Increase to MGSV-MGIR Rate:

American Equity is pleased to announce that the Minimum Guaranteed Surrender Value-Minimum Guaranteed Interest Rate (MGSV-MGIR) is increasing on American Equity fixed and fixed index annuity products. This change is effective as of January 1, 2024.

For all of the AssetShield™ series, IncomeShield™ series, EstateShield™ series, GuaranteeShield™ series and FlexShield™ 10 contracts, the new MGSV-MGIR rate will be 3.00%. 

Contracts issued on January 1, 2024, and after this date will receive the new rates. There will not be any adjustments made to the previously issued contracts made before January 1, 2024. There will be no exceptions to this rule. 
 
Index Name Update: Credit Suisse (CS) Tech Edge is Now Becoming UBS Tech Edge

Due to the purchase of Credit Suisse by UBS, the index sponsor is being changed from Credit Suisse International to UBS AG, London Branch. Shield Suite products with CS Tech Edge indices will be changed to UBS Tech Edge indices.

As a note, the American Equity materials and digital platforms will reflect this change as of January 1, 2024. Bloomberg and other platforms will update this change by by January 8, 2024.

The ticker will remain as CSEATEDG and the crediting rates will not change as a result of the name change.

In order to get the updated sales materials and to order your own custom ad slicks, please log into American Equity's MyPortal. 

To contact American Equity, go to www.american-equity.com. You can also call American Equity at 888-647-1371  

* Annuities and Rider issued under form series ICC22 BASE-IDX, ICC22 BASE-IDX-B, ICC21 BASE-IDX-MSP, ICC21 BASE-IDX-SP, ICC20 BASE-SPDA, ICC22 IDX-11-10, ICC22 IDX-10-10, ICC22 IDX-10-7, ICC22 IDX-10-5, ICC20 MSP-10, ICC21 IDX-12-10, ICC20 SPDA-3, ICC20 SPDA-5 ICC20 E-PTP-C, ICC20 E-PTP PR, ICC20 E-MPTP-C, ICC18 E-MPTP-A, ICC21 E-SC, ICC20 R-LIBR-FCP, ICC20 R-LIBR-FSP, ICC20 R LIBR-W-FCP, ICC20 R-LIBR-W-FSP, ICC21 R-LIBR-W-BAV, ICC20 R-EBR, ICC20 R-ERR, 21 R-ERR, ICC16 R-MVA, ICC18 R-WSC, ICC20 R-EBR and state variations thereof. Availability may vary by state.

Rates are set at issue and subject to change.
Guarantees are based on the financial strength and claims paying ability of American Equity and are not guaranteed by any bank or insured by the FDIC. *

Wellcare is pleased to announce that on Jan. 1, 2024, Ascension Complete will become Wellcare Complete, a product of Wellcare by Allwell. The brand name change complements the plan's relationship as a wholly owned Centene company.

Key Information:

Check out the schedule below!

To register for a session, log in to Producers' University and search in the 'Instructor Led (Events)' tab.

United Home Life/ United Farm Family Life is excited to announce their Agent Portal now includes a Secure Message Center! This new feature allows you to communicate with United Home Life in a secure and encrypted environment, ensuring the confidentiality and privacy of all messages exchanged. 

This is an important announcement for agents with customers in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, South Carolina, and Tennessee and for those with business in those states. The counties below are under a federal or state designated SEP due to an emergency.

 Please note: A disaster SEP application is only valid while the SEP declaration is in effect. If an end date is not listed below, please refer to Cigna's Ongoing SEP tracker in Producers’ University for the most up-to-date information. Any SEP applications submitted outside of that SEP’s declaration date will be rejected.

The Medicare Advantage OEP is from January 1 through March 31! During this time, clients currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage or drop their Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. For more details, read below:

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP)

• Who can enroll during the OEP?

• Only clients currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan can use the OEP. Ensure you understand your enrollee’s current coverage status before reviewing plan options with them. During the OEP from January 1 - March 31, MAPD and MA-only members can switch to:
  • An MAPD plan

• An MA-only plan

• Original Medicare (with or without a stand-alone PDP plan)

• Who can't use the OEP?

• Clients currently enrolled in a stand-alone PDP and those in Original Medicare cannot use the OEP to change their plan.

• Is there a limit to prospects' choices during the OEP?

• MA/MAPD clients can make only one plan choice during the OEP. Once they choose their plan and their new plan takes effect, they can't use the OEP again, even before the March 31 deadline. Find out if your MA/MAPD member has already used their one plan choice during OEP.

• Where can I find additional rules and information?

• Medicare Advantage organizations and Third-Party Marketing Organizations (TPMOs) are subject to specific restrictions regarding who they market to and how they market during OEP. Refer to CMS's Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines for details. Get more information on OEP here.

Accessible Format Special Election Period (SEP)

• What is the Accessible Format Special Election Period (SEP)?

• The Accessible Format SEP (enrollment code ACC) is considered a SEP for "exceptional conditions." It is intended to support clients who need their CMS/Medicare Advantage (MA) materials provided in an accessible format but experience a delay in receiving them.

• When can this SEP be used?

• The SEP begins at the end of the election period, during which the enrollee sought to make an election. You may only use this SEP when all of the following conditions are met:

• The enrollee requested that required notices or information be provided in an accessible format such as large print, Braille, or audio.

• They do not receive the material within the same timeframe that CMS/the MA plan provided the material to other individuals who did not request an accessible format.

• The enrollee consequently had less time than other enrollees to make an enrollment decision during a given election period.

• What additional information must you obtain for this SEP?

• If this SEP is used, you must obtain information from the enrollee regarding the general content and format of their requested material so that these details can be retained as part of the recorded enrollment call.