As an insurance agent, you may have a certain goal to reach, and you wonder how you can come close to meeting that goal. There are some tried-and-true ways to step up your marketing game. Start learning now so when open enrollment rolls around next year, you will be ready.

Stay up-to-date

One way to increase your Medicare sales is to stay up-to-date on the latest Medicare regulations and policies. This will not only help you provide accurate information to potential clients, but also make it easier to identify potential sales opportunities.

Build relationships with your clients

Another way to increase your Medicare sales is to build relationships with your clients. This can be done by providing personalized service and being a reliable source of information for your clients. By building trust with your clients, you will be more likely to retain their business and potentially generate referrals.

Educate your clients on the options available to them

In addition to building relationships, it is important to educate your clients about the different Medicare options available to them. This can help them make informed decisions and will also increase the likelihood of them purchasing a policy from you. You can do this through one-on-one meetings, group presentations, or informative seminars.

Research and target specific groups

Another effective way to increase your Medicare sales? Target specific groups of individuals who are likely to be in need of Medicare coverage. For example, you may want to focus on individuals who are approaching retirement age or those who have recently lost their employer-sponsored health insurance. By targeting specific groups, you can tailor your sales approach to their needs. Subsequently, you increase the likelihood they will purchase a policy from you.

Utilize social media

Additionally, using social media and other online platforms can be a great way to reach potential clients and promote your services. You can use these platforms to share educational content, answer frequently asked questions, and provide updates on changes to Medicare regulations. This can help you establish yourself as a trusted source of information and increase your visibility in the marketplace.

Increasing your Medicare sales as an insurance agent requires staying up-to-date on industry developments, as well as building relationships with clients and educating them. You should make time to target specific groups, and use online platforms to promote your services. By implementing these strategies, you can increase your sales and grow your business.

If you plan to sell Medicare insurance, Agility Insurance Services has a broad network of insurance providers to get contracted with:

UnitedHealthcare Medicare (MAPD + PDP + Medigap)

Humana Medicare (MAPD + PDP)

Aetna Medicare (MAPD + PDP)

Aetna Senior Supplemental (Medigap)

Devoted Health (MAPD)

Wellcare (MAPD + PDP)

Cigna Medicare (MAPD)

Cigna Supplemental Benefits (Medigap)

BCBS of Texas (MAPD + Medigap)

Oscar Health (MAPD)

Molina Medicare (MAPD)

Amerigroup (MAPD)

Care N’ Care (MAPD)

CHRISTUS Health (MAPD)

Agility Producer Support
(866) 590-9771
support@enrollinsurance.com

 

Health Care Service Corporation Introduces Enhanced Benefits and More $0 Premium Medicare Advantage Plan Options for 2022

Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) announced new low cost Medicare Advantage plans for 2022 that offer access to the rich and high-quality provider networks our members are accustomed to. These new options build on the company’s commitment to increase access to affordable care across its health plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.  HCSC is adding these new plan options while continuing our dedication to excellent member experiences and helping members receive access to high-quality care and service as exemplified by consistent improvements in its Star ratings. 

HCSC is delivering on our commitment to provide affordable health care choices.  For 2022, HCSC has added 22 new $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans, including both HMO and PPO plan options, with expanded geographical presence throughout its five states. HCSC also will offer an Open Access Flex PPO plan, in which members can access any provider who accepts Medicare, including primary care physicians and specialists, without a copay, coinsurance or an out-of-pocket maximum. Members will enjoy a high level of cost certainty with the Flex PPO plan since there are no out-of-pocket costs.

Plans will provide access to a telehealth provider to help members access urgent care wherever they are when they need it.  Additionally, some plans will offer additional supplement benefits such as over-the-counter items, travel programs, and dental, vision, and hearing benefits. 

Get contracted for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Medicare.  

Agility Producer Support
(866) 590-9771
support@enrollinsurance.com

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas: Medicare, Group & Retail

BCBSTX Expands Medicare Advantage Market Area, Choices As you may have just heard, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) is increasing its footprint in the Medicare Advantage (MAPD) market. In addition to expanding the market area to 59 Texas counties, new MAPD products will be introduced.

 

 

Get Certified and Receive a Gift Card

In
recognition of your costs related to training and testing to become
Medicare Certified to sell our Blue Cross Medicare AdvantageSM and Blue Cross MedicareRxSM plans, we will provide a $50 Visa Gift Card to agents who complete our required 2022 product certification no later than Sept. 1, 2021.
 

The gift card is not compensation for the sale or renewal of
any policy or enrollment. Supplies are limited to the first 5,000
agents.
 

To take advantage of this offer:

  • You must be a current resident licensed agent within the state of Texas to qualify.
  • No sales or marketing of 2022 Medicare plans is allowed until your annual Medicare certification is complete.
  • Only agents within our GA, NMO and directly-contracted channels are eligible.
  • Those under our TMO, EGA and preferred channels do not qualify.

Your time is valuable – we hope this small effort will help you complete our 2022 product certification by Sept. 1.


Group

Transparency in Coverage, Consolidated Appropriations Act: August Update

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which includes the No Surprises Act, is the most significant health care law since the Affordable Care Act. The Transparency in Coverage Final Rule,
which imposes significant federal transparency obligations on
insurers, is one of the first of its kind. Both sets of requirements
impose significant requirements on health insurance issuers and group
health plans.
 

