Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is rolling out a new partnership with Grand Rapids Community College (Mich.), where the organizations partner to train health insurance agents.
The new program, which welcomed its first students during the Fall 2021 semester, is entirely paid for by grants, so enrolled students receive training for free, according to MLive.
"Access and knowledge of employee benefits and insurance are pillars of a strong local economy," said Jeff Connolly, senior vice president and president, West Michigan and Upper Peninsula at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. "Our goal is to help the region build a qualified pool of licensed individuals who may begin to become agents within the next 14 to 24 months and even own their own agencies someday."
The Health Insurance Agent Apprenticeship features a 430-hour learning module and certifies agents in Michigan, according to an Oct. 12 news release. It also provides students with hands-on training.