Jan. 3, 2019

Be Prepared for Medicare Advantage OEP; Make Sure You’re Certified to Sell Medicare Plans

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) Is Underway
From Jan. 1 to March 31, Medicare Advantage members can change to another Medicare Advantage plan or to original Medicare. This is a one-time chance to change plans, and it must be completed during the OEP.

Are You Certified to Sell Medicare Health Plans?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires all individual producers who want to market and sell MAPD and PDP plans to certify to sell those plans before enrolling any new members.

In order to market and sell our Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) MAPD/PDP plans, you need to complete both:
 

• Part 1: America’s Health Insurance Plans’ (AHIP) Medicare certification training
• Part 2: Blue Cross Medicare Options^SM Product Certification training.

Certification Is Mandatory – Don’t Violate CMS Marketing Rules
Selling and marketing MAPD/PDP plans without being certified to do so is a violation of CMS marketing rules and could terminate your ability to sell BCBSTX products. Please do not submit any applications until you have completed the required certification training.

Find out how to access the 2019 MAPD/PDP certification training below.

Note: If you do not plan to certify to sell BCBSTX MAPD/PDP plans for the 2019 plan year, you need to destroy all MAPD/PDP paper applications.

Become Certified to Sell BCBSTX MAPD/PDP Plans
You can access both Part 1: AHIP’s Medicare certification training and Part 2: Blue Cross Medicare Options Product Certification training on the HCSC/CMP site.

Verify Your Certification
If you’re not sure if you’re certified to sell MAPD/PDP plans, email bcmrxcertification@bcbsil.com or call the Producer Service Center at 855-782-4272 to verify your certification status.

Online Resources for 2019 MAPD/PDP Certification
Visit the Medicare Producer Certification Resource page for everything you need to know to certify to sell 2019 products.

Questions?
Review the FAQs for more information about 2019 MAPD/PDP certification.