Medicare Insurance AgentCategory:

Are you searching for a trustworthy Medicare Advantage plan insurance agent near you? Look no further! In this article, we will provide you with key tips and insights to help you find the right agent to meet your healthcare needs. Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits beyond the basic coverage of Original Medicare.  Choosing the right plan can be overwhelming. So, who’s the trustworthy Medicare Advantage plan insurance agent near me?

Finding a trusted agent involves more than just a quick Google search. It requires careful consideration and research. We will guide you through the process, outlining important factors to consider when selecting an agent. From checking their credentials and experience to evaluating their customer satisfaction ratings, we will provide you with the tools you need to make an informed decision.

By the end of this article, you will clearly understand what to look for in a Medicare Advantage plan insurance agent near you. So, let’s dive in and find the perfect agent to help you navigate the complex world of Medicare Advantage plans.

Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, are private health insurance plans that provide an alternative to Original Medicare. These plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They combine the coverage of Medicare Parts A and B, and often include additional benefits such as prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and hearing services, and wellness programs.

Medicare Advantage plans come in different types, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), and Special Needs Plans (SNPs). Each type has its own network of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. It’s important to understand the differences between these plan types and choose the one that best suits your needs.

The Importance of a Trustworthy Medicare Advantage Insurance Agent

Navigating the world of Medicare Advantage plans can be confusing.  That is why working with a trustworthy insurance agent is crucial. A reliable agent can help you understand the complexities of different plan options, guide you through the enrollment process, and provide ongoing support for any questions or concerns you may have.

A trustworthy insurance agent is knowledgeable about Medicare rules and regulations, stays up to date with changes in the healthcare industry, and has a good understanding of the Medicare Advantage plans available in your area. They should be able to explain the pros and cons of each plan, and help you determine which plan aligns with your specific healthcare needs and budget.

Researching Medicare Advantage Insurance Agents Near Me

When searching for a Medicare Advantage plan insurance agent near you, it’s important to conduct thorough research to ensure you find a trustworthy professional. Here are some key steps to follow.

Checking for Licenses and Certifications

Start by checking if the agent is licensed to sell Medicare Advantage plans in your state. The agent should hold a valid insurance license and be authorized to sell Medicare products. You can verify their license status with your state’s insurance department or through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) website.

Local Department of Insurance Website

For Nebraska, you can go to the Nebraska Department of Insurance website. Once there, look at the tabs on the top of the page. Go to Policyholder. Under that tab, there is Agent/Company Search. Click Agent/Agency Search. Pick the state and choose the licensee. Type in the last name. You don’t need the agent number, but it helps, especially with common last names. There is your agent.

The importance of checking out an agent is you can quickly verify if he is licensed in your state. You can see how long he has held an insurance license. The date of the first activation will be there.

That may not be completely accurate, however. I noticed my activation date is 2012. I was first licensed in Nebraska in 2002, but I moved outside of Nebraska for a short time. My residence insurance license was not Nebraska, I was a non-residence licensed agent for Nebraska. Then, I returned in 2012 to Nebraska. So, the Nebraska Dept of Insurance site does not show the lifetime duration of a licensee.

Insurance Company Appointments

Toward the bottom of the page are the agent’s appointments. You must be licensed to sell insurance in a particular state. You must be licensed in each state you sell, and you must be appointed with each insurance company before you sell their products.

Medicare Certification

Insurance company appointments may require product training before you can be appointed. Sometimes you must pay a fee to be appointed. Insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans require the agent to pass the AHIP exam. You only get three tries to pass the exam. If you fail the 3rd try, you cannot sell any Medicare Advantage plans or Part D prescription drug plans for any insurance company in any state.

After you pass the AHIP, you submit the certification to the insurance company.  Then, you must pass the individual product training for each Medicare product you wish to sell. Again, there is a limited amount of time you can take the test to pass.

Then, the appointment paperwork is completed.  Your appointment is listed on your state insurance department’s website. If not appointed, the agent cannot sell that company and/or product.

I recall meeting with a couple once whose financial advisor said he could get them any plan they wanted, including Medicare Advantage. I was suspicious because most financial advisors who offer financial advice as their primary business generally do not get deeply involved in Medicare. When I looked them up on the Nebraska Dept of Insurance, they were not appointed with any of the Medicare Advantage carriers in the area.

Reading Reviews & Testimonials

Online reviews and testimonials can provide valuable insights into the quality of service provided by the Medicare Advantage insurance agents near you.

I do not like to shop, so I use Amazon for a lot of my shopping. Once I know what I want, I look at star ratings and reviews. More and better reviews, the higher the chance I click on that product.

Look for reviews on reputable websites, such as Google, Facebook, or the Better Business Bureau. Pay attention to overall ratings, as well as specific feedback regarding the agent’s knowledge, responsiveness, and ability to help clients find suitable Medicare Advantage plans.

It’s important to note that while reviews can be helpful, they should be considered along with other factors. Negative reviews may not always reflect the agent’s true capabilities, as individual experiences can vary. Use reviews as a starting point for further investigation and gathering more information about the agent.

