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Aflac Medicare Supplement

Agents now have the ability to offer Aflac Medicare Supplement plans (Starting in August of 2022).   Crowe and Associates has the ability to contracts agents to start selling!  The plans are approved in a number of states and filed in a number of others.  See the information below to see the available states.  Agents and agencies can use the online contracting link below to get contracting started.  All agents will be set up at full street level contracts.  If you are contracting for an agency, please contact us to inquire about the agency level contracting requirements.

Aflac Medicare Supplement:  Approved states

7-28-2022:  AL, AZ, GA, IA, MI, NV, OK, SC, WV,WY

8-11-2022:  DE, TX

8-25-2022: AR, SD

Filed states not yet approved

Pending approval:  NE, KS,IL, IN, OH, PA, MD, TN, NC, MS, LA, FL

States product will not be available in:

States not available:  WA, NY, ME, MA, CT, DC

Aflac Med Supp state availability map-updated

Aflac Medicare Supplement: Online agent and agency contracting

CLICK HERE TO START CONTRACTING

Agent and agency benefits offered by Crowe and Associates

Crowe and Associates is a Medicare FMO working with agents and agencies in all 50 states.  We give agents and agencies access to a wide range of products but our specialty is Medicare sales and Medicare agency building.  We offer a number of programs and services such as access to contracts (street and agency level), lead programs, marketing co-op, lead programs, online enrollment tools and more.  CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OUR PROGRAMS 

Free Medicare lead and marketing program:  $500 per agent per month.  Click to see program details

T-65 Medicare seminar program:  Averaging 70 T-65 prospects per seminar!  Agents utilizing our seminar program have the ability to run seminars all year.  The program is available in all 50 states.   Learn more about seminar program

Access all of our recorded Medicare training webinars on Youtube!

Crowe Medicare AEP meetings CT

To get ready for the 2023 AEP, Crowe and Associates will be hosting 4 in-person meetings.  All events are free to attend.  Each one of our Crowe Medicare AEP meetings CT will provide agents the opportunity to meet several local carrier representatives as well as learn about some of their product offerings for the new year.

All events start at 9:00am and end at approximately 12:00pm.  Crowe and Associates will provide a complimentary breakfast to all who attend as well as free CE credit vouchers.

Register to attend one of our AEP meetings – Click here.

We will present some information about what we have to offer the agents who choose to work with our organization, such as:

Our free Medicare lead program; a $500 a month value.

Co-op marketing money available.

Medicare Seminar selling program that averages 40-60 attendees per seminar.

Learn about the CMS call recording requirement and how to be compliant with our call recording technology.

Online quoting and Enrollment tools with built in CRM.

All our events will give you an opportunity to meet many of your local carrier reps.

Each carrier representative will present a 15 minute segment that provides information on their 2023 plan highlights.

If you would like to join us; here are the 4 available dates and locations you can choose from:

Wednesday, September 7th, 2022

Great River Golf Club – 130 Coram Lane Milford, CT 06461

Click here for driving directions to the Great River Golf Club.

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

Hotel Zero Degrees – 15 Milestone Rd, Danbury, CT 06810

If you need directions to Hotel Zero Degrees, click here.

Friday, September 9th, 2022

Great Neck Country Club – 28 Lamphere Road, Waterford CT 06385

Great Neck Country Club, Directions – click here.

Tuesday, September 13th, 2022

Pond House Cafe-1555 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford CT 06117

To get directions to the Pond House Cafe; click this link and scroll down on the screen.

If you would like to become part of our team; click this link and fill out an online contract.

Do you need E&O; click here to learn about our discounted E&O coverage.

Medicare Advantage TV Commercials

If you are like most people, you have probably noticed a barrage of Medicare Advantage TV Commercials.  These commercials feature celebrities from both TV and sports.  This may have prompted you ask yourself WHY?!!!  Many of the ads are down right annoying or at least confusing to most people.

The ads tell you about how you can get a free Medicare Advantage plan that provides all the benefits you are entitled to such as; dental, vison and hearing as well as rides to your doctor’s office.  It all sounds fantastic and makes many people currently on Original Medicare question if they have made the right choice when they chose their coverage.  This is the case especially if they are paying for a Medicare Supplement and Part D prescription drug plan.  Who wants to be paying for Medicare coverage when you can get all these great benefits for free?

Medicare Advantage TV Commercials – Are they working:

The number of people who choose Medicare Advantage plans (or Medicare Part C) is growing by the day.  In 2022 Medicare Advantage plan enrollments went up approximately 3%.  This means; that about 28 Million people enrolled in MA plans this year (over 40% of Medicare beneficiaries). These numbers show that all these TV Commercials are really registering with Medicare enrollees who appreciate the value these plans are providing for them.

Is anything really free:

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies.  Beneficiaries use MA plans in place of Original Medicare which is provided by the federal government.  If you listen to the commercials, the MA plans sound like a great way to get needed coverage as well as so many value added benefits without the added expense of a Medicare Supplement and Part D prescription drug plan.  What could sound better than that to someone who may be on a fixed income?

The commercials really push the word “FREE”.  This can be somewhat deceiving if the potential client does not understand fully what they are signing up for.  Many plans boast $0 premiums as well as $0 co-pays and $0 deductibles.  Unfortunately, that is not the whole picture.

