Med Supp Appointments/mentioning the C Option?

[jdeasy]

I hear what you saying but if you purposely driving out to the country to pitch Supp that 48 hour wait even with a SOP sined there means a double trip out ----------guess if they called you after you returned home from a failed Sup sell that you could discuss with them on the phone to assure you going back out to write an enrollment.

This is case where the rules dont work to the benefit of the senior----------it prevents them from hearing both options on the Sup appt so they can make the best decision for themselfs--------if they later say "you never told me I had another viable option", the answer I was "not allowed to"---has to be a way to fully disclose for the seniors benefit and still comply?

I would think you should be able to take about C plans in general as part of your Supp meet but then just not go into plan specifics at that same meet???---tell them due to compliance thell have to call you to discuss on phone as a prelim to another meet

You can have the SOA signed while you are there and then go back to discuss the part C and/or D. There is no 48 hour rule now. But, there was at first. I wouldn't do it just to be on the safest side. That doesn't mean that it would be safe in the eyes of CMS if there was a complaint. And, if you brought up the part C plan, it doesn't matter if you wait 48 hours, 1 week or 1 month, you are in violation of CMS rules.

You can play fast and loose with the rules all you want, but, it will catch up to you. Agents doing what you are trying to do is what gave everyone else the bad name and caused these rules in the first place.

You are wrong to use a med sup appointment to pitch part C, period. It doesn't matter if if it's your opinion that part C is better for the client. If they don't initiate the discussion, you can't discuss it, SOA or not.

You should never set med sup appointments when you are trying to sell something else. You should set MA/MAPD/PDP appointments and then you could discuss med sups at will with the clients.

 

[Frank Stastny]

I know Frank who works the rural exclusively likely does not bring the C-plan option into his discussions. Do you others who may still have a preference for Sup even in non-rural areas even make mention of the Advantage option educating them on both with them making the decision which direction they want to go? I might think avoiding mention of lower price C plans might lose one some credibiliy with the prospects who are aware of them who might feel you are just working towards a bigger commission suggesting the much pricer Sup. with no communication other options. If they say they cant afford Sup and then you come back with the much less costing option then I think you look bad by not making it an option up front. I personally feel while I might suggest Sup is better that letting them make the decision with good understanding of the differences makes more sense and may be more consciencable.

For those who do mention the Cs as well to give the prospect the choice, from a CMS compliance standpoint can you discuss them while there on a Sup intended appt-------I thought the Scope was a preliminary to an intended C-plan visit to prevent cross selling of other product. Is a Scope needed if the appt was to discuss Sup and once there they want C-plan particulars then as well?

You have an interesting concept but as others have stated you can't do it that way.

From everything we are hearing, Part C plans are going to be changing and or disappearing. Med Supps are scheduled for some very significant changes also..

All indications are that Part C plans will not be nearly attractive as they are now. With the advent of the new M & N Plans, Med Supps are not only going to be more affordable but could be in direct competition with many Part C plans.

Why do you want to concentrate so heavily on something that is so uncertain at this time? I would think that you would want to begin preparing for he explosion in Med Supp sales that many of us believe is going to happen.

 

[yabadabadoo1026]

JD--I'm not trying to do anything much less be fast and loose with the rules--- would I have mentioned compliance asking for clarification if I had no interest in complying???????

And my intent was not to use Med Sup to pitch Advantage, just wanted to know how to deal with it if they brought it up as I'm sure most will who are bombarded by low cost C plans and wondering why I may pitching getting into their pocket more.

I personally think the propect should buy what they think most appropriate after having a good understanding of both and not what i want them in-----if compliance doesnt allow them to get an understanding of both options --they wont inquire if they dont know it exists--then the system while purporting to protect the senior is doing them a disservice IMO


Calm down, JD and Gordon, I play by the rules but I'm a new guy and going to ask for clarifications when I dont know but sure am taking some abuse over here for it

 

[MedSuppPro]

It's malpractice to not describe the current four parts of Medicare. Take your copy of the current Medicare&You book out and ask them if they have a copy. Most do!