What you need to know: Review our update about the impact of the new Acts.


*A Change in 90-Day Supply Coverage to Apply for Some 2022 Pharmacy Networks

Based on the group’s pharmacy
network, some members may only have 90-day supply retail coverage at an
Extended Supply Network pharmacy starting Jan. 1, 2022.
 

The impact: The change applies to some Custom Fully Insured and Administrative Services Only (ASO) Large Group and National Accounts. Learn more about this supply coverage change and the advantages it offers.


*2022 Drug List Change for BCBSTX Pharmacy Custom Fully Insured Groups

Starting Jan. 1, 2022, and upon
renewal, BCBSTX will be moving our pharmacy benefit Custom Fully
Insured groups to the Performance drug list from the Basic or Enhanced
drug lists.
 

What to expect: The change applies to Custom Fully
Insured groups (Large Groups and National Accounts). There are some
exceptions to this change. Learn more about this drug list transition.


Deadline Approaching: MSP Data Collection Required via BAESM by Sept. 8

Next week, we will begin sending “reminder” emails to renewing groups
with 1-150 employees that haven’t provided their 2021 Medicare
Secondary Payer (MSP) information to us. The easiest way to provide this
information is via Blue Access for EmployersSM (BAE).

Action needed: Remind your groups to submit the required information by Sept. 8. Read the FAQs to get all the details.


*Blue DirectionsSM Offers Options for Employers of Varying Sizes, Join Aug. 24 Webinar

Blue Directions has three options
available to fit the needs of your clients, regardless of their size
or benefits administration needs. Available to groups with 51+
employees.
 

How it works: Join the Aug. 24 webinar to get the details.


Retail

American Rescue Plan SEP Ends Sunday

Resuming standard SEP enrollment.
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is
ending Sunday, Aug. 15. Beginning Monday, Aug. 16, we’ll resume
standard SEP enrollment processes.
 

Suspending training requirements: This year,
writing producers selling off-exchange policies because of an SEP do
not have to affirm completion of the SEP training in order for them or
their agencies to be eligible for compensation. The suspension of SEP
training requirements is for plan year 2021 only.
 

Reference and resource tool: Our 2021 SEP training for off-exchange enrollment PDF is
a great tool to help you and your clients have a smooth enrollment
process. Although the training requirement has been suspended for plan
year 2021, we encourage you to save and use the training as a resource.


Reminder: Marketplace Automatically Lowering Premiums for Some Members

What’s changing: Last week,
we told you that Marketplace members who are eligible for premium tax
credits, but who haven’t updated their income information on healthcare.gov 
Leaving site icon
 since April 2021, will soon have their premiums reduced automatically. Lower premiums are a result of the American Rescue Plan Act Leaving site icon.

When? The premiums will be adjusted starting with September invoices, which are delivered mid-August.

Member communications: The Marketplace is notifying affected members by mail PDF.
We’re sending a notice of the billing change to affected members with
their September bill, delivered around mid-August. We’re also sending a
separate email to the same audience. The
billing insert
 PDF and the email share the same content.

Who’s affected: Marketplace members who will see lower premiums in September are those who:

  • Currently qualify for premium tax credits
  • Haven’t updated their household income data since April 2021, and
  • Haven’t opted out of receiving premium tax credits

Who’s NOT affected: Members who actively
redetermined during this SEP won’t be impacted; their premiums were
already adjusted. Also, members who opted out of subsidy payments won’t
see any changes. They can opt back in by updating their accounts via healthcare.gov Leaving site icon.

Are You Ready for Medicare AEP?
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) opens Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7.
 

Certification required: As a reminder, you must complete both the AHIP certification Leaving site icon and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’ (BCBSTX) annual training 
Leaving site icon to begin marketing/selling our Medicare Advantage/PDP products.
 

Take advantage of Medicare training: In just
30 minutes, these webinars can help you prepare to sell Medicare, and
learn how to help clients select and enroll in a plan.
 

Next sessions:

  • Aug. 12 – Certify with BCBSTX
  • Aug. 17 – Virtual selling and DocuSign
  • Aug. 19 – BCBSTX Supply Portal
Help Small Group and Mid-Market Sales and Renewal Kits

Find all the tips, tools, forms and product information to sell or renew your Small (1-50) and Mid-Market (51-150) groups.
 

Next Small Group deadlines:
  • Oct. 1 renewals: paperwork is due Sept. 1
  • Nov. 1 renewals: paperwork is due Oct. 4
  • See all 2021 PDF due dates.
 

Why it matters:
The expansion increases access to and choice for new coverage options
for Medicare-eligible individuals throughout Texas and the growing
population of adults aging into Medicare. These changes will be
implemented for the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which opens Oct.
15.
 

  • Some of the new markets are located in rural and underserved areas.
  • Some new MAPD plans (HMO and PPO) include $0 premiums and enhanced benefits beyond traditional Medicare.   

More information coming: The expanded market
areas and new products will be discussed in detail during the upcoming
Producer Road Shows beginning in September. Watch for your invitations.

Get your BCBSTX Contracting Today >


Agility Producer Support
(866) 590-9771
support@enrollinsurance.com