By now, we all understand the importance of HRAs. HRAs help the member, the agent, and Elevance Health. Everyone benefits from HRA submissions.
But did you know that HRA submissions can also apply to existing members?
If your current member doesn’t have an HRA on file OR their HRA is over 12 months old, now you can Submit or Update an HRA and earn Extra!
D-SNP Plans – Earn $125 for each HRA submitted
Non-SNP Plans – Earn $50 for each HRA submitted
Elevance Health invites your agents to verify that there is a current (within the last twelve months) HRA on each client. If your agent has a client with an outdated HRA, or no HRA at all, a new HRA can be submitted, and the reimbursement will be paid to your agent just like it is with a new enrollment. Please forward the process to your agents so they can check on their clients as soon as possible.
Don’t want to miss our next webinar – Sell Insurance Like it’s 2023: Launch A Smart Insurance Website & Watch It Work For You
Join us on Wednesday, January 18th at 1:00PM EST and see how a website built for today’s market can help you increase sales. We will cover how you can:
Look your best online and stand out from the competition
Stay compliant with CMS requirements
Increase referrals by 60% and cross sales by 78%
Compete with insurtech and online brokers
Come see how you can take your business online and make the most of 2023.
GarityAdvantage is a National Marketing Organization (NMO) for the top local, regional and national Medicare carriers. We approach our role with brokers a bit differently than our competitors – as we provide local market teams to work with you side-by-side to ensure you succeed. This allows us to actively develop targeted lead programs and local market opportunities to help you prospect and sell as well as deliver personalized training, ongoing marketing support and co-op funding to support your specific needs. We also offer the latest tech tools to help manage your business including efficient lead calling tools, agent dashboard, and a virtual quote and enrollment platform. Rounding out our support is a back office team helping you every step of the way with contracting, commissions, enrollments and compliance. Plus, all broker commissions are paid directly to you. You get the whole pie, not just a piece of it! Call us today to learn more!
Are you ready for the Open Enrollment Period (OEP)?
When is OEP?
January 1 through March 31 each year.
Who is Eligible?
Individuals enrolled in an MA-Only or MAPD plan CAN:
use the OEP to switch to or get a different MAPD plan, an MA-only plan, or Original Medicare (with or without a PDP).
Individuals enrolled in Original Medicare CANNOT:
use the OEP to join an MA or MAPD plan, add a PDP, or change their PDP.
In addition, the OEP is not available to those enrolled in Medicare Savings Accounts or other Medicare health plan types (such as cost plans or PACE).
Broker Do’s and Don’ts
Producers May NOT:
Send unsolicited materials advertising the ability/opportunity to make an additional enrollment change or referencing the OEP
Specifically target beneficiaries who are in the OEP because they made a choice during AEP, by purchase of mailing lists or other means of identification
Engage in or promote agent/broker activities that intend to target the OEP as an opportunity to make further sales
Call or otherwise contact former enrollees who have selected a new plan during the AEP
Use marketing pieces that highlight the OEP or the opportunity to change plans during the OEP
Make assumptions on which election period to use.
Producers May:
Educate consumers about the OEP if you are enrolling them into a plan, or they have reached out to you about their dissatisfaction with their current plan
At a beneficiary’s proactive request, send marketing materials, have one-on-one meetings, and provide information on the OEP
Market to age-ins (who have not yet made an enrollment decision)
Market to five-star continuous enrollment Special Enrollment Period when 5 Star Plan are available in your area
Market to dual-eligible and low-income subsidy (LIS) beneficiaries who, in general, may make changes once per calendar quarter during the first nine months of the year
PRODUCERS MUST:
Determine if the consumer has a valid election period and which election period is best for the consumer’s circumstances.
We hope you take advantage of this additional enrollment period happening in Q1 2023. Below is a link to a helpful carrier information sheet courtesy of Aetna to further clarify the do’s and don’ts you need to follow to ensure you remain compliant.
Have you ever wanted to be on the cover of your very own magazine?
Join Garity’s Sales Support Supervisor, Christina Comerford, and Senior Vice President, Andrew Saksa, for the roll-out of an exciting client retention and referral opportunity for Medicare Agents – PLUS – hear about exclusive discounts for Garity Agents!
Stop losing past clients and contacts to the competition because you didn’t stay connected in a meaningful way. ReminderMedia offers a unique way to stay top of mind several times a year with your clients.
Why ReminderMedia?
Build relationships with the families of clients
Stand out from the competition
Stay compliance friendly
Join more than 100,000 professionals who have used a ReminderMedia customizable publication to stay in touch with their contacts.
