SureBridge Update on Large Call Volume
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Dental Care Plus January 2021 Updates
Dental Care Plus Newsletter from 1/12/21:
January 2021: Happy New Year – Commercial Individual Product Update
The Dental Care Plus Group continues its integration into the DentaQuest family! We are now part of an organization that manages dental and vision benefits for more than 30 million Americans — and we are excited to bring you and your clients the benefits of DentaQuest while maintaining the same local provider network and continuing to provide exceptional service.
On February 1, 2021, the Dental Care Plus Group plans will be available on DentaQuest’s Shop, Quote and Enroll website, and we will launch a new Member Portal.
Additionally – you may notice we’ve updated our overall look and feel. Our materials and communications may look different but will include the essential information you and your clients need.
Please note the following:
Plan Designs:
• DCPG’s individual plan designs will remain the same – how the plans are purchased will change. After 2/1/2021, the DCPG individual dental plans will be offered on DentaQuest’s enrollment platform, Shop, Quote and Enroll (SQE).
• In addition to the DCPG dental plans, there will also be three DentaQuest individual dental plans in Ohio and Indiana – resulting in more options for your clients and more opportunities for you to earn commissions.
• As part of this change, we are excited to offer your clients additional payment timing options your clients have asked for – including quarterly, semi-annual and annual payments. In addition to the timing options, subscribers will have the ability to choose the date the payment is made from their account.
Member Portal:
• Our current individual members will migrate over to the updated portal and will receive timely communication throughout the process.
Personalized URLs:
• Updated personalized URLs will be created prior to the migration date and training will be offered to help you navigate the Shop, Quote and Enroll (SQE) website. Please click here to request a personalized URL to the SQE website.
Customer Service:
• DCPG customer service will continue to use the same phone numbers, aiding in a seamless transition to our parent company’s system. Starting Feb. 1, 2021, all customer service functions will run through our parent company’s system, and all relevant data will be migrated from our current system by that date.
Training Sessions and Additional Resources:
• We will be offering training sessions and additional materials in the upcoming weeks. Dates and times will be available soon.
Aetna Med Supp Rate Changes
Upcoming Medicare Supplement rate adjustments effective 3/1/2021 for the following states:
Florida
Louisiana
Montana
North Carolina
Update: SilverScript PDP ID Cards
We have received word that there is a delay with members getting their SilverScript PDP ID cards via mail. ID cards are generally taking anywhere from 15 – 21 days for them to be mailed out, plus any delay with the US postal mail delivery also.
AGENTS- you can provide a temporary ID card to give to clients that can be used for ALL SilverScript products in the meantime. DOWNLOAD HERE
*MEMBER NEEDS TO WRITE THEIR NAME AND ID NUMBER ON THE TEMPORARY CARD AND PRESENT AT THE PHARMACY
To register for Silverscript’s member secure website , go to https://www.silverscript.com/member/members and the member services number is 866-235-5660.
Please contact your Cornerstone Service Rep for more information or questions.
WellCare Commission Payments Delayed
Commission Payments Delayed
An error was identified that prevented commission payments from processing. We have resolved the issue and are processing the payments.
- Impacted commission statement: 12/18/2020
- Payments will process on 12/30/2020.
- Payments will be deposited by EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer).
We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.
WellCare is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation
Aetna Upcoming Med Supp Rate Changes
Aetna: Upcoming Medicare Supplement Rate Adjustments February 1, and/or March 1, 2021
Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin
AETNA Updates: COVID-19 Vaccine, Commission payments, SEP marketing & more
Aetna email update from 12/17/20:
COVID-19 News:
Update on distribution of COVID-19 vaccines
Since CMS is covering the vaccine costs, the COVID-19 vaccination will be covered at no added cost to current Aetna Medicare members. We expect that vaccine distribution will occur in phases, beginning with high-risk health workers, first responders and older adults living in long-term care facilities. It’s expected to take many months to vaccinate the entire U.S. population.
It’s our understanding at this time that the CDC and CMS will determine the eligibility for the vaccine. Aetna Medicare Advantage senior leadership remains in contact with CMS leadership on this matter. While no request from CMS has been made to help identify beneficiaries who qualify, we stand at the ready to help and support them with this effort however we can.
As we learn more, we’ll keep you informed. You can also visit our COVID-19 resource center at www.cvshealth.com/covid-19.
Aetna helps members access COVID-19-related care through new and extended waivers
Through January 31, 2021, we’ll also waive Medicare Advantage member cost-sharing for:
- Inpatient admissions for treatment of COVID-19 or health complications associated with COVID-19
- In-network telemedicine visits for specialist visits, which includes mental and behavioral health providers
- All in-network primary care visits, whether done in-office and via telehealth, for any reason
We’ll also continue to waive member cost-sharing for diagnostic testing related to COVID-19 for Medicare members. Learn more.
Member Retention:
Open Enrollment Period (OEP) starts January 1
During the Medicare Advantage OEP, beneficiaries who are enrolled in an MA/MAPD plan have a one-time opportunity to change plans. This election period is not available to those with Original Medicare or those enrolled in a standalone Prescription Drug Plan. Learn more.
OEP dos and don’ts: Review examples on how to assist your clients during OEP
During OEP, do:
– At a beneficiary’s proactive request, send marketing materials, have one-on-one meetings, and provide information on the OEP
– Include general information on your website about enrollment periods, including OEP
During OEP, don’t:
– Send unsolicited materials encouraging an enrollment change or referencing the OEP
– Specifically target beneficiaries because they enrolled in a plan during AEP
– Call or otherwise contact former enrollees who selected a new plan during AEP
– Engage in or promote activities that intend to target the OEP as an opportunity to make further sales
Commission payments start Jan. 4:
Commissions for 2021 plans will start generating the first week of January. You can expect the first payment to appear in your bank account starting the week of January 4.
