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February 23, 2009 |
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| Suspension of Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Sales and Marketing |
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| Dear Valued Producer: As you may know, WellCare was recently notified by CMS that it must suspend sales and marketing of its Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans beginning March 7, 2009. However, we have chosen to halt all sales and marketing activities by both employed and independent insurance agents beginning March 1, 2009. Effective immediately, WellCare sales staff and independent insurance agents must stop making new sales appointments or scheduling new marketing events for WellCare Medicare products. Only previously-scheduled appointments and sales events that will be completed on or before February 28, 2009 may be conducted. Any appointments or events to sell or market WellCare Medicare products that are scheduled to occur after February 28, 2009 must be cancelled immediately. Please see the FAQ's document (see link below) for cancellation instructions. Both WellCare and CMS have intensified secret shopper monitoring of WellCare sales and marketing activities which will continue through February 28, 2009. Commissions will be paid in accordance with your producer contract for TeleApp enrollments completed on or before February 28, 2009 or for paper applications that are signed and dated on or before February 28, 2009 and received by WellCare by March 2, 2009. Medicare beneficiaries may still enroll themselves in WellCare Medicare plans until March 7, 2009 using a paper application, via online enrollment at www.WellCare.com or www.Medicare.gov, or by phone by calling 1-800-Medicare. Please note that this suspension of sales and marketing has no impact on current WellCare Medicare Plan members. Current members continue to have the same covered services and plan benefits without interruption. Additionally, this action does not impact any WellCare Medicaid or SCHIP members or plans in any state. WellCare is committed to maintaining the highest level of accountability to CMS and our members. Accordingly, we view this temporary sales suspension as an opportunity to enhance our internal health plan operations, sales and marketing practices, and ultimately, the experience of our valued members. Please refer to the FAQs for additional information. Should you have any questions, please contact your WellCare representative, FMO or you can email us directly at producer@wellcarepro.com. As always, thank you for your support of compliant sales.
Kevin A. LeBlanc |
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