IN THIS ISSUE
1. Trainings At A Glance
2. New Individual & Family Quoting & Enrollment System
3.   MedicareBlueRx (PDP) Reminders
4.   Fall Training Updated Presentation
5.  Individual ACA Process Update
6.   Send Updated E & O
7.  Training information
8.  More information located on our Resources Page
ALL TRAININGS AT A GLANCE
Current Trainings At-A-Glance - Please note updates.

Wellmark Trainings:
1. Annual Agent Certification 
WHO: REQUIRED FOR ALL WELLMARK AGENTS
WHEN: Annually (2016 certification is now closed)
WHERE: Online training via Blue Learning Center   (wellmark.csod.com) - do not use www
WHAT: Must pass final assessment with a 90% passing grade - 3 attempts only
-failure to pass or attempt the assessment will result in loss of Wellmark appointment for 2 years.

2. Individual & Family Plan Quoting & Enrollment System Training - 
TRAINING CLOSED - Watch for webinars and helpful tips coming to Producer Connection page on Wellmark.com

3. Certification for Wellmark Synergy Health & Wellmark Value Health Plan
WHO: For agents that are going to sell these new Individual & Family plans for 2017
-A separate appointment and passing of certification will be required
WHEN:  Certification NOW OPEN for current agents and will be offered throughout the year for newly appointed agents.  Re-certification must be done every year and will take place in conjunction with the Annual Agent Certification.
WHERE: Online @ Blue Learning Center - direct link:  https://wellmark.csod.com/


Please forward Certificate of Completion emails to: 
jamie@veinsurance.com and tonya@mtcnet.net

WHAT:  Must pass final assessment with a 90% - 3 attempts only.  Three failed attempts will result in the agent not being able to sell these products, and agent must wait for 6 months to re-take.

Federal Marketplace Training:
4. CMS/FFM Certification
WHO: Agents wishing to sell policies on the federal Marketplace -Required in order to sell policies on the federal Marketplace - will need to be certified annually.
WHEN: August 1, 2016, training for 2017 has opened
WHERE: Agents can certify direct with CMS through the Marketplace Learning Center (MLMS) or other certified vendors online (Wellmark does not offer these trainings)
Other approved venders:

More information on training/certifications:  

Please forward Marketplace Certificate of Completions and FFM User ID to: 
jamie@veinsurance.com and tonya@mtcnet.net

Medicare Training:
5. CMS/Medicare Certification for 2017
WHO:  Agents selling/marketing MedicareBlueRx drug plans in 2017
WHEN:  OPEN
-Annual certification - required to take every year in order to sell/market MedicareBlueRx and to continue to receive commissions on current PDP business
WHERE:  Online through Pinpoint Global 
WHAT:  There are 2 sections of training - MAKE SURE TO COMPLETE BOTH!
1. Medicare Basics - course fee of $89.95 (AHIP will be accepted in place of Medicare Basics - please follow instructions on how to upload AHIP certificate)
2. MedicareBlueRx Product Specific

Use the attached documents for help:

MEDICAREBLUERX (PDP) REMINDERS
The marketing for the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) begins Oct. 1, 2016. Please remember the following:

2017 MedicareBlueRx kits are now available to order.  You may order on the Marketing toolkit on your Producer Connection page. (located on the right side).  If you need help, please contact your assigned account rep.

MedicareBlueRx website:  www.yourmedicaresolutions.com
(website for prescription drug plans only - please use Wellmark.com for all other products including Medicare Supplement)
  • Online Enrollment
  • Pharmacy Search
  • Formulary Search
  • Plan Comparisons
  • Forms/Documents
Other helpful reminders:
  • Agents must be certified for 2017 products prior to marketing those products beginning Oct. 1, 2016.  
  • Annual Open Enrollment Dates:  October 15 - December 7.
  • Agents must have a signed Scope of Appointment form or have a recorded oral agreement prior to any face-to-face marketing appointment with any beneficiary. Both types of documentation must be retained for 10 years plus the current year (11 total) and must be made available to the plan upon request.
  • All public marketing of 2016 products must end on Oct. 31, 2016. However, agents must stop public marketing of 2016 products once they begin marketing 2017 products. For example, if you start marketing 2017 products Oct. 5 you can no longer market 2016 products.
  • Agents may only use marketing materials (including letters and ads) that have been approved by Wellmark and CMS.
  • Materials created by agents that mention plan-specific benefits must be submitted to CMS. Materials that only indicate the products an agent sells (e.g., prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, etc.) are not required to be submitted to CMS.
  • All 2016 enrollment materials and other product brochures must be recycled on December 1, 2016, as the enrollment period for 2016 product expires.
FALL TRAINING - UPDATED PRESENTATION
Due to the changes that Wellmark of Iowa released last week, after our September 20 training, Wellmark has released an updated training presentation.  

