CMS’s 2023 5 Star Rating Carriers & Plans for Ohio

Sourced from Aultcare broker email communication on 10/12/22:

We are pleased to announce the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded PrimeTime Health Plan with a 5 out of 5 star rating for 2023!

This is the second year in a row PrimeTime Health Plan has received the 5-star recognition!

This top rating is a result of PrimeTime Health Plan’s dedication to quality of care and quality of service.

We are excited that a 5-star rating allows our organization to market our plan year-round, which means you can sell our plans throughout the 2023 year.

Additionally, a 5-star rated allows us to enhance plan benefits and programs for our members. These enhancements improve our members’ quality of life and experience with the health plan, leading to continued positive outcomes.

Throughout the rest of the year and into 2023, our representatives will continue to work with you and provide the necessary educational materials to promote PrimeTime Health Plan and its 5-star rated benefits to your clients.

Thank you for your dedication to PrimeTime Health Plan as we show our communities why PrimeTime Health Plan is one of the highest rated Medicare Advantage Plans in Ohio!

 

Sourced from Devoted broker email communications:

All our eligible Medicare Advantage plans earned top Stars Measure ratings

We’re thrilled to share that 100% of our members in eligible plans are on a plan that has a 4-Star rating or higher from CMS. Here’s how our plans stacked up this year:

  • Ohio: 5 out of 5 Stars
  • Florida: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
  • Texas: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
  • Arizona: 4 out of 5 Stars

Our Stars Measure ratings show what Devoted Health is doing is different

We’re committing to providing the best quality care for older Americans through our all-in-one healthcare solution. Our results reflect the exceptional caliber of service and care made possible by our integrated solution and the dedication of our team. Read more about our results.

Ohio HMO plans earned 5 out of 5 Stars

This is a huge feat — and another reason to feel good about selling Devoted Health to your clients.

Very few Medicare Advantage plans earn a 5-Star rating. Only about 11% of the Medicare plans reviewed this year earned that rating. Only 1 other plan earned a 5-Star rating in their first year! 

Other big wins across all our markets:

  • 5 out of 5 Stars rating on customer service
  • 5 out of 5 Stars overall rating of health plan

You can read more about Devoted ratings on devoted.com. Feel free to let your clients know all about our Star ratings.

 

Sourced from MMO’s Press Release on 10/7/22:

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Medical Mutual’s Medicare Advantage preferred provider organization (PPO) and health maintenance organization (HMO) plans both achieved the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) top rating, 5 out of 5 Stars, for 2023.

This is the second consecutive year in which the Company achieved 5 Stars for its PPO plans. In addition, Medical Mutual elevated the rating of its HMO plans from 4.5 Stars in 2022.

CMS rates plans from 1 to 5 Stars, with 5 representing excellent performance. Insurers are evaluated on what they do to keep members healthy, including preventive screenings and vaccines; how well they help members manage chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes; how responsive the plan is to making sure members get the care they need; how they help resolve member complaints; and customer service.

The 5-Star rating allows individuals to switch to a Medical Mutual Medicare Advantage plan anytime throughout the year. Lower-rated plans can only accept enrollment during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

In addition, because Medical Mutual’s Medicare Advantage plans come with a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan, we also were evaluated on our members’ overall satisfaction with the drug plan, drug pricing and patient safety.

“Medical Mutual is committed to keeping our members healthy through preventive care and management of chronic conditions. These exceptional ratings reflect that commitment,” said Dr. Tere Koenig, Medical Mutual Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “We also make member experience a priority. We always strive to provide outstanding customer service.”

“In my short time here at Medical Mutual, I’ve seen how dedicated our team members are to providing the highest quality of care and services to our members,” said President and CEO Steve Glass. “That dedication and genuine consideration allow us to provide an exceptional member experience. We will continue to strive to maintain these high standards.”

Medical Mutual entered the Medicare Advantage market in 2016, earning the highest enrollment of any new plan that year.

About Medical Mutual of Ohio

Founded in 1934, Medical Mutual is the oldest and one of the largest health insurance companies based in Ohio. We provide peace of mind to more than 1.2 million Ohioans through our high-quality health, life, disability, dental, vision and indemnity plans. We offer fully insured and self-funded group coverage, including stop loss, as well as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and individual plans. Medical Mutual’s status as a mutual company means we are owned by our members, not stockholders, so we don’t answer to Wall Street analysts or pay dividends to investors. Instead, we focus on developing products and services that allow us to better serve our customers and the communities around us and help our members achieve their best possible health and quality of life. For more information, visit the company’s website at MedMutual.com.

