WHAT'S WAPPENING?

Low income subsidies can help Medicare beneficiaries pay for their prescriptions. Navigating the system can be difficult, however. There are so many rules and so many notices. Agents can help their clients understand what they need to do to receive the help they deserve.

We should all be getting ready and preparing for our annual Medicare training requirements, certification release dates and upcoming marketing plan. As if you didn’t know already, AHIP is coming just around the corner. We want you to have an amazing outlook on what is up ahead so stay tuned to Certification Central on the Western Asset Protection website agent dashboard for updates on cert openings, discounts on AHIP and more.

Now is a great time to go paperless. The Medicare & You handbook is available as an eHandbook. Medicare enrollees can download their digital copy now. They can also sign up to get the eHandbook instead of the paper copy in the future.

Scammers are targeting your clients. There’s been a rise in fraudulent phone calls, and many of these scams go after Medicare beneficiaries. Warn your clients about the growing danger.

Navigating Medicare coverage options is about to become easier. If you’ve even had trouble using the Medicare Plan Finder, there’s good news. The Medicare Coverage Tools initiative promises to improve the tool, making comparing options and enrolling in a plan easier than ever.  

Trying to figure out coverage for a specific service? Medicare has a new app that might help. The What’s Covered app makes it easy to access information on Medicare coverage for specific medical items and services.

As you are well aware, some big changes have come this year in the release of the new Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidance.  In prior years, we experienced Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP )  from January 1- February 14^th – Medicare has introduced a new enrollment period for 2019 beyond the Annual Enrollment Period ( AEP ) called Open Enrollment Period ( OEP ). The Open Enrollment Period begins January 1 and ends March 1, 2019 – This replaces the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment period.

The annual election period for Medicare is over. This can be a relief for agents who finally have time to breathe, but it can also be a source of anxiety. For many agents, AEP is the most productive time of the year by far. In fact, the rest of the year can be downright slow. The  scarcity of work – and of commissions – can be scary.

As AEP winds down, we want to be sure you're ready for the new Open Enrollment Period (OEP) beginning on January 1. Below, you'll find everything you need to know to succeed.

Get details, as well as licensing and CE reminders below.