The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced new restrictions on marketing for Medicare Advantage Plans and other health care policies. With the new rules, it is more important than ever for Agility agents to understand the Medicare Advantage marketing guidelines and the policies associated with them. In this blog post, we’ll explore what the new rules mean for agents selling Medicare Advantage plans and the strategies available to stay compliant with these plans.

Under the new CMS guidelines, agents selling Medicare Advantage plans can no longer use promotional materials that could mislead, confuse, or exaggerate the benefits of their plans. This means that all marketing materials must be clear, and accurate, and not promote any plans inappropriately. Additionally, agents selling Medicare Advantage plans must provide consumers with detailed information about each plan, including out-of-pocket costs, services covered, and formulary information.

In addition to the new restrictions, CMS now requires that all Medicare Advantage plans to adhere to the same ethical standards as traditional Medicare plans. This restricts agents from offering any gifts, rewards, or other incentives to customers in order to encourage them to enroll in a particular plan. Agents selling Medicare Advantage plans are also prohibited from aggressive sales and marketing tactics, such as cold calling or door-to-door marketing.

It is important for Agility agents to note that they also must abide by all local and state laws regarding marketing and advertising for Medicare Advantage. For example, some states may have laws regulating the use of telemarketing or direct mail campaigns by Medicare Advantage plans.

The new restrictions from CMS are designed to protect consumers from deceptive marketing practices and ensure that they are fully informed about the benefits of Medicare Advantage plans. It is important for Agility agents’ consumers to understand the new rules and the policies associated with these plans in order to make the best decisions for their healthcare needs.

By following the Medicare Advantage marketing guidelines, Agility agents can be sure their customers are getting the most accurate and helpful information about the plans available. Moreover, agents should also take the time to thoroughly research each plan and understand all of the costs, benefits, and limitations associated with Medicare Advantage. With a little research and knowledge of the new rules, agents can help consumers make informed decisions and navigate the Medicare Advantage landscape with confidence and integrity.

Stay up to date with Medicare Marketing Guidelines by attending our Medicare Training Series live events!

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

Medicare beneficiaries have the right to choose their own coverage, and this is where you come in. The help of a licensed agent or broker can be invaluable in guiding clients through the process. Agents and brokers possess the specialized knowledge to answer questions and provide advice on a wide range of Medicare plan options from private insurance companies, such as Medicare Advantage and supplemental plans.

Medicare contracted agents and brokers are trained to understand Medicare information and be able to explain it to clients in terms they can understand. They have access to real-time information about Medicare plan availability, premium costs, and coverage benefits. They can also help compare different plans and make sure consumers are enrolled in a plan that meets your needs.

Furthermore, agents and brokers are a great resource for seniors who are trying to make sense of the various Medicare programs. For example, they can help decide if a Medicare Advantage plan is right for an individual or explain the differences between a Medigap policy and a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Instead of trying to find the answers for themselves, people can rely on the expertise of an agent or broker.

Having the help of an agent or broker is especially important if someone is nearing the end of an Initial Enrollment Period and need to make sure they are enrolled in the right plan. Agents and brokers can help make sure people don’t miss critical enrollment dates. They can also help individuals get the most out of their benefits by applying for low-income subsidies or other assistance programs.

In short, agents and brokers are an important part of the Medicare landscape. Agents and brokers have the knowledge, experience, and resources to help people make informed decisions about their Medicare plan. 

Are you contracted to offer Medicare Plans yet?

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

Medicare Part D Star Ratings have been released for 2023 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

57 of the plans earned 5 stars, but this shows a huge drop since last year, which was 74 five stars plans. 

This year, 67 contracts earned 4.5 stars, but this is lower than last year by 96!

136 of these contracts earned 4 stars, whereas last year 152 contracts earned four stars.

116 earned 3.5 stars; last year, 122 earned 3.5 stars. 

Finally, only 90 earned three stars, but this is a 25 increase from last year. 

Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and UnitedHealth Group led in earning five stars. 5 of Kaiser’s plans earned five stars, while 9 plans by UnitedHealth Group earned five stars.

Humana and Highmark also boast several plans that earned five stars.

These star ratings are annually announced, used to gauge the experiences of those using these companies to enroll in healthcare insurance. 

Those using Medicare can use this rating system to determine which plan is best, and which plan has the most positive reviews.

Thus, these star ratings are perfect if you are a Medicare insurance agent, as you can refer to this rating system to sell plans effectively to consumers. 

Just keep in mind that CMS did slightly alter the star rating system for 2023. Pandemic guardrails for these plans were removed; these safeguards created a hedge of protection during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Now these ratings will affect only 5% of bonus payments that are made to plans.

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

CMS will provide updates and information agents and brokers need to successfully operate in the marketplace.

CMS will host a webinar training on the Plan Year (PY) 2022 Marketplace Registration and Training for Returning Agents and Brokers on August 26 2021.  Please visit www.REGTAP.info to register. 

Checkout the available ACA Certifications & ACA Contracting

 

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