Part D and the Pharmacist?

[stormtracker]

I've touched on this subject before, but it continues to baffle me. The drug store commercials are flying now about how one can go to the pharmacy and be guided through all the intricacies of the prescription drug plans. No licensure, no certification-- yes, laymen. Yet, us licensed agents have to go through the wringer just to TALK about this with a customer. What the hell is all of this about? Do we have a reciprocal pharmacist license which allows us to discuss the merits of the various drugs???

 

[midwestbroker]

The pharmacist is not enrolling the person in the plan. They are only looking for advice.

Most pharmacists that I have talked to are too busy or do not know the ins and outs of Part D. It is not their job to. The powers that be at the corporate offices just want to drive people into their stores.

Of course, if the person chooses the wrong plan, they will blame the Part D company or the agent, not the pharmacist.

 

[G.Gordon]

MWB has it right. I've not heard of a Pharmacy doing the actual enrollment. They do and can advise and I have no problem with that. Locally we have two outlets: The local senior center and a nursing home/assisted living facility that seniors can make an appointment with and have their drugs entered into the plan finder and actually enroll in the best plan for them. The only problem I have is that the girls doing this don't take into account if the person is LIS or using MORx, a program we have in Missouri, so the plans they suggest sometimes can be off a bit.

 

[MedSuppPro]

Don't cha love it! The sons of a pharmacists!

The Rx companies -- worked out this grand deal and the government has taken the independent agent out. So them poor pharmacists now end-up with the baby and the bath water. What a great use of their diploma.

I say let them do their freaken drug lookups. I have not written one single 2010 PartD plan and will do my best to not.

I'm holding back...

 

[G.Gordon]

MSP... I understand your issue, but urge you to look at it from another direction. We've written several (I'll have to get a count tomorrow) medsupps due to non-clients coming to us for assistance. I know I've railed on the "problems" we have for the Part D season. I may be reviewing my stance on the program. The beneficiaries "need" our insight to the industry and reward us with their loyalty in the form of a commission check.

There are those that we helped last year that still didn't give us their supplement business and for those if (and some have) they call us for help this year we only suggest plans we carry. Even if we only get $25/yr... that's at least worth the ten/fifteen minutes/person it takes.

 

[MedSuppPro]

The past 12 months have ushered in major changes for the Medicare PartD Prescription Drug Program and how insurance agents interact with their clients.

• Paltry reimbursement rates
• Unparalled complex and ever changing government regulations

These are just two good reasons to avoid this mess!!!

The sad thing is that CMS is not through with us. In October they announced starting up enrollment centers for ALL Medicare plans including Medicare Supplements. They are out to put an end to our business and leave our clients in Katrinaville. Stranded!

First it was Rent-a-agent and now it is unemploy-an-agent. Do you think we will get unemployment as a displaced worker?

Government out-of-control!



I better get going... the secret shopper (SS) is closing in on me.

If they catch me within 48 hours, they will put me in the Medicare Insurance Agent Jail at GITMO.

 

[HarryRenard]

The problem with pharmacists recommending plans is that they are obviously biased towards plans they are told to push the plans THEY have the least trouble with.

Some of the plans even pay the pharmacist (a fee to review drugs one on one with the client) to do annual reviews.

So these pharmacists are being compensated, nothing like an old fashion kick back. I don't know if all the plans do this BUT I do know that DOES.

BTW has anyone seen their commercials, they are terrible, I'd rather watch Humana's infomercial.

 

[stormtracker]

As self-employed's, we aren't eligible for unemployment. Best bet is GITMO. Soon, you will be sent to the Caribbean to fend for yourself anyway, if you can just get in. Oh, you'll have a paltry stipend (about $12,000/mo.) but the rest will be up to you. Until then, rations will be hot meals, shelter, medical, legal representation, and guaranteed priority treatment. And, of course, you will have to go through a mock trial. But don't worry, I hear the weather down south is mighty good this time of year...

 

[NoFault]

So is it a good idea to find a Part D carrier to sell beside Med Supp?

 

[stormtracker]

So is it a good idea to find a Part D carrier to sell beside Med Supp?

It is up to you. If you want to service your Medicare eligibles prescription drug needs, you will need to appoint with, and certify with, Part D carriers. Med Supp cannot, on it's own, do this. I personally did not re-certify this year because the market is being regulated right out of the indy agent's realm.