EN to be able to provide this resource. Our goal is for the library to be comparable to Ease and include SBC links and other enrollment resources.

How will W&B support demos and training for brokers and clients?
EN has a robust support center for brokers and groups. Once the transition tool is ready, W&B plans to offer reoccurring and recorded broker and admin webinars to help learn EN basics.

Are forms available in EN?
At the 2024 EN Conference (in June 2024), EN shared it would be utilizing Ease to have forms accessible in EN. This is on the road map, but not yet released in EN.

Can I use the EN enrollment census for case submission to W&B?
For carriers that accept a census for enrollment, W&B can use the EN enrollment census export for underwriting and case submission.

Cases submitted with EN census (with or without forms) will have expedited access to underwriting. This is accomplished using technology we have built to import the EN census data into the W&B system, which is used for carrier preferred installation.

If only census enrollment is provided during underwriting, please note that most carriers can request the signed form and it will be up to the group to provide, if requested

What connections are available in EN?
A full list of marketplace connections is available on the  EN website. EN has broker self-service tools to assist with the set-up of 843 EDI file feeds.

How can I prepare my groups for transition?
 Here are a few of the best things you can start to do today to prepare yourself and your groups for the EN transition:

• Get set up with Employee Navigator access. Current Ease licensees have access to a no-cost Employee Navigator account. 
• Continue to get comfortable with Employee Navigator and attend offered trainings.
• Clean up your current data using the Migration Readiness Tool in Ease.
• Remove inactive groups from Ease.
• Start to discuss and prepare your groups for transition in 2025.

What is the timeline for EN transitions?
Ideally, groups should start to transition in early 2025. This is pending the timeline and release of EN enhancements and the transition tool.

What is the timeline for sunsetting Ease?
There is not yet a date for when Ease will sunset.

How do I set up an EN account?
Current Ease licensees have access to a no-cost Employee Navigator account. 

How does a broker access EN support?
EN has a 2-tier support model:

• Tier 1: All users can access training and online support.
• Tier 2: Premier Users have access to call or submit support tickets. If a non-Premier User reaches out, EN will advise that a Premier User must submit the request. An agency is provided 1-2 Premier Users (dependent on license tier); additional Premier Users may be purchased.

 
Can W&B help with EN builds today?
The W&B team can assist with new EN builds within your Employee Navigator account. Similar to our Ease support, we will have a broker/agency disclosure that need to be signed (and be on file) for us to work within your EN account. Please reach out to your sales team to discuss any new opportunities.
 
While we wait for EN to release new features to create Ease parity, below are our recommendations for the best cases to put in EN.
 

Requirements for Builds Today	Why It’s Needed
Carriers that do not require forms	Carrier forms are not offered in EN today. This is part of the future roadmap.
<10 Medical Plans	GA Library is not available in EN today. SBCs and other enrollment details all need to be manually added.
Agency must have EN account	W&B will need to be set up with seat access in your broker account to provide support. EN is working on partner access.
W&B agency/broker disclosure	Like Ease, we will have an agency/broker disclosure that is required to work in your EN Account
Extended TAT for EN Builds	We are currently working with extended TAT for EN requests. As EN continues to release new enhancements (such as its transition tool and GA library), we will work to decrease TAT.

 

I currently have an Ease subscription, how does my contract change?

You should continue your Ease subscription until more information is provided by Employee Navigator on next steps in the transition. Current Ease licensees have access to a no-cost Employee Navigator account. If you have any questions on your current Ease subscription, reach out to Ease at  help.ease.com or 301‑583‑5180.
 
How will current connections be transitioned?

We are expecting additional information on how connections will transfer or need to be re-connected.
 
Will there be disadvantages for using forms and not using available marketplace connections(if available)?

EN is working on having carrier forms available, but no specific details have been provided by EN on access or if are any restrictions. We will keep you posted as new guidance on this matter is available.
 
If we receive a Broker of Record (BOR) change, is there an option to transfer the account to our EN account?

Currently, EN does not allow users to transfer groups to another retail account like Ease does. (Ease requires current broker permission.) This was something discussed at the EN conference in June with mixed feedback from brokers – some wanted it, but many were against having this developed in EN. Any BORs would need to be built from scratch in EN. This is something we are advocating and think should be a broker decision to transfer if they wish to release the data to a new broker.
 
Are new contribution scenarios being added to Employee Navigator?
 
Employee Navigator is reviewing requests to add new contributions that can be built in Employee Navigator. One of the contribution scenarios we are requesting, that is not available in EN today, is being able to have a contribution based on “lowest cost plan.”
 

 

Alternative Systems

Does W&B support other online enrollment alternatives?
W&B continues to explore and evaluate market needs. We know the Small Group California market has unique needs. We are committed to evolving and growing with our broker partners. If there is another vendor you work with or are considering, please share the information with our sales team, so we can consider adding it to our discovery efforts.

Communication/Updates

Will W&B hold agency specific meetings for the transition?
Please reach out to your sales team to discuss. We are committed to open communication as we work with you on a transition strategy.

How often will we receive updates?
We will keep you updated on any added information from Employee Navigator and our discovery efforts via our monthly webinars and eblasts.

What if I have a question not answered above?
When registering for our webinar, feel free to add your questions if not addressed above. You can also reach out to your W&B sales team for support.
 
Disclaimer: Keep in mind as you review the information shared, that all responses are based on our understanding at this time. Information is subject to change, based on new announcements by Ease and Employee Navigator.