GarityAdvantage is a National Marketing Organization (NMO) for the top local, regional and national Medicare carriers. We approach our role with brokers a bit differently than our competitors – as we provide local market teams to work with you side-by-side to ensure you succeed. This allows us to actively develop targeted lead programs and local market opportunities to help you prospect and sell as well as deliver personalized training, ongoing marketing support and co-op funding to support your specific needs. We also offer the latest tech tools to help manage your business including efficient lead calling tools, agent dashboard, custom agent collateral and retention tools, and a virtual quote and enrollment platform. Rounding out our support is a back office team helping you every step of the way with contracting, commissions, enrollments and compliance. Plus, all broker commissions are paid directly to you. You get the whole pie, not just a piece of it! Call us today to learn more!
NOTE: Carrier deadlines for enrollments still apply.
Please plan accordingly as any enrollments sent to the enrollment department after 5:00 PM Thursday, December 29th, will not be processed until Tuesday, January 3rd.
To ensure compliance with CMS enrollment time-frames, you should always submit your enrollments the day they are received. This requirement becomes especially important now because CMS requirements Do Not allow additional days for weekends and holidays.
Please use the links below for directions on how to submit your applications to the carriers directly after 5:00 PM Thursday, December 29th.
For enrollments that are NOT time-sensitive,our Agent Dashboard and Enrollment Fax lines are open 24 hours to accept your enrollments. We will resume processing again on Tuesday, January 3rd.
Friday, Dec. 23rd – CLOSED
Monday, Dec 27th – CLOSED
Enrollment Processing Over Christmas Holiday
NOTE: Carrier deadlines for enrollments still apply.
Please plan accordingly as any enrollments sent to the enrollment department after 5:00 PM Thursday, December 22nd, will not be processed until Tuesday, December 27th.
To ensure compliance with CMS enrollment time-frames, you should always submit your enrollments the day they are received. This requirement becomes especially important now because CMS requirements Do Not allow additional days for weekends and holidays.
Please use the links below for directions on how to submit your applications to the carriers directly after 5:00 PM Thursday, December 22nd.
For enrollments that are NOT time-sensitive,our Agent Dashboard and Enrollment Fax lines are open 24 hours to accept your enrollments. We will resume processing again on Tuesday, December 27th.
Business hours at GarityAdvantage will be adjusted this week due to our annual holiday event for our staff.
Please note the following special office hours:
Tuesday, December 13th: Close at 3:00PM
NOTE: Carrier deadlines for enrollments still apply.
Enrollments sent to GarityAdvantage prior to 3:00PM on Tuesday Dec. 13th will be processed that same day.
Enrollments sent to GarityAdvantage AFTER 3:00 PM on Tuesday Dec. 13th will be processed on Wednesday, Dec. 14th.
If your enrollment requires same day processing after 3:00 PM on Tuesday Dec. 13th, please submit directly to the carrier.
Note: The Agent Dashboard and Enrollment Fax lines are open 24 hours to accept your enrollments.We will resume processing on Wednesday, Dec. 14th.
To ensure compliance with CMS enrollment time-frames, you should always submit your enrollments the day they are received. This requirement becomes especially important now because CMS requirements Do Not allow additional days for weekends and holidays.
Integration with Google and Apple Maps is now available through MedicareCENTER’s Mobile App!
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The MedicareCENTER Mobile App is now integrated with Google and Apple Maps, making it easier for you to:
Get directions right to a Contacts’ addresses using your phone’s navigation app
Plan travel and efficiently manage time between appointments
Serve more clients to grow your business
Simply click on a Contact’s address in their profile, and the route to their home will come up in either the Apple Maps or Google Maps app (your choice) — making it easy for you to navigate to your next appointment!
This is a mobile-exclusive feature, so be sure you have the MedicareCENTER Mobile App downloaded and that you’ve updated to the latest version to access this helpful new enhancement!
MedicareCENTER and the MedicareCENTER Mobile App is built for agents just like you. This FREE CRM platform with easy and instant quoting and enrollment is simple to use so you can produce even more — during AEP and all year round!
Log in and start using Reminders to connect with your clients today!
Tell Your Senators to Exclude Independent Agents and Brokers from the Recording Requirements in MA Rule!
The “Medicare Program: Contract Year 2023 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs” rule includes a provision on new requirements for “marketing” calls. The intention of this rule is to stop fraudulent or misleading actors – such as certain call centers – from manipulating Medicare beneficiaries. However, the rule’s overly broad scope also applies these new regulations to licensed agents and brokers. As a result, this rule needlessly impacts agents who are acting responsibly.
On December 1st 2022, Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and James Risch (R-ID) introduced S. 5149, a bill that would exclude independent agents and brokers from the recording requirements in the Medicare Marketing Rule.
518-527-4208 (cell)
ksanzo@garityadvantage.com
Top 10 Reasons to Work with Garity
