Medical Mutual of Ohio’s COVID-19 Updates

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COVID-19 Coronavirus Testing Covered with No Member Cost Sharing
Applies to: All Lines of Business

To help combat the spread of COVID-19, Medical Mutual is covering all diagnostic testing for the virus, as long as it is ordered by a medical provider. We are also waiving all member cost sharing, including copays, coinsurance and deductibles for these tests.

If any self-funded group has questions or concerns with this approach or want to opt out, they should contact their Medical Mutual representative. Labor groups are required to opt-in for covering COVID-19 testing with no member cost sharing.

IRS Guidance on HSAs and COVID-19 Testing and Treatment
The IRS issued guidance on March 11, 2020, allowing pre-deductible coverage of testing for and treatment of COVID-19, as determined by the health plan. This applies to high-deductible health plans (HDHP) with health savings accounts (HSA). This means that Medical Mutual’s HDHPs with HSAs can cover COVID-19 testing and treatment without member cost sharing.

Business Continuity Assurance
Medical Mutual has a business continuity plan in place that covers a variety of incidents, including illness outbreak. Should the situation with COVID-19 warrant, we are prepared to initiate that plan for all our offices. We are confident Medical Mutual can continue to serve our members regardless of where our people are physically located.

Credible COVID-19 Resources
We are working with and will follow all guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the US Food and Drug Administration, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and other state and local public health departments in supporting our members’ needs. We encourage our customers to seek information from the following sources:

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

ODH: https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/Novel-Coronavirus/2019-nCoV

Important information for Medical Mutual members about COVID-19 and our response is available at MedMutual.com/Coronavirus.

CSM & Anthem Training- With 1 Hour of CE Credit! | Columbus

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Cornerstone Senior Marketing & Anthem are hosting a series of Continue Education courses. Don’t miss these great topics and earn 1 hour credit towards your continuing education!

Thurs. April 2- Columbus

9:00am – 11:00am

Location: Wedgewood Golf & Country Club

9600 Wedgewood Blvd. Powell, OH 43065

REGISTER HERE

Webinar – Aetna DSNP Model of Care Training

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Cornerstone Senior Marketing is pleased to host our special Aetna guests, Shannon Ward and Christine Compliment.  Shannon and Christine will walk agents through specifics regarding what happens with a DSNP member once they’re enrolled into the Aetna DSNP product.  REGISTER

CVS Health Announces COVID-19 Resources for Aetna Members

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CVS Health announces COVID-19 resources for Aetna members

Friday, March 6, 2020

Diagnostic testing and telemedicine visits available with no co-pay

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced several steps to support Aetna members in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Supporting the health and well-being of our members and removing barriers to care are among our key areas of focus as we navigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Karen S. Lynch, President, Aetna and Executive Vice President, CVS Health. “That’s why we’re providing COVID-19 diagnostic testing and telemedicine visits with no out-of-pocket costs or cost sharing for Aetna members, along with a number of other programs and offerings that reinforce our commitment to delivering timely and seamless access to care.”

CVS Health has engaged with public health experts and organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to spread awareness of emergency preparedness efforts. Through its frequently-updated COVID-19 resource center, the company is providing the latest information on precautions consumers should take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and who should seek medical attention.

Effective immediately, Aetna members will have access to the following resources:

Aetna will waive co-pays for all diagnostic testing related to COVID-19. This policy will cover the test kit for patients who meet CDC guidelines for testing, which can be done in any approved laboratory location. Aetna will waive the member costs associated with diagnostic testing at any authorized location for all Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid lines of business. Self-insured plan sponsors will be able to opt-out of this program at their discretion.

For the next 90 days, Aetna will offer zero co-pay telemedicine visits for any reason. Aetna members should use telemedicine as their first line of defense in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices. Cost sharing will be waived for all video visits through the CVS MinuteClinic app, Aetna-covered Teladoc offerings and in-network providers delivering synchronous virtual care (live video-conferencing) for all Commercial plan designs. Self-insured plan sponsors will be able to opt-out of this program at their discretion.

