Tools | Training | News | Support

The latest Innovative Financial Group (IFG) bulletin includes an introduction to leadership, Rich Vollmer, while highlighting various updates and opportunities from multiple Medicare Carriers. Mark your calendar for upcoming meetings and trainings to help you “spring forward" through the Rest of the Year (ROY) and prepare for the upcoming AEP season.

If you are an Innovative Financial Group (IFG) contracted agent with questions about how to grow your insurance business, contact your IFG Regional Sales Team at 910-834-6780.

Inside Innovative with Rich Vollmer

Adam Rees interviews Rich Vollmer, Vice President of Humana MarketPoint, in our continuing series Inside Innovative found on our LinkedIn and Innovative & Friends Facebook Group. This video series is an introduction to the IFG team working to make a difference in your business's success. Rich Vollmer recently stepped into the top leadership role within the hierarchy of Innovative Financial Group.

Adam introduces Rich as a genuine and hardworking individual who has played essential roles at Humana and is now on the IFG side following Humana's recent acquisition.

Rich shares his experience and numerous roles throughout his years at Humana. He mentions that he initially held a consulting position at Humana and has since donned many hats throughout his career. He talks about his experience handling different regions, stating that his work often involved solving problems on varying scales.

The conversation then shifts towards company culture, with Adam and Rich emphasizing that a culture that values genuine relationships over mere business interactions is at the heart of IFG's priorities, making everyone feel valued and integral to the company.

On the lighter side, the conversation ends with some football and Rich's vision for the future of Innovative Financial Group, expressing anticipation for the opportunities Humana has to offer and their positive impact on IFG as a whole.

Humana MarketPoint ASU Optimization

As we gear up for 2025 AEP, the Agent Support Unit (ASU) has implemented a multi-faceted approach that will direct agents to utilize self-serve tools and online resources.  This will allow ASU to focus their service on more complex questions, and with agent collaboration, achieve Market Point’s goal of reducing call volume by 25%.

As of June 3rd, ASU will no longer provide agent support on the below topics where we have an effective self-service solution.  If you do contact the ASU or any department within Humana about a topic, where self-service is an option, you will be redirected to the self-service solution.

• Provider Searches

• Rx Lookups

• DSNP Verification

• MBI Lookups

Additionally, as we continue to enhance our tools, ASU will start to redirect the below self-service topics prior to 2025 AEP.  We will provide further communication around these changes closer to the effective date and have also listed tool references on how agents can find this information.

• Enrollment Status Checks

• Plan Availability & Summary of Benefits

• Compliance Information

• CMS’ Medicare Advantage Rx Drug

To ensure we set our agents up for success in utilizing these self-service tools, agents can find job aids attached to this communication which are also available in the MarketPoint University.  We’ve also provided direction/links below for you to reference.

Self-Service Job Aids (attached):

• Rx Calculator

• This job aid will provide the steps and guidance needed to manually build a drug list using the Humana Pharmacy Calculator

• Find a Doctor

• o   This job aid provides an overview of the process and functionality of the Find a Doctor tool

• Eligibility Verification

• This job describes how an agent can use the Eligibility Verification Tool to check:

• A prospect’s dual eligibility status, so the agent knows if the prospect is eligible for enrollment in a Medicare plan.

• A prospect’s dual eligibility status, so that the agent knows if the prospect can enroll in a *DSNP plan.

Direction/Links on How to Access Self-Service Options

• Find-a-Doctor:  

• Visit Humana.com and scroll down & select “Find a Doctor” or use this link Find Care - Humana. 

• This is also located in Vantage under the ‘Doctor & Pharmacy’ card. 

• Rx Calculator: 

• Visit Humana.com, scroll down & select “See if my drugs are covered” or use this link Medicare Prescription Drugs List and Rx Availability - Humana. 

• This is also located in Vantage under ‘Drug Cost Lookup’ card --> ‘RX Calculator’. 

• DSNP Eligibility Tool*: 

• Located in Vantage under ‘Quote & Enroll’ card --> ‘Eligibility Verification’. 

