Medicare Blog | Medicare News | Medicare Information
Obama: Help Improve Health Care Law and Move Forward
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Jan 28, 2011 @ 09:48 AM
Tags: senior market news, Medicare, Medicare Discussion, insurance news, health care reform
What do you think are the strongest arguments for or against the Health Care Law? When do you think House and Congress will come to a consensus? Brian Tracy’s Laws of Sales SuccessBrian Tracy, author of Psychology of Selling, which has become a bestselling audio program on sales, was interviewed by Paul Feldman for the January 2011 issue of InsuranceNewsNet. In the interview Brian Tracy shares his how-to’s of improving your business and your life. Tracy first states that time management separates winners in the sales market from losers. When you get more done, make more calls, and close more business you are deliberately managing your time. His tips are to plan your day in advance, prioritize your list, choose the most important task, and start the most important task and work until it is complete. This will give you a sense of personal accomplishment, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Have you heard of Brian Tracy? Have you ever attended one of his seminars or read any of his books? Woodmen of the World Released in ColoradoEffective January 19, 2011 please see the new release notification, rates, and application for Colorado. Mutual of Omaha 2012 Convention Information![]() Details released for the Mutual of Omaha 2012 convention in Laguna Beach, CA based on the business you place with Mutual of Omaha as a Broker Producer (personal production only) between January 1 and December 31 2011. See the Mutual of Omaha2012 convention website for more information.
Sources: KHN, LA Times, NY Times, InsuranceNewsNet |
Tags: Sales Tips, senior insurance market news, Woodmen of the World Medicare Supplement, health care reform, Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement
Under-Age Agents Affected by Health Care Reform
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Jan 14, 2011 @ 09:32 AM
If you also work in the under-age market, have these lower commissions already affected you? Do you believe the result of MLR will be a drastic decline in service or do you think things will level off quickly, like with the travel industry? Low Clearance by Mike Keefe
Has the influx of Boomers helped your Medicare Supplement business? How are you preparing for the boost in those interested in Medicare Supplements? Medicare "Wellness Visit" Check ListAs of the first of 2011 Medicare beneficiaries are able to go to one “wellness visit” a year completely covered by Medicare. This new part of the health care law reflects that medicine needs to focus on prevention rather than waiting until the patient is sick. Dr. Eddie Phillips, director of the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, has outlined what patients can expect at their wellness visit this year. First, the doctor will conduct a screening of a patient’s cognitive skills, depression, and risk of falling. They will develop a Personalized Prevention Plan talking about your diet, exercise, vaccinations, sleep, and stress; and, work to coordinate all of you caregivers. Also, you can choose to have a voluntary discussion of your end-of-life choices, getting a plan in place and having your wishes known. Dr. Phillips hopes this wellness visit will help people make lifestyle choices that will positively affect their health and health care costs. What do you think of the new “wellness visit” provided by Medicare? Have either you or one of your clients partaken of yours this year? Was it a valuable benefit? Foresters Prepared Accident Death Term Life InsuranceForesters Prepared offers up to $300,000 in coverage with no medical exam and only a few health/lifestyle questions. It also offers extra-cost riders for disability income (accident only), waiver of premium (accident only) and return of premium. Contact PSM or call us 1-800-998-7715 to request information.Woodmen of the World/Assured Life MADP Guidelines and Iowa Rate Increase NotificationNew Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP): MA members are allowed to make one change during this period of January 1, 2011 to February 14, 2011 with an effective date of disenrollment after January 1, 2011.Effective March 1, 2011 please see the rate increase notification for Iowa.
Sources: KHN, Politico, The Denver Post, CommonHealth |
Tags: Foresters, Medicare Supplement, Senior Market, senior insurance market news, health insurance industry, insurance news, Woodmen of the World Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advice
Reversing Federal Rule on End-of-Life Planning
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Jan 07, 2011 @ 09:49 AM
CVS Caremark to Buy Universal American’s Medicare Prescription Drug BusinessLast week, CVS Caremark purchased Universal American’s Medicare Part D business for eight times the operating earnings. This buy-out more than doubles the size of CVS Caremark’s 1.2 million drug plan members; and, the addition of the 1.9 million that have United American makes CVS Caremark a major competitor in a short period of time. Universal American’s stock shares soared over 40% after the news of the deal was announced on Thursday, December 30th, and those stock holders can expect to receive between $12.80 and $13.00 per share for the business. Meanwhile, CVS’s shares values remain the same. The Universal American acquisition makes CVS Caremark a larger competitor to health insurers like UnitedHealth Group, Inc. and Humana, Inc. Also, the merge comes in time for the Baby Boomer generation to begin receiving Medicare benefits, the anticipated shift from employer coverage to Medicare in those who are retired, and Walgreens, CVS’s main competitor and the #1 drug store chain in America, trying to get out of the pharmacy business. Supporters of the acquisition also say that this merger will benefit CVS stores as well, with more people going into the store to pick up their prescriptions and possibly other items they might have gone elsewhere for otherwise. Beginning Internet Prospecting: Do You Have Any Questions?It’s bound to have come up at some point in your agency business, either a client asks you for your agency URL, you’re looking for a new way to get leads, or you need a place to share all of your industry knowledge. In the last few years, the internet has completely changed the way we interact and it’s now vital for business to establish an up-to-date internet presence. Fortunately, it’s now easier than ever to get started. Several template-based, user friendly, Content Management System (CMS) website platforms are available for you to use, with little to no HTML or coding knowledge. We at Precision Senior Marketing use Hubspot; however, Joomla, Intuit, and Wordpress (as well as several others) are also good options. Or, if you do not have the time to create your website yourself, you can hire a graphic design or marketing firm team of professionals to create something completely custom to your agency. It is important to remember your website should be professional, give a great first impression, and be a reflection of who you are as an agent. New to selling Medicare Supplements? Mastering the art of Medicare Supplements is a great place to start. United of Omaha Phase VI - CA, CO, KS, ME, NE, NJ, and SDUnited of Omaha has proposed NEW Medicare Supplement rates for California, Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, New Jersey, and South Dakota, tentatively effective 02/01/2011 (pending state approval). With Ultra-competitive rates, excellent commissions and a name your clients will know and trust, this is an opportunity you cannot afford to pass up. Partner with PSM and ensure you have the most competitive edge in the Senior Market. Request more information now or call 1-800-998-7715 for more information.Sentinel Life Rate Increase for LouisianaEffective for all Louisiana applications signed on or after January 14, 2011 there are new rates for Sentinel Life Medicare Supplement LA and Sentinel Life Medicare Select LA. Call 1-800-998-7715 to get contracted with Sentinel Life.
Sources: KHN, Reuters, Agent’s Sales Journal, Politico, The Associated Press |
Tags: United of Omaha Phase VI, senior market news, Medicare Supplement, Medicare News, Sentinel Life Medicare Supplement, United of Omaha Medicare Supplement