Medicare Blog | Medicare News | Medicare Information

Nationwide, Medicare beneficiaries have been reporting scam phone calls that inform them a new Medicare card is in the mail. If your senior clients ask you about this, please advise them to hang up on these suspicious callers and do not fall for this attempt at gaining access to their personal information.

How the scam works:
A senior answers the phone and an unknown caller, usually with an accent, claims to be with Medicare or another government office. He will inform them that their new Medicare card is in the mail and they will receive it in a few days. However, in the meantime they need to set up their direct deposit so their Medicare funds can be deposited into their bank account. All they need to do is tell the caller their banking information and he will take care of the rest.

An alternative method has the caller asking the senior to verify their identity in order to receive their new card. They will ask for their Medicare card number (social security number) as well as other personal information they can then use to steal their identity.

Here’s how your clients can avoid Medicare Card Identity Theft:

1. Don’t carry their Medicare card in their wallet. If the card is lost or stolen the scammer can use the information to commit identity theft.
   
   
2. Don’t give their information over the Internet, over the phone, or to anyone to goes into their home uninvited. Only give personal information to doctors and providers approved by Medicare.
   
   
3. If they suspect identity theft, or feel like they’ve given their personal information to someone they shouldn’t have, they need to call the Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Hotline at 1-877-438-4338.

Hopefully your senior clients won’t be targeted by this scam; however, it’s always best to be prepared in case. See Medicare.gov for more information about Medicare fraud, ID theft and other issues.

Source: The Banner

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Five Key "Truths" About Our Industry

There are a lot of benefits to working as a senior insurance agent. Frankly, the industry is booming, and with 10,000 seniors aging into Medicare every day it won’t be slowing down any time soon. If you are considering getting into insurance or switching from a different niche of the industry, there are some things you should keep in mind for best chance at success.

Five key "truths" about our industry:

1. You are a salesperson
   
   It’s important to accept that as a salesperson you need to be good at selling. Obviously, this doesn’t mean selling a senior a product they do not need or cannot afford at that time. It means becoming their trusted advisor and educating them to choose the products that will help them live comfortably from the beginning of their retirement to when their needs change as they continue to age.
   
   
2. You are running a business
   
   You are now the owner of your own small business and you are your only job security. This might seem scary at first – or it might seem liberating – however, your highest priority is going to be making a profit and staying in business. Three things that will help you are prospecting, closing, and servicing your clients. The majority of your time day in and day out should be spent focused on these activities.
   
   
3. You cannot "wing it."
   
   You need to have a plan to follow every day; the number of calls you need to make and a script ready for every call. This way you can insure you say exactly what you need to in the most efficient way possible. Remember to practice your scripts until they come naturally and don’t sound canned or rushed. This will help you to increase your ratio of prospects turning into clients.
   
   
4. You have to work hard
   
   The Med Supp business is booming but it’s also competitive. You will need to push yourself harder than everyone else. As Zig Ziglar, a famous motivational speaker once said, "The harder you are on yourself, the easier life will be on you." If you put in the hours and are willing to do the work it takes, you will find yourself poised for a successful venture in the industry.
   
   
5. You must take 100% responsibility for your business
   
   If your numbers aren’t where you want them to be, own up to them. See that as a warning sign and make the necessary changes. Maybe you need to start marketing online with a website or selling Medicare Supplements over the phone. Instead of making excuses outside of yourself take control of your business and become in control of your success.
   
   

PSM is your partner for success in the senior insurance market.

Call us today at (800) 998-7715 and speak with one of our dedicated Marketing Representatives.

Source: LifeHealthPro

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Due to the proposed tax included in the health care reform, those seniors in Medicare Advantage will be facing a $50-$90 per month increase in premiums and/or reductions in benefits next year. This week, new Oliver Wyman data released by America’s Health Insurance Plans’ (AHIP) Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) provided a breakdown of which states would be most impacted.

Seniors in Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Texas will be hit hardest with their plans increasing $80-$90 a month. California seniors are expected to face a $70-$80 a month increase on their premiums. Most other states will see increases of $50-$60 a month with North Dakota seeing the lowest increase of just $30-$40 a month in premiums.



In the past week 120 members of Congress have expressed their concerns about the impact the new cuts will have on seniors. Twenty-two Senators sent a bipartisan letter to the CMS about their concern saying "we are concert that the proposals could result in reduced access for our constituents who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Plans have informed us that they may exit certain markets as a result of CMS’ proposal." The ninety-eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ letter stated, "The assumption on the SGR is particularly problematic because it almost certainly will turn out to be wrong and it directly translates into lower funding to support the health benefits of the 14 million Medicare beneficiaries who currently are enrolled in MA plans."

