|
This is a good read on the lack of dental coverage provided by Medicare and the important role of a insurance agent to help keep beneficiaries covered. PSM offers an array of dental plans available to our agents along with the guidance on how to best incorporate into your business. From the article... Many people view Medicare as the gold standard of United States health coverage, and any attempt to cut it incurs the wrath of older Americans, a politically powerful group. But there are substantial coverage gaps in traditional Medicare. One of them is care for your teeth. Almost one in five adults of Medicare eligibility age (65 years old and older) have untreated cavities. The same proportion have lost all their teeth. Half of Medicare beneficiaries have some periodontal disease, or infection of structures around teeth, including the gums. Bacteria from such infections can circulate elsewhere in the body, contributing to other health problems such as heart disease and strokes. And yet traditional Medicare does not cover routine dental care, like checkups, cleanings, fillings, dentures and tooth extraction. Paying for dental care out of pocket is hard for many Medicare beneficiaries. Half have annual incomes below $23,000 per year. Those who have the means, but are looking for a deal, might travel abroad for cheaper dental care. Tens of thousands of Americans go to Mexico every year for dental work at lower prices. Many others travel the globe for care. Although low-income Medicare beneficiaries can also qualify for Medicaid, that’s of little help for those living in states with gaps in Medicaid dental coverage. According to a study published in Health Affairs, in a given year, three-quarters of low-income Medicare beneficiaries do not receive any dental care at all. Among higher-income beneficiaries, the figure is about one-quarter. Traditional Medicare will cover dental procedures that are integral to other covered services. So if your Medicare-covered hospital procedure involved dental structures in some way, important related dental care would be covered. But paying for any other care is up to the patient. Lack of dental coverage by Medicare is among the top concerns of beneficiaries. The program also lacks coverage for hearing, vision or long-term care services. However, many Medicare Advantage plans — private alternatives to the traditional program — cover these services. For example, 58 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees have coverage for dental exams. In receiving these benefits through private plans, enrollees are also subject to plans’ efforts to limit use by, for example, requiring prior authorization or offering narrow networks of providers. These restrictions can be problematic for some beneficiaries, and about two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries opt for the traditional program, not a private plan. Adding a dental benefit to Medicare is popular. A Families USA survey of likely voters found that the vast majority (86 percent) of likely voters support doing so. The survey also found that when people do not see a dentist, the top reason is cost. Ms. Willink’s study estimated that a Medicare dental benefit that covered three-quarters of the cost of care would increase Medicare premiums by $7 per month, or about 5 percent. The rest would need to be financed by taxes. The cost of such a benefit might be offset — or partly offset — by reductions in other health care spending, reflecting the fact that poor oral health contributes to other health problems. Making a case for this in the political arena would not be easy, though. The initial cost would be an inviting target for politicians who express concern about fiscal prudence, regardless of any potential long-term gain. But expanding Medicare has been done before. In 2006, a prescription drug benefit was added to the program. The law for that program was enacted in 2003, and in that same year, the surgeon general released a report calling for dental care to be treated and covered like other health care. Whether by Medicaid or Medicare, that wish is still unfulfilled. As you can see, more than ever it is important to carry a strong dental product in your portfolio. We would love to assist with any questions you have and make sure you offer this comprehensive coverage to your clients Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/upshot/medicare-missing-dental-coverage.html |
||
| Additional Updates: | ||
|
Tags: dental hearing and vision insurance, Medicare Sales, Sales Strategies
|
Insurance agents can provide something their insurtech rivals cannot: a human touch. Independent insurance agents don’t need to fear that they’ll be replaced by insurtech startups powered by artificial intelligence. Recent studies reveal that insurance customers still want to talk to a live agent, especially when they need to file a claim or buy a complex product. According to a recent survey conducted by insurance technology provider Vertafore, 60% of nearly American consumers worry that an AI-generated insurance purchasing process might automatically reject their coverage request, even when a human agent would likely give them a policy. Even tech-savvy Millennials shared this concern, with nearly 50% claiming that they’d prefer to buy an insurance contract from a live agent. These findings are no surprise to Vertafore’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer BJ Schaknowski. Speaking at recent conference, he stressed that since insurance is a complicated subject, people feel more confident speaking to someone who can guide them to the “right protection for their family and business.” The Vertafore survey is all the more evidence that independent agents can still compete with insurtech startups. Build Relationships through Technology As the Vertafore survey indicates, consumers overwhelmingly prefer human interaction when buying insurance, as 72% said they were turned off by the prospect of purchasing it with a chatbot. Insurance agents, however, cannot ignore recent technologies that are rapidly transforming the industry. Prospects and clients expect a user-friendly and robust web presence, complete with digital portals that enable them to search for information, submit payments, or handle basic inquiries. Rather than resist these services, successful agents utilize the latest technologies like online lead generation systems, automated email and marketing campaigns, and AI-powered programs to engage with clients and prospects more regularly than ever. In other words, they use technology to cultivate a deeper relationship with their clients — not as a vehicle to offload all customer service functions to a digital system. When an agent responds to a client’s comment on Facebook or Twitter or through a text, he or she is doing so as a human — not a bot. The challenge for independent agents in today’s tech-driven world is to set themselves apart from their insurtech rivals by providing a human touch — even when that human touch comes through technology. It’s what clients and prospects alike want and expect. |
||
| Additional Updates: | ||
Tags: technology, Medicare Sales, Sales Strategies, sales
|
Please give us your feedback! What do you do if your business gets into a rut? What suggestions do you have for other agents who might be facing the same problem?
Source: LifeHealthPro |
||
| Additional Updates: | ||
|
When things are going well, picking the low-hanging fruit works and your business continues to run. The process is easier and it’s comfortable because you’ve gotten so good at the technique needed to turn those prospects to clients. Some producers continue with this method because they feel like the risk isn’t greater than the reward. Take courage to stretch yourself and your business! Tags: Success Tips, Senior Market Advice, Senior Market Success, Medicare Sales, Stonebridge Medicare Supplement, Cigna Medicare Supplement
|
Medicare Advantage:
The changes to ACA may even prove positive for the Medicare Supplement market. Medicare Supplements will not be affected by minimum loss ratio changes or any major plan changes, whereas the Medicare Advantage market will most likely have a higher minimum loss radio requirement and continued political pressure on funding. Please give us your feedback! Do you think the ACA will affect your Medicare Supplement sales? Your Medicare Advantage sales?
Source: CSG Actuarial |
The largest portion of healthcare reform Affordability and Accountability Act "ACA" is set to go into effect in 2014. For the most part the Medicare Supplement market will be largely unaffected by ACA with most of the impact resulting indirectly from changes to Medicare Advantage. Tags: senior market news, Medicare Supplement, Medicare News, Medicare Advantage News, Medicare Sales
 For the month of April, Cigna Medicare Supplement has put a Visa Gift Card contest in place for their active writing agents. The ground rules are to sell as many ARLIC Medicare Supplement policies as possible during the entire month of April and win a Visa Gift Card for applications issued within the month. Gift cards will be given in the following increments:  |
||
| Additional Updates: | ||
|
Tags: Sales Tips, Senior Market Success, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Sales, Cigna Medicare Supplement
|
Cigna, one of the biggest names in the insurance industry, is releasing a new Medicare Supplement in the following states: AL, CO, IA, OK, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MS, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WY. The Medicare Supplement is insured by the American Retirement Life Insurance Company and features competitive rates nationwide.
Contact us today at 1-800-998-7715 or click the link below to complete your contracting and start selling! |
||
| Additional Updates: | ||
|
Tags: Cigna, senior market news, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Sales, Cigna Medicare Supplement
|
 Request Information online or give us a call at 1-800-998-7715 to be assured you get your choice of pharmacy. Locations are limited and filling up fast! We hope that you take this opportunity and look forward to continuing to offer you ways to grow and strengthen your business in the future. DM081312 |
||
| Additional Updates: | ||
|
As the summer starts to wind down, kids come home from camp and the Olympics close, it’s once again important to start thinking about your plans for the Annual Election Period starting October 15th. Soon, kids will be back in school, and you’ll be tailgating at your favorite football team’s games. Your fall schedule will be in effect, so start to plan now and ease the transition into the busiest time for your Medicare sales. This year Precision Senior Marketing has partnered with independent drug stores and select large national pharmacy chain locations to offer our agents a Retail Pharmacy Program second to none. This is an exciting opportunity to help you reach and exceed your business plan for the season.Tags: Sales Tips, Senior Market Success, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Referrals, Medicare Sales, Customer Service, Building Client Relationships, Annual Election Period
|
Whether it's meeting with clients virtually or getting involved in your community, the success of your agency depends on how well you execute your marketing ideas. As John Comer, CFP or Comer Consulting acknowledges, "Marketing is easy to understand but hard to execute." If you have any questions about executing an unconventional marketing strategy, call your PSM marketer at 1-800-998-7715 for tips and techniques to get it off the ground successfully.
Source: InsuranceNewsNet |
Agencies grow using a variety of marketing, some more common than others. If you've reached a brick wall and your pipeline isn't as full as you'd like it to be, now is the time to look into jump starting your marketing techniques from a new angle. Although some marketing may seem unorthodox, as Maribeth Kuzmeski from Red Zone Marketing advises, "It's how you get your message out and how you drive others to you. There's not an advisor I know who has too many people to see." Tags: Sales Tips, Web Tips, technology, Referrals, Leads, Medicare Sales, Customer Service, Professional Networking
|
Lookin for Medicare Supplement coverage? Get a Medigap quote. Please give us your feedback! Source: Mark Farrah Associates |
||
| Additional Updates: | ||
|
Medicare Supplement figures from MFA’s Medicare Supplement Market Data, Health Coverage Portal show a continued growth in the number of new policies being issued. New policies issued in the last three years increased by 7.5% in 2011 when compared to the previous year’s data; resulting in 9.9 million seniors being covered by Medicare Supplements as of December 31, 2011. Tags: Medicare Supplement, insurance news, Medicare Sales, Gerber Life Medicare Supplement, Baby Boomers
|
Please give us your feedback! |
||
| Additional Updates: | ||
|
Medicare Select is one of the best kept secrets of today’s top producing agents. Medicare Select offers all of the great benefits of a traditional Medicare Supplement but costs approximately 15% - 20% less. Your clients are able to visit their doctor of choice, without the need for approval or pre-certification. If hospital care is needed, your clients may visit any of the hospitals that are affiliated with their Medicare Select Insurance policy, anywhere in the country*.Tags: United Healthcare Medicare Supplement, Medicare Sales, Creating Value, Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement, Medicare Select