Ameritas Dental Network Expansion News!

Ameritas is excited to announce the expansion of their Ameritas Classic dental network through a new network-sharing arrangement with United Concordia Companies Inc. (United Concordia) effective May 1, 2024.* They anticipate this will increase their dental network access points by more than 5,100, while improving our network utilization by approximately 2%. Actuarial will release state-specific network numbers in March.**

This network expansion will increase claim savings for your members, help close the network gap, and increase your sales opportunities.

There will be no changes to member ID cards and the new providers will be added to the provider online directory.

Contact your Ameritas sales representative to learn more!

In case you missed the news, Liberty Medicare Advantage is live in 5 new counties!

Great news!  Liberty Medicare has expanded their geographic coverage again in 2024 to include Pitt, Wayne, Wilson, Greene, and Lenoir Counties. These counties will become commissionable on 3/1/2024 for all plan effectives 4/1 and beyond!

This is an important announcement for agents with customers in California, Florida, North Dakota, and Washington and for those with business in these states. The counties below are under a federal or state designated SEP due to an emergency.

Please note: A disaster SEP application is only valid while the SEP declaration is in effect. If an end date is not listed below, please refer to our Ongoing SEP tracker in Producers’ University for the most up-to-date information. Any SEP applications submitted outside of that SEP’s declaration date will be rejected.

IMPORTANT:

• Please be aware this does not mean that active marketing can occur.
• The SEP is only for the purpose of providing a SEP to impacted individuals who had a valid election during the incident and were unable to make that election due to the emergency.
• This does not mean that Cigna Healthcare initiates waiving of authorization or referral requirements.
• This does not extend waiving of prior authorizations, referrals etc. 
   

SEP for Government Entity-Declared Disaster or Other Emergency

42 CFR 422.62(b)(18)

(Rev. 2, Issued: August 12, 2020; Effective/Implementation: 01-01-2021)

An SEP exists for individuals affected by a disaster or other emergency declared by a Federal, state or local government entity who were unable to, and did not make an election during another valid election period. This includes both enrollment and disenrollment elections.

Individuals are eligible for this SEP if they:

• reside or resided at the start of the SEP eligibility period where a federal, state or local government entity declared a disaster or other emergency. 
• were eligible for another election period at the time of the Disaster Election Period (DST) eligibility period.
• did not make an election during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency.

The SEP starts on the date the declaration was made or the incident start date whichever is earlier. The SEP ends two full calendar months following the end date identified in the declaration or the date the end of the incident is announced, whichever is later.

 
California

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Severe Storm and Flooding

SEP incident dates: 01/21/2024 - 03/19/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 01/21/2024 - 04/30/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: San Diego County

Florida

Declaration information UPDATE: Renewal

State declaration: Hurricane Nicole

SEP incident dates: 11/07/2022 - 05/17/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 11/07/2022 - 06/30/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties

North Dakota

Declaration information NEW: Retro approval

FEMA declaration: Severe Winter Storm and Straight-line Winds

SEP incident dates: 08/18/2023 - 03/15/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/18/2023 - 04/30/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Barnes, Cass, Dickey, Grant, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Traill Counties

Washington

Declaration information NEW: Retro approval

FEMA declaration: Wildfires

SEP incident dates: 08/18/2023 - 03/15/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/18/2023 - 04/30/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Spokane County

Updates to Cigna's DST application process

Two key updates:

• The date of the disaster is no longer required on any DST applications. 
• The missed election period is not required on most applications. See clarification below.

Keep in mind: Some missed election periods will still require you to input the missed election period AND the date of the missed election period on the application. Some examples include MOV (moving) or LEC (losing group coverage). The application will contain an "open" date field next to the SEP selections that still require a date to help you know when it is required.

Please read below for important application instructions.

For all applications, ensure that the following fields are completed:

• Select "SEP" in the Select Enrollment Period field.
• Enter code "DST" in the SEP Code field.
• If applicable, enter the date that applies for the missed election period. For example, a date is needed only if the missed SEP already required a date, such as moving, losing group coverage, losing or gaining Medicaid, etc. If the missed SEP or election period does not require a date on the application, the missed election period is not required. However, adding it on the application will expedite our review process. (i.e., AEP, OEP, LIS, MDE).

DST is not a stand-alone election period. For questions about DST eligibility, please review Cigna's Election Period grid, found in the Resource Center of Producers' University.

LIBR adjustments on IncomeShield 7, 9 & 10, effective March 1!

American Equity is proud to offer simple, transparent products at competitive rates within the industry. They remain committed to helping their contract owners protect their retirement dollars.

American Equity will be making adjustments to their Lifetime Income Benefit Rider (LIBR) (details listed below). These adjustments are designed to help simplify income planning for you and your clients. This also allows for more options for your longer-term clients.

IncomeShield 7, 9 & 10 Adjustments

These adjustments impact the LIBR Options 3 and 5* for IncomeShield 7, 9 and 10. Options 1, 2, 4 and 6 are unaffected by these changes.

Options 3 and 5 will have an updated Income Account Value (IAV) rate and an increased accumulation period effective Friday, March 1, 2024.

*Option 5 not available in CA

New dental and dental plus plans are coming to New Mexico on February 23rd!

Due to new regulatory requirements from the New Mexico Department of Insurance, Aetna is launching revised Dental and Dental Plus insurance plans in New Mexico to conform with these new requirements. 

Here’s your latest news and important updates from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Hampshire. If you have any questions on the information provided, please reach out to your Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Hampshire sales representative listed below.