Agent Survival Guide Podcast
The Friday Five
Episodes
Friday Mar 22, 2024
Friday Mar 22, 2024
The Friday Five for March 22, 2024:
#FierceMadness
EWG’s Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen
iPad Update & This Week’s Streaming Pick
FOMC March 2024 Meeting
The DUALS Act of 2024
What would you rather? Read a story, listen to it, or watch the movie? VOTE HERE!
#FierceMadness:
#FierceMadness: Grab a bracket and vote for the most overused buzzword in healthcare! https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/special-reports/fiercemadness-grab-bracket-and-help-us-find-biggest-buzzword-healthcare
Fierce Madness Bracket PDF: https://s3.amazonaws.com/publiceditorial.qtxasset.com/Fierce+Madness+Round+1+Bracket.pdf
Environment Working Group’s Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen:
2024′s ‘Dirty Dozen’: The 12 fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides—and tips for enjoying them safely: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/20/dirty-dozen-2024-12-fruits-and-vegetables-with-the-most-pesticides.html
Blueberries, strawberries again on the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/19/health/dirty-dozen-produce-pesticides-2024-wellness/index.html
'Dirty Dozen' Guide Shows 95% of These Fruits and Veggies Tested Positive for Pesticides: https://www.commondreams.org/news/ewg-2024-dirty-dozen-pesticides
EWG’s 2024 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™: The Dirty Dozen™ is packed with fungicides that can disrupt human hormones: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2024/03/ewgs-2024-shoppers-guide-pesticides-producetm-dirty-dozentm
The Clean Fifteen (EWG Official List): https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php
The Dirty Dozen (EWG Official List): https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
RR – iPad Update & This Week's Streaming Pick
Apple's iPad Pro could come with a matte display: https://mashable.com/article/apple-ipad-pro-matte-display-rumors
Claim of iPad announcement on March 26 ‘not true’ – Gurman: https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/21/ipad-announcement/
Gurman: No iPad Announcement Planned for March 26: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/21/gurman-no-ipad-announcement-march-26/
New iPad Air already shipping to US ahead of launch — and there’s a new size this time around: https://www.tomsguide.com/tablets/ipads/new-ipad-air-already-shipping-to-us-ahead-of-launch-and-theres-a-new-size-this-time-around
New iPad Pros and iPad Airs could land on March 26, but one model might be missing: https://www.techradar.com/tablets/ipad/new-ipad-pros-and-ipad-airs-could-land-on-march-26-but-one-model-might-be-missing
The Three-Body Problem: The 'unfilmable' Chinese sci-fi novel set to be Netflix's new hit 3 Body Problem: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240319-3-body-problem-china-censored-sci-fi-netflix-hit
FOMC March 2024 Meeting:
Consumer Price Index (CPI) February 2024: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf
Consumer prices up 3.1 percent from January 2023 to January 2024: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/consumer-prices-up-3-1-percent-from-january-2023-to-january-2024.htm
Fed Holds Rates Steady and Projects Three Cuts This Year: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/business/fed-meeting-interest-rates.html
Federal Open Market Committee 2024 Calendar: https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomccalendars.htm
Fed meeting recap: Everything Powell said during Wednesday’s market-moving news conference: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/20/fed-meeting-today-live-updates-on-march-fed-rate-decision.html
Personal Income and Outlays, January 2024: https://www.bea.gov/news/2024/personal-income-and-outlays-january-2024
The DUALS Act of 2024:
Cassidy, Carper, Cornyn, Warner, Scott, Menendez Comprehensive Legislation Improve Care For Patients Jointly Enrolled In Medicare And Medicaid: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-carper-cornyn-warner-scott-menendez-comprehensive-legislation-improve-care-for-patients-jointly-enrolled-in-medicare-and-medicaid/
Medicare, Medicaid Plans Could Drastically Change: https://www.newsweek.com/duals-act-new-bill-medicare-medicaid-integration-1879855
The Delivering Unified Access to Lifesaving Services Act of 2024: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Duals-Legislation-One-Pager-Final.pdf
Vulnerable Americans are stuck in a Medicare-Medicaid maze. Is a fix in sight? https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/14/1238386157/vulnerable-americans-are-stuck-in-a-medicare-medicaid-maze-is-a-fix-in-sight
Resources:
Agent’s Guide to Digital Marketing Resources: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG584
Agent’s Guide to Traditional Marketing Resources: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG583
Developing a Retention Mindset ft. Blake Amos (Cigna Healthcare): https://link.chtbl.com/2024BlakeAmos
Health Care Provisions in Biden’s 2025 Budget: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGF20240315
How to Be an Adaptable Insurance Agent: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG582
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim Twitter, https://twitter.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel
Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Friday Mar 15, 2024
The Friday Five for March 15, 2024:
Ritter's Senior Market Symposium
Amazon to Deliver LillyDirect Prescriptions
Microsoft Teams Consolidating App Versions
House Passes Bill that Might Ban TikTok
Health Care Provisions in Biden’s 2025 Budget
Should each Friday Five mention be numbered, or can we go numberless? VOTE HERE!
