Medicare Insurance Articles
Your D-SNP Clients May Be at Risk of Losing Coverage
Approximately 12.5 million people are dual eligible: enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare. Some of these dual-eligible beneficiaries are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage, meaning they will no longer qualify for their D-SNP plan. If you have D-SNP clients,...
Texas Medicare Sales Agent Career Opportunities
The start of the new year is an ideal time to think about making a career change. If you don’t know where to look – or even what field you might be interested in – you should seriously consider a career as an Independent Medicare Sales Agent. It could be just the...
AEP Crunch Time: How to Maximize Results in the Last 3 Weeks
You have another AEP under your belt – almost. The last three weeks of AEP are crunch time. To make sure this year is your best year (or if this is your first year, to make sure that your Medicare insurance career has a stellar start), you need to maximize your...
Understanding Medicare Cost Changes for 2023
Prices seem to be going up everywhere and everything is getting more expensive. Consumer prices continue to rise and are up 8.2% from a year ago. For seniors on a fixed income, this is hitting especially hard. Many are watching their retirement savings dip while the...
Ready-Set-Launch: Preparing for a Successful AEP
Medicare’s Annual Election Period officially kicked off on October 15. To make the most of this once-a-year sales opportunity, Medicare sales agents need to be ready with their A game. Don’t just let AEP happen. Take control and prime yourself for a successful AEP....
Medicare First Looks and Annual Notices of Change
Every year, prior to AEP, important information goes out to both Medicare agents and Medicare members about the upcoming year. Agents receive First Looks from major Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D carriers, which give them an early glimpse at changes for the...
Understanding Medicare Cost Savings Programs
Many Medicare beneficiaries who struggle to afford the cost of their coverage do not realize there are programs that can help them offset their out-of-pocket expenses associated with Medicare Parts A, B and D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. These...
Data Security for Medicare Sales Agents: Your Responsibilities Under HIPAA
As business associates of covered entities, Medicare sales agents must fully comply with HIPAA’s Privacy and Security rules. By nature of the business, some personal information must be exchanged for things like plan enrollment. HIPAA makes sure your client’s data...
Changes to CMS Guidelines Require New Disclaimer and Recording of Agent Calls
CMS recently released their 2023 final rule which includes two requirements that will have a significant impact on independent agents and brokers who sell Medicare Advantage and/or Part D plans. Effective Date While the marketing guideline changes are for calendar...
Your Guide to Annual Medicare Certification Requirements
Every year, Medicare agents and brokers need to meet annual training and certification requirements. This needs to be done ahead of the annual election period that happens every fall, so summer is the natural time to focus on Medicare certification requirements. What...
Second Chances: What If You Don’t Like Your Medicare Plan?
In a recent article, we looked at the Medicare enrollment periods. We saw that most people enroll when they turn 65, but some people might delay enrollment without paying a late enrollment fee if they have eligible insurance from current employment. What we didn’t...
How Much Does Medicare Cost? What to Expect
Medicare isn’t free. According to MarketWatch, a study published in the Retirement Management Journal found that retirees between the ages of 65 and 94 spend an average of $4,500 on healthcare costs each year, while a Fidelity study found that a 65-year-old couple...
When Can You Enroll for Medicare: Understanding Enrollment Periods
Enrolling in Medicare can be a confusing process. You must consider whether you’re the right age and financial status to enroll and what coverage you genuinely need. Some people have family or friends to help them through this task, but others must go at it alone....
2022 Medicare AEP – Trends & Insights: What to Expect
What does this year’s Medicare AEP have in store for us? During the Annual Election Period that runs between October 15 and December 7, Medicare enrollees will make their 2022 plan selections. With AEP right around the corner, here’s a look at what we can expect. More...
What Are Medicare SEPs?
If you need to enroll in Medicare or change your plan, you probably want to do it ASAP – but that’s not always possible. Medicare enrollments and plan elections are restricted to certain periods. Outside of these defined periods, you may not be able to make changes to...
How to Appeal Medicare Decisions
More than 60 million people are enrolled in Medicare. In a program that large, some mistakes are bound to happen. You may also find yourself in an unusual situation that requires special consideration. Unfortunately, these issues could mean that your premiums are...
How Medicare Enrollees Can Stay Healthy While Traveling
Now that the weather’s heating up and the vaccine is rolling out, many people are starting to think about taking a vacation again. A Harris Poll found that 77% of Americans are planning to travel this summer – compared to only 29% who planned a leisure trip during the...
Medicare Extra Help Income Limit
You help you clients find the best Medicare plans for their needs, but some of them might need a little extra help. Prescription drugs can be expensive – so expensive that some of your clients might not be able to afford them. That can lead to difficult decisions,...
Are You Spending Too Much on Medicare Prescription Drugs?
Medicare could save $1.7 billion a year if beneficiaries switched from brand name to generic prescription drugs. How much could you save? According to a study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Medicare could have saved...
Who Should Buy a Medicare Supplement?
Medicare is far from free. According to the Fidelity Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, a couple who retires in 2020 at age 65 will need approximately $295,000 just for healthcare costs. Saving for retirement is important, but so is picking the right Medicare plan....