Breaking News

BIG NEWS! Harvard Pilgrim moving to lifetime commissions for Medicare plans

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More details inside


Lifetime Commissions

TO ALL MEDICARE AGENTS SELLING IN MA, NH and ME:

Effective immediately, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare (HPHC) is removing the limitations on Medicare commissions for their Medicare Advantage (Stride HMO) and Medicare Supplement plans. They will now pay lifetime commissions on all new and renewal business.

What does this mean?

All broker-driven membership will be subject to unlimited renewal span with payout amounts as outlined by CMS on an annual basis. Typically, the first-year commission is paid in full after enrollment has been confirmed. Renewals will continue to be paid monthly at the prorated amount.
HPHC Broker Compensation document will be updated to reflect the changes.

Brokers contracted through GarityAdvantage will be automatically adjusted to receive the lifetime commission.

Not Contracted?

If you are not currently contracted with HPHC there is no better time to do so!
GET CONTRACTED

Who is GarityAdvantage?

GarityAdvantage is a National Marketing Organization (NMO) for the top local, regional and national Medicare carriers. We are the only NMO physically located here in New England.


GarityAdvantage

We support our brokers with personalized training, unlimited co-op marketing dollars, no-cost leads during AEP and exceptional support throughout the year. Plus, all broker commissions are paid directly to you. You get the whole pie, not just a piece of it!


Medicare Select-a-Plan

Text to Enroll!

This spring, we introduced a virtual quote and enrollment platform — Medicare Select-a-Plan
— to allow our agents to do business in a virtual environment. This powerful sales platform is available to brokers with at least on contract through GarityAdvantage—at no cost to you.

Click here to request a new contract or to move your existing contract under GarityAdvantage.

We look forward to working with you.

Got questions? Call our New England Team at 800-234-9488.

Susan Young

Susan Young

Senior Territory Manager

ME/NH/VT/Upstate NY

Jane Feit

Jane Feit

Territory Manager
MA/RI

Christina Comerford

Christina Comerford

Sales Support Specialist

GarityAdvantage Agencies
800-234-9488

website | email

 

Aetna Med Supp – 14% Discount in RI

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Have you heard the news? Accendo Insurance Company (ACC), part of the CVS Health® family of companies and Aetna affiliate, is now offering new Medicare Supplement plans with a 14% household premium discount in Rhode Island! See details below.

If you’re already contracted with Aetna Senior Supplemental Insurance, you don’t need to fill out any additional contracting forms in order to sell ACC Medicare Supplement plans, as your existing contract will apply.

If you are not contracted to sell Aetna Medicare Supplement, you may request your contracting here.

REQUEST CONTRACTING

It's Easy to Start Selling

Have you heard the news? Accendo Insurance Company (ACC), part of the CVS Health® family of companies and Aetna affiliate, is now offering new Medicare Supplement plans with a 14% household premium discount in Rhode Island! See details below.

If you’re already contracted with Aetna Senior Supplemental Insurance, you don’t need to fill out any additional contracting forms in order to sell ACC Medicare Supplement plans, as your existing contract will apply.

If you are not contracted to sell Aetna Medicare Supplement, you may request your contracting here.

View competitive new rates
cvshealth

Ready to submit an application? You can use the Aetna Quote & Enroll online application tool.

If you prefer to have paper materials, you can order state-specific sales materials here. Navigate to your desired state, select “Enrollment kits for paper submission,” then look for “Accendo Insurance Company” in the list of available options.

Note: ACC Medicare Supplement is not replacing the existing entities in this state, but will be an additional option available to you and your clients.

WEBCAST: BCBSRI Access Program = More Sales + Better Retention

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BCBSOakStreet

Register Now for May 21st at 11am!

Join GarityAdvantage, Oak Street Health and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island for a deep dive into the ACCESS Program benefits offered through Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s BlueCHiP for Medicare Value (HMO-POS) plan.

Find out how this unique plan can help you deliver a better overall experience for your Extra Help/Medicaid clients. 

Join the Webcast:

Thursday, May 21st
11am – 12pm

Register Today

What is the ACCESS Program?

If your clients qualify for Extra Help/Medicaid, consider choosing the BlueCHiP for Medicare Value plan and selecting an Oak Street Health provider. By doing so, your client will be eligible for a whole new world of additional benefits through Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s new ACCESS Program.

