Medicare Advantage Selling Season - 8 Weeks Long & NO OEP

[floridabroker]

I guess I am the only broker who has clients who are poor.

This year I switched more people from med supps to med adv. than ever before.

The simple reason was people just couldn't afford $200 a month when they can see the same doctors for $0.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

What are the reasons here for problems with med adv?

1. Doctors not accepting it. most MA companies (at least here in FL) pay 100% of medicare and some even more. So why don't they? I have seen enough medicare fraud the last six years to lose respect for doctors. So when a DR. says they only accept medicare and a supp or just medicare. I don't trust them. Also since the govt. is MAKING people sign up for things.... Why not make every doctor accept every plan under medicare?? Sure would take away the problems now wouldn't it?

2. ANY DR., ANY WHERE - See above

3. Medicare Supplements - Doctors forcing clients to have a med supp to suit there own business. Again, the govt. could care less for the elderly or the poor.

We force someone to join a plan, we go to jail. A medicare recip. bullied into taking or staying on a Med supp plan and no one cares.

The whole thing is disgusting and reeks of politics.

 

[Frank Stastny]

I guess I am the only broker who has clients who are poor.

This year I switched more people from med supps to med adv. than ever before.

The simple reason was people just couldn't afford $200 a month when they can see the same doctors for $0.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

What are the reasons here for problems with med adv?

1. Doctors not accepting it. most MA companies (at least here in FL) pay 100% of medicare and some even more. So why don't they? I have seen enough medicare fraud the last six years to lose respect for doctors. So when a DR. says they only accept medicare and a supp or just medicare. I don't trust them. Also since the govt. is MAKING people sign up for things.... Why not make every doctor accept every plan under medicare?? Sure would take away the problems now wouldn't it?

2. ANY DR., ANY WHERE - See above

3. Medicare Supplements - Doctors forcing clients to have a med supp to suit there own business. Again, the govt. could care less for the elderly or the poor.

We force someone to join a plan, we go to jail. A medicare recip. bullied into taking or staying on a Med supp plan and no one cares.

The whole thing is disgusting and reeks of politics.

Before you make any more gross generalizations you may be interested in what agents in other states encounter.

Try selling only PFFS plans in rural Missouri where not all doctors accept them. (The only Part C plans available.) Also doctors may start out accepting them and several months later may change their mind and decide to no longer accept them. Do you want to put your new client in that type of situation? I sure don't.

Agents do not "bully" people into taking a Med Supp at least I don't. You are making that assumption and you are totally wrong. You are making that assumption with only very limited information. Look at other parts of the country, there are 49 other states.

I don't know of any doctors who are "forcing" people to take a Med Supp. Doctors are making intelligent business decisions regarding what they feel is in the best interest of patients, the same thing we do as agents.

I have made a well informed, intelligent decision that for the prospects I talk to either a Med Supp or simply having Medicare Part A and Part B is a much wiser decision for them than taking a PFFS Plan. Some agents agree with me, others don't. We all do what we perceive is best for our prospects.

 

[floridabroker]

Before you make any more gross generalizations you may be interested in what agents in other states encounter.

Try selling only PFFS plans in rural Missouri where not all doctors accept them. (The only Part C plans available.) Also doctors may start out accepting them and several months later may change their mind and decide to no longer accept them. Do you want to put your new client in that type of situation? I sure don't.

Agents do not "bully" people into taking a Med Supp at least I don't. You are making that assumption and you are totally wrong. You are making that assumption with only very limited information. Look at other parts of the country, there are 49 other states.

I don't know of any doctors who are "forcing" people to take a Med Supp. Doctors are making intelligent business decisions regarding what they feel is in the best interest of patients, the same thing we do as agents.

I have made a well informed, intelligent decision that for the prospects I talk to either a Med Supp or simply having Medicare Part A and Part B is a much wiser decision for them than taking a PFFS Plan. Some agents agree with me, others don't. We all do what we perceive is best for our prospects.

Frank:

Nowhere did I say agents were bullying seniors into med supps. Not sure where you got that from.

Doctors (their offices) have been bullying people into med supps. I have heard the complaints and have no reason to make anything up as I sell Supps from UHC, MOO, etc.

I am ONLY concerned with my clients Frank. It gets me into a lot of trouble with the companies I represent.

Supps are fine. I just have a problem when people think everyone can afford them and doctors not accepting a MA has more often than not been an internal issue or decision.

If the doctors make that decision then just be honest and say "Mrs Jones I understand you don't have money for a supplement so you will have to find another doctor because we decided we just didn't want to bother with company x"

Instead, they make crap up and tell how they had issues with companies they have never had a part of.

