
Agent Update Memo — May 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: 5/26/2026
Senior Marketing Specialists Updates
Check out our latest blog, The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, written by Rachel Brammeier and William Pierce!
Wanting advice on branding? Give Brand Foundations: How to Build Trust, Visibility, and Momentum a read!
One of our very own team members, Erin Blevins, was diagnosed and fought cancer. She opened up about her experience so you can see what its like to be a cancer survivor. Check out our blog, Why Cancer Insurance Matters: A Lesson I Learned the Hard Way.
Looking for resources? Check out our MA/PDP/AEP Toolkit, available exclusively to contracted agents!
- Need Plan N information? See our blog on Plan N and Why You Need to Offer It or download our Fillable Plan N Information Sheet on our MA/PDP/AEP Toolkit (linked above)!
- Easy Medicare Supplement Quoting AND Market Data with Market Edge. Login here or register today!
- Legacy Safeguard Membership Card: Now Available for Apple Wallet!
WEBINAR SCHEDULE
- Senior Market Signal – Wednesday, May 27 at 12:00 PM CST
- Overcoming Objections – Thursday, May 28 at 2 PM CST
Industry Updates
- Advisory Board: Priced out: Health plan enrollment plummets due to rising costs
- Business Wire: Mark Farrah Associates Noted Record Lows and Highs for Medicare Advantage and PDPs
- CMS: Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
- CMS: Moving Prior Authorization into the 21st Century
- Fierce Healthcare: Cigna to exit ACA market, pursue strategic alternatives for eviCore unit
- Fierce Healthcare: Omada signs on with Optum Rx’s GLP-1 management program
- KFF: Medicare Advantage Enrollment Grew by About 1 Million People, Mainly Due to Special Needs Plans
- 3 Page Guide: What Agents Need to Know
- CMS Final Rule Fact Sheet
- Integrity’s Recorded Webinar: Final Rule Takeaways
Carrier Updates
- Starting early May, most members currently enrolled in an AARP Medicare Supplement or Personal Health Insurance Plan from UHC will receive a new ID card in the mail. The new card will reflect an updated claims address.
- Click here to see all of the carrier trips and incentives going on!
AARP
- Med Supp Comp Amendment in ND, MD, VA, and MN.
AETNA
- Aetna is rolling out new DVH products to OH starting May 11!
CIGNA
- Suppressed / non-comped plans in MANY markets! Reach out to us if you haven’t seen the announcement.
- Update to Cigna branded policies coming soon to Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Cigna’s Medicare Supplement and Supplemental Health & Life portfolio will be transitioning to the HealthSpring brand.
CLEAR SPRING
- Clear Spring Health will be exiting the Medicare Advantage market as of June 1, 2026. Click here for the Member FAQ.
DEVOTED
- Devoted has announced their 2027 expansion states and registration for Plan Year 2027 is OPEN: Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York. Note: Wisconsin was removed from this list.
GTL
- Hospital Indemnity GI up to 75 in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CT, GA, HI, IA, IN, LA, MO, MS, MT, OH, NC, ND, NE, NV, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI, WV, and WY.
HEALTHSPRING
- DST-SEPs in Colorado, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington.
HUMANA
- How to Work With Humana PowerPoint
- Non-comp plan updates, give us a call if you have any questions!
MUTUAL OF OMAHA
- The 2027 trip destination is to Prague! Reach out to us with questions on qualifications.
UNITED HEALTHCARE
- Med Supp is sending new ID Cards starting late May to reflect the updated claims address.
- UHC has premium rate change information available for several states.
- UHIC Plans: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, D.C., FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, LA, MA, ME, MI, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY.
- UHICA Plans: AR, AZ, IL, MS, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN.
- UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York: NY
WELLCARE
- New Wellcare Medicare Supplement enrollments will no longer be accepted in the following markets effective June 1, 2026: California (Health Net), Arkansas (QualChoice), and Oregon (Health Net).
ZING HEALTH
- Zing Health is expanding enrollment in the following states: IN, MI, and TN.
AEP Updates
CERT DATES:
- June 1 – UHC Fast Start opens for qualifying agents.
- June 8 – UHC opens for all other agents.
- June 22 – AHIP opens!
- June 23 – Aetna opens! (New portal this year)
- June 23 Devoted opens!
All contracted Agents receive FREE access to SMS University, the industry’s most trusted, comprehensive online training platform, featuring numerous training modules, whitepapers, and clear, concise education tools.
Sources:
cited in article
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