Meanwhile, AHIP has offered a recommendation to stabilize the program and avoid significant disruption to seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage. The 2014 MA payment rates are scheduled to be finalized April 1.

Precision Senior Marketing will be closed after 1pm Friday, March 29 for the Easter holiday weekend. Regular 8am-5pm CDT hours will resume Monday, April 1. We wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday. We appreciate your business and the opportunity to serve your needs.

Source: Marketwatch, MedicareChoices.org

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When you think about doubling your sales you most likely think that it would take twice as much time and money spent prospecting and selling. However, according to Donal Daly, CEO of TAS Group, an agency focused on helping sales professionals be more productive and effective, that’s not always the case. They’ve identified that you can double your sales by making small incremental improvements to your sales process. Here’s what you can do to work toward doubling your sales:

1. Pre-qualify your sales leads 20% more accurately. By purchasing higher quality leads you are less likely to be calling the people not in your target demographic. Take a look at what areas you have been successful and where you haven’t been doing as well. Create a quick profile of your ideal customer and target those specifically.
   
   
2. Disqualify your sales leads 20% faster. At this point in your career you’ve learned to identify pretty quickly which prospects don’t need your product or don’t have the money to afford it. Don’t waste time with those false opportunities! Politely end the conversation as quickly as possible and move on to the next prospect.
   
   
3. Close 20% more of your opportunities. Obviously, the more opportunities you close the more customers you will have, and thus the more money you will be making. However, where doubling or tripling your close rate is probably impractical right away, anyone can make a 20% improvement. The easiest way to do this is to stop trying to sell and instead listen for your “go-ahead signals” during conversations with prospects. Put aside a fear of failure and ask for the business.
   
   
4. Increase the average value of each deal by 20%. There is a fixed amount of time and money connected to each of your sales efforts. Making two deals for $300 each takes far more time and effort than one deal for $600. Therefore, it’s important to constantly be aware of additional ways that you can help the customer. Maybe they might also be interested in a Final Expense or a Hospital Indemnity product during a Medicare presentation. This is not upselling; it’s providing a better service to your client.

Then numbers work out like this:
How much you’re selling now: $100k
After eliminating 20% of your bad leads: $120k (better use of time)
After disqualifying 20% more non-opportunities: $144k (better time usage)
After a 20% increase in your conversion rate: $173k
After a 20% increase your average total sales could be: $207k

For any questions or further discussion on improving your sales or the best lead companies feel free to contact your PSM marketer at 1-800-998-7715.

Source: Inc.

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No matter if you are just getting into the senior market or have been in the industry for years, selling Medicare supplements or med supp over the phone is a great way to expand your business. When you prospect over the phone, you are able to broaden your sales horizon beyond your immediate driving area and allow yourself a virtually unlimited selling territory with no travel requirements. Therefore, you can connect with an entirely new market of qualified prospects, no matter the distance.

By tapping into this national pool of prospects you’ll see increased productivity through your ability to “see more people” in your normal workday. Having this freedom will additionally allow you to cherry pick your territory by marketing to areas where you know your products are the most competitive. You’ll reduce your daily overhead through savings on gasoline, tolls and parking, and also save time through the elimination of unnecessary paperwork further increasing overall productivity and efficiency.

When it comes to the sales process, a few options are available for completing an application over the phone. Most popular to agents, many carriers have developed electronic application (e-app) or telephonic application technology to speed up and simplify the process. Among these carriers you’ll find Mutual of Omaha, Cigna Medicare Supplement Solutions, Equitable Life & Casualty, Heartland National, Combined Insurance of America, and Sentinel Security Life.

The senior insurance market is exploding and selling Medicare supplements by phone will help you use technology to your advantage to reach prospects virtually anywhere in the United States, from the comfort of your work space. For more tips on selling med supp by phone, please contact your marketer at 1-800-998-7715.

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This week America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) warned that the potential 2.3 percent reduction in Medicare Advantage payments proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) combined with PPACA's payment cuts will result in benefit reductions and premium increases of $50 to $90 on average. These cuts would affect 14 million seniors which is roughly 28 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries. An analysis prepared for AHIP states that the effect of the changes from both PPACA and the new payment cuts will result in an estimated 6.9 to 7.8 percent cut to Medicare Advantage plans in 2014.

The cuts were proposed last week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). New rules will be published by CMS on April 1, 2013. Subsidies will be slashed and access to the report will be severely restricted, according to the AMAC industry analysts.