These plans require enrollees to use providers that are in the plans network in order to have the no or low co-pays for care.  If you go outside of the plans network for care, you may receive a rather sizable bill.

Please note:  this does not apply to emergency situations.

Medicare Advantage enrollees may end up with annual out of pocket costs as high as $7,500 for in-network services.  If they opt for out-of-network care their annual costs could be as much as $11,000.

Medicare Advantage TV Commercials – Why you need help sorting this out:

If you ask anyone who is getting ready to sign up for Medicare, I’m sure 9 out of 10 people will tell you it is a either confusing or overwhelming.  There are many moving parts to this enrollment and without proper research or guidance, enrollees can make some very costly mistakes.  In many instances, your free plan will have a co-pay for specialists, hospitals and in many other instances.  Because these are managed care plans, there may also be limited number of days per year provided for things like physical therapy.

The bottom line; these plans are a great money saver if you are a healthy person.  They do provide many great free benefits that are not part of Medicare Supplement plans.  Most of the available MA plans also include credible prescription drug coverage at no extra cost.  That is a very important option to have.

When you are trying to navigate the sea of MA plans, the best advice I can give is to find a reputable Medicare agent who can go over all the fine points of the plans available in your area and make sure that your doctors and medications are covered by whichever plan you decide to enroll in.

Make sure you are confident before you decide to drop your current coverage for a MA plan:

Although the TV Commercials are tempting, you should be very careful before you switch your current plan over.  If you used an agent to help you choose your current plan, it is a good idea to give them a call and ask for their guidance so you don’t get yourself into something you will regret.

Please note; If you are in original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan, you can go to any doctor that accepts Medicare assignment.  MA plans do not give you that luxury.  You must stay in-network to avoid a costly doctor’s visit.  Please double check any MA plan you are considering and be sure that they cover your medications and also that your doctor participates with the plan.

If you sign up for a plan that just doesn’t work for you:

There are a couple times a year when you can switch from one MA plan to another.

The first is the annual Open Enrollment Period.  This takes place each year from October 15 through December 7th.  Medicare enrollees have the opportunity to change from Original Medicare and a PDP plan to an MA plan or from an MAPD to Original Medicare and a PDP plan.  You can also switch from one MA plan to another or switch from one PDP plan to another.  it is always a good idea to check your coverage at this time of year and make sure you are getting the benefits that you need.

The second opportunity to switch is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period.  This enrollment period runs from January 1st through March 31st each year.  During this time, you can change from one MA plan to another or switch back to Original Medicare and a Part D plan.

If you need help sorting out the Medicare maze; please feel free to contact us either at 203-796-5403 or teal@croweandassociates.com

Learn more about what we offer.

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Emblem 2022 OTC Catalog

Anyone who is considering a Medicare Advantage plan, should take a look at what Emblem has to offer.  One of the many benefits of joining an Emblem MA plan is the Emblem 2022 OTC Catalog.

If you are a member of a participating Medicare Advantage plan, you will receive an OTC card in the mail to use when you are ready to order OTC items.

Click here for a copy of the 2022 OTC Catalog

Emblem Members of participating Medicare plans can use their over-the-counter benefit one of three different ways:

1. Order OTC items online; just go to ConveyBenefits.com/EmblemHealth.  From there, you can either log into your account or new users can create an account.  Once you are in, you can browse available OTC products, place them in your cart and check out.  If you chose to use the online account, you have access to many useful tools such as: the available balance on your card, order tracking, order history and more.

2.  You can order by phone.  Use this number 855-858-5940(TTY:711) either if you have questions or want to place an order.  OTC advocates are available Mon – Fri from 8:00am until 11:00pm, EST.  Please be sure to have your OTC card and your item, number available when you call.

3.  If you would prefer, you can place your order by mail.  Use the order form that you find in the back of your OTC catalog or download it here – EmblemHealth OTC order form.  Send the order form to the OTC Servicing Center, P.O. Box 526266, Miami, FL 33152-9819.  Please be aware; if the benefit period is ending, we may not receive your mail order in time.  If that is the case, please place your order either over the phone or online.

Some important things to remember:

Any unused benefits do not carry over to the following benefit period.  In other words, if you don’t use the benefit, you lose the benefit for that period.

Order totals that exceed your available benefit amount must be paid by you.  Once your entire benefit amount is used, Emblem will apply the balance to another form of payment.

The OTC items ordered are intended for use by the member only.

Because of the personal nature of these items, returns are not accepted.

Please call within 60 days of placing your order if:
Your order has not arrived yet.
The items you received are either defective or damaged.  Emblem will replace your item at no additional cost to you.

Please note:

During the year, Emblem may change the available items.  It is a good idea to check the online catalog for any product updates.

All applicable sales tax will be added to your order total and be deducted from your available OTC balance.
If there is a market shortage of a particular item, Emblem may limit your order quantity.

Please allow 5-7 business days for delivery from the time you place your order.

To download a copy of the 2022 OTC catalog, click here

If you need help finding a Medicare plan, feel free to contact us either at 203-796-5403 or by email at teal@croweandassocites.com.

Learn more about who we are.