BayCare Medicare Advantage contract is here and Redbird has partnered with them to stand up this new and amazing Medicare Advantage plan in Tampa and the surround 4 counties of Polk, Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas. If you plan on selling BayCare Plus plans, you are required to complete the following process:
- Complete and pass the AHIP exam with a 90% or greater score (click here to use our $50 discount code)
- Attend a face-to-face BayCare Medicare certification meeting
- Complete the online BayCare agent contract and pass the BayCare Plus product test.
Upon completion of these steps, you will be assigned a “Ready to Sell” status in your BayCare agent portal. Check out the other BayCare FAQs.
Request to Get Appointed to Sell BayCare
We believe you should consider becoming a BayCare broker or agent and getting contracted to sell, and here’s why.
- BayCare’s Medicare plan is a value based health plan and it’s called BayCare Plus Medicare Advantage.
- Medicare brokers in Tampa all know the strength of the BayCare Health System and the confidence the community has in their continued amazing patient care.
- BayCare is the strongest household brand in healthcare in Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties…and now they are getting into the Medicare game.
- BayCare is entering the Medicare Advantage market and it’s going to be extremely disruptive in a good way.
- Strong commissions and residuals.
- Excellent opportunity for established P&C agents and agencies to better serve their clients.
“We are confident the BayCare Plus Medicare plan is going to be a dominant health care solution for residents in the 4 county service area and will create a “land grab” opportunity for licensed agents over the next 3-5 years. Our growing partnership with BayCare continues to strengthen based on their focus of building the best value based health plan in the Tampa market.”
-Drew Gurley, Founder and Forbes Finance Council Member
Here’s why selling BayCare Medicare Advantage is different and better.
BayCare partnered with Lumeris, a company with a strong history of standing up and managing some of the best regional Medicare Advantage plans that stand on the foundation of value based health care. Lumeris partners with local health systems (like BayCare) to better control the patient / physician experience (value based health care).
Better control means better cost containment, and better cost containment often results in lower costs to policy holders.
Lower costs translates to competitive benefits which ultimately means it’s easier to sell, especially when it’s coming from an established, local brand (BayCare).
Frequently asked questions about the BayCare Medicare contract.
Value Based Health Care has History of Success
Based on their track record in Missouri and Illinois (our back yard), we anticipate the expansion into Tampa with BayCare will be a grand slam!
Lumeris stood up two other regional plans over the last 13 years and both plans have captured the market share in their respective regions ad achieved 4.5 and 5 stars.
In their most recent plan, they captured over 14% of the market share in their first year! They are doing it again in Tampa and you have a 3-4 year window to establish an extremely strong book of business and residual income. With a market of nearly 800,000 eligible Medicare prospects in Tampa, it’s going to be a big deal.
Selling value based health care plans is much better for your customers than fee for service plans. Check out what Forbes has to say about why Medicare beneficiaries should consider value based care plans.
Consumers are more likely to buy new or change when it comes from a trusted local brand.
We have seen first hand how regional Medicare markets have been disrupted by local health systems offering their own Medicare Advantage plan. It’s a huge opportunity and I know we will see more agents and brokers looking to get a Baycare Medicare Advantage contract.
Lumeris continues to have a heavy focus on long-term personal relationships which means they will be looking for agents and agencies who believe in those same values.
If this matches what you’re looking for and you answer yes to any of the following questions, we would love to connect and tell you more.
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Are you interested in offering a value based care plan to your customers?
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Are you a Medicare Advantage FMO and want a BayCare contract?
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Are you interested in becoming a BayCare agent and selling Medicare Advantage?
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Are you a Medicare Advantage MGA and want a BayCare contract?
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Are you a Medicare broker and want a BayCare Medicare Advantage contract?
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Are you interested in selling Medicare Advantage over the phone?
- Are you interested in selling the strongest value based Medicare plan in Tampa?
Yes, I would like to get ready to sell with BayCare Plus
Frequently Asked Questions about BayCare Medicare Advantage Contracting (FAQ)
We are getting tons of questions from agents who have an interest in contracting with BayCare Plus Medicare Advantage plan.
Do you have BayCare Medicare Advantage Leads?
Yes!
We are the only organization with a CMS filed and approved co-branded Baycare landing page. This allows us to run BayCare specific lead campaigns which can be distributed to our down line partners.
The medicare leads are setup for the 4 county service area and targeted to the following:
- Seniors and Medicare eligibles living in Polk, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties
- Individuals turning 65
Leads are distributed in real time to the agents and are never sold to other agents. We control these leads and they are 100% exclusive.
Does BayCare require face-to-face certification to become ready to sell?
Yes, you can register for BayCare’s certification process here. If you have missed the scheduled certification dates, please contact us for a list of make up dates in order to get ready to sell.
Request BayCare Face-to-Certification Information
How do I get contracted to sell BayCare Medicare Advantage Plan?
In order to become a broker with BayCare Plus, your need to get contracted with a BayCare FMO. To get contracted you need to RSVP for BayCare certification. Use this link to request your contracting link.
