Certified Application Counselor (CAC) Certification Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: COBRA continuation coverage is considered minimum essential coverage. How does this affect a consumer's Marketplace SEP eligibility when COBRA ends?

Losing COBRA triggers a 60-day SEP like any qualifying loss of coverage (Correct answer)
The consumer automatically transitions to Medicaid when COBRA ends
COBRA expiration does not trigger a SEP
Losing COBRA triggers a 30-day SEP only

Correct answer: Losing COBRA triggers a 60-day SEP like any qualifying loss of coverage

When COBRA coverage ends or becomes unaffordable, it is treated as a loss of qualifying coverage, triggering a 60-day SEP.

Question 2: A CAC realizes after completing an enrollment that they made an error that resulted in the client receiving incorrect subsidies. What is the ethical course of action?

Delete the enrollment record and start over without informing anyone
Contact the client, explain the error, and take steps to correct the enrollment (Correct answer)
Say nothing and hope the error is not detected
Blame the client for providing wrong information

Correct answer: Contact the client, explain the error, and take steps to correct the enrollment

Ethical conduct requires CACs to acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly to prevent harm to the client.

Question 3: Which of the following is a qualifying life event that triggers a Special Enrollment Period?

Voluntarily dropping existing coverage
Moving to a new ZIP code or county that affects plan availability (Correct answer)
Not enrolling during Open Enrollment
Deciding a current plan is too expensive

Correct answer: Moving to a new ZIP code or county that affects plan availability

Moving to a new coverage area that changes available plan options is a qualifying life event that triggers a 60-day SEP.

Question 4: A transgender man is applying for Marketplace coverage. The name on his identity documents has not yet been legally changed and does not match the name he uses. To be both respectful and compliant, how should the CAC proceed?

Advise the applicant to enter their legal name where required for identity verification but use their chosen name and correct pronouns during all interactions. (Correct answer)
Use the applicant's chosen name throughout the application to affirm their identity.
Insist on using only the legal name from the documents in all conversation and on all parts of the application.
Halt the application process until the applicant provides a court order for a legal name change.

Correct answer: Advise the applicant to enter their legal name where required for identity verification but use their chosen name and correct pronouns during all interactions.

For identity verification against government data sources (like Social Security), the application often requires the individual's legal name. However, a core principle of serving the LGBTQ+ community is to show respect for an individual's identity. The best practice is to use the legal name only where strictly necessary on the form and to use the consumer's chosen name and correct pronouns in all verbal and other written communication.

Question 5: A consumer's ACA plan covers an emergency visit at an out-of-network hospital. Under the ACA's essential health benefit rules, which statement is TRUE?

Emergency services are only covered at in-network facilities
Cost-sharing for emergencies can be unlimited
Emergency services can be denied for out-of-network use
Plans must cover emergency services without prior authorization (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Plans must cover emergency services without prior authorization

The ACA requires all non-grandfathered plans to cover emergency services without prior authorization, even from out-of-network providers.

Question 6: Under the ACA, what is the maximum out-of-pocket limit for an individual in a Marketplace plan for plan year 2024?

$7,000
$9,450 (Correct answer)
$12,000
$5,000

Correct answer: $9,450

For 2024, the ACA out-of-pocket maximum for individual coverage is $9,450; once reached, the plan pays 100% of covered in-network costs.

Question 7: A consumer who primarily speaks Spanish requests assistance from a CAC who is not fluent in Spanish. What is an appropriate step for the CAC to take in this scenario?

Give the consumer the application and hope they can figure it out.
Attempt to assist the consumer using translation apps, even if they are not fully accurate.
Provide assistance in a manner that is accessible, which may include using qualified interpretation services. (Correct answer)
Inform the consumer they cannot help and suggest they find a Spanish-speaking friend.

Correct answer: Provide assistance in a manner that is accessible, which may include using qualified interpretation services.

A core responsibility of a CAC is to provide information in a manner that is accessible, which includes accommodating individuals with limited English proficiency. The CAC should seek out resources like qualified interpreters or refer the consumer to another assister who can communicate effectively in their language to ensure they receive accurate and understandable help.

Question 8: Which ACA provision requires plans to cover preventive services with no cost-sharing?