On its own, the BlueCHiP for Medicare Value plan offers:

  • $0 monthly premium
  • $0 PCMH1 primary care provider (PCP) visits
  • $0 generic drugs in Tiers 1 & 2
  • $0 national gym membership
  • $0 rides to your doctors
  • $0 labs, X-rays, & diagnostic imaging
zero $

1Patient-centered Medical Home

Plus, your Extra Help/Medicaid clients choosing an OSH provider receive even more benefits through the ACCESS Program:

  • $0 specialist copay
  • $0 urgent care copay
  • $0 inpatient hospital copay
  • $0 copay for MRIs, CAT scans, etc.
  • $0 outpatient surgery, hospital, and ambulatory surgery center copay
  • $200 quarterly over-the-counter (OTC benefit)
RI Medicare Card

Increase client satisfaction, improve their health, and boost retention through Oak Street Health. Benefits include:

  • 2x more time with the provider
  • Telehealth / on-site appointments
  • Same-day and next-day appointments
  • Rides to and from appointments
  • Help with navigating Medicare benefits
  • 24/7/365 patient support line
  • 40% reduced chance of hospitalization
  • Net Promoter score of 89
oakstreetstorefront

Combined, the BlueCHiP for Medicare Value plan with ACCESS program benefits and Oak Street Health help ensure your clients stay healthy, active and eligible for great savings, rewards, and benefits. And, as a plan designed for Extra Help/Medicaid beneficiaries, you can sell this plan ALL YEAR LONG. 

Join on Thursday, May 21 from 11am-12pm for our interactive webcast and jumpstart your selling strategy. Register Today!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Update Your Broker Toolkit

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inquiry-tools

Do you have a question about Contracting, Commissions
or just about anything else related to your Medicare business?

Let us help you! Click on any of these links below to submit your inquiry to the appropriate team—and, in no time, your answer will be on its way! By submitting through these forms, we can better track and respond to your important questions more effectively and efficiently.
The forms are accessible from our all new Agent Dashboard or use the links below and bookmark them for future use.
Commissions Inquiries
Broker Support Form
Contracting Inquiries

Enrollment President’s Day 2020

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Presidents-Day-2020

GarityAdvantage Agencies Holiday Hours

 Both our Massachusetts and Connecticut

offices will be closed for President’s Day, 

Monday, February 17th

Important Notes: All Carrier deadlines for enrollments still apply. Please plan accordingly as any enrollments sent
to the enrollment department after 5:00 PM Friday, 2/14/20 will not be processed until Tuesday, 2/18/20.

Any enrollments taken after 5:00 PM on Friday, 2/14/20
must be sent to the Carriers Directly.
(Carrier Submission Information)

Agent Dashboard and Enrollment Fax lines will be open
to accept your enrollments for processing Tuesday, 2/18/20.

Happy President’s Day

GarityAdvantage Agencies
800-234-9488


2020 SEP Action Plan

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SEP 2020 Action Plan

Create your SEP Action Plan for 2020!

Join Victoria Bailey, Director for Mid-Atlantic Region with GarityAdvantage — a National Marketing Organization focused solely on the senior market — as she walks you through the nuts and bolts of creating an SEP Action Plan. She will reveal the markets, products and strategies that are delivering results throughout the year and you’ll walk away with a personalized playbook to get you up and running fast!
victoria black and white
This in-depth strategy session is designed to give you the tools you need to tackle SEP like a pro:

  • Identify Where the Opportunities Are

  • Capture these Opportunities

  • Create SEP Opportunities with LIS/Medicaid

  • Generate new leads and sales throughout the year

  • Plus, hear directly from our carriers as they each share their top agent SEP opportunities.

Walk away with an action plan, event locations and so much more!

Choose the Date and Location Convenient to You:

victoria presenting

Thursday, January 23rd
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST
Courtyard by Marriott Richmond North/Glen Allen
10077 Brook Road
Glen Allen, VA 23059

REGISTER for Jan 23rd
expobanner

https://garityadvantage.com/?p=14403&preview=true#tb_options_visibility

Tuesday, January 28th
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST
Hampton Inn Salem East-Electric Road
1886 Electric Road
Salem, VA 24153

REGISTER for Jan 28th

In one information-packed day, you’ll learn:

 green check white backgroundHow to Make Money All Year Round

 green check white backgroundDSNP Basics and Where to Find DSNP Eligibles

Attend in Glen Allen

 green check white backgroundHow to Create SEP Opportunities with LIS/Medicaid Eligible Clients

 green check white backgroundWhere to Schedule DSNP Events

Attend in Salem

Oxford Life Announcement

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New Partnership Oxford
Our Final Expense Portfolio Now Includes

Oxford Life Insurance Company

“Our mission is to provide products and
services promoting financial security to
individuals that will enable them to live
with dignity in their retirement years.”
~ Oxford Life Insurance Company

Oxford Life Insurance Company

Excellent financial ratings, a long track record of caring for their policy holders, and a host of financial products specifically designed to meet the needs of seniors make Oxford Life a strong partner in helping your clients achieve their retirement goals.

Oxford Life offers brokers competitive commissions, flexible advance policies and a comprehensive agent portal to facilitate the ease of writing business including a mobile app, online calculators, downloadable forms and more…

Request a Contract

LEARN MORE!
Join us for an informative Webcast focused on:

Why Oxford Life Final Expense?

