Using the Medicare and You 2014 Handbook

NOTE: If you do not have a copy of the 2014 Medicare and You book, CLICK HERE to view how to order and / or download your copy from Medicare.gov.

The Medicare and You publication is a great tool for agents to use in the field.  This is a Medicare approved piece, and many prospects and relate to it since they are used to getting them annually.

We recommend that you not only get a copy, but you also use it to help answer your clients questions.  

Below are some key pages in the 2014 book.  Of course, you may find other pages useful depending your clientele, but these are some great starting points when using the book:

Page 14 - Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace

Page 16 – Medicare Choices (Medigap / MA Flowchart)

Page 24 – Other insurance and Medicare

Page 58 – Medicare.gov plan finder

Page 59 – Medicare Choices plan chart

Page 67 – 71 – Medigap plans

Page 73 – MA plan types

Page 78 – How MA plans work

Page 80 – MA enrollment

Page 93 Part D Layout

Page 100 – Other programs and Part D

Page 110 - Medicaid

You cannot mark on CMS approved pieces and leave them behind.  If you have a copy where you take notes (as you should) write OFFICE COPY on the front with black marker so clients do not ask to keep yours.

(This article was written by Mike Gattorna of Senior Marketing Specialists.)

OEP/AEP 2014 - Same Benefits….BUT NEW SERVICES???

As the Medicare Advantage program matures we are experiencing a flattening of the various benefits offered by carriers. Why? A Medicare Advantage Plan is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Part A and Part B benefits.* The amount of money paid to the carriers is generally a set amount and the benefits they provide only have so much flexibility based on the carrier’s negotiated payments to the various medical providers.

What we at Senior Marketing Specialists are seeing is a true uptick in the services (not to be confused with Part A and Part B benefits) designed and provided by the carrier to help the Medicare recipient stay healthier and give agents a competitive advantage. This includes items like: Silver Sneakers, 24 Hour Nurse Hotline, Vision and Dental Discounts. The one service that stands out is UnitedHealthCare’s HouseCalls. UnitedHealthCare’s HouseCalls program is allows the carrier and the Medicare recipient to:

• ·      review the member's health conditions
• ·      answers health-related questions,
• ·      identifies potential health issues,
• ·      and suggests specific topics the member may want to discuss with their primary care physician.

Call Senior Marketing Specialists today to find out how UnitedHealthCare’s HouseCalls program can help your clients and increase your sales this 2014 OEP.

(This article was written by Philip Warren of Senior Marketing Specialists.)

*http://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/medicare-health-plans/medicare-advantage-plans/medicare-advantage-plans.html

A Day in the Life of a Medicare Advantage Application

AEP is Almost Here, and I’m Confused

For the last seven years one thing we have all been through is “CHANGE” in the Medicare Advantage market. This is not only frustrating, but requires our time and attention in order to participate in what is the peak annual Medicare sales season. Let’s review some past changes:

• ·       New CMS regulations regarding what we can and can’t do.
• ·       New company certification requirements.
• ·       Company mergers and outright withdrawals of plans and areas.
• ·       Companies suspended from sales activity.
• ·       New networks.
• ·       Networks being abandoned.
• ·       Plans changing premium, out-of-pocket costs, deductibles, co-pay and benefits both positively and negatively.

And the list goes on… So, why do we do this year after year?

Since inception over 15,000,000 Medicare recipients have enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan. Currently only 11,000,000 recipients own a Medicare Supplement policy (industry numbers show that 60% of Medicare Supplements sold are sold in the fourth quarter of the year). Medicare Advantage has grown the market share, of companies that supplement Medicare, exponentially in only SEVEN YEARS!!! Medicare Advantage has allowed more agents to sell more plans and receive more commission dollars than any other change in Medicare since 1965.

Is it worth the trouble??? At Senior Marketing Specialists we believe it is. Last year our agents enrolled over 10,000 Medicare recipients in MA plans and we anticipate that number increasing this year.

Let us help you adapt to the constant changes and challenges of a program moving from adolescence to maturity. Call us… WE ARE YOUR MEDICARE EXPERTS!!!

Making Medicare Documents Work for You! Medicare and Diabetes:

Many questions arise as to what is covered by Part B and what is covered by Part D. The simple flier that is linked to below shows what is covered.  This also brings up an important topic about the products available to those with diabetes, like special needs Medicare Advantage plans.

http://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11410.pdf

Government Increases Reimbursements for Medicare Advantage Plans in 2014

Fear over the continuation of Medicare Advantage plans in 2014 was put to rest by government rulings Monday, April 1, 2013 when the Obama administration reversed a proposed 2.3 percent pay cut for private Medicare plans, replacing it with a 3.3 percent raise.

Many agents have had serious concerns over the proposed cuts that were planned for reimbursement to Medicare Advantage carriers. Thanks to the efforts of those carriers there will be the necessary funding to stabilize those plans in 2014.

Although it is only conjecture what the actual rates of plans will be, the chances of only very small changes can be assumed. That may not be as true for Medicare Part D plans but agents can look forward to a fantastic AEP ahead.

Want to learn more? Check out the article, How Insurers Flipped a Medicare Pay Cut Into a Raise on the Washington Post's website or check out the video update from SIMA (http://sima-net.com/) below.