Through Aetna’s Healing Better program, members who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive a care package containing CVS over-the-counter medications to help relieve symptoms. The package will also include personal and household cleaning supplies to help keep others in the home protected from potential exposure.

Through existing care management programs, Aetna will proactively reach out to members most at-risk for COVID-19. Care managers will walk members through what they can do to protect themselves, where to get information on the virus, and where to go to get tested.

Aetna is extending its Medicare Advantage virtual evaluation and monitoring visit benefit to all Aetna Commercial members as a fully-covered benefit. This offering will empower members with other conditions that need follow-up care to engage with providers without the concern of sitting in a physician’s office and risking potential exposure to COVID-19.

CVS Health is implementing the following programs to educate members about COVID-19 and help address any associated anxiety and stress:

  1. Opening Crisis Response Lines for all Aetna (Commercial, Medicare, Medicaid) and Caremark members who may be experiencing anxiety related to COVID-19.
  2. Expanding 24×7 access to the Aetna Nurse Medical Line for all Aetna and Caremark members.
  3. Providing Aetna plan sponsors with a Resources for Living toolkit with materials specifically developed for members experiencing anxiety related to COVID-19.

Anyone presenting symptoms compatible with COVID-19 should contact their health care provider immediately.

About CVS Health

CVS Health employees are united around a common goal of becoming the most consumer-centric health company in the world. We’re evolving based on changing consumer needs and meeting people where they are, whether that’s in the community at one of our nearly 10,000 local touchpoints, in the home, or in the palm of their hand. Our newest offerings from HealthHUB locations that are redefining what a pharmacy can be, to innovative programs that help manage chronic conditions are designed to create a higher-quality, simpler and more affordable experience. Learn more about how we’re transforming health at http://www.cvshealth.com.

Anthem Ohio March Updates & Upcoming Training Dates

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Please see the following important information to stay in the know:

Member Retention:

  • Anthem has developed a series of emails that are designed to help you avoid member disenrollment. Maintaining your existing clients is just as important as writing new clients so these email are created with your long term success in mind. Two emails have been sent to date, How to Avoid Pended Applications and Start Your New Members Off Right With These Helpful Tips. 

MAPD:

  • Did you know that you can use mProducer to retrieve Medicare information for one of your leads?  You will receive the following Medicare information:
  • Part A Effective Date
  • Part B Effective Date
  • Current Plan (Contract code that can be Googled for the specific carrier and plan)
  • Drug Gap in Months (Number)
  • Medicare Status (relative to the proposed effective date entered)
  • Has LIS for PED (Does the client have low-income subsidy for the proposed effective date?)
  • LIS Category (1-4)
  • Date LIS SEP Used (The date that LIS was last used as an SEP)

In mProducer, click the Eligibility Check Medicare and Medicaid tile, enter required information on the Medicare Check tab, and click the Check Eligibility button.

Medicare Supplement:

  • Anthem Gave Away Almost $170,000 Extra Last Month! Their Medicare Supplement bonus program is a great opportunity to earn additional income with just 3 applications per month. This bonus is based on the effective date of the application and resets each month.
  • If you sell 3-4 approved Medicare Supplement plan enrollments, you’ll receive $150 bonus per sale!
  • If you sell 5-9 approved Medicare Supplement plan enrollments, you’ll receive $200 bonus per sale!
  • If you sell 10 or more approved Medicare Supplement plan enrollments, you’ll receive an additional $250 bonus per sale!
  • Medicare Supplement Quick Reference Guide is attached with language updated regarding waiting period.

Essential Extras:

  • When selecting Assistive Devices, the $500 benefit will be loaded to the member’s OTC card.
  • The 2020 Essential Extras packets have mail to members and contain the following:
    • Cover Letter – invites the member to look inside the brochure to understand the Essential Extras benefit
    • Essential Extras Brochure/Selection Form – Color Brochure that explains the Essential Extras benefit including a selection form to enroll in their free benefit.
    • 1557 – non-discrimination statement in threshold languages

2020 D-SNP Car Magnets Are Here!

  • The 24” x 12” car magnets (set of 2) can be attached to any flat, smooth, magnetic vehicle surface and are a great way to advertise and grow your Medicare business on-the-go. Contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information.

