SureBridge – Hottest Products

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Connect with your Cornerstone Senior Marketing Rep today to talk about the SureBridge product line-up!

HospitalWise

  • Pays a daily benefit if the client is hospitalized
  • Optional emergency care rider –if the client is not feeling well and goes to the ER, the benefit pays, even if they are not hospitalized.

DVH

  • Preventative benefits available immediately at 100% with no deductible.
  • Major Services (vision and hearing hardware) have a 9 month waiting period.  Now is a great time to start the plan and have everything ready to go once dentists open back up.

GetWell Medical Assistance

This is NOT an insurance product. However, it does have 24/7 consultations via phone or web with physicians, who can also prescribe medications – consumers who can’t go to a doctor right now for minor issues find value in this product. Read more: SureBridgeGetwell

 

Aetna Electronic Enrollment Guide for Agents

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Resources you can use to assist your client’s remotely!

Aetna Remote Selling Tools

 

Anthem – Introducing mProducer Electronic SOA Transfer

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Introducing: mProducer Electronic SOA Transfer! 

In these changing times, we have found ourselves in a situation where traditional use of mProducer w/ digital signature is not our first option. In response to that, largely due to the feedback YOU provided, a new capability has been deployed in mProducer to electronically transfer the SOA to the beneficiary to sign. 

What’s New?

  • Agents have the ability to electronically send a Scope of Appointment to the beneficiary
  • Beneficiary needs an email address and a 4 digit PIN to provide to the agent – can be any random numeric digits

When can we begin using eSOA Transfer?

This functionality was released in mProducer is available NOW!  Speak with your Cornerstone Rep for more information.

 

VIEW THE BELOW REFERENCE DOCUMENTS:

Customer ESOA:  https://cornerstoneseniormarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Customer-ESOA-StepbyStep.pdf

Producer Guide:  https://cornerstoneseniormarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mProducer-eSOA-QRG_Final-1.pdf

 

Lumico is Ready to Help You During COVID-19 Outbreak

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One of the most important things we can do today, is remain positive and hopeful in our mindset and actions. We want to help your business continue to prosper. That means we remain fully operational, and are here to support your organization with agent adoption of our comprehensive digital solutions.

Please visit Lumico’s Coronavirus page on their website – www.lumico.com/coronavirus 

This page includes information about the coronavirus, insurance coverage, and Lumico’s response to your customers’ frequently asked questions. Also, to help ease this transition, your agents can use Lumico’s e-Application to:

• Write new business remotely;
• Leverage voice and electronic signature options; and
• Get paid faster by submitting online applications, using any device.

Please download this flyer, which includes a Med Supp e-App guide and product fact sheet – and keep a look out for additional marketing resources we’ll be sharing in the coming weeks. Just know that we are here for you.

 

ODI’s Month in Review: March

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Ohio Department of Insurance | March in Review

We Are in This Together Ohio

April 3 , 2020

By Director Jillian Froment

What a historic time in our lives. Every Ohioan is working through challenges personally and professionally that we probably never thought would become the new normal. A new normal that we can’t wait to end. With Governor Mike DeWine’s leadership, the unwavering dedication of those on the front lines, and so many other hard-working and resilient people of our great state fighting COVID-19, we will get back to what we know. But we have adjustments to make and hurdles to clear first.

For consumers, insurance companies and other entities, and agents that the Ohio Department of Insurance serves, protects, and regulates, we are conducting business as usual, but working remotely. We’ve closed our building as part of the push to help flatten the COVID-19 curve. If you need to reach any of our business units please initiate that process through these channels.

To help Ohioans work through this transition, we are working to provide flexibility in a number of areas. We have issued guidance to the industry requesting they:

• Ensure consumer accessibility to healthcare services to test and treat the virus (2020-02);
• Provide health insurance coverage flexibility through employers for employees (2020-03);
• Suspend audits so pharmacies can focus on providing medicine (2020-04);
• Treat out-of-network costs the same as in-network for COVID-19 testing and treatment (2020-05),
• Not take insurance coverage action on a consumer unable to timely renew their driver license due to BMV closures (2020-06), and:
• Provide payment accomodations to insureds that are experiencing financial difficulties (2020-07).

You can sign up to receive our bulletins in this section of our website.

On the resources front we’ve created an insurance and coronavirus toolkit for consumers and the industry, and also encourage you to utilize the state of Ohio’s coronavirus.ohio.gov website. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also has a coronavirus resource center. Finally, and as a reminder, the Governor is encouraging people with coronavirus questions that are medical in nature to call the state’s call center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).

At the Ohio Department of Insurance we’re doing all we can to be part of the solution. We are here to answer any questions you may have concerning COVID-19 and insurance, and I urge you to reach out for our assistance whether you are an insurance consumer or an insurance professional. In the meantime, take good care of yourself and your loved ones. We are #InThisTogetherOhio.

