Agent Update Memo — April 2026
Agent Update Memo — April 2026
Below you will find new Medicare training and information both from Senior Marketing Specialists and the insurance industry as a whole. This information will be updated throughout the month.
Last Edited: 04/27/2026
Senior Marketing Specialists Updates
- It’s not too early to start building out your AEP plan – schedule your meeting with us.
- Two months out from AHIP and 2027 Certifications!
- IntegrityCONNECT now has calendar scheduling available!
- If you’re attending this year’s Medicarians event in Las Vegas, be sure to meet with us for one-on-one strategic business growth conversations designed to help you strengthen, scale, and future-proof your agency. Click here to schedule a meeting now!
- Interested in starting to do ICHRA for groups? We can offer this solution for you!
- Check out our blog on Mistakes Agents Make When Preparing to Sell!
- Client Intake Form and Fact Finder
WEBINAR SCHEDULE
- Introducing The Senior Market Signal: April 28 at 1 PM CST
- Inside the CMS Final Rule: April 30 at 2 PM CST
Industry Updates
- The healthcare job market continues to add additional positions despite AI and a slowing job market.
- The bulk of mental health services for people with depression are provided in primary care settings.
- Primary care providers prescribe 79 percent of antidepressant medications and see 60 percent of people being treated for depression in the United States.
CMS Finalizes 2027 MA and PDP increase of 2.48%
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge demonstration, which will serve as an interim program before the Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive Health (BALANCE) Model launches January 1, 2027, in Medicare Part D.
CMS has announced the 2027 Final Rule! What changed:
- No 48-Hour Waiting Period after completing the Scope of Appointment (SOA)
- No 12 hour wait between Educational and Sales Event
- Only calls that result in enrollment must be recorded
- The 10 year retention of the call has been dropped to 6 years (audio for 3 and transcript for the following 3)
- TPMO disclaimers are only required before benefits are discussed and no longer are subject to the first minute of the call. [TCPA rules are still enforced]
CMS interoperability proposed rule – CMS and ONC issued a new proposed rule requiring:
- Medicare Advantage organizations to support electronic prior authorization for drugs.
- Expanded API reporting for Patient Access, Provider Directory, Provider Access, Payer-to-Payer exchange, and Prior Authorization APIs.
- Plans would also be required to report API usage.
- The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge is a short-term demonstration run by CMS that will provide eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries with access to certain GLP-1 drugs between July 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027.
Resources:
Carrier Updates
- Quarter 2 contests are coming out! Click here to visit our Contests page!
- Medicare Supplement rate increases are rolling out and AARP has announced many states.
- JarvisEnroll now includes a data-validation check to help ensure consumer information is accurate when completing a Medicare Advantage application. If information appears incorrect – such as a birthdate or MBI number that doesn’t match an actual consumer in the CMS Medicare database – you’ll see an error message.
AETNA
- New Aetna Disaster SEP’s in: WI, TX, KS, MI, SD, ID, MI, IA.
AFLAC
- May Rate Increases in: AR, CO, DE, KY, MT, ND, NE, NM, PA, RI, UT, and VA.
CIGNA
- Cigna is suppressed/non-comped plans in MANY markets! Reach out to us if you haven’t seen the announcement.
HEALTHSPRING
- HealthSpring re-brand is in process!
- Broker: On April 27th, our Medicare Supplement and Supplemental Health & Life portfolio will transition to the HealthSpring brand in: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington. Review this email for a summary of what is changing/isn’t changing.
- Member: Rebranded policy kit mailings are in progress.
MEDICO
- Medico is rolling out HIP changes starting May 1 to Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, and Ohio. It will transition to the enhanced Hospital Indemnity product, bringing added value and more benefits for clients.
MUTUAL OF OMAHA
- Med Supp Bonus: For a limited time, brokers can earn an increased bonus of $250 per underwritten Medicare supplement application, in participating states. The enhanced bonus is available for issued business until June 30, 2026. View the 2Q Broker Bonus flyer here!
- HIP plan expansion: AK, CO, HI, IN, IA, NH, ND, RI, SD, UT, VT, VA.
UHC
- UHC Med Supp Rate Increases are out for: Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, & Vermont.
WELLABE
- 5/1 Med Supp Updates: Illinois and Louisiana will move to new underwriting charters, and customers will now be eligible for a 12% household discount compared to the current 10% discount. Illinois will also have access to the innovative dental rider.
- With Wellabe, it is now even simpler to cross-sell Critical Illness Cancer Insurance. Eligible clients who are approved for an underwritten Medicare Supplement policy will now automatically be offered a $10,000 lump-sum cancer policy with no underwriting or medical question.
All contracted Agents receive FREE access to SMS-University, the industry’s most trusted, comprehensive online training platform, featuring numerous training modules, white-papers, and clear, concise education tools.
Sources:
cited in article
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