Plan Advisors

Helping you choose the right health plan

Get Prepared with our 2022 Pre-AEP Reminders

AHIP

by

It’s almost that time of year again! October 15th is approaching quickly! The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is one of the most anticipated days of the year in the world of Medicare brokers. Let’s admit that saying you’ll be busy might feel like an understatement. However, Plan Advisors is here to help you prepare and ensure you have the resources you need for your most successful AEP yet.

  1. Get Contracted NOW – The closer AEP is, the more brokers there are vying to get an appointment for new plans. Now is the time to prepare for your carrier appointments. Take it from us – you don’t want to be stuck at the back of the line!
  2. AHIP or NAHU – Don’t forget to do your annual training! AHIP is universally recognized, but NAHU is cheaper, offers CE credits, and is growing its carrier base daily. Whichever you choose to pursue, you don’t want to wait too long.
  3. Complete Carrier Specific Certifications – It is fairly common that you will not only need to submit your AHIP or NAHU certification but also to complete specific MA plan training. The more quickly you can get your certifications out of the way, the more time you’ll be able to dedicate your time to marketing and selling. There is no time like the present to get started on your carrier certifications for any new plans you want to represent in 2023.
  4. Get Familiar with Online Enrollment Platforms – With digital enrollment tools being utilized more than ever, it is vital that you learn the best tips and tricks to use them to your advantage. Whether it’s a carrier-specific enrollment platform or MedicareCENTER, you’ll want to create strategies that use them effectively. 
  5. Get Familiar with Broker Portals –If you aren’t sure where to access things like plan materials, commission reports, customer service submission, and much more, then you need to become more familiar with our online Broker Portal. Having a thorough understanding of this tool can have a major impact on your business. 

If there is one tip that can be seen repeatedly, it’s that you should never wait to get things done when it comes to AEP. Whether it’s appointments or certifications, the sooner you can get them done, the better you’ll be able to serve your book of business, new and old. It is never too late to start preparing, gathering materials, and getting ahead of the rush for the 2022 Annual Enrollment Period.

by

Are you planning on taking the AHIP Medicare training test in the near future? You don’t have to stress! We’ve put together a list of tips and tricks for passing AHIP that will help you improve your chances of getting AHIP certified on the first try!

In order to sell Medicare Advantage plans and Part D products, you must complete specific government-required training, including your AHIP training and certification. At Plan Advisors, we want to provide you with AHIP help on how to best prepare for the exam and how to set yourself up for success throughout the preparation process.

How To: PREPARE

The training modules and AHIP practice quizzes are the best place to start when preparing to take the exam. Think back to when you were preparing to take your driver’s test. How did you prepare to take the exam? (Pro Tip: The answer probably isn’t hoping for the miraculous infusion of knowledge while you slept the night before the test!) It was studying the material from the textbook and taking practice exams, right?

So, before you dive into the exam, set aside some time to go through the AHIP training modules at least once. In fact, we recommend reviewing them multiple times especially if they are new concepts. Take your time going through the information, and let the details resonate with you, especially if it will be your first time taking this exam. 

If you are taking the exam to get recertified, it may only be required to take parts four and five, but we recommend retaking each part to refresh your memory and get you ready for all the different questions you’ll encounter on the final test.

HINT: In the past, some questions from the AHIP practice quizzes have appeared on the final exam. It is so important that you feel confident in answering the practice questions and any potential variations.

While navigating the training modules, you will find practice quizzes placed throughout. You are welcome to complete and retake them as many times as you’d like. If you get a question wrong on one of the quizzes, work to dig out the correct answer within the modules. Once you come to the conclusion, write the question down for easy reference if you find that you continue having trouble with the same question or topic of concern.

How To: Take Notes 

Take notes — as many notes as you would like. Study them and keep them handy for the test. Spoiler alert: The AHIP test is an open-book test, so you can actually refer to your notes (and the modules themselves) while taking the test!

If you happen to be taking the AHIP exam for the first time, write down the questions or topics you’re struggling with. We even recommend writing down why you are having trouble with the question. Make note of where to find specific answers in the modules so that you can quickly reference them during the final exam. For instance, they may just say, “Look at [insert number or description here] slide for this answer!”

An Open-Book, but Timed, Test 

Who doesn’t love an open-book test? This means you can always refer to any materials AHIP provides for you, along with any notes that you take. The fact that AHIP is timed makes it super important that you use your time and resources as efficiently as possible. You don’t want to waste valuable seconds and minutes constantly flipping through pages or scrolling through the modules on your computer.