OSHIIP Providing Medicare COVID-19 Information
The department’s Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) is sharing Medicare information to beneficiaries as it relates to COVID-19. Ohioans are reminded that Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers COVID-19 tests when ordered by a person’s doctor or health care provider on or after February 4, 2020. In addition, Medicare covers all medically necessary hospitalizations, including extra days in the hospital for patients who had to stay longer under COVID-19 quarantine. And lastly, Medicare will cover a COVID-19 vaccine if one becomes available. If you have questions please contact OSHIIP.

Ohio Agent and Agency License Expiration Date Extension
Insurance agent and agencies whose licenses expire during the COVID-19 state of emergency declared by Governor DeWine have been granted a renewal extension. A license will remain valid and may be renewed until no later than 90 days after the state of emergency ends or December 1, 2020, whichever comes first.

Financially Protect Against Severe Spring Weather
Severe rain and flooding has already hit parts of our state this spring causing damage. Ohioans are reminded to review their insurance with an agent to ensure they are financially protected against the different types of destruction spring weather can inflict. Be sure to discuss flood insurance with an agent. This coverage is not commonly included in standard property insurance coverage and has to be purchased separately.

Important Special Enrollment Period Announcement from NAHU

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As of April 3,2020

Medicare Advantage SEP Delayed

CMS told NAHU that the plan to provide an official notice for MA SEP will slip into next week. Beneficiaries rely on agents and NAHU requested CMS consider agents of record in any SEP plan. We also requested extending the OEP through June. You can monitor this link for A/B enrollment updates.

Here are links for C/D to watch for SEP or other enrollment guidance:

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/MedicareMangCareEligEnrol/index

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/MedicarePresDrugEligEnrol/index

 

Part B enrollment and SSA

CMS is working closely with SSA to coordinate and push out information regarding Part B to ease enrollment challenges. NAHU has let CMS know that local SSA offices appear to operate differently with respect to handling enrollment cases.

 

As of now, CMS will  relax the requirement for wet signatures.  In addition, if the beneficiary is unable to obtain the completed employer form there are alternate forms of documentation that are acceptable. These are documents that they are likely to have in their possession such as tax returns, paystubs, health insurance cards. SSA is also working on creating methods to submit this information via a dedicated fax number and a few other ideas they are considering.

 

Be sure to monitor these web links to get the latest changes in Medicare enrollment. NAHU will continue to be your source for the latest information and we will continue to send out information as event warrant.

UHC’s Advance Renewal Payments- May & June

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UnitedHealthcare wants to continue to support you. Due to a planned system upgrade to the sales operations system, and the financial challenges COVID-19 has presented—UHC will be advancing May and June renewal payments in April.

Renewal Payments
• The April renewal commission payment schedule will remain as planned:
o Medicare Supplement: April 13, 2020
o Medicare Advantage: April 20, 2020
o Prescription Drug Plans: April 27, 2020

Advanced payment of renewals for May and June are as follows:
o Medicare Supplement: April 15, 2020, and April 17, 2020
o Medicare Advantage payments: April 22, 2020, and April 24, 2020
o Prescription Drug Plans (combined payment for April, May, June): April 27, 2020

New to UnitedHealthcare Payments
• New to UnitedHealthcare second quarter payment to agencies is targeted to be included in the April Medicare Advantage renewal payment as normal, April 20, 2020.

UHC is working closely with  IT partners on details of the planned upgrade. More information will be coming soon about what you can expect during this time.

 

NEW! UHC’s Enhanced Underwriting Function for AARP Med Sup Plans

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UnitedHealthcare has made improvements to the underwriting process for AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare® Insurance Company.
Enhanced functionality allows automatic acceptance of certain underwritten applications that qualify for the best eligible rate!

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Agents who submit an application through LEAN™ will see a “Processing, please wait” message as the system works to determine if the applicant is eligible to receive the best rate, without further review.

If immediately accepted at the best rate, LEAN will display “APPROVED” on the confirmation page. If not, LEAN will display “PENDING” on the confirmation page. Underwriting will then continue to evaluate the application.

Once received, underwritten paper applications, such as those submitted via US mail or fax, will also be considered for automatic acceptance. Agents may check the status of applications, no matter the submission method, in Jarvis. Simply navigate to Enrollment > Application Status.

Please note the process has not changed for applications that do not require underwriting.

More changes are coming, so keep an eye out for future enhancements!

UHC Telephonice Enrollment Tip: If consumer has no access to internet

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What if the consumer does not have access to the internet? Scope of Appointment and Enrollment forms can be sent via mail for signature. In the event that using mail does not meet the desired effective date, agents may use the following process for consumers without internet access:

1. Following your needs analysis conversation, direct the consumer to call 855-572-3837. Inform your consumer that the representative will repeat some of the questions in order to meet all compliance requirements.

2. Email agentoversightadmin@uhc.com to indicate your consumer was unable to electronically sign documents and completed the application telephonically instead. Include name of prospect, date of presentation/referral to telesales, agent name, and writing ID. This will help ensure your commission payment and Agent of Record status.