Medicare Planning
Medicare planning news and analysis, including coverage of the Medicare Advantage program, Medicare supplement insurance, the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly plans.
Marketing Period
By staff WriterDuring the marketing period, which begins on Oct. 1, producers who sell Medicare products are allowed to advertise using any materials that have been approved by CMS. View CMS' marketing guidelines, see examples of CMS-approved material, learn how
January 01, 2009
Medicare PrimerThere are a variety of Medicare products that agents can offer to their clients. Medicare Part D, Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Advantage programs provide excellent alternatives to original Medicare. For an outline of the different plan types,
January 01, 2009
Understanding Medicare's Annual Election PeriodMedicare's annual election period -- the time between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, when all Medicare Advantage health plans are open and accepting new members -- is an important opportunity, especially for those who have recently lost their job or retired and
January 01, 2009
The Resurgence of Medicare SupplementMedicare supplement, once thought to be going the way of the dinosaurs, is making a strong comeback. Sales of the product -- also known as "Med supp" or "Medigap" -- are experiencing growth as 34 percent of seniors
January 01, 2009
Maximizing Sales in the Medicare Advantage Sales CycleThe latest Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) has rocked the Medicare industry, and many producers are just now having the opportunity to let the dust settle. So what does it all mean, and how do agents maximize sales in
January 01, 2009
Medicare Part D: A Valuable Prescription Drug ServiceMedicare and Medicaid definitions are filled with jargon that is difficult for agents to understand, let alone explain to their clients. But you could be offering your clients a helping hand by describing Medicare Part D, a federal prescription drug
January 01, 2009
MA, Med Supp, and Part D: 3 Markets, Countless ChallengesPeople often talk about Medicare as if it were one product. But the truth is that the three types of Medicare products that agents are able to sell -- Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage (MA), and Medicare Part D -- are three very
December 31, 2008
Medicare Part D: A Valuable Prescription Drug ServiceMedicare and Medicaid definitions are filled with jargon that is difficult for agents to understand, let alone explain to their clients. But you could be offering your clients a helping hand by describing Medicare Part D, a federal prescription drug