Advocacy in action blog

NAIFA strongly urges the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider a proposal that would change the compensation rules for professionals providing products and services related to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D programs.

NAIFA members help millions of individuals and employers administer and utilize Medicare plan options as well as other health plans. They are a vital part of the plan-selection process and serve as expert resources for consumers considering their Medicare plan options or looking for specific drugs and services to be covered. Agents and brokers educate clients on how Medicare works, research physician networks and prescription formularies for the plans to ensure a suitable health and drug plan is recommended, and review plan-comparison and enrollment changes annually.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced new regulations in the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for Plan Year 2024 that all agents, brokers, and web-brokers must follow before helping consumers complete and submit their Marketplace application. To ensure that agents and brokers understand the specific guidelines of these new regulations, CMS recently published several frequently asked questions (FAQs) that answer common questions about these new requirements.

In May, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Final Rule which revises the Medicare Advantage (Part C) program and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) program regulations to implement changes related to marketing and communications, past performance, Star Ratings, network adequacy, medical loss ratio reporting, special requirements during disasters or public emergencies, and pharmacy price concessions.

In May, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Final Rule which revises the Medicare Advantage (Part C) program and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) program regulations to implement changes related to marketing and communications, past performance, Star Ratings, network adequacy, medical loss ratio reporting, special requirements during disasters or public emergencies, and pharmacy price concessions.  

On June 7, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding compensation paid by issuers to agents and brokers who assist customers with enrollment during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) or during Open Enrollment Periods (OEPs).

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking for NAIFA members who work with the seniors or Medicare markets to provide feedback on the draft of their Medicare & You Handbook for 2023.

If you would like to submit comments on this draft, please do so using the spreadsheet linked below. Comments must be submitted by Wednesday, April 13, by the end of the day to Cody Schoonover (cschoonover@naifa.org).

Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that registration and training for Plan Year 2022 is now available for returning agents/brokers who completed training and registration for Plan Year 2021. Registration and full training for new agents and brokers will be made available later this year.

On Friday, February 12, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that, in accordance with an Executive Order signed by President Biden, a Special Enrollment Period for the Health Insurance Marketplace will be available in the 36 states using the HealthCare.gov platform. The SEP will be available from Monday, February 15, through Saturday, May 15 for most states.

In case you missed it, HealthCare.gov sent a notice that the Department of Health and Human Services has announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families for Marketplace coverage in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency the notice says: 

On Wednesday, January 13, NAIFA members Elie Harriett and Alan Winstead participated in an invitation-only roundtable hosted by the Department for Health and Human Services’ Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services. The discussion centered around marketplace policies and initiatives that impact agents and brokers.