Have feedback for the Agent Survival Guide Podcast team? Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim Twitter, https://twitter.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel
Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/
Resources:
Developing a Retention Mindset ft. Blake Amos (Cigna Healthcare): https://link.chtbl.com/2024BlakeAmos
Free Webtoon & Comic Book Apps: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGA55
Medicare Part D Prescription Payment Plan Updates: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGF20240308
Optimize Client Acquisition by Becoming a Registered Social Security Analyst ft. Tom Drapala: https://link.chtbl.com/2024TomDrapala
Talkspace Plans to Enter Medicare Market: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGF20240301
Ritter's Senior Market Symposium:
Register for Ritter’s Senior Market Symposium: https://www.ritterim.com/symposium
Amazon to Deliver LillyDirect Prescriptions:
Eli Lilly strikes deal with Amazon Pharmacy for home delivery of Zepbound, other drugs: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/eli-lilly-strikes-deal-with-amazon-pharmacy-for-home-delivery-of-zepbound-other-drugs-7cddddcb
Eli Lilly strikes drug dispensing deal with Amazon: https://www.ft.com/content/64730a98-7744-4c16-abd3-b1f1e0aa43c7
Eli Lilly teams with Amazon to offer home delivery of its Zepbound weight-loss drug: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/weight-loss-zepbound-eli-lilly-amazon/
Microsoft Teams Consolidating App Versions:
Microsoft Teams is finally moving to a single app for personal and work: https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/13/24099723/microsoft-teams-unified-app-personal-work-accounts
Microsoft Teams will merge into single app for work and personal: https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-teams-will-merge-into-single-app-for-work-and-personal/
House Passes Bill that Might Ban TikTok:
House passes bill that could lead to US ban of TikTok: https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/tiktok-ban-bill-house-vote-03-13-24/index.html
House Passes Bill to Force TikTok Sale From Chinese Owner or Ban the App: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/technology/tiktok-ban-house-vote.html
H.R. 7521 the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" Text: https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240311/HR%207521%20Updated.pdf
The House passed a TikTok ban bill. But is the app really a national security threat? https://www.npr.org/2024/03/14/1238435508/tiktok-ban-bill-congress-china
TikTok ban timeline: Congress' yearslong case against ByteDance: https://www.axios.com/2024/03/12/tiktok-ban-explain-why-china-congress
Health Care Provisions in Biden’s 2025 Budget:
Biden budget focuses on unfinished health care business: https://www.axios.com/2024/03/12/biden-budget-drug-costs-insurance
Breaking down Biden's $7.3T proposed budget for 2025: Here are his top health priorities: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/breaking-down-bidens-2025-proposed-budget-here-are-his-top-health-priorities
Budget of the U.S. Government Fiscal Year 2025: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/budget_fy2025.pdf
Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration Urges Congress to Lower Drug Costs for Americans with Commercial Insurance: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/03/11/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-urges-congress-lower-drug-costs-americans-with-commercial-insurance.html
FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget Protects and Increases Access to Quality, Affordable Healthcare: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/briefing-room/2024/03/11/fact-sheet-the-presidents-budget-protects-and-increases-access-to-quality-affordable-healthcare/
President Biden’s Drug Pricing Policy: State Of The Union Takeaways: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gebai/2024/03/10/president-bidens-drug-pricing-policy-state-of-the-union-says-it-all/?sh=7b0cc7575f7d
Remarks of President Joe Biden — State of the Union Address As Prepared for Delivery: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/03/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery-2/
Statement by Secretary Becerra on the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/03/11/statement-by-secretary-becerra-on-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2025-budget.html
Friday Mar 08, 2024
Friday Mar 08, 2024
The Friday Five for March 8, 2024:
Contract Now Feature Changes for New Agents
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Program Updates
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Trends Study from Chartis
Waze Updates App Features
How to Disable X (fka Twitter) Calling Feature
Ask the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim Twitter, https://twitter.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel
Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/
Info on Ritter’s Tools for Agents:
5 Things About Working with Ritter Insurance Marketing: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGF20230512
Everything You Get With Your Ritter Registration: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG503
FAQs About Working with Ritter Insurance Marketing: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG492
Meet Your Sales Team: https://ritterim.com/meet-your-sales-team/
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Program UPDATES:
Biden-Harris Administration Issues Final Guidance to Help People with Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Manage Prescription Drug Costs: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-issues-final-guidance-help-people-medicare-prescription-drug-coverage
Fact Sheet: Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Final Part One Guidance: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fact-sheet-medicare-prescription-payment-plan-final-part-one-guidance.pdf
KFF Poll on Affordability & ACA: Takeaways for Agents (February 23, 2024 Friday Five episode): https://link.chtbl.com/ASGF20240223