Training:

Please join us for our monthly webinar series. Registration is required at www.anthembrokerconnection.com. This site is not supported by Internet Explorer. Please also visit this site for a listing of CE classes and in-person training events.

Monday, March 9th – mProducer

Monday, March 23rd – Marketing Done Right

April 6th – mProducer

April 20th – Special Election Periods and Timeframes

 

Colleen Baird joins the CSM Team

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Attention:  Toledo area brokers

Welcome!  Colleen Baird, Sales Director, NW Ohio

We’re pleased to introduce Colleen Baird, Sales Director, North West Ohio. Colleen joins the Cornerstone Senior Marketing Sales Team with 25+    years of sales and service experience in the Medicare and Group markets.

Colleen is a graduate of Lourdes University and a member of the Reynolds Corners Rotary Club.  She loves the outdoors and spending time with her family, which includes four horses and a dog.

Colleen can be reached by phone, email or in person at Cornerstone Senior Marketing’s NEW location in Maumee.

1715 Indian Wood Circle, Suite #200

Maumee, OH 43537

Phone: 567-205-2551

colleen.baird@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

 

Cornerstone Senior Marketing Sales Team

Tim Shook, VP & SW OH

Phone:  513-629-9505

Email: tim.shook@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Paul McMillen, National Director Central OH

Phone:  614-763-2551

Email: paul.mcmillen@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Jaime Lebron, Sales Director NE OH

Phone:  216-503-4509

Email: jaime.lebron@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Michelle Kapp, Sales Director, Proprietary Products

Phone:  614-763-2257

Email: michelle.kapp@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Colleen Baird, Sales Director NW OH

Phone: 567-205-2551

Email: colleen.baird@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

COPC Senior Care Advantage Broker Event March 17 in Columbus

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Brokers are invited to a brunch meeting with the partners at COPC Primary Care Physicians and COPC Senior Care Advantage. The meeting will take place on March 17, 2020 at the COPC Central Business Office from 9:30AM to 11:30AM.

This event is designed to give brokers the latest information on the COPC Senior Care Advantage program for 2020 Medicare  enrollees who are patients of COPC Primary Care Physicians.

You will meet program leadership, learn about the typical patient experience, receive physician lists who have open panels and participate in informal Q&A sessions to get your questions answered. Register for this event so you are better able to serve your client base this year. Please RSVP by clicking on the Evite link below:

http://evite.me/mAeBnHHsRw

Mutual of Omaha Sells Medicare Advantage Plans to Essence Healthcare

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A message from Mutual of Omaha:

 

Today we are announcing that Mutual of Omaha has reached an agreement in principle for Essence Healthcare, the sister company of Lumeris, to acquire Mutual of Omaha’s Medicare Advantage plans.

Since 2018, Mutual of Omaha and Lumeris have forged a strong relationship, collaborating with healthcare providers in five select markets to introduce Medicare Advantage plans that bring together payers, providers and patients.

As we evaluated our enrollment experience and changing market dynamics, we determined that an acquisition of our Medicare Advantage plans by Essence Healthcare is in the best interest of our customers, our networks and our company.

This change in ownership will allow our current MA policyholders to benefit from Essence Healthcare’s longstanding reputation for providing high-quality, affordable plans, while also ensuring a smooth and seamless transition for our customers by offering the same core plan functions. This also allows Mutual of Omaha to take a step back and reassess the company’s strategic approach to MA, as we seek to meet the holistic healthcare needs of senior consumers.

Mutual of Omaha will work with Essence on a definitive sale agreement over the coming months and we expect the transaction to be completed mid-year.

There are no immediate changes for you and your distribution. We will continue to keep you updated as the change in ownership becomes finalized. For now, it’s business as usual.