# # #

MedMutual Advantage plans are HMO and PPO plans offered by Medical Mutual of Ohio with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in a MedMutual Advantage plan depends on contract renewal. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system.

Sourced from UHC broker email communication from 10/14/22:

Star Ratings – First, a reminder: You still have access to our 2022 5-Star plans for enrollments effective Nov 1st and Dec 1st. Anyone who has a Medicare card and lives in the 5 Star Plan’s service area is eligible to enroll into a 5 Star plan if they haven’t already used the 5 Star SEP with us this year.

 

2023 Star Ratings were released by CMS late last week and UnitedHealthcare will continue to have more people in 4-star plans or higher than any other carrier in the industry. Approximately 81% of our Medicare Advantage members around the country are in 4-star plans or higher for 2023 Star Year Ratings. Additionally, approximately 94% of UnitedHealthcare Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) national membership will be in plans rated 4-stars or higher.

In Ohio, UnitedHealthcare is proud to offer plans with 4 Stars, 4.5 Stars and even 5 Stars with the plan specific detail as follows:

 

Contract H Number                # Stars                      Plan Names

CMS Contract # H0271            4 STARS                     Full Dual SNP Choice (our statewide PPO for Full Dual Medicare-Medicaid status)

CMS Contract # H8768            4 STARS                     AARP Medicare Advantage Choice Plan 4 PPO, Choice Flex PPO, Choice PPO, Patriot PPO

CMS Contract # H5253            4.5 STARS                 AARP Medicare Advantage Plans 5, 6, 2, 3 and Full Dual SNP -059, Partial Dual SNP Select -122

CMS Contract # H5322          5 STARS                    Full Dual SNP -028 and Partial Dual SNP Select -034

 

Sourced from Summacare broker communication from 10/9/22:

Summacare is honored and incredibly proud to have received 5 STARSMedicare’s highest rating for SummaCare Medicare Advantage plans for 2023 in Ohio.

SummaCare has been providing high-quality, cost-effective coverage to our Medicare members for over 25 years. This highest-star rating from CMS underscores the commitment and tremendous dedication that their entire SummaCare team and the incredible network healthcare providers all have to improving the health, well-being and member experience for our members.

This is quite an accomplishment for the entire organization and reflects Summacare’s focus and commitment to delivering the highest-quality service and member experience possible.

This rating demonstrates their commitment to being the trusted and preferred navigator to high quality healthcare that improves the quality of life for members and the communities they serve. As a result of the 5-STAR rating, SummaCare will be able to enroll eligible seniors throughout most of the 2023 calendar year—not just limited to the AEP period.

SummaCare is an HMO and HMO-POS plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in SummaCare depends on upon contract renewal. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system.

Quote and Compare Cigna plans in MedicareCENTER

If you’re newly appointed with CignaHealthspring and working in MedicareCENTER to quote and compare carrier plans and products, this is news for you!

 

Cigna activates your appointment once your first application is submitted.  This means Cigna products will not initially appear in MedicareCENTER if you have not yet written an application. This affects your ability to quote and compare Cigna products.  To launch Cigna in MedicareCENTER in order to quote and compare, access and enable Cigna from the non-licensed plans option.

 

NOTE:  Active, licensed status to quote and ENROLL Cigna products from MedicareCENTER will be available upon submission of your first enrollment, which must be submitted to Cigna either via paper app or from the Cigna portal.

 

Questions about Cigna?  We can help – give us a call at 614-763-2255

Cigna Pharmacy Update: An update on Kroger and its affiliated pharmacies

Sourced from Cigna Broker Communication from 10/14/22:

Kroger and its affiliated pharmacies recently notified Cigna that they would not participate in Cigna’s Medicare Advantage (MAPD) and Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) network, effective January 1, 2023. Please note, 2022 is not impacted.

We understand that the annual enrollment period (AEP) begins tomorrow and the timing of this announcement is less than ideal. However, we were only recently notified of the contract change with Kroger for 2023 and we felt it was important to share this information with you and your brokers regardless of the pre-AEP timing. We’ve sent communications to brokers licensed within each impacted market that includes the name(s) of the Kroger pharmacy or affiliate impacted by this change. Attached is a complete list of Kroger Pharmacy Affiliates for your reference.

