Podcast
Insurance Exam Prep
Hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP® · ENGLISH
Insurance Exam Prep is a daily podcast designed to help future insurance professionals pass their licensing exams with clarity and confidence.
Built and operated by OpenExamPrep, this podcast breaks down insurance licensing exams into focused, easy-to-digest episodes covering Life Insurance, Health Insurance, and Property & Casualty, across both the national portion and state-specific requirements. Each episode targets one key concept, common exam trap, or high-frequency test topic—making it ideal for studying during commutes, workouts, or short study sessions.
Created by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®, a financial professional and exam specialist who has personally passed multiple professional licensing exams, Insurance Exam Prep was developed from firsthand experience with how complex—and often poorly taught—insurance exam material can be. The goal is simple: make insurance exam preparation clearer, more accessible, and more effective through structured explanations and modern learning tools. Whether you’re preparing for a Life, Health, or P&C exam, just starting your licensing journey, or reviewing before test day, this podcast is designed to guide you step by step—one concept at a time.
Free practice tools, AI-powered explanations, and additional exam prep resources are available at: https://open-exam-prep.com/
129episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
[Health Insurance] 54, COBRA Continuation Coverage
Today00:03:14Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That COBRA is a federal law applying to employers with 20 or more employees. - The difference in qualifying events for employees (termination, reduced hours) versus dependents (death, divorce, Medicare eligibility). - The standard continuation period is 18 months for termination or reduction in hours. - Dependents are eligible for a longer, 36-month continuation period for events like death of the employee or divorce. - Beneficiaries must pay up to 102% of the premium, which includes the full cost plus a 2% administrative fee. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 53, Group Health Insurance Fundamentals
Yesterday00:03:18Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The distinction between the master contract held by the employer and the certificate of insurance provided to employees. - Common eligibility requirements for group coverage, including waiting periods for new hires. - The key differences between contributory and noncontributory plans, including their required participation percentages. - The function and importance of the annual open enrollment period for making coverage changes. - How experience rating is used for large groups to determine premiums based on their specific claims history. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 52, ACA Consumer Protections and No Surprises Act
2d ago00:02:59Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That the ACA's guaranteed issue and renewability rules prohibit insurers from denying coverage based on health status. - Why health plans can no longer impose lifetime or annual dollar limits on essential health benefits. - How the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) requires insurers to spend at least 80% (individual/small group) or 85% (large group) of premiums on healthcare, or else issue rebates. - How the No Surprises Act protects consumers from unexpected bills for emergency care and from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. - The critical exception to the No Surprises Act that is often tested: it does not apply to ground ambulance services. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 51, Marketplace and Metal Tier Plans
3d ago00:03:01Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The four metal tier plans (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and their specific actuarial values. - Eligibility requirements for Catastrophic health plans. - The 2026 update making Bronze and Catastrophic plans automatically eligible for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). - The difference between Premium Tax Credits and Cost-Sharing Reductions, and why Silver plans are key. - A mnemonic to easily remember the metal tiers and their corresponding cost-sharing percentages. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 50, Essential Health Benefits Under the ACA
4d ago00:03:28Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The ten Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) are mandatory for all new individual and small group health plans under the ACA. - EHBs do not automatically apply to large group plans, self-funded plans, or grandfathered plans. - While EHBs must be covered, cost-sharing still applies, with the major exception of certain preventive services which have no cost-sharing. - States define the specific services required within each of the ten EHB categories by selecting a state-specific "benchmark plan". - Exam questions focus on applying EHB rules, such as identifying if a denied service falls into a mandatory category or understanding the limits of the requirements. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 49, Affordable Care Act Overview and Key Provisions
5d ago00:03:21Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That insurers must offer coverage to all applicants regardless of health status under the guaranteed issue provision. - That premiums can only be rated based on age, location, family size, and tobacco use, not health history. - That dependents can remain on a parent's plan until age 26, irrespective of marital, student, or financial status. - Key 2026 updates, including the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits on Dec 31, 2025, and the new 9.96% employer affordability threshold. - That all compliant plans must cover ten Essential Health Benefits, such as hospitalization and prescription drugs. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 48, Workers Compensation and Health Insurance
6d ago00:02:33Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That Workers' Compensation is always the primary payer for work-related injuries and illnesses. - How health insurance policies exclude coverage for occupational injuries covered by Workers' Comp. - The four main types of Workers' Compensation benefits: medical, disability income, rehabilitation, and death. - That Workers' Compensation is a no-fault system, meaning an employee's negligence usually does not affect their benefits. - A mnemonic to remember the key benefits: 'MR. DD lives at work' (Medical, Rehabilitation, Disability, Death). For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 47, CHIP and Other Government Health Programs
1w ago00:02:31Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - CHIP provides health coverage for children in families with incomes too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. - TRICARE For Life is a secondary, wraparound coverage for military retirees enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B, with Medicare always acting as the primary payer. - VA healthcare is a separate system for eligible veterans and generally does not coordinate with private insurance for care received outside the VA system. - Government programs like Medicaid and CHIP are typically the 'payer of last resort' when a private insurance plan also exists. - A common exam trap is understanding the specific hierarchy of payers: private plans pay before CHIP, and Medicare pays before TRICARE For Life. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 46, Medicaid Eligibility and Benefits
1w ago00:02:54Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That Medicaid is a means-tested, joint federal-state program for low-income individuals, unlike the federally-run Medicare program. - How to use the mnemonic 'Medic-AID for financial aid' to avoid common exam traps confusing Medicaid with Medicare. - That the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for new expansion states is set to sunset in January 2026. - That by December 2026, states will be required to perform more frequent six-month eligibility redeterminations for many beneficiaries. - About the new 80-hour per month work requirements for able-bodied adults, starting in January 2027 under the OBBBA. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →[Health Insurance] 45, Medicare Enrollment Periods and Late Enrollment Penalties
1w ago00:03:12Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The 7-month window for the Initial Enrollment Period and how enrollment timing affects the coverage start date. - The specific dates for the General Enrollment Period (Jan 1 - Mar 31) and its fixed coverage start date of July 1. - How a Special Enrollment Period is triggered by the loss of active employer coverage, not the exhaustion of COBRA. - How to calculate the Part B penalty based on 10% for each full 12-month period of delayed enrollment. - The calculation for the Part D penalty, which is 1% of the national base premium for each month without creditable coverage. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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