Then when their friends and neighbors tell your client's they have one of those zero or low premium plans, you've covered that, and you look knowledgeable and professional in your client's eyes.

 

[jdeasy]

It's malpractice to not describe the current four parts of Medicare. Take your copy of the current Medicare&You book out and ask them if they have a copy. Most do!

Then when their friends and neighbors tell your client's they have one of those zero or low premium plans, you've covered that, and you look knowledgeable and professional in your client's eyes.

Malpractice is probably not the right word, but, I agree, you should always go over the Medicare and You booklet whether you are there for med sup or for MA. I always carry my own in case they don't have their's.

That would be an opening to discuss MA plans if the clients asked for more inforamtion on them. You would still have to get the SOA signed at that point before you went into a discussion about part C and/or D.

But, back to the op, he is trying to use med sup appointments to skirt the MIPPA rules. That's how it appears anyway.

 

[motorcyclegogo]

I don't see the humor

quite an over-reaction over an inadvertent mis-word

think our man Gordon is a large PART jerk

Apparently you are extremely new to this biz or you are not educated completely on how to sell period!!! This so called plan "C" will be fading out completely, hell these seniors that have these plans now know that. Seniors are not totally ignorant on the medicare facts. They may not totally understand exactly how it works but they do have knowledge of the program. Remeber how you felt when you first applied for med ins. for yourself?

I work in rural areas and have a great book of biz and everyone of my clients that came to me knew exactly how the plan "C" works either from personal experience of having the plan already or knowing someone who does. These people that have the plan DO NOT LIKE IT that is why they came to me to change the insurance and the ones that don't have it DO NOT want due to the bad reputation the plan has.

So, no Gordon is not a jerk. Get your feelings off your shoulders. Take some time and study!! The compliance laws are there for a reason and they are lifted for a reason. So in this case there obviously is not a need for the 48 hours any longer. Follow your company's rules and be done with it. It truely is not a major process.

 

[yabadabadoo1026]

now let me assure you it takes a lot more than that to hurt my feelings not that anyone should care, but if you think such name-calling is appropriate over over a simple inadvertent mis-4letter-wording then I got to throw you into the same category as your brother/husband/lover or whatever.

Now why are we mixing compliance with the merits of Advantage vs Supplement--2 seperate issues and yes I am a rule follower and if I'm fuzzy cause yes I'm not real experienced I will get unfuzzy to assure I comply------making more comish just to pay fines just doesnt sound like a plan for me and I still think within compliance the senior can make their own choice of direction given complete unbiased educuation of the merits and unmerits of both options------if the $$ differential was minor as Frank suggests it will be when M and Ns come out then it will be a lot easier to strongly suggest the Sup but now the differential can be large. When these plans go away as you suggest they will then of course everyone should be in a Sup if they can afford it.

Now just because I'm sorta a new "dolt" to insurance doesnt mean I dont understand Med Advantage and Med Supp---probably not as good as you and other real experienced insurance people but I do and quite well enough Now for you to suggest that maybe the same shoe should be forced onto every foot suggests to me you may be looking out more for your own financial welfare that that of the senior.

In a perfect world yes everyone should have a Supp---the Cadillac---but while in agreement with Frank that many have more means to afford it that might appear on the surface some honestly are just making it and can nowhere afford a Sup and a D. The Advantage makes quite a good alternative in such cases.

Now just because the plans in rural Mo may suck and the people hate them doesnt mean all plans esp PPO or HMOs near the city suck. As green as I may be these coordinated plans are better than individual health plans or group plans with no deductibles and with MOOP safety net for limited exposure. Make your claim if you chose about rural MO PFFSs as Frank who i tremendously respect does but dont throw city network plans into the same pot for condemnation.

My guess is if you were quite healthy, only went to the doctor 3 or 4 times a year for basics and had a history of not being in the hospital given a choice with your own money that you might opt for a network plan at zero or low cost to maybe leave 1500 or more $$$ in your pocket at the end of the year-----------if you had a horrible year where all went wrong with lots of hospital time you still have the MOOP to save you.

