Selling senior insurance products is a rewarding yet challenging career, especially during peak selling seasons such as the Medicare Annual Enrollment period. As an insurance agent in this field, staying focused and maintaining productivity throughout the AEP season is critical to closing sales, meeting targets, and providing exceptional service to clients. Here are some tips…
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In May 2023, the Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS), a contractor for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that handles Medicare Part A and B claims, experienced a significant data breach. The breach impacted approximately one million Medicare beneficiaries, prompting CMS to issue new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) and Medicare cards to…
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Before we get started, how familiar are you with short-term care? Short-term care is an ancillary product that works like a Hospital, Cancer, or Accident Plan. When meeting the basic requirements, it offers a cash benefit toward daily needs, whether medical or other concerns such as assistance with personal or household needs. It is theirs…
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I don’t know about you, but certification season comes up before I realize it every year! It’s common for agents to complain about all the certifications and training we need to do, but if you think about it, it’s really not that much when weighed against our great career as a result! First Stop, Medicare…
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The Medicare Supplement, also known as a Medigap Plan, Birthday Rule is gaining traction nationwide. At this time, nine states have already adopted this opportunity. The lucky nine states are California, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Oregon. What is this Birthday Rule, you ask? The Birthday Rule allows existing Medicare Supplement policyholders…
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An FMO is the “go-between” for the agents and the carriers to whom an agent is contracted. Definition: These organizations work on behalf of the insurance carriers they represent to support independent insurance agents in driving sales productions through marketing incentives, marketing materials, and sales training at no charge to the agent or agency. The…
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D-SNPs are a type of Medicare Advantage (MA) Special Needs Plan. Most D-SNPs are health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, though some are preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. What are the levels of D-SNP/Medicaid Eligibility? How Can You Check for D-SNP Eligibility? Carrier sites usually have an eligibility link. To confirm your client’s eligibility level, you will…
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When speaking with one of your new-to-Medicare clients, it is such a relief when they understand how the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplements work. It can be a challenge, for sure! So why would we want to give more options within the Medicare Supplement plan by looking at the different plan letters and adding the…
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UIG Gamechanger is an insurance agent making strides in their business and their community. A Gamechanger is thinking outside the box and utilizing the opportunities available to them while serving their community in the best possible way. UIG continues to showcase these agents to give other agents ideas for their business, but we also want…
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Wow, that went fast! We’re over halfway through the AEP season! Hopefully, by now, you are in a rhythm of running appointments, calling your current clients and any new clients you might have, taking care of your back-office items (contact us for help!), and taking care of yourself and your family along the way! From…
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We get it; this is the busiest time of year for you. With many appointments, long days on the road, mounds of paperwork, and your regular life, it’s a lot to keep up with this time of year. Not to add more to your plate, but it’s important to keep up with your business social…
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Coming up with the latest catchy phrases on your marketing materials is challenging. Most agents have been around long enough to know that you can’t claim you’re an expert Medicare agent and aren’t allowed to say you have the Best Plan out there. Ensuring your marketing materials are compliant is just one of the moving…
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By: Libby Elliott, Broker Sales Specialist For years, I have been saying it is time to add Ancillary Products to my portfolio. And for me, it has always been hard to keep a new habit. I came from the Ancillary world as I sold AFLAC for ten years before I moved to the Medicare Arena.…
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As an agent, you will come across Medicare beneficiaries that already receive Extra Help or even qualify for Extra Help but are not receiving it. If they’re not receiving it, it’s likely because they haven’t had an agent like yourself to assist them through the process. To familiarize yourself with the program, Extra Help is a federal…
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A UIG Gamechanger is an insurance agent making strides in their business and their community. A Gamechanger is thinking outside the box and utilizing the opportunities available to them while serving their community in the best possible way. UIG continues to showcase these agents to give other agents ideas for their business, but we also…
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When you meet with your clients, do you know right away what plan or product will suit them? Using your Fact Finder Sheet (ask us about this!), you should be able to identify what you can offer your client. In some cases, it may make sense to offer a Medicare Advantage plan to your clients,…
