Coventry Confirms Changes to AEP and OEP.

[AgentPipeline]

There has been a lot of speculation lately on the up and coming AEP and OEP. Coventry has put out official notice today that there will be no change in this year's AEP and that the OEP as we know it is now gone. They also indicate that the AEP for 2011 writing year (01-01-2012 effectives) will take place starting October 15th and end on December 7th.

All this was speculated by most of us of course. Coventry is the first to actually put the newest dates in print. You can see the release in its entirety by clicking here. As always, we're happy to help with any questions you may have.

 

[G.Gordon]

Open Enrollment Period (OEP) replaced with Annual Disenrollment Period (ADP)

Starting in 2011, the OEP will no longer exist. In its place, CMS will implement an election period called the Medicare Advantage 45-Day Annual Disenrollment Period (ADP). The ADP will run from January 1 through February 14th. During the ADP, beneficiaries who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan (either MA-only or MAPD) have one election available and may disenroll from that plan back to Original Medicare. Beneficiaries may also use the ADP to pick up a stand-alone Part D plan, regardless of whether or not they have had Part D coverage previously.
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2012 AEP

As required by PPACA, CMS will modify the 2012 AEP dates to October 15, 2011 through December 7, 2011. All elections made during that time period will be effective January 1st 2012
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2011 Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
There are no changes expected for the 2011 AEP that runs November 15 - December 31, 2010. All elections made during that time period will be effective on January 1, 2011.

 

[Josh]

You know, that was the problem with the MA business, to many EP's, what we really needed to do was add an ADP, I'm glad they fixed it now!

 

[jdeasy]

You know, that was the problem with the MA business, to many EP's, what we really needed to do was add an ADP, I'm glad they fixed it now!

You know I disagree with that. The problem with MA is lock in. Eliminating lock in and having year round enrollment/disenrolment would solve most of the problems with MA plans.

This is a step in the wrong direction, but, what else is new for the CMS/Humana/UHC fiasco?

 

[Longtimeagent]

You know I disagree with that. The problem with MA is lock in. Eliminating lock in and having year round enrollment/disenrolment would solve most of the problems with MA plans.

This is a step in the wrong direction, but, what else is new for the CMS/Humana/UHC fiasco?

I totally agree, MA's have screwed up the insurance business worse than anyone has ever imagined. Having the "lock-in" is the worst thing ever, I don't know how many people I have seen that would LOVE to get out of their MA and into a med supp over the last month and a half, but no dice.
The two big dogs, UHC/Humana have CMS wrapped around their little finger, and have for 5 years now. Once the big dogs payday shrinks when the reimbursements for MA's is reduced, we will see the true end to MA's as we know it ....Good riddance to bad rubbish!!!

 

[VaDwayne]

I am so thankful that I have made the decision to not to sell this crap anymore. The writing is on the wall for Medicare Advantage, it's gone.

It won't be much longer before supplements will begin making huge changes, paying less commission's, etc. Oh wait, it's happening now.

 

[Newby]

You know I disagree with that. The problem with MA is lock in. Eliminating lock in and having year round enrollment/disenrolment would solve most of the problems with MA plans.

This is a step in the wrong direction, but, what else is new for the CMS/Humana/UHC fiasco?

If there was no lock in wouldn't that start the other problem of people waiting until they were sick to buy a plan?

If they eliminated enrollment periods they would also have to eliminate the guaranteed issue.

 

[jdeasy]

If there was no lock in wouldn't that start the other problem of people waiting until they were sick to buy a plan?

If they eliminated enrollment periods they would also have to eliminate the guaranteed issue.

Probably. That wouldn't be a bad thing though. I met with a couple yesterday about FE. They both have Humana PFFS and were crying the blues about it. It was obvious in talking to them that the plan had never been explained. They have no SEP available, but, if they did, they would get away from Humana as fast as they could.

It's not right for people to be stuck in a plan they didn't understand and not be aboe to do anything about it. Even if they couldn't change plans, they should be allowed to drop it.

They wouldn't have to take away the GI if all a person was allowed to do was drop the plan. The only people allowed to change at anytime would be people that had a plan. That would stop people from just waiting until they needed it. They could have medical questions for people that wanted it outside of an annual enrollment period.

Of course, this would mean that companies would actually have to work to make clients want to stay with them. What a novel concept!!

 

[Newby]

Yes the ability to drop at any time COULD be good BUT... If someone knew they needed a surgery they could time it in JAnuary. Have the surgery. Go through recovery and then drop the payment for the health plan. Too much of that would cause rates to increase and benefits to decrease for the honest people who always keep a plan. That would penalize the wrong people.

 

[Josh]

Yes the ability to drop at any time COULD be good BUT... If someone knew they needed a surgery they could time it in JAnuary. Have the surgery. Go through recovery and then drop the payment for the health plan. Too much of that would cause rates to increase and benefits to decrease for the honest people who always keep a plan. That would penalize the wrong people.

Thank God someone actually understand the way insurance works.