SureBridge Moving to New Policy Administration System – Final Steps

Sourced from SureBridge Broker Communication from 7/27/22:

Over the past 2 years we have kept you informed of new SureBridge business moving by states to be supported on our new policy administration system. This move typically meant a change in billing dates for most and a move to our new member website. We are excited to announce the end of this conversion process and move all remaining “old” business (i.e. any business not on the new system) to our new policy administration system at the end of August. Here is what you and your customers can expect:

  • July 29: Letters mailed to customers who do not have a 1st of the month billing date. The letter will tell them about:
    • If their billing date will change
    • How their plan premium will be collected (some may have a pro-rated amount drafted/charged)
    • A new member website that will be coming mid-September and will replace ChesapeakePlus.com.
  • Aug 15: Emails sent to customers registered to use ChesapeakePlus.com letting them know this site will be unavailable after Aug. 24. A new website is coming soon to help them manage their plan.
  • Aug 24 -29: System conversion for remaining in-force business on the “old” system, excluding List Bill customers (to be converted in Oct. 2022). Policy changes cannot be made until the business is fully converted to the new administration system. ChesapeakePlus.com will be unavailable for login; messages will be up to let site visitors know.
  • Aug 30: Any policy changes received (and suspended) during the system conversion will be released. Billing, changes, etc. with active policies will resume.
  • Sept 16: Customers will be emailed about the new customer website and how to register.

Special Notes:

List Bill Customers
Although List Bill groups are not being moved at this time, access to ChesapeakePlus.com will not be available to this group starting Aug. 24. We expect to move these groups in mid-October. We will email you, and them, about changes and access to the new member website.

Agent Self-Service Tool, myportal.surebridgeinsurance.com
This tool will continue to be available for Agent use. You can use it to make changes on behalf of your customer – like an address change, request for duplicate ID cards, or even cancel a plan if need be. Bookmark myportal.surebridgeinsurance.com for quick access.

  • Remember requests/changes cannot be made Aug. 24 – 29 until the system move is complete.

Commissions
Commission amounts may be different for a short time in September and/or October due to the collection of pro-rated premiums and billing draft date changes. Once full monthly premiums begin regular posting on new billing dates, you’ll see full regular commission payments again. Advances, if applicable, will be made based on the full commissionable premium amount.

UnitedHealthcare

SureBridge-branded products are underwritten by The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, which is a UnitedHealthcare company. The UnitedHealthcare brand will be introduced over a period of time to Agents and customers. Its first appearance will be on the new member website coming in September. We are excited about this introduction and will be sharing more in the future on how to begin to leverage this in your conversation with customers.

We are excited about the changes that are coming and look forward to better serving you and our customers. Please keep watch of your email as we send future announcements and updates, keeping you informed of our progress.

Producer Support is here to help answer any questions you may have. Use this quick guide for contact information as well as other general assistance.

Medical Mutual of Ohio: MA Provider Network Update

Sourced from MMO’s Broker Update Announcement from 7/26/22:

Effective Aug. 1, 2022, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) providers will return to Medical Mutual’s Medicare Advantage network. Medical Mutual has entered into an agreement that grants our Medicare Advantage members access to OSUWMC’s University Hospitals, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, outpatient care clinics, primary care providers, specialists and other ancillary providers.

 

READ FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE

UHC: New UHICA Med Supp PAPER Applications For Specific States Effective 9/1/2022

Sourced from UHC broker email communication from 7/11/22:

New Enrollment Kits and applications will be available and required soon for AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare® Insurance Company (UHIC) and, where available,  AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare® Insurance Company of America (UHICA) in: Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico and Ohio.

The new applications will be required for plan effective dates of September 1, 2022, and later, and will be included in state-specific Enrollment Kits that will be available for the states noted above on August 26, 2022.

What to do Now
Existing Enrollment Kits can no longer be used after August 26, 2022, when the new Enrollment Kits and applications are available.

Please plan to download or order new Enrollment Kits on August 26, 2022. As of August 26, 2022, you need to use the new materials to ensure you have and are submitting the correct application.

 

What NOT to do Now
Do not order large amounts of Enrollment Kits now, as they will be outdated and the applications will not be the correct version as of August 26, 2022.

HELPFUL TIP!  Use LEAN to submit applications and you’ll always have the correct applications!

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to your CSM rep.

Important Compliance Update: CMS Disclaimer Requirement FAQ + Compliance Review Process

CMS Required Disclaimer FAQ + Lead Time to Approve Materials for use on/after 10/1/22

 

The marketing guidelines for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans were recently updated and among the provisions that apply directly to agents is a required disclaimer to be in use by October 1, 2022, for Plan Year 2023.

Important: Marketing materials (as defined further below) require CMS approval and must follow a compliance process that includes carrier review and filing through HPMS which can take up to 75 days to complete. If you have materials that meet the definition of marketing and want to use these materials on/after 10/1/22, NOW is the time to submit these pieces for review.

 

Send materials via email to: compliance@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

 

Disclaimer Language To Use:

 “We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.”

 

Who must use this disclaimer?

