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Sales Commissions and Other Sales Issues Commonwealth Fund analysis also found that most people who received help choosing between their coverage options turned to brokers and agents.13 But these representatives are not always objective; they receive commissions, which may not be equal between products.14 For example, commissions that are higher for MA plans than for supplemental coverage like Medigap may incentivize agents and brokers to steer consumers into MA. We urge CMS to require brokers and agents to reveal commissions, commission residual schedules, bonuses, and other financial incentives they receive for any given enrollment. We also ask CMS to require that agents and brokers identify themselves as such, and not disguise their financial interest behind terms like “advisor” or “navigator.” Such disclosures are a necessary and long overdue step towards transparency. Further, we urge CMS to consider imposing fiduciary duties on agents and brokers to ensure that they are acting in the beneficiary’s best interest. We also ask CMS to more actively promote and advocate for increased funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs). Despite being a primary, trusted source of unbiased enrollment counseling, their funding is unable to keep pace with growing demands, which are in part being driven by MA enrollment increases and an ever-more complex plan selection process. To better help SHIPs provided needed assistance, we recommend seeking adequate funding in the President’s budget requests to Congress.
https://www.medicarerights.org/pdf/021323-comments-2024-ma-and-partd-rule.pdf
https://www.medicarerights.org/pdf/021323-comments-2024-ma-and-partd-rule.pdf