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CMS has announced the commission rates for Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plans, and Referral fees for 2024! This shows an increase for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan commissions from last year. If you have any questions about what this means, please contact the UIG Brokerage Team by calling (800) 878-1058, ext. 1380, or email…
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With AHIP opening on June 21st, that can only mean one thing: Certifications for 2024 are here too! Here’s a list of what we know so far as to when these carrier certifications have opened up: Aetna: June 28, 2023 Anthem: June 28, 2023 Blue Cross of Michigan: July 13, 2023 Centene/Wellcare: July 11, 2023…
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Hosting educational events in your community helps put you in front of the right people to not only fill a void your community may have but also enables you to gain referrals and credibility as an insurance agent for those around you. Some may think hosting an educational event is way out of your budget.…
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A Gamechanger to us is making strides in their business and their community. Showcasing these agents not only gives other agents ideas on how they can build their business but also recognizes these agents for their hard work in the field. So, this month we recognize one of our outstanding agents. Matt G. has been…
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If you want more leads, let us introduce you to Grassroots Marketing. Oh, you already know what grassroots marketing is? But are you using these strategies to create more leads, build your business and increase your income? Kind of? Let us give you a refresher on some of these strategies so you can grow your…
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We believe you do! However, many of you may not realize all the advantages of working directly with a Field Marketing Organization (FMO). United Insurance Group can do more for you than you may realize if you are a seasoned insurance agent or just starting out in the industry. These are the top questions our…
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Nobody likes losing a sale, but it’s inevitable in the life of an insurance agent. Realizing why you lost the sale is essential to not only overcome the loss, yes, it can deflate us, but also to learn from your mistakes so that it doesn’t happen when there are things you can do to control it.
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A Gamechanger to us is making strides in their business and their community. Showcasing these agents not only gives other agents ideas on how they can build their business but also recognizes these agents for their hard work in the field.
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AEP is over, the holidays are over, it’s a new year, and it’s time to get back to work! There are many opportunities to continue to earn commissions in this “off-season.” You should already have these products in your portfolio – you need to know how/when to start selling them!
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The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is right around the corner. It’s a great time for agents like yourself to do a temperature check with current clients. Are they happy with their current plan? Does their new plan cover their doctor? Are they using the benefits of their plans? There are certain things you cannot ask…
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There is so much buildup just getting to AEP season. Get your Medicare certification, carrier certifications, make sure you are Ready-to-Sell, attend carrier and FMO events, order supplies you need, and so much more. It’s months of training to even get to the start line. But now that AEP is well underway, what can you…
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We’re Here to Help You to Get Through the Rest of the AEP Season Over the course of the first half of the AEP season, we’ve learned a few things, specific to AEP 2023, we wanted to pass on to you to help you through the next few weeks. Below we’re sharing some hot topics…
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It’s AEP season. We know you’re working many hours, including nights and weekends, and you may be rushing to fit it all in. Take a few minutes to slow down and focus on the experience and service your client is getting. The goal of these appointments is not only to help them with their current…
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Gamechangers in the Insurance Market have so many great stories of how they do business and what has worked for them. But they do have a few things in common: education, growth, and leaning on other professionals for support. And that is exactly what this month’s Gamechanger is all about. Let us introduce you to…
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A Gamechanger to us is making strides in their business and their community. Showcasing these agents not only gives other agents ideas on how they can build their business but also recognizes these agents for their hard work in the field. So, this month we recognize one of our outstanding agents from Ohio. Let us…
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Client relationships are the lifeblood of Medicare agents. But how do you keep up with this and all your other tasks along the way? Providing excellent service to your clients is the foundation but also just the beginning. Learning to stay in front of your clients all year long will help keep your clients loyal…
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Gamechanger Interview with Dawn from Michigan! The UIG Gamechanger is making a comeback! Every month we will introduce you to a UIG-appointed agent who is making strides in their business and community. We hope to showcase these outstanding individuals and give other agents some ideas for their businesses. How long have you been an agent? …
