Medical Mutual Signs Agreement to Acquire Paramount Health

MMO Broker Update 1/29/2024:

Today, Medical Mutual announced its intent to purchase Paramount Health, a Northwest Ohio-based health insurance company. Paramount, which offers Medicare Advantage, Individual ACA, commercial group and short-term insurance plans, is headquartered in Toledo and does business primarily in Ohio and Michigan.

FULL DETAILS HERE…

Important: 2024 Field Agents Telephonic Sales 

New Requirement for Humana Appointed Agents:  2024 Telephonic Sales Field Agent Script

Effective for 2024 MAPD sales, Humana will require all appointed agents to use an approved telephonic sales script when doing Humana business over the phone. 

 Click the link below to download a script, developed by Integrity, and approved for use by Humana (and many other Medicare Advantage carriers) to meet the Humana requirement.  The script does include both enrollment and Scope of Appointment (SOA) language.  Note the script needs to be read on a recorded line.

 Agents that want to use an approved script for telephonic sales outside of Humana, may use the script below as a reference and, depending on the carrier, may also use this script for their SOA and enrollment. 

Cornerstone Senior Marketing will host a webinar on October 11th about this new Humana requirement and to review the Field Agent Telephonic Script in greater detail.  Please register for this webinar if you have questions about this new requirement and/or can benefit from a run-through of the script.

***A recording will be posted inside our Webinar Library shortly after the webinar has concluded.

 

Humana Call Script 2024 – presented by Matt Fry

Wednesday, October 11, 2024

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 

DOWNLOAD A COPY HERE: 2024 FIELD AGENT TELEPHONIC SALES SCRIPT

 

 

Aetna’s New Enrollment Requirements Per CMS

Compliance Connection

For Aetna Medicare Distribution Partners

September 27, 2023

In this edition we’ll continue to review some of the new sales presentation elements and questions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that you need to address with your clients. Through the “beneficiary blues” scenarios, we’ll demonstrate the positive impact you can have on your clients’ satisfaction. These requirements apply to enrollments completed after September 30, 2023. Your agency may already require you to cover some of these items.

CLICK FOR FULL UPDATE LINK

Wellcare: Important 2024 Commission Information

Important 2024 Commission Information

Attention Valued Partner,

As you prepare for the 2024 Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), we want to bring to your attention some important commission information.

Broker Commission Rates

New and existing MAPD plans will continue to pay the maximum fair market value commission rates for PY 2024 enrollments on all health plans: Wellcare, Allwell, Fidelis Care and Health Net.

 

 

Commission Resources and Tools

We are pleased to provide you with the following 2024 Commission Resources. We are confident you will find these resources informative.

Click on each topic for detailed information:

 

Compensation Schedule (Agreement)
Commission Payment Schedule

 

Commission Calculator
Broker Compensation

FAQ

Anthem News – Bon Secours Mercy Health Update

Bon Secours Mercy Health is staying in Anthem’s Medicare Advantage network in Ohio.

Anthem announced that they reached an agreement with Bon Secours Mercy Health to keep them in their Medicare Advantage network. They have secured a a new long-term contract, ensuring members will have in-network access for years to come.

Anthem is sending letters to impacted members to share this good news. If members already moved to a new provider, they can stay with them or switch back to Bon Secours Mercy Health.

Please visit anthem.com/MercyHealthOhio for the latest information.

2024 Wellcare Kits Ordering Delay

CustomPoint – 2024 Sales Materials Ordering to Begin Friday, September 29, 2023

In an effort to fulfill all of the 2024 sales material pre-orders first, the CustomPoint portal will open for general ordering of sales materials on Friday, September 29, 2023, instead of Wednesday, September 27 as previously communicated.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding.  Please contact your Cornerstone Senior Marketing Service Team if you have any questions.

More Stores Are Now Available With Anthem’s Grocery Benefits

Sourced from Anthem broker eblast on 9/11/23:

Anthem Medicare Advantage members now have more choices when using their Grocery benefit allowance.

Your clients can now shop in the following stores for Grocery benefits:

Hy-Vee
Publix
HEB
Central Market
H-Mart
Piggly Wiggly
County Market
Harvest Market
Save A Lot
Woodman’s
Sedano’s
Presidente
Winn-Dixie
Fresco y Más
Harveys Supermarket
Hannaford
Stop & Shop
Food Lion
Giant
Giant Food
Giant Heirloom Market
Giant to Go
Martin’s

These stores are now available for using the Grocery benefit only.

For a complete list of local grocery stores, members can log in to MyBenefits.NationsBenefits.com, select the Flex menu and then select Store Locator. The Store Locator will include the newly added stores starting on 9/14/2023.

Anthem’s NEW RTS Screen on Producer Toolbox – Great Resource!

Sourced from Anthem broker email communication:

On July 15, 2023, the Producer Toolbox will introduce a new Ready to Sell (RTS) page that allows brokers to view their RTS status for each state they intend to sell Medicare products.

Brokers will easily be able to see if they are licensed, certified, and appointed with each state – as well as complete any outstanding components they may have.

If you have any questions, please reach out to service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com 

Humana: Member Care Assessment Transition to Health Risk Assessment

Sourced from Humana Broker Email Communication on 6/19/23: 

As annual CMS requirement of those conducting HRA’s, the Model of Care (MOC) training will be rolled out to agents in the Humana Certification and Recertification training starting in PY24.

Be on the lookout for the tool training (Health Care Assessment Training) on Sunfire after cert/recert opens

*** Please note that August 31, 2023 is simply the deadline for the 9/1 start date for HRA. If an agent completes training past 8/31/23 they will still be able to access the Sunfire portal to complete surveys and qualify for compensation as the current program guidelines indicate, we are just highlighting that date to be in line with the roll-out and ensure agents are aware that the training is required to be compensated.***

Union Security Insurance Co: Important Med Supp Update

Sourced from USIC email communication on 5/17/23:

Effective June 1, 2023 Union Security will be discounting the USIC Medicare Supplement offering in all states.

The Union Security Insurance Company (USIC) Medicare Supplement product, administered by Aetna, will be discontinued as of June 1, 2023.

 

  • We will not accept applications with a signature date after May 31, 2023
  • We will not offer effective dates later than June 1, 2023
  • Agent appointments under USIC will be terminated as of June 1, 2023
  • Paper sales materials for USIC Medicare Supplement plans in all states will be available through today, May 17th, 2023
  • Existing customers will continue to be serviced and offered renewal options
  • Existing policyholders will continue to have access to their account here
  • Agents will continue to be able to access reports and other information from their agent portal here

 

If you have any questions concerning USIC products or contracting please contact your CSM rep.