CMS Screws Agents

[midwestbroker]

The government is not that smart to figure that out.

Humana complained to the senate and HR6331 was from the house.

Does the government want more apps? They do not care...this has turned into their test drive with universal health care for everyone and how private carriers can still be involved.

 

[MedSuppPro]

Oh, so now let's us throw these low-life agents under the Medicare bus. We sold to many of these Medi C & D plans and got paid to much and this is the reason Medicare is going broke. And now we are going to believe that it has nothing to do with over payments to carriers and poor plan designs.

Maybe we should look at Part C as a bailout. How in the hell do you propose to get any form of managed care into the Medicare program without the Part C program slowly migrating about a quarter of the Medi eligibles? If there is currently a $15 billion overpayment then it will be a bargain price to pay to move Medicare into a managed care model without the whole senior population getting pissed off at Washington. Clinton understod this and pushed the "Choice" plans into place.

But, the last two months of mis-steps by this failed CMS administration will efectivly kill the Part C program. I'm investing my time now for the OE next year. I just hope we see the co-pay Med Supp plan out by next fall. Should be real popular.

 

[Frank Stastny]

Oh, so now let's us throw these low-life agents under the Medicare bus.

Former Insurance Agent: "While I was under your bus I noticed a few things that you may want to take care of. Your muffler bearings are showing some wear and your high-speed mudflaps definitely need to be replaces."

Bus Driver: "Are you sure you are a mechanic"?

Former Insurance Agent: "Well, not really. I use to be an insurance agent but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night"

 

[Mr. Bill]

Well, we could all become plumbers. Lord knows we know how to deal with crap!

 

[insureyou2@]

dont worry the bonuses will be strong to encourage enrollment or (safety awards) i'm an agent i'm paid to help clients insurance companies know how to bend(read the rules and play by the book) the new insurance testament

 

[Joe Moore]

Well, we could all become plumbers. Lord knows we know how to deal with crap!

...hmmm "Bill the Plumber"
You would have to work on that name.

I'm already known--- "Joe the Plumber"
Shave my head, get me a pipe wrench, a truck and I'm ready to go.

That may be all the advertising I would have to do.

Good idea!

I hopefully would not screw up Mrs. Smith's plumbing any more than this mess. If we all became plumbers, CMS would probably subject us all to no more than minimum wage--if that much.

 

[Newby]

...hmmm "Bill the Plumber"
You would have to work on that name.

I'm already known--- "Joe the Plumber"
Shave my head, get me a pipe wrench, a truck and I'm ready to go.

That may be all the advertising I would have to do.

Good idea!

I hopefully would not screw up Mrs. Smith's plumbing any more than this mess. If we all became plumbers, CMS would probably subject us all to no more than minimum wage--if that much.

Joe, I can teach you ALL you need to know about plumbing.
1. Payday is Friday
2. **** don't run uphill

Now go get em!

 

[Joe Moore]

Joe, I can teach you ALL you need to know about plumbing.
1. Payday is Friday
2. **** don't run uphill

Now go get em!

Newby, got my pipe wrench, washers, channel locks, truck, Home Depot and Lowe's within 5 miles. I'm on my way now. Thanks.

Reminds me of about 5 years ago, my wife called a plumber to replace a 15-year old worn-out water heater. So she calls me and says he would install it for $85, if I had the water heater waiting for him to install. So, I had to get the water heater very fast. Not wanting a divorce or a mad wife, I went into action.

I left work, went to Lowe's, picked up the water heater in the trunk of my car and had it ready for him when he arrived at our home. He comes flying in, in his shining polished truck (not road worn, probably his only call this week) highly advertised, offering his "30 minute" response time, and "low cost plumbing service; like a savior to my wife's water needs with the advertising on his truck. I was impressed.

Impressed until he informed me his $85 was for the service call. He had already dashed in and cut the water pipe and had the water off in the house. If I wanted the water heater really installed, he would have to call his boss to see what the cost of that would be.

I had paid somewhere around $150 for the water heater; I thought if the total cost for the plumber was $150, I would tell him to go ahead. But, when he came back with a price of $349 for installation and was so proud to punch me in the shoulder with his finger and and inform me it would be $349 plus his $85 service call. I went ballistic.

I politely (well close to politely) informed him he could immediately get his a** the hell out of my basement. When he asked what about the $85 service call he wanted paid for, I told him he could sue me. Haven't heard from him or his boss since.

It probably took me about 2 hours to do the job (I had to go back to Lowe's and get more parts and tools), when it would have probably taken him about 15-20 minutes. But, I had some sense of satisfaction that day by throwing that bozo out of my basement. By the way, the water heater is still doing fine, they never billed me and they never sued me.

We used to own a mobile home sales business, so I have a little experience in fixing broken plumbing. Probably not as much as you. If I ever decide to hit the road, I may need your expertise. I'll call if I need help. Thanks!

Very interesting NEW BCBS of TN commissions posted today. Street Level; for 2008 paid $200/app-first 5 apps, 6-50 paid $300/app, $400/app 50+, renewals $120/year whatever volume.

Today for 2009, they posted Street Level $300/year commissions for years 1-6, and $200/year for years 7+. How they justified it, I don't have a clue.

I will be very interested as to how the rest of the companies post their 2009 commissions. But will CMS raftify their logic? Who knows?

 

[Winter_123]

You're assuming the plan you have them in will be competitive in 3 years.

And that there will be any plans in 3 years.

In terms of the various options presented such as adapt, get out, get excited, and so on, the choice was clear for me. I got out.

You will get all the way through AEP without even knowing what some of the rules are then start right in speculating on what the dems are going to do to MA's (hint: it is not good) and then before long you will be speculating on the next AEP. The good news is if you are doing a lot of MA sales it is worth your time and aggravation to keep up with all this. The bad news is if you are doing a lot of MA's then you are going to get hurt the most.

The notion that all of this CMS chaos and rules are actually good because it drives all the bad agents out who are only in it for the quick buck or who are dishonest or incompetent is complete kool-aid. It has become the complete opposite. There is no reason now why a highly ethical competent agent with reasonably good self-esteem and other choices would want to get involved with MA's just to sign up for all of the chronic churning of regulations, speculating about the Titanic and assumptions by CMS that he is a crook that needs to be tightly monitored if he sells MA's. There might be some reasons why those who are already involved might want to ride out the downcurve for a couple more years but there are no reasons why a good agent would want to lean into the field now.

 

[patch36]

I'm looking for a new line of work. 'Joe the Plumber' is taken.

Wonder what I can do with a first name of Chuck ?