As you can imagine, our AEP materials were prepared well in advance. We are diligently working to update the CMS Plan Finder, sales kits, Cigna’s online provider directory, and other online tools. In fact, updates to the online tools will be made by October 24.

We are doing everything we can to make this transition as smooth as possible for our customers. While we understand the disruption, Cigna Medicare has more than 63,000 network pharmacies available nationwide, which are listed in our online provider directory. Here are a few other large pharmacy chains that continue to be available to our customers:
• Walgreens
• Walmart
• Publix
• Rite Aid
• Winn-Dixie

Mail order is also available, delivering prescriptions right to customers’ mailboxes.

To provide you some insight into our member outreach strategy, beginning November 1, we will notify customers who have used a Kroger pharmacy in the past six months that Kroger and its affiliated pharmacies are terminating. In addition to the letter, we will actively engage customers through proactive, outbound calls to help them find an in-network pharmacy nearby. Our customer service team is also prepared to offer customers convenient alternative pharmacies for them to use

 

VIEW THE Affiliated pharmacies owned and operated by Kroger HERE

Aetna: Think Agent – New Profile & PURL Access

Sourced from Aetna/Think Agent Email Communication from 10/13/2022:

 

Introducing more tools for you this AEP!

On 10/15, we have one fantastic delivery we’d like to share with you – NEW! Profile & PURL.

For those interested, we’re delivering the following new features this AEP & including the below training to help you learn how they work!

 

Profile – You may have already found the “Profile” button in Think Agent and found it to be inactive. Well, we’ve been hard at work developing this cool new feature to share with you; and we’re excited to announce it’s ready!

  • The Profile is customizable, allows you to change and update your contact information (does not affect other Aetna sites), link social media, add a profile picture and create an ‘About Me’ description of yourself.
  • What’s especially neat is your contact information will now pre-populate in forms such as the SOA, eKit and enrollment. Test it out for yourself
  • Even more, these items will also appear on your PURL for prospects to see!

PURL – Never heard of such a thing? PURL stands for Personalized URL and it’s a unique feature of Think Agent you’re going to like!

  • The PURL comes linked to your Think Agent Profile and access is granted automatically.
  • Copy & share your PURL address on your social media, MMS flyers, business cards, etc. for prospects and clients to access.
  • From your PURL site, your Profile information will display; as well as an option for prospective Medicare clients to shop for Aetna Medicare plans in their area, or request a free quote about products in which they are interested from you!*
  • If a client shops for plans from your PURL, they may enroll themselves by choosing “Enroll Now” on a plan in their geography, and you’ll be their AOR!

 

*An email notification will be sent directly to you from communication@email.thinkagent.com only when the ‘Free Quote’ feature is used on your PURL, and the prospect has indicated they wish to learn about products where you are currently RTS (based upon state).

 

To learn more about these exciting new features of Think Agent, please see our trainings here:

 

Social Security Update: Social Security Announces 8.7% Benefit Increase for 2023

Sourced from SSA’s Press Release on 10/13/22:

 

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.

 

READ FULL PRESS RELEASE 

AEP 2023 Readiness: Agent Guidance

READY TO SELL

Have you completed all your 2023 certifications?  Check our resource page for quick access and tips.

2023 MEDICARE CERTIFICATION RESOURCES

 

DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENT

On May 5, 2022, CMS updated the marketing guidelines to require use of a new disclaimer starting October 1, 2022 for Plan Year 2023.

2023 CMS FINAL RULE DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENT

 

CALL RECORDING REQUIREMENT

Effective 10/1/22:  Agents must record all calls (pre & post enrollment/selling and servicing) for 1/1/23 policy effective dates.  See full details about this new rule plus access training for the MedicareCENTER Call Recording Solution –offered exclusively, and at no cost to our broker partners.

CALL RECORDING RULES, GUIDANCE, AND FAQ

MEDICARECENTER CALL RECORDING SOLUTION TRAINING

 

NON-ELECTRONIC/PAPER APPS

Compiled by our Service Team, use this handy reference for the rare occasion a you need to submit a paper application.

PAPER APP SUBMISSION – EMAIL, FAX, MAIL

 

GENERAL/CARRIER SPECIFIC AEP TIPS

Make every app count!  Application tips and guidance for a successful AEP can be found in this ‘must have’ reference guide.