Sorry if you have never had any of these issues but I have.

The problems above COULD be fixed. if the govt. wanted to !

Have a great week frank!

 

[jwb0007]

Frank:

Nowhere did I say agents were bullying seniors into med supps. Not sure where you got that from.

Doctors (their offices) have been bullying people into med supps. I have heard the complaints and have no reason to make anything up as I sell Supps from UHC, MOO, etc.

I am ONLY concerned with my clients Frank. It gets me into a lot of trouble with the companies I represent.

Supps are fine. I just have a problem when people think everyone can afford them and doctors not accepting a MA has more often than not been an internal issue or decision.

If the doctors make that decision then just be honest and say "Mrs Jones I understand you don't have money for a supplement so you will have to find another doctor because we decided we just didn't want to bother with company x"

Instead, they make crap up and tell how they had issues with companies they have never had a part of.

Sorry if you have never had any of these issues but I have.

The problems above COULD be fixed. if the govt. wanted to !

Have a great week frank!

Hello. Am a new and infrequent poster to this forum, but I am not new to sales to seniors in Missouri.

While I have sold many Medicare Supplement policies, also have sold many Medicare Advantage plans here in the St. Louis area. There is one plan, in particular, available in surrounding counties that offers an absolutely wonderful intersection of value, benefits, and costs to its enrollees. Many enrollees (neither ignorant, indigent, nor indolent) are delighted with their plan and participation.

And, many Medicare Supplement policyholders are delighted with what their plan offers them.

Can it be some people prefer chocolate to vanilla, strawberry to chocolate, and some really enjoy Neopolitan ice cream. Not one is "bad" or incorrect--they simply represent peoples' individual preferences and conclusions. It's called a marketplace.

My thoughts, anyway.

Jim Boyd

 

[floridabroker]

Hello. Am a new and infrequent poster to this forum, but I am not new to sales to seniors in Missouri.

While I have sold many Medicare Supplement policies, also have sold many Medicare Advantage plans here in the St. Louis area. There is one plan, in particular, available in surrounding counties that offers an absolutely wonderful intersection of value, benefits, and costs to its enrollees. Many enrollees (neither ignorant, indigent, nor indolent) are delighted with their plan and participation.

And, many Medicare Supplement policyholders are delighted with what their plan offers them.

Can it be some people prefer chocolate to vanilla, strawberry to chocolate, and some really enjoy Neopolitan ice cream. Not one is "bad" or incorrect--they simply represent peoples' individual preferences and conclusions. It's called a marketplace.

My thoughts, anyway.

Jim Boyd

Hey Jim!

I believe I know the company you speak of.

Essence Health Care is a great company with a great track record of paying doctors and treating their members great.

Maybe unfortunately they are in the minority. but I guess as a small company they don't strong arm doctors like humana and UHC.

Full disclosure: I absolutely DO NOT sell their product.

 

[Frank Stastny]

The problems above COULD be fixed. if the govt. wanted to !

I totally agree with you and I also wish they would make that change.

Unfortunately for all concerned they have not decided to do that yet so we are limited to operating under the current rules and regulations.

Thanks, my weeks are always great.

 

[floridabroker]

I totally agree with you and I also wish they would make that change.

Unfortunately for all concerned they have not decided to do that yet so we are limited to operating under the current rules and regulations.

Thanks, my weeks are always great.

Flipping communist govt.

 

[Frank Stastny]

Flipping communist govt.

You have to stop "holding back" and tell us how you really feel.

Ever wonder why they never consult with us, the agents? I wonder that all the time. Maybe because they are afraid of "getting it right".

 

[lisaann66]

Does anyone know what section of this Act contains the specifics on the changes in MA enrollment periods? My goodness this is a large file and briefly scanning it made my eyes water. I would greatly appreciate this information.

Thanks
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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act HR 3590.

Google it and read it.

I have!!!

Have you?

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[With regard to the above, anyone know what section the MA changes can be found?

 

[jdeasy]

Does anyone know what section of this Act contains the specifics on the changes in MA enrollment periods? My goodness this is a large file and briefly scanning it made my eyes water. I would greatly appreciate this information.

Thanks

According to an email I read yesterday from UHC, there will be no change to the AEP for this year. There may be a change in the OEP making it a "disenrollment" period only. Meaning people could drop their MA plan during OEP, but not pick up another one.

The guy that showed me the email is at a Humana meeting in Louisville, Ky today and was going to try and get more info on it there. I told him, "good luck with that!".