Agent Survival Guide | Empowering Insurance Agents to Survive Today and Thrive Tomorrow

Think what you've heard about Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans is true? Fun fact, it’s probably not! Listen as we break down D-SNP myths to build up your knowledge.
 
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🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
Diversify Your Insurance Portfolio & Reap Real Rewards
D-SNP Benefit Eligibility Client Letter
D-SNP Checklist
Get Your Insurance Portfolio Reviewed for FREE
The Beginner’s Guide to D-SNPs
The Complete Guide on How to Sell D-SNPs
 
References:
“A Profile of Medicare-Medicaid Dual Beneficiaries.” Atiadvisory.Com, ATI Advisory, atiadvisory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/A-Profile-of-Medicare-Medicaid-Dual-Beneficiaries.pdf. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Freed, Salama, et al. “10 Things to Know about Medicare Advantage Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-Snps).” KFF.org, KFF, https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/10-things-to-know-about-medicare-advantage-dual-eligible-special-needs-plans-d-snps/. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Ochieng, Nancy. “Medicare Advantage in 2025: Enrollment Update and Key Trends.” KFF.Org, KFF, 30 Jan. 2026, www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-enrollment-update-and-key-trends/.
“New Special Enrollment Periods (Seps) for Dually Eligible ...” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/duals-lissepsjobaid01012025.pdf. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
“Seniors & Medicare and Medicaid Enrollees.” Medicaid.Gov, https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/seniors-medicare-and-medicaid-enrollees/index.html. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
“US Enrollment and Spending for Dual-Eligible Individuals.” KFF.org, KFF, https://www.kff.org/interactive/state-profiles-for-dual-eligible-individuals/united-states/enrollment-and-spending-for-dual-eligible-individuals/. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
 
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

CMS recently published the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule. Don’t miss the ASG Podcast top takeaways for insurance agents.
 
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🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
5 Takeaways from the CMS 2027 Marketplace Proposed Rule
2016 vs. 2026: The Insurance Edition
CMS CRUSH Initiative
CMS Final Rule on Fax & Snail Mail
CMS Improves Plan Transparency and Choice with 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration
 
References:
"2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 6 Apr. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-rate-announcement.
"Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2 Apr. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/contract-year-2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-final-rule.
"Medicare Beneficiaries to See Simpler and More Flexible Plan Choices, Better Drug Coverage, Higher Quality and Lower Costs in 2027." cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2 Apr. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-beneficiaries-see-simpler-more-flexible-plan-choices-better-drug-coverage-higher-quality.
 
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Unlock the secret of cross-selling insurance without coming across as salesy, scared, or awkward! Demetri Simos (Vice President of GTL) and Dawn Myers (VP of Sales & Marketing Delaware Valley Brokerage Service) join the Agent Survival Guide to talk about cross-selling insurance products. Listen to learn strategies you can implement in your own insurance business!
 
Connect with Our Guests:
Dawn Myers on LinkedIn
Demetri Simos on LinkedIn
 
Resources:
🛞Adding Spokes to Your Wheel ft. Robert Rothschild
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
🗣️How Storytelling Helps Agents Quickly Connect with Clients ft. Don Connelly
🌐Optimize Your Online Presence ft. Aaron Kassover
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 
💻Ritter Insurance Marketing Events & Webinars
 
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💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Tired of juggling phone calls, planner pages, and double-booked appointments? It might be time to level up your scheduling strategy. Listen as we compare appointment schedulers that help agents save time, stay compliant, and make booking a little easier.
 
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Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
3 Insurance Business Tools You Absolutely Can’t Live Without
Best Practices for Writing an Email to Your Insurance Clients
eBooks & Guides for Insurance Agents
IntegrityCONNECT
PlanEnroll
What Are Agents Responsible for Under HIPAA?
Where It All Begins: Obtaining Permission to Contact for Medicare Sales
 
Appointment Schedulers:
Acuity
Google Workspace
Microsoft Bookings
OnceHub
SimplyBook.Me
 
