August 14, 2017
MARKETING AGENT
IN THIS ISSUE
2018
SilverScript Plan Designs
2018
PDP Commissions Are at CMS Maximum Levels
2018
Enrollment Kits – Supplies
2018
Annual Certification Is Now Available
eTool
Training Videos
Third
Party Website and Marketing Material Requirements
SilverScript
2018 Agent Advisory Council
Over 5.5 million Medicare beneficiaries choose
SilverScript year after year for the coverage, copays, convenience, and
customer care. The support of agents like you are critical to our success. We
are excited about our 2018 prescription drug plan offering and agent-centric
tools.
Over the next several weeks we will distribute
a series of eNewsletters to our SilverScript contracted agents. Today’s Agent
Update is focused on Annual Enrollment Period readiness. Please review this
entire newsletter because it is packed with good-to-know information. You can
always check the SilverScript Agent Portal (www.SilverScriptAgentPortal.com)
home page for the latest news and information from SilverScript.
2018 SilverScript Plan Designs
$0 Deductible on
ALL Tiers: Medicare increased the Part D standard
benefit annual deductible to $405. SilverScript’s 2018 plans will continue to
have a $0 deductible on ALL tiers of the PDP formularies…not just Tier 1 or
Tier 2. Our plans are a bit different in Alaska, Arizona, and Hawaii. (If you
sell in any of these three states, then please be certain to check out the
Alaska, Arizona, and Hawaii information further down in this newsletter.)
Lower premiums: The SilverScript Choice 2018 premium is lower in every state
(except Arkansas) compared to the 2017 premium. And as for Arkansas, the price
is still below $17. The SilverScript Plus 2018 premiums are also lower across
the board. The monthly rate is even below $50 in 11 states.
Below benchmark: SilverScript Choice premiums are below the regional
benchmark in 32 out of 34 regions. Our annual certification course will provide
you with region-specific pricing where you will notice our competitive rates.
Unique formularies: As for the list of covered drugs, The SilverScript Choice
(PDP) formulary will be slightly different than the SilverScript Plus (PDP)
formulary. Both formularies have five tiers and both cover over 3,300 drugs.
One of the differences is that the Plus formulary has slightly more drugs on
Tier 1 than the Choice formulary.
Down-tier drug
movement: Nearly 100 drugs are moving to lower Tiers.
We will share some specific drug examples with you as we get closer to the
start of the AEP.
“Less Than” logic: On a state by state average, 95 Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescriptions
have costs less than the regional copay. Members will always pay whichever is
lower. For example, if the regional copay is $5 but the SilverScript negotiated
drug costs is $1.18, the member will pay the negotiated drug cost of $1.18.
Plan comparison tools like Medicare.gov and the one on the SilverScript Agent
Portal always incorporate the “less than” logic.
Preferred retail
pharmacy networks: The SilverScript Choice and
SilverScript Plus retail pharmacy networks will still contain over 67,000
retail pharmacies. The Choice network now includes more than 26,000 Preferred
retail pharmacies while the Plus network includes more than 35,000 Preferred
retail pharmacies. Specific details are contained in the SilverScript annual
certification Product & Process course.
$0 Copay via mail
service: The SilverScript Choice plan design now
includes $0 copay on Tier 1 90-day supplies in ALL states. The SilverScript
Plus plan design continues to include $0 copay on Tier 1 and Tier 2 90-day
supplies.
Extra Gap Coverage: As in prior years, SilverScript Plus has additional gap
coverage for Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs.
Additional
information: SilverScript 2018 plan designs
are included in the SilverScript annual certification Product & Process
course.
REMINDER: You may not share any 2018 plan
information with the public (Medicare beneficiaries, clients, prospects,
competitors, etc.) until October 1, 2017. The information in this communication
is for AGENT USE
ONLY.
2018 PDP Commissions Are at CMS Maximum Levels
CMS caps the
amount plans can pay agents for new and renewing members. The good news is that
CMS raised the limit for 2018 and SilverScript is happy to pay the maximum
allowable commission for both new and renewal policies. New to Medicare Part D
annualized commission is $72 and renewal/rollover annualized commission is $36.
We know that you work hard assisting your PDP clients. They appreciate all of
your efforts and so do we.
2018 Enrollment Kits - Supplies
In mid-September
we are sending an initial supply of 10 enrollment kits to agents who have
completed the 2018 certification training and therefore qualify to market
SilverScript. The enrollment kits include: A scope of appointment form, a
2018 plan guide brochure, an enrollment application, the Summary of Benefits,
the Star ratings sheet, a New Member Reference Guide, and an agent checklist.
In addition, the initial supply will include one copy of the Choice PDP
comprehensive formulary, one copy of the Plus PDP comprehensive formulary
(these are for agent reference), and a car coach reference tool. Reorder
instructions and tracking information are posted on the Agent Portal. Feel free
to place advanced orders to help ensure you have enough materials for a
productive AEP.
2018 Annual Certification Is Now Available
The SilverScript
Product and Process course is now available via the SilverScript Agent Portal’s
Training & Certification page. Now is a great time to complete all of your
annual certification requirements.
Remember, you must
complete the 2018 annual certification requirements before you can market
SilverScript plans this AEP and you must complete the requirements prior to December
7, 2017 (the last day of AEP), in order to be eligible for 2018 renewal
commission.
SilverScript now
has a direct relationship with AHIP and Pinpoint training websites. Agents who
have completed 2018 initial training and/or annual re-training certifications
through AHIP or Pinpoint can have their results automatically submitted to SilverScript.
Instructions are on the SilverScript Agent Portal’s Training &
Certification page.
eTool Training Videos
eApplication and
eSOA: We encourage you to visit the SilverScript Agent Portal’s
Reference Materials page. We have posted video tutorials on how to submit an
electronic application and an electronic Scope of Appointment. The Reference
Materials page is also where you will find useful information such as: portal
user guides, PDFs of our annual certification courses that you can reference as
you complete the tests, and dozens of documents that agents like you have
requested we make available.
Third Party Website & Marketing Material Requirements
The CMS Medicare
Marketing Guidelines (MMG) state that Plan and Part D sponsors are responsible
for helping to ensure that all marketing and enrollment materials and websites
created by downstream entities – including those developed by subcontractors --
are in compliance with the guidelines. To help ensure compliance, CMS expects
that SilverScript will monitor and be responsible for the content of all
third-party websites that market SilverScript PDPs on our behalf. Full details
are posted on the SilverScript Agent Portal’s home page.
SilverScript must
review any materials you’re using that reference SilverScript. For example, if
you’re sending postcards, flyers, or emails that specifically mention
SilverScript, we need to review those materials.
SilverScript 2018 Agent Advisory Council
Do you have what
it takes? The SilverScript 2018 Agent Advisory Council
program is intended to differentiate a subset of SilverScript Agents from other
SilverScript Agents in the marketplace. The program will recognize Agents who
have met and continue to meet SilverScript Good Standing requirements, exceed
SilverScript Agent engagement standards, and continue to serve SilverScript
members’ best interests. Program information is posted on the SilverScript
Agent Portal’s News and Information section at the bottom of the website’s home
page.
Quick Link:
www.SilverScriptAgentPortal.com
Questions or comments? Please contact your
upline admin team. They are ready to support you.
FOR AGENT USE ONLY and not
intended for public or general use.
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and
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©2017 CVS Caremark. All rights reserved. CVS
Caremark Confidential Information.
This presentation contains CVS Caremark Confidential Information and cannot be
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