Stay covered on the go: helping clients travel with confidence
As summer approaches, many Medicare members will be traveling, often without a clear understanding of how their coverage works outside their home area. This is a great opportunity to help your clients feel prepared before they hit the road.
You can help reinforce a few key points:
- Emergency care is covered worldwide, including anywhere in the U.S.
- Urgent care is covered worldwide, including anywhere in the U.S.
- or emergency and urgent care while traveling, the copay amount is the same as what would apply for using in-network providers.
- Routine care, like annual check-ups, should be completed in their home service area using in-network doctors
- Encourage clients to carry their ID card and know how to contact Member Services
Even a quick conversation can help prevent confusion and ensure your clients know what to expect if they need care while traveling.
Consider using this template to check in with your clients:
Hi [Client Name], this is [Your Name], your Select Health Medicare agent. With summer travel coming up, I wanted to share a quick reminder that your plan covers emergency and urgent care anywhere in the U.S. Let me know if you have any questions about your plan.
Protect your Medicare clients from phishing and QR code scams
Medicare beneficiaries continue to be a common target for fraud and scams are becoming more sophisticated. From phishing texts to fraudulent QR codes, bad actors are finding new ways to try and access personal information.
Here are a few simple reminders you can reinforce:
- Be skeptical of “surprise” contact: Medicare and Select Health won’t call, text, or email unsolicited to ask for personal information or threaten a “surprise” cancellation of benefits.
- The “inbound only” rule: Advise clients to never share their Medicare ID number unless they initiated the interaction with a known, trusted entity.
- Verify the source: When in doubt, they should hang up and contact a known source like Member Services or you directly.
Scams to watch for:
Scammers often rely on two things: new technology and false urgency. Make sure your clients are aware of these specific tactics:
- The QR code overlay
Many seniors are now comfortable using QR codes for menus or check-ins. Scammers are now placing stickers over real QR codes in public places or mailing letters with codes that lead to fraudulent login pages.
Remind clients that Medicare does not typically require a QR scan to verify an account. If a QR code feels out of place, don’t scan it. - The new card or chip scam
A trending scam involves telling beneficiaries they need to upgrade to a plastic, metal, or chip-embedded Medicare card to prevent identity theft. Any offer for a high-tech upgrade is a red flag. - The urgency trap
Scammers thrive on panic. They may claim benefits will be suspended within 24 hours unless “account details are updated.” If a caller is rushing them or creating a sense of fear, it is almost certainly a scam.
Thank you for helping clients stay informed and avoid potential risks. If you believe you have observed or your client has been subjected to Medicare program non-compliance or fraud, waste, or abuse, you should contact our Compliance Hotline at 800-442-4845.
Preventing Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA)
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) impacts costs, care quality, and the integrity of Medicare. As a trusted advisor, you play an important role in helping protect your clients.
What to watch for
- Charges for services not received
- Requests for Medicare ID numbers in suspicious situations
- Unnecessary or excessive services
How you can help
- Encourage members to review their Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
- Remind them to protect their Medicare ID card
- Speak up if something doesn’t seem right
- Remind your clients Medicare will never ask for their ID number or personal information
Protecting against FWA helps ensure resources are used appropriately—and keeps the system working for everyone.
If you believe you have observed or your client has been subjected to Medicare program non-compliance or fraud, waste, or abuse, you should contact our Compliance Hotline at 800-442-4845 or shcompliance@selecthealth.org.
A mid-year guide to maximize your clients’ Part D benefits
By this point in the year, most clients have filled and refilled their prescriptions. This is a great time to connect and ensure they’re getting the most value from their coverage. A quick check-in can help your clients feel more confident and in control of their costs.
Here are a few areas you can help:
Understanding where they are in their coverage
Helping clients track their progress through the deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic stages can provide valuable peace of mind.
Using the EOB as a guide
The monthly Part D explanation of benefits (EOB) shows year-to-date spend and helps members anticipate changes in cost. Encouraging clients to review it can reduce surprises.
Preparing for lower costs later in the year
For members with higher prescription needs, reaching their annual out-of-pocket maximum means significantly reduced costs for the remainder of the year.
Improving convenience
Options like 180-day fills or mail-order pharmacies can simplify routines and help avoid gaps in medication.
When clients understand their pharmacy benefits and feel confident managing their prescriptions, they’re more satisfied and far less likely to look elsewhere during AEP.
Consider using this email template to help clients optimize their benefits:
Subject Line: Getting the most out of your 2026 pharmacy benefits
Hi [Client Name],
I wanted to check in and make sure your Medicare pharmacy benefits are working well for you this year.
If you’d like, we can review your recent explanation of benefits (EOB) together and take a look at how your costs may change throughout the year.
We can also explore options like 180-day fills or mail-order to make things a little easier. If additional support is needed, I can also help connect you with Member Services, who can walk through your specific benefits and answer more detailed questions.
Let me know if you’d like to connect. I’m happy to help anytime!
—[Your Name]
Select Health Medicare Plan Documents in one place
Looking for a fast way to reference plan details? The Plan Documents page is your go-to resource for current, plan-specific materials, all in one place.
You can quickly access:
- ANOC
- Evidence of coverage (EOC)
- Summary of benefits
- Member guides
This is a helpful tool when preparing for appointments, answering member questions, or double-checking plan details throughout the year. Bookmark it for easy access when you need reliable, up-to-date information.
MAAS team spotlight: here when you need us
Support that continues all year
The MAAS team can help with:
- Enrollment and application status questions
- Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug System (MARX) lookups
- Benefit information
- Provider lookups
- Formulary searches
- Commissions help
- Select Health Link support
- Compliance and process guidance
How to reach us
If you’re unsure where to start, our MAAS team is here to help.
Phone: 801-442-7320
Email: MAAS@selecthealth.org
Hours: Weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (MT)
