Important Update: Additional 2025 Plan Suppression

Hello Valued Partners,

Following Aetna’s recent announcement, additional health plans have followed suit and instructed all brokerages to mark a subset of their 2025 Medicare Advantage plans as non-commissionable.

Key Details:

  • No commissions will be paid for these plans starting on 11/4; see the number of plans marked non-commissionable by health plan:
Health Plan Plan Count Suppression States Impacted
Anthem / Elevance 66 CT, NH, NJ, VA, GA, IN, KY
Cigna 34 TX, CO, UT, AL, AZ, NY, AR, GA, NJ, MS, OR, OK
WellCare 10 WA, OR, LA, NY, CA
  • The above plans will be greyed out within the Marketplace starting on 11/4
  • Commissions will be paid on renewals for existing members and 2025 sales submitted prior to 11/4
While plan suppression is not a new concept, the scale and impact are unique to this AEP. We understand that these changes can be challenging, but we remain committed to supporting you in this evolving market.

Rest assured, only a limited number of our plans are affected, and we continue to offer a wide range of competitive options to serve all impacted areas smoothly.

Please reach out to your account manager if you need any guidance on navigating these adjustments or have questions about how this may impact your work. Thank you for your resilience and adaptability as we move forward together!

Filed under: UnitedHealthcare

Upcoming Carrier Release Deadlines

As a reminder, all releases must be submitted to carriers prior to these deadlines in order for agents to sell this AEP.

  • Cigna Healthspring – 9/15/2024
  • Humana – 9/30/2024

Please reach out to your account managers with any further questions.

Filed under: Cigna-HealthSpring, Humana

Carrier Eligibility Checks

The below list contains details regarding all the different avenues to confirm Medicaid Eligibility by State given the limitations by HealthPlan. We have included instructions to set up agent portals, links, and agent support phone numbers to call the health plan directly.

  • Aetna Medicaid Eligibility lookup available for:
    • AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NC, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, SD, TX, WV
    • Think Agent Portal construction requires self-initiation; agents will receive an error in attempting to gain access, but Aetna will manually create accounts if you call into 866-714-9301 (option 5 in phone tree for ThinkAgent support)
    • ThinkAgent Link: https://app.thinkagent.com/sign-in
  • Anthem Medicaid Eligibility lookup available for:
    • CA, CO, CT, FL, CA, IA, IN, KY, LA, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
    • Anthem Agent Support: 844-274-6355
  • Cigna for brokers (self-sign-up process) / individual lookup available for:
  • WellCare via Change Healthcare lookup available for:
    • AL, AR, TN, IL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IN, KY, MO, MS, NC, CT, NJ, NY, OH, TX, WA, WI
    • Wellcare Agent Support: 866-211-0544
  • UHC Medicaid Eligibility lookup available for:
    • DC, DE, GA, MT, NC, OH, SD, TX
    • UHC Agent Support: 888-381-8581
State Aetna Anthem Cigna WellCare UHC
AL AL   AL AL  
AK          
AZ       AZ  
AR AR   AR AR  
CA CA CA   CA  
CO CO CO CO    
CT CT CT CT CT  
DE     DE   DE
DC         DC
FL   FL   FL  
GA GA   GA GA GA
HI          
ID          
IL       IL  
IN   IN   IN  
IA   IA      
KS KS        
KY KY KY   KY  
LA LA LA      
ME          
MD MD   MD    
MA          
MI MI        
MN          
MS MS   MS MS  
MO MO MO MO MO  
MT         MT
NE          
NV NV NV      
NH          
NJ       NJ  
NM          
NY NY NY   NY  
NC   NC   NC NC
ND          
OH OH OH OH OH OH
OK          
OR          
PA PA PA PA    
RI          
SC SC SC      
SD SD SD     SD
TN     TN TN  
TX TX TX TX TX TX
UT          
VT          
VA  VA        
WA       WA  
WV WV WV      
WI       WI  
WY          

 

Filed under: Aetna, Anthem, Cigna-HealthSpring, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare

UHC Marketing Guidance for Plan Year 2025

We recently received UHC’s Marketing Materials Guidelines document for PY2025. Notable changes are (1) requiring that benefits grids for variable benefits fields be submitted along with marketing material at the time of carrier submission; and (2) prohibiting the use of SSBCI benefits and targeting DSNP beneficiaries outside of AEP due to the final rule for 2025.  Please note that this does not change the way items and materials are submitted to GoHealth and as a result submitted to United Healthcare or any other Health Plan partner. 