 Any third-party marketing organization (which includes agents and brokers) must include this disclaimer.

 

When/where is the disclaimer used?

  • On all marketing* materials: print, electronically, television, and radio
  • Within the first minute of all sales calls
  • Prominently displayed on TPMO websites
  • Verbally, electronically, or in writing, during any sales meeting with a beneficiary

 

veGeneric Marketing and Communications

 We generally refer to advertising pieces – print, radio, tv, website, etc., as marketing however, CMS uses the terms ‘marketing’ and ‘communication’ to make a distinction  between generic advertising.  

 

Communications are all activities and materials used to provide information that is targeted to current and prospective enrollees, including their caregivers and other decision makers.  

Generic mailers and advertising materials you create to promote your business and generate leads fall under the definition of “communication” materials (given they are free of carrier names and specific plan informaiton, and do not list benefits, premiums, copays, and cost sharing).

 

Marketing is a subset of communications and is determined based on both the content and intent of activity or materials.

Marketing includes activities and materials with the intent to draw a beneficiary’s attention to a specific plan or plans and to influence a beneficiary’s decision-making process when selecting a plan for enrollment or deciding to stay enrolled in a plan (retention-based marketing). Additionally, marketing has content with information about the plan’s benefits, cost sharing, measuring, or ranking standards.

Materials that meet the definition of marketing wil require submission to CMS through HPMS filing.  The term ‘marketing’ takes on new meaning when we talk compliance. Its CMS definition is used to distinguish materials that require review and approval vs. materials that fall under the ‘communication’ definition, which can be used without CMS review/approval.

 

We’re here to help.  Call if you have questions (614-763-2255), and click below to review the 2022 Agent Medicare Compliance Guide. This publication provides many examples of advertising content that is deemed marketing, and requires CMS approval, and includes details around generic communications where filing with CMS is not necessary.

 

Note: Updates to this guide to include the most recent CMS requirements (disclaimer and call recording) are in process so, please keep this in mind when reviewing the current content.  Cornerstone Senior Marketing will make the updated version of this guide available to all our broker partners as soon as it becomes available.

 

 DOWNLOAD THE 2022 AGENT MEDICARE COMPLIANCE GUIDE HERE

 

Worth repeating: If you have marketing materials that require filing with CMS for approval or have marketing or communication materials you want reviewed for compliance, please send them via email to: compliance@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

UHC – Important Update Regarding the Annual Sales Production Evaluation Period Administrative Fee

UHC Broker Communication from 7/11/22:

UnitedHealthcare wants fully engaged agents who are excited to understand and meet the needs of Medicare-eligible consumers and we are committed to providing the tools and resources needed for agents to succeed.

As a reminder, if you have not sold UnitedHealthcare® plans during your evaluation period, you will be charged an administrative fee. Beginning August 1, 2022, the fee increases to $200.

 

Policy:

A $200 administrative fee will be charged when both of the following occur:

  • External Distribution Channel (EDC) agent/agency (not including solicitors) had an active writing number at any time during their recurring 12-month evaluation period (i.e. the period beginning the first full month their Writing ID was issued and ending 12 months later).
  • The agent/agency did not write at least one UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or Medicare Supplement plan (i.e. submitted and approved active member application) during the evaluation period.

Reminders

  • If the agent/agency does not have a book of business, the agent/agency’s immediate upline is liable for the administrative fee.
  • To avoid the administrative fee for a subsequent evaluation period, the agent/agency must terminate their active contract no later than the last day of the current evaluation period (e.g., move to servicing status).
  • If an agent/agency is terminated at UnitedHealthcare’s request during the evaluation period, the administrative fee for non-production will not be assessed.

 

To learn more, please read the following:

Agent FAQ 

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to your CSM Representative.

Devoted Health: A New Way to Submit Your Sales Events

Sourced from Devoted Health broker email communication from 7/8/22: 

New Feature Alert!

Brokers can now submit events directly in Agent Portal.

With this new simplified event submission process, you will be able to quickly enter info and submit for approval. It is fast and easy!

Instructions: Step by step instructions can be found here

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to your CSM Sales Director.

Call Recording Petition

Reverse the New CMS Medicare Call Recording Requirements

In the recently passed CMS regulations, licensed and certified independent agents are included in the definition of a Third Party Marketing Organization (TPMO) and as such, will be required to record phone calls that result in enrollment of a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan.  A petition has been designed to get the attention of CMS to remove the agent/broker language from the TPMO definition.

To sign, and share information about this petition, please click the link below.

PETITION

Medicarerights.org Article: Medicare Advantage Oversight and Reform

Government Watchdogs Urge Medicare Advantage Oversight and Reform

The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing this week on the need for greater oversight of Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations and plans. This hearing was triggered by several government watchdog reports that show MA plans delay and deny needed careexhibit troubling patterns of disenrollment, and cost the federal government and taxpayers more than original Medicare.

Nearly 40% of people with Medicare have chosen to receive their coverage through MA, a private option that caps some out-of-pocket expenses and may offer some additional benefits but generally requires enrollees to use restricted, in-network providers to gain any of these savings.

 

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE