Highmark BCBS pulled all MAPD commissions

[ValeRosso]

Sunfire is showing all Highmark MAPD plans as non-commissionable in Sunfire now for every PA zip code that I have wrote business in. This was recent like within the last 24 hours. I've enrolled about 30 new people in Highmark plans for 2025 on top of my current book in Highmark. I haven't heard any word about this from anyone so Im not sure whats going on...but waiting until the last 4 days of AEP to pull commissions on all MAPD's?

 

[Northeast Agent]

I'm in PA and write them - haven't heard this, maybe it's an error. My FMO for them (URL) is good about notifying any changes.

 

[Rossat]

In PA myself. This is the rumor that's cycling around, and sounds like it very well could be happening.

Apparently Highmark is stating that it's an error. The question is: is it an error on timing or an error in general and should've never happened?

Working with these vendors before, I don't see how an error like this could have occurred.

The rumor is: MAPD PPO commissions -- state wide-- are ending 2/1 effectives and after. We will be notified in December. Sunfire just happen to accidentally show this information too soon.

Highmark is hemorrhaging money and they missed the mark this AEP in developing plans to slow/halt the losses.

 

[ValeRosso]

I'm in PA and write them - haven't heard this, maybe it's an error. My FMO for them (URL) is good about notifying any changes.

Well that's relieving. I was hoping it was an error but something didn't smell right and I could see them doing some crap like this.

In PA myself. This is the rumor that's cycling around, and sounds like it very well could be happening.

Apparently Highmark is stating that it's an error. The question is: is it an error on timing or an error in general and should've never happened?

Working with these vendors before, I don't see how an error like this could have occurred.

The rumor is: MAPD PPO commissions -- state wide-- are ending 2/1 effectives and after. We will be notified in December. Sunfire just happen to accidentally show this information too soon.

Highmark is hemorrhaging money and they missed the mark this AEP in developing plans to slow/halt the losses.

Yeah I'm not convinced that was en error or how that could have happened. Also, it still hasn't changed, all showing non-commissionable. If it were a error, it would have been fixed.

If what you're saying is correct, I'll be moving every single person out of Highmark during OEM. I'm hoping this isn't the case because I like their plans, some of the better medical benefits given.

 

[Chazm]

Well, it's much better than pulling commissions 4 days into AEP.

 

[ValeRosso]

Well, it's much better than pulling commissions 4 days into AEP.

So you'd rather go through AEP and enroll XX people into X insurance company, only to find out 4 days before AEP is over that all of your work will not be paid?

 

[Chazm]

So you'd rather go through AEP and enroll XX people into X insurance company, only to find out 4 days before AEP is over that all of your work will not be paid?

That's not how it works. They'll pay up until the announcement.

 

[Northeast Agent]

I was told that Highmark is NOT cutting commissions.

 

[ValeRosso]

Yeah this turned out to be a "mistake". We'll see if that holds up over the next year or two

 

[InsuranceGuy29]

I was told that Highmark is NOT cutting commissions.

Pure speculation, but they may have received a ton of backlash and decided this was not a very intelligent move. Especially with Dr. Oz coming in soon, and the plans being very popular among the Medicare population. If they pulled all commission, that would literally be Bozo The Clown level of buffoonery. If any executive was seriously thinking of doing that, they should be fired on the spot, as they clearly can't read the tea leaves at all. A lot of money is about to come flowing back into the plans and to senior citizens, and you're gonna destroy your reputation among brokers?? Yea, 1st class dunce award to the executive(s).