Contracting guide

Getting appointed, start to finish

Complete these steps top to bottom. You can check off each step to keep track of your progress. Please read the notes in each section.

Your checkmarks save to this browser only — nobody else sees them, and they won't follow you to a different computer. That's on purpose: this page holds no personal info.
Phase 1

Private, Healthshare & Life

Nine steps. Do these in order — the E&O policy and its upload come first because every carrier after it will ask for that certificate.

Phase 1 must be fully complete by the end of onboarding.
  • 01

    Lawsuit insurance (E&O)

    All types

    Buy an Errors & Omissions policy — pick one provider.

    Get E&O through NAPA
    • NEXT is the other common option if you'd rather shop around.
    • Download and save your certificate of coverage.
    • Coverage should be $1,000,000 per case / $3,000,000 aggregate.
  • 02

    Upload your E&O certificate

    All types

    Fill out the jotform and attach the certificate from step 1.

    Open the jotform
    • Use your Florida INSURANCE license number here — not your driver's license.
  • 03

    Life contracting — SureLC account #1

    Life

    Create SureLC account #1 through Broker's Alliance (Insurance Collective). Click "Register New Account."

    Register on SureLC
    • You'll end up with two separate SureLC accounts — one for Insurance Collective, one for FFL (next step). That's expected.
  • 04

    Life contracting — SureLC account #2 (FFL)

    Life

    Create SureLC account #2 by following the FFL Contracting Guide.

    Open FFL contracting guideWatch: how to navigate the FFL guide
    • There are extra steps to unlock the life carriers we have through FFL — the guide walks through them. This video is a must-watch.
  • 05

    Healthshare (1 of 2) — Savvos SmartPay

    Healthshare

    Submit the Savvos / Clearwater Health broker application.

    Contract with Savvos
    • Once approved, you'll get an email with your SAVVOS broker portal login.
    • If it asks for E&O info twice, enter the same E&O both times.
  • Your contracting links for the following will be emailed to you
  • 06

    Healthshare (2 of 2) — America's Healthshare

    Healthshare

    Your contracting link for this one is emailed to you — follow the steps and click the link to set your password.

    See what the email looks like
    • For "website URL," use https://americafirsthealthcare.com/
    • Select "yes" when asked if you'll be speaking to clients about medical history.
  • 07

    UHOne (Golden Rule) — short-term / supplemental

    Private

    Your contracting link is emailed to you. Follow the steps to create your UHOne broker portal.

    See what the email looks like
    • Complete within 15 days of receiving the email.
    • When it asks about assigning commissions, answer "no."
  • 08

    MedMutual — major medical

    Private

    Your contracting link is emailed to you. Follow the steps to create both your Loomis and Okta portals.

    See what the email looks like
    • You'll end up with two MedMutual accounts — quoting and applications happen on Okta.
  • 09

    Allstate — short-term / supplemental

    Private

    Your contracting link is emailed to you. Click "Onboarding site" and go through the steps.

    See what the email looks like
    • Complete within 14 days of receiving the email.
Phase 2

ACA / Marketplace contracting

Three steps to get set up on the exchange, plus one you'll come back to once carriers approve you.

  • 10

    CMS / FFM marketplace training

    ACA / Marketplace

    Register your CMS account and complete the required training.

    Register with CMS
    • You'll receive a certificate of completion — save it.
    • Your FFM ID is the username you create here.
  • 11

    HealthSherpa — marketplace broker portal

    ACA / Marketplace

    Create your HealthSherpa agent account.

    Create HealthSherpa accountWatch the walkthrough
    • Agency code: ae06
  • 12

    Finish HealthSherpa setup (after you're appointed)

    ACA / Marketplace

    Once you're appointed with carriers: go to Account Settings → Carriers, and add every state + carrier you're appointed with.

    Watch the walkthrough
    • Skip this and you will not get paid residuals. This step is not optional.
Reference

ACA carrier portals

The main marketplace carriers — not an exhaustive list. Missing one? Ask in #contracting‑support. BCBS runs its own separate process per state, and yes, Anthem and BCBS are different companies.

