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Meet the Team - April!

Spring is in the air, and with it comes a fresh opportunity to connect and grow together. This month, we are excited to start introducing you to the incredible individuals who make up the IFG team. Our diverse and talented team members are the driving force behind our innovative projects and initiatives.

In this edition, you'll get to know the faces and stories behind IFG. From our leadership team to our dedicated staff, each member brings unique skills and perspectives that contribute to our collective success. We believe that understanding the people behind the scenes will enhance your connection to our mission and vision. You will also find:

• Meet the IFG Team

• IFG Message

• Carrier Updates

• Medicare Plan Enrollment Updates for 2025

• IFG Marketing Oversight Reminders

• IFG Trainings

• Healthcare in the News

Meet the Team

Brandi has held key leadership and management positions in the insurance industry since 2007 and she has held multiple roles working with key operational teams and critical initiatives, including COVID responses. Most recently, she became Vice President of Innovative Financial Group in December of 2024 where she has been instrumental in evolving our operating model into a centralized center of excellence. Brandi jumped into IFG and established a strong operating model, established relationships with our IFG Partners and set a strategic growth plan for our agnostic business. Brandi has quickly worked with the team to accomplish record breaking year-over-year results within a very short time frame.

Brandi graduated from Spalding University with a master’s degree in business communication. She has three children and two grandchildren and spends most of her time outside of work supporting their various extra-curricular activities. Her hobbies include reading and traveling.

We are looking forward to a bright 2025!

Christine Berry joins IFG as the Associate Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Retail Partnerships.  Christine will play pivotal role in driving the strategy, growth and market presence of IFG. With her deep understanding of carrier relationships and her background in sales, strategy and operations, Christine is exceptionally suited for her position and will serve as a key member of the IFG leadership team.

Christine has led more than fifty corporate strategy initiatives - she is known for creating innovative solutions to attack competitive disadvantages, pioneering change, and developing people. She holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and has received recognition and awards for being an influential woman in leadership as well as leading enterprise transformation, driving sales, and building positive organizational culture. She is a graduate of United Health Group’s Executive Development Program in partnership with the Stanford Graduate School of Business and has completed executive learning through the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation.

Christine is looking forward to paving new paths with IFG in all the best ways!

Will Kinkead joins IFG as the Head of Sales. In this new role, Will will play a pivotal role in driving the sales strategy, growth and carrier relations for the IFG Brokerage. He will be accountable for creating strategies for achieving long-term sustainable success while focusing on strengthening our relationships.

Prior to eHealth, Will served as Vice President of Health Plan Accounts at Lumeris/Mutual of Omaha where he was responsible for growth and membership acquisition. Will worked with Medicare Advantage teams on creating new and existing market strategy, including product development, product launch and market expansions while partnering with sales teams to execute on sales initiatives to drive optimal revenue and member acquisition targets.

A graduate of Monmouth University, Will lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife and two sons, ages 7 and 5. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching his kids, hiking, and spending quality time with his family.

Will is excited to lead IFG to new horizons this year!

IFG Message

At IFG, we empower our agents and agencies to achieve meaningful results. Our values: Innovation, Collaboration, and Accountability are at the heart of everything we do.

Sales and Support: Enhancing processes to provide better service, improve response times, offering personalized support, and delivering a robust portfolio of carriers and products to choose from.

Contracting: Implementing new technology and software for more efficient processes, clearer schedules, and increased transparency.

Compliance: Aligning with our agency partners to ensure compliant sales in an ever-changing regulatory environment.

Commissions: Introducing new technology for quicker processing, clearer schedules, and increased transparency, helping agents understand earnings and receive payments promptly.
Marketing: Revamping efforts to better promote products and services through digital strategies, improved online presence, and engaging content.

Technology: Investing in the latest technology to improve operations, upgrade IT infrastructure, adopt new software, and explore innovative solutions.

Training: Elevating training programs, reimagining IFG University, and providing specialized training in Life and Medicare Plan Options in collaboration with our carriers.

Retail Partnerships: Collaborating with national retail chains and agencies to support clients in a variety of settings.

Carrier Updates
UHC

IFG Oversight Reminders

ATTENTION from IFG Marketing Oversight

Many of our agent/agencies utilize MARx

Action Required: Updated Agents and Brokers MARx User Role

CMS has developed a new user role named “MAPD Agent” that is available through Identity Manager (IDM). All agents and brokers must utilize this new role going forward. CMS is concerned that agents and brokers may be accessing MARx data for non-enrollment related reasons. This new user role will help ensure appropriate access. CMS has provided plans with a strict deadline of March 15, 2025 for all user role updates to be completed.

Existing Agents and Brokers - March 1, 2025 Deadline

Current agents and brokers with MARx access must update their current role from “representative” to “MAPD Agent” no later than March 1, 2025. This will allow Humana sufficient time to reconcile data and provide CMS the information requested by its March 15, 2025 deadline. Agents and brokers that fail to make this change by March 1, 2025 will have their MARx access revoked. No exceptions will be made. Agents and brokers whose access is revoked will require a new request for access through their current process and must select the appropriate user role in IDM.

New Agents and Brokers

Any new agent and broker requests for MARx access must ensure the new user role of “MAPD Agent” is selected in IDM. Failure to make the proper selection will result in your access request being denied.

Humana has issued the below/attached communication that will be required to be done to maintain MARX access.  CMS is requiring agents be listed as a new category for MARX access.  For agents to continue to maintain that access they need to take the steps in this communication. 

MARx Role Switch Help Guide

Please contact Sales Partner Integrity (salesintegrityoversight@humana.com) for any questions.

