Virginia Beach, VA, Aug. 18, 2008/For Immediate Release/ — Optima Health (Optima) and Ritter Insurance Marketing recently signed a Marketing agreement which enables Ritter Insurance Marketing to contract and train independent brokers to enroll Medicare Beneficiaries in Optima Medicare Advantage products.
Craig Ritter, President of Ritter Insurance Marketing said, “We believe Optima is uniquely positioned in the Virginia market to offer substantial value to Insurance producers who are seeking a Network-Based Medicare Advantage product for their Medicare-Eligible clients.”
Craig states, “Optima currently markets one of only two Local PPO Medicare Advantage products in their 60-county Virginia Medicare Advantage service area. The majority of Medicare Advantage plans sold in the Optima service area are Private Fee for Service Medicare Advantage plans (PFFS).”
Craig continues, “However, the recent legislation passed by Congress will, in some cases, require (by the year 2011) PFFS Medicare Advantage plans to have a network of medical providers which will be reviewed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This network requirement may adversely impact the long-term future of PFFS plans.”
Craig concludes, “Fortunately, Optima’s Medicare Advantage PPO plans already have their network in place and, therefore, would not be impacted by this aspect of the recent Medicare legislation. This, alone, makes Optima’s Local PPO Medicare Advantage products crucial for any Insurance Agent selling Medicare products in Optima’s service area.”
John DeGruttola, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Optima said, “Optima is pleased to add Ritter Insurance Marketing to our growing Medicare Advantage product field distribution team. Ritter has a proven track record in the Medicare Advantage market of working with health plans, like Optima, to build and manage a robust independent field force.”
About Optima Health Plans
Optima Health is a leading provider of health benefits in Virginia. Optima Health currently serves more then 362,000 members in Virginia. Optima Health offers a full spectrum of health insurance products for large and small employer groups, as well as Medicare Advantage plans for retirees and Optima Family Care, a Medicaid HMO, in addition to consumer driven health investment options and individual and family plans. For more information about Optima Health, visit www.optimahealth.com.
About Ritter Insurance Marketing
Working with over 6,000 Independent Agents, Ritter Insurance Marketing (www.ritterim.com) is one of the leading Senior Insurance Marketing firms in the United States.
Through proprietary online quoting software (www.MedicareQuoteEngine.com), Ritter allows its agents to Quote and Compare Medicare products anywhere in the United States.
By using proprietary Web Integration Services, powered by Oracle’s CRM on DemandTM, Ritter’s Independent agents can view appointment data, track service requests, access a knowledge base, track sales leads and more. . .all online and in “real-time.”
The Ritter Insurance Medicare Blog (blog.ritterim.com) receives over 8,000 views per month and addresses issues of concern for Insurance Agents who work with clients enrolled in Medicare.
Even though this is an older post I think it is very relevant today as insurance companies blend the technical capabilities (online appointments, sales etc.) with individual (agent) expertise.