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Think Agent Aetna login

Because Aetna is one of the leading Medicare carriers in several states, there are many agents who will need a Think Agent Aetna login.  Think Agent is the electronic enrollment tool Aetna provides to help their agents enroll Medicare beneficiaries in their plans.  Think Agent gives both agents and clients a quick and easy way to complete their enrollments.  This tool is available several different ways including, desktop, laptop or a mobile app that agents can add to all their mobile devices including their phones.

How to access Think Agent

1.  Once you are ready to sell with Aetna, you will be able to download the Think Agent app from either the Apple App store or the Google Play store. Please note: The app is compatible with Android 5 or greater, version 11; or IOS 11.0 or greater, version 14.5; or on your desktop.  To access think agent online click here.
2.   After you download the app, click sign up and submit your request for a new user account.  To create your account, you need to provide your name, NPN and email address.

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Selling Medicare Plans

Sometimes it feels like a sprint; sometimes it feels like a marathon; sometimes it feels like you’re sprinting a marathon. Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the busiest time of the year for most insurance agents, and you made it through. But don’t relax just yet – here are four things to do to make sure to cement all your success from the previous eight weeks to selling Medicare plans.

Congratulate yourself and your team!

If you have a team or even if you’re on your own, it’s important to acknowledge all of your hard work and success and even the learning experiences that just happened. Whether you met your goals or not, celebrating what you did achieve is good for morale and mental health.

Organize new client information – Selling Medicare Plans

A spreadsheet with new client names, plans, their contact information, and anything else pertinent can be a great way to keep all of the new clients in order. Many agents find that their new client information gets out of order during AEP because of how busy they are, so right afterward is a good time to put everything in its place. There are also many different platforms that have ways of keeping your data organized, like MedicareCENTER.

Send thank-you cards

It might seem old-fashioned, but sending a thank-you card or email is the kind of personal touch that people like in their business dealings. Insurance agents deal with such personal and intimate information for people that it’s imperative that trust is involved, and thanking your clients for trusting you can go a long way towards retaining them. It can also be good marketing if they mention it to friends or family.

Prepare for the next round: OEP – Selling Medicare plans

Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is only a few weeks away! With a start date of January 1st, OEP is another busy season for the insurance industry. Even though you can’t reference OEP directly in your marketing just yet, you can plan ahead by calling your clients about their insurance cards and wellness appointments and checking on which other areas of their life need coverage, like life insurance or annuities. They’ll appreciate the personal attention and you might even get a commission out of it.

Even though AEP is over until next year, there are things you can do to make the next one even more successful. Congratulating yourself and your team, organizing new client information, sending thank-you cards, and preparing for OEP could have tangible benefits for your business.

Licensed Medicare Agents

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Understanding Medicare Supplements: The Basics of Medigap

Medicare covers many health essentials for citizens sixty-five and older but it does not cover everything. Particularly for those with more complex medical histories (or futures), Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is often not enough as they move into their golden years of retirement. This is where understanding Medicare Supplements, or Medigap insurance policies come into play.

What is it?

Medigap is essentially extra insurance. Beneficiaries can buy extra insurance policies from private carriers to help pay their share of the out-of-pocket expenses that come with Original Medicare. Original Medicare is funded by the federal government.   The federal government also contracts with private carriers to ensure that their Medigap policies are safe, uniform, and sufficient. Beneficiaries must have Original Medicare in order to buy a Medigap policy. This means they must sign up for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance) to be eligible to purchase Medigap.

As previously mentioned, the insurance carriers that provide Medigap policies are contracted with the United States government. This means that the carriers must meet certain guidelines in order to keep their contract each year and continue to sell these policies. All Medigap policies are standardized, meaning that they all cover the same basic health benefits regardless of which company they were purchased from or which state the beneficiary lives in. There are ten different types of Medigap policy, and they are distinguished by letters (A, B, C, etc.). Price is the only difference between carriers’ plans of the same letter. This means that plans with the same letter offer the same coverage regardless of carrier. It is important to note, however, that in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the plans are standardized in a different way. Despite this, every Medigap policy must follow state and federal laws to protect their beneficiaries.

What does it cover?

The benefits of each Medigap plan differ (again, usually by letter, or tier), but they are all designed to do one thing: help cover the beneficiary’s share of costs from Medicare Parts A and B. This means Medigap policies can help cover co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Some Medigap policies can cover services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like emergency medical care outside of the United States.

What’s not covered?

