Ascension Medicare Advantage

Have you heard about the new Ascension Medicare Advantage plan?

This amazing opportunity is only available in 4 select markets and space is limited due to the unique physician partnership program detailed below.

• Jacksonville, FL
• Pensacola, FL
• Chicago, IL
• Wichita, KS

Read through and learn more about the opportunity you have to get appointed with Ascension’s Medicare Advantage plan and take advantage of this one of a kind marketing opportunity we have created for street level agents.

Below you’ll find the following:

• A complete background.
• HUGE Perks of getting appointed with Ascension.
• Agent BONUS program
• How to get contracted to sell.
• Recent joint venture news.
• Frequently asked questions

Why agents should consider contracting with Ascension Medicare Advantage

Ascension is known for serving the under served which is often a common statement in the Medicare Advantage community.  Their new partnership with Centene and Allwell is taking that mission to a new level.

Many Medicare advantage plans have continued to evolve and this new Medicare plan from Ascension will give you alternative and competitive options to your typical plans like Humana, United Health Care, Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, etc…

Agent Perks

Here is why you should become an Ascension Medicare broker immediately!

1. Physician partnership program available for street level agents at ZERO cost.
2. Pre-set appointments.
3. Various types of compliant leads for street level agents .
4. Ascension Medicare commissions are strong for first year and renewals and PAID DIRECT TO YOU.
5. Excellent opportunities for P&C agents to build another channel of clientele.

Every day (2 hour increments) that you are in your assigned physicians office, we will provide you 5 additional leads to work.  So, if you’re in your assigned physician office 5-6 days per week, you will receive 25-30 additional leads each week to work on top of whatever you generate through the physicians office directly.

How are we doing all of this at NO COST to you?

Because we’ve built a business plan for this project well in advance of this product release and budgeted to support the growth program.  Plain and simple.

If you want to sell the Ascension Medicare Advantage in the Jacksonville, Pensacola, Wichita, or Chicago markets, you need to complete the following steps:

1. Complete your annual AHIP training.  Here is a discount link if you haven’t already taken it.
2. Complete the online Ascension agent contract (When you click the link, you’ll need to choose Allwell as they are the company that partnered with Ascension.)
3. Pass the online Ascension Medicare product training.
4. Schedule a call with our team to get paired with a physician and activate your pre-set appointments.  (click here to schedule your call once you’ve completed contracting)

Additional $24,000 Opportunity

To make the deal even sweeter, we have an awesome bonus program available.

• $50 for every application submitted using the Ascend application
• $30 for every Blue Button application
• First 5 Apps – AHIP costs are reimbursed
• First 10 Apps – E&O reimbursment
• First 20 Apps – $1,000 in Lead Credits
• First 50 Apps – $5,000 in lead credits or Marketing reimbursement.
• 100 Apps – $7,500 in lead credits or marketing reimbursement.

Why your clients should learn about Ascension’s Medicare Advantage plan

1. 1. Ascension is the largest catholic health system in the world and versed in serving your customers.
   2. Seniors know the strength of Ascension hospitals and have confidence in their patient care.
   3. Ascension is a household name in states like Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and more.

“I’ve been following along the Centene and Allwell journey and have watched the continued growth and acquisitions take place.  This joint venture with Ascension is sure to create new and vibrant opportunities for local licensed agents to build a strong book of business to compete against the other big MAPD plans in the market”

-Drew Gurley, Founder and Forbes Finance Council Member

Ascension Medicare Advantage Plan

Two insurance industry titans have joined forces to create a new Medicare Advantage plan available in 2020.  The Ascension Medicare Advantage contract is here and we’re ready to help you get contracted and ready to sell.

According to Forbes, “Health insurer Centene and Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system, announced plans to form a Medicare Advantage plan.”

This is big news for brokers as Centene continues to rapidly grow (recently acquired WellCare).   This growth paired with Ascension being the largest catholic health system has massive potential to disrupt the MAPD market.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ascension Medicare Advantage (FAQ)

There has been a lot of noise around Ascension’s new Medicare plan, here are some of the questions we’ve been getting from agents looking to get appointed to sell.

Do you have Ascension Medicare Advantage Leads?

Yes.

We are currently working on getting our CMS filed lead page approved and once it’s ready we will be able to run specific lead campaigns for Ascension.  Leads will be for individuals turning 65 as well as those looking at new benefits during AEP.

There are many ways to get leads, below are some of the ways we suggest.

1. Direct mail
2. Compliant approved internet leads on Facebook or google
3. Community engagement with food pantries, physician offices, and pharmacies.

As mentioned above, we are providing leads at NO COST to contracted agents.

What if I’m not contracted before AEP?

That is okay, our program will run all the way through OEP, so agents can continue to get appointed through AEP and still work with our marketing program.

Does Ascension require face-to-face certification to become ready to sell?

No, Ascension does not require face-to-face certification to get ready to sell.

How do I get contracted to sell Ascension Medicare Advantage Plan?

To become a broker with Ascension Medicare Advantage, you need to get contracted with an Ascension FMO.

Our network is working directly with Ascension on this expansion and can coordinate your contracting directly whether you’re an agent or an agency looking to get appointed to sell.

Can I get a direct contract with Ascension?

No.

Ascension will not have a captive Medicare sales team.  If you want to get contracted with Ascension, you’ll need to go through an upline like a GA, MGA, SGA or FMO.

