Agent Blog

If you're not selling Amerigroup Medicare Supplement Plans - It's time to start! They have an exciting limited time opportunity for you to earn more when you sell Amerigroup Medicare Supplement plans in Arizona with 12/1/2021 – 4/1/2022 effective dates.*

This week, Wellcare focuses on some important enrollment guidelines and spotlight their PPO product. View post for details.

Information about the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be changing daily, and it’s often hard to understand everything we read and hear. Excellus BCBS sat down with Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick to get answers to some of your most asked questions.

Humana's topic of the week is Humana Retail Agent Services: Introducing a dedicated sales agent phone line - sales agents will have one dedicated phone line to call for help with Medicare pre- and post- enrollment questions.

Starting March 2022, Wellcare is introducing the My Wellcare Rewards program powered by Healthmine. This is a new program that encompasses all former member reward programs for Legacy WellCare and Legacy Centene Medicare Advantage members.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is still applicable and runs through March 31. However, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s 5-star HMO plans allow Medicare members to qualify for the 5-star SEP.

Humana's topic of the week is LIS Strategy Plans: They Have Even More When Using Humana Pharmacy. Read on to learn more!

Effective April 1, ConnectiCare is increasing broker compensation for your ConnectiCare Dual Plan members’ completed health risk assessments (HRAs) from $50 to $100.

Ensure that your Medicare Advantage members have quick and easy access to their benefits, especially wherever they are nowadays!

UPMC for Life provides access to thousands of high-quality doctors and hospitals across PA. They want to help you understand what that means and how your clients can benefit.

Humana's topic of the week is DSNP Enrollment Process Improvement. The job aid inside will assist with step by step instructions and how to submit the Medicaid award letter and information.

Sometimes, being an independent agent can feel like you’re on an island with no point of comparison for how you’re feeling or performing compared to others. Not too long ago, we sent a survey to our agents asking about their experience with this AEP, and we’re pleased to announce that the results are in! 

Present your clients with a variety of SureBridge supplemental plan options designed to help them close coverage gaps and round-out their overall health coverage. When you do, you could earn $25 in addition to your commissions for every eligible plan issued!

Wellcare will continue to cover COVID-19 testing, free of cost to the member, when performed in an official testing location, and/or when the test is ordered by a physician, non-physician practitioner, pharmacist, or other authorized health care professional. See post for details.

Humana's topic of the week is Sales Resources at Your Fingertips. Inspired by agent request, the carrier has created a sales resource sheet for 2022. There are links to many of the items agents have asked for included in the attachment. See the post to view and download.

This week’s topic of the week is Service Inquiry. When you need help on an existing member or a new application, service inquiry is the way to go. You can even direct Humana to reach out to your member to help resolve. View the post for more information, including an FAQ sheet and service inquiry job aid from Humana.

As hard as we work and as diligent as we are, we all make professional mistakes once in a while! With that said, there are several benefits to independent health insurance agents for purchasing and maintaining E&O insurance. Read on to learn more.

As We Move Into 2022, Members May Notice An Unwelcomed Change In Their Monthly Part B Premium Amounts, Which Rose To $170.10 – Up 14.55% (More Than Double What Was Anticipated) From The 2021 Monthly Premium Of $148.50. Read about this and more in Excellus' Medicare Broker News.

Be a resource for helping to navigate your client's benefits utilization with Clover Health. Clover provides helpful guides outlining their benefits so that you can easily assist your clients! See post for details.

On February 9th, 2022, CMS provided an updated Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMG) document for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, section 1876 cost plans, and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. These requirements also apply to Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs), except as modified in state-specific marketing guidance for each state’s demonstration. View the post for the full update.

Anthem CT wants to know how they can help you - they are here for you and want to help you reach your goals. See inside for details on their 2022 Hot Sheet, HRA submission information, and the Medicare Supplement bonus.

The deadline for brokers' submission of completed HRAs for Medicare members has been extended to February 28, 2022. This extension applies to members having effective dates of Jan. 1, 2022 and Feb. 1, 2022.

This week’s topic of the week is Rewards Programs. If you are engaging with Humana, they want you to be rewarded for all that you do. The step-by-step directions are inside for the two programs that you can enroll in. These programs benefit you and your members.