Please review the presentation for updated information at this link:  

INDIVIDUAL ACA PROCESS CHANGES
Wellmark's new IFP (Individal & Family Plans) Quoting & Enrollment system is up and running for ACA business as of Monday August 29.    
 
Please note important changes regarding new Individual ACA applications, ACA contract changes and ACA call center numbers.

(1) Submitting Applications
  -Submit electronically via the new IFP enrollment system (Agent Portal)
  -FAX 844-820-0939
  -MAIL:   Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
PO Box 30150
Tampa, FL 33630-0150

Please note that submitting applications electronically is the preferred method.

(2) Processing change request for ACA business

You will no longer submit change forms if you need to make any updates or changes to a plan.
Instead, you will need to dial 800-819-0893 and make changes over the phone. The current
change forms will be retired, as outlined in the above chart in the "Form Changes" section.

(3) Faxing documents instead of emailing
 
Documents will no longer be accepted via email. Instead, you will need to fax them to this
number: 844-820-0939.
 
(4) Call-center changes
 
When you or a member calls Wellmark for a billing, enrollment, or claims issue at 800-819-0893, the menu you hear will be different than the previously heard options, so please pay attention when listening to the prompts. 

(5) Billing changes
 
Banking information will no longer be accepted on the IFP online enrollment system.  Instead, members will be sent an email once they have been enrolled on how to set up banking information.  They can do this on their myWellmark.com member portal.
 
 
E & O REMINDER
A reminder to send to us an updated E & O.  You can email to jamie@veinsurance.com
TRAINING
Wellmark Annual Agent Certification
WHEN: 2017 - TBD
 This is an annual training specific to Wellmark BCBS and must be completed each year in order to continue to sell Wellmark BCBS group and individual products.  This is a separate requirement from the Medicare PDP certification.  
WHERE: Online - Blue Learning Center

WELLMARK SPRING TRAINING
SPRING 2017 - TBD
Agenda Items to Include: TBD

WHERE: TBD
TIME: TBD

RSVP Now to:
Jamie Kamerman - jamie@veinsurance.com
Tonya Helmers - tonya@mtcnet.net

Certification for Wellmark Synergy & Value Health Plans
WHO:   For agents that are going to sell these new Individual & Family plans for 2017.  Required for agents wishing to sell these plans both OFF and/or ON the Marketplace  -A  separate  appointment and passing of certification will be required.
WHEN:  Certification NOW OPEN for current agents and will be offered throughout the year for newly appointed agents.  
**Recertifcation required every year in conjunction with the Annual Agent Certification.
WHERE: Online - Blue Learning Center


Please forward Certificate of Completion emails to: 
AND

FFM/Marketplace Certification

WHO: Agents wishing to sell policies on the federal Marketplace
WHEN: 2017 Plan Year training is now available
WHERE:  Agents can certify direct with CMS or other certified vendors online
*Marketplace Learning Center
*AHIP
*NAHU
 (Wellmark does not offer these trainings).

More information on training & certifications:  Resources for Agents & Brokers in the Health Insurance Marketplace
 
-Required in order to sell policies on the federal Marketplace - will need to be certified annually.

Please forward Certificates of Complete AND FFM User IDs to both:
jamie@veinsurance.com
AND
tonya@veinsurance.com
MEDICAREBLUERX  CERTIFICATION
Required training in order to sell and service MedicareBlueRx (PDP) products.

2017 Training is now Open!

Click Here to access training site.

Use the attached documents for help:


WELLMARK NEW AGENT TRAINING
Newly appointed agents with Wellmark BCBS are required to go to New Agent Classroom Training within 180 days of appointment date.  Prior to registering, agents will be required to complete a pre-curriculum online module and assessment on Medicare & ACA.  Once appointed, Wellmark Sales Training will send out an email with the pre-curriculum instructions.  Once the pre-curriculum is complete, you as the new agent will be prompted to Register for training in the Blue Learning Center located under your Wellmark.com agent login.  
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU GAIN AN ADVANTAGE
Agent Resources
You can access Wellmark BCBS of Iowa forms on our website.   Click Here
http://partnershealthinsurance.com/resources-2/
Coop Advertising
Did you know you could be eligible for 50% reimbursement on eligible Wellmark BCBS advertising?  Login in to your Wellmark.com Producer Connection page - locate the Sales Tookit - N ew ads are now available! Contact Tonya to find out more information about this program.
tonya@mtcnet.net           712-722-3333
Contacts:

Ben Van Engelenhoven

122 Central Ave SW
Orange City, IA 51041
800-856-6001
712-737-6000

 

Kelly Snieder
906 S Main Ave
Sioux Center, IA 51250
800-722-2578
712-722-3333  

 
Our Advantages:

Partners Heath Insurance is an AUTHORIZED WELLMARK GENERAL AGENCY located in Western Iowa. We invite you to review our website, consider our advantages, and give us a call today!





Our Locations:

906 S Main Ave
Sioux Center, IA 51250

122 Central Ave SW 
Orange City, IA 51041



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