The Broker Beat

Keeping a pulse on Essence news and resources

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Share the Oura Experience

Our partnership with Oura isn't just for members. Agents can also enjoy a 10% discount (a savings of $35-$50) when purchasing an Oura Ring. Stay connected and experience the wellness benefits firsthand.

This offer is for agent use only. Please do not share or distribute the discount code to clients.

Claim Agent Discount

Essence Earns Top Medicare Ratings for 2026

Essence's HMO plan earned the only 4.5-star rating in St. Louis, Chicago, Northwest Arkansas, Mid-Missouri, Southwest Missouri and Little Rock, and one of only two in Louisville/Lexington. Read the full news release here.

Happy AEP!

It's go time-wishing you a successful season ahead.

  • For a detailed resource, be sure to download the Producer Guide.
  • Don't forget-customizable materials are now available on Storefront. Log in, place your order, and have them shipped directly to your preferred address.

Producer Portal

2026 Virtual Rollout Events-RSVP Today!

Did you miss one of our in-person Rollout events? You can still get the information needed to sell Essence plans, and learn what's new for 2026 AEP by attending a virtual Rollout session.

Review meeting options and complete your Zoom registration in the Calendar section to the right.

Strengthening Community Connections

We teamed up with trusted organizations to make a positive impact on the health of our members and our community. September 25 we're sponsoring a Falls Prevention & Technology Fair at the Oasis Institute. Attendees will get resources and education about reducing fall risk and improving technology skills. We hope you'll join us.

Get Event Info

Costco Now Accepts the Essence Flex Card

Members can now use their Flex Card at Costco for vision, hearing and OTC items (if included in their plan).

Key details:

  • A PIN is required. Members must call WEX at 833-647-9633 to set it up.
  • For OTC items, members can use the Essence Flex Spend app to scan products for eligibility.

Essence Customer Service is available to help with any questions.

Essence Enrollment Just Got Easier!

We've added new tools and partnerships to simplify your process:

  • HealthSherpa: Ready-to-sell producers can quote and enroll directly on the platform.
  • Provider Data Integration: Connecture and Medicare Center now include provider info for faster, clearer quoting.

For questions, contact your Market Leader or Producer Support.

Member Corner and New Member Resources

Find the New Member Guide (available for all plans), member meetings and everything in between for your clients on this page. Scroll down to the "Member Corner" section to learn more.

Registration is now open for all new member meetings! Sessions will be recorded.

The meetings will cover everything your clients need to know to get started with Essence, including the new member checklist, Member Website, benefit highlights and more.

Customer Quick Start Guide-Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Help your Essence members get the most out of their plan membership, using these three steps.

  1. Visit the New Member Welcome Page and sign up for a Member Website account.
  2. Go paperless.
  3. Sign up for a member event.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
November 21, 2025 Mid MO | MO/IL | Southwest MO & Northwest AR
Welcome to Essence New Agent Training

Registration required.
Join via Zoom  | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Central Time
Meeting ID: 823 5901 2742
Passcode: 691316

Great news! St. Luke's Hospital will continue to be part of our network. Feel free to share this important update with your clients. Questions? Contact your Market Growth Manager or Producer Support at 1-877-259-8657.

New to Essence? Existing Broker?
Get ready to certify for 2026 today.

Recertify Today

Take a sneak peek at our 2026 benefit highlights.

  • New dental vendor-Liberty Dental Plan. Plus, preventive dental coverage now available on all HMO plans!
  • OTC Now available on all HMO plans.
  • Transportation assistance via Uber-now available in St. Louis and Louisville/Lexington markets.
  • Flex Card allowances for members to spend on dental, vision, hearing, and medical copays.
  • Oura Ring now included in most plans-more colors and finishes available.
  • Mail-order pricing update-90-day supply for the cost of two months on most medications.

Check out the on-site 2026 kickoff events in our calendar at the top of this page. Virtual training session details are also available.

Order Enrollment Kits, giveaways and other materials from Storefront. Click the Producer Portal button in the section below to log in.

Member Corner

Quick access to member materials. Everything you need for your customers.

Help Your Members Get Started
How-To Guides

Use the Producer Portal tools to manage your business with us. We make it easy to:

  • Complete applications online.

  • Track applications.

  • View your book of business.

  • Check your commission statements.

  • Review your Ready to Sell (RTS) status, certifications and license information.

  • Watch training videos.

  • Access Storefront to order sales materials.

Producer Portal

Storefront marketing and enrollment materials can help you achieve your selling goals with Essence.

Get ready for AEP with these items you can't pass up.

  • Enrollment Kits

  • Giveaways

  • Sales Presentations

Log in to the Producer Portal to customize, order and print/download materials from Storefront today.

collage of Essence Healthcare sales materials
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Essence has a goal to help members with their overall health. Choosing a primary care physician (PCP) can be the first step in a healthy plan. HMO and PPO plan members can benefit from establishing a relationship with a PCP to:

  • Keep their health on track.
  • Ask health-related questions and get advice.
  • Coordinate their care with other physicians.