I understand a Sup is the best one can get but everyone cant afford the best and some agents should quit playing any more fast and loose with seniors money than they would with their own-----many are willing to deal with some inconveniences to save a lot of money knowing they have a MOOP to protect them

 

[jerry176]

whats "MOOP" ?????

 

[LoriRutl]

whats "MOOP" ?????

Maximum Out OF Pocket

 

[motorcyclegogo]

now let me assure you it takes a lot more than that to hurt my feelings not that anyone should care, but if you think such name-calling is appropriate over over a simple inadvertent mis-4letter-wording then I got to throw you into the same category as your brother/husband/lover or whatever.

Now why are we mixing compliance with the merits of Advantage vs Supplement--2 seperate issues and yes I am a rule follower and if I'm fuzzy cause yes I'm not real experienced I will get unfuzzy to assure I comply------making more comish just to pay fines just doesnt sound like a plan for me and I still think within compliance the senior can make their own choice of direction given complete unbiased educuation of the merits and unmerits of both options------if the $$ differential was minor as Frank suggests it will be when M and Ns come out then it will be a lot easier to strongly suggest the Sup but now the differential can be large. When these plans go away as you suggest they will then of course everyone should be in a Sup if they can afford it.

Now just because I'm sorta a new "dolt" to insurance doesnt mean I dont understand Med Advantage and Med Supp---probably not as good as you and other real experienced insurance people but I do and quite well enough Now for you to suggest that maybe the same shoe should be forced onto every foot suggests to me you may be looking out more for your own financial welfare that that of the senior.

In a perfect world yes everyone should have a Supp---the Cadillac---but while in agreement with Frank that many have more means to afford it that might appear on the surface some honestly are just making it and can nowhere afford a Sup and a D. The Advantage makes quite a good alternative in such cases.

Now just because the plans in rural Mo may suck and the people hate them doesnt mean all plans esp PPO or HMOs near the city suck. As green as I may be these coordinated plans are better than individual health plans or group plans with no deductibles and with MOOP safety net for limited exposure. Make your claim if you chose about rural MO PFFSs as Frank who i tremendously respect does but dont throw city network plans into the same pot for condemnation.

My guess is if you were quite healthy, only went to the doctor 3 or 4 times a year for basics and had a history of not being in the hospital given a choice with your own money that you might opt for a network plan at zero or low cost to maybe leave 1500 or more $$$ in your pocket at the end of the year-----------if you had a horrible year where all went wrong with lots of hospital time you still have the MOOP to save you.

I understand a Sup is the best one can get but everyone cant afford the best and some agents should quit playing any more fast and loose with seniors money than they would with their own-----many are willing to deal with some inconveniences to save a lot of money knowing they have a MOOP to protect them

You *@#^*%G do not know what you are talking about. Our biz is totally about keeping more money in the seniors pocket rather than ours. We know if they can save money regardless of how it will affect us then ours will come in due time from referrals. So DO NOT DARE TELL ME THAT WE CARE FOR US RATHER THAN OUR CLIENTS.

We are independent agents so we have several companies in which to research for our clients. That way we do not have to try to convince them to buy any one company's products.

Now I will agree with you on the part of not ALL PPO's and HMO's are bad in the city. For the most part they are very good for the seniors that live in a large metro area. Hell my mother has one for christ sake and for her since she lives in the city it works. But for those that live in the rural areas it does not work. The reason is the limited number of physicians, clinics and hospitals that will take that type of product. Also in MO, the seniors have an opportunity at their annual renewal date to change companies for a like plan with no underwriting involved, if they choose to opt for another type of plan then they know they will have to go through underwriting. This let's our seniors keep more money in their pocket because they know that we will keep them informed of any and all rate increases coming their way and they know they can change to a different company with lower premiums if they want. That is totally their decision. Does this lower our commission, you bet it does, but keeping them in control of their money is what they know we do for them.

Now as far as compliance, I am sure you will comply