From here we will submit your contract request to BayCare and they will send you an onboarding link.
Can I get a direct contract with BayCare?
Yes, agents can contract directly with BayCare through a BayCare FMO or a BayCare MGA. In most cases you’ll be paid directly by BayCare, but some agencies do have captive models.
Working with a BayCare upline will help you access additional marketing incentives to grow your book of business as well as making sure you’re working within compliance. FMOs can help with a variety of services:
- Direct mail Medicare leads
- Telemarketing services
- Internet Medicare leads
- Agency brand building
- Medicare sales training
- Website services
- Many more…
Does BayCare have salaried Medicare Advantage sales positions?
BayCare does have a captive sales force that works in the local markets. Captive agents with BayCare can expect to build relationships with local BayCare doctors, pharmacies and other strategic partnerships.
We are the only other group that has a compliant approved lead landing page which makes our marketing extremely unique for agents wanting to exclusively sell BayCare. We can run targeted campaigns for each agent in any service area of BayCare’s Medicare plan.
What are the BayCare Medicare Advantage override commission levels?
For their first year, BayCare used a tiered system which was based on production requirements. The first level tier received a $180 override on business written.
This is an excellent contract for those looking to build a team.
Rumor has it this year they are changing their structure to a traditional GA, MGA model which is a bit different than the tiers.
Can I partner with local BayCare doctor’s offices?
Yes, there will be opportunities to partner with BayCare physicians, but those details have not yet been released. We’re assuming BayCare will likely offer those positions with their captive BayCare agents first before opening it up to BayCare brokers.
If you already have referral relationships with local doctors in the BayCare network, then you should continue leveraging your relationships.
How do I find a BayCare FMO?
We are your resource to getting contracted with BayCare and can either help you with a BayCare contract or connect with you a local MGA to get contracted to sell.
Either way, independent agents will need to go through one of the few BayCare FMOs available.
If you would like to contract with BayCare, please complete this form and we’ll walk you through how to get contracted with BayCare.
What is BayCare’s street level Medicare commission?
BayCare will pay the maximum allowable by CMS. Street level commission are paid directly to producers and there isn’t currently an LOA contract available.
Will BayCare offer agents leads or broker leads?
BayCare will aid in connecting agents with physicians and pharmacies, but they will not supply leads to brokers. However, Baycare has a captive agent program. If you become a captive agent, then you should assume there will be a level of lead support.
Redbird will be helping agents connect with consumers actively looking for BayCare Plus Medicare Advantage information. If you would like more information on how we are generating BayCare Medicare leads, please contact us and we can share those details and help get you plugged into the program.
Can I sell BayCare Medicare Advantage over the phone?
Like most Medicare Advantage companies, BayCare will have very strict guidelines for call center sales.
If you are interested in selling BayCare over the phone, I would suggest calling Redbird and speaking with Drew Gurley about qualifications to sell BayCare over the phone.
Can I build a BayCare downline?
Yes.
BayCare has the structure to allow agents to build a hierarchy based on production volume.
If you want to become a broker with BayCare and build a team, it’s absolutely doable as long as your partnering with an agency that has the BayCare contract to sustain the type of hierarchy you need.
Make sure you understand your BayCare upline can sustain the contract level you need for you and your brokers if you plan on building a team.
What is the name of the BayCare Medicare Advantage plan?
BayCare’s Medicare Advantage plan is called BayCare Plus Medicare Advantage.
Does BayCare require AHIP certification in order to sell?
Yes.
AHIP is a requirement to become ready to sell with BayCare.
You can receive a $50 AHIP discount code by logging into AHIP through the Redbird AHIP discount link. After you have completed your AHIP, you can get the remainder of your $125 fee reimbursed from BayCare after you write 10 applications.
Regardless of your upline, you can still use our AHIP discount.
Where can I sign up for BayCare face-to-face agent certification?
BayCare 2020 meetings start the week of August 19th.
If you miss a certification, please contact us to help you coordinate a time for a make up session before AEP. You cannot become ready to sell unless you are certified for the current year.
What is BayCare’s star rating with CMS?
Every new Medicare plan starts at a 3.5 star rating.
As we mentioned, BayCare has partnered with Lumeris who has a strong history of running successful Medicare Advantage plans and have consistently been 4.5 and 5 stars for the nearly the last decade.
We anticipate BayCare will see significant results in their first few years to achieve the standard Lumeris has set.
Does BayCare have an electronic application?
Yes. BayCare 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 BayCare commissions?
You can access all important information regarding your BayCare book of business through the BayCare agent portal. It’s an extremely intuitive platform and shows you a snap shot of where you are at any time.
The agent portal will allow you to track your commissions to ensure you are paid correctly and on time.
How do I submit BayCare applications?
Submitting new business to BayCare is extremely simple. There are three easy ways.
- Mail. You can send your applications using a postage paid envelope provided in every BayCare Plus sales kit.
