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What is Aetna’s Think Agent?

What is Aetna’s Think Agent?

What is Aetna’s Think Agent?
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As of March 31st, 2022, Aetna has discontinued use of the Ascend platform and moved to an entirely new enrollment platform called “Think Agent”. Think Agent is a new electronic enrollment app that offers an optimized enrollment experience for you and your clients. You can use the website version on your laptop or computer, or you can download the app version to use Think Agent on any mobile device, including cell phones.

Think Agent Features include:

  • Full enrollment capabilities
  • Offline enrollment intake
  • Integrated MBI validation
  • Medicaid status check
  • Health Risk Assessment (HRA) available
  • E-kit (email) enrollment option
  • Scope of Appointment via email and text
  • Provider search
  • Drug cost estimator tool
  • Ready-to-sell status verification

How To Get Think Agent:

Step #1: Request access
Once you’re ready to sell, you can download the Think Agent app from the Apple and Google Play stores. It’s compatible with Android 5 or greater, version 11; or IOS 11.0 or greater, version 14.5. After downloading, click “Sign Up” to submit your request for a new user account.

Or, if you wish to use the desktop version instead, please visit https://app.thinkagent.com, and click “Sign Up.” You will be asked to provide your name, National Producer Number, and email address.

Step #2: Complete your registration
Please allow 24-48 hours for us to process your request. Next, you’ll receive two registration emails:

  • The first email will contain your username to log in to Think Agent.
  • The second email will contain your PIN. You’ll need it to finish setting up your account.

After receiving both registration emails:

  • Log in using your username.
  • Enter your PIN (note that the PIN is case sensitive) and click “Validate.”
  • Create a password.
  • Choose a security question from the drop-down,

type an answer, and click “Submit.”

Ascend was disabled on March 31st. If you have not downloaded the Think Agent application, you need to do so as soon as possible. There are still national training webinars ongoing, so be sure to get out to the training site, www.aetnamedicareagenttraining.com to RSVP for one that is convenient for you

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

Nick Palo

Nick Palo

Assistant Vice President - Health

x7728 | npalo@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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The Best Hospital Indemnity Plan to Sell During AEP

The Best Hospital Indemnity Plan to Sell During AEP

The Best Hospital Indemnity Plan to Sell During AEP
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The best hospital indemnity plans to sell during AEP without question would be GTL’s Advantage Plus and the new Advantage Plus Elite. Hospital Indemnity Plans are a critical product in every Medicare agent’s portfolio. Pinnacle offers regular webinars teaching agents how to properly add a Hospital Indemnity Plan to the sale of a Medicare Advantage plan in order to cover the many out-of-pocket expenses their client can incur.

What is a Hospital Indemnity Plan?

Hospital indemnity insurance is a supplemental insurance plan designed to pay for the costs of hospital admission that may not be covered by other insurance. The plan covers clients who are admitted to a hospital or ICU for a covered sickness or injury. Hospital Indemnity Plans or “HIP” can be especially critical for seniors as many seniors especially the DSNP population do not have enough savings to cover unplanned medical bills. These plans pay cash directly to the client regardless of whether they end up incurring the out-of-pocket expense or not. The payments can be used for anything the client deems necessary such as copays, deductibles, or even things such as transportation, food, rent, or utilities.

Why You Should Sell GTL’s Advantage Plus:

  • Easy to use E-app
  • Guaranteed Issue Ages 64 ½ – 65 ½
  • 1, 3, 6, 10 & 21 day benefit periods available
  • $100 to $750 daily hospital confinement benefit
  • 60-day restoration of benefits
  • Hospital observations covered
  • Lump-sum cancer rider
  • Dental/vision rider
  • Additional lump sum hospital rider
  • Ambulance rider
  • Guaranteed renewable for life as long as premiums are paid
  • Skilled nursing rider

Help Your Clients & Get Paid During AEP:

Doing what’s best for your clients should always be your top priority. But it sure is nice when doing what’s best can also benefit you, especially during the busiest time of the year for a Medicare agent. GTL pays one of, if not the highest commission in the industry on their hospital indemnity plans, and the best part…. They pay all throughout AEP!! Reach out to your marketer today to find out more about how to get licensed to sell GTL’s Advantage Plus products.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

Nick Palo

Nick Palo

Assistant Vice President | Health

x7728 | npalo@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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What is the Best E&O Insurance

What is the Best E&O Insurance

What is the Best E&O Insurance
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What is the Best E&O Insurance?