***UPDATE: Good News! The SecureWise Term Life product will remain available in Virginia for new sales. Original Message: On February 9, 2022, the SecureWise Term Life product will be temporarily removed from the SureBridge Point of Sale (POS) Tool for new sales in the state of Virginia.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in New Jersey. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in certain NY counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Virginia. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in all Maryland counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

This week’s topic of the week is OEP Guide and Election Codes. The guide will help you identify who qualifies to use OEP as an enrollment period and what the guardrails are around marketing. We’ve also attached the election code document to help you identify other enrollment periods that might help you with enrolling beneficiaries.

Anthem CT has released a new Applicant Road Map to give agents a visual overview of what members can expect during the application process. View the post to see this and more, such as examples of the cards your beneficiaries can expect to receive in the mail.

A unique date is coming up this month, and we thought WHY NOT have a fun incentive to celebrate and throw some cash your way? View post for details.

Please see the message from Cigna inside regarding an update on cash cards and grocery cards for 2022 - Most customers received the card to use the grocery benefit earlier this month, but due to a technical issue, some customers did not receive their card.

Maintaining your members and having topics to touch on with them during the first 90 days will help you with loyalty and service. View post for a link to Humana's Member Retention Guide.

The federal government issued a public notice requiring commercial health plans to cover up to eight at-home testing kits per month per covered individual for diagnostic use starting January 15 and continuing through the Coronavirus public health emergency period, which has been extended to April 15, 2022.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in New Jersey. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

If you receive questions from your clients regarding SSBCI benefit eligibility, you can use the following information to validate eligibility and determine if a member call to Wellcare Customer Service by your client is needed.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Missouri. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in South Carolina. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Georgia. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in North Carolina. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Updates to the SureBridge Point of Sale tool will begin around 7 PM CST Thursday, January 20 which could cause the system to be temporarily unavailable. View the post to see the updates that will be made to the POS tool.

If you’re an independent health insurance agent looking for a competitive edge, read on to learn about the benefits of joining the National Association of Health Underwriters.

Beginning Jan. 15, BlueCross and BlueChoice will reimburse eligible members for the purchase of over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic tests that have been authorized, cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. View post to see the list of qualifying tests and FAQs.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Virginia. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

To help spread the word about their SNP plans and the competitive benefits that come with them, UPMC uses targeted direct mail. The SNP direct mail initiative is sent out to Medicare and Medicaid eligible prospects on a quarterly basis. View post to learn about what's inside these packages.

OEP is an election period from January 1 to March 31 that allows current Medicare Advantage plan beneficiaries to make changes to their plan. View the post to learn more.

2022 is here, and so is Cigna's new rewards program! Start the year right with more opportunities, more support, and more ways to win. See what you can earn inside.

Clover Health announced Medicare Advantage (MA) membership growth of over 25% versus the beginning of 2021, outpacing the overall industry growth average of approximately 10% year-over-year.

Get a jumpstart on 2022 Medico Medicare Supplement sales with a new incentive. From Jan. 1, 2022, through March 31, 2022, you can earn bonuses after just three approved and taken Medicare Supplement applications. See post for details.

Need info on Humana's OTC Benefits? Look no further! The OTC benefit varies by state. See post for details.

Need info on Humana's Healthy Foods Card? Look no further! The Healthy Foods card from Humana is only available on DSNP plans. The card is mailed separately from the welcome kit. View post for more information.

For 2022 plans, the Medicare 5-Star SEP runs from December 8, 2021 to November 30, 2022, which gives members almost an entire year to make the switch from a lower-rated plan to one of Excellus' 5-star HMO plans.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Virginia. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in certain California counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Nevada counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in all Maryland counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Humana is in growth mode! The carrier recently announced the upcoming network additions scheduled to take place during Q1 of 2022 in the Northeast. See post for details.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Kentucky. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in New Jersey. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Whether you're just getting started or have an extensive client list, selling Medicare Supplement plans is a great way to grow your business. The Sell More/Earn More Medicare Supplement Bonus is available for New York Plan G & N Enrollments with effective dates through 4/1/2022.*

We're excited to announce that we have recently expanded our Agent Support Team to include Patricia Nichols as a new Agent Relations Coordinator. View the post to learn how our team grows stronger and continues to deliver dedicated one-on-one support.

UPDATED 1/10: Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Colorado. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in all Oregon counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Washington. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised select Wellcare member ID cards are experiencing a delay. ID cards have been mailed and will be delivered by the dates listed inside, but all new enrollees should have already received their ID cards.

