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Medicare Text to Enroll

Medicare Text to Enroll

Medicare Text to Enroll
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Pinnacle Financial Services is proud to announce that our Connect4Medicare platform will offer a text to enroll feature for 2021 AEP! In these uncertain times with COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Pinnacle Financial Services recognizes we need to do everything in our power to help agents grow their business. Our business has changed in that the traditional face-to-face meetings have been limited or unable to be done (depending on your state). More and more carriers are trying to find ways for agents to see and enroll clients remotely to continue business as normal. This feature will allow you to do that and not narrow down your choices in what carrier you can use.

The only equipment your client needs is a smartphone. Basically, the agent sends a link via text message to the client. This text will include the scope of appointment (SOA), a pre-filled application, and an authorization code to access the enrollment. The client will type the code in and hit the view quote button. After entering the authorization code that was sent, the plan will be displayed for the client to agree to enroll in. After the client checks the box next to the policy, they then sign the signature page with a stylus, mouse, or finger. The last step is to hit the submit button, and the application is sent back to the agent to send on its way.

Pinnacle Financial Services wants to be your partner in your success! This new feature is simple, easy, and convenient for both you and the client.  Not to mention, Connect4Medicare is offered at no cost to any agent that contracts with us. Outside of the best technology in the industry, we offer exclusive lead programs, personalized support, and training, and all of the top contracts. Don’t wait before it’s too late. Join us at the top!

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | healthsales@pfsinsurance.com

Dustin Ofsharick

Dustin Ofsharick

Director of Sales - Health

x7706 | dofsharick@pfsinsurance.com

Contact a Pinnacle Representative if you have any questions.

1 (800) 772-6881
support@pfsinsurance.com

Contact Us

Contact a Pinnacle Financial Service representative today for assistance.

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Medicare Supplement vs Medicare Advantage

Medicare Supplement vs Medicare Advantage

Medicare Supplement vs Medicare Advantage
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There are over 10,000 people who are turning 65 every day. The decisions these seniors have to make can be stressful and have a lasting impact on their retirement. Thankfully, Pinnacle Financial Services has the tools available to help you guide your clients through this process. There is a great difference between Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug plan options that are available to your clients. Let’s discuss the primary differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans.  

Medicare Supplement plans, which are also known as Medigap plans, is defined as a plan meant to supplement Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and are sold by private companies. Medicare Supplements plans may even cover services that Original Medicare does not, like travel outside the United States. These plans have no network, so your client is able to see any doctor in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. Plan options can range anywhere from a plan A to a plan N , which will vary on a state by state basis. There is a premium associated with these options, which does not include your Part B premium, and they do not have drug coverage built-in.

Outside of Special Election Periods (SEPs) or new to Medicare clients, there is an underwriting process much like life insurance that your client would need to pass in order to qualify for coverage. There are no enrollment periods for Medicare Supplements and clients can enroll at any time if they can pass the medical underwriting. Medicare Supplements give your clients peace of mind by paying more upfront in premiums while having less exposure to medical expenses like in-patient hospital copayments.

Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Part C, are defined as a Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide your client with all of their Part A and B benefits. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer Part D, known as MAPD, while also adding extra benefits like dental, vision, and hearing. Medicare Advantage premiums can be as low as $0 while having varying forms of copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Options for these plans can vary by state, but the 2 most popular options are HMO and PPOs. Typically, these will have some form of a network that you will be subject to follow, as well as a service area. While there can be more upfront liability to customers due to the many forms of cost-sharing, Medicare Advantage plans do have a maximum out-of-pocket limit, which varies by plan and state, that will protect your clients from spending over a certain amount per year.

Pinnacle Financial Services has an abundant amount of technology that is available to all of our agents that will not only help quote your clients but also allow you to enroll them electronically over the phone. If you are struggling getting leads, we can help you there too. We have many Medicare orientated lead options including a guaranteed return lead mailer that we have agents using all across the country. Our back-office support can help you with any of your submitted cases while you continue to focus your efforts on getting sales. Tired of working with an upline that makes promises they can’t keep? Partner with Pinnacle Financial Services today – you won’t regret it.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@pfsinsurance.com

Dustin Ofsharick

Dustin Ofsharick

Director of Sales - Health

x7706 | dofsharick@pfsinsurance.com

Contact a Pinnacle Representative if you have any questions.

1 (800) 772-6881
support@pfsinsurance.com

Contact Us

Contact a Pinnacle Financial Service representative today for assistance.

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Medicare Electronic Scope of Appointment

Medicare Electronic Scope of Appointment

Medicare Electronic Scope of Appointment
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When selling Medicare Advantage an agent needs to obtain a scope of appointment (SOA) prior to discussing any plan information. What is a scope of appointment? A scope of appointment is a form that an agent must have a Medicare beneficiary complete, prior to an appointment, designating exactly what products they wish to discuss. You may obtain a scope of appointment in various ways. One way is through a generic paper form, approved by CMS, that all carriers must recognize. You can also use carrier-specific forms as well. The other option, which has grown in popularity over the years, is electronic or e-scopes.