• Medicare Eligibility Tool: 

• Located in Vantage under ‘Quote & Enroll’ card --> ‘Eligibility Verification’. 

• Enrollment Status Checks: 

• Located in Vantage under the ‘My Humana Business’ card.  

• Agents should not contact ASU until 5 days after application submission.  

• Plan Availability and Summary of Benefits:  

• Visit Humana.com/Medicare, enter ZIP code and select “View Humana Medicare Plans” or use this link Shop 2024 Medicare Insurance Plans | Humana 

• Additional resources available at Sales Enablement Library and Product Guides

• Compliance Information (“Ready to Sell”): 

• Located in Vantage under the ‘Licensing, Certification & Contracts’ card.

• CMS’ Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MARx) tool: 

Thank you for your time and collaboration.  If you have any questions regarding these upcoming changes, please reach out to your leadership.

*ASU is unable to process DSNP eligibility checks due to a system outage.  After the issue is corrected, agents should continue using Vantage to determine DSNP eligibility as ASU will no longer assist in these inquiries.

Compliance Matters

Your Agency Website

As we continue to improve our sales integrity standards for marketing and communications, you may find the IFG Website Disclaimer Checklist helpful. All Third-Party Marketing Organization (TPMO) consumer-facing websites are required to include the following:

• Non-government Affiliation

• TPMO Disclaimer

• Standard Material Identification (SMID)

If your TPMO’s consumer-facing website includes language that describes additional benefits, premium reduction, or allowances, it will require additional disclaimers. Our checklist may give you some insight.

All TPMO websites should be submitted for compliance review and approval. When ready to submit your website and marketing materials for a compliance review, upload them directly to the IFG Creative Team at https://teamifg.com/marketingcompliance. We will help you through the process. If you have specific questions, please email marketing@teamifg.com.

Carrier Resources

Humana Individual Dental:
2024 Dental Sales Bonus Program Expansion

Dental coverage continues to be in high consumer demand, and your clients can benefit from the savings and features these plans offer. To continue the great momentum from the February 1, 2024, launch, Humana is expanding their Individual Dental Sales Bonus programs through July 31, 2024.

Click here to learn more.

Zing Health has Expanded!

Zing Health has expanded with a heavy focus on Special Needs Plans to help maximize its ability to serve core populations. Learn more about their expansion into 20 new counties with targeted entry into three new metropolitan areas (Memphis, Nashville, and Cleveland)

Zing Health is driven by a unique mission: to provide managed care Medicare Advantage plans that specifically address social determinants of health. They aim to reduce healthcare disparities among historically underserved populations.

Zing’s plans are designed to seamlessly integrate Medicare Parts A and B benefits with Part D prescription drug coverage while also offering robust extra benefits.

Click the links below to learn more:

• 2024 Hot Sheet

• Zing AEP Recap & Look Forward

• 2025 Expansion Footprint

Note: Zing’s 2025 plan year change for onboarding/certification will occur Tuesday, June 25, 2024. If you have questions, email brokers@myzinghealth.com or reach out to the Regional Broker Manager.

Upcoming Training Webinars

As the role of an agent continues to change to include deeper conversations with clients about quality of care, we at IFG want to provide you with the training and resources to help you meet the needs of continually evolving consumer behavior.

Join Don Fransko, IFG's Vice President of Final Expense, every Wednesday at 10 am Eastern Standard Time via Zoom for Final Expense & More. An incredible opportunity, with special appearances from A-rated carriers, top producers, and industry experts who will help you scale and grow the Life side of your insurance business.

Register below to receive your Zoom call login.

https://link.teamifg.com/widget/form/NbVS5xrQ4CztEvW7eEMW

Agent Activation CRM Training

Ready, set, learn! 'LIVE' CRM Training and Tech Support calls are now 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

Attack of the Medicare Machines - KFF Health News
April 10th, 2024

Medical Providers Still Grappling With UnitedHealth Cyberattack: ‘More Devastating Than Covid’ - KFF Health News
April 19th, 2024

Medicare Stumbles Managing a Costly Problem — Chronic Illness - KFF Health News
April 24th, 2024

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