Medicare Plan Enrollment Updates for 2025

Attention Agents! CMS has introduced key changes to Medicare Plan Enrollment and Election Periods for 2025. Stay informed to guide your clients effectively!

Key Changes:

New Monthly SEP-DEP: Extra Help beneficiaries can enroll in a stand-alone PDP monthly, starting January 1, 2025.

New Monthly SEP-INT: Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries can enroll in Integrated DE-SNP monthly, starting January 1, 2025.

Elimination of SEP-MDE: Quarterly Dual/LIS special election period removed.

SEP Code Changes: Chronic Condition SEP code changed to CSN; Maintain Other Creditable Coverage SEP code changed to CDC.

Reminders:

One-Time Use: Except for AEP, all election codes are one-time-use.

Stay ahead and ensure your clients receive the best guidance for their Medicare plan enrollments in 2025! Full document here: Medicare Plan Enrollment Updates for 2025

Additionally

Reminder regarding telephonic script/talking points and being connected to a “licensed sales agent”.

Please ensure all lead vendors are being clear in their telephonic talking points/scripts regarding connecting consumers to a licensed sales agent, per 42 CFR 422.2274(g)(3)(ii):

“(3) Ensure that the TPMO, when conducting lead generating activities, either directly or indirectly for an MA organization, must, when applicable:

(i)         Disclose to the beneficiary that his or her information will be provided to a licensed agent for future contact. This disclosure must be provided as follows:

(A) Verbally when communicating with a beneficiary through telephone.

(B) In writing when communicating with a beneficiary through mail or other paper.

(C) Electronically when communicating with a beneficiary through email, online chat, or other electronic messaging platform.

(ii)        Disclose to the beneficiary that he or she is being transferred to a licensed agent who can enroll him or her into a new plan.”

(4) Beginning October 1, 2024, personal beneficiary data collected by a TPMO for marketing or enrolling them into an MA plan may only be shared with another TPMO when prior express written consent is given by the beneficiary. Prior express written consent from the beneficiary to share the data and be contacted for marketing or enrollment purposes must be obtained through a clear and conspicuous disclosure that lists each entity receiving the data and allows the beneficiary to consent or reject to the sharing of their data with each individual TPMO.

Updates to the IFG Marketing and Communication Submission Portal have been finalized and is now up and running.

Agents will now see a new Home Page that details instruction and guidance for material submissions, including 3 separate links that will guide agents through the various submission types (Single Material Submission, Agency Website Submission, and Social Media/Ad Campaigns). These updates should help clarify and streamline the overall agent material submission process.

For agent-use only and must not be distributed.

IFG Trainings

Devoted Health Agent Training

We’re excited to invite you to an upcoming training session with Devoted Health!

This session will cover:

•               Best practices for selling Devoted Health Medicare Advantage plans

•               Strategies to support your broader book of business

•               Key compliance reminders

•               Tools and resources to help you market and sell more effectively

•               Appointment requirements and marketing guidelines

Please note: This agency training is mandatory for all agents who wish to continue selling Devoted Health Medicare Advantage plans.

You may choose to attend the training live, or if you’re unable to join live you’ll receive a recording along with an attestation form to confirm you’ve completed the training (more to come on the recording and attestation following live training).

We look forward to having you join us!

You only need to attend one training session, and you can choose the date and time that works best for you using this registration link.

Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your unique Zoom link and the option to add the session to your calendar.

Thursday, April 17th at 1:00pm EST

Thursday, April 24th at 3:00pm EST

Friday, April 25th at 9:00am EST

Link to Register: HERE

Zing CNSP and SEP Selling Opportunities

Join Chad Hooper, National Strategic Account Manager, to learn more about their CSNP plans and SEP selling opportunities.

Tuesday, April 22nd at 2:00pm EST

Link to Register: HERE

IFG Sunfire Agent Training

Hosted by the IFG Sunfire Team to help answer questions and better utilize the platform.

Wednesday, April 23rd @ 11 am EST for Call Center Agents

Link to Register: HERE

Elevance/Anthem Presents DSNP Integration/Alignment and ROY Selling Opportunities

Join Tim Glover, National Broker Sales Director, to learn about how DSNP plans work and why becoming an expert can lead to huge selling opportunities.  We will dive deeper into the specific Elevance Value Prop in the latter part of the presentation and identify the HIDE/FIDE opportunities in FL, IN, IA, KS, KY, NJ, NY, TX, WA and WI.

Wednesday, April 23rd at 1:00pm EST

Link to Register: HERE

Elevance/Anthem presents DSNP Retention Strategies

Join Tim Glover, National Broker Sales Director, to identify key tactics for retaining your DSNP members and growing your B.O.B

Monday, April 28th at 2:00pm EST

Link to Register: HERE

IFG Sunfire Agent Training

Hosted by the IFG Sunfire Team to help answer questions and better utilize the platform.

Wednesday, April 30th at 11:00am EST for Field Agents

Link to Register: HERE

Keep an eye out for new IFG trainings, announcements coming soon!

Healthcare in the News

To Patients, Parents, and Caregivers, Proposed Medicaid Cuts Are a Personal Affront

March 6, 2025

Nursing Homes and the AMA, Once Medicaid Defenders, Hang Back as GOP Mulls Big Cuts

March 11, 2025

An Arm and a Leg: Medical-Debt Watchdog Gets Sidelined by the New Administration

March 12, 2025

IFG Mission Statement

At IFG, we are driven by our core values of Innovation, Collaboration and Accountability. We empower our agents, agencies, and associates to achieve meaningful results by leveraging cutting-edge technology and resources. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, we strive to exceed our customers’ expectations and deliver an exceptional experience.

FOR AGENT USE ONLY | MULTIPLAN_IFG_JSBFHAV_25_C