Timeline: Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Implementation: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-timeline.pdf
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Trends Study from Chartis:
Chartis: A look at Medicare Advantage enrollment trends in 2024: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/chartis-look-medicare-advantage-enrollment-trends-2024
Mounting headwinds in Medicare Advantage market haven’t stopped growth: https://www.chartis.com/insights/mounting-headwinds-medicare-advantage-market-havent-stopped-growth
Waze Updates App Features:
Waze update: 6 new features added to make driving safer, easier: https://mashable.com/article/waze-update-6-new-features
Waze will warn you about speed bumps and sharp curves soon: https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/5/24091139/google-waze-maps-new-alerts-speed-bumps-parking-traffic-circles
How To Disable X (fka Twitter) Calling Feature:
A new call feature on X is on by default, and you should probably turn it off: https://appleinsider.com/inside/iphone/tips/a-new-call-feature-on-x-is-on-by-default-and-you-should-probably-turn-it-off
How to Make Free Video and Audio Calls on X (Twitter): https://tech.co/news/how-to-make-free-video-audio-calls-x-twitter
How to turn off the feature on X that people are freaking out about: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-turn-off-audio-video-calls-x-twitter-ip-2024-3
Nobody Wants Phone Calls From Twitter. Here's How to Turn Them Off: https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/nobody-wants-phone-calls-from-twitter-heres-how-to-turn-them-off/
Twitter Adds Voice And Video Calls: Here's How To Disable It: https://www.slashgear.com/1430439/twitter-how-to-disable-voice-video-calling/
Friday Feb 23, 2024
Friday Feb 23, 2024
The Friday Five for February 23, 2024:
Apple Music Replay Monthly
FDA Approves Severe Frostbite Treatment
New Audio Features from Samsung
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Program
KFF Poll on Affordability & ACA: Takeaways for Agents
Ask the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Follow Us on Social!
Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim Twitter, https://twitter.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel
Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/
Resources:
4 Perks of Partnering with an FMO: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG575
A Financial Snapshot of Medicare Beneficiaries in 2023: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGF20240209
Halfway Through Medicaid Unwinding: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGF20240216
Learning from Lost Medicare Insurance Sales: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG576
Social Media Marketing Apps: https://link.chtbl.com/ASGA52
Apple Music Replay Monthly:
Apple Music introduces a monthly version of Replay: https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/20/apple-music-introduces-a-monthly-version-of-replay/
Apple Music Reply will recap listening habits monthly: https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/20/24078224/apple-music-reply-will-recap-listening-habits-monthly
FDA Approves Severe Frostbite Treatment:
FDA approves first treatment for severe frostbite: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/14/health/iloprost-frostbite-fda/index.html
FDA Approves Iloprost for Severe Frostbite: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/fda-approves-iloprost-severe-frostbite-2024a10003cn?form=fpf
US FDA approves first treatment for severe frostbite: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-approves-first-treatment-severe-frostbite-2024-02-14/
New Audio Features from Samsung:
Samsung details a host of audio upgrades coming to its phones, tablets, and TVs: https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/20/24078026/samsung-galaxy-buds-auracast-360-audio-auto-switch-support
Samsung is upgrading a bunch of audio capabilities on its phones, tablets and earbuds: https://www.engadget.com/samsung-is-upgrading-a-bunch-of-audio-capabilities-on-its-phones-tablets-and-earbuds-133533584.html
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Program:
CMS Issues Additional Guidance on Program to Allow People with Medicare to Pay Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Costs in Monthly Payments: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-issues-additional-guidance-program-allow-people-medicare-pay-out-pocket-prescription-drug-costs
Draft CY 2025 Part D Redesign Program Instructions Fact Sheet: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/draft-cy-2025-part-d-redesign-program-instructions-fact-sheet
Fact Sheet: Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-fact-sheet.pdf
Maximum Monthly Cap on Cost-Sharing Payments Under Prescription Drug Plans: Draft Part One Guidance on Select Topics, Implementation of Section 1860D-2 of the Social Security Act for 2025, and Solicitation of Comments: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-part-1-guidance.pdf
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: Draft Part Two Guidance on Select Topics, Implementation of Section 1860D-2 of the Social Security Act for 2025, and Solicitation of Comments: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-draft-part-two-guidance.pdf
Timeline: Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Implementation: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-timeline.pdf
KFF Poll on Affordability & ACA: Takeaways for Agents:
Boost Your Commissions with a New HI Sales Strategy ft. Harry Rittner & Damon Logan: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG494
Cross-Selling Cancer, Heart Attack and Stroke, and Critical Illness Insurance: https://ritterim.com/knight-school/expand-dominate/cross-sell/6/
KFF Health Tracking Poll February 2024: Voters on Two Key Health Care Issues: Affordability and ACA: https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/poll-finding/kff-health-tracking-poll-february-2024-voters-on-two-key-health-care-issues-affordability-and-aca/
Questions for our Sales Team? Reach out for answers: https://ritterim.com/meet-your-sales-team/
The Advisor Approach: Cross-Selling by Fact-Finding: https://link.chtbl.com/ASG587