2023 AEP TIPS AND GUIDANCE GENERAL/CARRIER

 

COMPLIANT MARKETING

With new compliant rules and greater scrutiny on marketing activities, it’s more important than ever to maintain compliance in your marketing.We’re here to help!  Send marketing materials to us for review.  We are also your go-to for filing pieces that require CMS review and approval.

COMPLIANCE REVIEW SUBMISSION

2022 AGENT MEDICARE COMPLIANCE GUIDE

 

SERVICE, SUPPORT, AND MORE!

We’ve got your back.  Reach out when you need help, or get 24/7 assistance from our plentiful online resources.  The Service Team are here with solutions and our website features tools, training, and information to answer every question. Check out the Agent Toolkit, Resource Center, Event Calendar, Carrier Bonus/Sales Contests and Recent News!

CSM SERVICE TEAM CONTACT LIST

CSM WEBSITE

 

MEDICARECENTER

This FREE platform is chock-full of new features and enhancements including a Call Recording Solution, new Lead Center, a personal Agent Website, and the timely addition of a Send Quote function!

MEDICARECENTER NEW FEATURES, FUNCTIONS, AND ENHANCEMENTS

 

PLUS…

VIEW PREVIOUS TRAININGS AVAILABLE 24/7 FROM OUR WEBINAR LIBRARY

SureBridge: Changes on Oct. 14: Taking payment at issue & New HospitalWise GI states

Coming soon, on October 14th, 2022….

Initial payment processed at time of issue, starting Oct. 14

Due to overwhelming agent demand, initial payments will be processed at the time of issue for The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company (CLICO) applications signed and submitted on October 14 and after. This will apply to all states and all CLICO products.

Why take payment at time of issue?
Processing payment at time of issue will help ensure your clients have no issues with their payment method helping to avoid delays in activating the plan on the effective date.
• Your clients can feel confident they have secured coverage with payment and will seamlessly start their plan on their effective date.
• It will allow us to pay earned commissions as soon as possible, which we know is especially important during AEP/OEP.

What if my client’s application has already been submitted?

Applications received before 8 p.m. Oct. 13 will have initial payment processed on the effective date or issue date, whichever is later.

 

What if I have clients who want initial premium taken closer to the time of their effective date?

If you are unable to help your client appreciate the benefits of applying now with initial payment taken for a future effective date, then their application will need to be submitted much closer to the desired effective date of the plan. This will allow the initial payment taken at time of issue to be nearer the plan effective date. Please be sure to communicate the payment expectation to your customers, so they are prepared for funds to be taken at time of issue (which for most products is 1-2 days after application submission).

 

Guaranteed Issue HospitalWise launching in 10 more states Oct. 14!

SureBridge is excited to announce,10 more states will soon have the SureBridge branded HospitalWise product with guaranteed issue availability!  On October 14, the guaranteed issue offerings will be available in AK, IA, ID, MT, ND, OR, SD, UT, WV, WY.  

Now your clients, especially those with Medicare Advantage or ACA Marketplace plans, can apply for supplemental hospital coverage with no underwriting*. Even better, the plan premium and agent compensation will remain unchanged. That’s right, your clients can still access our competitive rates even if they purchase the guaranteed issue version of the plan!

Quoting the new guaranteed issue option is easy.  Simply choose a base benefit and rider benefits that fall within the thresholds found in the GI column.

 

Remember, HospitalWise GI has already launched in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA, WI.

 

If you’ve never considered offering HospitalWise to your clients, this guaranteed issue offering presents a great opportunity to start! View this highlight sheet to see what HospitalWise has to offer.

 

If you have any questions – reach out to Michelle Kapp with CSM. 

Devoted Health: New Feature Alert on Agent Portal

Sourced from Devoted Health Broker Email from 10/3/2022: 

Low-Income Subsidy & Medicaid Checks now available in our Agent Portal !

 

At Devoted Health we’re always looking for ways to make your life easier! With these two new features, you will be able to:

Lookup Low-Income Subsidy within the enrollment application. You must have the enrollee’s  verbal authorization to complete the eligibility check. Select a plan option and enter the enrollee’s Date of Birth and Medicare ID (MBI). You will receive LIS levels, A&B effective dates, current plan, and more! Details can be found here.

 

Lookup DSNP/Medicaid Eligibility. You must have enrollee’s First & Last Name, Date of Birth, and Gender OR Medicaid ID and Medicare ID (MBI). You will receive Medicaid status, level, and more! Details can be found here. Medicaid eligibility data is available now for AL, FL, and OH. CO and TX coming soon!

 

Learn more about our 2023 plan offerings

It’s finally October! So that means you can now take a look at our 2023 plans and providers on our website www.devoted.com!

 

If you have any questions – please reach out to your Cornerstone Senior Marketing rep

What you need to know about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – From Aetna Medicare Solutions

Sourced from Aetna’s Medicare Solutions Broker Email from 9/30/2022:

President Biden’s signing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) marks the beginning of implementing many years of substantial change to the Medicare Part B and Part D programs.

The two most imminent changes, which take effect January 1, 2023, include:
• Limiting the member cost-share of covered insulins to $35
• Introducing $0 member cost-sharing on Part D vaccines

We’re updating materials to convey this information to members. Members will receive information by mail, and information will also be available in enrollment kits and on our website. In addition, we’re working to operationalize these changes by January 1, 2023, as required.

Please use the information below to help answer your clients’ questions this AEP.

 

How does the IRA impact 2023 Medicare Advantage plans (MAPD) and Prescription Drug Plans (PDP)?

It limits the member cost-share on covered insulins to $35. 

  • This means members won’t pay more than $35 for a one-month supply of each insulin product covered by their plan, no matter what cost-sharing tier it’s on, even if their plan has a deductible that hasn’t been met.
  • While some members already benefit from plans that offer $35 insulin, this legislation ensures that all seniors who use insulin benefit from this out-of-pocket cost limit.
  • Members receiving LIS will continue to pay the CMS statutory maximum cost share for insulin, which is less than $35.
  • In Florida, some 2023 Aetna MAPD plans will offer select insulins for a $0 cost share at preferred pharmacies and a $20 copay at standard pharmacies. On these plans, other covered insulins will be available for the $35 IRA copay.
  • In addition, the 2023 SmartSaver PDP (which is non-commissionable for new sales), available in all 50 states, offers covered insulin for a $10 copay at preferred pharmacies and a $20 copay at standard pharmacies.

It eliminates member costs and improves access for Part D vaccines.

Our 2023 plans will cover most Part D vaccines for a $0 cost share, even if a plan has a deductible that hasn’t been met.

 

What information will members receive?

Member materials are being updated in accordance with CMS guidance to ensure members are properly informed of the changes.

 

How will insulin and vaccine benefits be displayed on Medicare Plan Finder?

Beginning October 1, the Medicare Plan Finder site (www.medicare.gov) will reflect Part D sponsors’ insulin and vaccine benefits and cost sharing as they were submitted in their 2023 bid and formulary submissions, prior to IRA being enacted. However, new insulin and vaccine drug footnotes and other help features will be displayed to explain the benefit changes resulting from the IRA.

Because of this, CMS is granting a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Exceptional Circumstances to allow beneficiaries to add, drop, or change their Part D coverage if they find a better option after the 2022 Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) and through the end of 2023. This SEP will be available for all beneficiaries who use a covered insulin product and begins on December 8th, 2022, and ends on December 31, 2023. Beneficiaries may use this SEP one time during this period. To utilize this SEP, beneficiaries must call 1-800-MEDICARE so a customer service representative can process the enrollment change; they cannot use a broker for this SEP. Consistent with current policy, when Part D enrollees change plans mid-year, their True Out-of-Pocket (TrOOP) costs carry over from one plan to the next.

What’s coming in 2024?

Additional IRA requirements that will be implemented in 2024 include:
• $0 cost sharing in the catastrophic phase for Part D
• Expansion of the low-income subsidy eligibility to 150% of the federal poverty line

 

What additional impacts will IRA have in the future? 

Additional IRA requirements will be implemented annually through 2029. We’ll share more information as we approach those implementation dates.

The HealthPlan Network Update: Cleveland Clinic Foundation Facilities In Network

Sourced from THP Agent Newsflash Email from 10/6/22: 

 

The Health Plan is pleased to announce a change regarding Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Effective 1/1/2023, all contracted CCF facilities are in network for both SecureCare HMO and SecureChoice PPO.
(Previously listed as Tertiary-only for HMO).

We are in the process of updating our online provider search and directories to reflect this change.

 

If you have any questions – reach out to your CSM representative!