There will be somewhat fewer plans to pick from this year, but in general people will have plenty of options, experts say. And although premiums aren’t expected to rise markedly overall in 2015 - and in some cases may actually decline - some individual plans have signaled significantly higher rates. Although the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released some specifics about 2015 premiums and plans, many details about provider networks, drug formularies and the like won’t be available until later this fall. Here’s what we know so far about Part D and Medicare Advantage. http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2014/September/30/Medicare-Open-Enrollment-Is-Fast-Approaching.aspx
Source: kaiserhealthnews.org |
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Medicare Blog | Medicare News | Medicare Information
Jeremy Davis
Recent Posts
Medicare Open Enrollment Is Fast Approaching - Here's What We Know So Far
Posted by Jeremy Davis on Fri, Oct 03, 2014 @ 10:26 AM
Tags: Medicare open enrollment, medicare enrollment october 15th, medicare deadline october 15 2014
New Med Advantage Guidelines Implemented OCT 1st
Posted by Jeremy Davis on Fri, Sep 26, 2014 @ 09:57 AM
Due to the combined efforts of MA plan sponsors working with AHIP, CMS has revisited the telephonic guidance that was issued on August 14, 2014 which prohibited agents from calling existing enrollees to discuss other plan options (Section 70.6). CMS announced last night that they have decided to rescind this guidance. AHIP was able to convince CMS of the many benefits that our agents are able to bring to Medicare beneficiaries by discussing the new, potentially cost saving plan options available to them. CMS has made the decision to revert to their previous guidance which states Plans/Part D Sponsors may do the following:"Call members to promote other Medicare plan types, (e.g., sponsors may contact their PDP members to promote their MA-PD offerings; sponsors that are also Medigap issuers may marketing their MA, PDP, or cost plan products to their Medigap customers), and discuss plan benefits." This change is effective immediately and the Medicare Marketing Guidelines will be updated to reflect this change when the next version of the guidelines is published. This means beginning October 1 you may call your current members and talk about other plan options for 2015! You can also set appointments now to meet with your members after Oct 1, without discussing any 2015 rates or benefits. Click here to view the official announcement document Click here to see the Medicare Advantage companies available thru PSM Source: Humana |
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Tags: New Medicare Advantage Guidelines 2015, New Medicare Advantage Guidelines 2014, New Med Advantage Rules
There's a lot of confusion among many Baby Boomers (and the occasional insurance industry professional ...) about Medicare and how/if/when it integrates with the ACA's Health Insurance Marketplace (Exchanges). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services just issued new guidance that is as beneficial for agents and marketers as it is for consumers: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/Medicare-and-the-Marketplace/Downloads/Medicare-Marketplace_Master_FAQ_8-1-14.pdf
Source: http://www.cms.gov |
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Tags: medicare vs aca exchanges, medicare services, medicaid services, medicare integrate with aca health insurance
In a positive piece of news for the life insurance industry, it has been reported that final expense insurance sales reached nearly $400 million in 2013. The Life Insurance Council and CSG Actuarial conducted a survey of 25 insurers, finding that final expense insurance new premium totaled nearly $400 million in 2013, representing 613,000 policies. http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2014/09/08/final-expense-insurance-sales-400-million-in-2013
Source: http://www.lifehealthpro.com |
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Tags: Final Expense, Medicare Supplement, Life Insurance Council survey
Medicare has many enrollment periods for the various parts of Medicare. These enrollment periods provide beneficiaries with the chance to get Medicare coverage, but the different periods and their acronyms can be confusing for agents, marketers and beneficiaries alike. Click on Graphic Below to Enlarge ![]() http://www.onefpa.org/journal/Pages/AUG14-Understanding-Medicare-Enrollment-Periods.aspx
Source: http://www.onefpa.org |
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Tags: Medicare Supplement, medicare enrollment, medicare deadline
Medicare Advantage (formerly known as Medicare+Choice) permits contracts between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and a variety of different private managed care and fee-for-service entities. Most Medicare beneficiaries may choose to receive benefits either through the original Medicare fee-for-service program (Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)). Main types of Medicare Advantage plans include:
http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2014/08/21/19-things-to-know-about-medicare-advantage
Source: lifehealthpro.com |
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Tags: Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage information, Medicare Advantage blog
Getting the appointment: Use a well-practiced script
Posted by Jeremy Davis on Fri, Aug 22, 2014 @ 10:06 AM
Most financial professionals are really good talkers. We like people and we tend to be out-going and friendly.
I conduct role-playing sessions with several agencies. I am appalled that someone who professes to be a financial professional would get on the phone without knowing what they are going to say. And the newer you are, the less you can fake your way through a call. I hear producers say many, many good things over the phone, but when they aren't linked together properly (i.e. having a beginning, middle and end that matches my ABCDEFG format) the impact of the words gets lost. You have to clearly identify yourself based on your relationship to the prospect; then:
You can be sure that if your managers and peers think you sound like you are ad-libbing, then the prospect hears it too. Ad-libbing does not come across as friendly; it sounds like you are grasping for words and that reduces the professionalism of your call. Write a good script, practice it so you can "talk" it, then make your calls! Keep smilin' and dialin' http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2014/08/20/getting-the-appointment-use-a-well-practiced-scrip?t=senior-market
Source: lifehealthpro.com |
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Tags: Medicare Supplement, How to get an appointment with a client, sales advice
According to a report released by the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI), baby boomer confidence in their financial preparedness for retirement dropped nine percent, from 44 percent in 2011 to 35 percent in 2014. When compared to 2013, only 35 percent of boomers are extremely or very confident that they are doing or did a good job preparing for retirement in 2014. ![]() http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2014/08/11/boomer-retirement-confidence-slips-infographic
Source: lifehealthpro.com |
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Tags: Boomer Retirement, Insured Retirement Institute, Baby Boomer Medicare Stats
Medicare Drug Premiums to Rise for Second Year
Posted by Jeremy Davis on Fri, Aug 08, 2014 @ 11:13 AM
Medicare says premiums for prescription drug plans will rise in 2015 for the second year in a row. Officials said Thursday that Medicare's average monthly drug premium will rise next year to $32. The modest increase of $1 a month comes amid worries over the future impact of costly new medications. Source: miamiherald.com |
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Tags: Medicare Supplement, med supp, medicare drug premiums, healthcare costs rise
Everything that happens after your customer says “yes” is what separates sales leaders from the rest of the pack. In many cases a salesperson will work for weeks or months to secure a piece of business Then the real work begins: delivering on your promises. You can be awesome in sales, and you can be a great closer, but it is far more difficult to get repeat business and referrals if you don’t excel in the art of follow-up. Five Critical Elements of Follow-Up
Source: asalesguy.com |
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Tags: sales follow-up, closing sales, following up after the sale, Medicare Supplement