With so much happening on Capitol Hill, you might have missed some developments that could impact Medicare. Here’s a quick recap of recent events to get you caught up.

Referrals can be a great way to grow your Medicare insurance business, and you may want to use gifts to reward the clients who give you referrals. But watch out. CMS has strict rules governing incentives and gifts. Make sure you know what you can and can’t do.

There’s a lot going on these days – so much that it’s easy to miss a thing a two. Here’s a look at some of the most recent developments that could have a major impact on Medicare.

Most of you probably remember a few glitches in the rollout of changes to the 2019 Medicare Plan Finder. Now, as we start to prepare for the next AEP, the Plan Finder is receiving more updates. Here’s a quick recap of last year and what you can expect from the Plan Finder this year. Also, learn more about a new WAP tool – Medicare Enrollment Express at the end of this article.

Medicare beneficiaries who have been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency will have access to a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Not everyone will qualify for this enrollment period, but for those who do, this is an important election opportunity.

COVID-19 is disrupting daily life, but a new executive order should make it easier for some Arizonans to continue work. On March 26, Governor Ducey issued Executive Order 2020-17, Continuity of Work. This order should provide relief for insurance agents and other licensed professionals in the state of Arizona.

States around the country have issued shelter-in-place orders urging people to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These orders have led to some confusion over what is and what is not essential.

Western Asset Protection is dedicated to keeping the agent community and our senior community safe during this COVID-19 crisis, especially when it comes to compliance. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation and confusion surrounding COVID-19. We have been working closely with our compliance partners to stay up to date on any and all changes in our industry as information is released from Capitol Hill, CMS, FEMA and the Department of Insurance.

Compliance is a big deal for Medicare advisors. Are you forgetting some crucial rules? There’s a lot for Medicare advisors to keep track of, and the rules can and do change. To make sure your presentations are fully compliant, there are several questions you should answer, including:

It’s nearly December and Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) will soon be coming to an end. That means it’s time to start planning ahead to tackle your OEP plan.