21st Century Medicare Supplement Sales-eNewsletter

Senior Market Sales, Inc. eNewsletter - Issue 12/30/09

Senior Market Sales, Inc. Agent Advantage eNews - Providing a secure future for insurance professionals and their clients.

The 21st Century Medicare Supplement Sale
Right now, hundreds of SMS agents are successfully enrolling their Medicare Supplement cases online using eSignature—a paperless, Internet-based application platform. Available in nearly all 50 states, this program will help you:

  • Speed up your Medicare Supplement enrollments
  • Sell to clients outside your immediate geographic area
  • Eliminate the hassle and cost of mailing and filling out applications
View the 20-minute eSignature Training

Here's How eSignature Works:
For clients with Internet access, you simply fill out the online application with the client (either on the phone or in person) and ask them to log into a password-protected portal where they enter their banking information and eSignature confirmation to complete the transaction. That's it!

Did You Know there are now 8 Ways to Sell Medicare Insurance? eSignature is one of them; find out the other seven.

Medicare Supplement      TOP

Visit MedSuppForAgents.com"Does SMS Do Group Medicare Supplement?"
Yes, SMS can help you with Group Medicare Supplement as well as Individual. Today groups of all sizes are realizing the benefit of carving out their senior members and looking for alternatives that provide quality benefits at a much lower cost.

It you're in this market, Senior Market Sales can find solutions others can't, making us an invaluable partner to agents nationwide.

We Provide:
  • Fast Quotes from several carriers
  • Expert Advice
  • Enrollment personnel for larger groups
  • Personal presentations to groups of a certain size
  • We also offer Group Part D

Call a Marketer Today about Group Medicare Supplement 1-877-888-9996.

Are You Ready for 2010?
Surely you've heard by now that the carriers will be introducing all new Medicare Supplement products in 2010, due to the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) which becomes effective June 1, 2010. (For more on these changes visit, www.2010medsupp.com)

What have you done to adapt to the changing market? Senior Market Sales can position you with the companies and tools you need to grow your business in 2010.

Call a Marketer at 1-877-888-9996 and ask what company you can sell in 2010.

Medicare Advantage      TOP

How Does Your MA Plan Measure Up?AEP New Business Deadline
All AEP applications must be received by the carrier no later than 11:59pm on Dec. 31st, 2009.

Attention Aetna and UHC agents: SMS needs your help. In order to make the 11:59pm deadline, SMS must receive your AEP applications no later than 9:00pm (CST) on December 31st.

Thanks for a great Selling Season.

CIGNA and Aetna Agents: Check Your E-mail
If you submitted CIGNA and/or Aetna business to Senior Market Sales during the AEP, you should be receiving an e-mail listing all of your cases in our system as of Dec. 14th (CIGNA e-mail was sent Wednesday, Dec. 23rd; Aetna e-mail was sent Tuesday, Dec. 29th). Please review this list and make sure that all the business you think you submitted actually got submitted.

The e-mails will be encrypted, which means you’ll have to go to the Zix Secure portal to view the contents. Get instructions for viewing secure e-mail here.

Reminder from UnitedHealthcare©
If you are selling any AARP branded products, you must immediately complete the 2010 AARP 101 module so you can receive commissions.

Agents who are selling any of the Dual SNP products must also complete a state-specific module from every state that they intend to write business in. You will not receive commissions if you complete only the general Dual SNP test, and not the state-specific module.

