Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Posted October 3rd, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Each year employers must provide a written notice to Medicare-eligible employees who are covered under their group health plan. The notice must include information about the creditable coverage status of the prescription drug benefit. In other words, the notice tells employees if the prescription drug benefit on the group health plan is at least as good as the standard Medicare Part D plan. 
 
Posted September 19th, 2016 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Employers must provide a written notice on an annual basis to any Medicare-eligible individuals who are covered under a group health plan that includes prescription drug coverage. The notice is required to include information as to whether the prescription drug coverage is considered to be creditable. In other words, is the prescription drug coverage at least as good as the standard Medicare Part D plan? 
 
Posted November 20th, 2015 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released premium and cost sharing information for Medicare beneficiaries in 2016.  Approximately 70% of individuals will pay $104.90 per month for Part B, however, the premium cost will be higher for the remaining 30% of individuals who:
 
  1. Enroll in Part B for the first time in 2016; or
  2. Those who don’t currently receive Social Security benefits; or
  3. People who have Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicaid pays the Part B premium; or
Posted October 14th, 2015 in Producers, Employers

The 2016 Medicare Part D annual enrollment period will begin on October 15, 2015 and run through December 7, 2015. Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in a Part D drug plan or make changes to existing coverage during this time period. Enrollment can be done through a stand-alone drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that integrates coverage for medical and drug expenses.      

Posted October 24th, 2014 in Producers
We, at the Flex General Agency, are excited about this Medicare sales season and wanted to provide some general insight for insurance professionals regarding this booming marketplace. 
 
Reminder: The 2015 Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period started on October 15 and runs though December 7, 2014
 
Posted November 25th, 2013 in Producers, Employers, Individuals

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made a significant announcement on November 19, 2013 that will give insurance companies the ability to verify subsidy eligibility and directly enroll individuals in a subsidized plan without having to direct them to the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) as part of the process. This announcement appears to be a way to address some of the technical problems and glitches that HealthCare.gov has been plagued with since its launch on October 1, 2013. 

Posted September 27th, 2013 in Producers, Employers, Individuals

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed regulations about a new Basic Health Program that will be available starting in 2015. The Basic Health Program will be a lower cost alternative for people that cannot afford health plans in the insurance exchanges, such as those people that fall just outside of Medicaid eligibility. 

Posted September 10th, 2013 in Producers

Part II of the registration process for insurance producers to sell coverage in the Federally-Facilitated and State Partnership Exchanges has officially launched.  Part II only needs to be completed by producers who wish to sell in the individual market

Part II is expected to take approximately 30 minutes to complete and requires identity proofing on the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Enterprise Portal.

Posted August 13th, 2013 in Producers

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched the first part of the certification process required for producers to sell insurance products in federally facilitated and state partnership exchanges.

There are different requirements that must be completed depending on the products that the producer wishes to sell. Please note that some courses are highly recommended but not required. 

Posted May 8th, 2013 in Individuals, Employers, Producers

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement on April 30, 2013 that the public exchange applications, officially referred to as the Marketplace Consumer Applications, have been revised.

The Invidual Short Form is now just three pages in length. The Family Form is also said to have been reduced by about two-thirds its original length.

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