Independent Brokers Face a New Federal Mandate "That is Unnecessary and Burdensome"

Effective October 1, 2022, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is introducing a new broker mandate. If you or anyone on your staff communicate with Medicare-eligible individuals, read on.

The new rule requires brokers to add a disclaimer to communications related to CMS-regulated Medicare products, including in phone calls.

The required new disclaimer states: “We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.”

In addition, the new rules require that broker phone calls related to CMS-regulated Medicare products be recorded.

This helpful recent Newsweek article provides more detail. The text of the full CMS Final Rule can be found here.

California Agents & Health Insurance Professionals (CAHIP) is urging CMS to remove licensed and certified independent agents and brokers from the new requirement. See CAHIP’s advocacy.

Save The Date! Fall Broker Roadshow

Blue Shield has announced the dates for their Q1-2023 Broker Roadshow:

• Tuesday, September 20, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
• Thursday, September 22, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

An official invitation will follow soon. Mark your calendars!

Oscar Care Team, Virtual Urgent Care, and Step Tracking

In addition to health insurance that’ll save your small groups money and treat their employees like family, Cigna + Oscar (C+O) offers:

Oscar Care Team
Personalized Care Teams help members manage their care. Learn more.

Virtual Urgent Care 24/7
All C+O plans come with $0 copay and unlimited calls with a provider which helps reduce doctor visits and out-of-pocket expenses. Learn more.

Step Tracking Rewards
Members can earn up to $100 per year in Amazon gift cards. Learn more.

With rates comparable to Kaiser, and networks that include Dignity Health, UCSF, Stanford, and Sutter, Cigna + Oscar brings together the power of Cigna’s nationwide and local provider networks, and Oscar’s member-focused tech-driven experience, to deliver small group health insurance that meets the unique needs of California small businesses and their employees.

Contact us today for Cigna + Oscar quote.

August is National Eye Exam Month

Established as a way to educate the public about eye health and safety, National Eye Exam Month is important because:

• Good vision improves work performance.
• Eye exams can help reveal other issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
• Eye exams can prevent many serious eye diseases that often have no symptoms but can have severe effects on vision and eye health later on. 

Remind your groups to schedule their eye exams and get their eyes checked regularly as part of their annual healthcare routine.

This is also the perfect opportunity to discuss the advantages of vision coverage and help your groups save money with MetLife's flexible and comprehensive benefit options.

With the addition of Davis Vision and Superior to the MetLife portfolio earlier this year, large group members now have access to one of the largest provider networks in the country. Plus, exceptional service and claims experience make it easy for employers and employees to manage and use vision care benefits. Get the details.

Contact us today for a MetLife quote.