Compliance

CMS Compliance Made Easier with MedicareCENTER

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Every agent’s ability to stay compliant just got easier with MedicareCENTER.

CMS Compliance

The Integrity Technology Suite of Solutions is built by experts who understand the required CMS updates starting with AEP 2024.

Integrity has made it easy for agents stay up to date with all the new requirements integrated into MedicareCENTER, including:

  • Scope of Appointment updates

  • Pre-Enrollment Checklist requirements

  • TMPO disclaimer updates

  • Compliant communications

MedicareCENTER helps with CMS compliance.

MedicareCENTER already brings key client management, tasks, call recording, and quoting and enrolling together in one integrated platform with secure data protection. Now MedicareCENTER has added new solutions that help agents manage CMS requirements:

  • SOA form guidelines, 48-hour rule tracking and exception management

  • A Pre-Enrollment Checklist script to be read over the phone to prospective clients

  • Automatic inclusion of new TPMO language and carrier statistics on an agent’s

  • PlanEnroll Personal Agent Website

  • Messaging that uses PlanEnroll branding to adhere to CMS requirements for allowed domain names

Integrity is making CMS compliance simpler so agents can focus on building their business and serving clients better.

Watch a 2-minute overview video:
CMS Update

How-to Video

CMS Updates User Guide

Log in to your MedicareCENTER account today by going to medicarecenter.com .

Take advantage of this incredible opportunity by getting contracted today.

Contact your sales team for more information: 800-234-9488

GarityAdvantage Agencies
800-234-9488

CMS FAQs – New Medicare Marketing Rules

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Important Memo

FAQ

Staying compliant is an essential component to being successful in the Medicare market. CMS published their 2024 Policy and Technical Changes that include new marketing and communications regulatory requirements.

These changes have an impact on all agencies and brokers selling Medicare Advantage and/or Part D plans.

Integrity Marketing Group has developed two valuable guides to help you understand the latest rule changes and how they will impact your AEP 2024 preparations: a New Rules Frequently Asked Questions guide and a comprehensive Compliance Reference Guide.

FAQs GUIDE

COMPLIANCE GUIDE

Download both plus access additional information

from national carriers on our website:
CMS FAQs

PLEASE NOTE: Since the publication of Integrity’s FAQ guide, CMS has clarified the 48-hour rule to include a third exception: Unscheduled Inbound Calls.  Until updates are made, please disregard answers 9-11 listed on pages 13-14 of the guide pertaining to inbound calls.

GarityAdvantage Agencies
800-234-9488

MedicareCENTER’s Mobile App adds option to record in-person meetings!

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Find out more about the latest feature enhancement!

GarityAdvantage
MedicareCENTER’s Call Recording

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With the latest MedicareCENTER Mobile App update, you now have the unique opportunity to seamlessly record and store in-person conversations with your clients — an extra perk you can choose to use when and where you want!

You can use In-Person Recording on the MedicareCENTER Mobile App to:

  • Record, store and download your meetings
  • Review your client information for accuracy
  • Protect yourself with a documented record of the conversation
  • Capture information from clients with complex health needs for later reference
  • Follow up with ways to better meet clients’ needs
  • Identify improvements you can make to your sales process

Attached, you’ll find a guide on using the In-Person Recording feature on the MedicareCENTER Mobile App.
Download

As a reminder, recording in-person meetings is not required by CMS. This advanced feature has been provided purely as an extra benefit available for you use at your discretion. Make sure you’ve updated to the latest version to access this new capability!

Start using the powerful and FREE solutions MedicareCENTER offers today!
Visit our website for more MedicareCENTER Tools, Tips & Support!

Thank you,

The GarityAdvantage Team

GarityAdvantage Agencies
800-234-9488

 

FAQ CMS CALL RECORDING REQUIREMENTS

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Clarification on Call Recording Compliance & Enrollment for AEP

FAQ

CMS CALL RECORDING REQUIREMENTS

Frequently Asked Questions

CMS has new Medicare marketing rules and guidelines that apply to MA plans, PDP plans and MAPD plans — and they affect how you work as an agent.

Many of your questions are answered in this Agent FAQ Guide. Reach out to us if you have additional questions about staying compliant this AEP.
Download the FAQs

GarityAdvantage is proud to announce that MedicareCENTER will have a compliant call recording solution in place for all of our contracted agents beginning this AEP.  Keep an eye out for more information to come from MedicareCENTER as we gear up for our best AEP yet!

Need help? Request Assistance

GarityAdvantage Agencies
800-234-9488

Who is GarityAdvantage?

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.

GarityAdvantage

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, an agent dashboard and MedicareCENTER, 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 or request your contract now.  

GarityAdvantage Agencies
800-234-9488

Do’s & Don’ts of OEP

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

Are you ready for the Open Enrollment Period (OEP)?
Do's and Dont's 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 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 2021. 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.

OEP FAQ

Educational Flyer

OEP Job Aid


Contact Sales Support if you have any questions!

800-234-9488

GarityAdvantage Agencies

 

Now Accepting Online Enrollments

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Big! Exciting! Enrollment News!