  • InstaWriteSM Point-of-Sale Decision
  • Among the LOWEST rates in the industry
  • Up to 9 Month Commission Advance Available
  • Commissions Paid Daily via EFT
  • Issue Ages 50-85
  • Coverage from $5,000-$30,000
  • No Charge for Resident Appointment Fees
  • Product available in all states except – AL, MS, MT, NY, VT, WV

Click here to review the recording or watch below:

Review the presentation used in the webcast.

OEP: Do’s and Don’ts

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Are you ready for the Open Enrollment Period (OEP)?
OEP Cheat Sheet

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.
red x
green check

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 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 2020. Below are links to carrier information sheets to further clarify the do’s and don’ts you need to follow to ensure you remain compliant. Happy New Year!
What is OEP
Educational Flyer
OEP Job Aid
Listen to UHC's Podcast for more in depth information!

Contact Broker Support if you have any questions!
800-234-9488
GarityAdvantage Agencies

Special Office Hours Thurs 12/19 – Fri 12/20

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NOTICE:
Special Office Hours Due to our
Holiday Company Event

Season's Greetings

Office hours at the GarityAdvantage offices in Norwell and
North Haven will be adjusted this week due to our annual
holiday event for our staff.

Please note the following special office hours:

 

Thursday, Dec 19th:
Norwell, MA office will close at 3:30pm
North Haven, CT office will be closed all day
*CT Staff Members will be available by phone on Thursday
Friday, Dec 20th:
Norwell, MA office will be open regular hours
North Haven, CT office will open at 12pm

NOTE: Carrier deadlines for enrollments still apply.
  • Enrollments sent to GarityAdvantage prior to 3pm on Thursday Dec. 19th will be processed that same day.
  • Enrollments sent to GarityAdvantage AFTER 3pm on Thursday, Dec 19th will be processed on Friday, Dec. 20th.
  • If your enrollment requires same day processing after 3pm on Thursday, Dec. 19th, please submit directly to the carrier.

 

Direct Carrier Submission Information

 

Note: The Agent Dashboard and Enrollment Fax lines
are open 24 hours to accept your enrollments.
We will resume processing on Friday, December 20th.

Submission Deadlines for AEP 2020

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PLAN AHEAD!

Medicare AEP ends on December 7th!

Thank you for all of your hard work this Annual Election Period.

Please follow these reminders to make sure your final selling days go smoothly.

ENROLLMENT DEADLINES

Per CMS, as an agent, you must receive and sign the consumer’s AEP enrollment application No Later than Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 to fulfill AEP election.

All Enrollments MUST BE *Received at GarityAdvantage or directly to the carriers NO LATER THAN the guidelines below. If submitting directly to carrier, all submissions need to be received by midnight on December 7th.

Please refer to our website for submission methods directly to carrier.

Carrier Name
(Med Advantage & PDP Only)

Deadline for Enrollments to be
Received at GarityAdvantage:

Aetna/Coventry

Monday, December 9th by 12PM (noon)

Anthem

Saturday, December 7th by 3PM

* Any enrollments taken later
MUST be faxed direct to Anthem:
PPO/HMO/DSNP: 800-833-8554
PDP: 866-342-7048
no later than 11:59PM on 12/7

(Please send a copy to our office for commission tracking)

BCBSRI

Monday, December 9th by 12PM (noon)

CarePartners of CT

Monday, December 9th by 12PM (noon)

Envision PDP

MUST be faxed direct to Envision:
844-645-0583
no later than 11:59PM on 12/7

Fallon

Saturday, December 7th by 3PM

* Any enrollments taken later MUST be emailed direct to Fallon: MedicareSalesBrokers@fallonhealth.org
No later than 11:59PM on 12/7

HPHC Stride HMO

Monday, December 9th by 12PM (noon)

Humana

Saturday, December 7th by 3PM

* Any enrollments taken later MUST be faxed direct to Humana:
877-889-9936
No later than 11:59PM on 12/9

Silverscript

MUST be faxed direct to Silverscript:
866-552-6205
no later than 11:59PM on 12/7

Tufts MA

Saturday, December 7th by 3PM

UnitedHealthcare

Saturday, December 7th by 3PM

Wellcare/ Today’s Options

Monday, December 9th by 12PM (noon)
Submit Through the Agent Dashboard

GarityAdvantage Fax: (781) 982-1887

For Other Carrier Enrollment Deadlines, Call Us: 800-234-9488

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
• This year’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) ends Saturday December 7, 2019 and all AEP marketing efforts must cease after that date
• Beneficiaries that enroll after December 7th, must have a Special Election Period (SEP) or an Initial Election Period (aging in)
• We encourage you to check the enrollment status, carrier approval and enrollment effective dates of applications via the Carrier’s agent portals

Questions?
Call us: 800-234-9488

  Thank you for a successful AEP!
GarityAdvantage Agency
www.garityadvantage.com

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