Getting ready for AEP 2023

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for the 2023 plan year runs from October 15th to December 7th, 2022, with an effective date of January 1st, 2023. In preparation for this year's AEP, we're working hard to bring new tools and resources to support you and your Medicare-eligible clients. We'll be announcing details beginning next week.

Highlights to look for include:

New and updated plan comparisons
2023 Broker training and resources available October 1, 2022, through Shield in Demand
New and improved capabilities on Broker Connection

Stay tuned- more information to follow

2023 Enrollment Kits are shipping soon!

You can order your printed Enrollment Kits on October 1, 2022. Log in to Broker Connection and access our Blue Shield of California Broker Storefront.

Once you log in to Broker Connection:

Under Resources, click "Order Material"
In the IFP and Medicare Materials section, click "Online Portal"

Note that you must complete a separate order for kits in each language (English, Spanish, etc.) needed.

PDF formatted kits in all languages will be available to download beginning October 3, 2022.

Please review our Blue Shield of California Broker Storefront job aid for more information.

Still have questions about ordering 2023 AEP Enrollment Kits? Contact your Blue Shield Medicare Broker Sales Manager.

Complete your 2023 product certification BEFORE AEP!

Blue Shield's 2023 Product Certification is now open!

As a reminder, if you haven’t already, brokers/agents must be certified each year before any plans can be sold; this includes new sales and renewal payments. Timing is important because the certification cannot be retroactively applied.

Helpful Tips for AEP

Broker/agents are required to submit their agency and their broker information on the enrollment applications, or else they will not get credit and get paid for that enrollment
Submissions must include FMO and Broker information for credit assignment
Submissions containing two agencies and no Broker will result in no credit
Submissions containing incorrect information will result in no credit

AHIP Certification for MAPD Sales is now open.

Get certified now to sell Blue Shield's MAPD and PDP plans for 2023 by completing the AHIP certification¹.

Get reimbursed up to $100! Use the Blue Shield AHIP certification link², and get reimbursed up to $100 of the $125 AHIP certification fee when you enroll five new Blue Shield MAPD members for the 2023 plan year.*

Please visit the Broker Connection MAPD and PDP certification page to learn more.

And remember, you must complete BOTH the AHIP certification and the 2023 Blue Shield product-specific training before you can sell any of our plans.

¹You must complete training on AHIP's site through Blue Shield's registration page to be eligible for reimbursement. Download the reimbursement request form. *All five MAPD members must be active for at least 60 days prior to your request. Payments may take up to six weeks to process.
NOTE: AHIP training is required for brokers annually prior to making any sales to receive commissions for new 2023 sales. To receive 2023 renewals for MAPD and PDP clients, AHIP certification must be completed on or before 12/31/2022.
²You MUST register using our link to be eligible for reimbursement.

Health Coverage you can count on from Blue Shield and AAA

Blue Shield of California and AAA have teamed up to offer an innovative benefit¹ available in select plans and counties. With these select plans, eligible members receive a one-year new or renewal Classic AAA Membership¹, annually upon enrollment. Enroll your clients in a Medicare plan with the Independence and Safe Mobility with AAA benefit², and help them lead vibrant and independent lives.
Please review our benefit FAQ for more information.

We offer four plans with Independence and Safe Mobility with the AAA benefit depending on your client's needs.

Blue Shield Plan G Inspire²(Medicare Supplement)
Blue Shield Inspire (HMO)²
Blue Shield Inspire (HMO D-SNP)²
Blue Shield Select (PPO)²

Log on to Shield on Demand for customizable client-facing materials.

¹One-year new or renewal Classic AAA Membership, included with your plan, annually upon enrollment. The value of the Classic AAA Membership is subject to change. AAA Membership provided by AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah.
AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah is independent of Blue Shield of California.
© 2022 AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah. All rights reserved.
²Available in select plans and counties in northern California. For Medicare Advantage Plans, members must qualify to receive the Independence and Safe Mobility with AAA Special Supplemental Benefit for the Chronically Ill. For Medicare Supplement Plan G Inspire, members do not have to qualify to receive the benefit.

2023 Update from CMS: Call recording requirements

Blue Shield recently received clarification from CMS for coverage year 2023 regarding the updated requirements for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans in the - Technical Final Rule (CMS-4192-F). Specifically, guidance on the beneficiary call recording requirements.

CMS confirmed that the regulations at §§ 422.2274(g)(2)(iii) and 423.2274(g)(2)(iii) are for coverage year 2023 enrollment, beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and require all calls be recorded, including the calls regarding the enrollment process, setting appointments, educational and casual conversations with beneficiaries via personal cell phones. If a prospect does not wish to be recorded, the transaction must end.

Please refer to the 2022/2023 Amendment to the Producer Agreement (Medicare), as modifications are included to reflect CMS-4192F final rule required changes and clarifications in the following sections: Business Integrity, Maintenance of records - audits, Delegation and Compensation.

Receipt of this electronic communication will serve as notification you have received and will abide by the updated amendment from Blue Shield of California per the CMS guidelines. Our agreement confirms both parties agree to meet all CMS guidelines.