Review the 2021 commission schedule
Click here to learn how we pay commissions
SEP marketing materials available on Studio
You can now customize, download, print and order CMS-compliant SEP materials on the Aetna Medicare Marketing Studio. After you login to the Studio, just click on SEP in the left-hand menu. You’ll find the following SEP materials available:
- Call for appointment flyer
- Meeting postcard
- Full page ad
Your client enrolled in an MA/MAPD plan, now what?
Typically, about two weeks after a beneficiary’s Aetna MA/MAPD enrollment application is accepted, they’ll receive:
- A welcome letter confirming their enrollment and an Aetna member ID card
- A letter with guidance on how to find the following essential plan documents online and or request printed copies (click here for an example):
- Evidence of Coverage, formulary (if applicable), a pharmacy directory and a provider directory
Aetna Broker Services Department holiday hours:
Just contact the Aetna Medicare Broker Services Department for help at
1-866-714-9301 or brokersupport@aetna.com. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM – 8 PM ET. Please note: Our office will close early on December 24 and December 31, and we’ll be closed on December 25 and January 1, as shown below.
- December 24: 8 AM – 5 PM ET
- December 25: Closed
- December 31: 8 AM – 5 PM ET
- January 1: Closed
Aetna’s ASCEND iPad User Notification & VBE Holiday Hours
Aetna has also posted this notification on the Ascend message board
Automatic download of the new Ascend app for iPad users only:
There is an Ascend platform wide adjustment due for release at midnight that will prompt iPad users to download the new Ascend app.
The app will automatically download as soon as the iPad device is turned on tomorrow. The download of the new app is necessary for the RATE feature to work.
This will not affect Windows users, only impacts iPad users!
Holiday Hours of Operation for VBE and AHD:
VBE Call Center
Christmas Eve – Closed
Christmas Day – Closed
New Year’s Day – Closed
Ascend Help Desk (AHD)
Christmas Eve – Open, 8 AM – 11 PM EST
Christmas Day – Closed
New Year’s Day – Closed
MMO News: COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage and Availability
Special Broker Update Release from MMO – 12/14/20
Important Information About COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage and Availability
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is an important step toward preventing the spread of the virus. While there is still a lot of uncertainty around the vaccine distribution plans, we want to keep you informed regarding Medical Mutual’s plans related to coverage for the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccine availability for all members
The federal government is coordinating the distribution plans for the COVID-19 vaccine with state health agencies. Initially, there will be a limited supply of the vaccine and it will be distributed to the populations at the highest risk, including healthcare workers, first responders such as police and paramedics, individuals residing in group settings (such as nursing homes), and people with underlying health conditions that put them at risk for serious complications from COVID-19.
Each state will communicate its distribution plans to the population. Groups and members located in Ohio can visit Coronavirus.Ohio.gov and click the COVID-19 Vaccination Program tab for more information. Members who live outside Ohio, or groups with a large number of employees located outside Ohio, should refer to the state health agency’s COVID-19 website for details.
Once the COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available, members will be able to receive the vaccine from healthcare providers and pharmacies. There may also be community vaccination sites set up throughout the state. Members should use the national vaccine finder website at VaccineFinder.org to find a convenient location to receive the vaccine. Please note: It may take several weeks for the information on the national vaccine finder to be updated as the vaccine makes its way across the country.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLANS
Coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine
For the remainder of 2020 and all of 2021, Original Medicare will cover the costs of all necessary doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the cost to have someone administer the vaccine, for Medicare Advantage, EGWP and Medicare Supplement members. No member cost sharing will be applied. After the public health emergency ends, the COVID-19 vaccine will be included as a preventive benefit under the members’ health plans beginning with the 2022 plan year.
Medicare Advantage and EGWP members can receive the vaccine from providers outside of the Medical Mutual Medicare network with no member cost sharing during the public health emergency declared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Medicare Supplement members can receive the vaccine from any provider or location that accepts Medicare.
QUESTIONS
If you have questions about Medical Mutual’s response to COVID-19, please contact your Cornerstone Senior Marketing Representative.
Humana MP: Important Update Regarding Plan Changes
2020 Compliance Communication
Before AEP, we communicated that Humana will no longer accept plan change requests through the Agent Statement of Enrollment Correction (ASEC) form from an agent. Now is a good time to conduct a review of the enrollment applications you have submitted in AEP to ensure they have processed and the member is enrolled in the right plan. If you find a member who was mistakenly enrolled in the wrong Contract/PBP, you will need to obtain a new application prior to December 7 in order to use AEP to correct the member’s enrollment for a January 1, 2021 effective date.
Keep in mind that members must have a valid election code at the time the new enrollment application is being submitted. If you catch the error on December 8, for example, you will no longer be able to submit a new application using AEP to correct the plan type and will need to see if they are eligible for another election period. If they do not have another valid election period, you will need to advise them of their next opportunity to enroll in a plan.
Please ensure you are reviewing every application carefully prior to submitting to ensure you have the correct Contract/PBP and Plan Type Bubble selected.
Please note: The ASEC form may still be used for election type code, effective date, and demographic changes.
Questions? Please reach out to your Cornerstone Senior Marketing Representative.
We’re here to help!
614-763-2255
email: service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com
Not contracted with Humana? Reach out to your Cornerstone Senior Marketing Sales representative to get appointed!