Walmart Launches Into the Medicare Plan Distribution Market

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Oct. 6, 2020
By Lori Flees, SVP and COO, Walmart U.S. Health & Wellness

Health care can be complicated. But we think quality health care should be within reach of everyone, and pricing should be transparent and affordable. Our money-saving $4 generic prescription program and, more recently, Walmart Health locations are helping customers save money and live healthier. Similarly, our Healthcare Begins Here program has helped customers navigate the very complex health insurance system for years.

 

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

MedicareCENTER 2021 is now available- what you need to know

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Now available!

MedicareCENTER is a powerful sales and marketing system that’s also simple and easy to use. And it’s full of great features designed to help Agents like you produce more, including:

  • A robust CRM for managing and tracking clients
  • The ability to compliantly send scope of appointments by text
  • Access to MedicareAPP and MedicareLINK enrollment and quoting tools
  • An all-in-one universal login from any device, anytime

Important:  MedicareAPP and MedicareLINK

 

Effective October 1, 2020:  Agents are able to view plans and rates from available carriers for which the agent is ‘Ready-to-Sell’

 Effective October 15, 2020:  Agents are able to view plans and rates from all available carriers.

 Reminder:  Update your bookmarks and favorites on your web browsers to the new 2021 MedicareCENTER site AND get your new unique Personal Shopping Link under the ‘Account Overview’ inside MedicareAPP to add to your website or any digital media. 

 

*Note:  The 2020 MedicareCenter platform and your unique personal shopping link should be used for all 10/1, 11/1, and 12/1 effective dates.

 

MedicareCENTER 2020 Link

MedicareCENTER 2021 Link

 

Join a MedicareCENTER training demo to see the improved features and technology!

ASCEND Enrollment Platform is Now Available as a App on Android

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THE ASCEND APP IS NOW IN THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE AND AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON ANDROID TABLETS! 

Here is the link:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ascendproject.universal.

The search terms in the Google Play Store are ‘Ascend Sales’.  The app is exactly the same as the iOS and Windows app but will now be inclusive to all Android Tablet users.

    1. Min Device Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM, and 2.0GHz processor
    2. Min Device Software Requirements: Android version 9 (Pie) or Android 10 as the Operating System\

 

More information to come! If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to your CSM Rep.

 

WellCare: AEP is HERE

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WellCare Message from 10/2/2020:

AEP is Here! AEP is finally here, and the combination of Centene and WellCare means greater opportunity for you!

Now, you can market and sell up to 5 health plans!

  • Allwell
  • Ascension Complete
  • Fidelis Care
  • Health Net
  • WellCare

Note: Not all health plans are available in all areas.

The easiest and fastest way to ensure that you are offering all plans available in your area and you are credited for each sale is to use the Ascend Enrollment Platform. (Currently, Ascend cannot be used for Fidelis Care enrollments.)

Application and Enrollment

Broker Identifier:

It is crucial that all applications include the correct agent identifier. Ascend will automatically attach your agent identifier to each application you submit: National Producer Number (NPN), Producer ID (PID), or Fidelis Care ID.

When submitting applications OUTSIDE of the Ascend Enrollment Platform, be sure to input the correct agent identifier:

*Fidelis Care Notes:

  • Beginning 10/1/2020, Fidelis Care will begin using a unique broker identifier consisting of the letters FB + NPN, for example: FB123456

Fidelis Care does not accept paper applications.

Ascend:

All health plan information has been loaded into Ascend. Please note, 2021 Enrollment Applications will not be accessible until 10/15.

As of 10/1 you should be able to access 2021 rates and benefits in the Ascend Mobile App. If you are not able to access 2021 plan information, please be sure to update the App. Click here for information on how to download and update the Ascend Mobile App.

Warning! Beginning 10/1/2020, the WellCare Mobile Enrollment Platform and Desktop Enrollment Platform (agent assisted) will be retired and no longer accessible. You will find our 2021 plans, benefits, rates and enrollment capabilities in Ascend.

Additional Resources:

Click here for Application & Enrollment Tools.

2021 CMS Enrollment Guidance Policy Revisions

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued annual enrollment and disenrollment guidance revisions for contract year 2021.

All enrollments with an effective date on or after January 1, 2021, must be processed in accordance with the revised guidance requirements.

Significant Changes To Guidance:

  1. Effective for the plan year beginning January 1, 2021, CMS removed the prohibition on beneficiaries with ESRD enrolling in a Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plan. Health plans can accept and process elections made by ESRD beneficiaries that choose to join a MA/MAPD plan during a valid election period.
  2. Special Election Periods (SEP) for Exceptional Conditions: CMS has codified a number of SEPs previously adopted and implemented through subregulatory guidance as exceptional circumstances SEP, additionally two new SEP’s have been added for exceptional circumstances: SEP for Individuals Enrolled in a Plan Placed in Receivership & SEP for Individuals Enrolled in a Plan that has been identified by CMS as a Consistent Poor Performer
  3. Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Model Enrollment forms: CMS revised and improved the standard (“long�) model form used for MA/MAPD and PDP enrollments to a new streamlined form. All health plan enrollment applications have been revised in accordance with CMS guidance, including Allwell, Ascension Complete, Fidelis Care, Health Net, and WellCare.
  4. Electronic Signatures: As part of the Electronic Enrollment process, electronic signatures from a beneficiary that affirms his/her intent to complete the enrollment are acceptable. This change only applies to electronic enrollments. The affirmation requirements for the telephonic and paper enrollments remain the same.

 

 

Humana MP Important Network Change- Please Read

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Humana announcement on 10/1/20:

Beginning January 1, 2021, DaVita Inc. dialysis centers will no longer be in the Humana Medicare Advantage plan network.