Working with a Acension upline will help you access additional marketing to improve your sales and keeping compliance top of mind.  You should expect the following services from your Ascension Medicare FMO:

• Direct mail leads
• Medicare sales training programs
• Telemarketing services
• Agency branding
• Facebook Medicare leads
• Website services
• More…

What are the Ascension Medicare Advantage override commission levels?

Overrides for agencies with a downline start at $50 and increases from there.  If you’re familiar with Centene or Allwell commission structures, Ascension will be the same.

Can I partner with local Ascension doctor’s offices?

Yes.

You can definitely get partnered with Ascension physicians during AEP and OEP, however, space is limited and filling up FAST.

We anticipate we can pair you with 1-2 offices during AEP and OEP until all offices are filled.  As of 10/24/19 we only have 5 open offices left.

How do I find an Ascension FMO?

We can help you get contracted with Ascension or connect you with a local Ascension MGA or another FMO in the following cities:

• Jacksonville, Florida
• Pensacola, Florida
• Chicago, Illinois
• Wichita, Kansas

Independent agents will be required to use an Ascension FMO in order to get contracted to sell.

Complete this form to get contracted with Ascension.

What is Ascension street level commission?

Street level commission are paid directly to producers and there isn’t currently an LOA contract available.

This means you’re completely vested and own 100% of your book of business with Ascension.

Will Ascension offer leads?

Yes.

Ascension will have leads to distribute to brokers that have completed the certification and are ready to sell.

If you’re interested in getting on the list to receive leads for Ascension, please complete this form.

Can I sell Ascension Medicare Advantage over the phone?

At this time Ascension brokers will not be able to sell the new Medicare plans over the phone.  However, you can use their E-app which is extremely simple.

Can I build an Ascension downline?

Yes.

Ascension has 4 tiers for building a downline which is similar to Centene and Allwell.

The agency tiers for Ascension are as follows:

1. FMO
2. SGA
3. MGA
4. GA

If you’re an agency owner looking to get contracted to sell Ascension, please reach out and we can walk you through the details.

What is the name of the Ascension Medicare Advantage plan?

Ascension Complete Medicare Advantage

Does Ascension require AHIP certification in order to sell?

Yes.

AHIP is a requirement to become ready to sell Ascension’s Medicare Advantage plans.

We have a link that will give you a $50 AHIP discount when you login to AHIP using the Redbird AHIP discount link.  Using the AHIP discount link you will pay $125 for your AHIP exam and the $125 will be reimbursed once you write 10 applications.  This reimbursement is available for agents who contract with us directly to sell Ascension.

If you’re an Ascension GA or MGA, we can discuss additional incentives with you based on your sales volume.

Where can I sign up for Ascenion face-to-face agent certification?

Ascension is not requiring face-to-face certifications.  You just need to complete the following steps:

1. Complete AHIP
2. Complete online contracting
3. Complete product training depending on the state you’re selling
4. Schedule a call with our team to get set up with a doctors office and pre-set appointments through AEP and OEP.

Once you have completed those steps you will be ready to sell Ascension for 2020.

What is Ascension’s star rating with CMS?

Every new Medicare plan starts at a 3.5 star rating.

Does Ascension have an electronic application?

Yes.  Ascension has a great platform that will allow for electronic enrollments.  The electronic application include all the items required to complete consumer enrollments:

• Scope of Appointment
• Application
• Agent Checklist

How do I check my Ascension commissions?

You can access your book of business through the Ascension agent portal.

Their new agent portal allows you to track your commissions so you can make sure you’re paid correctly.

How do I submit Ascension applications?

Submitting Ascension new business is quick and easy.

1. Mail.  As with all carrier, you can mail your applications directly in using the enrollment kits provided to you
2. Electronic.  Ascension has a system called “Ascend” which makes writing e-apps a breeze!

When can I start selling Ascension Medicare Advantage?

October 15th, 2019 kicks of AEP and that is the day you can begin enrolling your clients in Ascension Complete plan for a 2020 effective date.

The Medicare annual election period runs from October 15th to December 7th which is the time frame consumers can change their Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.  You can also sell through OEP.

How do I order Ascension supplies?

The best way to request supplies is through the Ascend portal.  If you’re having trouble, you can call our team and we can help get you supplies quickly.

Ascension Medicare Advantage Press Release

Below is the press release that went out on 7/30/2019

Centene and Catholic healthcare system Ascension are looking into creating a joint Medicare Advantage plan in several insurance markets, the two companies revealed Monday.

The insurer and the largest not-for-profit health system signed a letter of intent to research the joint venture that would launch the plan, which they hope would hit the markets in 2020. The Medicare Advantage plan would be set as both companies’ preferred model.

“This joint venture will bring together two leaders with decades of experience across markets and creates an opportunity for scaled payer-provider collaboration,” Centene CEO Michael Neidorff said in a statement. “We share a commitment of serving the underserved and intend to leverage the best capabilities of both organizations to provide high quality, affordable healthcare to support the needs of low-income seniors.”

Last year, Cleveland Clinic collaborated with several insurers to create Medicare Advantage plans. The plans launched with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio and Humana included no monthly premiums and required members to receive some services exclusively through the clinic.

Approximately one-third of all Medicare enrollees will be in a Medicare Advantage plan in 2018, according to the CMS. The program’s enrollment is projected to grow by 9% to 20.4 million in 2018.

“We look forward to developing innovative, transformational approaches to serve this growing population in the many communities we serve as part of our advanced strategic direction,” Ascension CEO Anthony Tersigni said of the Centene joint venture.