AEP Extension - UPDATED

Apparently, those Medicare Advantage plans are still more popular than ever. So much so, in fact, that HHS Secretary Shecantbeserious has recognized that not everyone who wanted "in" was actually able to sign up (cf: blind squirrels).

Just got this in email from Anthem:

"CMS officials are providing flexibilities to current Enrollment Guidance to ensure all enrollment requests submitted during AEP are processed. The extension is for this AEP only.

[Carriers and agents] may assist beneficiaries in completing an enrollment request if the contact was initiated prior to December 8, 2011. This would only include call backs to beneficiaries who we were unable to assist on or before December 7th, due to high call volumes or difficulty in accessing CMS' On-line Enrollment Center (OEC).

All return calls must be made, and applications completed and received by 11:59 p.m. local time on Saturday, December 10th."

Heh.

UPDATE: Clarification on who's eligible for the extension:

• All marketing and/or soliciation activities must end with the close of AEP as of 11:59 p.m. on December 7, 2011.
• Agents may not accept new AEP applications after December 7, 2011.
• Agents who receive inquiries about enrolling in a Medicare plan after AEP should refer the beneficiary to the Medicare toll-free information line (1-800-633-4227) or have the beneficiary call the government-funded State Health Insurance Program (SHIP).
• If you have received AEP applications today or later, please submit the enrollment for processing. [Carrier] enrollment department will verify eligibility.