- Electronic. Using the electronic application is the easiest method and it includes all necessary forms including the scope of appointment and agent check list.
How is BayCare marketing going to help generate leads?
BayCare will be running a series of campaigns to drive consumer engagement. It’s important to remember that the more BayCare is engaged with consumer marketing, the better you’ll be. BayCare agents will have an easier time connecting with new clients as the clients will be seeing consistent campaigns via TV, internet, newspaper, and radio.
You should consider aligning your strategies with the marketing campaigns BayCare is running to build brand awareness.
When can I start selling BayCare Plus Medicare Advantage?
October 15th is the beginning of the annual election period and is the first day you can begin selling the BayCare Medicare plan. The annual election period runs from October 15th to December 7th.
You can contract now and sell individuals turning 65 or wait until the annual election period starting on October 15th.
How do I order BayCare supplies?
Supplies can be ordered directly through the BayCare agent portal.
You can also get the following items to help your sales efforts:
- table tents
- brochure
- table cloths
- stand up signs
How can I contact BayCare customer service or agent support?
BayCare has excellent customer service and agent support divisions which are domestically located in St. Louis, MO. They are very accessible and will be available to help you support your clients as you grow your book of business.
Below is the press release that was issued on march 27th, 2018 announcing the new BayCare Medicare Advantage Plan that will be available in the upcoming AEP for 2019.
BayCare Contract: Medicare Advantage Press Release
ST. LOUIS and CLEARWATER, Fla., March 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Lumeris, the industry leader in value-based care solutions, today announced a new strategic partnership with BayCare Health System, the largest not-for-profit health care provider in the Tampa Bay area. Lumeris will manage the day-to-day operations for BayCare Plus, BayCare’s new Medicare Advantage (MA) plan launching in January 2019.
BayCare Health System, which is located in one of the nation’s fastest growing Medicare markets, selected Lumeris based on the company’s extensive experience working with providers to develop, operationalize and execute on value-based care managed services strategies, including MA plans. Lumeris has a proven track record of improving outcomes, engaging physicians and increasing patient satisfaction.
“Lumeris impressed us with their depth of Medicare Advantage expertise and their strong knowledge of how to implement these strategies effectively to improve the health of populations,” said Jim Beermann, president of BayCare Select Health Plans, Inc. “Adding insurance will encourage our providers to focus on wellness and caring for patients, not just when they are sick but 365 days a year. This partnership will enable us to do just that and find optimal patient outcomes with the most efficient use of resources.”
Lumeris has more than 10 years of experience working with Medicare Advantage plans and providers and has developed a Best in KLAS® care delivery model that emphasizes patient wellness and the pursuit of the Triple Aim Plus One, defined as better health outcomes, lower costs and improved patient experience, plus physician satisfaction. Lumeris’ data-driven, collaborative care delivery model consistently improves clinical outcomes and financial results.
“We are delighted to partner with a leading healthcare organization like BayCare Health System in such an important Medicare Advantage market,” commented Mike Long, chairman and CEO of Lumeris. “We will build on BayCare’s strong relationships with its physicians and its ties to the community to help the health system and other providers in its integrated network make the transition to value-based care, while improving the health of seniors across the Tampa Bayarea.”
BayCare has obtained a state insurance license to offer its health plan in four Florida counties, and it has submitted a Medicare Advantage plan application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Meanwhile, Lumeris is helping the organization to build a broader network that includes physicians and hospitals outside the BayCare system to ensure additional access for future Medicare Advantage plan members.
Ross Armstrong, Lumeris’ senior vice president for the region, said, “BayCare selected Lumeris as its partner because of our proven methodology and our understanding of how to align provider and payer incentives. We will help BayCare create and operate a fully integrated delivery network that not only takes responsibility for improving the health of patients but also for reducing the cost of care and increasing efficiency. That is where healthcare is heading—and BayCare will be leading the way.”
Get Contracted with BayCare Medicare Advantage
ABOUT BAYCARE HEALTH SYSTEM
BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 15 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. The health system’s inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. BayCare’s mission is to improve the health of all the patients it serves through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit here.
ABOUT LUMERIS
Lumeris serves as a long-term operating partner for organizations that are committed to the transition from volume-to value-based care and delivering extraordinary clinical and financial outcomes. We guide health systems and providers through seamless transitions from volume to value, enabling them to deliver improved and more affordable care across populations—with better outcomes. And, we work collaboratively with payers to align contracts and engage physicians in programs that drive high-quality, cost-effective care with satisfied consumers—and engaged physicians.
An industry recognized leader, Lumeris won the 2018 Best in KLAS award for value-based care managed services for helping clients deliver improved clinical and financial outcomes. This was the third year it received this distinguished award. For the past seven years, Essence Healthcare, Lumeris’ inaugural client with more than 65,000 members in Missouri and Illinois, has received 4.5 to 5 Stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Lumeris is committed to delivering these same results with its multi-payer/multi-population clients to meet their goals and missions.
SOURCE Lumeris
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