Errors & Omissions insurance from carriers like Calsurance or NAPA protect insurance agents (and other professionals) from any actions that might make them liable against claims of negligence or failing to perform their duties. An important question to ask is, what is the best E&O insurance? The purpose is to protect you and your assets from lawsuits should a claim ever arise. Examples of what an E&O policy could cover are:

  • Work Mistakes and oversights
  • Undelivered services
  • Accusations of negligence
  • Missed Deadlines
  • Customer injuries or property damage
  • Employee Injuries
  • Employee discrimination lawsuits
  • Damage to Business Property
  • Attorney costs & Damages awarded to plaintiff

Some things that may not be covered are circumstances where an agent willingly was fraudulent or deceitful. Essentially, as you could imagine the policy will not cover any type of illegal activity. One thing to note is E&O also does not cover any penalties regarding unapproved marketing materials. If you decide to utilize custom marketing pieces that are not previously approved, make sure to reach out to Pinnacle’s compliance team to assist with getting materials approved by a carrier or CMS.

Things to Know Before Choosing Your Policy

There are different types of coverage required for agents depending on the types of products you offer to your clients.

Life & Health Insurance Agents E&O: Errors & Omissions insurance is for those who offer life and health policies, including disability insurance coverage. These E&O plans can be further broken down into coverage for newly licensed agents and experienced agents.

Medicare Only Life & Health Agents E&O: If an agent specializes in offering only Medicare insurance plans—such as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement insurance, and/or Medicare Part D prescription drug plans—Errors & Omissions coverage can be purchased for this area only, which can help to keep the premium low and prevent you from paying for coverage that you do not need.

Property & Casualty E&O: This coverage is not required for any products Pinnacle offers but is another option that agents should be looking at as a lot of our agents do offer these products. Calsurance & NAPA both offer this coverage.

How Much E&O Insurance Protection Do You Need?

When choosing an Errors & Omissions policy, it is important to determine how much coverage you may require. In doing so, you should first examine your current financial situation in terms of the assets you own, along with the income you earn. In this case, consider what you could stand to lose in the event of being sued by a client.

It is also important to consider the services that you perform, and approximately how many transactions you do each year. For instance, if you perform the same action(s) for many years—not knowing that it was wrong—and then you get sued by multiple clients, how much could you lose in total? In this instance, be sure that you factor in this additional potential risk.

Pinnacle’s Discounted E&O Coverage for Agents

Pinnacle has taken the time to shop E&O carriers for you and negotiated the best discount available through Calsurance. In most cases the discount Pinnacle has setup for their agents should be the best deal you will find. In certain instances for brand new agents or agents who are within their first two years and are earning less than $100,000/year in commissions NAPA has a program that may be a little more affordable. Calsurance has been the most common choice for most agents offering Medicare & Life products. Their 1MM/1MM policy is only $400 per year and covers the standard requirements for most carriers and products. You can browse the specimen policies and different coverage options on Pinnacle’s site here. If you need any assistance in enrolling or choosing the correct policy for your needs reach out to your Pinnacle Marketer today!

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

Nick Palo

Nick Palo

Assistant Vice President0 - Health

x7728 | npalo@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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Selling Medicare Over the Phone

Selling Medicare Over the Phone

Selling Medicare Over the Phone
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Selling Medicare over the phone has quickly become the “new normal” in our field since the COVID pandemic began. For some agents this has been a major adjustment to their normal way of doing business and meeting clients face to face. The good news is Pinnacle Financial Services has every carrier and resource available in the market today to help you effectively sell Medicare products over the phone.

Be Prepared

When COVID-19 hit, a bulk of Pinnacle’s agents were ahead of the curve because they had already been trained and were using at least one of Pinnacle’s TWO Medicare Online Enrollment Platforms, Connecture or Sunfire. These two platforms have been a complete game changer for telephonic sales. Both allow the agent to write applications in person or remotely with multiple signature options including the Text to Sign feature. This feature allows an agent to send a scope to a client via text as well as the capability to simply text the client after the application has been completed for the signature. Along with the Agent guided enrollments, both platforms offer agents a “PURL”. A PURL is a consumer facing website which allows the client to browse, compare and enroll in plans unassisted. Every application that is submitted through your PURL goes directly to the carrier and the agent is paid on the application as they would any other.

