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Cigna | CSB Update: Have seen our latest Med Supp product updates?

Cigna | CSB Update: Have seen our latest Med Supp product updates?

Cigna | CSB Update: Have seen our latest Med Supp product updates?
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CSB Update

Timely news from Cigna Healthcare Supplemental Benefits

Have we got news for you!

Happy Summer! Get ready: The inaugural edition of Broker Insights, a monthly digest for all of our Medicare brokers, will launch on August 29, and will come to you every fourth Thursday! The first issue will focus on the tools and information you need for a successful AEP in a quick highlights format. You’ll continue to see the CSB Update on the second Thursday of each month.

We’re thrilled to bring you this new resource and look forward to hearing your thoughts on it this fall. And as always, we thank you for your partnership!

Be sure to check CignaforBrokers > My Messages often, as we frequently post essential training, tool and other updates there.

Did you know?

A new Medicare Supplement (Med Supp) product resource is now available! Go to Cignaforbrokers > Resource Center > Product Info/Center to view product launches by state, including all associated materials (application, brochure, and Outline of Coverage/Rates).

This comprehensive page also includes links to our Product Availability chart, Agent Guide, Declinable Drug List and Height and Weight Chart – all current Med Supp essentials in one handy spot.

Updates and action items

Announcing a new Med Supp product in Montana

Get ready for improved rates and value in Montana (MT)! Cigna National Health Insurance Company is launching on July 22. Get everything you need to start selling then here.

Please note: CHLIC MT will no longer be available for sale as of August 9, 2024. Applications must be signed by August 8, 2024, and in our office by August 23, 2024.

Cross-selling to boost retention

Want to up your customer retention game? As cited in this email, when customers own two or more policies, they are more loyal than if they own just one!

Listening to your customers’ needs, combined with learning more about and how to cross-sell all Cigna Medicare products, may increase the likelihood of meeting your customer retention goals.

Medicare Advantage Certification is live

2025 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan certification is up and ready to go! Visit Producers’ University directly or via Cignaforbrokers (with the appropriate login) to get started.

This email includes a wealth of information on breezing through certification requirements, including:

  • What to expect in this year’s certification
  • Your easy path to 2025 certification
  • Other highlights

Get certified and get ready for AEP selling opportunities!

The CHLIC transition

As a reminder, the Cigna Healthcare CHLIC Transition broker information page is now on Cignaforbrokers > Resource Center > Product Info/Center (and is also available here). We’re keeping this page up to date with FAQs, consent periods by state, on-demand trainings in English and Spanish and with samples of state policyholder Notice of Transfer packets and second/reminder notices as mailed.

Have questions that this page doesn’t cover? Contact the ARC at the number below. 

State updates

The following Medicare Supplement insurance and Supplemental Health plans are experiencing rate adjustments in the noted charter(s) and states:

Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC)

7/1/24: Nebraska, Washington

8/1/24: New Mexico (Rate Hold: High F), Rhode Island (Rate Hold: High F), West Virginia (Rate hold: High F)

Cigna National Health Insurance Company (CNHIC)

7/1/24: Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi (Rate hold: High G), North Carolina (Rate hold: A), Wisconsin

8/1/2024: Alabama, Connecticut (Rate hold: all plans), Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota, Utah

Flexible Choice Dental, Vision and Hearing 

7/1/24: Mississippi

Trainings and webinars

Visit CignaforBrokers >Training for comprehensive training information and links, including pre-recorded webinars designed for your convenience. Remember: You’ll need your Producers’ University login to access.

Helpful links and resources

CignaforBrokers

(log in for access)

Express App

(log in for access)

Phone

The Agent Resource Center (ARC)

877-454-0923

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM CT

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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Anthem | FTC Amended Telemarketing Sales RuleAnthem

Anthem | FTC Amended Telemarketing Sales RuleAnthem

Anthem | FTC Amended Telemarketing Sales RuleAnthem
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New Telemarketing Sales Rule Requirements

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has amended the Telemarketing Sales Rule to impose some additional record-keeping and prior-express-written consent requirements.

Here is a quick walkthrough of some of the primary new legal requirements for telemarketing:

  1. Telemarketing records must be retained for 5 years, including vendor contracts, scripts, and promotional materials (Sections 310.5(a)(1) and 310.5(a)(9)).
  2. Consent records for sales calls must encompass name, phone number, a copy of the consent request in the same format it was given to the consumer, the purpose/scope of the request, a copy of the consent provided, and the date consent was given.
  3. For sales calls that require prior express written consent, the consent will need to identify the specific seller(s) for whom consent is being given by their legal name, as well as brand names if needed to ensure the consumer is aware of which entity they are giving consent to. For calls on behalf of Elevance Health-affiliated plans or advertising one of our plans, the consent request should name Elevance Health Inc. and its subsidiaries, including the specific local affiliate brand and its legal name whose plans are being marketed.
  4. As of October 15, 2024, telemarketers are required to preserve call detail records for sales calls. The call detail records must include all of the items set out in Section 310.5(a)(2).

We thank you in advance for acquainting yourself with these requirements. Please share this information with your internal teams as needed. The FTC’s explanation of the changes and full amended rule can be found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-04-16/pdf/2024-07180.pdf.

IMPORTANT REMINDER Agencies that sell Medicare Advantage plans should already be keeping selling and marketing materials, scripts, and tapes for 10 years and should continue to do so per CMS regulations as summarized here: agent-broker-marketing-faqs-10-19-2022.pdf (cms.gov).

