Brokers Health Insurance Newsletter
Managing General Agent for Individual, Group & Senior Products November 2008
In This Issue
Holiday Hours
Visit exotic locations with Brokers Health
Delphi Card - Group Medical
American Community Field Bulletins
Online Health Quote
Assurant Health Communications
ATTENTION Senior Agents
Aetna NEWS
Golden Rule announcement
NEW Product Line
BluesMarketplace
Holiday Hours 
holiday_wreath
 
Thursday 11/27 - closed
Friday 11/28 - closed
Wednesday 12/24 - closed at Noon
Thursday 12/25 - closed
Friday 12/26 - closed
Wednesday 1/1 - closed 
Visit exotic locations with Brokers Health! 
tropical photo
 
Sun drenched beaches await qualifying agents for a week of fun with Brokers Health! Airfare on American Airlines, accommodations by Hyatt Hotels, transfers, breakfast and dinner with drinks included!
 
YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR OUR TRIP AND for American Community, Assurant, World and Colonial Life's trip.
 
Brokers Health is the only brokerage where you can earn double credit.
 
January 2009
 
SIGN UP TODAY - We're leaving sooner than you think!

Quick Links
:: info@brokershealth.com
Exciting changes are afoot at Brokers Health.  Ultimately our goal has always been to serve you, the agent - and that will stay the same.  We offer a world-class quiver of products and services to assist our agents with unparalleled support.  Let us know what we can do to increase your book of business in any way.  Thank you!
 
Brokers Health values your privacy so we will never share your email address with anyone.  Contact us anytime with any questions, comments or ideas you may have - Thank you.
 
Group Medical Savings with the Delphi Card
AGENTS - if you haven't heard about this revolutionary new product broadcast in recent emails by Brokers Health, click here for an overview.  If you already have, let us show you specifically how the Delphi Card can work for your groups today.
  • Are your group renewals going up?
  • Do you want to save 15%?
  • Have you heard of the Delphi Card?
  • Great Commissions available.

Contact the Brokers Health Team today for more information on how agents can benefit from this revolutionary new product.

American Community Field Bulletins AC logo
American Community has been busy updating agents and brokers - In case you missed some important ones:
  • Group Rates Reduced for Washtenaw County 
    • States:  Michigan
    • Effective:  January 1, 2009
    • On all products for Groups of 2-50 Employees.  We've reduced the rates in Washtenaw County on all our health products for groups of 2-50 employees.  These rate reductions are for new business with effective dates beginning January 1, 2009.  Products impacted include:
      • American's Preferred Advantage Plan
      • APEP Choices
      • Next Generation HSA
      • Triple Tier
  • Individual Health Rates Decrease 10%
    • States:  Michigan - in Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne Counties
    • Effective Dates:  beginning October 1, 2008
    • New business base rates will not change on Individual Community Preferred, Coverage on Demand, Medalist II, Next Generation HSA and Triple Tier.  However, rate factors for Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne counties will decrease 10%.  Base rates will continue to trend each month.
  • Website Passwords Just Got Easier 
    • Relaxed criteria simplifies your connection to AC 
    • All you need are seven characters to log on to the secured section of AC's website.
  • Change to downloaded commission statement 
    • Microsoft Excel File Format Revised
    • Effective Date October 15, 2008
    • Your commission statements are available on AC's website as PDF (Portable Document Format) files.  AC also offers the capability to download your commission data to an Excel spreadsheet so you can sort it to fit your needs.
  • Online Quote and Application System Enhanced
    • Individual Quote System Replaced December 3rd
    • Effective Date:  October 31, 2008.
      • AC is pleased to announce that they are enhancing their Online Quote and Application system with new and improved functionality.  As a result, they are replacing the Individual Quote (IQ) system with our Online Quote and Application system beginning December 3, 2008.
  • Individual Underwriting Update
    • Expanded Coverage/Easier Pre-screening for certain conditions:
      • allergies
      • asthma
      • attention deficit disorder
      • GERD
      • Hyperlipidemia
    • We understand that many of your individual clients need coverage for their dependent children with certain conditions.  We also understand your need for easier pre-screening on certain conditions we already cover.  We've made some adjustments to our rating structure and underwriting guidelines to accommodate those requests.
    • Effective date:  immediately
  • AC Sharpens Focus In Large Group Underwriting
    • Only groups with 51-99 Eligible employees will be quoted
    • Effective:  Immediately
    • States:  Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio
    • To better align our large group marketing efforts with our core group business processes, expertise and agent distribution channels, we now are focusing large group underwriting on employers with 51-99 eligible employees.  Requests for proposals (RFP) for 100 or more eligible employees will be returned to the sender.
  • Electronic Group Employee Medical Application Now Available
    • PDF file can be complete on a PC to save time
    • States:  Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio
    • Effective:  Immediately
    • AC's 690 group employee medical application for your state is now available in a PDF that can be completed electronically.  This new format offers your clients a quick and easy way to complete employee applications.  As a result, you'll have faster turnaround for your sales.

Please call or email us for more detailed information on any of the above items.

Online Health Quote in Two Easy Steps!!

Brokers Health has added the functionality to our website to give visitors health insurance quotes in two easy steps.  By filling in basic info and a personal profile - all industry best secured - numerous quotes are provided.  UPDATE - we have upgraded the interface to make it even easier to get and review quotes - try it today!

CLICK HERE to see this quoting engine now.
Assurant Health logo 
Assurant Health
 
Product Change Communication: 
 
Sales News RECAP November 1, 2008:
  • Rate Guarantees Expanded - more options on OneDeductible and SaveRight 
  • SaveRight - Now WITHOUT the HSA.
  • Waiting periods removed from new IM business
  • New faxible Short Term Medical applications

For the full articles above, contact us today.