The community rating rule
The minimum value standard
The essential health benefits requirement
The preventive services mandate for non-grandfathered plans (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The preventive services mandate for non-grandfathered plans

The ACA requires non-grandfathered plans to cover USPSTF-recommended preventive services, ACIP vaccinations, and other preventive care at no cost-sharing.

Question 9: Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs) under the ACA are ONLY available with which metal tier plan?

Bronze
Gold
Any metal tier
Silver (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Silver

CSRs are only applied to Silver plans; eligible individuals must enroll in a Silver plan to receive reduced deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums.

Question 10: A client with limited English proficiency (LEP) prefers to have their teenage child interpret during the enrollment session. The CAC should:

Accept the child as interpreter since it saves time
Require a professional interpreter regardless of the client's preference
Conduct the session in English and provide written materials later
Offer a qualified interpreter as the preferred option while respecting the client's right to use their child if they insist (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Offer a qualified interpreter as the preferred option while respecting the client's right to use their child if they insist

CACs must offer qualified language assistance but must also respect a client's informed decision to use a family member after being informed of the option.

Question 11: A CAC's certification has lapsed. What happens to their authority to provide consumer assistance?

They may continue assisting consumers for up to 90 days during renewal
They may only assist existing clients, not new consumers
Their authority to assist consumers is suspended until recertification is complete (Correct answer)
They can assist consumers if supervised by a certified CAC

Correct answer: Their authority to assist consumers is suspended until recertification is complete

CACs must maintain current certification to provide assistance; a lapsed certification suspends their authority to assist consumers.

Question 12: A consumer loses their employer-sponsored health coverage. Under the Affordable Care Act, this event typically triggers a:

Special Enrollment Period (SEP) (Correct answer)
Medicaid eligibility review
Premium penalty assessment
Marketplace waiting period

Correct answer: Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

Losing job-based health insurance is considered a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), which makes an individual eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). This allows them to enroll in a new health plan through the Marketplace outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period.

Question 13: What is the 'employer mandate' under the ACA?

Mandate for employers to pay 100% of premiums
Requirement for small businesses to offer SHOP plans
Requirement for all employees to enroll in employer coverage
Requirement for large employers (50+ FTEs) to offer affordable coverage or pay a penalty (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Requirement for large employers (50+ FTEs) to offer affordable coverage or pay a penalty

The ACA employer shared responsibility provision requires applicable large employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to offer affordable, minimum-value coverage or face penalties.

Question 14: During Open Enrollment, a consumer selects a plan on November 20. What is her earliest possible coverage start date?

December 1
February 1 of the following year
January 1 of the following year (Correct answer)
November 20 (same day)

Correct answer: January 1 of the following year

For most Marketplace plans, coverage selected during Open Enrollment starts January 1 of the following plan year, not immediately.

Question 15: What is the maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit designed to protect?

The insurer from excessive claims
The federal government from premium tax credit overuse
Providers from unpaid bills
The consumer from unlimited cost-sharing in a plan year (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The consumer from unlimited cost-sharing in a plan year

The MOOP cap limits how much a consumer pays in cost-sharing (deductibles, copays, coinsurance) in a plan year; after reaching it, the plan covers 100% of covered costs.

Question 16: CHIP eligibility is primarily based on which factor?

Age of the parent
Citizenship status only
Employment status of parents
Income relative to the Federal Poverty Level (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Income relative to the Federal Poverty Level

CHIP eligibility for children is primarily income-based, targeting families with household incomes that exceed Medicaid limits but remain below state-set upper thresholds.

Question 17: A CAC's employer instructs them to prioritize enrolling clients in a specific health plan. How should the CAC respond?

Resign immediately to avoid the conflict
Follow the employer's instructions since the employer sets the policies
Enroll clients in that plan only if it genuinely fits their needs after an impartial review
Report the instruction to CMS as a potential compliance violation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Report the instruction to CMS as a potential compliance violation

Instructions to steer clients to specific plans violate CAC impartiality requirements and should be reported to CMS as a compliance concern.

Question 18: A consumer wants their CAC to help them understand their Explanation of Benefits (EOB). Under what condition may the CAC view this document?

Only after obtaining a signed HIPAA authorization from the consumer's insurer
Only if the consumer is present and explicitly shares the document with the CAC (Correct answer)
Anytime, since EOBs are not protected health information
Only with a court order

Correct answer: Only if the consumer is present and explicitly shares the document with the CAC

EOBs contain PHI, so a CAC may only review them when the consumer voluntarily shares the document and consents to assistance in the moment.