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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2025 Medicare Advantage Commissions

2025 Medicare Advantage Commissions

2025 Medicare Advantage Commissions
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2025 Medicare Advantage Commissions have been announced. Commission increases will take place for 2025 Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D sales per the announcement by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, (CMS).  Click here for document.

We know from the 2025 Final Rule that the FMV compensation was increasing by $100/$50. The 2025 compensation also includes the annual adjustment.  Also, PDP compensation is increasing by $100/$50 which will have wide-ranging impacts on the plans.

FOR CA, AND NJ

  • Initial MA commissions increased from $762/member/year to $880/member/year.
  • Renewal commissions increased from $381/member/year to $440/member/year.

FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

  • Initial MA commissions increased from $418/member/year to $528/member/year.
  • Renewal commissions increased from $209/member/year to $264/member/year.

In all other states, initial MA commissions increased from $611/member/year to $726/member/year. Renewal commissions increased from $306/member/year to $363/member/year.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

vice President of Marketing

Contact a Pinnacle Representative if you have any questions.

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

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Contact a Pinnacle Financial Service representative today for assistance.

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Cigna | CSB Update: Have seen our latest Med Supp product updates?

Cigna | CHLIC transition beginning for policyholders in Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, and Tennessee

Cigna | CHLIC transition beginning for policyholders in Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, and Tennessee
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Announcing the CHLIC transition in Iowa, Maryland, Louisiana and Tennessee.

What you and your customers need to know.

The CHLIC transition is about to begin in Iowa (IA), Louisiana (LA), Maryland (MD) and Tennessee (TN). As referenced in this email, Cigna Healthcare Supplemental Benefits will mail Notice of Transfer packets to Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC) Medicare Supplement insurance policyholders; in these states, this will occur starting on July 2.

What this means to you

Once we have documented consent, we will begin the policy transfer process for CHLIC policyholders who reside in IA, LA, MD, and TN to MedCo Containment Life Insurance Company (MCLIC). As we will maintain all Agent of Record information with those policies, and as CHLIC is no longer available for sale in these states, this aspect of the CHLIC transition should be of minimal impact to you.

What this means for your customers

  •  Notification: The Notice of Transfer packets provide policyholders with information about the transition, including a mail-in response card to consent to or reject it. Please note: You may not provide consent on behalf of a policyholder but may encourage them to review their packet and return their consent response to ensure that it is recorded.
  • Consent rule: In IA, LA, MD and TN, policyholders have 90 days to consent to or reject the transition. If no response is received after 60 days, Cigna will issue a second notice. No response at 90 days is considered deemed consent. 
  • Transfer: When a policyholder’s consent response is received, we will store it and move their policy into a transfer queue. Once a policy has transferred from CHLIC to MCLIC, the policyholder will receive a Certificate of Assumption as a record of the transfer, and a new MCLIC ID card. There will be no interruption to service or changes in policy terms. Consent processing times may vary – watch for updates as referenced below.

Please note: Policyholder consent requirements are based on applicable regulations for the state of residence (vs. the state of policy issuance), to afford consumer protections of that state regarding consent to the transfer.

Need more information?

We’ve established a CHLIC transition broker information resource page just for you, containing:

  • FAQs, including the latest on consent processing timelines,
  • on-demand trainings, and
  • other Transition Updates, including sample state policyholder notices as issued.

Be sure to bookmark/Favorite this page for convenient access to this resource.

CHLIC transition broker information page

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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IBX | Dental Portfolio, Platform Transition Updates and Reminders, Copay Card Update, Medicare Business, NABIP Webcast

IBX | Dental Portfolio, Platform Transition Updates and Reminders, Copay Card Update, Medicare Business, NABIP Webcast

IBX | Dental Portfolio, Platform Transition Updates and Reminders, Copay Card Update, Medicare Business, NABIP Webcast
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FULLY INSURED GROUPS

New Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Dental available July 1

We are excited to announce the launch of our new dental portfolio and network, available to all fully insured group businesses.
FULL ARTICLE

PLATFORM TRANSITION

Updates and reminders for July renewals

As you prepare your July renewals to transition to our enhanced operating platform, please review these helpful updates and reminders.
FULL ARTICLE

Updates and reminders for August renewals

As you prepare your August renewals to transition to our enhanced operating platform, please review these helpful updates and reminders.
FULL ARTICLE

Temporary member ID cards for clients transitioning in July

For clients renewing in July, IBX will mail temporary ID cards to all members that will enable uninterrupted access to care for all members.
FULL ARTICLE

Sign up for our Platform Transition Training for Producers

To help ease the transition of migrating customers and answer questions around what to expect, we’ll be hosting a Platform Transition Training for Producers on the IBX Experience Series for Client Advisors. This training will air Thursday, June 27, at 10 a.m.
REGISTER

FULLY INSURED BUSINESS | RX

Enhanced Copay Card program issue and correction

We were recently informed of a coding issue related to the Enhanced Copay Card program. This issue has been resolved, and mailed outreach is occurring to impacted membership.
FULL ARTICLE

Enhanced Copay Card program issue and correction

June updates: Broker Kickoff, retail opportunity, webinar

Please review these important updates regarding our 2025 AEP Medicare Broker Kickoff, ShopRite retail opportunity, and Patina and Agent Methods webcast.
FULL ARTICLE

ALL SEGMENTS

Reminder: Join us for our live NABIP webcast event

On June 26 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., IBX will host a virtual event for NABIP to discuss the improvements and strategies of cost management in today’s health care market.
FULL ARTICLE

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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