Coventry screws the PDP agent...

[G.Gordon]

I've been using the www.medicare.gov plan finder to direct most of my clients to a PDP that best suits them. If one of my plans is #1 or 2 on the list I enroll them, if not I advise them to call and enroll or if they are in the office I enroll them directly through the medicare web site.

In doing this I've seen the First Health Part D, a $14.50/mo plan in MO, come up several times as #1. Well, says me, I need to see how to contract with First Health. Low and behold... First Health is Coventry's private label PDP that they don't allow brokers to represent. So they have five PDP's on the market... three under the Advantra label and two under First Health. The FH PDP's have a better formulary, better price, better everything... SCREW THE AGENT AGAIN.

Now I've removed Advantra from the plans I offer my clients. If they won't let me offer the best to hell with em.

Upon learning this I've deliberately steered clients around their products to other companies plans that are just as good.

 

[jdeasy]

I'm surprised that someone doing Coventry didn't know that they are First Health are one and the same. My appointment with Coventry thru the Ky DOI always was listed as First Health.

 

[Non-golfing Agent]

I'm not noticing much difference in First Health and AdvantraRX in most cases. Usually Advantra is right up there with any other PDP carrier.

 

[Dowejonez]

Agreed....although Coventry seems to want to circumvent the agent, it hasn't made a difference yet. Of course with online and tele-sales it will be a popular choice. At a last resort I would tell them I wouldn't be their agent for such a product. Then they'll take it for sure.

What I don't understand is why they'd bother to cut out the agent for aprox $50. The longer I've been an agent...20 years....the more important I feel my role is as the simplist of products become more complex.

 

[Russ]

I write AdvantraRX through Mutual of Omaha. Saw this on M of O's website today....."2009 first-year compensation will be same as it was for 2008, unless or until we tell you otherwise."

 

[retread]

I've been using the www.medicare.gov plan finder to direct most of my clients to a PDP that best suits them. If one of my plans is #1 or 2 on the list I enroll them, if not I advise them to call and enroll or if they are in the office I enroll them directly through the medicare web site.

In doing this I've seen the First Health Part D, a $14.50/mo plan in MO, come up several times as #1. Well, says me, I need to see how to contract with First Health. Low and behold... First Health is Coventry's private label PDP that they don't allow brokers to represent. So they have five PDP's on the market... three under the Advantra label and two under First Health. The FH PDP's have a better formulary, better price, better everything... SCREW THE AGENT AGAIN.

Now I've removed Advantra from the plans I offer my clients. If they won't let me offer the best to hell with em.

Upon learning this I've deliberately steered clients around their products to other companies plans that are just as good.

You need to study this issue a little more carefully.... FH Secure has a $175 deductible for that low premium. Their Premier product does not, but that premium, when compared to AdvantraRx is higher. AdvantraRx does not have a deductible for any of its plans. Make sure you compare apples to apples.

 

[G.Gordon]

You need to study this issue a little more carefully.... FH Secure has a $175 deductible for that low premium. Their Premier product does not, but that premium, when compared to AdvantraRx is higher. AdvantraRx does not have a deductible for any of its plans. Make sure you compare apples to apples.

Done. The formulary must be a bit different along with the copays. They come up bottom dollar with FH way more than Advantra.

I recall a couple from yesterday afternoon... FH's $14 plan was #1 while Advantra Value wasn't in the top five. The tool uses premium, deductibles, co-pays, etc. when doing the calculations.

Of course with Missouri Rx you have to do some mental math to find the true "best" plan.

 

[Russ]

I received my first commission statement from Mutual of Omaha today and they paid me the same commission as last year on the PDP plans....$49.08 per policy. They may wind up taking $22.08 per policy back and only pay $27 per policy, but right now their doing the same as the previous year.