Create New Sales Opportunities

While a lot of agents had to adjust to no longer having Face to face appointments, they also began seeing opportunities they never considered. Now there were no limits to where your clients could be located. If you were selling in a certain county or two now, you are open to the entire state or multiple states. While a lot of grass roots opportunities took a hit, being able to market to an entire state or multiple states without having any travel time opened its own set of opportunity. Pinnacle has various lead programs to support agents selling over the phone which were able to supply them with a stream of leads to maximize their production

Where to Start

You want to start by making sure all your contracts and appointments are in order. Reach out to your Marketer to help create a business plan. If you are expanding into new counties or states, they will be able to guide you to which contracts and products you should be offering. Your marketer is your best resource, do not be afraid to use them. If you are not up to speed on the online enrollment tools or how to sell compliantly they will do one on one training until you’re comfortable to begin selling over the phone. They will also train you on any relevant carrier enrollment options such as UnitedHealthcare’s voice signature feature. Take a look at Pinnacle’s Virtual office and reach out to your marketer today to get selling over the phone!

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

Nick Palo

Nick Palo

Author Position

x7728 | npalo@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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How to Become a Medicare Insurance Agent

How to Become a Medicare Insurance Agent

How to Become a Medicare Insurance Agent
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Interested in getting into the Medicare insurance business? We can show you how to become a Medicare Insurance Agent. The process can be a bit daunting at first however if you align yourself with the proper upline the experience should be nice and smooth. Whether transitioning from a different line of insurance or starting off new to the business entirely, Pinnacle Financial Services has you covered.

Being a Medicare Insurance Agent at a Glance

Being a Medicare Insurance Agent can be extremely rewarding personally, professionally as well as financially. Being a Medicare Insurance Agent can certainly be a very lucrative position however that should come secondary to your primary objective which is helping seniors. Below we are going to go through the steps you need to take in order to become a Medicare Insurance Agent.

Get Your Health Insurance License

Most states have testing centers and classes you can attend to prior such as…

AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans)

AHIP is a series of Medicare training courses that are required to ensure you know how to sell plans in a way that is compliant with up-to-date CMS (Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services) regulations.

Errors & Omissions insurance

Errors & Omissions Insurance covers exactly what it says. It will cover the cost of a lawsuit if a client claims your work was inaccurate, late, or never delivered. Pinnacle Financial Services has a deal set up for their agents to obtain E&O through Calsurance at a discounted rate.

Aligning with an Industry Leading FMO/NMA

Pinnacle Financial Services has become the leading FMO/NMA in senior market products. They offer top contracts for every agent and agency and are the only FMO to offer BOTH Medicare online enrollment platforms available right now. They offer top-notch back office support along with various different lead programs & co-opping. With over 150 carriers available, Pinnacle should have a carrier and product for every need. Did we mention they do Life, Annuities, and LTC as well? Regardless of your need, when it comes to the senior market Pinnacle is your one-stop-shop for all your insurance needs. Click here to see Pinnacle’s full product line. Reach out to a marketer to go over the different products and lead programs available in your area.

Get Contracted and appointed with the Top Carriers in your area

Getting contracted and appointed is your next step. With all of the carriers and products out there it can be tough to determine what carriers you will actually need when you’re in the field. This is where working with your marketer becomes most important. A Marketer will sit down with you and help you identify all of the products you need for your market. They will help you build a business and marketing plan as well as help you determine which lead programs you would like to start with. Your marketer is one of your keys to success especially when you are starting out. To find one of Pinnacle’s marketers click here.

Complete carrier certifications

In the Medicare Advantage world along with your AHIP, most carriers require their own certifications in order to be able to sell their products. Pinnacle has excellent resources to make this as easy and painless as possible. Every carrier tends to do things just a little differently so Pinnacle created a portal for agents to access that has guides and tutorials that walk them through the process.

Circle back around with your Marketer

At this point, you should be officially ready to sell! Now is a good time to circle back around with your marketer and confirm all of the carriers are ready to sell and your marketing plan is ready to go. This is a good point to determine your goals along with discussing Co-op with your marketer. Should you feel like you still need a little more training, Pinnacle has you covered there. They have an education section on their website along with a Director of Agent training who will personally make sure you are comfortable and confident prior to going out to sell. Reach out to a marketer today to get started.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

Nick Palo

Nick Palo

Assistant Vice President - Health

x7728 | npalo@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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