While Humana continues to negotiate with DaVita, Inc., we wanted to make you aware of the change as it currently stands, as well as how Humana is planning to help members currently receiving treatment at DaVita Inc. dialysis centers.

Actions Humana is taking to support affected members:

  1. Despite the change, all current DaVita Inc. patients will be able to continue the same treatment at any DaVita dialysis center location or provider through the duration of their treatment in 2021 for Medicare Advantage members. That means their care will not have to change, and no action is required on their part.
  2. We know our members may have questions about what this means for their care, so Humana Member Services will be calling affected members to communicate this change. Additionally, Humana has created a dedicated team of highly trained member care specialists to help. Members may call 1-877-883-8511 or TTY 711, 7 days per week, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., and we’ll answer questions about available services and treatment options.

Both the trust you’ve built and the conversations you share with your clients is invaluable to us during this transition, and we thank you for your ongoing partnership with Humana.

Dental Care Plus Commission Update

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Message from DCP on 10/1/20:

 

Effective October 1, 2020, our commission payment process will be transitioned to our parent company’s (DentaQuest) payment system. 

We are making this change as part of an overall enhancement to our commission payment process – including online access to commission statements (launching in 2021).

PLEASE NOTE THIS DOES NOT IMPACT THE CURRENT COMMISSION RATES/SCHEDULES.

For those of you who currently receive commission payments via paper check: your September commission check (paid in October) will be mailed from DentaQuest’s corporate office in Boston and will be branded with the DentaQuest logo.

If you are interested in receiving future payments electronically, please fill out this form and follow the submission instructions on the form. If you have questions, please direct them to Vicki Bratton at  vbratton@dentalcareplus.com.

 

If you have any questions please reach out to your Cornerstone Senior Marketing Rep

Devoted Health Resources for AEP 2021

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Message from Devoted Health on 10/1/20:

As Devoted welcomes AEP 2021, we want to jump right in and share some important information to help you hit the ground running!

New enrollment submission process – ALERT!

For submission of paper enrollments we now require the following pertinent enrollment pieces to be completed thoroughly and  included when sending to us:

Faxing Submission Requirements

 

Mailing Submission Requirements

  • Enrollment form
  • Enrollment receipt

 

Pro Tip: Write  your NPN on all enrollment form  pages prior to faxing to ensure we can reach out to you if all faxed pages don’t come through properly.

 

The Enrollment Receipt must be submitted now with all paper enrollment forms (carbon copy should stay with the beneficiary). We highly recommend submitting electronic applications. If you haven’t previously used an electronic app, check out what you are missing with our agent portal or give us a call and we’ll walk you through it. 

 

Health Risk Assessment – (Florida ONLY this AEP)

Want to earn an extra $50 per application? We’re excited to launch our agent-facilitated Health Risk Assessment (HRA) for new D-SNP members in Florida ONLY this AEP. Brokers can receive $50 for completing this assessment within 14 days of the application. In order to receive compensation, Broker HRA must be the first completed HRA post-enrollment, and eligible members should be actively enrolled at the time of commission payment.

This HRA will only be available for D-SNP members through our agent portal upon submission/receipt of the application.

Interested? More information coming soon in a future newsletter!

 

Drug Search Tool – NEW!

Our new drug search tool allows you to search all the medications our plans cover.  The search will identify the drugs that have a quantity limit or  need a prior authorization. You’ll be able to save your search to a list that allows you to go back to your list of saved drugs. You have the ability to save your list as a PDF. If a drug is not covered, it will show a Covered Alternatives link that would show a list of potential alternatives.

 

Self Service Mailer Feature – NEW!

You now have the ability to create a self service direct mailer using one of our available postcards in our marketing portal. The postcards have customizable fields for you to add personal information like a picture, phone number,  email address, and logo. The cost of the mailings is inclusive of the postcard and postage. You will be able to use your Devoted Bucks to pay for these mailings, learn how to earn by participating in our Devoted Broker Loyalty Program.  Watch this step by step video and learn more about placing your order today.

 

Ready to Sell?

We want to make sure you’re fully compliant when selling and marketing Devoted Health Plans this selling season. Make sure you have these items at your fingertips.

Complete a scope of appointment – check out the online one that will email you  a copy.

Play the full Devoted Sales Presentation Video OR use our handy Flipbook.

Here are some other useful links to help you get ready:

 

Please remember CMS does not allow  plans to accept PY2021 enrollments prior to 10/15. Enrollment applications received prior to 10/15 for which there is indication of sales agent involvement in the submission (agent name, contact information, NPN, etc) or agent solicitation (i.e. agent date 10/1-10/14) will be investigated for potential solicitation. If the application is confirmed to be solicited, the enrollee will be informed that the application will be denied, and given the option to re-enroll with their agent. A statement request will be issued to the agent, and corrective action will be assigned based on the findings. 

 

 

Mutual of Omaha: Aim High During This Medicare AEP!

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To ascend great heights, you must prepare. Literally. Above 7,000 feet, you must go through a process of altitude acclimation. And the higher you climb, the more you must prepare.
The same goes for your Med supp sales during Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).

Here are a few things that will help you on your way to the top by selling our Medicare supplements:

MACRA – You’ll need to understand how MACRA (the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act) impacts which Medicare supplement plans your clients are eligible to purchase.
Guaranteed Issue Rights – It’s important to know if your clients have guaranteed-issue rights and what plans are available to them.
Proof of MA Disenrollment – You’ll need to make sure to submit documentation for Medicare Advantage enrollees switching to a Med supp plan.

Don’t worry. We have a handy flyer to help you get ready for your AEP ascent.
  Download the Flyer  

 

If you have any questions or want to get contracted with Mutual of Omaha please contact your CSM representative.