AETNA Updates: COVID-19 Vaccine, Commission payments, SEP marketing & more

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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

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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

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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.

Congratulations, You Made It!

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Agents,

 

Congratulations! You have made it through probably the most challenging annual enrollment period in some time. We value each and every one of our partnerships with our agents and hope you can enjoy a much deserved breather in the following weeks.

 

But wait…

 

Cornerstone offers our services year around and this is a prefect opportunity to meet (or by phone!) one-on-one with your Cornerstone sales representative to plan out the rest of the 2021 to sell throughout the whole year!

Connect with your sales rep here

Plus…

We have the resources and tools to grow that book of business even more! Take a look at all of our tools in our Cornerstone Agent Toolkit.

Click here for AGENT TOOLKIT

 

DON’T FORGET!
The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) will begin Jan. 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021 for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. This is an opportunity for a beneficiary enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage) to make plan changes.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES REGARDING 2021 OEP.

For anything else, give us a call and see how we can help!
614-763-2255

 

 

Understanding COVID SEP 2020

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There may be some confusion as to whether a COVID SEP exists or ever ended. 

 

To clarify, in late spring, CMS announced a time limited SEP for COVID affected beneficiaries which ended June 30, 2020.  Another disaster/emergency SEP has NOT been put into place.  However, what is always available is the case-by-case SEP for Other Exceptional Circumstances.  To confirm, while some in the industry may have assumed that there is another disaster/emergency SEP in place, this is not the case.

 

For additional information regarding the case-by-case SEP, which has to be referred to Medicare to handle, you can find details here.

 

Still have questions?  We’re here to help.

Contact your Cornerstone Senior Marketing Rep for assistance

614-763-2255

 

or email

 

service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Cornerstone & Devoted Health Free Mailer Incentive

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AEP Final Push Can Earn a Jump on 2021!

Cornerstone Senior Marketing is excited to offer agents a free 1,000 piece mailer when they submit 5 (or more) Devoted apps this AEP. The free mailer can be used in Q1 2021 to get your new year off right!

Bonus! If you submit 7 or more apps, Devoted will also kick in additional Devoted Bucks to use online at Devoted.com.

Already submitted your 5 apps? Congratulations – you’re automatically entitled to the 1,000 piece mailer in Q1, 2021.

Devoted Health has a robust network and provide excellent customer service. They also use state-of-the-art technology and can offer some brokers the opportunity to participate in their marketing campaigns!

Request more information today about this incredible End of AEP bonus or to finalize adding Devoted Health to your carrier portfolio.

Contact your Cornerstone Senior Marketing Rep!

Jaime Lebrón | 216-503-4509, NE OHIO
Email: jaime.lebrón@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Colleen Baird | 567-205-2551, NW OHIO
Email: colleen.baird@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Humana MP: Important Update Regarding Plan Changes

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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!

AEP Ends MONDAY Dec. 7: Cornerstone’s Tips for Smooth App Processing!

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AEP ends  MONDAY December 7
Tips for smooth application processing.

Important information about the last days of AEP and submitting enrollment apps.

The following tips will help ensure your hard work this AEP pays off and your applications are processed correctly, including those submitted on December 7, 2020.

1. AEP application submission deadline: ALL applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on December 7.

2. Date the application. It’s important to include a date on every enrollment application. Applications without a date, received after December 7, 2020, are assigned the date the application was received by the carrier, which can invalidate apps received after AEP ends. Apps that you receive on December 7 must be submitted to the carrier, dated December 7.

3. Faxing Applications: If faxing the application, remember to keep a copy of your successful fax transmittal as confirmation of submission.

4. Application Submission Guide: Click the link below to download the application enrollment submission process, by carrier.

Submitting Applications Document

Note: If you have questions about last minute submissions, we’re here for you!

Please call 614-763-2255

Cigna Protects YOU as the Agent on Record

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Cigna Communication from
Our Agent of Record commitment

Even though you are an independent agent, we consider you part of Team Cigna. We appreciate the work that you do every day on our behalf and understand the effort it takes to build a book of business. We want to make sure you understand that we’re committed to protecting your Agent of Record status and protecting the commissions you’ve earned for the customers you’ve enrolled.

At Cigna:
• We understand that sometimes existing customers need to change plans and would prefer that they remain with Cigna.
• We want to reduce the work associated with plan changes and free your time to focus on servicing and growing your book of business.
• We want you to trust that we will protect your interests and that we value you and your current relationship with the customers you’ve enrolled.

Our commitment to you

When an internal Cigna agent completes a plan change for one of your existing Medicare Advantage customers, you will remain the Agent of Record (AOR) and continue to receive renewal commissions on plan changes.

How will we do this?

Cigna has established a Dedicated Plan Change unit within the CARL team that exists solely to help existing customers transition from one plan to another. This unit is staffed by licensed service representatives, not Sales Agents.

• When an existing customer makes a plan change by calling our Dedicated Plan Change line directly, your AOR status will remain unchanged.
• When an existing customer calls customer service inquiring about a plan change, the customer service representative will transfer the customer to our Dedicated Plan Change line and your AOR status will remain unchanged.
• When an existing customer initiates a plan change through one of Cigna’s internal field sales or telesales agents our team member will either refer the customer to our Dedicated Plan Change line or complete the plan change themselves. In either case, your AOR status will remain unchanged.

The Agent of Record policy applies to:

• Active, licensed, appointed and 2021 certified agents at the time of the customer’s plan change

The Agency of Record policy does not apply when:

• The original agent is no longer eligible or terminated
• Another active, licensed, appointed and 2021 certified, external agent (not employed by Cigna) facilitates the plan change
• The plan change is facilitated through an external Cigna appointed call center agent/agency

The plan change process

As an agent, you still have the option to fill out a new application to submit for current customers.

Customers can call 1-855-649-5105 to connect to
the dedicated Plan Change Queue

 

Any questions contact your CSM representative. 

 

 

ALERT: Uploading Paper Apps to Humana’s Vantage

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Upload Paper Applications will be turned off December 11, 2020

Urgent notice regarding Upload Paper Applications

Please be aware that the Upload Paper Applications link in Vantage will be turned off on December 11, 2020 at 5pm EST, until further notice.

Agents are able to submit paper applications via Vantage through the December 11th date until 5pm EST. Please remember to NOT include any credit card information on your paper applications submitted via Vantage as that information is strictly prohibited.

A new notification will be sent when the link is re-enabled. Alternatively, agents may submit paper applications via Humana Doc Transmitter app, fax, and regular mail. Further details on these methods will be forthcoming.

If you require additional information, please contact your service rep or email: service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com