
Agent Update Memo — December 2025
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: 12/29/2025
Senior Marketing Specialists Updates
THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL AEP! We appreciate all of your partnerships!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
You can now use KeyAccountSupport@smsteam.net for your support questions!
- Check out the recording of our Post-AEP Selling Opportunities webinar!
Check out our new 2026 Cost Sheets you can utilize!
- 2026 Medicare Costs & Premiums – fillable for clients
- Detailed 2026 Costs & Premiums
- January 1
Industry Updates
- Fierce Healthcare: 2026 Outlook: The domino effect of Medicaid cuts and the hidden costs for healthcare
- Fierce Healthcare: CVS Health agrees to pay $37.8M to settle fraud allegations over insulin pens
- Fierce Healthcare: Healthcare Dealmakers – WVU Health System adding 5 hospitals; Arkansas plans combine and more
- Fierce Healthcare: Humana taps Amazon’s Aaron Martin to lead insurance unit as company veteran steps down
- Medicare Rights Center: CMS Rescinds Nursing Home Staffing Requirements
- Oklahoma State Medical Association: Will AI decide your healthcare coverage? Oklahoma’s pilot program starts in January
- The Seattle Times: Murray pushes to halt federal pilot adding AI to Medicare approvals
- State of Arkansas: State Draws Protest Over Medicare Deal
- Quarles: Countdown to 2026: New Year Changes in Telehealth Impacting Medicare Providers
- WSB-TV Atlanta: Peachtree City man ordered to pay $7.2 million over Medicare fraud conspiracy
Carrier Updates
- Last stretch for some of the ongoing Q4 bonuses! Check out our Contests Page to learn more.
- Do you need a Scan, Alignment, or Imperial Health in CA? Give our teams a call to see how we can help!
- BJC and St. Luke’s have reached an agreement and should expect to remain in-network come January 2026!
- Blue KC and Highmark Inc. announce plans to affiliate.
- Aetna, Humana, Essence, and UHC: FEMA SEP for MO – All counties, March 15, 2025 – February 28, 2026.
- Have you checked out Manhattan Affordable Choice as an alternative for your ACA clients? Learn more here!
AETNA
- Avera Health will be Out-of-Network starting January 1, 2026.
BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA
- Announced commission changes. If you need to evaluate your portfolio to ensure you have good alternatives, give us a call!
CIGNA
- Broker portal has transitioned over to HealthSpring. Lots of agents have had sporadic login issues with it.
DEVOTED
- You can view Digital ID cards in Devoted’s Agent Portal! Save the hassle in Q1 of client phone calls and download them there (both for current and future cards).
GTL
- Almost everyone gets an annual physical. Why not turn that into $100 for your clients? GTL’s Advantage Plus Elite product offers a Guaranteed Purchase Option (GPO) Rider, which includes a wellness benefit!
HEALTHSPRING
- PDP December renewals paying a week early (December 24, 2025) instead of December 31, 2025.
MANHATTAN LIFE
- The Affordable Choice Specified Disease Rider is now available in Kentucky, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
UHC
- EZ Claim Pay annual Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) withdrawal of the full 2026 Medicare Part B deductible will be processed for all members enrolled in the Pay Up Front option on December 29, 2025.
WELLABE
- Med Supp to exit Arkansas January 1, 2026.
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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