It’s important to note Mutual of Omaha remains firmly committed to meeting the healthcare needs of senior consumers. We have been a leading provider of Medicare supplement insurance for more than 50 years and we will continue to offer Med Supp, dental and vision coverage, as well as our new Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

 

Click here to find an FAQ to help answer some of your questions.

 

Contact your Cornerstone Senior Marketing representative for more information.

 

CSM Service Team Introduces a VALUE-ADDED process!

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NEW!  One email for all service issues!

Effective March 2, 2020, brokers can begin sending all service related questions or action items to one specific email address:  service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Incoming emails are delivered to a shared folder managed by the entire Cornerstone Senior Marketing service team. The goal is to reduce delays in responses, share management of all issues, and help cover team members when they are out of the office.

Important.  Brokers retain their personal service rep, assigned based on our long-standing alpha-split system, and may continue to contact their rep by phone for situations that do not extend to service issues best communicated and managed by email.

Senior Service Team Alpha Split – BY BROKERS LAST NAME

Jim Meyer, Service Specialist (A-F) | Call: 513-629-2395 | Email:  service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Lila Sohnly, Service Specialist (G-K) | Call:  614-763-2263 | Email:  service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Patrick Wiley, Service Specialist (L-Q) | Call:  614-763-2264 | Email:  service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com

Lisa VanSuch, Lead Service Specialist (R-Z) | Call:  614-763-2258 | Email:  service@cornerstoneseniormarketing.com 

SureBridge News

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Important Point of Sale (POS) Tool Impacts

Updates to the Surebridge Point of Sale tool will begin around 7 PM CST Thursday, February 20 which could cause the system to be temporarily unavailable.  Email Proposals sent prior to Friday (2/21) will not be able to “Apply” for the new application after Thursday (2/20).  If the application is not started by the customer before Thursday (2/20), a new Proposal must be created.

In addition to the revised Application** and product revisions in Maryland, the following updates will be made to the POS Tool:

  • Accident Disability Direct Changes
    • All Benefit Levels will now be considered Guaranteed Issue (GI); subject to eligibility questions such as citizenship, occupation and salary
    • All Elimination Periods and Duration options will now be available for all Benefit Levels
    • Simplified Issue (SI) commission levels will be paid for all Benefit levels
  • The Citizenship Question on the application has been revised to allow the selection of “DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Arrival) Recipient”
  • Now Allowing Prior Dental Coverage Credit for the PPO Dental Premiere and Senior PPO Dental Premiere – Waiting periods may be waived on the PPO Dental Premiere for new customers previously covered under “full dental coverage,” provided such prior coverage was in effect for at least 12 consecutive months with no gaps in coverage greater than 63 days prior to their application date. The applicant will be required to provide their prior dental coverage information on the application. Partial credit will not be allowed.
    • “Full Dental Coverage” is defined as coverage that includes Types I, II, and III covered expenses, such as restorative, endodontic, periodontic, prosthodontic, and oral surgery. The PPO Dental Basic or Bronze Dental plans do not meet this definition and will not qualify for the waiver if upgrading to the Premiere.

** Please review the new application carefully as some of the questions may have changed.

Additional Point of Sale (POS) Tool Update                              

Improvements to the Voice Signature Process

All required disclosure verbiage will now be displayed on the UI screen.  You will no longer have to open each document to read and acknowledge separately.  Simply scroll down to read what is required, acknowledge at the end, then move to the next step.

In addition:

  • We have adjusted verbiage throughout to read “Do you” instead of “I”.

Only the required verbiage for applicable plans will display.  For example: The Pre-existing disclosure for Disability plans will not display if the customer is not applying for a Disability plan.

 

Other News

  • EyeMed: Changes to Participating Retail Providers
  • In Case You Didn’t Know
  • Producer Support is here to help!

Click here for details regarding these topics.

Don’t Miss a Thing!

  • See the Commonly Asked Questions about Prime DVH.

 

Want to order printed SureBridge brochures?  Take advantage of the SureBridge Supply Storefront