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I have to jump in to say two poignant parts after working for a good chunch of time with these types of Medicare plans be it MA, supp, or wrap around.
That said, with so many operational issues, they have not gone favorable. I will agree with some of the posters that CMS is trying to filter out the agents and looking for a 'fall guy' for the very very poor job some have done with:
1. outreaching to providers and 2. advertisement to the public.
Think back a few years ago when the pdps were first launched (at least here) it was advertised like crazy ('you must enroll in a pdp plan or you will be penalized). I remember seeing a bit on World News and it was just on-going day after day after day before and during AEP of 05. Wow, that shows me they are very capable of spending X thousands to inform that way, but hey, what about the other ways?!!!
The other night, I was up late and AARP had an infomercial on cuts with "Medicare - 'it's not fair?'" Have any of you seen that yet? Again, showing some capability of some type of advertisement with Medicare in general, but that's it.
One carrier specifically, and all of their 'reactive' and / or 'proactive' slice and dice it any way you want via email copious communications to us on how we're going to make it better with their outreach program letters to doctors (gee after the fact one enrolls) makes absolute no logical sense. One example of poor planning to providers, again, after many many enrollments.
You have typically 2 or 3 girls at best running an office and with all of their daily operational tasks they have to tend to - to run that office from answering phones, greeting patients, billing, maybe stepping in and helping and nurses out, etc etc. and one billing specialist, if that, do you really think they will be taking the time to read about Med. Advantage? Give me a break!
And do you really want me to start on PPO and HMO plans where doctors are in the network? LOL.. good one,... most don't even know they are par and I refuse to name carriers. Those books are worthless, what a waste of good paper. Those poor trees.
Last, my favorite, Medicare. When someone calls them up and the rep tells them which carrier to go with and how they lose their benefits by signing up. Way to go CMS! Or my favorite, "I'm not sure, but let me transfer you to someone else" and it goes on and on... to the point where no answer is an answer.
There are the so called Medicare experts. Where are they is my question? I think for the lack of outreach to providers and so much lack of advertisement and or education to the public is very largely contributed to some of the madness now but alas and wait: someone has to be the accountable. That's right: you scrupulous dirty agent!!!
It's always the agent.
Well this agent has had enough and I frankly, just WILL NOT ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT tolerate this crap from any higher ups - especially when I DID set people up nicely with an array of programs and 'did the right thing.'
Of course, you had those agents that did take a nice joy ride at other peoples' expenses but that's not the sole reason to all of this and I thought at the very least it made sense to post this.
I feel for the seniors.. can't say I blame them for being confused and incredulous, can you?
That said, with so many operational issues, they have not gone favorable. I will agree with some of the posters that CMS is trying to filter out the agents and looking for a 'fall guy' for the very very poor job some have done with:
1. outreaching to providers and 2. advertisement to the public.
Think back a few years ago when the pdps were first launched (at least here) it was advertised like crazy ('you must enroll in a pdp plan or you will be penalized). I remember seeing a bit on World News and it was just on-going day after day after day before and during AEP of 05. Wow, that shows me they are very capable of spending X thousands to inform that way, but hey, what about the other ways?!!!
The other night, I was up late and AARP had an infomercial on cuts with "Medicare - 'it's not fair?'" Have any of you seen that yet? Again, showing some capability of some type of advertisement with Medicare in general, but that's it.
One carrier specifically, and all of their 'reactive' and / or 'proactive' slice and dice it any way you want via email copious communications to us on how we're going to make it better with their outreach program letters to doctors (gee after the fact one enrolls) makes absolute no logical sense. One example of poor planning to providers, again, after many many enrollments.
You have typically 2 or 3 girls at best running an office and with all of their daily operational tasks they have to tend to - to run that office from answering phones, greeting patients, billing, maybe stepping in and helping and nurses out, etc etc. and one billing specialist, if that, do you really think they will be taking the time to read about Med. Advantage? Give me a break!
And do you really want me to start on PPO and HMO plans where doctors are in the network? LOL.. good one,... most don't even know they are par and I refuse to name carriers. Those books are worthless, what a waste of good paper. Those poor trees.
Last, my favorite, Medicare. When someone calls them up and the rep tells them which carrier to go with and how they lose their benefits by signing up. Way to go CMS! Or my favorite, "I'm not sure, but let me transfer you to someone else" and it goes on and on... to the point where no answer is an answer.
There are the so called Medicare experts. Where are they is my question? I think for the lack of outreach to providers and so much lack of advertisement and or education to the public is very largely contributed to some of the madness now but alas and wait: someone has to be the accountable. That's right: you scrupulous dirty agent!!!
It's always the agent.
Well this agent has had enough and I frankly, just WILL NOT ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT tolerate this crap from any higher ups - especially when I DID set people up nicely with an array of programs and 'did the right thing.'
Of course, you had those agents that did take a nice joy ride at other peoples' expenses but that's not the sole reason to all of this and I thought at the very least it made sense to post this.
I feel for the seniors.. can't say I blame them for being confused and incredulous, can you?
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