References:
Lurie, Matt. “20 Integrable Scheduling Tools for Small Business Systems.” Ruby, https://www.ruby.com/blog/20-of-the-best-small-business-appointment-scheduling-tools-and-apps/, Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“Acuity Scheduling and HIPAA.” Help.acuityscheduling.com, Acuity Scheduling, https://help.acuityscheduling.com/hc/en-us/articles/16689567523597-Acuity-Scheduling-and-HIPAA. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“AgencyBloc Agency Management System AMS+” agencybloc.com, Agency Bloc, https://www.agencybloc.com/agency-management-system/, Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“Google Workspace.” Workspace.google.com, Google Workspace, https://workspace.google.com/, Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) & Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.” Learn.microsoft.com, Microsoft, https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-hipaa-hitech, Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“HIPAA Compliance with Google Workspace and Cloud Identity.” Support.google.com, Google, https://support.google.com/a/answer/3407054. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“HIPAA for Professionals.” HHS.gov, Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html, Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“Microsoft 365 for Business.” Microsoft.com, Microsoft, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/no-teams-plans-and-pricing, Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“ProducerMAX Online Scheduler.” Producermax.com, ProducerMAX, https://www.producermax.com/Online-Scheduler.html, Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“Radius Appointment Scheduler.” Help.radiusbob.com, Radius, https://help.radiusbob.com/en/articles/5448715-appointment-scheduler, Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
“The Use of Technology and HIPAA Compliance.” Hipaajournal.com, The HIPAA Journal, 14 Jan. 2026, https://www.hipaajournal.com/the-use-of-technology-and-hipaa-compliance/.
“What Is a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement?” Hipaajournal.com, The HIPAA Journal, 5 Jan. 2026, https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-business-associate-agreement/.
 
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Learn about the value of Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) and how to get started selling!
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Learn how you can get started selling D-SNPs by calling Ritter Insurance Marketing today at 800-769-1847.
Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
3 Easy Ways to Build Your Insurance Sales Territory
4 Characteristics of Agents Who Successfully Sell Special Needs Plans
4 Myths about Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs)
Build Your Brand with Community Involvement
D-SNP Benefit Eligibility Client Letter
D-SNP Checklist
Help Medicare & Medicaid Clients Secure SNAP Benefits
How Medicare Helps Your Clients Stay Healthy
How to Check Medicare Extra Help Eligibility for Your Client
How Selling Insurance Helps Give Back
Midwest State D-SNP Disruption, Secure a Winning Strategy
Rules for Hosting a Compliant Medicare Educational Event
Should You Sell D-SNPs?
SNPs: the Secret to Surviving Lock-In
Stay Busy Outside of AEP With Special Enrollment Periods
 
References:
“CY 2024 Cost Plan Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cy-2024-ma-enrollment-and-disenrollment-guidance.pdf, Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
“MA Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance Appendices and Exhibits.” CMS.Gov, Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cy-2026-ma-appendices-and-exhibits.pdf,  
“Medicare Managed Care Eligibility and Enrollment.” CMS.Gov, Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services, www.cms.gov/medicare/enrollment-renewal/managed-care-eligibility-enrollment. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
“Medicare Advantage Communication Requirements.” https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-422/subpart-V. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
“Part D Communication Requirements.” https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-423/subpart-V. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
“Special Enrollment Periods.” Medicare.gov, Medicare, https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan/special-enrollment-periods. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
“Medicaid State Overviews.” Medicaid.gov, Medicaid, www.medicaid.gov/state-overviews. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
 
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The Friday Five for March 27th:
Macbook Neo & WWDC26
Gas Buddy for Fuel Savings
The Great Nee-Doh Shortage
KFF State Health Facts Resource
CMS Final Rule on Fax & Snail Mail
 
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Macbook Neo & WWDC26:
“Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference returns the week of June 8.” Apple.com, Apple, 23 Mar. 2026, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/03/apples-worldwide-developers-conference-returns-the-week-of-june-8/.
“WWDC26” developer.apple.com, Apple Developer, https://developer.apple.com/, Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
 
Gas Buddy for Fuel Savings:
Apple Store
Google Play
Official Website
 
The Great Nee-Doh Shortage:
Official Website
 
KFF State Health Facts Resource:
“Custom State Report Builder.” Kff.org, KFF, https://www.kff.org/state-health-facts/custom/, Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
“State Health Facts.” Kff.org, KFF, https://www.kff.org/state-health-facts/, Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
 
