In the letter, Mayeux said Medicare Part D plans “are sophisticated products that can be difficult for many Medicare beneficiaries to fully understand. NAIFA members spend a considerable amount of time each year, especially during the Annual Enrollment Period, matching beneficiaries to the prescription drug plan that best fits their specific needs.” Mayeux also makes the following points:
- Because Medicare can be much more complex than commercial insurance, many consumers need assistance throughout the year as they move through the various phases of coverage, cost determinations, and new prescriptions, all of which are services that agents provide on a continual basis.
- Eliminating agent compensation for these plans creates a risky precedent that may lead to consumers being left without personalized assistance as the agent cannot help with any issues that may arise.
- Without professional agent assistance, consumers will be confused and left to contact calls centers unfamiliar with their unique situations. Frustrated consumers are more likely to submit their complaints and concerns directly to Medicare, placing added stress on CMS’s ability to deal with calls and inquiries in a timely fashion.
Mayeux added that NAIFA plans to continue the conversation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to communicate the impact this decision will have on protecting our most vulnerable citizens. 