With that being said, be sure to keep in mind that preparing was one of our tips for a reason. “Open-book” might entice you to forgo studying, but being familiar with the material you’re tested on is always a good idea, especially for open-book exams. Since the exam is timed, you don’t want to spend all of your time searching for answers. You just want to be able to find answers if you can’t remember something or if you encounter a more difficult question!

To complete the test, you must be able to get through 50 questions in two hours. Easy, yes? But, remember you can only spend about two to two and half minutes on each question. This does not include time to review your answers afterwards or go back to any hard questions. It is additionally important to note that if you have to retake the test, the questions are randomly selected meaning you could get different ones each time. 

Tech Tips:

Set up multiple windows on one screen! 

One way you can save time is by utilizing “split-screening”, or making half of your computer screen show the AHIP exam and the other half show the modules you downloaded. You can do this by opening your favorite internet window and then sizing it to fit half of your screen. Then, open the AHIP training modules you downloaded and size them to fit the other half of your screen.You may also consider having each file take up the whole screen and just flip between the tabs. 

Quickly reference keywords within your AHIP materials

Looking for a particular note that can help you answer a specific question? Did you take your notes in an online document? If so, you don’t have to scroll through all of your notes until something looks familiar. Instead, try clicking onto your document where your notes are located, then press the Ctrl and F buttons on your keyboard at the same time to open the “Find” feature! (You can usually use the “Find” feature while in a Word document, PowerPoint presentation, PDF, or web page.) Then, type in a keyword or short phrase and click “enter.” The tool should allow you to quickly go to the places in the document where that word or phrase is mentioned. 

Unfortunately, this trick will no longer work for searching the modules. So, TAKE NOTES!

Pro Tip: Enter only one keyword or a really short phrase when using the “Find” feature.

Plan Advisors’ Extra Tricks:

If you happen to struggle with test anxiety or get butterflies in your stomach come game time, we discovered some tips and tricks to creating a conducive test-taking environment to ease your nerves.

  • Find a good location. Try your home office, your living room, the local library, or a coffee shop where you can find some peace and quiet. Be sure to plug into a power outlet and ensure that your location contains a stable internet connection.
  • Limit your exposure to outside distractions. Put away your cell phone and silence your email notifications. Close all other programs on your computer. (Social media can wait!) Utilize a good pair of comfortable, noise-canceling headphones if needed.
  • Create a comfortable ambiance. Do you enjoy a lit candle or your wax warmer? Get that set up prior to starting the exam! Slip into your favorite outfit. Open your windows to let in fresh air. Can you think of anything else to create your ideal environment? We encourage you to take any other necessary steps to ensure you’ll be comfortable and relaxed!
  • Grab your favorite drink and a few snacks. Whether you enjoy coffee, tea, or water, fruit, chips and salsa, or veggies and dip — have your favorite snacks and drinks handy. Plus, this step could help you minimize distractions if you’re somebody who might benefit from a quick snack break during the exam.
  • Be optimistic! Are you a glass-half-full type of person? Those who are more optimistic, tend to better manage stress, and that, in turn, has a whole lot of other health benefits!

Those Medicare agents who have ventured around the block a few times say that AHIP is manageable once you get the hang of it. If you happen to get more questions incorrect than you thought you would, or if you fail your first time taking the final AHIP exam, don’t beat yourself up. Just be sure to note the areas that you held hesitations for, and study up on those areas a little more. 

Remember, you have three chances to pass the exam! Plan Advisors encourages you to put in the effort you need to, take notes, and create an ideal test-taking location. We believe that you will pass and may even have chances to spare!

Do you still have questions? Contact us at 502.228.1308 or email us at info@myplanadvisors.com.

by

It is that time of year again; It’s time to get certified! Here at Plan Advisors, we want to provide our brokers with the proper tools and resources to get all of the knowledge and expertise that they desire.

“Why should I get certified?”

When looking ahead to 2023, we want you to get prepared with the industry’s most widely recognized medicare training, Medicare + Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (MFWA) training. Medicare + Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (MFWA) training launches in just a few weeks on June 20, 2022. To be more than ready to start the course that will help you learn, achieve, succeed, and grow your business, take time to explore all the benefits of AHIP’s acclaimed MFWA program.

