Wellcare, UHC... they're all out to get us

[Fisher]

Less than a week after I sang praises to UHC for offering help $$ to agents in the hurricane zones, I just got this backstabby email. I could consider retiring, but I'd get bored.

Bold text is mine.

As a result of the changes happening across the industry this year, some members may be looking for lower cost alternatives or other ways to enhance their Medicare coverage, and UnitedHealthcare has a portfolio of plans carefully tailored to deliver value and meet the specific needs of Medicare beneficiaries.

To help ensure members are aware of their UnitedHealthcare Medicare coverage options, we'll be communicating with some Medicare Supplement and standalone Part D Prescriptions plan members that may benefit from other UnitedHealthcare Medicare coverage options available to them. Our member communication * will invite members who are interested in hearing more about their options to reach out to their agent if they have one, as well as offer the option to call UnitedHealthcare for more information. We encourage you, as agent of record (AOR), to discuss benefit needs with your clients and see if anything has changed.

Agent of Record Retention Policy

If a member chooses to call a UnitedHealthcare Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) agent, the DTC agent will first ask the member if they want to connect with their AOR on file and provide AOR contact information. If the member chooses to change their coverage to a product type different than Medicare Supplement (e.g., Medicare Supplement to Medicare Advantage) with the DTC agent, AOR will not be retained. Due to regulatory and policy reasons, we cannot retain AOR across product lines, which also applies when members move from a UnitedHealthcare Part D Plan to a Medicare Advantage plan. For more information about how AOR retention policy works, click here.

Thank you for your continued help ensuring your clients are aware of their coverage options and in the plan best suited for their needs. For more information on Medicare Advantage plans available in your area, please visit the Medicare Product Portal on Jarvis or reach out to your local market leader.

Please note: We're delaying outreach to members in areas impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

 

[axeman462]

this is nothing new

 

[Fisher]

this is nothing new

I'd still like to retire.

 

[Special Agent]

this is nothing new

While i know they have always called PDP members calling med supp members is new AFAIK.

 

[billyb]

I got this email too. Can't believe a company would try to move a long term MS policyholder to a MA. I know other companies will contact these people but wouldn't think they would do it internally.

 

[MedicareWAA]

Don't put phone numbers on your apps. Sadly, that's the best way to stop this from hurting your business and annoying your clients. Such crap.

 

[Millwood]

I don't know why anything these companies do surprises us. They have absolutely no moral compass. Their only North Star is money any way, anyhow.
They would screw their own Mother if it meant a great qtr or a stock bonus.
Look at their records. They knew everything about the call centers illegal tactics. Could have cared less. They feined indignation,but kept the money bus from the centers backed up to the bank doors. Did they ever terminate a big call center even though they paid multiple fines?

These same companies looked the other way when we had call centers making phone apps. for med supps. Marketing groups were sending agents out of state . The agents were desperate and would say anything for a sales. Companies knew business model . Marketing group would let agent run loose then terminate and keep commisions.
They could care less about the agent, the providers, the policyholders, unless it affects their bottom line.
We found out the same thing about National Marketing Organizations. Fought tooth and nail in court to protect themselves, and we lost our raise on MAPD , PD.
A particular company yanked our, PD renewal Commisions crickets.

Remember your in a den of snakes act accordingly.

 

[MedicareWAA]

I don't know why anything these companies do surprises us. They have absolutely no moral compass. Their only North Star is money any way, anyhow.

Sad to say that I agree. Especially about the largest brokers who routinely break the rules (the rules that actually matter) but are never held to account. Meanwhile, CMS never holds the carriers accountable for overseeing their appointed brokers.

Before this throws the conversation into a political gutter, it's been this way for a very long time. Both political parties.

If you're in the weeds on the front lines at a MA carrier, you know exactly what I'm talking about without me needing to give more details.

It's unforgivable.

 

[annon123]

So true about the no moral compass/break the rules. The most recent shady thing UHC does that I ran into recently is with their new, no frills medigap plans The newer medgap plans rolled out recently don't have the "free" extras and are cheaper than the ones with the "free" extras. That makes the extras not free. Because they offer the "new, no frills" medigaps though a different UHC owned company seniors who fail medical underwriting can't switch without paying a lot more. Client is ticked. UHC claims they haven't ended their original plans as they are still offered (true), however then it is not true that those extras are free since the plans without them are cheaper. Under Medicare rules that is deception and they should be exempt from the pre-existing condition rules to switch. Apparently not. Unless I am missing something. Sigh.

 

[rmhaire]

So true about the no moral compass/break the rules. The most recent shady thing UHC does that I ran into recently is with their new, no frills medigap plans The newer medgap plans rolled out recently don't have the "free" extras and are cheaper than the ones with the "free" extras. That makes the extras not free. Because they offer the "new, no frills" medigaps though a different UHC owned company seniors who fail medical underwriting can't switch without paying a lot more. Client is ticked. UHC claims they haven't ended their original plans as they are still offered (true), however then it is not true that those extras are free since the plans without them are cheaper. Under Medicare rules that is deception and they should be exempt from the pre-existing condition rules to switch. Apparently not. Unless I am missing something. Sigh.

Looks like you're missing a lot. I had to go back and read your post a 2nd time to make sure I was reading it right.

Supplements have never offered free crap. So they can't be new. And they've always had underwriting so nothing new there either.

You need more training. AHIP alone is not going to do it.