Medigap can’t cover everything that Medicare Parts A and B doesn’t. Some of the services that are not covered under Medigap policies are long-term care, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and private nursing. Medigap plans that were sold after 2005 do not include prescription drug coverage, and beneficiaries can opt in to Medicare Part D for that kind of coverage.

Understanding Medicare Supplements – Agent Resources

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Medicare Supplement guaranteed issue rights

If you are enrolled in Original Medicare, you might consider enrolling in a Medicare Supplement (also referred to as Medigap or Med Supp) plan.  Medicare Supplement plans cover some of the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare does not cover.  These costs include things like; deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance.   When you enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan, you need to understand your guaranteed issue rights.

What does Guaranteed Issue mean?

It means that you have the ability to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan without having to undergo medical underwriting. In other words;  the insurance company cannot ask you any health-related questions or deny you coverage based on your health status.  These rights apply only in certain situations which are specified by law.

You have guaranteed issue rights in the following situations:

1. You are in your Medigap Open Enrollment Period:  The Medigap-Open-Enrollment-Period is a six-month period that starts the first day of the month in which you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this time, you have guaranteed issue rights and can enroll in any Medicare Supplement policy sold in your state, regardless of your health status.
2. You lose your Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Supplement policy: If you are enrolled in either a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement policy and the plan stops offering coverage in your area, you have guaranteed issue rights to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan within 63 days of losing your coverage.
3. You move to a new state:  If you move to a new state and your current Medicare Supplement policy is not available in your new location, you have guaranteed issue rights to purchase a Medicare Supplement plan within 63 days of moving.
4. You have a trial right to a Medicare Advantage Plan: If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time and within the first 12 months of enrollment you decide to disenroll.  You have guaranteed issue rights to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan within 63 days of disenrollment.
5. Your Medicare Supplement insurance company goes bankrupt: If your Medicare Supplement insurance company goes bankrupt and you lose your coverage as a result, you have guaranteed issue rights.  You have 63 days to enroll in a Medicare Supplement policy.

What if  You Don’t qualify for a Guaranteed Issue Policy?

You may still be able to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan.  The only catch is, the insurance company can ask you health-related questions.  If they do not like the answers, they can deny you coverage based on your health.  Additionally, if the plan accepts you with a pre-existing condition, you may have to pay a higher premium amount for your coverage

Just to summarize; it is important to understand your rights when it comes to enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan.

If you have guaranteed issue rights, you can enroll in a plan without going through medical underwriting.  This can save you time and money.  If you do not have guaranteed issue rights, you may still be able to purchase a policy, although you should prepare to answer health questions and potentially pay a higher premium.

For more details on your guaranteed Issue rights; click here

If you need help choosing the best Medicare option, give us a call at 203-796-5403 and speak to a licensed Medicare sales agent.

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Medicare Supplement Plan G

Also known as Medigap Plan G, Medicare Supplement Plan G has been available for several years now. Another plan, Medigap Plan F, was very popular and was phased out in 2022. In its absence, Medigap Plan G has taken its place.

Medigap Plan G is one of the ten standardized Medicare Supplement Policies.  Plans are named in chronological order of the alphabet (A, B, C, etc.). Original Medicare does not cover all the treatments and services that many people need.  These policies are available to fill in the gaps. Any hospital, facility, or doctor that accepts Medicare will accept the Medigap Plan G. The vast majority of hospitals and doctors in the United States do accept Original Medicare.   Additionally,  Plan G is one of the plans that cover foreign travel.

What Does Plan G Cover?

Plan F, which is now unavailable, was considered the gold standard of Medigap Plans because it covered 100% of the gaps in Medicare. However, when it was phased out last year, Plan G soon became one of the most popular plans because it is almost as much coverage as Plan F. Medigap Plan G is nearly as much coverage, with one distinct difference. Plan G does not cover the Original Medicare Part B deductible, which was $233 in 2022. Even with the difference in coverage, beneficiaries of Medigap Plan G find it more cost-effective than Plan F when considering their respective premiums. Plan G covers everything that Original Medicare (Parts A and B) cover at 100% except for the Part B premium. This means that beneficiaries will pay nothing out of pocket for covered services and treatments after the deductible is met.

Medigap Plan G, much like Plan F, also covers “excess charges.” An excess charge is what happens when a doctor does not accept the full Medicare-approved amount for the payment, which can mean that they charge beneficiaries up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount for services or procedures. Since the year 2016, the following states have made excess charges illegal: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Some beneficiaries may prefer the High Deductible Plan G.   Click here to learn what a High Deductible Plan G offers. 

Click here to watch our training video about Plan G.