Travel Insurance      TOP

Visit TravelInsuranceCenter.com10 Reasons You'll Wish You Had a Travel Protection Plan

1. You have a medical emergency in a foreign country

2. You're involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. You need medical evacuation.

3. Your bags are lost and your medication was in them. You need to have an emergency prescription filled.

Get the rest of the Top 10

For more information regarding trip protection plans and our Travel Insurance Center affiliate program for insurance agents, please contact
Brandon, Alan or Dan at 1-866-979-6753 info@TravelInsuranceCenter.com

How To Open Secure Email From SMS
E-mails from SMS that contain sensitive information—such as social security numbers, account numbers or member IDs—will be encrypted. When you receive a secure email from SMS, follow these instructions:

1. Open the email and locate the link to the SMS Portal—"You have a Senior Market Sales Secure Email . . ."
2. If you are a first-time user, you will need to create an account—Simply enter your email, a password and a password reminder
3. A notification email will be sent to you. Activate your secure account using the link contained in the email.
4. The link will take you back to the portal site where you need to enter your email address and the password you just created. Your secure email box will open immediately.

To bring your own practice in compliance with the Hi-Tech Act, go to www.zixencryption.com. What is Hi-Tech and Secure E-mail?

The SMS Agent Advantage newsletter is posted on the home page at www.SeniorMarketSales.com

Send contact changes to sms@seniormarketsales.com

What's New

Join the SMS Group on LinkedIn
Join the Senior Market Sales
group on LinkedIn


Join the "Better Buckets Beta"
group on LinkedIn

Special Offers

E&O Insurance as low as $395/Yr

Protect Yourself with
Secure E-mail Solutions

New laws mean you could be exposed to fines for unprotected e-mails. Learn how to protect yourself here.

Get instructions for viewing secure e-mail here.

Annuity      TOP

Personalize Your Own BPASelect Microsite
Annexus Agents can call 1-877-645-4939 to find out how to create your own microsite. It's totally FREE and takes only a minute!

See a Sample Microsite Here
(Must have Flash enabled to view)

Compliance Corner:
What Constitutes Investment Advice?

Whether an agent is giving investment advice that requires securities registration depends on the circumstances. Keep yourself out of trouble by avoiding these situations.

6 Reasons You Should Be in the IRA Rollover Market
Want to learn more about getting into the IRA market? Join us in Phoenix for the Annexus Training Experience and IRA Inc. workshop February 11th & 12th, 2010.

Call 1-877-645-4939 to register.

Must be appointed with and have written some business for Annexus to attend.

Life Insurance      TOP

Genworth Drops Term Insurance;
Replaces with Innovative Colony™ Term UL

Start selling this affordable universal life product as an alternative to term life. Very competitive for face amounts under $500,000. Learn More.

And ask us about Genworth’s new simplified online application process, Life Quick Request. 1-877-888-0166

Top 10
Wealth Transfer Mistakes

  1. Too Much Joint Property
  2. Leaving Everything to Your Spouse
  3. Your Will is Not Your Will
  4. Improperly Owned Life Insurance
  5. Equating Success in Wealth Accumulation with Success in Wealth Transfer
  6. Leaving Your Retirement Plans to Your Children
  7. Lack of Liquidity
  8. Equally Inequitable
  9. Believing That Everyone Must Pay Taxes
  10. No Integrated Game Plan

Read the entire article here

Life Insurance News Bulletin
New product announcements, promotions and sales ideas from our carriers

Long Term Care      TOP

Feeling Left Out in the Cold?
With SMS You Have Options

If slumping production has forced your LTCi carrier-of-choice out of the market, you need to talk to the experts at Senior Market Sales.

We have available contracts with the Industry’s Top 4 LTCi Carriers. (according to agent satisfaction survey data from Agent Media Corp)

For More Information, Call the
SMS Long-Term Care Department at 1-888-456-8884 (Option 4).
Request a Contract Here

Eligible LTCi Premium Deductions for 2010
The IRS has announced its 2010 cost of living adjustments for eligible Long-Term Care insurance premium.
See Allowable Deductions for 2010


SMS Logo

8420 West Dodge Road 5th Fl.
Omaha, NE 68114-3446
1-800-786-5566
SMS Employee Directory

Hours of Operation
Central Time
Monday - Thursday
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Visit the SMS Website 24/7 for forms, quotes and more

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