Question 19: When working with a client who has experienced domestic violence, the CAC should be aware that:

Domestic violence situations do not affect how the application is completed
Survivors must include the abuser's income on their application if they are legally married and living together
Survivors may be able to enroll in a separate household from the abuser even if legally married, and special provisions may apply (Correct answer)
The CAC should contact the abuser to verify household information

Correct answer: Survivors may be able to enroll in a separate household from the abuser even if legally married, and special provisions may apply

Marketplace rules allow domestic violence survivors to apply as a separate household and may have special enrollment or income-reporting provisions.

Question 20: What type of information must CACs keep private?

Employment history only.
Only names and addresses.
All personally identifiable information (PII) (Correct answer)
Public records only.

Correct answer: All personally identifiable information (PII)

CACs must protect all Personally Identifiable Information (PII), which includes not just names and addresses, but also health information, financial details, social security numbers, and any other data that can be used to identify an individual. This comprehensive protection is crucial for safeguarding consumer privacy and complying with data protection regulations.

Question 21: Which of the following is a key role of a Certified Application Counselor (CAC)?

Determining a consumer's final tax liability for the Premium Tax Credit.
Helping consumers understand their eligibility for Marketplace plans, Medicaid, and CHIP. (Correct answer)
Recommending a specific insurance plan to a consumer.
Selling insurance plans on behalf of private companies.

Correct answer: Helping consumers understand their eligibility for Marketplace plans, Medicaid, and CHIP.

The primary role of a CAC is to provide fair, impartial, and accurate information to help consumers understand their options and assist them with the application process for Marketplace coverage, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). They are not permitted to sell insurance or recommend specific plans.

Question 22: A 28-year-old single adult with an annual income of 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) lives in a state that has expanded Medicaid. Which program are they most likely eligible for?

Medicare
A catastrophic health plan
Medicaid (Correct answer)
A subsidized Marketplace plan only

Correct answer: Medicaid

The ACA allows states to expand Medicaid to cover most low-income adults under age 65 with household incomes up to 138% of the FPL. In a state that has adopted expansion, this individual's income would make them eligible for Medicaid.

Question 23: A consumer refuses to sign a privacy notice acknowledgment before receiving CAC assistance. What should the CAC do?

Terminate the appointment immediately
Provide assistance anyway and note the refusal, since assistance cannot be conditioned on signing (Correct answer)
Refuse to provide any assistance until the form is signed
Report the consumer to CMS for non-compliance

Correct answer: Provide assistance anyway and note the refusal, since assistance cannot be conditioned on signing

CACs cannot condition the provision of assistance on a consumer signing a privacy notice; they should document the refusal and still provide help.

Question 24: A CAC is assisting a consumer at a busy enrollment event in a public space. The CAC needs to step away from their laptop for a moment to retrieve a form. What is the most important security action the CAC must take before leaving the computer?

Close the web browser window showing the consumer's application.
Turn the screen brightness all the way down.
Ask the consumer to watch the laptop.
Lock the computer screen. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Lock the computer screen.

Locking the computer screen is a fundamental security practice that prevents unauthorized access to any information on the computer. This ensures that even in a brief absence, no one can view or interact with sensitive consumer PII. While closing the browser is good, it doesn't protect other information on the computer, and the other options are not secure measures.

Question 25: A client who is a veteran inquires about whether to use the VA healthcare system or a Marketplace plan. The CAC should:

Enroll the client in a Marketplace plan since VA care has limitations
Tell the client veterans are not eligible for Marketplace plans
Tell the client the VA is always better and they should not use the Marketplace
Explain that VA healthcare coverage counts as minimum essential coverage and the client can choose whether to also enroll in a Marketplace plan (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Explain that VA healthcare coverage counts as minimum essential coverage and the client can choose whether to also enroll in a Marketplace plan

VA healthcare counts as minimum essential coverage, and veterans may choose to also enroll in a Marketplace plan; the CAC's role is to inform, not direct the choice.

Question 26: A consumer turns 26 and ages off their parent's health plan. How many days do they have to enroll in a Marketplace plan?

45 days
60 days (Correct answer)
30 days
90 days

Correct answer: 60 days

Aging off a parent's plan at 26 is a qualifying life event that provides a 60-day Special Enrollment Period for Marketplace coverage.

