Click on each cover to access the full briefing.
5.20 – 6.02 BRIEFING
- CMS considers making some telehealth provisions permanent as the number of Medicare beneficiaries receiving telehealth services increased more than 11,718% (from 11K in March to 1.3M members in April 2020)
- Medicaid beneficiaries may suffer due to a lack of COVID-19 program funding, potentially amplifying current health risks.
- Aetna joins other insurers in offering additional virtual enrollment options for agents, but agents are confused on the details to ensure they receive credit for the sale.
4.29 – 5.05 BRIEFING
- Humana is the first insurer to waive MA member costs for the rest of 2020, enabling members to continue seeking primary care without the worry of out-of-pocket costs.
- As consumers continue to lose their jobs (and employer tied health insurance), payers like Anthem and Centene are preparing for enrollment in Medicaid to spike.
- Seniors trying to enroll in Medicare, or consumers trying to enroll in Medicaid for the first time are uneducated about the topics at large, as many are unfamiliar with the process.
4.22 – 4.28 BRIEFING
- SNAP recipients are now eligible for grocery delivery, in an effort to remove barriers to healthy food for at-risk populations.
- CMS is relaxing rules to allow payers to provide mid-year plan benefit enhancements, as more MA plans intend to double down on in-home touchpoints with members.
- Although providers are adapting to changing consumer demands and regulations (adopting telehealth services), many are still struggling to stay afloat due to lack of revenue, potentially impacting patient care.
4.15 – 4.21 BRIEFING
- More than half of beneficiaries believe more should be done to protect vulnerable groups from the virus, according to a recent study.
- Kaiser is expanding its text-message based food assistance program to recently eligible Medicare members in an effort to remove barriers to healthy food and engage with members.
- Medicare agents are considering leaning more on phone and internet sales, even after the pandemic is over.
4.08 – 4.15 BRIEFING
- Seniors are experiencing feelings of loneliness, isolation and anxiety, as many are under shelter-in-place guidelines.
- UHC is laying the groundwork for reinventing the consumer care model during the pandemic, by recognizing community pharmacists as providers to help support at-risk members, like Medicaid beneficiaries.
- Aetna is advising Medicare agents to reach out, check-in and ensure clients are aware of the Aetna Medicare benefits available to the
4.02 – 4.08 BRIEFING
- Payers like UHC, Anthem and Aetna are offering financial support to providers to help them stay in business andcare for members.
- Agents are looking for guidance about how to enroll new prospects in Part B, given many procedures have been disrupted at Social Security offices.
- Seniors are turning to domestic travel after the virus has dampened their wanderlust.
3.30 – 4.02 BRIEFING
- Payers like UHC and Anthem are waiving member out-of-pocket costs for COVID treatments, to ensure members can get the care they need without having to encounter financial barriers.
- Seniors are struggling to keep their distances from grandchildren as many function as babysitters while the parents continue to work through the pandemic.
- Oscar recorded a more than 40% increase in telehealth visits per 1,000 members in the month of March, directly related to COVID.
3.26 – 3.30 BRIEFING
- Cigna and Humana announced both insurers would waive member out-of-pocket costs for COVID treatments at in-network providers.
- Florida Blue extended the grace period for its Med Supp members who are unable to pay their premiums, through May 31, 2020, to ensure they can still access the care they need.
- Seniors are thankful for the feelings of community enabled by SilverSneakers at-home Facebook workouts, after many gyms were forced to close due to virus concerns.
3.23 – 3.26 BRIEFING
- To give MA members greater access to safe care, Humana has expanded coverage for telehealth services and will reimburse providers at the same rates as in-person visits.
- Molina launched a new COVID chatbot for members looking for current insights, risk factors, live help and actions to take if virus symptoms appear.
- Agents are asking peers for telephonic sales best practices as they begin to transition away from F2F selling, to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
3.20 – 3.23 BRIEFING
- UHC is waiving telehealth costs with any of its partner platforms, to encourage members to seek safe care.
- Agents are seeking guidance from peers and carriers about how to navigate the changing situation – how to address telehealth benefits, best practices for phone
- High-risk older adults are particularly worried about contracting the virus.
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