CIGNA PDP: New customer onboarding program

Learn how our onboarding program supports our new customers.   At Cigna HealthcareSM, we understand that nurturing strong relationships with your existing customers is not only vital for your business growth, but it is often easier than acquiring new clients.That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive new customer onboarding program designed to support our customers and your retention goals. As you can see from the below activities, we are taking several steps to ensure our customers feel valued and well taken care of as they transition to one of our Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.  New customer onboarding program Welcome calls Cigna Healthcare calls new customers to review benefits and ensure they have… Read More

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IBC Medicare Members Save money with your IBX Care Card

Your IBX Care Card comes preloaded with a quarterly balance. Your card will be automatically reloaded every quarter (every three months). Be sure to spend your allowance each quarter, as any unused balance will not roll over to the next quarter. Please keep your card in a safe location, as you may use the same card for as long as you remain a member of a participating plan. Click here for more information about the IBX Care card for Medicare members or contact us today at (215)355-2121

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Important Changes to Medicare Drug Coverage for 2025

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has resulted in significant changes to Part D including: Elimination of the Coverage Gap or “donut hole”A new $2,000 out-of-pocket spending capA shift in cost sharing responsibility in the catastrophic coverage phaseA new cost sharing smoothing option called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan These changes have an enormous impact on your Medicare coverage in 2025 for nearly all those on Medicare including Medicare beneficiaries who are still choosing their employer plans. Please review your ANOC carefully for your 2025 coverage and contact your Total Benefit Solutions Inc health insurance experts if you have any questions or concerns about how these changes impact you and your… Read More

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CMS Releases 2025 Medicare Part D Bid Information and Announces Premium Stabilization Demonstration

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing preliminary technical Medicare Part D bid information for contract year 2025 to help Part D plan sponsors finalize their Part D and Medicare Advantage (MA) offerings and prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment. Additionally, CMS is announcing a voluntary demonstration to support implementation of the redesigned Part D benefit and improve stability for people with Medicare in 2025. The preliminary average Part D premiums will be released later this summer. CMS will release the 2025 landscape in mid-to-late September, as in past years, once all offerings are finalized.  Final average MA premiums and deductibles, along with other key information, are released annually in September with the… Read More

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New Medicare plans could wind up forcing seniors to switch or buy new plans or face a significant penalty

Many seniors who remain working past 65 are still on their employer’s health plan instead of government-run Medicare. However, a new update to Medicare coverage under the Inflation Reduction Act means seniors who delay joining Medicare could face additional hurdles when it comes to drug coverage. Who Does It Affect?Currently, seniors are able to avoid late penalties for Medicare Part D as long as their company’s plan pays on average just as much as the traditional Medicare prescription drug plan. These numbers are scheduled to change drastically in 2025. Starting January 1, most employer plans will no longer be accepted as a way out of the late penalties because they… Read More

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2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles

On October 12, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. The Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help more than 10 million people with coverage of Medicare premiums and, in most cases, other cost sharing. In their continued efforts to improve access to health care and lower costs for millions of Americans, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through CMS, recently finalized a rule to streamline enrollment in MSPs, making coverage more affordable for an estimated 860,000 people. In addition, the… Read More

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Decisions for someone who is nearing age 65

As you near age 65, you need to learn about Medicare coverage choices and make several important enrollment decisions. This fact sheet will give you a list of the steps you shouldtake and tell you about resources to help you make your Medicare enrollment decisions. There can be penalties if you do not enroll on time, so it is best to complete these tasksat least 3 months BEFORE you turn 65. Please note you can enroll on Medicare Parts A & B with Medicare about 90 days before your 65th birthday. IF YOU ARE STILL WORKING and your company has less than 20 employees you still MUST enroll on Medicare… Read More

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What is the Part D Donut Hole in 2024?

The Medicare Donut Hole, officially called the Coverage Gap, refers to a stage in Medicare Part D plans where beneficiaries have to pay more for prescription drugs. Historically, after reaching a certain spending threshold, beneficiaries faced higher out-of-pocket costs for drugs until catastrophic coverage began. The Donut Hole was designed to encourage the use of more cost-effective medications and generic alternatives. As of 2024, the Donut Hole is not completely ending, but the percentage beneficiaries pay for prescriptions during this stage has been reduced. When a beneficiary and their plan have spent a total of $5,030 in 2024, they enter the Donut Hole. In this phase, they pay 25% of… Read More

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What is your Medicare Part D ANOC?

The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is a document that Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are required to send to their members every year. The ANOC outlines any changes in coverage, costs, and more that will be effective in January 1. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare plan, your plan will send you an ANOC each fall. The ANOC includes information about any changes to your plan’s coverage, costs, and service area that will be effective in January 1. It’s important to review the ANOC carefully to understand how your plan’s coverage and costs may change in the upcoming year. If you have any questions or concerns about the changes, you can contact… Read More

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