Question 27: Which federal law primarily governs the privacy protections that CACs must follow when handling consumers' health information?

The Privacy Act of 1974
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (Correct answer)
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Privacy Rule
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

Correct answer: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

HIPAA establishes the baseline privacy and security standards for protected health information (PHI) that CACs must comply with.

Question 28: Under the Affordable Care Act, most health plans must cover certain preventive services at no cost to the consumer. This means:

All medical services, including emergency care, are covered without cost-sharing.
The consumer does not have to pay a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible for these services when received from an in-network provider. (Correct answer)
The services are free regardless of whether the provider is in-network or out-of-network.
Only high-deductible health plans are required to offer free preventive care.

Correct answer: The consumer does not have to pay a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible for these services when received from an in-network provider.

The ACA requires most private health plans to cover a list of preventive services without any cost-sharing (copay, coinsurance, or deductible) when these services are delivered by a provider in the plan's network.

Question 29: What is the result of failing to follow confidentiality standards?

Increased funding.
Better consumer service.
Potential legal consequences and loss of trust (Correct answer)
Faster application processing.

Correct answer: Potential legal consequences and loss of trust

Failing to adhere to confidentiality standards can lead to severe repercussions. These include legal penalties (fines, lawsuits) for violating privacy laws like HIPAA, as well as a significant loss of consumer trust. Such breaches can damage the reputation of the CAC and the organization, undermining their ability to effectively serve the public.

Question 30: A consumer receiving unemployment compensation in 2021 or later signs up for Marketplace coverage. What special provision applies?

They may qualify for a full premium subsidy (benchmark plan at $0) under unemployment SEP rules (Correct answer)
They must prove they are actively seeking work
They are exempt from all premiums for 12 months
They are automatically enrolled in Medicaid

Correct answer: They may qualify for a full premium subsidy (benchmark plan at $0) under unemployment SEP rules

Under the American Rescue Plan, consumers receiving unemployment compensation in 2021 (and subsequent legislative extensions) were eligible for enhanced APTCs reducing their benchmark Silver plan premium to $0.

Question 31: Which ACA provision requires most Americans to have health coverage or potentially face a tax penalty at the federal level?

The guaranteed issue rule
The individual shared responsibility provision (Correct answer)
The essential health benefits requirement
The employer mandate

Correct answer: The individual shared responsibility provision

The individual shared responsibility provision (individual mandate) originally required most Americans to maintain MEC or pay a federal penalty, though the federal penalty was reduced to $0 starting in 2019.

Question 32: A lawfully present immigrant who has been in the U.S. for 3 years with a green card wants to enroll. Which statement is true?

They can only enroll in Medicaid after 5 years
They are not eligible for any subsidized coverage
They must wait a 5-year bar before Marketplace eligibility
They are eligible for Marketplace coverage immediately (Correct answer)

Correct answer: They are eligible for Marketplace coverage immediately

Lawfully present immigrants are eligible to enroll in Marketplace plans and may qualify for APTCs regardless of how long they have been in the U.S.

Question 33: A CAC works for a hospital that is a CDO. The hospital's marketing department asks the CAC for a list of consumers who were successfully enrolled in Marketplace plans to send them a welcome packet and information about hospital services. Ethically, what must the CAC do?

Ask the consumers for verbal permission before adding them to the marketing list.
Provide the list, as the marketing materials are beneficial to the consumers.
Refuse the request, explaining that PII collected for enrollment purposes cannot be used for marketing without explicit, written consumer consent for that specific purpose. (Correct answer)
Provide the list but only for consumers who selected a plan affiliated with the hospital.

Correct answer: Refuse the request, explaining that PII collected for enrollment purposes cannot be used for marketing without explicit, written consumer consent for that specific purpose.

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) collected to assist with a Marketplace application is protected and can only be used for that purpose. Using this information for a secondary purpose, such as marketing, is a violation of the CAC's privacy and confidentiality obligations unless the consumer has provided explicit, written consent for that secondary use.

Question 34: A family of four with an income of 200% FPL applies for coverage. Which program should they FIRST be screened for?

Medicaid and CHIP before Marketplace plans (Correct answer)
Medicare
Only Marketplace plans with APTC
Short-term health plans

Correct answer: Medicaid and CHIP before Marketplace plans

CACs must screen all applicants for Medicaid and CHIP eligibility first, as these programs may provide more comprehensive and cost-effective coverage.

