2009 MAPD - PDP Commissions

[insurance0707]

Has anyone heard anything.....isn't today the day to announce commissions?

 

[patch36]

Oct 8, and that doesn't mean the carriers will release comp plans then, that is when CMS reacts to their concerns and gives them answers, again. Our concern and sense of urgency is not the same as theirs.

 

[scottfree]

Has anyone heard anything.....isn't today the day to announce commissions?

Look for information on commissions end of the day tomorrow or Thursday morning.

 

[Guest]

Look for information on commissions end of the day tomorrow or Thursday morning.

I was told by the local Aetna woman (who is very knowledgeable) that according to CMS rules, commissions have to be released TODAY (10/8/08). I asked if Aeta would release them and she said the company would be compliant.

I asked about marketing and CMS rules and and commissions and she replied "This will be a challenging year."

She didn't say it but I got the impression that the combination of having to pay for the cert exam and the almost inability to do any kind of marketing is causing lots of agents to just "sit out" this season (my words, not her's.)

She also said the AHIP actually charges the carriers $300 for the exam and that Aetna is paying half and the agent pays half. She said other carriers are paying more than half but she didn't know of anyone in CA giving it away.

I'm not going to do MA this year and I definitely won't do Aetna as all they have are PFFS plans and I don't like the fact that Dr. Jones can treat you today but can turn you away tomorrow if he/she wishes. Given the option of a network plan, I would not take a PFFS plan for myself so I would not sell one.

I agree that my "fear" might be exaggerated, but risk is risk and there is no reason to take risk unless you are compensated for it (or have the potential to be.)


Al

PS: FYI I was calling the local Aetna office to speak to the IFP woman and the MA woman who shares the office picked up. I know them both rather well. Aetna has a great staff in Sacramento... well trained.

 

[MedSuppPro]

al3,

I have heard similar agent drop off. And the few that will remain, are so severely handicapped, that sales will be minimal at best.

Ya, there will be somebody from NY whom will slam me for being soooo negative. And he will tote the party line that there will be fewer agents and more opportunity. Blah, Blah, Blah!

Could it be that CMS got in bed with the plans and cooked this slow descent as to not let the general public revolt during election time?

 

[policy doctor]

Here it is almost 5PM EST and nobody has news about commissions! What a way to run a business.

Heard that one reason for the stall is CMS was trying to figure out how to prevent "churning" of existing policies before the new 6-year rules. Obviously many would replace existing block to get FYC.

 

[Non-golfing Agent]

The deadline is midnight. Should know how bad we're getting jobbed tomorrow.

 

[insurance0707]

I can see levalized for MA/MAPD plans but what's up with the PDP plans being levalized. Do they know how much work can go into helping someone on those....Not to mention they don't pay very much as it is

 

[GreenSky]

They don't have to release them today. They just couldn't do it sooner. (Per a VP at one of my carriers).

By the way, we're looking at 80% of what they are currently, maybe more. And until they actually release the figures, that's what I'm going with.

Rick

 

[Frank Stastny]

...Do they know how much work can go into helping someone on those....Not to mention they don't pay very much as it is

You are so right.

It takes me longer, over the phone, to look up their drugs and explain how the discount program works to sell a PDP than it does to sell a Med Supp over the phone.

I do it for my current clients as a courtesy, not because it is a cost effective way to spend my time.