American Equity | The Two Most Important Traits in a Retirement Product

American Equity | The Two Most Important Traits in a Retirement Product

American Equity | The Two Most Important Traits in a Retirement Product
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June is National Annuity Awareness Month.

Achieving retirement income goals

“Guaranteed income each month” and “will not lose principal” are two of the most important traits surveyed consumers say they want in a retirement product.¹

Discover the benefits of fixed index annuities
Whether your clients are looking for growth potential or a paycheck for life, fixed index annuities can help provide the benefits of:

  • Principal protection from index volatility
  • Tax-deferred growth*
  • Diverse index-linked crediting options
  • Guaranteed lifetime income

Utilize our resources to help clients achieve their long-term retirement income goals.

¹ Insured Retirement Industry, “State of the Insured Retirement Industry: 2019 Review and 2020 Outlook,” February 2020.

*Assumes contract is individually owned.

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.

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support@pfsinsurance.com

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Protective | Know What Matters May: Accelerate your business with Protective Velocity

Protective | Know What Matters May: Accelerate your business with Protective Velocity

Protective | Know What Matters May: Accelerate your business with Protective Velocity
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From application submission to the sales commission, Protective Velocity – our suite of the digital solutions – makes it easier and quicker to do business with us. Continue reading to learn about recent enhancements and improvements to the annuity pending business dashboard and updated EPD client timeline.

View new sharable resources from the Help Protect Our Families campaign

The Help Protect Our Families campaign aims to provide carriers and distributors with the information and resources they need to educate consumers and ensure they get the life insurance protection they and their families need. Here’s how you can help.

Remember the Initial Premium Acceptance Rules as you continue through 2021

Keep your business going strong in 2021 by making sure your cases are efficiently pushed through our new business process. For a full set of guidelines, review our Initial Premium Acceptance Rules.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

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

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

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Great American | Best Interest Standard coming to multiple states

Great American | Best Interest Standard coming to multiple states

Great American | Best Interest Standard coming to multiple states
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The following states recently adopted the new NAIC Best Interest Standard:

  • Delaware: Effective August 1, 2021
  • Idaho: Effective July 1, 2021
  • Michigan: Effective June 29, 2021
  • Ohio: Effective February 14, 2021
  • Nebraska: Effective April 6, 2021

Producers who completed a four-credit training course before the effective date must complete one of the following within six months of the effective date:

  • A new four-credit training course; or
  • A one-credit training that covers the new standards and requirements.

Producers who did not complete a four-credit training course before the effective date must do so prior to their first sale.

Please visit our Best Interest Resource Center for more information.

Updated CFDs

As part of the Best Interest Standard updated Client Financial Disclosures (CFDs) are available to help you capture all required client data, identify the annuity that best addresses the client’s unique needs and then document the basis for the recommendation.

We will continue to accept the previous versions through June 19, 2021. If a previous version is submitted after this date, paperwork will be considered Not In Good Order (NIGO) and could result in processing delays.

Please note:

  • All producers on the application must complete the Producer’s Statement(s) section of the CFDs.
  • There are separate CFD versions for contracts owned by an irrevocable trust.

The updated forms will be available on our electronic platforms prior to the NIGO date.

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

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Humana | 2021 Compliance Communication – Insulin Savings Program (ISP)

Humana | 2021 Compliance Communication – Insulin Savings Program (ISP)

Humana | 2021 Compliance Communication – Insulin Savings Program (ISP)
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The Insulin Savings Program

Humana is excited to participate in the CMS Part D Senior Savings Model through our Insulin Savings Program (ISP).  This program allows for affordable, predictable insulin costs and builds on Humana’s Bold Goal of improving the clinical and social health outcomes of our members.

It is important for licensed sales agents to understand how the Insulin Savings Program works, who is eligible, and what Humana plans to participate in the program. Failure to properly explain aspects of the Insulin Savings Program can lead to member complaints to both Humana and Medicare as well as corrective action, member dis enrollment from the plan, and/or potential commission chargebacks.

The Part D Senior Savings Model

It is important for agents to understand that CMS requires that the Insulin Savings Program is first introduced as the “Part D Senior Savings Model”.  When speaking to members or prospective members, licensed sales agents must introduce this program as “The Part D Senior Savings Model”, which Humana calls the Insulin Savings Program, and may then refer to the program as the Insulin Savings Program throughout the remainder of the presentation.

How the Insulin Savings Program Works

There are 25 select insulins on the ISP formulary which are manufactured by Novo and Sanofi.  Participating insulins will be listed within the Rx Calculator with the Insulin Savings Program listed as one of their parameters.

For each select insulin, eligible members will automatically pay no more than:

  •  $35.00 for a 1-30-day supply,
  • $70 for a 31-60 day supply, and
  • $105.00 for a 61-90-day supply. 

This price extends through the first three stages of the Part D prescription drug benefit (deductible, initial coverage and coverage gap). Note: Because insulin pens and vials are sold in specific package sizes that cannot be broken apart (e.g. 5 pens per box), the member may not be able to get an exact 30-day or 90-day supply based on how much they use each day.

Insulins administered with a pump are NOT ELIGIBLE because they are paid through the Part B benefit.

Who is Eligible for the Insulin Savings Program

All Medicare enrollees on participating plans (except those on a Low-Income Subsidy, receiving “Extra Help”, DSNP, or Group Medicare plans) who are prescribed a Part D select insulin are eligible for ISP. Those taking Part D select insulins on participating plans will automatically have access to set copays in the first 3 Part D benefit stages.

Which Plans are Participating

Humana has many plans participating in the Insulin Savings Program for 2021, including 268 MAPD plans and the Premier PDP. For MAPD, primarily non-DSNP HMO plans are participating, but there are some PPOs participating and some HMOs that are not participating.  Use the link above to determine which plans are participating.

Marketing the Insulin Savings Plan

For those consumers who are on an insulin regimen and use one of the 25 select insulins included in the program, the Insulin Savings Program can be a strong selling point for licensed sales agents in both bringing new members into a participating Humana plan as well as retaining existing members by finding them a participating plan in their service area.  As a reminder, outside of AEP, beneficiaries must qualify for a valid election period to make enroll in or change a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug plan. In addition, keep in mind not all beneficiaries will have a Humana participating plan in their service area.

TRAINING

Want to know more about the Humana Insulin Savings Program? Log in below and access the training on MarketPoint University.

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

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Aetna | Increase your market renewals by enrolling via Ascend VBE

Aetna | Increase your market renewals by enrolling via Ascend VBE

Aetna | Increase your market renewals by enrolling via Ascend VBE
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You can earn more $$ with the VBE option in Ascend—Learn more below

Want to earn an additional $70 per enrollment? You can with the value-based enrollment (VBE) option available through Aetna’s Ascend Virtual Sales Office app. 

VBE helps to engage your Aetna Medicare clients with their new MA/MAPD plan. So they’ll be more likely to complete their enrollment. 

How VBE can help you earn more

Once you become ready to sell, you’re granted access to the Ascend app. You can log in to https://arm.ascendproject.com to download Ascend. For help with any payment-related or technical issues with Ascend, click here. Then, you can initiate the VBE option. You’ll need to complete a health-related survey immediately with your clients:

  • You can complete the survey directly by selecting the new “Agent Complete” option.* This will earn you a $70 service fee payment.

  • Or you can select the “Schedule a Callback” option to earn a $10 service fee payment.

Service fees will be paid about two weeks after the VBE transaction. You’ll receive them as part of your regular commission payment. IMPORTANT: The service fee will be paid to the same entity that is listed on your Aetna contract.  Watch a short video to learn more. 

Questions?

If you have any questions about VBE or Ascend, you may want to sign up for online training. For training dates, please contact your local Aetna Medicare Broker Manager:

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

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Contact a Pinnacle Financial Service representative today for assistance.

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