Question 35: Which ACA provision allows young adults to remain on a parent's health insurance plan?

Young adult coverage up to age 26 (Correct answer)
The dependent care provision up to age 19
Dependent coverage until marriage or employment
Student health plan extension to age 23

Correct answer: Young adult coverage up to age 26

The ACA requires plans that cover dependents to offer coverage to adult children up to age 26, regardless of student, marital, or financial dependency status.

Question 36: A CAC's laptop containing unencrypted consumer data is stolen. Under federal guidelines, this incident is classified as:

An internal IT matter with no privacy implications
A HIPAA violation only if health diagnoses were stored on the device
A minor inconvenience requiring no formal action
A potential data breach requiring immediate notification to the organization's privacy officer and potentially to CMS (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A potential data breach requiring immediate notification to the organization's privacy officer and potentially to CMS

Theft of a device with unencrypted consumer PII is a reportable security incident that triggers breach notification protocols under CMS and HIPAA requirements.

Question 37: A Silver plan with Cost-Sharing Reductions for a consumer at 150% FPL will have an actuarial value closest to which percentage?

70%
94% (Correct answer)
87%
73%

Correct answer: 94%

At 100–150% FPL, CSR-enhanced Silver plans can reach an actuarial value of approximately 94%, providing very rich coverage.

Question 38: A CAC is fluent in Spanish and assists a Spanish-speaking client without an interpreter. After enrollment, the client says they did not understand several key points. What does this scenario highlight?

That the CAC should have confirmed client understanding throughout the session rather than just at the end (Correct answer)
That the client is responsible for communicating confusion during the session
That enrollments conducted in languages other than English are automatically invalid
That CACs should always use certified interpreters regardless of their own language skills

Correct answer: That the CAC should have confirmed client understanding throughout the session rather than just at the end

CACs have an ethical duty to verify client comprehension throughout the session, not only at the end, to ensure truly informed enrollment.

Question 39: A consumer who enrolled with CAC assistance later files a complaint alleging their privacy was violated. Who investigates complaints related to health information privacy violations?

The Social Security Administration (SSA)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is the federal agency responsible for investigating complaints and enforcing HIPAA privacy and security rules.

Question 40: A client discloses a serious health condition and asks the CAC not to write it down anywhere. How should the CAC handle this?

Respect the request; health conditions are not required for enrollment and should not be recorded (Correct answer)
Inform other staff members verbally without written documentation
Ask the client to sign a waiver before proceeding
Document the condition in the enrollment file to ensure the right plan is selected

Correct answer: Respect the request; health conditions are not required for enrollment and should not be recorded

CACs do not need to collect medical history, and clients have the right to control what personal health information is shared or recorded.

Question 41: Under ACA rules, CACs are prohibited from accepting which type of compensation for enrollment assistance?

Reimbursement for transportation expenses to reach clients
Gifts or payments from clients or insurers tied to enrollment outcomes (Correct answer)
A salary from their employing organization
Federal grant funding provided to their organization

Correct answer: Gifts or payments from clients or insurers tied to enrollment outcomes

CACs are prohibited from accepting any compensation—gifts, tips, or insurer payments—that is tied to specific enrollment outcomes.

Question 42: A CAC is working at a community health center and a consumer discloses a sensitive medical condition during enrollment assistance. How should the CAC treat this information?

Include it in any follow-up outreach communications
Keep it confidential and use it only to the extent necessary to assist with enrollment (Correct answer)
Document it in the enrollment file for the insurer's reference
Share it with the sponsoring organization's clinical staff

Correct answer: Keep it confidential and use it only to the extent necessary to assist with enrollment

CACs must treat all consumer health information as confidential and use it only for the purpose of providing authorized assistance.

Question 43: A consumer loses their job on March 15. How long do they typically have to elect COBRA continuation coverage?

90 days from the last day of employment
60 days from notice of COBRA rights (Correct answer)
30 days from the qualifying event
6 months from the qualifying event

Correct answer: 60 days from notice of COBRA rights

COBRA law gives qualified beneficiaries 60 days from the date of the COBRA election notice (or loss of coverage, whichever is later) to elect continuation coverage.

Question 44: Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) must be covered by which types of plans?