The full UHC document can be found here.

As we are sure you are all planning for the upcoming AEP season’s marketing and lead generation efforts, please use these guidelines to ensure that your marketing is ready for carrier submission as soon as possible.

As you know, we will be sending out our Q2 Partner Update video later in June. If you can submit any questions you have about this new guidance to us by June 10, we will try to incorporate answers into our video.

We will continue to share new carrier guidance as we receive it.

Filed under: UnitedHealthcare

Wellcare – NPN Required For All Applications

As a reminder, the use of 6-digit Wellcare Broker Producer ID (PID) was discontinued in 2022 and replaced with National Producer Number (NPN).

Important Information to Prevent Payment Delays

  • The submission of an application with the old Wellcare Broker Producer ID (PID) may result in the incorrect Agent of Record (AOR) for the member.
  • Effective July 1, 2024, Wellcare will discontinue the manual process to convert the PID to NPN.
  • It is imperative that agents ensure their NPN is used for all application submissions going forward.
Filed under: Wellcare

Urgent: H5199 & H7175 Wellcare Plan Removal from Marketing and Enrollment

Important – Suspended Enrollments and Marketing for MAPD Plans in Florida and North Carolina

Attention Valued Partner,

Wellcare would like to make you aware that all enrollment and marketing activities are suspended effective Jan. 12, 2024, for plans under the two contracts below:

  • Florida MAPD PPO Contract (H5199)
  • North Carolina MAPD PPO Contract (H7175)

Additionally, these two contracts will not be renewed for Plan Year 2025. Each of them will end on Dec. 31, 2024.

Member Impact

  • Current members of plans under these contracts DO NOT need to be moved to alternate plans until the Annual Enrollment Period starting in Oct. 2024.
  • Current members will remain enrolled in their plans through Plan Year 2024.
  • Current members will continue to have uninterrupted access to their full plan benefits through the entirety of Plan Year 2024.

Important Takeaways

  • As of Jan. 12, 2024, members can no longer enroll in plans under these two contracts, and all enrollments for these plans will be denied.
  • Also as of this date, agents and agencies can no longer market these plans.
  • All enrollment materials related to these plans have been removed from Wellcare sites and enrollment platforms, and materials are no longer available for downloading, printing, or ordering.

Plans Impacted

Wellcare appreciates your prompt attention to this update. For any questions regarding these plans, please reach out to your local sales leader.

As always, they thank you for your continued partnership.

 

This is neither legal nor accounting advice. If you have questions, please consult a lawyer or accountant. The information included in this post was provided by the entity referenced herein.

Filed under: Wellcare

Cigna AEP Resources for Brokers

Review to ensure you’re ready to sell Cigna Healthcare Medicare for AEP 2024.
AEP is almost here! Cigna is excited to see what this year brings with your continued partnership. As their plans, benefits, and network continue to get better and better, they have something to offer each of your customers.

Please take some time to review their 2024 Medicare Advantage Final Look to learn more about Cigna’s benefits and growth for the upcoming plan year.

2024 Medicare Advantage Final Look

 

AEP Resources

Cigna wants to remind you of some of the new or improved resources available to you with Cigna Healthcare. Please log in to Producers’ University before clicking the links below.

As always, feel free to reach out to your local Broker Manager or CARL if you have any questions. We wish you a great AEP 2024!

New Technology

Enhanced online provider look-up tool – Watch a short video to learn more about the enhancements.

Offline applications via eEnrollment – Use their offline applications through eEnrollment whenever an internet connection is not available.

ConnectureDRX voice signature – Use voice signatures during telephonic enrollments via ConnectureDRX

Cigna Healthy Today product search tool – Search for eligible over-the-counter (OTC) products by typing in the product’s name or UPC barcode number or by scanning the barcode directly using the member portal.

Easier submission tools for HRAs – You can now facilitate your HRAs using SunFire, ConnectureDRX, CignaforBrokers, and eEnrollment. Auto-populate feature available on some SunFire and ConnectureDRX HRAs.*

 

Other Resources

Cigna Agent Resource Line (CARL) – Contact CARL with any questions during AEP. Extended hours available. See contact information below.

Local Broker Managers – Contact your local Broker Managers for help with sales strategy, marketing advice, training, and general questions.

Producers’ University – Access many helpful resources including training guides, job aids, and podcasts.

CignaforBrokers – Access Producers’ University, CustomPoint, Salesforce, and more using single sign-on.

