Revisions to THP 2023 Agent Training: Medicare Product Certification

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Sourced from THP broker communication from 9/1/22:

 

Dear THP Agent Partner:

As you know, CMS’ annual bid process continues after the release of our Agent Training. The following benefit changes have occurred after our training was released. These changes have been updated in our online training site materials. However, if you have already taken our training, please review the changes below:

  • SecureCare SNP, H3672-019 for OH/WV: 
    • Over-the-Counter item amount changed from $125 to $130
    • Healthy Food Benefit amount changed from $60 to $65
    • Premium changed from $0-$37.90 to $0-$40.80
    • Emergency Room Maximum copay changed from $90 to $95
  • Changes to OHIO Benefit Chart: 
    • Plan H3672-013 Over-the-Counter changed from $60 to $80
    • Plan H8604-010 Premium changed from $60 to $58
      • Hearing Services added Medicare-covered Hearing Exam; $45/In, $60/Out
    • Plan H3672-020 Premium changed from $35 to $33
    • Plan 8604-011 Premium changed from $115 to $113
      • Hearing Services added Medicare-covered Hearing Exam; $45/In, $60/Out 
  • Changes to WV Benefit Chart:
    • Plan H3672-020 Premium changed from $35 to $33
    • Plan H8604-011 Premium changed from $115 to $113
      • Hearing Services added Medicare-covered Hearing Exam; $45/In, $60/Out
    • Plan H3672-023 Over-the-Counter amount changed from $60 to $80
    • Plan 8604-013 Premium changed from $80 to $78
      • Hearing Services added Medicare-covered Hearing Exam; $45/In, $60/Out

 

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

SureBridge: Producer Support and other SureBridge service reminders

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Producer Support closing early Friday and other SureBridge service reminders

Work is beginning on the conversion to our new policy administration system. All member portal websites will be unavailable this Friday night (8/26), through Sunday (8/28). In addition, the Customer Service call center and Producer Support will be closing early Friday (8/26) at 3:30 CT.

Expected timeline of upcoming changes:

• 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.

 

If you have any questions/issues please contact your CSM representative!

MMO Special Broker Update: Pre-Order Your Medicare Advantage Supplies Now

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Click here to place your pre-order for 2023 Medicare Advantage pre-enrollment materials.

Pre-orders must be received by Tuesday, August 30, in order to guarantee delivery prior to October 1. Orders received after August 30 will begin shipping in the order they were received.

What is available for pre-order?

  • Plan Highlights Brochure: provides comparison of plan options by region
  • Pre-Enrollment Kit: includes a marketing brochure, individual Summary of Benefits documents and an enrollment application customized by region.

Want to learn more about our 2023 Medicare Advantage plans? Visit our First Look microsite.

 

Questions or issues with pre-ordering? Contact your CSM Service Rep! 

Lumico DP News: Coming soon – Lumico Agent Center enhancement

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Coming soon: Lumico Agent Center enhancement

Exciting news! Starting August 9, agents who are newly appointed with Lumico will be able choose their own, unique user ID and password to log-in to Lumico Agent Center (LAC).

Here’s what you need to know:

  • When logging into LAC for the first time, agents will be prompted to verify their identity, then register by providing a user ID and password.
  • The user ID field must be unique and requires between 4 and 64 alphanumeric characters. (Only “@”, “.” and “_” are allowed for special characters).
  • Passwords must have a minimum of eight characters, and include at least one upper case letter, one lower case letter, and one number.

For agents appointed with Lumico prior to 8/9, no action is required at this time; their email address will continue to serve as their user ID.

 

If you have any questions, please contact CSM’s Michelle Kapp

Aetna’s Think Agent Updates – New Desktop Version

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Sourced from Aetna’s Think Agent email communication from 7/28/22:

Great news, Think Agent users!

 

Aetna has a new desktop version coming to you this Friday, 7/29! With this new version, Aetna is delivering many enhancements and time-saving features that will make doing business with Aetna Medicare faster, simpler and better for you this AEP!

The mobile app will be updated to include these features in the coming weeks.

See below for some of the exciting new features coming with this new desktop version!

 

  1. Application “Save” option. Begin & save an application and open it later – Right where you left-off!Find the saved draft application in your My Enrollments to re-open, edit and complete.

2.  “Quick Help” in the More component will display you local Aetna Broker Manager’s contact information, as well as other helpful contacts.

 

3. D-SNP eligibility now displayed on each D-SNP plan card. Verify Medicaid in Think Agent, and we’ll let you know if your client is eligible for the D-SNP plans in the area!

 

4. Look for these “i” icons beside popular items like eKit & SOA to learn more!

 

5. Now add your client’s providers to their lead! After – When shopping for plans to enroll – you’ll see network status displayed on the plan cards, helping you to make an enrollment decision.

 

SureBridge Moving to New Policy Administration System – Final Steps

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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

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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

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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.

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

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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.

Good News! Wellcare Worbench Addition: Policy ID & Commission Statements

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Sourced from Wellcare Broker Bulletin communication from 6/28/22:

 

To ensure we continue to provide you with tools and resources to aid in your success, we will be evolving Centene Workbench on an ongoing / as-needed basis.

We are excited to announce that Centene ID (formerly known as Policy ID/Sub ID) has been added to different areas of the portal – please review the breakdown below.

  • “Centene ID” has been added at the end of the Book of Business, Payment History, and Commissions Statement (where applicable) extracts.
  • The MBI search option field has been updated to “MBI / Centene ID” enabling search functionality for either ID.

 

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