The analysis was made by actuaries at Oliver Wyman and was prepared for AHIP. The Oliver Wyman report states, "Virtually all of the 14.1 million Medicare beneficiaries are likely to be affected by these changes, either through increased premiums, reduced benefits, or plan exits from local markets."

The major impact of these changes will reduce Medicare Advantage in 2014 by more than eight percent or nearly $11 billion. Understandably, health insurance stocks reacted to the news negatively and took a hit. The costs per person for Medicare Advantage plans are a bigger drop than many analysts had anticipated.

So far in 2013, only four percent of PPACA's $200 billion in Medicare Advantage cuts have gone into effect. However, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that, after it's fully phased in, the cuts alone will result in three million less people in the program. The PPACA's new health insurance tax will begin in 2014 and Oliver Wyman has previously estimated that this tax alone will cause approximately $220 in higher out-of-pocket costs for seniors, reduced benefits for next year, and $3,500 in additional costs of the next 10 years.

AHIP contrasted the cuts by releasing projections for medical cost increasing three percent. Karen Ignagni of AHIP stated "The proposed changes to Medicare Advantage payments are a crushing blow to the millions of seniors and people with disabilities who count on this critically important part of Medicare."

Source: LifeHealthPro

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Phoenix is now offering Remembrance Life, a whole life policy with some very unique riders helping your clients leave a lasting legacy for their loved ones. Phoenix Remembrance can protect those special moments in life; a child or grandchild’s birthday, graduation, going off to college or even your client’s retirement.

Precision Senior Marketing is proud to be an exclusive distributor offering top level direct contracts on the complete Phoenix portfolio.

Phoenix Remembrance Product Highlights:

• Whole Life insurance with Additional Income Coverage Rider (AICR)
• Coverage includes lump-sum and monthly income stream death benefits
• Total coverage amounts $10,000-$100,000 (base plus AICR)
• Issue Ages 30-80
• Simplified Issue Underwriting
• Included riders: Accidental Death, Terminal Illness and Critical Illness

The optional riders available for Phoenix Remembrance make the product unique and versatile.

These optional riders include*:
Legacy Rider – A way for clients to leave a lasting legacy, by sending a birthday present each year, of up to $500
Educational Benefit Rider – Up to $5,000, in four annual payments, for a client’s beneficiary to further their education
Income Term Rider – Helps provide income replacement protection in case of a premature death
Lifetime Income Rider – Designed to help your clients replace Social Security benefits or other income they may lose due to insured’s death

* Available at an additional premium. Age restrictions vary by rider.  For all riders, the named Rider Beneficiary must be alive to receive benefit payments. Rider benefits are only
available upon the death of the insured and will cease at the earlier of the death of the Rider Beneficiary or the term
stated in each rider.

These benefits are discussed in greater detail in the Phoenix Remembrance Quick Reference Guide and Product Summary.

To request information and get contracted on this new, innovative, product please click the “Request Information” link below or call your marketer at 800.998.7715.

Phoenix Remembrance Life (ICC12FEWL) is whole life insurance issued by PHL Variable Insurance Company (PHLVIC) (Hartford, CT). PHLVIC is not authorized to conduct business in Maine and New York. In Maine and New York, Phoenix Remembrance Life is issued by Phoenix Life Insurance Company (PLIC) (East Greenbush, NY). These insurers are separate entities and each is responsible only for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Members of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. The Phoenix Companies, Inc. and Precision are not affiliates. Payment guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. 38680 4/13

For agent use only. Not for use with the public as sales literature.

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We are pleased to announce that with Precision Senior Marketing, you now have the opportunity to offer Equitable Life's Medicare Supplement Plans. For over 75 years, Equitable Life has provided top-notch Life and Health insurance plans, backed by superior, friendly personalized service, to consumers and agents across this country.

Now is a great time to add Equitable Life to your senior portfolio and provide your senior clients with some of the most competitive plans in the market.

Equitable Life has New Lower Rates on their Medicare Supplement Plans

13 States Approved with New Lower Rates:
AL, DE, IA, IL, KY, MI, MT, NM, NV, OK, SD, TN & VA

More State Approvals Coming Soon:
AR, AZ, CO, CT, GA,ID, IN, KS, LA, ME, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, WV, WY

Please see the Equitable Life Med Supp Competitive Comparison for how Equitable’s rates stack up against the competition.

Agent Benefits Include:

• Competitive Rates
• Excellent Commissions
• Direct Company Contract
• Advancing Available
• Voice Application - Great for phone sales
• 5 Star Service and Support

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