Here is Janet Trautwein, CEO of NAHU’s letter to Kerry Weems who is the head of CMS.
NAHU is advocating a bit different set of rules with respect to broker commissions which takes into account the fact that a “like to like” plan change (whether PDP or MAPD) takes a bit more work than simply letting a Medicare Beneficiary’s plan renew from year to year without doing an “Annual Review”.
Please comment below. Is this something we can get behind?
This is a good start. CMS must wake up and realize that medicare recipients need our assistance. I am seeing more medicare advantage commercials on TV this year than other years. The ads tell seniors to compare plans and call 1-800-medicare for help. This sounds great but when you dont understand the plans, how can you compare them and how many seniors want to do this on their own. It takes just as much time initially getting into a plan as it does comparing plans each year, hopefully this letter reaches the ears of reason and commissions will therefore follow.
Craig,
This is the result of your previous hard work you put in to get us fair compensation. Thank you! I can’t imagine being able to stay in this for the long haul with the current commissions. This year is a loss, but I am very encouraged by this for future years.
Craig,
I think I can get behind this if:
a) Similar Benefits; lower premium is included in the definition of better benefits.
b) Not limited to beneficiaries migrating to a SNP.
c) Demonstration of better benefits is accomplished by the signing of a replacement form.
Regarding a) – The lower premium/better benefits would have additional benefits. Encourage plans to reduce premiums. Including a change in premium as an “acceptable” catalyst will keep pressure on insurance companies to maintain existing premium. ATT: CMS THIS WILL BENEFIT BENIFICIARIES – Once insurance companies figure out that there little advice I can see premiums gradually move higher as insurance companies squeeze existing enrollees.
Joe