[insurance0707]

I'm in Michigan and have been dealing with the GM salaried retiree's who are losing their health coverage 1-1-09. Extend Health a company out of San Francisco is being brought in to help the retiree's enroll in health and prescription plans. I read that they'll be enrolling them starting Oct 15th. I don't know how they'll be able to do that unless there is some kind of new enrollment period that Medicare is allowing. It would be nice if the annual enrollment period was from 10-15 through 12-31 instead of 11-15 through 12-31. It would give us more time to help out, that 45 days just isn't enough time.

Anyone heard anything about this?

[jdeasy]

Originally Posted by insurance0707

I'm in Michigan and have been dealing with the GM salaried retiree's who are losing their health coverage 1-1-09. Extend Health a company out of San Francisco is being brought in to help the retiree's enroll in health and prescription plans. I read that they'll be enrolling them starting Oct 15th. I don't know how they'll be able to do that unless there is some kind of new enrollment period that Medicare is allowing. It would be nice if the annual enrollment period was from 10-15 through 12-31 instead of 11-15 through 12-31. It would give us more time to help out, that 45 days just isn't enough time.

Anyone heard anything about this?

Haven't heard that, but, I agree it would be a juge help. That Nov. 15 to Dec. 31 period also has the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays in it. In effect, giving you one month. Only someone in our government would have thought that was a good idea and a good time to go over your medicare needs.

Why not have AEP during April, May and June with start dates July 1? That's the gubments fiscal year.

I guess by 2011 it won't matter, but, for now, it does matter.

[Bremenboy]

you can began marketing Oct. 15 but now enrollment untill Nov !5

[insurance0707]

"The window to enroll has been extended a month, beginning Oct. 15 this year and lasting until Dec. 31. " That is what extend health is telling the GM Retiree's. I don't know if this is just for GM Retiree's only or for everyone on Medicare. It kind of sounds like GM retiree's only. I know you can start marketing Oct 15th but extend health is saying you can enroll.

here's the link where I found this info...


Move to Medicare can be painless for GM retirees

[senior-advisor-indiana]

GM retirees, if losing coverage would be in a SEP.

[theinuranceguy]

Originally Posted by senior-advisor-indiana

GM retirees, if losing coverage would be in a SEP.

They dont lose their coverage until the first of the year...

[senior-advisor-indiana]

Doesn't matter when they lose it. It is still a SEP.

[theinuranceguy]

Originally Posted by senior-advisor-indiana

Doesn't matter when they lose it. It is still a SEP.

Well Ya, but its kinda an awkward time though... because the app can be coded as a SEP or as AEP or after the first can be coded as OEP...

Just a weird time I guess...

The more confusing, the better for us.

[senior-advisor-indiana]

Yeah, that is what I was saying before you mentioned that yesterday about tomorrow.

[theinuranceguy]

Originally Posted by senior-advisor-indiana

Yeah, that is what I was saying before you mentioned that yesterday about tomorrow.

If you wanna make some serious money this AEP you'll be using your OH license. Im already getting calls about GM losing coverage, youre not too far from OH...

Youre basically an OSU fan.

[Frank Stastny]

Did it dawn on anyone that they may also offer a Med Supp policy? If MA plans are the only thing they offer a lot of the retirees are going to get "short changed" by not having all options explained to them.

If CMS is really concerned they would require agents to explain both MA and Med Supp plans. There would be a box to check on the application indicating that the agent throughly explained both options and CMS would spot check this. That is if they really cared.

Have all agents working in the senior market totally discounted Med Supps in favor of the much higher commissioned MA plans?

To a lot of seniors it isn't about just saving money, it's about choice and quality health care.

Why does everyone here seem to think that all seniors are broke and can only afford to eat cat food? If they have retired from GM they can probably afford what ever they want if they are given options.

It doesn't sound like that is what is going to happen, not with GM "endorsing" Extend Health by having their representatives there. That ain't right!

[HoosierDaddy]

In my experience with GM folks, they all have this strange perception that they are entitled to everything for free. That somehow their many years of sleeping on the job, and making their (union negotiated low) "rate" quota by mid-morning have earned them every luxury and benefit of life and free lifetime comprehensive health care, for them and their spouse for services rendered.

Personally, I do not have a company in my kit that pays me enough commission to be forced to sit and give them an audience and listen to them complain about paying $100 for a med supp, or paying $10 to see a doctor for a MA plan.

[Winter]

Originally Posted by theinuranceguy

The more confusing, the better for us.

I would say that we are approaching excellence then.

Winter

[Winter]

Originally Posted by HoosierDaddy

In my experience with GM folks, they all have this strange perception that they are entitled to everything for free. That somehow their many years of sleeping on the job, and making their (union negotiated low) "rate" quota by mid-morning have earned them every luxury and benefit of life and free lifetime comprehensive health care, for them and their spouse for services rendered.

Personally, I do not have a company in my kit that pays me enough commission to be forced to sit and give them an audience and listen to them complain about paying $100 for a med supp, or paying $10 to see a doctor for a MA plan.

Just to give you a preview of what you would have heard, they would tell you that they have to pay $10 to see a doctor because the government has shipped all the good jobs overseas. (where a guy can drill a hole in a piece of sheet metal without being a member of the machinists union or change a light bulb with being in a union for electricians)

Winter

[Frank Stastny]

Originally Posted by HoosierDaddy

Personally, I do not have a company in my kit that pays me enough commission to be forced to sit and give them an audience and listen to them complain about paying $100 for a med supp, or paying $10 to see a doctor for a MA plan.

My appointment book is full also.

[insurance0707]

The GM retiree's are a bit spoiled. They keep asking me about vision coverage. One woman told me I get a new pair of glasses every 2 years....what kind of vision coverage do you offer? I'm trying to help others with their prescription coverage. Alot of them are on the most expensive namebrands. For example, Celebrex. I had to explain the Part D and gap. Celebrex pretty much takes up their whole benefit. They sure don't want to hear that.

[theinuranceguy]

Originally Posted by insurance0707

The GM retiree's are a bit spoiled. They keep asking me about vision coverage. One woman told me I get a new pair of glasses every 2 years....what kind of vision coverage do you offer? I'm trying to help others with their prescription coverage. Alot of them are on the most expensive namebrands. For example, Celebrex. I had to explain the Part D and gap. Celebrex pretty much takes up their whole benefit. They sure don't want to hear that.

I dont know if this will be helpful, but you can try this

Connection To Care

[Frank Stastny]

Originally Posted by theinuranceguy

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