It’s time to get Certified for the 2024 Medicare Season

I know those of you that certify dread this time of the year, but it is a necessary step we to take to help our clients with their Medicare insurance needs. This year, with all the new CMS guidelines and changes in the Medicare market, is another critical year. One of the best ways to stay up-to-date with these changes is through the AHIP training and carrier training. Those of you that participated in our Medicare University this year heard me talk about the upcoming certification available this summer. Guess what, that time is upon us; AHIP will be released June 21th. AHIP 2023 will no longer be available as of June 16^th. However, when you complete the 2024 certification, you will also be certified for the 2023 plans.

If you are planning on taking the certification, I highly recommend you complete it through one of our carriers below to receive a $50 discount from the normal $175 cost of the AHIP certification.

If you are currently certified for 2023, you will receive an email from the carriers you are appointed and certified. You can pick and choose which to utilize. If you are new and looking to get certified for the first time, then you will want to reach out to me for guidance. On a side note, we will have the Cigna MAPD/PDP contract for this AEP, so inform me if you would like to add them to your arsenal of Medicare carriers.

If you are an agent looking to expand your business offerings, research how selling Medicare related products can help you add a recurring revenue stream to your agency. There are a ton of prospects in the Medicare market. Ten thousand seniors turn 65 every single day, that’s a lot of prospects in need help understanding Medicare and their options.

Even though Medicare beneficiaries won’t admit it, Medicare is a very confusing topic and often what they think they know is incorrect. Therefore, I challenge every agent I train to become a “Complete Medicare Advisor”. To become a “Complete Medicare Advisor”, you need to continually develop and grow your knowledge about Medicare, all the options available from Medicare supplements to Medicare Advantage plans, but also all the other products one can utilize to cover additional risk and needs your client may incur. Many agents that focus on a few products for their clients are not doing their clients any justice. One of the steps an agent can do on their way to becoming a “Complete Medicare Advisor” is to complete the AHIP certification. This training will go a long way in helping an agent to understand Medicare advantage and prescription drug plans.

Below is a summary of the information that each carrier has released regarding the 2023 certification so far.

Aetna

The 2024 Individual Medicare Producer Certification for MA, MAPD, PDP and SNP launches on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. 

Once again, Aetna Medicare will offer two certification options: (1) AHIP Medicare Training Certifies producers to sell for multiple carriers, including Aetna and (2) Aetna Medicare Compliance Training: Certifies producers to sell Aetna only (AHIP alternative).

Humana

Plan year 2024 Certification and Recertification goes live on Tuesday, June 27th at noon Eastern! Please see the links below if you want to check out the job aids for how to access the trainings. The deadline to complete recertification and be able to write 2024 plans is 9/30/23 and the deadline to maintain your current book of business is 11/30/23. We accept AHIP and NABIP!

How to Access and Transfer AHIP Score Job Aid

How to Access and Transfer NABIP (formerly NAHU) Score Job Aid

If you have recently gotten contracted and haven’t certified yet, completing 2024 certification will also allow sales for the remainder of 2023.

Wellcare

In preparation for the PY2024 Medicare selling season, we want to provide you with some key dates to be aware of moving forward.

Key Dates – Plan Year 2024 (PY2024)

Please mark your calendars for the following important launch dates: