Please give us your feedback! Do you think Medicare’s penalizing hospitals for readmission rates will help bring down the cost in the long run? Should all healthcare providers, who are not participating, follow suit?
Source: LifeHealthPro |
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Medicare Blog | Medicare News | Medicare Information
Medicare - Readmission rates under the scope
Posted by Guadalupe Cantu on Fri, Aug 09, 2013 @ 09:00 AM
Tags: Health Insurance, Medicare, senior insurance market news, Patient readmission, Readmission rates
Medicare spending at its lowest in 50 years
Posted by www.psmbrokerage.com Admin on Fri, Aug 02, 2013 @ 09:32 AM
Please give us your feedback! What do you think of Medicare Part D program? Should there be a concern of seniors over spending on brand name drugs?
Source: LifeHealthPro |
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Tags: Health Insurance, Medicare, senior insurance market news, Medicare Part D, Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement
The HHS Agrees with the NAIC on Cost Sharing
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Jun 28, 2013 @ 09:09 AM
Please give us your feedback! Are you glad the HHS has taken the NAIC's advice not the impose nomial cost sharing? Are you surprised by the decision or were you expecting it?
Source: LifeHealthPro |
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Tags: Medicare News, senior insurance market news, health care reform, Stonebridge Medicare Supplement
Upholding the Health Care Law and its Effect on Medicare
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Jun 29, 2012 @ 10:54 AM
Other important things to note pertaining to the senior market is that from now until 2020 the “donut hole” is still in effect, with seniors receiving a 50% discount on covered brand name drugs; and, Medicare Advantage will continue with payment system reforms laid out in the ACA. Please give us your feedback! What is your take on the health care law being upheld? How do you think it will affect senior market insurance and Medicare Supplements? Source: Red Pen Edition, Wall Street Journal, Healthcare.gov |
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Tags: senior insurance market news, health insurance news, Combined Insurance Medicare Supplement, health care reform, industry news, Omaha Insurance Company
The study also showed that enrollment in Medigap is stable with 49% of those polled having maintained the same coverage for the past five years, and an additional 20% purchased for the first time during the five year period. Of those polled, 39% transferred from their Employer-sponsored coverage when they became eligible, and 34% switched from another form of coverage. Please give us your feedback! Have you seen an increase in client satisfaction? What percent of your clients have maintained the same policy for 5 years? Is that as common as the survey results make it seem? Source: ProtectMedigap.org |
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Tags: Medicare News, senior insurance market news, health insurance industry, insurance news, Heartland National Medicare Supplement, Combined Insurance Medicare Supplement
Please give us your feedback! Source: Search Engine Watch |
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Tags: Universal American Medicare Supplement, Success Tips, Web Tips, technology, Medicare Advantage, senior insurance market news, Leads, Forethought Medicare Supplement, industry news, Gerber Life Medicare Supplement
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
Debt Reduction Plan Likely to Fall Short on Votes
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Dec 03, 2010 @ 10:25 AM
The High Price for Retirement Health CareOResearch from the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) shows that sixty-five year olds who retire this year need to have saved more than $100,000 to cover their out-of-pocket health care costs including co-pays, premiums, and other non-reimbursed medical expenses while on Medicare. The researchers also revealed that costs are likely to be more for women (approximately $152,000) than men (approximately $124,000), since women tend to live longer than their male counterparts. Researchers believe that the health care reform bill will help cut some of those costs; however, the costs will remain high for expenses from the retiree. The EBRI research warns that Americans should be setting aside money for this expense and that four in ten Americans plan to delay retirement because of high costs and low income. Civil Right to Live at HomeThe right to live at home has been established in law and federal policy, based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which bans the discrimination on the basis of disability. Yet states are slow to create new programs to allow people who live in institutions such as nursing homes and state hospitals, but can live successfully on their own, do so. With states facing record budget cuts, and the federal policy being written for states to do home care within their existing budgets, Medicaid directors are nervous about the new policy that living at home is a civil right questioning where state responsibility ends and individual responsibility starts. Directors also question how they can assure people get good care at home, as sending inspectors to thousands of homes is way more involved than sending to a few nursing homes. Still, nearly 400,000 Americans are currently on the waiting list across the country hoping to have the choice to live at home and receive care. Gerber Life Medicare Supplement New Rates for MD, CO, MO, and NHEffective December 1, 2010 new rates for Maryland – please see the MD Notification and MD Rates. Effective December 15, 2010 new rates for Colorado and Missouri – please see the CO Notification, CO Rates, MO Notification, and MO Rates. Effective January 1, 2011 new rates for New Hampshire – please see the NH Notification and NH Rates. New Deductibles for 2011 Now AvailableMarketing materials that reflect the new 2011 deductibles are now available. Please consult your marketing director for more information. Or, call 1-800-998-7715 to get contracted for 2011 today! Sources: KHN, The New York Times, MSNBC, The Hill, NPR |
Tags: senior market news, Medicare Supplement, Senior Market, senior insurance market news, health care reform, Gerber Life Medicare Supplement, Medicaid
Medicare Cuts Costs of Medical EquipmentOn January 1, 2011 the first of the baby boomer generation will begin qualifying for Medicare. In preparation of this sergeant of new people claiming benefits, Medicare will begin cutting the prices it will pay for some wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators, and other medical equipment by 30%. Beginning in the Inland Empire of California; as well as, Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Kansas City, MO, this plan will not only lower the cost for American taxpayers but the Medicare recipient as well, with anticipated savings of $17 billion over the next 10 years. Counteracting the huge increase of health costs, the new plan will require companies to bid for the right to sell this medical equipment through Medicare in order to combat inflated prices and fraud. Bidding began last year, the list of winners will be released soon, and Medicare officials say the plan includes 48% small business. However, critics point out problems with this plan such as lack of binding commitments, the use of composite bids, flawed pricing, and a lack of transparency. Also, the critics fear that product supply and service will go down with the influx of new business. Some even wonder if the plan will really launch January 1st. Medicare and Advanced CancerIn a study conducted by Camelia S. Sima, M.D., M.S., of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York on 87,736 Medicare beneficiaries with advanced cancer, her findings revealed that screenings on advanced cancer patients with less than 2 years life expectancy serves no meaningful benefit. Thus, her study suggests Medicare deny coverage for those patient's screenings. Cancer screening's primary purpose is the early detection of cancer, and this process has resulted in the decline in deaths from cancer. However, in advanced cancer, screenings can lead to over diagnosis and causing unnecessary risk due to testing, biopsies, not to mention psychological distress. The study found that screenings were more common with patients who had a history of screening at regular intervals, since the use of electronic medical records that set reminders for procedures. Sima concluded that in limited life expectancy from advanced cancer, screenings were not found useful and therefore Medicare might not provide coverage for the procedure in those patients. PSM on FacebookAfter the great feedback on our Facebook Guide for Senior Insurance Agents, we are pleased to announce you can now “Like” PSM for all of the latest senior insurance news, product releases, offers, contests, and blog posts. Join our community of senior insurance agents, like yourself. Click here to follow PSM on Facebook. See you there! Sources: The Associated Press, Redland's Daily Facts, Senior Journal |
Tags: Medicare, Senior Market, Medicare News, senior insurance market news, Senior News