medicare is changing once again what you need to know · this guide will help you adapt and prosper...
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Medicare Advantage 2019 Open Enrollment Period – THE NCC GUIDE
Medicare is Changing Once Again Starting in 2019, CMS restores the Medicare Advantage (MA) Open Enrollment Period (OEP). The MA OEP will take place from January 1 through March 31 each year. The OEP allows individuals enrolled in an MA plan, including newly MA-eligible individuals, to make a one-time election to switch to another MA plan (with or without Part D coverage) or to return to Original Medicare (with or without Part D coverage).
More opportunities for clients to change Medicare plans create more opportunities for the prepared agent to write business. This guide will help you adapt and prosper in this changing landscape.
What You Need to Know
When is Medicare Advantage OEP 2019?
OEP is January 1 through March 31 each year.
When do Medicare Advantage OEP plan elections take effect?
The effective date for an MA OEP election is the first of the month following receipt of the enrollment request.
What changes can be made during the MA OEP? Individuals enrolled in an MAPD plan can use the OEP to get a different MAPD plan, an MA-only plan, or Original Medicare (with or without a PDP).
National Contracting Center • NCCAgent.com • 800-695-0280 3
Medicare Advantage 2019 Open Enrollment Period – THE NCC GUIDE
How many plan elections can be made during OEP? Only one.
Who can use the MA OEP? Individuals enrolled in an MAPD plan or an MA-only plan. Individuals enrolled in an MA-only plan can use the OEP to switch to a different MA-only plan, an MAPD plan, or Original Medicare (with or without a PDP).
What types of changes are not allowed during the MA OEP? Individuals enrolled in Original Medicare cannot use the OEP to join an MA or MAPD plan, add a PDP, or change their PDP. In addition, the OEP is not available to those enrolled in Medicare Savings Accounts or other Medicare health plan types (such as cost plans or PACE).
What happened to the Medicare Disenrollment Period? Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period used to be January 1 through February 14. During that time a person could disenroll from Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare. Starting in 2019, the Disenrollment Period has been replaced by Open Enrollment Period.
What’s an example of a change that can’t be done? Mr. Gonzales has Original Medicare. He wishes to enroll in an MA-PD plan during the OEP. Because only persons enrolled in MA plans may use the OEP to change their election, Mr. Gonzales would be unable to enroll in an MA-PD plan during the OEP (unless another valid election period gave him that option).
NCC’s Medicare Advantage Tools
Medicare Quote Engine Instant quotes for Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, PDP and Final Expense
Contracting Kit State-specific apps, brochures, rates and commissions for any of our plans
How to Do a Medicare Advantage Needs Analysis 10 questions that will uncover the client’s needs
Find Medicare Advantage Plans by County We’ll help you find available plans for a county
Find Plans by State, Carrier, or Product Type Plans from 40+ carriers, organized by state and plan type with policy details
National Contracting Center • NCCAgent.com • 800-695-0280 4
Medicare Advantage 2019 Open Enrollment Period – THE NCC GUIDE
CMS Marketing Guidelines CMS guidance states that producers can’t knowingly target or send unsolicited marketing materials to any MA or MAPD enrollee during the continuous OEP. “Knowingly” takes into account the intended recipient as well as the content of the message. For details, see CMS’ 2019 Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines Section 40.7 – Prohibition of Open Enrollment Period Marketing.
OEP
Dos
and
Don
'ts
During OEP You May Not During OEP You May Call or otherwise contact former enrollees who have selected a new plan during the AEP.
Market to age-ins (who have not yet made an enrollment decision).
Specifically target beneficiaries who are in the OEP because they made a choice during AEP, by purchase of mailing lists or other means of identification.
Market to dual-eligible and low-income subsidy (LIS) beneficiaries who, in general, may make changes once per calendar quarter during the first nine months of the year.
Engage in or promote agent/broker activities that intend to target the OEP as an opportunity to make further sales.
At a beneficiary’s proactive request, send marketing materials, have one-on-one meetings, and provide information on the OEP.
Send unsolicited materials advertising the ability/opportunity to make an additional enrollment change or referencing the OEP.
Related: The 10 Ways You Are Not Compliant When Selling Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage Trends There has never been a better time to sell Medicare Advantage. There are more enrollees than ever and more plans to choose from than in any year since 2009.
National Contracting Center • NCCAgent.com • 800-695-0280 5
Medicare Advantage 2019 Open Enrollment Period – THE NCC GUIDE
National Contracting Center • NCCAgent.com • 800-695-0280 6
Medicare Advantage 2019 Open Enrollment Period – THE NCC GUIDE
National Contracting Center • NCCAgent.com • 800-695-0280 7
Medicare Advantage 2019 Open Enrollment Period – THE NCC GUIDE
Products NCC Offers O
ur P
rodu
cts By Plan Type
Accident Expense Home Health
Annuities Hospital Indemnity
Cancer, Heart Attack, Stroke Life Insurance
Critical Illness Expense Long Term Care
Dental, Hearing, Vision Medicare Advantage
Disability Medicare PDP Part D
Final Expense Medicare Supplement
Our
Pro
duct
s
By Carrier
AIG Manhattan Life
Aetna Kemper
Amerigroup Liberty Bankers
Assurity Mutual of Omaha
Central States Indemnity (CSI) National Guardian Life (NGL)
Christian Fidelity (CFLIC) New Era PALIC
Cigna Occidental Life
Cigna-HealthSpring Oxford Life Insurance Company
Clover Health Pekin Life Insurance
Columbian Life Phoenix Life
Combined Medicare Supplement S.USA
Companion Life Shenandoah Life
EnvisionRxPlus PDP SilverScript
Equitable Life Standard Life and Casualty
Gateway Health Thrivent Financial
Gerber Life Insurance Company Transamerica Life
Greek Catholic Union (GCU) United American
Guarantee Trust Life (GTL) United Home Life
Humana UnitedHealthcare
Individual Assurance Company WellCare Health Plans
Medico Western Catholic Union
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Medicare Advantage 2019 Open Enrollment Period – THE NCC GUIDE
About National Contracting Center National Contracting Center is an insurance Field Marketing Organization (FMO, also known as an IMO, VMO or NMO). Founded in 1992, we have helped thousands of independent insurance agents and agencies to grow their sales of Medicare and senior health and financial products.
What We Do for You Marketing and lead generation Sales and compliance training Supplies and product information Questions about carriers and commissions Back office support so you can focus on selling Contracting and licensing
We Know the Business Because We’re in the Business National Contracting Center is the kind of FMO that every agent wants, because an agent designed it. Jerold Johnson created NCC to be a different kind of FMO. He started selling insurance in 1983 and founded NCC in 1992. The readers of City View magazine have named Jerold “Best Insurance Agent in Knoxville” every year from 2014 to 2018.
NCC was built by an agent, we're here for agents, and many members of our staff are agents themselves. Our team of insurance pros deliver the advice, answers, and services our clients need. In other words, we do all the things that take time that don’t make money. That frees you to focus on selling.
NCCAgent.com Contact Us 800-695-0280 100 Glenleigh Ct. Knoxville, TN 37934