Cigna Broker Insights: November 2025 - Edition 11.2

2026 Medicare cost shares

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2026 cost shares. MA and CSB Medicare Supplement insurance members will receive letters summarizing the changes, and you can expect updated outlines of coverage on the broker portal soon.

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Are you ready for an enhanced broker portal experience?

HealthSpring is counting down the days to December 15, when they launch the new broker portal! On that date, HealthSpring will email you a new link and login details. When you log in, you'll find an enhanced hub for all your business needs with us, including a new contracting system for all Medicare brokers, and an upgraded commissions experience for MA and PDP brokers.

Excited for the changes? Expect to receive an email in a few weeks with details specific to your access requirements, including on-demand and other training opportunities.

Don't forget:

• HealthSpring is retiring their current contracting systems in preparation for the new one. The blackout period starts this coming Friday, November 28. Read the details here.
• Have a direct login to Producers' University? This access will retire on December 15. After this date, you'll access this site exclusively through the broker portal. If you don't already have a broker portal login set up, click here for instructions. Once you set up this login, you'll have single sign-on access to training and other resources found in Producers' University.

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December training schedule

There are limited trainings scheduled in December which includes important courses you don't want to miss! Register for a session to learn about retention strategies, the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), Supplemental products and more!

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Temporary SEP for year one of the Medicare Plan Finder MA Provider Directory

For your awareness, CMS has a new Special Election Period (SEP) for 2026 – Code: DIR SEP. This SEP allows beneficiaries who enrolled directly through the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF) to make a plan change if the MPF Provider Directory included incorrect information and is only valid for 1/1/26-12/31/26 enrollments. The intent of this SEP is to allow an individual who relied on the MPF Provider Directory to make a change to their MA plan election to stay with their preferred providers.

To use this SEP, beneficiaries must call 1-800-MEDICARE to have a representative confirm that their enrollment occurred through the MPF and then process the enrollment change. Beneficiaries will be able to make a new MA (MA-only or MAPD) plan election, disenroll from their current MA plan to return to Original Medicare, or make a Part D plan election or return to Original Medicare with Part D coverage. Elections will be prospective, effective on the first day of the month after the application date. This SEP is available for three months after the plan's effective date.

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HealthSpring Flex card delivering soon!

Great news! MA members will soon be receiving their 2026 HealthSpring Flex cards in the mail. The HealthSpring Flex card is a one-card solution to utilize multiple plan benefits. All MA members who are enrolled in a plan with a 2026 effective date will receive a pre-activated Visa® debit card that is loaded with the benefits in their specific plan (along with earned incentive rewards) upon enrollment. The card's benefit funds are loaded on a quarterly basis and can be used similarly to a debit card at over 70,000 in-network retailers, including Walgreens.com.

Please remind your clientele that they can continue to use their current flex card through the end of the 2025.

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Using your NPN on MA applications

Starting on January 1, 2026, CMS will require agents to include their National Producer Number (NPN) on the enrollment application if they assisted their client in completing it. To avoid enrollment processing or commission delays, please be sure to include your NPN whenever you submit an application

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Supplemental Benefits: HealthSpring is almost here! Here's what to expect.

As CSB transitions to HealthSpring Supplemental Benefits (HSB) in January, you'll start seeing product launch and other supplemental benefits-specific emails in the HealthSpring brand. In the new year, they will share the new HSB branding requirements, including brand licensing agreement and new email submission address.

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CSB member communications in December

CSB members will receive a letter and/or and email in December announcing the new HealthSpring brand! These communications share what the rebrand means (a new look, but no changes to coverage and support) and what to expect in coming months (member ID cards, portal changes, rebranded benefits documents).

Click here to view a sample communication. This letter is also stored on the broker portal, under Tools > Rebrand Updates.

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