|
Training for plan year 2024 begins June 21, 2023AHIP's 2023 Medicare + Fraud, Waste and Abuse Training will no longer be available as of Friday, June 16 at 11:59 pm ET. For those currently enrolled in the training, and have yet to complete the certification, please do so prior to the close of this year's program. AHIP will be launching the new 2024 Medicare Certification on June 21st.
We recommend getting a head start and being prepared as early as possible for the upcoming enrollment season starting October 15th. Most of our carriers will accept AHIP to cover the core training requirements. When available, you can reach the 2024 AHIP training module by visiting the following link - AHIP Training.
Best of luck this enrollment window and we look forward to offering you the products, training and resources to make your AEP a success. |
|
In today’s marketplace, consumers want more control over their healthcare decisions and expenses. Popular plans, like a high-deductible health plan, offer lower monthly premiums and encourage consumers to take an active role in managing their own healthcare costs. Similarly, Medicare Supplement Plan N is gaining traction as seniors opt to have lower monthly premiums. With Plan N, enrolled individuals only pay the Part B deductible when they access medical care. Additionally, the individual might incur copayments or Part B excess charges. In a recent study by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Plan F continues to lose market share declining from 46% of all Medigap enrollments in 2020 to 41% in 2021. This decline is because F is no longer available to people new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. However, Plan G and Plan N are gaining popularity, with 32% and 10% market share, respectively.
Plan N is the third most popular Medicare Supplement plan, and as of 2021, more than 1.38 million people chose Plan N over other Medicare Supplement coverage options. Help Your Clients Save Money With Plan N The popularity of Plan N is largely due to the coverage benefits. This plan includes many of the Medicare benefits, but is structured in a way to keep plan costs low. Plan N offers similar benefits to Plan G. With both plans, individuals are subject to incur the annual Part B deductible of $226, copayments up to $20 for doctor appointments, and $50 for emergency room visits.
For clients who are looking to save money, Plan N might be a great solution. Let’s look at an example: Jane Smith is currently enrolled with a Plan G which costs her $180 a month in premium. By moving to a Plan N, she pays $120 a month. By switching to a lower premium plan, Jane saves $60 a month or $720 total a year. Jane can use the money saved to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses including the Part B deductible or copayments. Or, she can use the savings to purchase additional coverage like a Cancer, Heart Attack and Stroke policy or an Accident plan. With Plan N, Jane is in more control of her healthcare decisions and how she chooses to spend her money. If you have a client who does not visit the doctor often, Plan N may be a great fit for them. Next time you are evaluating coverage options with your clients, take a look at Plan N. They might be a great fit for this affordable Medicare Supplement option. For a list of carriers that offer Medicare Supplement Plan N, Please request details today or call us at (800) 998-7715 and ask to speak to a marketing representative. |
||||
| Newest Blog Posts | All Blog Posts | ||||
Tags: Plan N, Medicare Supplement plans
|
|
||
| Newest Blog Posts | All Blog Posts |
One of the key best practices is to 
Personalization is another essential element
Active listening
Building trust
Educating and informing
Persistence
Leveraging technology
Establishing referral networks
Finally, Tags: Leads, Best Practices
|
We take pride in providing our agents with high quality senior insurance products that bring a sense of security and peace of mind to the nation's exploding senior population. Our experienced insurance marketing team provides our agents with a robust product portfolio, game-changing technology and unrivaled support. |
||||||
Tags: Cigna, Medicare Advantage
|
With that in mind, we are making a change in how our brokers earn payments through our VBE digital application program. This change applies to June 1 effectives and beyond. Brokers can still earn up to $50 per electronic application (app), but they will need to include a valid in-network PCP and/or the customer’s email address to receive payment. We will no longer pay brokers $20 for the electronic app submission itself. Instead, we are increasing the payments for collecting the valid PCP and email information.
How this benefits the broker When a broker captures the PCP and email address at the time of enrollment, they give us the information we need to provide better care to the customer. Better care leads to happier, healthier customers who are more likely to stay with Cigna Healthcare. That means brokers can focus on new customer growth rather than book maintenance. So, in addition to the immediate monetary reward (i.e., VBE payments), they will also benefit from our higher retention rate and net promoter score (NPS). |
|||
Tags: Cigna, Medicare Advantage
|
Date: May 10, 2023 To: Medicare Advantage Organizations, Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Plans, Prescription Drug Plan Sponsors, and Section 1876 Cost Plans From: Kathryn A. Coleman, Director Subject: Definition of Marketing 📑 Download the official announcement In order to ensure Medicare beneficiaries are making enrollment decisions based on up-to-date and accurate information, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing this memo to clarify the definition of marketing for Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Plans, stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans, 1876 Cost Plans, and Third-Party Marketing Organizations (TPMOs). Regulations at 42 CFR §§ 422.2260 and 423.2260 define marketing as communication materials and activities which meet specific intent and content standards.