CustomPoint – Order all your AEP marketing materials to have a successful selling season.

2024 Medicare Advantage Final Look – Review our finalized plans, benefits, and expansion areas for 2024.

2024 PDP Premiums and Plan Designs – See an overview of PDP premiums and plan designs by state as well as benefits at-a-glance. Remember, PDPs are commissionable for 2024.

 

*When available, SunFire and ConnectureDRX will pre-populate member demographic information into the HRA form. This applies to agents using the embedded ConnectureDRX HRA, embedded SunFire HRA, some SunFire SSO/widget agency integrations, and eEnrollment.
Retention During AEP

Having a retention mindset allows you to help your customers, drive their positive health outcomes, and put more money in your pocket. Proactivity with your retention plan is key to your success, especially during AEP. Watch our three videos below to learn more.

·    Why Retention Mindset Sells More

·    Retention and Supplemental Benefits

·    Doctors, Drugs, and Dental

Cigna Agent Resource Line (CARL)

866.442.7516

CARL@cignahealthcare.com

Extended Hours: October 2 – November 30

7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST, Monday through Saturday

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST, Sunday

Spanish queue available

This is neither legal nor accounting advice. If you have questions, please consult a lawyer or accountant. The information included in this post was provided by the entity referenced herein.

Filed under: Cigna-HealthSpring

Cigna PDP Reminders and Rules of Engagement Updates

Read below for Rules of Engagement updates and important PDP reminders from Cigna.

Updates to Rules of Engagement

Cigna Healthcare has released an updated version of their Rules of Engagement. Please click here for a full list of updates and take some time to review the Rules of Engagement prior to AEP.

PDP Reminders

As they shared recently, Cigna Healthcare will start paying commissions on their full line of Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) starting with the 2024 Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).

To take advantage of this opportunity, please ensure you are Ready-to-Sell by completing your 2024 certification and other applicable requirements. Click here for more details.

In anticipation of this exciting change, we ask that you take some time to review our 2024 PDP Premiums and Plan Designs. This document contains an overview of PDP premiums by state, PDP benefits at-a-glance, and PDP designs by state.

If you need to order additional PDP Enrollment Kits, visit CustomPoint. For help with ordering, review Cigna’s Ordering PDP Enrollment Kits guide in Producers’ University.

NOTE: You must be logged in to Producers’ University directly or through CignaForBrokers single sign-on to access the links above.

 

Questions

Please reach out to your direct upline or the Cigna Agent Resource Line (CARL) with any questions.

Cigna Agent Resource Line (CARL)

866.442.7516

CARL@cignahealthcare.com

Extended Hours: October 2 – November 30

7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST, Monday through Saturday

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST, Sunday

Spanish queue available

This is neither legal nor accounting advice. If you have questions, please consult a lawyer or accountant. The information included in this post was provided by the entity referenced herein.

Filed under: Cigna-HealthSpring

Wellcare: AEP Readiness Resources Are Now Available!

Attention Valued Partner,

Sales season has begun! To make sure you have all the tools and information you need for success, Wellcare is rolling out your best one-stop resource for everything AEP.

The 2024 AEP Readiness Resources page has information regarding their plan offerings, service areas, marquee benefits, including our new Wellcare SpendablesTM card, innovative Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) benefits and other network enhancements.

Resource Highlights

  • 2024 Approved Plan Benefit Grids – New customizable and downloadable product grids showing key benefits for Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans in specific areas
  • Supplemental Benefit and Pharmacy One-Pagers – One-page fact sheets highlighting new and intriguing benefits for members
  • Supplemental Benefits Videos – YouTube videos outlining key selling points and information regarding select benefits and plan types
  • FAQs and Other Resources – Frequently asked questions for network updates and supplemental and pharmacy benefits, including dedicated VBID and Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) versions, catalogs and other helpful agent tools

Take a few moments now to review the 2024 AEP Readiness Resources and discover all of the valuable Wellcare benefits available for members in 2024. 2023 Resources continue to be available as well to support plan efforts throughout the rest of the current plan year.

Note: This resource is also available within the Ascend mobile app by searching 2024 AEP Readiness Resources.

Wellcare hopes that you find these resources beneficial for all of your sales efforts throughout this AEP season and beyond.

As always, they thank you for your continued partnership!

 

This is neither legal nor accounting advice. If you have questions, please consult a lawyer or accountant. The information included in this post was provided by the entity referenced herein.

Filed under: Wellcare