CMS Administrative Simplification Final Rule:
“Administrative Simplification; Adoption of Standards for Health Care Claims Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures Final Rule CMS-0053-F.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 20 Mar. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/administrative-simplification-adoption-standards-health-care-claims-attachments-transactions.
“Administrative Simplification; Adoption of Standards for Health Care Claims Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures Proposed Rule.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/24/2026-05676/administrative-simplification-adoption-of-standards-for-health-care-claims-attachments-transactions, Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
“CMS Rule Phases Out Fax Machines, Snail Mail to Save Taxpayers $781.98 Million a Year.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 20 Mar. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-rule-phases-out-fax-machines-snail-mail-save-taxpayers-781-98-million-year.
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Did you know that burnout doesn’t always look like slowing down or quitting? Sometimes, it’s hiding behind fantastic production. Dan Spitale talks about how to identify burnout and switch our sales focus from the ceiling to a more sustainable target.
Read the text version
 
Get the Book - C.O.A.C.H.: Raising the Floor
 
Follow Dan Spitale Online:
Official Website: https://www.rtfperformancecoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisingthefloor/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-spitale-region219/ 
 
Resources: 
5 Tips for New Insurance Agents
5 Tips for Seasoned Insurance Agents
Developing Power Habits ft. Dr. Noah St. John
 
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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 X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Preferred pharmacies can play a massive role in the affordability of a PDP or MAPD plan for your clients. Do you know what they are and how they can change the essential math for your clients?
 
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Selling Medicare Part D
The Complete Guide on How to Sell Prescription Drug Plans
 
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
8 Powerful Practices for Selling Prescription Drug Plans
Building Client Loyalty: More than Just a Plan
 
References:
“Find an Aetna Medicare Network Pharmacy: Aetna Medicare.” Aetna, www.aetna.com/medicare/prescription-drugs/find-pharmacy.html#:~:text=Here%20are%20some%20of%20the,I%20request%20a%20prescription%20refill? Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
 
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Ritter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube
Sarah on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The Friday Five for March 20, 2026:
Rueppel Recommends
Audible launches Standard Plan
Universal Health Services to Acquire Talkspace
Manufacturer Participation in CMS 2028 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
Microsoft Announces Copilot Health
 
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Rueppel Recommends:
The Death of Social Media and the Rise of Interest Media
Minemyer, Paige. “The feds will overpay Medicare Advantage plans by $76B this year, MedPAC estimates.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 13 Mar 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/feds-will-overpay-medicare-advantage-plans-76b-year-medpac-estimates.
Minemyer, Page. “Joint Economic Committee report: Medicare Advantage overpayments drive up Part B premiums.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 13 Mar 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/joint-economic-committee-report-medicare-advantage-overpayments-drive-part-b-premiums.
“Medicare Payment Policy March 2026.” Medpac.Gov, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Mar. 2026, www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mar26_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf.
“The Part B Premium PassThrough: Medicare Advantage Overpayments Inflate Premiums for All.” Jec.Senate.Gov, Join Economic Committee, 10 Mar. 2026, www.jec.senate.gov/public/vendor/_accounts/JEC-R/issue-briefs/The%20Part%20B%20Premium%20Pass-Through.pdf.
 
Audible launches Standard Plan:
“Audible Membership Plans & Pricing.” Audible.Com, Audible, www.audible.com/ep/memberbenefits. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Davies, Rowan. "Audible launches a cheaper audiobook tier that’s perfect for entry-level listeners as Spotify continues to hike prices — here’s what you get with the new $9 plan." Techradar.com, Tech Radar, 4 Mar. 2026, https://www.techradar.com/audio/audiobooks/audible-launches-a-cheaper-audiobook-tier-thats-perfect-for-entry-level-listeners-as-spotify-continues-to-hike-prices-heres-what-you-get-with-the-new-usd9-plan.
Bonk, Lawrence. "Audible's new plan is $9 a month and still includes an audiobook." Engadget.com, Engadget, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/audibles-new-plan-is-9-a-month-and-still-includes-an-audiobook-credit-174641878.html.
Mehrotra, Pranob. "Audible’s new Standard plan makes it easy to enjoy audiobooks for less." Digitaltrends.com, Digital Trends, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/audibles-new-standard-plan-makes-it-easy-to-enjoy-audiobooks-for-less/.
 