Want to start selling Medicare, or grow your existing Medicare business? You've come to the right place. Aetna has created this site to find agent training opportunities. Over 150 different sessions available!

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in certain Alabama counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Washington. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) is still live! Clover Health wants to help your enrollee be as healthy as they can be with healthcare tailored for them. View post for details.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Kentucky. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

With Medicare Part B monthly premiums set to increase in 2022, now is the time to discuss the rising costs with your clients. Here’s what you—and they—need to know.

The role agents play in protecting people and communities is vital. Our CareValue agents have all the digital tools they need to be successful even in these uncertain times.

Three new states have adopted the Birthday Rule for Medicare Supplement Plans for 2022. Here’s what you need to know if you are licensed to sell in Nevada, Idaho, or Illinois.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Tennessee. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides for a Special Election Period (SEP) for beneficiaries impacted by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency or Major Disaster Declaration.

It's business as usual in Florida - this is the 4th year in a row Cigna has received a 5-star rating from CMS in Florida. Click the post to learn more.

Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Essential Plan cases with a coverage end date through 1/31/22 will be extended for an additional 12 month period.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Hawaii. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

It’s time to let the community know that UPMC for Life’s excellent 5 out of 5-star rating from Medicare for 2022 means they still have time to get a 5-star plan. To help get the word out, UPMC for Life has created an entire suite of materials for our broker agents, like yourself, to use.

This year was full of unexpected challenges, but all of you rose to the occasion to do your very best this AEP. UPMC for Life wants to thank you for your continued hard work and support.

$20, $40, or $60 per app! For qualified applications submitted between October 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. See post for details.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides for a Special Election Period (SEP) for beneficiaries impacted by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency or Major Disaster Declaration.

New Medicare Advantage plan members often have questions about their coverage. Empire's NEW Care Guide Scheduler Tool lets you select your client's preferred day and time to receive their Care Guide welcome call! It's quick and easy!

It is with great pleasure that Wellcare can announce members with an OTC benefit on their plan can now use their OTC card at several participating brick and mortar CVS locations in Rhode Island.

Please note, Molina is providing additional clarification on the 12/3/2021 notice of updated eligibility criteria for their Michigan Medicare Plans. They apologize for any confusion and appreciate your continued support and partnership.

Connecticut Agents: what an AEP this has been. A lot of you have said it’s a weird one from years past, and a lot of you are thriving. Regardless of if you’ve had an amazing 8 weeks, a tough 8 weeks, or you struggled through, you are almost there.

Wellcare wanted to provide information on the following topics we are sure you will find helpful as you continue to work with your clients: AEP Application Submission Deadline and Request for Information (RFI) Reminder. See post for details.

If your sales region includes Westmoreland County, you may have already heard about UnitedHealthcare terminating their access to Excela Health for 2022.

A new Humana IGNITE newsletter is now available. View post for details.

Anthem/Empire wants to thank you for your hard work and efforts during AEP! Please take a look at the enclosed Success Guide and End of AEP Flyer. Following these tips will ensure all of your applications are processed smoothly, especially those submitted on December 7, 2021.

Although AEP isn’t quite over, UPMC for Life wanted to provide you with some information regarding the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) and their newly awarded 5-star Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in New Jersey. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Connecticut. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

With this year’s AEP soon coming to an end, Wellcare wanted to provide a reminder about the product resources and key benefit information available to you and current or potential Wellcare members.

This issue has been corrected. Please review the 2022 Wellcare Benefit Highlights Impacted Plans document for quick reference of plans included in the issue resolution.

You can now earn an extra incentive on Medico Medicare Supplement applications. Earn $100 on underwritten applications and $50 on open enrollment and guaranteed issue applications from Medico.

We've recently released a newly designed and updated website featuring additional tools and online resources to help our agents become more efficient and successful. Click the post to view the official press release.

Based on the group's feedback, BlueChoice® will make changes to their prescription drug coverage and utilization management program for large groups and CarolinaADVANTAGE legacy small groups.

Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in Rhode Island. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Molina wants to keep you posted on the progress for all of the 2022 Medicare Marketing Materials. The list linked inside outlines what is currently available on the Molina Store as of 11.22.21 and when they anticipate other materials to be completed.