For more than five decades, AHIP training has been the gold standard for helping professionals learn, achieve, and succeed. That includes AHIP’s MFWA online training. This one-stop program offers unsurpassed value and excellence:

  • Need CE credits? They’re available in all states.
  • Maximum efficiency: A single portal makes it even easier to send your training scores to multiple health insurance providers
  • Enhanced mobile-friendly technology
  • Easy language changing: Switch between English and Spanish any time
  • Elevated security functions
  • And much more

“What do I do if I don’t know where or how to get certified?”

Are you ready to look ahead to the plethora of other training courses that are on the horizon? Check out the chart below that will give you the details surrounding the upcoming carrier certifications that will be available to you. Below, you can find links to insurance carrier announcements, certification dates, available discounts, reimbursement opportunities, allotted number of certification attempts, and more. To download the chart and begin to take advantage of this content designed specifically for Plan Advisors’ brokers, click here. It’s time to get certified!

by

Plan Advisors understands that the buzz around disclaimers and the recording rule speculation surrounding each and every enrollment is ever-present. In fact, we continue to receive more guidance on what creating compliant marketing materials should look like and how to do it. With all of the new information we continue to receive, we feel it is worth mentioning. 

The following disclaimers are, in fact, final and required for all marketing materials from this point forward. So, how do we know what disclaimers apply to us and what disclaimers are necessary? Humana has created a spectacular guide that you can view here.

Marketing or Communication Disclaimers?

Marketing. The commercial’s intent is to draw the beneficiary to a Medicare Advantage plan(s) since name-specific plans remain unacknowledged. The content addresses plan premium, cost-sharing, and benefit information for plans represented and sold by the third party.

Let’s Break it Down…

It is important to note that if your material aligns with what marketing is, then these additional disclaimers apply: 

  • Federal Contracting Statements must be present on all “marketing” materials, except banners, banner-like advertisements, outdoor advertisements, text messages, social media posts, and envelopes.
    • Example Text: “Plans are insured or covered by a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and/or a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.”
  • Third-Party Marketing Disclaimers must exist on all third-party websites, marketing materials, and television/radio advertisements that meet the definition of “marketing”. (Note: For those that truly offer every option in a service area, this disclaimer is not imperative.)
    • Required Text: “We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans that we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.”
  • Benefits Disclaimers apply if plan benefits include additional coverage (i.e. Dental, Vision, Hearing, OTC, Transportation, Fitness, etc.).
    • Example Text: “Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location. Deductibles, copays and coinsurance may apply.”
  • Part B Give-Back Disclaimers must be present on all materials when Part B give-back info is written.
    • Required Text: “Part B Premium give-back is not available with all plans. Availability varies by carrier and location. Actual Part B premium reductions vary.”
  • When mentioning STAR Ratings Disclaimers, it is necessary to convey that Medicare performs yearly evaluations, and that a 5-star rating system is active.
    • Example Text: “Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.”

Recording Rule Speculation

At Plan Advisors, we want to emphasize that the rumors surrounding recording every meeting and enrollment is simply a proposed rule. It is up for discussion and open for comment. Additionally, the Medicare industry will receive more guidance on this information within the next few weeks. The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) and American Political Advocacy and Trade Association of Health Insurance Companies (AHIP) are actively working to ensure that this exists solely for call centers instead of the on-the-go agent.

It is important to note that we will continue to update our brokers as we move forward and learn more of the final decisions surrounding the changes to marketing disclaimers and the recording rule speculation surrounding each and every enrollment.

by

It is time to book a getaway to Las Vegas, Nevada on June 21 – 23, 2022 to experience and gain professional connection at the AHIP Conference!  Since the conference is just over a month away, we motivate you to prepare with all of the need-to-know information.

What To Expect At The Conference

At Plan Advisors, we encourage you to seek out opportunities to connect—in person—with experts and leaders from within and outside of our industry. At the AHIP conference, you will engage with leadership from health insurance provider organizations, both big and small, while diving into focused learning experiences relevant to your organization and the amazing work that you do. Throughout the conference, you are welcome to enjoy a mixture of educational Q&A sessions, meaningful networking breaks, exhibit hall time, and downtime with colleagues from coast-to-coast. As a result, you will learn how AHIP can help you do your job even better!

How Will Making Connections Benefit You? 

Finally, we encourage you to set aside time to experience and gain professional connection at the AHIP 2022 Conference. By doing so, you will discover breakthrough ideas, research, and products in sessions and the exhibit hall. The conference will additionally inspire you to take time from the daily grind and fresh thinking. If you are feeling stuck or in a stand-still professionally, you will find solutions that would take you months to find on your own. Click here to view the list of talented, featured speakers from organizations of all sizes. 

Helpful Links And Resources To Visit