Universal Health Services to Acquire Talkspace:
“Universal Health Services, Inc. to Acquire Talkspace, Inc.” Uhs.Com, Universal Health Services, Inc., 9 Mar. 2026, uhs.com/news/universal-health-services-inc-to-acquire-talkspace-inc/.
Gliadkovskaya, Anastassia, and Dave Muoio. “Universal Health Services to Acquire Talkspace in $835M Deal to Build out Virtual Behavioral Health.” Fiercehealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 9 Mar. 2026, www.fiercehealthcare.com/finance/uhs-acquire-talkspace-estimated-835-million-transaction.
 
Manufacturer Participation in CMS 2028 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
CMS Announces 2028 Maximum Fair Prices for 15 New Medicare-Negotiated Drugs Under Part B & D
“CMS Announces Manufacturer Participation in Third Cycle of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 13 Mar. 2026, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cms-announces-manufacturer-participation-third-cycle-medicare-drug-price-negotiation.
CMS Announces Part D Savings & 2026 Maximum Fair Prices for First 10 Medicare-Negotiated Drugs
CMS Announces Part D Savings & 2027 Maximum Fair Prices for 15 New Medicare-Negotiated Drugs
Cubanski, Juliette, and Tricia Neuman. “Key Facts About Medicare Drug Price Negotiation.” Kff.Org, KFF, 11 Mar. 2026, www.kff.org/medicare/key-facts-about-medicare-drug-price-negotiation/.
“Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Selected Drugs for Initial Price Applicability Year 2028.” Cms.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, www.cms.gov/files/document/factsheet-medicare-negotiation-selected-drug-list-ipay-2028.pdf. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
 
Microsoft Announces Copilot Health:
“Introducing Copilot Health.” Mcrosoft.Ai, Microsoft, 12 Mar. 2026, microsoft.ai/news/introducing-copilot-health/.
Bonifield, Stevie. “Microsoft’s Copilot Health can connect to your medical records and wearables.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 12 Mar. 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/893594/microsoft-copilot-health-launch.
Landi, Heather. “Microsoft unveils Copilot Health as an AI health companion for consumers.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 12 Mar. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/microsoft-unveils-copilot-health-ai-health-companion-consumers.
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The Agent Survival Guide is discussing crosswalking in the ACA marketplace and how it can be a big deal for your clients. If you don’t know what that means or the affects it can have on coverage, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Read the text version
 
The Complete Guide to Selling Affordable Care Act Insurance Plans
ACA 101: Selling Under-65 Health Insurance
 
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
Everything Agents Need to Know About Selling in State-Based Marketplaces
Everything You Need to Know About the ACA OEP
FAQs About Selling On-Exchange & Off-Exchange Under-65 Plans
How to Assist Clients with Marketplace Household Income Estimations
Is the ACA Sticking Around Long Term?
 
References:
“§ 155.335 Annual Eligibility Redetermination.” Federal Register :: Request Access, www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-155/subpart-D/section-155.335. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
Cohen, Robin A, et al. “Products - NHIS Early Release - Health Insurance - 2010.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 Nov. 2015, www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/insur201106.htm.
“Low Cost Marketplace Health Care, Qualifying Income Levels.” HealthCare.Gov, www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
World Population Review. “Uninsured People by State 2026.” World Population Review, 9 Feb. 2026, worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/uninsured-people-by-state.
 