Short Term Medical BONUS CAMPAIGN
Sell Short Term Medical (STM) plans between August 1 and December 31, 2008 - and you can earn bonus dollars! ASK US HOW!
 
Assurant is replacing older individual medical plans with the newest products.  Contact us for details.
 
One Decreasing Deductible - Rewarding your clients is a breeze.
One Decreasing Deductible from Assurant Health is a new feature of the Individual Medical OneDeductible Plan that rewards your clients by decreasing the amount they pay of their plan deductible.  Ask us how. 
 
With Assurant Health's Take It Easy program, the game plan for selling individual health insurance is simple.
We do the work and you get paid.  Ask us how.
 
Strong ties in Michigan:
Assurant Health is committed to Michigan - and to you - by offering your clients affordable, quality health insurance products tied to a broad network of providers.  Great rates:  customers will benefit from our recent rate reductions - up to 47% - throughout the state of Michigan, alongside our strong network arrangement with Cofinity.  You'll benefit from increased sales.
 
Strong networksAssurant Health offers a number of network arrangements in Michigan which means choice for your clients.  Cofinity and Assurant Health have worked together since 1991 to develop one on the most comprehensive networks available in Michigan. 
 
Three Time's a Charm - Earn bonus bucks in Assurant Health's 2008 Sales Incentive Campaign.
 
One thousand dollars can be yours!  And you can take advantage of this 2008 sales campaign throughout the year!  Here's how you can earn lucrative bonuses by participating in Third Time's a Charm:
  • You initiate the bonus qualification period when your first group is issued.  Beginning on that date, you have 90 days to issue two more groups.
  • You'll earn a $1,000 bonus when you sell the third group.
  • And there's more!  Assurant will pay an extra $100 per group if a high deductible plan ($2,000 or higher) is issued.  This can add $300 if all three groups qualify - bringing the rate payout to $1,000. Rates have even been lowered on high deductible plans.
  • After the three groups are issued, you've completed the Third Time's a Charm and you can start the whole process over again.

Get in on the action today...by jump-starting your Third Time's a Charm with the first small group!  Contact us for complete details and find out how Brokers Health Insurance can help you qualify.

 Let Brokers Health know if you'd like more information.
Brokers Health is your senior products expert! 
ATTENTION INDEPENDENT MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT & MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PRODUCERS 
 
WANTED Looking for the seasoned, self motivated, and disciplined Professional Insurance Agents!!!
  • Brand New Companies
  • Top Contracts
  • Top Rated Carriers
  • Trips, Bonuses, Incentives
Please contact Brokers Health Insurance Services, 800-782-8190 or email: Bev@BrokersHealth.com
Aetna logo 
AETNA Individual Markets

2008 Individual Broker Bonus Program - Aetna has ramped up your rewards for selling the Aetna Advantage Plans into a triple play:  cash rewards PLUS qualified leads and co-op marketing dollars to support your ongoing success.

Effective July 1, 2008:

  • New plans:
    • First Dollar 30
    • First Dollar 40
    • PPO Value 5000
  • Plans no longer available:
    • First Dollar PPO 25
    • PPO 500
    • PPO 1000

Don't forget that Brokers Health will match up to $300 per year in co-op advertising.  Also:

 New Co-op Marketing Tool to Help You Generate Leads
Aetna, leveraging their relationship with D & B, is excited to offer you access to an unlimited amount of prospective leads for one low fixed annual cost!
Aetna, has teamed up with Hoover's, a D & B company, to arm you with one of the most powerful sales tools to give you the business insight necessary to edge out the competition and build your book of business.  Hoover's is designed to not only help you find and locate businesses in your area, but help you understand your customers and close new business.  Ask us today for more details!
 
We'll Give You Something to Smile About - NEW Standalone Dental!
Did you know that over 135 million Americans do NOT have dental insurance?  Aetna's new plans present a great way to tap into a vast market and progressively grow your business.  The standalone dental plans hare available to clients both over and under the age of 65 and will be launching in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Illinois

Contact the Aetna experts at Brokers Health Insurance for more detailed information the bonus, co-op and dental programs above in addition to how the new and old plans affect those currently enrolled.

Cofinity 
Golden Rule Announces UnitedHealthcare network offering and transition from Cofinity network in Michigan 
Many of our agents received notification that effective June 30, 2008, Golden Rule Insurance Company will no longer offer the Cofinity network for new individual policies sold in certain zip codes in Michigan.  Please keep in mind:
  • The Cofinity medical network is a true statewide provider network.
  • The Cofinity network consistently produces better than average savings.
  • The Cofinity membership volumes and marketplace longevity matter.
  • The Cofinity network continues to grow.

Contact Brokers Health today for assistance with this transition.

HPE logo 
NEW Product Line 
Known collectively as "ExpressMed Premier", the line is underwritten by Wold Insurance of Omaha, Nebraska.  With VERY competitive rates, the new ExpressMed Premier easily beats most of its major competitors in almost every geographic marketplace.  In addition to great rates, you will still be offering a very high uality package of benefits to your clients including:
  • Prescription drug coverage
  • Office visits with small or even no co-pays, depending on the plan
  • Wellness benefits
  • Rate guarantees of various lengths
  • High lifetime maximums, up to $5 million
  • Complete portablility of coverage

HPE Commission level for agents is set at 25%Contact us today for more information.

 
BluesMarketplace
  • Feds Adjust 2009 HSA Limits
  • IBU Revamps Change of Status Form
  • Feds Release 2009 Premium and Deductible Rates
  • Application Now Available For New Dental Products

Ask us for complete details on the new items above.

Brokers Health Insurance | 415 Main Street | Saint Joseph | MI | 49085