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IBX | Inflation Reduction Act webinar and member benefit updates

IBX | Inflation Reduction Act webinar and member benefit updates

IBX | Inflation Reduction Act webinar and member benefit updates
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Inflation Reduction Act and member benefit updates

Inflation Reduction Act

Stay informed about the changes that will impact your clients and your business. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is intended to address key administrative priorities that will impact the climate, taxes, and health care. Independence Blue Cross (IBX) and our Medicare sales team are here to help and prepare you for the changes.

Medicare Meet-up

Please join us on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to learn more about the IRA, key changes made to Medicare Part D, what is the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MP3), how the Part D $2000 max out-of-pocket is administered, and your role in this sweeping change.

Register Today!

IBX is required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to diligently send communications to beneficiaries that can benefit from the changes made by the IRA. As members become aware of the changes, they are more acceptable to the changes when it comes time for retention and new enrollee conversations.

Member communication

Independence Health Rewards

Independence Health Rewards go live on April 1. This program makes it easy — and extra rewarding — to stay healthy for members on our Medicare Advantage plans. Members can start earning rewards by taking advantage of specific health and wellness activities from now until December 31, 2024.

Connect with your clients to remind them that you’re there for them and inform them how to get rewarded for staying healthy through Independence Health Rewards. Review the Independence Health Rewards program documents, which members received via direct mail.

GeoBlue

Many of your members and prospects now have more time, financial ability, and the desire to explore the world. So, they should have the option to protect themselves if they become sick or injured while traveling abroad by purchasing international health plans. GeoBlue provides peace of mind to world travelers and ex-pats living a global lifestyle by providing access to an elite network of providers, innovative mobile and online tools, the convenience of telemedicine tools, and exceptional customer service.

Through our connection with GeoBlue, you can get appointed today and provide your members the opportunity to shop individual products from GeoBlue for peace of mind while traveling.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@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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Devoted | Boost your sales with our marketing storefront

Devoted | Boost your sales with our marketing storefront

Devoted | Boost your sales with our marketing storefront
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Tools to help you win big

Don’t miss out on our marketing storefront. It has easy-to-use tools for your agency and agents to drive sales year-round – including co-branded assets that can be customized with your logo.

Visit the storefront now

Need access to our marketing storefront? Email us to sign up

Agency recruitment essentials

  • Flyers
  • Postcards
  • Emails
  • Social posts

Shop now >

Generate leads

  • FREE social media posts
  • Floor and table-top banners
  • Direct mail
  • Flyers
  • Rack cards
  • Print ads
  • A-frame signs and inserts

Shop now >

Get event tools

  • FREE Educational Presentations: Smart phones, mobility and fall prevention, diabetes, and more
  • BRC SOAs
  • Tablecloth & table runner
  • Event in a bag

Shop now >

Enjoy swag & subscriptions

  • Kaplan subscription
  • Branded wagon
  • And more

Shop now >

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@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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Wellcare | 48-Hour Scope of Appointment Rule Reminder

Wellcare | 48-Hour Scope of Appointment Rule Reminder

Wellcare | 48-Hour Scope of Appointment Rule Reminder
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Helping members make informed choices about their healthcare coverage is a win-win objective for all sales encounters. As a reminder, the 2024 CMS Final Rule outlines the requirement regarding a 48-hour waiting period between the signing of the Scope of Appointment (SOA) form and the actual meeting or call with the beneficiary. This period gives the beneficiary time to consult resources that help them make the best decisions regarding their coverage options.

The 48-hour waiting period went into effect September 30 and applies to all 2024 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan selling activities.

Exceptions to the 48-Hour Rule

CMS has identified two exceptions to the 48-hour rule:

  1. SOAs that are completed during the last four days of a valid election period (AEP, ICEP, IEP, SEP, MA OEP, etc.) for the beneficiary.
  2. Unscheduled in person meetings (walk-ins) initiated by the beneficiary, including inbound calls.

Guidelines for the 48-Hour Rule Application

Please take a few moments to review the guidelines for determining whether the 48-hour SOA applies and common scenarios providing more detail on determining the correct course of action:

Common Scenarios

A beneficiary calls you to inquire about a plan:

  • You conduct a telephonic presentation and enrollment, the 48-hour rule does not apply.
  • You schedule an in-home appointment, the 48-hour rule does apply.

A beneficiary approaches your informal event and wants information about the plan:

  • You meet with them in the moment, at the event, the 48-hour rule does notapply.
  • You schedule an in-home appointment with them, the 48-hour rule does apply.

A beneficiary approaches you at the end of your formal event and wants information about the plan:

  • You meet with them in the moment, at the event site, the 48-hour rule does notapply.
  • You schedule an in-home appointment with them, the 48-hour rule does apply.