To date, CMS has permitted the mentioning of widely available benefits (i.e., vision, dental, premium reduction, and hearing) in materials or activities without those materials or activities being considered marketing subject to the marketing regulations. We did not believe the general descriptions were made with sufficient intent to draw attention to a particular plan or subset of plans. This interpretation was predicated on the assumption that a beneficiary would be unlikely to make an enrollment decision based on widely offered benefits advertised without information on the associated costs for enrollees. CMS monitors both organization and TPMO marketing by reviewing marketing and communication materials and activities, reviewing complaints received through 1-800-Medicare, and listening to marketing and enrollment calls. Due primarily to the recent proliferation of TPMO advertising, we have found, however, through our surveillance, reviews, and discussions with interested parties that many beneficiaries do inquire and some enroll based on the original advertisement of these types of benefits. Beneficiaries have contacted agents, made calls to 1-800 numbers, and responded to flyers asking about the dental, vision, hearing, and cost-savings being marketed. Therefore, we are expanding our interpretation of the regulatory definition of “marketing” to include content that mentions any type of benefit covered by the plan and is intended to draw a beneficiary's attention to plan or plans, influence a beneficiary's decision-making process when selecting a plan, or influence a beneficiary's decision to stay enrolled in a plan (that is, retention-based marketing) and thus subject to review. As stated above, marketing requires both intent and content. Content that beneficiaries can receive benefits such as dental, vision, cost-savings, and/or hearing services is sufficient information about plan benefits, benefits structure or cost sharing to meet the content standard in the definition of marketing in §§ 422.2260 and 423.2260. Further, the use of these statements in advertisements and activities directed to Medicare beneficiaries clearly meets the intent standard. Therefore, beginning July 10, 2023, any material or activity that is distributed via any means (e.g., mailing, television, social media, etc.) that mentions any benefit will be considered marketing and must be submitted into HPMS. This clarification, along with the new marketing safeguards codified in the Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly final rule (CMS-4201-F), will help ensure that beneficiaries have accurate information when shopping for Medicare coverage and are protected from potentially misleading marketing activities. Questions may be sent to marketing@cms.hhs.gov. Please copy your Marketing Reviewer.
|
Tags: CMS, Compliance, Marketing
|
Here are five common mistakes and what you can do to remain in compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) when working with Medicare beneficiaries on their coverage.
In this industry, we’re busy year-round, and unintentional mistakes can always happen. It’s important to stay on top of the application process and to know exactly what’s needed to remain compliant as we do business. |
|||
Tags: Compliance
|
The number one question facing agents in today’s complex lead generation environment is, “what lead generation technique is best?” What we’ve learned is that the most effective Medicare lead generation approach involves a smart mix of techniques to attract, engage, and nurture customers across a variety of channels. This approach ensures you are reaching customers in the places and spaces where they're most comfortable communicating. Remember: be where your customers are. EMPATHY IS POWERFUL The most successful agents start with a compassionate understanding of a customer’s life journey and demonstrate empathy and knowledge. People eligible for Medicare can find navigating the process complex. Therefore, it's critical to employ a comprehensive approach to building a thoughtful content strategy to communicate and inform. Effective lead generation starts by providing your target audience with education. Approaching your content marketing strategy by understanding the customer journey and motivations puts you in a stronger position to answer the most meaningful questions. YES! THE AGING POPULATIONS ARE ONLINE Traditionally, conventional marketing materials such as direct mail, print ads, referral programs, and educational brochures were sent directly to the customer’s home address. TV or radio spots were market-specific, but still targeted customers in their hometowns. Over the past ten years, a different dynamic has emerged. It’s no secret that the internet has changed everything, and social media platforms are now viewed as the primary source of mainstream news and information across all age demographics, even the aging population. The adoption of social media by the aging population can supercharge your online marketing efforts when they are shared with your target’s entire social networks, exponentially expanding your potential customer base. BE BOLD, GET CREATIVE! Building a content strategy is the process of establishing your personal brand, defining your relationship goals with target audiences, and creating a plan to deliver valuable and engaging content.
Most agents make the mistake of thinking of offline and online marketing as two entirely separate marketing approaches. The most-successful agents understand that using precise online data is a force multiplier for boosting the effectiveness of traditional IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS!
|
|||
Tags: Lead Generation, Marketing
|
On Wednesday, April 5, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued long-awaited rules pertaining to, among other matters, the marketing of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. These rules were developed with the intention of protecting Medicare beneficiaries from misleading or deceptive advertising practices. Our leadership quickly activated a task force to study the newly published rules in detail and clarify their implications for our agents' businesses. The new rules go into effect on June 5 and will be applicable on Sept. 30 for coverage beginning January 1, 2024. This means that they will impact activities that will take place during this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which begins on Oct. 15.
While the new CMS rules are applicable on Sept. 30, there are steps agents and agencies can start right now.
PSM anticipates rolling out insight and guidance over the coming weeks. While these efforts are underway, please continue to adhere to current compliance guidelines and submit any marketing materials developed over the normal course of business through your usual approval processes. Should you have questions related to the CMS announcement, please email them to info@psmbrokerage.com.
|
|||
Tags: Medicare Advantage, CMS, Marketing
|
Medicare Supplement is now available in Kansas and North Dakota LifeShield National Insurance Co. Medicare Supplement plans are now available in Kansas and North Dakota! Applications will be accepted as of May 8th through both paper applications and eApp.
The Kansas and North Dakota state-specific materials are available on the Digital Agent Kit. No need to remember your portal credentials - the Digital Agent Kit is just a click away, with immediate access to all your sales resources. Visit lifeshieldcombo.com to get your materials now! Expedite your client’s application with same day processing – no longer will your client need to wait days or weeks for their coverage to start. Point-of-sale underwriting decision notification for clean apps and declines, with 48-hour turnaround for referred underwritten cases.
LifeShield National Insurance Co. is an Oklahoma City-based life and health insurance company, and a member of the LifeShield National family of insurance companies. Together with its affiliates Individual Assurance Company Life, Health, & Accident, and Life Assurance Company, LifeShield has been protecting families for nearly 50 years with affordable life, health, and accident insurance solutions to help you live the life you choose. LifeShield National Insurance Co. is rated B++ (Good), the 5th highest rating possible out of a total of 16 by AM Best, a widely recognized independent insurance industry ratings firm. For the latest rating information, visit www.ambest.com
|
||||
Tags: LifeShield
