In efforts to support the Washington State Cares Fund initiative, Mutual of Omaha implemented underwriting and commission changes for applications received from the state of Washington, including: A 100% chargeback for policies issued May 19, 2021 – November 1, 2021 and lapsing within the first policy year. Declining applications for clients not seen by a physician in the last 24 months. However, due to continually increasing application volumes from the state, Mutual of Omaha must make additional modifications. Effective immediately, we are instituting the following adjustments to the MutualCare® Solutions product offerings for the state of Washington: Increasing minimum issue
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Mutual Income Solutions Underwriting & Eligibility
Mutual Income Solutions Underwriting Our goal is to provide the best possible offer of disability income insurance to help protect your client’s income. Below are the points of criteria we base each application on: Occupation — Depending on your client’s job duties, we’ll designate an occupation risk class. Health — A health interview and medical tests may be required depending on benefits applied for. Income — Financial underwriting determines your client’s income in order to set the policy’s maximum monthly benefit. For more details, review the Mutual Income Solutions Underwriting Guide. Mutual Income Solutions Underwriting Mutual Income
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Rate Refresh Partner Allowance Guidelines
Mutual of Omaha is allowing a 6-month period for policyholders to receive the “Partner – Both Issued” allowance when partners are issued policies with two different rates (one issued pre rate refresh, one issued post rate refresh). The rule will only apply if the second partner’s policy is issued within 6 months of the rate refresh effective date. Below are scenarios based on a state with a rate refresh implementation date of September 1, 2020 and a six-month deadline of March 1, 2021. Partner A is issued a policy with old rates. The 15% “Partner – One Issued” allowance applies
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LTC Transition Rules and Best Practices
From the Desk of Corri Campbell Last Tuesday, we sent a communication outlining the transition rules, implementation dates and benefit option changes to the MutualCare Solutions Portfolio for the states of Delaware, Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota. I wanted to personally follow up reiterating how important it is to take note of our transition rules as they were outlined: Old applications signed after May 31, 2021, will not be accepted. Old applications signed by May 31, 2021, but received by Mutual of Omaha after June 11, 2021, will not be accepted. In both scenarios, new applications will be required,
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Simplified Issue Life: Weekly Time Service Update (5/21)
From the Desk of Marty Johnson Simplified Issue Life: Weekly Time Service Update Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work diligently to return to normal time service levels. We continue to increase our staff and work overtime on nights and weekends to ensure your business is handled properly, and as quickly as possible. Our current time service levels are listed below. Please note, business days do NOT include weekends. Most of the new business reviews are being handled within 2 business days Policies are issued on average 1-5 days after application review, depending on requirements needed
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Washington State Underwriting and Compensation Updates
The state of Washington recently passed the WA LTC Trust Act, now renamed as the WA Cares Fund. This legislation is intended to provide a limited amount of long-term care coverage for qualified Washington residents by levying an uncapped payroll tax of .58% on all wages beginning January 1, 2022. The state is allowing residents to opt-out of this long-term care payroll tax; however, the employee must attest that he or she has a long-term care insurance policy in force on or before November 1, 2021. Due to the approaching deadline, we are experiencing a significant increase in application volumes.
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Encourage Clients to Purchase LTCi Now, Not Later
Your clients have busy lives. Between family and work obligations, they have a lot going on. So even if they understand the value of long-term care insurance, purchasing a policy often isn’t a top priority. But they may not be aware there’s cost associated with waiting. It’s easy to put things off until tomorrow. But some of life’s decisions are too important to ignore. Waiting to purchase a long-term care insurance policy is one of them. Waiting may mean paying higher premiums down the road. Procrastinating also could lead to the inability to qualify for coverage. That makes this concept
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Reminder: Updated Other Than Applied Processes
As a reminder, effective March 1, 2021, the other than applied processes listed below have been updated. Declined Spouse: When both spouses apply and one is declined, underwriting will issue the approved spouse with a reduction in partner allowance percentage and remove Shared Care, if applicable. No hold will occur. Rate Class or Benefit Selection with Shared Care: When one or both spouses are approved other than applied due to rate class or benefit selection, a communication is sent to the application designated contact notifying them of the required changes. We will hold issue for 7 days. Underwriting Evidence: When
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Express Underwriting vs Simplified Underwriting
The Critical Advantage Portfolio offers benefits that are easy to see. We all know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer, had a heart attack, or suffered from a stroke. Mutual of Omaha can offer your clients a streamlined application process with easy knock-out questions and express or simplified underwriting. But what is the difference between express & simplified underwriting? Express Underwriting: Simple yes/no knock-out questions for face amounts of $50,000 and below. Simplified Underwriting: Simple yes/no knock-out questions with the addition of Medical Information Bureau and Pharmaceutical inquiry, and random telephone interviews for face amounts of $51,000-$100,000. You
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Simplified Issue Life: Weekly Time Service Update (5/14)
From the Desk of Marty Johnson Simplified Issue Life: Weekly Time Service Update Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work diligently to return to normal time service levels. We continue to increase our staff and work overtime on nights and weekends to ensure your business is handled properly, and as quickly as possible. Our current time service levels are listed below. Please note, business days do NOT include weekends. Most of the new business reviews are being handled within 3 business days Policies are issued on average 1-5 days after application review, depending on requirements needed
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