Talking Medicare is the Senior Marketing Specialists weekly topic sheet. Information for agents to know for their clients, staff, and industry.

2017 AEP Tool Box – Agents Most Useful Tool for AEP in 2017!

Senior Marketing Specialists is helping you maximize your 2017 AEP with all your resources

in one place.

https://www.smsteam.net/training-posts/2017-aep-tool-box/

Durable Power of Attorney vs. Power of Attorney

A regular power of attorney ends when its purpose is fulfilled or at a person’s incapacity or death.

A durable power of attorney serves the same function as a power of attorney. However, as its name implies, the agency relationship remains effective even if a person becomes incapacitated. This makes the durable power of attorney an effective estate planning tool. If incapacity should strike a person, their agent can maintain their financial affairs until they are again able to do so, without any need for court involvement. That way, their family’s needs continue to be provided for, and the risk of financial loss is reduced. A durable power of attorney ends at their death.

Toolkit for Advanced Medical Planning:

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_aging/resources/health_care decision_making/consumer_s_toolkit_for_health_care_advance_planning.html

Estate Planning FAQ: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/resources/estate_planning/estate_planning_faq.html#4

MA/PDP Effective Date Must Be After the Date the Agent Receives the Application

“For requests submitted to sales agents, including brokers, the application date is the date the agent and/or broker receives (accepts) the enrollment request and not the date the organization receives the enrollment request from the agent and/or broker. For purposes of enrollment, receipt by the agent or broker employed by or contracting with the organization, is considered receipt by the plan, thus all CMS required timeframes for enrollment processing begin on this date.”

– Definitions Chapter 2 CMS Medicare Managed Care Manual

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/MedicareMangCareEligEnrol/Downloads/CY_2017_MA_Enrollment_and_Disenrollment_Guidance_8-25-2016.pdf

Using Medicare.gov to Compare MA and PDP Plans

On the right side of the plan finder section of Medicare.gov there is a five part video training series for using the plan finder. This step by step tool is fantastic as either a refresher or agent training tool. You can find it by following this link: https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx

See the Medicare Plan Enrollment That Medicare Has on File for Your Client

Use this tool on Medicare.gov to check your client’s current and future enrollment:

https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/enrollment/check-enrollment.aspx