Sterling Life Update

Key points from the Sterling Life announcement:
As a reminder, online enrollment is the preferred method for submitting Med Supp applications and has definite advantages over paper applications:

•  It’s more efficient.
• You get instant, accurate premium quotes.
• Required fields and steps must be completed properly or the application cannot be submitted.
• It significantly reduces errors and missing information, which are key reasons why paper applications pend.
• An application checklist helps ensure all required payment or documentation is submitted to Sterling.
• It’s faster.
• The application is submitted electronically and loaded directly into the enrollment system, so manual keying and processing isn’t necessary.
• As a result, the application is processed more quickly which means quicker commission payments for you!

Sterling Life On-Line enrollment state list:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NV, NJ, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WV, WY
The new ones on the list are: 9 additional states: AK, CA, MI, MN, NE, NJ, NC, ND and WI.

Let us help you sell more in 2014!

As you prepare for another great year of Medicare Supplement sales, we want to make sure you have the ammunition you need to make 2014 your best year in the insurance business. Manhattan Life makes selling Medicare Supplements so easy.

•    The most friendly eApp in the market! Your client does not need a computer or an email address for you to use our eApp. You simply enter all of the client’s data on the eApp and follow the simple voice signature instructions and press submit. You’re done! 40% of new applications are now being submitted via our eApp. If you’re not using our eApp, you are losing productivity.  

•    The most innovative household discount (HD) on the market. (Not available in all states). If your client is married or resides full-time, for the past 12 months, with another adult age 60 or older, then your client qualifies for the 7% HD. The other member of the household does not have to apply in order for you client to receive the discount. Example: Client is turning 65 and is married. Spouse is age 52. Your client qualifies for the 7% HD. Most companies only offer a HD when both spouses have coverage. Manhattan Life thinks your clients deserve the HD as long as they are married or living with another adult age 60 or older. 

•  Competitive rates. Rates are important.Your clients want the best value for their money.Manhattan Life offers very competitive rates.

•    Years of experience. The Manhattan Life Insurance Group has years of experience in the Medicare Supplement market. 

Call us today at Senior Marketing Specialists to learn more. 1.800.689.2800

Mutual of Omaha - More than just another Medicare supplement company

As agents we sell two things - Trust and Like. Mutual of Omaha is a carrier your clients know they can trust and they will like their competitive rates.

Babyboomers spent years (1963-1988)  watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom making the brand into not just a trusted insurance carrier but also a part of boomers culture.

Since they are a mutual company in their second century with billions in policyholder surplus they don't have to react to the short term goals of the stock market. That means you can offer a product from this A+ rated carrier that provides the kind of rates and coverage you and your clients can rely on.

AARP Medicare Supplement Plans

United HealthCare Insurance Company insures AARP Medicare Supplement Plans. When it comes to size, reputation and rate stability UHC is second to none. One in Three individuals who carry a Medicare supplement carry it with UHC. As an agent that is a statistic you cannot afford to ignore. Don't walk away from a third of your potential sales when you can use it to your advantage.

AARP Medicare Supplement plans premiums have only increased an average 4% annually from 2008 through 2013. So go build new clients while you enjoy the renewals from clients that finally have the stable rates they need.

The professionals at SMS can have your UHC marketing materials that are already CMS approved, personalized, and ready to print in minutes.

2014 is a time to thrive not just survive. Let the best in the business show you how.  With the products from UHC and the marketing support of SMS, success is at your fingertips.

Join Us for an Exciting WebEx Presentation Featuring The Top 10 Reasons to Sell AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans.  

Thursday, January 16th at 10:00am CST

Why Sell AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans? We Can Give You 10 Compelling Reasons…

Why Sell AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans? 

We Can Give You 10 Compelling Reasons…

Thursday, January 16th at 10:00am CST

 Register to Attend!

Join Us for an Exciting WebEx Presentation Featuring

The Top 10 Reasons to Sell AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

Learn more about AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans and discover some key selling points that can help you increase your sales.

Whether you are new to selling these Plans or are an experienced producer you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about important topics such as rate stability, competitive rates, product differentiators, plan choices, and more!

Did you know: AARP now has on-line enrollment available in most states?

Mark Your Calendar Today to Attend an Upcoming WebEx! Top 10 Reasons to Sell AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans: Register Now

 AARP® and its affiliates are not insurance agencies or carriers and do not employ or endorse insurance agents, producers, brokers, representatives or advisors.

AARP® Medicare Supplement Plans are insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company (UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York for New York residents).

Confidential and proprietary. For internal/agent use only. Do not distribute.

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!!!

Did You Know: CMS defined Standard Benefit Plan changes

Here are the highlights for the CMS defined Standard Benefit Plan changes from this year to next. This “Standard Benefit Plan” is the minimum allowable plan to be offered.

• Initial Deductible: will be decreased by $15 to $310 in 2014
• Initial Coverage Limit: will decrease from $2,970 in 2013 to $2,850 in 2014
• Out-of-Pocket Threshold: will decrease from $4,750 to $4,550 in 2014
• Coverage Gap: begins once you reach your Medicare Part D plan’s initial coverage limit ($2,850 in 2014) and ends when you spend a total of $4,550 in 2014.
In 2014, Part D enrollees will continue to receive a 52.5% discount on the total cost of their brand-name drugs while in the coverage gap.  The 50% discount paid by the brand-name drug manufacturer will still apply to getting out of the donut hole; however the additional 2.5% paid by your Medicare Part D plan will not count toward your TrOOP. Enrollees will pay a maximum of 72% co-pay on generic drugs while in the coverage gap.
• Minimum Cost-sharing in the Catastrophic Coverage Portion of the Benefit**: will increase to greater of 5% or $2.55 for generic or preferred drug that is a multi-source drug and the greater of 5% or $6.35 for all other drugs in 2014
• Maximum Co-payments below the Out-of-Pocket Threshold for certain Low Income Full Subsidy Eligible Enrollees:  will increase to $2.55 for generic or preferred drug that is a    multi-source drug and $6.35 for all other drugs in 2014

Plan G vs. Plan F

As your clients continue to look for cost effective choices to cover the expenses that Medicare does not pay you may want to take a second look at how Plan G compares to Plan F.

Here are a few things to look at when comparing G to F:

• Plan G now covers 100% of excess charges just like Plan F

• Most carriers do not pay commissions on the Part B coverage of Plan F and many deduct amounts well in excess of the $147 prior to calculating your commissions.

• When you compare monthly premiums remember that saving enough to cover the Part B deductible calculates to $12.25 per month. So if you can save your client more than that to move to a Plan G it might be a wise choice.

• Another consideration is using the premium that they are now spending on a Plan F and building a stronger plan for your client. Using a Plan G, setting aside money for the Part B deductible and adding a plan like the Kemper home health care plan that refunds money for prescription drugs can add substantial benefits to your client without adding more out of pocket expense for them. It also dramatically changes the commissions you would earn on that case.

Plan G can create some fantastic cross selling opportunities and help your clients obtain the coverage that they will need as Medicare continues to change.