  • Contracting with a new carrier after your initial setup? Request it with this form — ACA carriers only.
  • Not sure if a carrier is available in a state? Check carrier availability by state first.
  • Bought a new state after you're already appointed with a carrier? Email office@benavest.com: "Please add [state] to my [carrier] appointment," with your state license and exchange certificate attached.
Optional

State-based exchanges

Some states run their own exchange instead of using healthcare.gov. This is optional — only do it for states you're actively working.

  1. Message #contracting‑support on Slack with your license number for that state, its expiration date, and your home address — that's how you get added to the state's agency portal.
  2. Complete that state's training below.
None of these exchange states pay a one-time referral fee — to earn a residual in an exchange state, you still need to be appointed with that specific carrier in that state.
Reference

Portal directory

Every login you'll collect along the way, in one place. Bookmark the ones you use most — a bookmarks-bar folder per category (ACA, life, etc.) saves a lot of hunting later.

This directory is just links — it doesn't store usernames or passwords. Keep those in a password manager, not in a spreadsheet or browser notes.
Reference

Frequently asked questions

Most of these are already pinned in #contracting‑support — check there too.

01Is this email or text legit, or a phishing attempt?

Post a screenshot in #contracting-support — Joe will verify it directly with the carrier or GA (e.g. Benavest) before you sign anything or enter your info. Standing rule: never open a DocuSign or download anything from an unexpected email without asking first.

02How do I get my Allstate contracting link resent?

Tag Joe in #contracting-support and he'll resend it manually. Often you're already contracted and just need to register your agent back office / broker portal — that alone fixes most “expired link” cases. If you were previously appointed with Allstate elsewhere, call Agent Services at 888-376-3300 to get released first.

03What do I select for "Are you the Principal Agent?" / "writing through an agency"?

Answer "No" to Principal Agent (unless you truly are one), and "Yes" — with the agency name Benavest — for "writing through an agency."

04How do I add or contract more states with UHOne?

See "Adding states to UHOne" in the Phase 1 & 2 section above.

05I got an "upline not appointed" error — what do I do?

Your upline has to be appointed with that carrier before you can be. Flag it in #contracting-support so the team can get the upline appointed — you can't move forward until that happens.

06I'm having login or password issues (MedMutual, SureLC, etc.)

Try "forgot password" first. If that's blocked, contact that carrier's support directly, or post in #contracting-support for help.

07How do I check if I'm already contracted with Clearwater?

Try signing into the Savvos agent portal first. If you don't have an account, contact Joe.

08What's my FFM ID?

It's your CMS.gov login username — not a separate number.

09If I buy a new state, does it auto-update my carriers (UHOne, Allstate, Instabrain, etc.)?

It depends on the carrier — for most, you have to email their support to add the states you just bought.

10Where do I find my agency's NPN / Tax ID / EIN?

Check the contracting email from Benavest — it's usually listed there. For your own tax ID, that's your SSN, or your LLC's EIN if you have one.

11How do I get access to SunFire?

You must be fully appointed with the Medicare carriers first — only then register at the SunFire login link. Don't register before you're appointed. There's also a Loom walkthrough, “Getting Started with Sunfire and Medicare Quoting Tools.”

12How do I transfer my appointment to America First?

Most of the time you're already contracted — you just need to register your agent back office / portal. If you're genuinely appointed elsewhere, call that carrier's agent services line to get released.

13How long does contracting usually take?

Often it's just sitting "at the carrier" processing — it can be a waiting game. Ask the team for a status check if it's been a long time.

14What do I check on a new state license application?

Just the top two: Life and Health. Don't check Variable Life.

15Should I use my personal name or my LLC name on contracting forms?

Depends on how you want to get paid — as yourself, or through your LLC. Either works; just be consistent across everything.

16How do I update my address or phone number?

Update it directly in each carrier portal, plus your license address on NIPR and DICE. For carriers that need a manual change (e.g. Ethos), email them — contact info is in the Carrier Support spreadsheet under the CRM's important links.

Stuck?

Get help

Slack

Post in #contracting‑support — this is the fastest way to reach the team, and most questions are already answered in the pinned messages.

Book time with Joe

For anything that needs a real conversation.

Schedule on Calendly

Benavest help line

For carrier-specific contracting issues.

954-947-8693