COBRA continuation plans only
Medicare Advantage plans exclusively
Individual and small group plans inside and outside the Marketplace (Correct answer)
All employer self-insured plans and Medicare

Correct answer: Individual and small group plans inside and outside the Marketplace

ACA requires individual and small group health insurance plans — both inside and outside the Marketplace — to cover the ten categories of Essential Health Benefits.

Question 45: What must a CAC do if a consumer's circumstances change significantly after enrollment (e.g., income change, loss of job)?

Inform the consumer that changes have no effect until the next Open Enrollment Period
Advise the consumer that changes must be reported and assist them with submitting a life event update to the Marketplace (Correct answer)
Update the consumer's application without consulting the consumer first
Refer the consumer to a licensed insurance agent to handle the change

Correct answer: Advise the consumer that changes must be reported and assist them with submitting a life event update to the Marketplace

CACs must inform consumers of their obligation to report qualifying life events and assist them in updating their Marketplace applications accordingly.

Question 46: A CAC is approached by a researcher who wants anonymized enrollment data to study coverage gaps. How should the CAC respond?

Share only aggregate totals verbally
Provide the data since it is anonymized
Refer the researcher to the state Medicaid agency
Decline, as CACs may not share any consumer data even in anonymized form without proper authorization (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Decline, as CACs may not share any consumer data even in anonymized form without proper authorization

CACs are not authorized to share consumer data in any form — anonymized or otherwise — without explicit authorization from the Marketplace or oversight entity.

Question 47: Which of the following represents a HIPAA-adjacent privacy concern that CACs must be aware of when transferring consumers from Medicaid to Marketplace coverage?

Medical information held by Medicaid may be subject to different confidentiality protections than Marketplace enrollment data (Correct answer)
HIPAA does not apply to government health programs like Medicaid
The consumer's Medicaid eligibility determination is a public record
CACs may freely access Medicaid records to pre-populate Marketplace applications

Correct answer: Medical information held by Medicaid may be subject to different confidentiality protections than Marketplace enrollment data

Medicaid records are protected under both HIPAA and additional federal regulations, and CACs must respect those protections when facilitating transitions to Marketplace coverage.

Question 48: A CAC who suspects a consumer is a victim of domestic violence notices the consumer's abuser is listed as an authorized representative on the account. The CAC should:

File a domestic violence report with local law enforcement on the consumer's behalf
Contact the authorized representative to resolve the situation
Remove the authorized representative immediately without informing the consumer
Privately inform the consumer of their right to update or remove authorized representatives and connect them with appropriate resources (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Privately inform the consumer of their right to update or remove authorized representatives and connect them with appropriate resources

CACs must respect consumer autonomy while ensuring they are informed of their rights regarding account access; connecting them with resources protects safety without overriding their decisions.

Question 49: A CAC is helping a consumer update their Marketplace application on a public library computer. What is the most important security step before leaving?

Save the application progress to a USB drive for safekeeping
Print a copy of the updated application for the consumer
Leave the application open so the consumer can review it later
Ensure the browser session is completely logged out and browsing history is cleared (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ensure the browser session is completely logged out and browsing history is cleared

On public computers, CACs must always log out of all accounts and clear session data to prevent unauthorized access to consumer information by subsequent users.

Question 50: A CAC's certification is revoked. What should happen to the consumer records they maintained?

The former CAC retains access until records are naturally archived
Consumers must be notified and asked to retrieve their own documents
Records should be destroyed immediately to protect consumer privacy
Records should be transferred to the CAC's supervising organization or successor per established protocols (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Records should be transferred to the CAC's supervising organization or successor per established protocols

Upon revocation of certification, consumer records must be transferred to the supervising organization or a designated successor to ensure continuity and continued privacy protection.

Question 51: What is the income threshold (as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level) above which individuals are NOT eligible for Medicaid under standard ACA expansion rules for adults?

133% FPL (effectively 138% with 5% disregard) (Correct answer)
200% FPL
100% FPL
150% FPL

Correct answer: 133% FPL (effectively 138% with 5% disregard)

ACA Medicaid expansion covers adults up to 133% FPL; with the standard 5% income disregard, the effective threshold is 138% FPL.

Certified Application Counselor (CAC) Certification Exam

The CMS Certified Application Counselor (CAC) exam certifies individuals to help consumers apply for and enroll in health coverage through the ACA Marketplace. It covers ACA law, marketplace plan options, eligibility, privacy and security standards, ethics, and serving diverse populations.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

70%

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