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Ritter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube    
Sarah on LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Don't let the fear of compliance keep you from following up with your Medicare clients. Find out how to follow up and stay within CMS guidelines for marketing and enrollment.
Read the text version
 
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
4 Reasons Why Ritter Should Be Your FMO Insurance Agency
4 Ways to Keep Your Medicare Business Warm This Winter
Building Client Loyalty: More than Just a Plan
Keys to Client Retention: Face-to-Face Communication
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Do's and Don'ts
The Complete Guide to Client Loyalty and Retention
 
References:
“Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Website.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
“Medicare Advantage Communication Requirements.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-422/subpart-V. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
“Medicare Part D Communication Requirements.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-423/subpart-V. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
“Silver&Fit Website.” Silverandfit.com, Silver & Fit, https://www.silverandfit.com/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
“SilverSneakers Website.” Tools.silversneakers.com, Silver Sneakers, https://tools.silversneakers.com/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
“The 3-30-60-90 Day Conversation Guide.” Heinrichdev.com, Humana, https://heinrichdev.com/email/6715/Humana_3-30-60-90_Conversation_Guide.pdf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
 
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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 X, https://x.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/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The Friday Five for March 13, 2026:
Headline Quick Hits
AI & Critical Thinking
CMS Notification: 1.3 Million MBI Reassignments
2026 Medicare Part D Enrollment Stats
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration
 
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
AI & Critical Thinking:
Peck, Emily. “AI overuse could spark “brain fry,” new research finds.” Axios.com, Axios, 6 Mar. 2026, https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/ai-chatgpt-claude-jobs-brain-fry.
Landymore, Frank. “AI Use at Work is Causing “Brain Fry,” Researchers Find, Especially Among High Performers.” Futurism.com, Futurism, 6 Mar. 2026, https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-brain-fry.
Zak, Lana. “Is AI productivity prompting burnout? Study finds new pattern of “AI brain fry.” Cbsnews.com, CBS, 8 Mar. 2026, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-ai-productivity-prompting-burnout-study-finds-new-pattern-of-ai-brain-fry/.
Fakurian, Milad. “It’s tempting to offload your thinking to AI. Cognitive science shows why that’s a bad idea.” Theconversation.com, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026, https://theconversation.com/its-tempting-to-offload-your-thinking-to-ai-cognitive-science-shows-why-thats-a-bad-idea-276766.
Bedard, Julie, et al. “When Using AI Leads to ‘Brain Fry.’” Hbr.Org, Harvard Business Review, 5 Mar. 2026, hbr.org/2026/03/when-using-ai-leads-to-brain-fry.
 
CMS Plan Notification of 1.3 Million MBI Reassignments:
1.3 Million Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers to Be Reissued in March 2026
 
2026 Part D Enrollment States:
“Analyzing Changes in Medicare Part D Enrollment for 2026.” Kff.org, KFF, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.kff.org/medicare/analyzing-changes-in-medicare-part-d-enrollment-for-2026/.
 
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration:
“Frequently Asked Questions Related to the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 3 Mar. 2026, https://hpms.cms.gov/app/ng/home/.
Cubanski, Juliette. “What Medicare’s Temporary Program Covering GLP-1s for Obesity Means for Beneficiaries.” Kff.org, KFF, 9 Mar. 2026, https://www.kff.org/quick-take/what-medicares-temporary-program-covering-glp-1s-for-obesity-means-for-beneficiaries/.
 
Headline Quick Hits:
Malik, Aisha. “Macbook Neo, iPhone 17e, and everything else Apple announced this week.” Techcrunch.com, Tech Crunch, https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/everything-apple-announced-macbook-neo-iphone-17e-ipad-air/.
Fried, Ina. “Exclusive: Meta hires duo behind Moltbook.” Axios.com, Axios, 10 Mar. 2026, https://www.axios.com/2026/03/10/meta-facebook-moltbook-agent-social-network.
 
Resources:
CMS Crush Initiative
How the BALANCE Model Will Help Medicare Part D & Medicaid Enrollees Access GLP-1s
Medicare and Medicaid to Start Covering GLP-1 Drugs for Beneficiaries
Using a SWOT Analysis to Review Your Insurance Business
 
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 X, https://x.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/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Don’t miss the 2nd round of Medicare Part D negotiated drug prices. Get the details on the prescriptions and savings for Medicare beneficiaries in 2027.
 
