MAPD Payment UPDATE INFO > Hot Off Email

[jamman]

Here is the latest from UnitedHealth. As it goes for the other half of our payment. Tell me do you think CMS really wants us to sell this product? Why don't they just make it illegal? This would save us all a lot of time and money...,


CMS stated that the November revisions to the compensation policy indicate that in 2009 there are only two situations in which an initial compensation amount should be paid:
1. When someone is new to Medicare (e.g. an age-in) or
2. When someone enrolls from Original Medicare (i.e. they were not previously enrolled in an MA, Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), cost or Part D plan).
All other enrollments should be paid the renewal amount.

 

[Cenla Agent]

Ya Right....United Healthcare.....seems to be the only company with a problem....the problem is they dont want to pay...period!!! ......their sooooo full of it.......time to start posting supervisors, directors, anyones and everyones phone numbers......I smell a rat and this time its not CMS I bet.......

I was thinking the same thing. Is there a problem with any other carriers? I'm still contracted with Humana and get all of the bulletins, agent alerts, etc. and haven't heard a peep about this issue.

 

[Russ]

Here is the latest from UnitedHealth. As it goes for the other half of our payment. Tell me do you think CMS really wants us to sell this product? Why don't they just make it illegal? This would save us all a lot of time and money...,


CMS stated that the November revisions to the compensation policy indicate that in 2009 there are only two situations in which an initial compensation amount should be paid:
1. When someone is new to Medicare (e.g. an age-in) or
2. When someone enrolls from Original Medicare (i.e. they were not previously enrolled in an MA, Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), cost or Part D plan).
All other enrollments should be paid the renewal amount.

How nice of CMS to add, after 6+ months....."...or Part D plan."

 

[dlvhi]

Hello all

I also got the UHC email regarding renewal versus initial commissions. I am astounded that CMS said that going from Original Medicare and a PDP to an MAPD is not an initial enrollment. In one fell swoop they wiped out 50% of the commission on 95% of my business, and did it retroactively at that.

I would certainly like to hear if agents have gotten similar feedback from other insurance companies, such as Humana.

Yesterday afternoon I took a quick look at the CMS December memo and its notice in the Federal Register on November 10, 2008. As I said, it was a quick look, and perhaps I misread the items, but I don't see how they can justify this change at this time.

Going from a $400 commission to a $200 commission on all those apps is a big number.

If the UHC memo is a correct portrayal of the CMS position, it would seem appropriate to get together and take legal action to challenge the interpretation.

Any thoughts?

 

[Lee Sanford]

Could someone forward me the memo? I haven't gotten it for some reason.

[email protected]

Thanks!

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

Could someone forward me the memo? I haven't gotten it for some reason.

Maybe they're trying to tell you something?

 

[JstBnMe]

I am not getting paid even if I took them from Medicare to an MA and left their PDP as it was. From Medicare to MA or MAPD your screwed if they had Part D in any form prior.

 

[Norwayguy]

I am not getting paid even if I took them from Medicare to an MA and left their PDP as it was. From Medicare to MA or MAPD your screwed if they had Part D in any form prior.

Yup and since in most cases they need to take the part d plan at the same time as enrolling into medicare...why even have on the memo enrolling from original medicare into a MA plan anyway it would be more the exception than the rule of someone not having a part D plan....The next question why should part D affect Part C.

 

[JstBnMe]

If this is redistribution of my wealth I would at least like to know who the recipient is. 24 years in this business and this is what it is coming too? When do they start coming after my renewals on MA and other business? I probably shouldn't give them any ideas. It wouldn't suprise me if the insurance companies weren't in cahoots with the government. Not to far fetched, you think?

 

[Norwayguy]

If this is redistribution of my wealth I would at least like to know who the recipient is. 24 years in this business and this is what it is coming too? When do they start coming after my renewals on MA and other business? I probably shouldn't give them any ideas. It wouldn't suprise me if the insurance companies weren't in cahoots with the government. Not to far fetched, you think?

They have already come after your renewals....isn't it 4 or 6 years and then no more commissions and moving them to another MA won't help. Maybe we need a different license and charge the client a consulting fee not regulated by CMS but I guess those seniors on $0 MA plans wouldn't pay for a consult.