As a reminder, current Product Certification is required to receive commission payments.

Should you have any questions, please contact our Producer Services team at (800) 559-5905. One of our representatives will be happy to assist you.

We’ve extended our Medicare Supplement Underwriting Holiday and Bonus Program through December

Good news! We’re happy to announce that our Underwriting Holiday has been extended through December 31, 2022. This offer allows your clients that are new to Medicare and/or new to Blue Shield of California to enroll in a Blue Shield of California Plan G, Plan G Extra, or Plan G Inspire* Medicare Supplement plan without answering any health questions or underwriting approval.

Plan G, Plan G Extra, and Plan G Inspire* Medicare Supplement plans are eligible for the Underwriting Holiday for an effective date of October 1, 2022, November 1, 2022, December 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023. Applications must be received with signature dates between September 1, 2022, at 12:00 a.m. through December 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Please use GA code 99 when submitting applications.
Competing health plan members are welcome to enroll in Blue Shield's Medicare Supplement Plans G, Plan G Extra, and Plan G Inspire* without answering any health questions or underwriting approval.
Underwriting Holiday is available for new to Blue Shield and new to Medicare/Age-ins. Blue Shield IFP and Commercial Age-Ins are also eligible for this Underwriting Holiday. Current Blue Shield Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement members are not eligible for this Underwriting Holiday.
Must be a California resident to apply.

Applications may be completed online, emailed to MSInstall@blueshieldca.com or faxed to (844) 266-1850.

Our fall extension is also a time when you can EARN BIG. Help your clients get more with Blue Shield of California by enrolling them in one of our benefit-rich, competitively priced Medicare Supplement plans.

Earn $250 for every approved new to Medicare and/or new to Blue Shield Medicare Supplement plan application for an effective date of October 1, 2022, November 1, 2022, and December 1, 2022. The bonus program starts on September 1, 2022, at 12:00 a.m. and goes through December 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. This bonus program is limited to Plan G, Plan G Extra, and Plan G Inspire* new enrollments only.

Blue Shield is excited to introduce an additional $50 bonus for every approved dental plan sold in conjunction with Medicare Supplement Plan G, Plan G Extra, and Plan G Inspire* with an effective date of October 1, 2022, November 1, 2022, December 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023.

Please reference our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or contact your Blue Shield Broker Sales Manager for additional information.

*Plan G Inspire is available in select Northern California counties.

2023 D-SNP plan transition- Updates and Opportunities

Blue Shield Promise Cal MediConnect (CMC) is ending December 31, 2022, and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is requiring CMC plans to move members to Exclusively Aligned Enrollment Dual Special Needs Plans (EAE D-SNPs) and a matching or aligned Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan, effective January 1, 2023.

CMC members will move to Blue Shield TotalDual Plan (HMO D-SNP) and have matching Blue Shield Promise Medi-Cal coverage.
Blue Shield and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will enroll members into their new plans automatically without an enrollment choice form or application.

Blue Shield Coordinated Choice Plan (HMO) is ending December 31, 2022, and CMS wants Blue Shield to move as many dual-eligibles as possible to a Dual Special Needs Plan effective January 1, 2023.

Blue Shield Coordinated Choice Plan (HMO) members will move into existing Blue Shield HMO D-SNPs and Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Plans
Blue Shield and CMS will enroll members into their new plan automatically without an enrollment choice form or application
Blue Shield will assign Blue Shield Coordinated Choice Plan (HMO) members to the best plan available to them
Eligible counties include: San Clara, Fresno, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego

Recently we hosted a series of Broker Town Hall/Roundtable meetings where we took a deep dive and answered questions about these changes based on all the information available today. Recordings are available to review if you missed any of those sessions.

Broker Town Hall/Roundtable – Southern California	Recorded August 3, 2022 (Passcode: &rrPYf6=)
Broker Town Hall/Roundtable – Northern California	Recorded August 3, 2022 (Passcode: #vV3YF#f)

Please review our latest FAQs or join one of our 2023 D-SNP broker training for more information.

Broker training dates and job aids

We’re committed to providing you with the tools and resources to help our members navigate the complicated and evolving healthcare space. Broker training events are your opportunity to interact and ask questions with our Blue Shield team of subject matter experts.

Topics Include:

2023 Certifications-Get Ready to Sell
Medicare Supplement plan underwriting holiday & bonus program
Digital Online Enrollment Tools
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) & Low Income Client (LIC) Special Enrollment

Broker Training Webinar Schedule

Also, please remember to bookmark the News and Announcement page on Broker Connection for helpful information and FAQs.

Tools at Your Fingertips ~

We want to provide you with all the resources you need to succeed. Here are some tools to help you be an expert guide for your clients when discussing Blue Shield of California plans:

2022 Commission payout calendar
Order enrollment kits online
Access Shield on Demand to help you grow your business.
Find archived Medicare newsletters
Member resources and support during wildfires

Stay current on the latest health news from Blue Shield of California by visiting our News Center, or receive updates in your inbox by subscribing today.

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