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Nobody likes to be presented with surprise charges at the doctor’s office, right? As an agent, it’s your job to ensure your client understands these charges and how they may affect them. Educating your clients on how excess fees work will help prevent any surprises they may encounter when dealing with Medicare, Medicare Assignment, and…
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It’s the time of year again! Carrier certifications for AEP 2023 are starting this month! We’ve compiled a list here as we know it, and we’ll keep updating it for you, so check back again if you’re looking for a particular carrier! AHIP – June 20Medical Mutual of Ohio – June 27UnitedHealthcare – June 27Humana – June…
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People are retiring with less financial resources than they had ten years ago. This changes the current Medicare marketing landscape. Consider Medicare Dual eligible beneficiaries account for more than 20 percent of the Medicare population, leaving about 12.7 million Americans needing your knowledge, experience, and guidance. Let’s review some of the advantages of selling Dual…
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Can it be time again for AHIP? Absolutely. AHIP for 2023 will launch on June 20th (2022). Are you prepared for this exam? Are you familiar with AHIP? AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) is an annual exam most insurance carriers require to sell Medicare Advantage products. Carriers require AHIP to assure agents are compliant with…
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Last month, CMS announced the 2023 Maximum Broker Commissions for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D. These new numbers show an increase from 2022 for the maximum commissions allowed. Look at the chart below to see what these numbers are. When looking at these numbers, please remember, that insurance providers are not required to pay…
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If you’re like us, when you read the title of this article, you may have thought back to the advertisement that asks the question, What’s in Your Wallet? But we’re talking about something that supports what’s in your wallet: Your Product Portfolio, which may determine what’s in your wallet after the selling season is over!…
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Cancer affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives. It could be themselves, or someone they are close to. Statistics from the American Cancer Society tell us that there are nearly 160k new cancer cases a month, in all age groups. This cancer risk increases for individuals who have a family history, a history…
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Libby Elliott, one of our Broker Sales Specialists discusses how she went from not offering dental products to her clients to changing her mindset. There are many misconceived notions of selling dental plans, and most agents have their own thoughts on this topic. As an agent myself, I always thought they were too time-consuming to…
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Having an effective strategy for client retention will take your business to the next level. Do you have a strategy in place? Remember, hope is not a strategy. Your strategy does not need to be complicated or expensive. Just one that works for both you and your clients. Here are a few tips to find…
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This year, 4.2 million people turn 65. Are you on the right track to helping these seniors? Knowing what to do at certain times of the year helps keep agents on track, and the ability to push forward, at the right times. Agents know what to do leading up to AEP season, including certifying and…
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Every year from January 1 – March 31, a new Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) runs. But, what can agents do during OEP?
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Libby has been on the Broker Sales team at UIG for over 4 years now and brings lots of fun, heart, and excitement to our team. She values the relationships she builds with not only her team but also the agents she works with. Many of you may already know her, but for those of…
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On November 12th, CMS put out a press release detailing the increases for 2022. Your clients will likely be asking you how this affects them, and how much more they will need to pay. Read below for the complete press release: Press Release from CMS WebsiteTuesday, November 12, 2021 Today, the Centers for Medicare &…
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Have you met Dan Rhen? Dan is part of the Broker sales team here at UIG and has been with us for just about 3 years. Dan was in retail sales for over 25 years, so he is well versed in the sales funnel and has some great insight for agents! He’s a great addition…
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United Insurance Group Agency would like to announce the new Vice President of the Brokerage Division: Shawn Holcombe.
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Do you know Linda Isbell? Linda has been with UIG for almost 5 years, and has been an integral part of the growth the Brokerage department is now seeing! If you’ve met Linda, or even spoken to her on the phone, you know she’s got a great sense of humor! When we are in the…
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We have two agent incentive programs running right now you may qualify for as appointed agents! Priority Health Appointed Agents UIG would like to reward you for every 25 Priority Health apps you sell! Selling 25 Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans with Priority Health can earn you a $50 gift card from UIG! That’s…
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