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Cost Estimator
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Frequently Asked Questions

 CE0501
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General

  1. When I run a Quick Estimate, I don't get any results. The Quick Estimate screen just refreshes. What am I doing wrong?

  2. What is the purpose of the Log In button?

  3. How do I create an eAuth account?

  4. Why are only certain commodities showing?

  5. What is the difference between a Quick and a Detailed Estimate?

  6. What’s the difference between Cost Estimator and the Premium Calculator?

  7. Why can’t I click on the CEPP link?

  8. What’s the difference between a Farmer and an Agent role?

Supplemental Covearge Option (SCO) Endorsement

Section 11003 of the 2014 Farm Bill directs the development of the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) Endorsement. RMA has received a number of questions regarding the SCO Endorsement.
  1. How can I select SCO?

  2. What is the Total Underlying Liability?

  3. Why are there several entry boxes for the Total Underlying Liability by coverage levels?

  4. What if I don’t know my Total Underlying Liability on a Quick Estimate?

  5. What if I don’t know my Total Underlying Liability on a Detailed Estimate?

General

  1. When I run a Quick Estimate, I don't get any results. The Quick Estimate screen just refreshes. What am I doing wrong? Return to Top
    You probably do not have your pop-up blocker turned off. This cannot be done through a toolbar (ex. Google toolbar). It must be turned off via Tools --> Internet Options --> Privacy tab - Unclick Turn on Pop-up Blocker

  2. What is the purpose of the Log In button? Return to Top
    In order to save an estimate a user must have an eAuth account and log in to the system. A user can also set certain preferences like Automatically saving estimates, default state, etc.

  3. How do I create an eAuth account? Return to Top
    1. Press the Log In button on the Cost Estimator web site, you will be taken to the eAuthentication Login page. 2. Press the Register button to create a new account. 3. Press the Register button for the appropriate account level. Cost Estimator requires at least Level 1 access so you would press the Register for a Level 1 Account button. 4. Enter your User Information, Contact Information, Login Information, and Security Questions.

  4. Why are only certain commodities showing? Return to Top
    Only the commodities associated with the current filing are available.

  5. What is the difference between a Quick and a Detailed Estimate? Return to Top
    A Quick Estimate is generated using a crop/commodity as the starting point and then all applicable insurance plans are listed. A Detailed Estimate is generated using an insurance plan as the starting point and then all applicable crops are displayed based on the user’s selected state and county. Detailed estimates also allow the user to select various options that can be sold with the insurance plan. The Quick Estimate does not allow options.

  6. What’s the difference between Cost Estimator and the Premium Calculator? Return to Top
    Cost Estimator will eventually replace the Premium Calculator. For now, Cost Estimator will allow users to generate estimates for plans covering reinsurance year 2011. Premium Calculator will cover 2010.

  7. Why can’t I click on the CEPP link? Return to Top
    When the CEPP document is released, we will activate the link. For now it has been disabled.

  8. What’s the difference between a Farmer and an Agent role? Return to Top
    An Agent can generate estimates and associate them with Customers.

Supplemental Covearge Option (SCO) Endorsement

Section 11003 of the 2014 Farm Bill directs the development of the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) Endorsement. RMA has received a number of questions regarding the SCO Endorsement.
  1. How can I select SCO? Return to Top
    For Quick Estimate, if SCO is allowed under the offer you’ve selected, then plans 31, 32 and 33 will populate for entry. For detailed Estimate, you must select one of the plan codes for SCO (31, 32 or 33).

  2. What is the Total Underlying Liability? Return to Top
    To elect SCO, you must have an existing individual-based policy for a crop under the Common Crop Insurance Policy, which is referred to as the “underlying coverage.” The Total Underlying Liability is the sum of the liabilities of the “underlying coverages.”

  3. Why are there several entry boxes for the Total Underlying Liability by coverage levels? Return to Top
    Your SCO coverage should have the same coverage level as your underlying coverage. For example, if you know that your underlying coverage for wheat liability is $5,000 at 75%, you should enter 5000 into the liability entry box next to ‘Buy-up 75%.’ You do NOT need to populate every box unless you want to see the quote for all coverage levels.

  4. What if I don’t know my Total Underlying Liability on a Quick Estimate? Return to Top
    You can leave all the SCO boxes blank. Run the estimate after populating the values for all other non-SCO plans. At the next screen, scroll to the bottom until you see the outputs for combo plans (01, 02, and 03). In the last column of each plan, there is a selection titled “SCO Estimate.” By clicking each selection, the Total Underlying Liability for each SCO offer will be populated with the values from the underlying coverage. Example, if you click on Yield Protection, 01’s, “SCO Estimate” selection, plan 31 of SCO will be populated. After selecting the desired plans, click “Recalculate” to see the SCO outputs.

  5. What if I don’t know my Total Underlying Liability on a Detailed Estimate? Return to Top
    Run the quote for your underlying combo coverage (ie, plan 01, 02 or 03). In the next output screen, there is a selection titled “Include” at the end of each record. Select all the base lines you want to quote for SCO then click the “Start SCO Detailed Estimate” at the bottom of the page. By clicking this selection, the liability from your combo offer will populate an SCO plan in the next screen that is associated with your underlying coverage. Example, if you quoted plan 02 and at the output screen chose the “Include” and “Start SCO Detailed Estimate” selections, another pop-up will appear with plan 32 prefilled for the liability from your previous base quote.