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Medicare Supplement cost comparison

If you are either new to Medicare or if you want to change plans during open enrollment, a Medicare Supplement cost comparison is a great idea. Click Here For A Medicare Supplement Cost Comparison Tool-  Free to use at no cost or obligation    (Good for all 50 states)

Medicare Supplement cost comparison – things to know:

Medicare Supplement plans and Medigap plans are the same thing.  Private insurance companies offer these plans.  The insurance companies can only  sell you standardized plans.  This means the plans offer the same general benefits although some plans offer added benefits.    In other words, plan N on Anthem must offer the same benefits as a Plan N on United Health Care.  The real difference is the cost of each plan as well as the extra benefits one company offers over another. All insurers must follow both federal and state laws.  The laws protect consumers.

Medicare Supplement cost comparison – more information:

A Medigap policy helps you pay for health care costs left over after Medicare A and B have paid their portion.  This applies to things such as; co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles.  If you enrolled in Original Medicare as well as a Medicare Supplement/Medigap policy, then each policy will each pay it’s part of your covered health care costs. In most cases, when you buy a Medicare Supplement plan, you must have both Medicare Part A and Part B. (Sign up for Medicare A and B)  There is a  monthly premium for Medicare Part B.  There is also a premium for Med Sup/Medigap policies.

Renewing the plans

Your policy is guaranteed renewable as long as you pay your premium.  This policy will renew automatically each year. Medicare Supplement cost comparison: If you are considering a Medicare Supplement/Medigap policy, you should definitely compare the costs.  You should do this each year before open enrollment as prices change as well as extra benefits that are offered. This is true especially because the benefits you receive the same coverage no matter which carrier you choose.  The only difference is the cot of the plan.

Links to rates for each state

Federal Medicare Supplement Website Medicare Supplement cost comparison

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Crowe and Associates (Edward K. Crowe -Owner) is a brokerage agency located at 304 Federal Road, Suite 107, Brookfield CT.  The agency is A rated with the BBB and is independent offering all major insurance companies.  The company website is croweandassociates.com

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AARP Medicare Supplment Plans had very low rate increases from 2011 to 2012.  As a result, they offers the lowest rates for most supplement plans in Connecticut and New York.  Here is a quick review of the most competative plans offered and the options Medicare Beneficiaries are choosing for 2012.

• Connecticut
• AARP Plan F Supplement-  Plan F has a 2012 premium of $216.50 ($214.50 after Bank Draft ) this represents the lowest cost plan F available in the state of Connecticut.  Plan F is the most comprehensive supplement covering the most services of any of the options.
• AARP Plan N supplement-  Plan N has been on the market for 2 years $154.75 and has quickly become the most popular supplement choice.  The plan covers the same services as plan F with 4 notable exceptions which are (Part B Medicare deductible, Part B excess, $50 charge for ER and $20 charge for doctor office visits)
• Plan K supplement– Plan K was brought into the market overpriced but is now worth taking a look at after 2 years of rate reductions.   This plan offers a much lower premium but leaves much more potential for out of pocket cost vs. Plan F and N.   Those seriously considering a plan K would likely be better suited to choose the Anthem BlueCross BlueShield Plan F High Deductible Supplement with a monthly premium of about $35.00 a month at this point
• New York
• Plan F Supplement- AARP has a rate advantage over all competitors in the NYC, Long Island, Westchester area and most all of NY.  AARP plan F is the choice in NY for those that want the least out of pocket expense possible.
• Plan N Supplement- AARP also has the lowest plan N supplement rate in NY but they do have more competition with Empire BCBS within a few dollars of the premium they offer.
• Plan K supplement-As is the case with CT, plan K is now a bit more attractive for those willing to have more out of pocket risk.  Those interested in a plan K may want to look at the High Deductible F supplement offered by First United American

Applications and full benefit summary links below

AARP Medicare Supplements Summary 2012

AARP Medicare Supplement Application CT

AARP Medicare Supplement Summary NY 2012

AARP Medicare Supplement Application NY 2012

AARP 2012 Medicare Supplement Summary and Rates CT

AARP Medicare Supplement Rates NY All Areas

Applications may be printed out and sent into United HealthCare directly or they may be sent to Crowe & Associates for processing. Crowe & Associates will review applications to ensure they are complete prior to submission to United HealthCare. Applications can be sent to Crowe & Associates by the following methods

Fax- (203)-567-6235

Email- Edward@CroweandAssociates.com

Mail- Crowe & Associates, 155 Main Street, Suite 205 Danbury, CT 06810

Additonal questions may be emailed to Edward Crowe at Edward@CroweandAssociates.com or by phone at (203)-796-5403