Now Accepting Online Enrollments

Over the next several weeks GarityAdvantage is phasing out the process of emailing applications to the Enrollment Team and moving towards the easier method of submitting through our website.

We are doing this for several reasons:

  • To increase security in transmitting personal data
  • To eliminate files getting blocked due to size, blacklist or sent to spam
  • To add a tracking component to submitted applications.
Submit an App

Watch the video tutorial or follow the

10 simple steps below to get started!

Submitting an app can be accomplished in 10 easy steps:

      1. Log on to our website: GarityAdvantage.com
      2. Click on Agent Dashboard Button (Big, Yellow Button on left side of screen)
      3. Choose \”Submit an Enrollment App\”; Your name and email will be pre-filled. Confirm your email on your first application submission
      4. Pick the carrier by drop down menu
      5. Choose the product type: Med Advantage, Med Supp, PDP or Other (Life, Dental etc.)
      6. Select One: New Application or a Correction of a previously submitted application
      7. Enter Client First and Last Name
      8. Add a note if you have additional information to send
      9. Attach your previously scanned PDF file of application
      10. Hit Submit

Within a few seconds you will get a confirmation email.

Use the NEW Agent Dashboard to also:

  • Track applications submitted online to Garity
  • Check the status of you contracting and certifications through Garity
  • Access the Commissions Portal
  • Get Marketing Ideas and Request Co-Op
  • ….And More!

Cross Selling Essentials: Expo Recap

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cross selling essentials

A Comprehensive Cross Selling Recap

If you attended one of our Medicare & Senior Market Expos this month, you learned how essential cross selling is to building your business and serving your clients. You heard from Jane Feit, Ancillary Products Manager (how did you fare during her trivia game?), the Carrier Representatives, and the experienced broker panel who all promoted the practice of cross selling.

 

If you didn\’t attend, here\’s a recap!

cross selling pyramid

Bring up the products to your clients! Even if they don\’t want to purchase at that first appointment, you have introduced the idea and the need.

Use the Generic Scope of Appointment Form to compliantly discuss Hospital Indemnity, Dental & Vision during your Medicare Advantage Appointments. You can download the Generic SoA at our Cross Selling Strategies site.

Use the tools in our Cross Selling Strategies Selling System

  • Sample Call Script
  • Senior Market Quote Engine
  • Steps to Success
  • Cross Selling Webcasts

Must Have Products for Your Portfolio


There are many valuable products to offer your clients, but we suggest getting contracted with these essential carriers first.

GTL
GET CONTRACTED
Ameritas Logo
GET CONTRACTED
img_logo_small
GET CONTRACTED
EnrollDoDont

Enrollment Do’s & Don’ts

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Enrollment

Happy AEP! Annual Election Period is in full swing! Now is a good time for Enrollment Reminders. This helps us process your applications quickly. As you know, medicare Enrollments are subject to strict submission time frames implemented by CMS.

DO: Review and Reference our Enrollment FAQ page on our Website.

DON’T: Forget to submit ALL pages of the enrollment application.
For example; we have noticed many Aetna apps coming in without the first page. Double check your submissions!

DO: Check client zip codes for accuracy. 

DON’T: Submit more than one application per fax/email transmission.

DO: Label the fax and email subject line as the Client’s First and Last name.

DON’T: Forget to complete ALL of the required information on the application. For example; New in 2019: UHC applications for Medicare Advantage and PDP have an additional agent received date “signature date” that must be completed.

Double check your submissions!

DO: Use the Fax Cover Sheet and mark if the submission is NEW or a CHANGE/CORRECTION. This cuts down on duplicate submissions!

DO: Double check that you received a confirmation of your enrollment submission. If you enroll by fax, check your fax confirmation pages. If you enroll by email, make sure you received the automated email confirmation.

DO: Contact us with any questions/issues. 
800-234-9488 or info@garityadvantage.com

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PLAN AHEAD and cross the finish line strong! [AEP Submission Deadlines]

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

This year’s sales have exceeded our expectations!

Please follow the reminders at the link below to make sure your final selling days go smoothly.

Get the important end of AEP Submission Guidelines and Deadlines by Carrier here.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

  • This year’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) ends Thursday December 7, 2017 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

thanks

Enrollment Processing Over Thanksgiving [Important]

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Enrollment Processing over Thanksgiving
~ Fax and email lines are open 24/7 ~

Both our Norwell, MA and New Haven, CT Offices will be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday November 23rd and Friday, November 24th.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Medicare enrollments dated on or before Tuesday, November 21st MUST be sent to us no later than Wednesday, November 22nd during business hours (9AM-5PM).

Tuesday enrollments sent after hours on Wednesday risk being LATE to the carrier.

We will be providing limited staff to process your enrollments on Friday, November 24th and Saturday, November 25th.

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.

ENROLLMENT EMAIL: enrollment@garityadvantage.com

ENROLLMENT FAX: 781-982-1887

Please use the link below for directions on how to submit your applications to the carriers directly between 5:00 PM, Wednesday, November 22nd and all day Thursday, November 23rd:

Carrier Submission Information

Answers to other enrollment questions: Enrollment FAQs