An e-scope is basically a digitized version of the paper scope. Depending on the program, these setups can vary, but all must follow and be approved by CMS. These can be emailed and signed by the client at their leisure. At Pinnacle Financial Services, we always recommend using a generic scope if possible (link here). Generic scopes typically have other cross-selling opportunities listed, like hospital indemnity products, that can be sold during a Medicare appointment.

To set the bar higher, Pinnacle Financial Services has an online enrollment system called Connect4Medicare. Connect4Medicare allows you to enroll clients into Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and even Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) electronically all in one place. This software even has an e-scope built-in. Agents that contract with Pinnacle Financial Services receives access to this for free- no hidden fees! Instead of using each carrier website with numerous logins, it is all condensed into one convenient site.

With the current restrictions on our country with the Coronavirus hindering our ability to be around people, electronic platforms will become extremely detrimental to business. For the e-scope, all the client needs are an email address for the scope to be sent to and to e-sign. You can also have them sign it in person for a face to face visit as well!

Partner with Pinnacle Financial Services to get access to all these great tools and more!

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@pfsinsurance.com

Dustin Ofsharick

Dustin Ofsharick

Director of Sales - Health

x7706 | dofsharick@pfsinsurance.com

Contact a Pinnacle Representative if you have any questions.

1 (800) 772-6881
support@pfsinsurance.com

Contact Us

Contact a Pinnacle Financial Service representative today for assistance.

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2020 Medicare Part D Donut Hole

2020 Medicare Part D Donut Hole

2020 Medicare Part D Donut Hole

When you think “donut hole”, its generally about the food you eat, instead of an extremely important issue with your Medicare health insurance coverage.

So what is the 2020 Medicare Part D donut hole? Many clients wonder how to identify a donut hole, and when they’ll enter one. The team at Pinnacle Finanical Services is here to answer these questions, and help agents understand all the different parts of Medicare, including these non-edible pastries.

The “donut hole”, also known as Coverage Gap, is used to describe a gap or pause in Medicare Part D, (Prescription Drug Coverage.)

The first item to consider with Medicare Part D, is called the deductible period. Some Medicare Part D plans have a deductible, which is the amount of money to spend on covered drugs before plan coverage starts. After meeting the deductible, Part D helps pay for all of the covered drugs for the rest of the year. The 2020 CMS-allowed deductible maximum is $435.00 for any Medicare Part D plan.

The next piece to consider is called the initial coverage period. After the Part D deductible is met, clients will enter the this stage. In the initial coverage period, clients pay a co-payment or co-insurance for covered medications. These amounts will vary depending on the drug formulary.

After $4,020 is spent for total prescription drug costs, in 2020 clients enter the donut hole gap. In 2020, they will pay no more than 25% of the price for brand name and generic drugs. Clients will stay in the donut hole until they have a total prescription drug cost of $6,350. After clients reach the $6,350, they enter the final catastrophic stage. In this, clients will only pay a small co-insurance or co-payment for their covered drugs for the rest of the year.

Pinnacle Financial Services offers a great online enrollment tool, Connect4Medicare. Tied to an agent’s NPN, this software will allow Pinnacle agents to easily compare Medicare plan options, quotes, and enroll clients in one easy-to-use system. Additionally, agents will still get paid full commissions, and be the agent of record.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Representative today at 1-(800)-772-6881 x7731 or email healthsales@pfsinsurance.com.

Dustin Ofsharick

Dustin Ofsharick

Director of Sales - Health

1 (800) 772-6881 x7706
dofsharick@pfsinsurance.com

Contact a Pinnacle Representative if you have any questions.

1 (800) 772-6881
support@pfsinsurance.com

Contact Us

Contact a Pinnacle Financial Service representative today for assistance.

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Medicare Supplement Underwriting

Medicare Supplement Underwriting

Medicare Supplement Underwriting

Two of the biggest questions when considering a Medicare supplement plan are, do I need to go through Medical underwriting and if so can I pass the underwriting guidelines. Medicare Supplement Underwriting is a process where insurance companies obtain information about your physical and mental health along with your medical history to determine if you will be approved or denied for a Medicare supplement policy.

So who needs underwriting? Clients who have passed there open enrollment period may have to go through underwriting. Clients that may want to switch Medicare supplement plans because of various reasons may have to go through Medical underwriting as well. Each carrier has a different process for underwriting. Some carriers may approve a client even if they have a pre-existing condition but may be at a higher monthly premium. Pinnacle Financial Services can help you obtain these underwriting guides for each carrier you are appointed with.

How do I bypass underwriting? If a client is in their Medigap Open Enrollment Period they can enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan without underwriting and not be charged a higher rate for health conditions. Another way is a special election period that can be triggered by moving to a state that does not have the carrier plan or a carry pulls the plan from the service area.

Pinnacle Financial Services is your one stop shop for all the top Medicare Supplement carriers. We take care of all the back office support that includes getting you appointed with the carriers, scrubbing and processing your applications, and tracking the applications all the way to the carrier until you are paid! Call today to find out what Medicare Supplement carriers are available in your area.

For more information on insurance agent E&O coverage, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services sales director.

Dustin Ofsharick

Dustin Ofsharick

Director of Sales - Health

x7706 | dofsharick@pfsinsurance.com

Contact Us

Contact a Pinnacle Financial Service representative today for assistance.

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