You call a beneficiary from a lead provided by the plan (e.g. cross-sell lead), a Consent to Contact (C2C) card, or are returning a voicemail message:

  • You conduct a telephonic presentation and enrollment, the 48-hour rule does not apply.
  • You schedule an in-person appointment, the 48-hour rule does apply.

As a general rule, agents should not arrive at a beneficiary’s home to conduct a presentation without a Scope of Appointment having been captured at least 48 hours in advance.

Please reach out to your local Sales Leader should you have any questions about the 48-Hour SOA rule.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership!

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@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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Cigna | CSB Medicare Supplement insurance products now available on SunFire

Cigna | CSB Medicare Supplement insurance products now available on SunFire

Cigna | CSB Medicare Supplement insurance products now available on SunFire
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We’re now available on SunFire.

Compare, share, and enroll your customers with ease.

Great news! Cigna HealthcareSM Supplemental Benefits (CSB) Medicare Supplement (Med Supp) insurance products are now available as of today, April 12, on the SunFire Blaze and Blaze Connect platforms.*

What it is.

SunFire is a respected Medicare product quote and enroll platform that allows:

  • agents and customers to easily review and compare Medicare products from different companies.
  • for CSB agents, the ability to quote and enroll customers in CSB Med Supp plans using a custom, Express App-style platform. 

What this means for you.

  • Easily move from reviewing products to submitting an application.
  • SunFire has a familiar look and feel, as it is similar to Express App – just fill out the Med Supp application on the SunFire platform and SunFire will submit the application to Cigna Healthcare for review and issues.
  • Streamlined bundling capability to add a Cigna Healthcare Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) after completing the Med Supp application (if you are contracted and certified to sell PDP).
  • Convenient, in-platform reporting showing Med Supp enrollment breakdown for your agency.

Getting started. 

  • Contact your upline for access to the SunFire platform if you don’t already have a login.
  • If you have an existing login, access SunFire as you normally would. You’ll see that CSB Med Supp plans have been added into the flow.
  • Resources on SunFire include FAQs, New to Sunfire? “walk-throughs”, and announcements of new products and services.
    For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

    CallEmail

    Aetna | Colorado agents: Home Care Plus Insurance Plans now available

    Aetna | Colorado agents: Home Care Plus Insurance Plans now available

    Aetna | Colorado agents: Home Care Plus Insurance Plans now available
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    Your clients now have More Choices

    We’re excited to share that we now offer our Home Care Plus insuranceplans in Colorado.

    It’s easy to start selling
    Get quotes on the go, straight from your phone with our free mobile app. It’s easy to install the app on your mobile device from both the Apple App Store and the Android Play Store. Just search for “Quotes on the go.”

    Ready to submit an application? 
    You can use Aetna Quote & Enroll, our online application tool.

    Discover other states where
    Home Care Plus is available

    Note: The last application submission and signature date for the existing Home Care product in Colorado will be July 3, 2024.

    Because there’s no place like home

    Sometimes having the freedom to choose where, when, and how they recover from an unexpected accident or illness is all your client needs for comfort and peace of mind. 

    Home Care Plus pays benefits for medically necessary home care, like:

    • Physical therapy
    • Speech therapy
    • Respiratory therapy

    Choose a base plan:

    • Home care indemnity benefit* up to $1,500/week
    • Daily hospital indemnity up to $400

    Optional benefits:

    • Lump sum cancer fixed indemnity rider
    • Hospital emergency room visit or ambulance service

    Benefits are paid directly to the insured, unless assigned to a provider. 

    *At least $150/week of Home Care Indemnity must be purchased; At least $10/day of Daily Hospital Indemnity must be purchased with Home Care Indemnity benefit

    For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

    1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@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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    Aetna | Colorado agents: Home Care Plus Insurance Plans now available

    Aetna | Virginia agents: Hospital Indemnity Flex guaranteed acceptance now available

    Aetna | Virginia agents: Hospital Indemnity Flex guaranteed acceptance now available
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    Hospital Indemnity Flex guaranteed acceptance available in VA

    We now offer guaranteed acceptance to qualifying applicants for our Protection SeriesSM Hospital Indemnity Flex plans in Virginia. This addition brings our total to 39 states where guaranteed acceptance is available for this product.

    Discover other states where 
    Hospital Indemnity Flex is available

    Who qualifies for guaranteed acceptance?

    Applicants qualify for Guaranteed Acceptance if they apply for coverage anytime during the month in which they turn 64 1/2 and through the month in which they will turn age 68. 

    That means no health questions, medication or physician information will be required for this age group.*

    The application signature date is used to determine qualification.

    *Unless applying for the Lump Sum Cancer Rider. Section 3, question 10 is required for all applicants who select the Lump Sum Cancer Rider.

    We’ve updated our application and sales materials

    You can now order updated Hospital Indemnity Flex sales kits, which include the new application.

    For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

    CallEmail