How is Hospice Covered with Medicare?
As a program to care for people who are terminally ill, hospice presents a very difficult situation for loved ones and caregivers. Worrying about how to get hospice covered with […]
How to Reduce Monthly Costs with Rising Medicare Supplement Premiums
Medicare Supplement plan premiums continue to rise year after year! These annual hikes are making some plans unaffordable and hard to maintain. Many people are experiencing financial strain from steadily […]
Help Clients Avoid Medicare Enrollment Delays
Recent updates to Social Security policies could create challenges for clients enrolling in Medicare — especially if they’re not aware of how these changes affect their ability to apply. Agents […]
Helping Clients Choose Between Medicare and Employer Coverage: What Agents Need to Know
When clients turn 65 and are still working, they often face a complex decision: should they enroll in Medicare or stick with their employer-sponsored coverage? As a Medicare agent, your […]
How is Hospice Covered with Medicare?
As a Medicare agent, one of your key responsibilities is guiding seniors through difficult and often confusing parts of their coverage—hospice care being a prime example. Many clients (and their […]
Medicare and Pre-Authorization: When Is It Required?
As a Medicare agent, it’s important to understand Medicare’s prior authorization requirements so you can better assist your clients. Traditionally, Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) did not require […]
How to Get Help Paying for Premium Part A With Low Income
Most people can get Medicare Part A for free if they are 65 or older and have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (or if their […]
The $2,000 Medicare Part D Cap: How It Works and Why You Might Pay Less
hanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare beneficiaries will see a significant reduction in their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. Beginning in 2025, all Medicare plans will feature a $2,000 cap […]
2025 Medicare DSNP/LIS Special Enrollment Changes
Medicare has eliminated the quarterly Dual/LIS Maintaining Special Election Period and replaced it with 2 new SEPs. Dual and LIS beneficiaries will have new restrictions on plan changes, including when […]
New Medicare Cards for Individuals Impacted by CMS Data Breach
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS) are mailing written notifications to 946,801 people whose protected health information or other personally identifiable […]
Marketing Strategies for Medicare’s Annual Election Period
The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) seems to come around quick every year! As we inch closer to “go time” here are some marketing strategies that have proven successful for […]
Tips and Best Practices for Retaining Medicare Customers
Maximizing client retention is one of the most important aspects of running a successful Medicare business. Not only does it help you maintain a steady revenue stream, but it also […]
Understanding Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans
Medicare Advantage SNPs are a type of Medicare Advantage plan designed to cater to individuals with specific health conditions, health care needs, and financial circumstances. There are three main groups […]
Mastering Medigap Guarantee Issue Scenarios: Your Definitive Guide
We get a lot of questions when it comes to Medigap guaranteed issue rights, also known as Medicare Supplements. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, which do not require underwriting, Medicare Supplements […]
Understanding Medicare Advantage C-SNP Plans
Dealing with a chronic illness involves navigating complex healthcare needs and frequent medical attention. Medicare Advantage Chronic Special Needs Plans (C-SNP) are beneficial for people struggling with chronic conditions because […]
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: Agent Guide
As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) comes to an end, agents need to remember the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) […]
What happens if you missed your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare? Use the General Enrollment Period
If your client did not enroll in Medicare during their Initial Enrollment Period, then they will have to wait until Medicare’s General Enrollment Period. Every year the General Enrollment Period […]
Understanding Medicare Part D Extra Help: A 2024 Comprehensive Guide
Prescription drugs can be a financial burden for many individuals. The Extra Help program can help many low-income Medicare beneficiaries reduce their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. As an agent, it […]
Retroactive Entitlement SEP: When Medicare is Late Processing Your Medicare Enrollment
Many of our clients are reporting Medicare enrollment delays when first applying for Part A and B. In some cases, Medicare cards are arriving after the effective date of your […]
Medicare Plan Exits: Exploring the Medicare Plan Non-Renewal SEP
Approaching the Annual Election Period starting October 15th, most Medicare beneficiaries think about keeping their existing plan or changes they could make for the following year. However, sometimes Medicare Advantage […]
Marketing Medicare: Grow Your Business With Provider Marketing
Marketing your Medicare business is necessary to continually reach more potential clients and grow your business. Effective marketing is achieved by utilizing multiple marketing channels and approaches. Most agents will […]
Agent Guide to Medicare Enrollment Periods
Navigating the complex world of Medicare can be overwhelming and confusing to your clients, particularly when it comes to understanding the various enrollment periods. These enrollment periods play a crucial […]
Mastering the Rules of a Medicare Sales Event
Planning and executing a successful Medicare sales event requires a thorough understanding of the rules and guidelines set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). We will delve […]
Moving out of area with Medicare Advantage Plan: What Happens and How to Navigate the Process
Medicare Advantage plans (MAPD) have different service areas available to those who live within that area. Service areas are typically based on geographic regions, such as counties or states, depending […]
Understanding the Medicare Rule on 40 Work Credits: What You Need to Know
As you approach retirement age, you may have questions about Medicare eligibility. One of the requirements for Medicare is having a certain number of work credits. In this blog, we […]
What is the Low-Income Subsidy Benchmark Premium and How Does it Affect Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans?
The Medicare Extra Help program, also known as Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), assists low-income people with Medicare out-of-pocket costs associated with Part D prescription drug coverage. We cover the specifics of […]
4 Medicare Changes You Need to Know For 2023
There are many changes coming to Medicare this year due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and other Medicare policies. Some changes will affect everyone on Medicare with […]
Can Non-U.S. Citizens Qualify for Medicare?
Do you qualify for Medicare if you are not a U.S. Citizen? If you are a non-citizen living in the United States, you may still qualify to enroll in Medicare […]
5 Things to Consider When Approaching Medicare to Avoid Common Mistakes
There are many things to consider when you are nearing Medicare eligibility. Enrollment timelines and requirements can vary depending on many personal factors; making the wrong decision could cost you […]
What Are 5 Star Medicare Advantage Plans
Star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans are an easy way to know if you are enrolling in a plan that offers excellent healthcare and customer service. Medicare Advantage (or Part […]