Essence plans cover many preventive services for $0 copay, including primary care visits. The Member Website, EverythingEssence.com has a provider search tool to see a list of in-network providers. There are options to filter by distance, gender, spoken language, and more. As an agent, you also have access to the provider search tool on the Producer Portal to help your clients find a PCP. The enrollment form includes a section to add PCP information.

When it comes to member resources for prescription drug information, Essence has it covered.

After logging in to the Member Website, EverythingEssence.com, members can navigate to the "Pharmacy" page to:

  • Search for covered drugs with the Formulary Search Tool.
  • Find a preferred pharmacy close to home.
  • Sign up for mail-order delivery.

Members can search for covered drugs and costs. They can also learn about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, getting Extra Help for prescription drug costs, and covered diabetic testing supplies at retail pharmacies. Help your clients get the most out of the prescription drug benefit by sharing all the resources available on the Member Website.

The Flex Card is a preloaded debit card that's available with most plans to use for:

  • Non-Medicare-covered dental, vision, and hearing items and services. Some plans also include the option to use it for medical copays.
  • Eligible health-related over-the-counter (OTC) items. Examples include pain relievers, vitamins, and first aid products. OTC is not available with every plan.
How it works:

Members with the Flex Card benefit receive the entire annual allowance to use in any of the allowed categories (see above) when membership begins. Members may choose in‑ or out‑of‑network providers for dental, vision, and hearing services. For medical copay coverage (if applicable), HMO plan members must use in‑network providers. Flex Card funds expire at the end of the calendar year. Members in plans that include the OTC benefit will receive a separate quarterly allowance that's on the same Flex Card. The OTC allowance expires at the end of each quarter. The allowance is valid at eligible physical retail locations or the online Essence OTC Store.

Essence members can sign in to EverythingEssence.com for FAQs and additional information about:

  • How to use the Essence Flex Spend mobile app
  • What can be purchased with the Flex Card
  • Where to use the Flex Card
  • How to check the Flex Card balance
  • How to access the online Essence OTC Store

Dental

Dental coverage for Essence members varies by plan.

  • All HMO plans include embedded preventive dental coverage. In-network providers must be utilized.
  • Most plans have a preloaded Flex Card allowance for additional dental coverage. Members can use the dentist of their choice.
  • All plans include Medicare-covered dental services.

LIBERTY Dental Plan is our new dental benefit administrator for 2026. Contact information is on the back of the Essence member ID cards. To find in-network LIBERTY dentists, visit their online search tool or contact them at 1-866-609-0822 (TTY: 1-877-855-8039).

Vision

Vision coverage for Essence members varies by plan.

  • Most plans include coverage for routine checkups and visits with a vision specialist. Plus, an allowance for things like glasses or contacts.
  • Members in plans with a Flex Card, can use it for additional eyewear coverage.

EyeMed® is the vision benefit administrator for Essence. To find a provider, visit their online search tool or call 1‑833‑918‑0475.

Note: Essence suggests calling the provider office (dental and vision) to confirm the office participates with LIBERTY or EyeMed® and accepts Essence plan members. PPO plan members may see out-of-network providers if they agree to treat Essence members.

Visit EssenceHealthcare.com/Events to find meetings and recorded webinars with more details on plan benefits.

Essence plans offer:

  • Built-in hearing coverage

Note: HMO plan members must see a qualified audiologist or provider in the Essence network. PPO plan members may go outside the network if the provider accepts Medicare and agrees to treat them.

All plans include hearing exams and screenings as well as an allowance to help with the cost of hearing aids.

Essence partners with Amplifon Hearing Healthcare for hearing aids, but there are no network restrictions.

Website: AmplifonUSA.com/Essence

Phone: 1-877-846-7076 (TTY: 711)

  • Free fitness membership

SilverSneakers® is the fitness and well-being program included at no extra cost. Participating locations can be found on their website.

Website: SilverSneakers.com/Locations

Phone: 1-888-423-4632 (TTY: 711)

  • Transportation

Some Essence plans in the St. Louis and Louisville/Lexington markets include a simple, flexible way to get to medical appointments and pharmacies-with Uber.

Click here for benefit details.

See the Get Going with Your Rides Benefit guide for helpful information for downloading and setting up the Uber App, accessing ride details, requesting rides, and more.

Tips:

    • Members can request rides by phone (1-866-974-3585) or Uber App.
    • Door-to-door service or wheelchair accessible rides must be scheduled by phone, and at least 24 hours in advance.
  • Oura Ring

The Oura Ring is available on most Essence plans.

    • Members in a plan with this benefit can order an Oura Ring free of charge and have free access to the Oura App.
    • Oura Ring is a smart, comfortable wearable that tracks important health metrics to provide personal insights about sleep, activity, heart health, stress, and more.
    • More information is available on the EverythingEssence.com.
CALL GUIDE:

Customer Service vs. Producer Support

Customer Service

Toll-free: 1-866-597-9560 (TTY: 711)

8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Producer Support (All hours are Central Time)

Toll-free: 1-877-259-8657

Weekdays: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays: Oct. 18 through Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, December 7, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Click each example below to reveal if you should contact Customer Service or Producer Support.

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