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The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for selling season 2025 is fast approaching, and the time for agent recertification is already here! In this edition of IFG Monthly, Innovative Financial Group (IFG) highlights the current blackout and certification dates to ensure you are informed and ready to sell (RTS).

Also included, an Innovative Interview with Elevance Health's National Broker Sales Director, Tim Glover. Tim sits down with (IFG) Director of Brokerage Sales, Nick Tatge, to discuss their member-focused approach to Medicare sales and how Elevance has grown with IFG.

Read on for important marketing compliance reminders, carrier updates and training opportunities to help you prepare for the new selling season. It will be an exciting year for sure as we work to ensure that those we serve are educated and empowered to make the correct decision for themselves based on their individual needs.

As always, your IFG team is here to help with any questions you may have.  Enjoy the summer's end and let us know how we can best help you to prepare for the upcoming AEP.

IFG Regional Sales Team | Hotline: 910-834-6780

Innovative Interview with Elevance Health

Innovative Financial Group's (IFG) Director of Brokerage Sales, Nick Tatge, welcomes Elevance Health's National Broker Sales Director, Tim Glover, into the recording studio to discuss his journey in the insurance industry and how Elevance has grown with IFG.

Tim details his journey through different roles within the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, sharing his passion for Elevance's member-focused approach and the impact he's had on partnerships and regions. He speaks about the collaborative nature of his work and how Elevance prioritizes meeting client needs. The conversation ends with Tim highlighting upcoming opportunities for IFG agents and the continued growth between IFG and Elevance Health, emphasizing the strong partnership and mutual growth.

Watch this and other Innovative Interviews on the IFG Blog page or subscribe to our IFG YouTube channel for notifications and more.

Enrollment Reminders

Let’s remember building rapport by incorporating agency/CMS compliance doesn’t only occur during the NEADS analysis and plan presentation, it’s also an important part of setting clear expectations and being transparent about what our beneficiaries can expect next prior to ending the call.

After obtaining the verbal signature and submitting the application, deliver the following:

• Application identification/confirmation number

• Carrier’s customer service number and TTY

• Plan of enrollment “proposed” effective date, pending Medicare approval.

• Expect to receive a notice in the mail acknowledging receipt of the enrollment.

• Expect to receive plan information from <carrier name> including your member ID card in the mail within <7-10> business days of enrollment, but no later than within <ten> days of the plan effective date. You may also access plan materials online at [carrier’s URL address].”

• Your contact details.

• Express appreciation for their enrollment

Chain of Enrollment Call Recording

In the Final Rule, CMS reaffirmed that call recording remains a compliance requirement for interactions with prospects. The following calls with members and prospects are considered part of the chain of enrollment:

• Calling leads, scheduling appointments, collecting SOAs, educational calls/presentations, calls/presentations, collecting medication and pharmacy information, provider discussions, telephonic enrollments, and verification calls (calls made post enrollment to confirm understanding and intent to enroll).

Note: This list is not all-inclusive and there may be other calls within the chain of enrollment that require recording. Chain of enrollment calls made using web-based technology such as WebEx, Zoom, Skype, and similar also require call recording as CMS considers these technologies to be akin to a traditional telephonic discussion.

Does your Scope of Appointment confirmation form meet CMS Guidelines?

Innovative Financial Group has an approved Scope of Sales Appointment (SOA) form to share with you.

Make sure your SOA has all the elements required by CMS ➡️ Click here to download. The IFG Creative team can help you add your logo and company name.

If you need marketing guidance, please feel free to contact your ➡️ Regional Sales Manager and the IFG Creative team at Marketing@teamifg.com.

Carrier Updates: 2025 Blackout and Certification Updates

Aetna

• Blackout period begins October 1 through December 31, 2024

UHC

• 2025 certifications opened June 25, 2024

• Agent Lifecycle Management (ALM) blackout period begins September 1, 2024

• No Agent changes to hierarchy will be processed until January 1, 2025

• ONLY new on boards will be processed during the blackout period.

ANTHEM/ELEVANCE

• 2025 certifications opened July 5, 2024

• All upline agency denial of agent release requests that are submitted between January 2 and June 30, 2024 will have a waiting period of 90 days.

• All upline agency denial of agent release requests that are submitted between January 2 and June 30, 2024 will be subject to a black out period during AEP. Agents will be able to re-apply for relationship change beginning January 2, 2025.

• A limit of one release every 12 months will be accepted for all agents without an approval from the current Upline Agency (subject to waiting periods).

MOLINA

• 2025 certifications opened July 9, 2024.

• Annual blackout period begins October 1, 2024 through January 1, 2025, backing up 90 days if agent needs a constructive release.

HUMANA

• 2025 certifications opened July 2, 2024.

• Annual blackout period begins September 30, 2024. No releases will be accepted after this date, and Humana will not be able to process any release requests until January 2025.

ZING

• 2025 certifications opened June 25, 2024.

• Agent releases are processed within 5 business days if submitted from December 1 through September 30. If submitted October 1 through December 31, release will be processed by January 15th of the following year.

• If an agent is unable to obtain a release, agent can request a “Notice of Intent to Transfer” form. January 1 through September 30, processing time is 60 calendar days from the date on form submitted. October 1 through December 31, processing time extends to January 15 of the following year.

CIGNA

• 2025 certifications opened in July (date to be determined)

• Annual hierarchy change blackout period is September 15 through December 31, 2024

• Self-release blackout period is July 16 through October 1, 2024.

• Topline release blackout period is September 15 through December 15, 2024.

WELLCARE (blackout dates not finalized yet)

• Brokers release waiting period is 14 calendar days.

• Agencies release waiting period is 45 calendar days.

• LOA brokers require a release from their current upline to move to a new upline.

GEISINGER

• Blackout period begins October 1 through December 31, 2024.

HIGHMARK

• Blackout period begins October 1 through December 31, 2024.

IBX/IBC

• Blackout period begins October 1 through December 31, 2024.

CLOVER

• 2025 certifications opened July 18, 2024.

• Blackout period begins October 1 through December 31, 2024.

• Agents may NOT move uplines during this time.

• Agents are only moved on the first of agent month.

RFI and Enrollment Guide

Cigna has created the RFI and Enrollment guide to help reduce the number of enrollments rejected or flagged as incomplete. A large majority of them are missing Medicaid verification and address validation. This reference guide outlines the reasons applications may be rejected or flagged as incomplete.

Download the RFI and Enrollment Guide to double check these items before submitting an application:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NEUelC9CfAfq5-YNYFxNn9rJxQNbExu3/view?usp=sharing

Upcoming Training Webinars

Take advantage of the upcoming training opportunities offered by IFG: 

• IFG Tech Team Training & Support

Agent Activation CRM Training

Ready, set, learn! CRM Training and Tech Support calls are available every Tuesday at 11 am ET.

Visit https://ifgagenttools.com/crmtraininghub to select and register for your preferred CRM training, and access our top-notch tech and service support team, ready to assist you with your IFG CRM.

Medicare in the News

Medicaid for Millions in America Hinges on Deloitte-Run Systems Plagued by Errors - KFF Health News
June 24th, 2024

The Supreme Court Just Limited Federal Power. Health Care Is Feeling the Shockwaves. - KFF Health News
July 1st, 2024

Lack of Affordability Tops Older Americans’ List of Health Care Worries - KFF Health News
July 3rd, 2024

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