Read the text version
 
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
CMS Announces Part D Savings & 2026 Maximum Fair Prices for First 10 Medicare-Negotiated Drugs
What the Inflation Reduction Act Means for Your Medicare & ACA Clients
 
References:
“CMS Delivers Savings for Seniors on 15 Major Drugs for Cancer and Chronic Disease.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 25 Nov. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-delivers-savings-seniors-15-major-drugs-cancer-chronic-disease.
“Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Final Guidance, Implementation of Sections 1191 – 1198 of the Social Security Act for Initial Price Applicability Year 2028 and Manufacturer Effectuation of the Maximum Fair Price in 2026, 2027, and 2028.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 30 Sep. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/ipay-2028-final-guidance.pdf.
 
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 X, https://x.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 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Do you know the strategies to meet your ambitious sales goals this OEP? We share the five tips that will have your clients trusting you with their insurance needs for years to come.
 
Learn How to Survive OEP
Join Ritter on HealthSherpa with Code FB05
 
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources: 
6 Ways to Generate ACA Leads
ACA 101: Selling Under-65 Health Insurance
Agent Registration
Building Client Loyalty: More than Just a Plan
FAQs About Selling On-Exchange & Off-Exchange Under-65 Plans
How Insurance Agents Can Learn About Their Social Media Audience
How to Ask Your Current Clients for Referrals
Keys to Client Retention: Digital Communication
 
References:
“All Topics.” HealthCare.Gov, www.healthcare.gov/topics/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Johnson, Jon. “Decision Fatigue: Effects, Causes, Signs, and How to Combat It.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 7 July 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/decision-fatigue.
“Fast, Easy ACA Enrollment.” HealthSherpa, www.healthsherpa.com/agents/features. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
“In-Person Assistance in the Health Insurance Marketplaces.” CMS.Gov, 19 Sept. 2025, www.cms.gov/marketplace/in-person-assisters/programs-procedures/in-person-assistance.
“Internet, Broadband Fact Sheet.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 20 Nov. 2025, www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/.
 
Follow Us on Social! 
Ritter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube
Sarah on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The Friday Five for March 6, 2026:
CMS Updates Deadline for GENEROUS
CMS Makes Updates to Medicare.gov
CMS Deferment of Minnesota Federal Medicaid Funding
CMS DMEPOS Enrollment Moratorium
CMS CRUSH Request for Information
 
Get Connected:
🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
CMS Updates Deadline for GENEROUS Participation:
"CMS Announces New Drug Payment Model to Strengthen Medicaid and Better Serve Vulnerable Americans" cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 6 Nov. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-new-drug-payment-model-strengthen-medicaid-better-serve-vulnerable-americans.
"CMS to Lower Drug Costs and Improve Care by Extending Deadline for GENEROUS Model Application" cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2 Mar. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-lower-drug-costs-improve-care-extending-deadline-generous-model-application.
"GENEROUS (GENErating cost Reductions fOr U.S. Medicaid) Model" cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/generous, Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
"GENErating cost Reductions fOr U.S. Medicaid (GENEROUS) Model" cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 27 Feb. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/files/generous-rfa.pdf.
 
CMS Makes Updates to Medicare.gov:
“Medicare.gov Enhanced Log In.” cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 3 Mar. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-gov-enhanced-log.
“Official Website.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.medicare.gov/, Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
 
CMS CRUSH Initiative:
Submit Your Comment “Request for Information (RFI) Related to Comprehensive Regulations To Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH).” Federalregister.gov, Federal Register, 27 Feb. 2026, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/27/2026-03968/request-for-information-rfi-related-to-comprehensive-regulations-to-uncover-suspicious-healthcare#open-comment.
“Trump Administration Prioritizes Affordability by Announcing Major Crackdown on Health Care Fraud.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 25 Feb. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-prioritizes-affordability-announcing-major-crackdown-health-care-fraud.
 
Resources:
2026 MA Enrollment, a NIPR Scam & Spring Coffee Menus
Instagram Basics for Insurance Agents
The Benefits of Selling Medicare Special Needs Plans
Using a SWOT Analysis to Review Your Insurance Business
 
Follow Us on Social! 
 
Ritter Insurance Marketing:
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
X: https://x.com/RitterIM
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance    
 
Sarah J. Rueppel:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.