Referrals from Friends and Family

Reach out to friends, family members, or colleagues who have experience with Medicare Advantage plans. Ask them if they have worked with a trustworthy insurance agent and if they would recommend their services. Personal recommendations can be invaluable, as they come from people you trust who have first-hand experience with the agent’s professionalism and expertise.

Keep in mind that everyone’s healthcare needs are different, so while a certain agent may have been a great fit for someone you know, it doesn’t guarantee the same experience for you. Still, personal recommendations can help you narrow down your options and consider agents who have a proven track record of delivering excellent service.

Most of my new clients come from client referrals. The difference between referrals and prospects who come to us through other marketing avenues is usually night and day.

The trust level is already there because a trusted friend or family member referred them. The prospect starts learning about Medicare and the insurance products right from the start because they trust us. While we still work on building repertoire, there is enough trust present so they are listening attentively and learning what they need to know from the beginning.  They can make much better decisions about their Medicare.

Meeting with a Medicare Advantage Insurance Agents Near Me

Once you have identified a few potential Medicare Advantage insurance agents near you, it’s time to schedule consultations to further assess their suitability. Meeting face-to-face or having a phone conversation allows you to gauge their expertise, ask important questions, and evaluate their communication skills.  Trust is built not only upon believing the person has your best interest at heart.  Trust is also built on competence.  Does he know what he’s talking about?

During the meeting, pay attention to the agent’s ability to explain complex concepts clearly and understandably. They should be patient, attentive, and willing to address your concerns. Consider their level of professionalism, as well as their ability to listen and tailor their recommendations to your unique needs.

Do they show you the universe of Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans in your area?  Or do they go immediately to only one or two companies? Or do they only do Medicare Advantage or only offer Medicare Supplements?

You want an independent agent or broker who represents most companies and plans in your areas and can objectively and impartially present all your Medicare options. Then, he can take you through the process of matching the various plans and their benefits to your unique needs and concerns. One size does not fit all.

Questions to Ask a Medicare Advantage Insurance Agent

To ensure you make an informed decision, it’s essential to ask the right questions during your meetings with potential insurance agents. Here are some basic questions to consider:

1. Can you explain the different types of Medicare Advantage plans available in my area?
2. How do these plans differ in terms of cost, coverage, and network of providers?
3. What additional benefits can I expect from the Medicare Advantage plans you recommend?
4. How do I know if my preferred doctors and hospitals are included in the plan’s network?
5. What prescription drug coverage options are available?
6. Can you provide an estimate of the monthly premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs for the plans you recommend?
7. How do I qualify for extra help with Medicare costs, such as the Low-Income Subsidy?

Asking these questions will help you gain a better understanding of the agent’s knowledge, expertise, and ability to find a plan that meets your healthcare and financial needs.

Comparing Quotes and Plans

After meeting with several insurance agents and gathering information, it’s time to compare the quotes and coverage options they have provided. Keep in mind that the lowest premium may not always be the best option, as it’s important to consider factors such as deductibles, copayments, and the network of providers.

Evaluate the coverage options based on your specific healthcare needs. Consider factors such as prescription drug coverage, access to specialists, and the availability of preferred hospitals or healthcare facilities. Consider the estimated out-of-pocket costs for each plan, including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan with Your Local Agent

Once you have thoroughly researched and compared the different Medicare Advantage plans and insurance agents, you should have at least a couple of names to answer the questions: who’s the trustworthy Medicare Advantage plan insurance agent near me?

Contact the chosen agent and inform them of your decision. They will guide you through the enrollment process, ensuring that you understand the terms and conditions of the plan you have selected.

Remember to review all the relevant documents, including the Summary of Benefits and the plan’s provider directory. If you have any doubts or questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your agent for clarification.

At Omaha Insurance Solutions, we have taken thousands of clients over the years through the process of understanding and selecting the Medicare plan that best fits their needs, and each year, we review that

plan to make sure it still meets their needs.

Give us a call at 402-614-3389 for a free, no-obligation consultation to find out your Medicare options.

 

Are you trying to navigate the complex world of Medicare but overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available? Enter the Medicare supplement quoting tool – your secret weapon to unlocking the power of Medicare. This article will explore how this innovative tool can help you get the most out of your Medicare coverage.

A Medicare supplement quoting tool effortlessly compares plans, costs, and benefits from various insurance carriers. Instead of spending hours on research and guesswork, this user-friendly tool gives you a comprehensive overview of available options, helping you make informed decisions about your healthcare coverage.

Whether new to Medicare or looking to switch plans, this digital tool simplifies the process. It offers personalized quotes based on your specific needs and budget, allowing you to find the perfect Medicare supplement plan that suits you best.

Understanding Medicare and Medicare Supplements

Medicare is a federal health insurance program in the United States that primarily covers individuals aged 65 and older, as well as some younger individuals with certain disabilities. While Medicare provides essential coverage, it doesn’t cover all healthcare costs. There are big gaps in coverage.  That’s where Medicare supplements, also known as Medigap plans, come in.

Medicare supplements are private insurance plans designed to fill the gaps in Medicare coverage. These plans help cover out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance. However, with numerous insurance carriers offering a wide range of Medigap plans, choosing the right one can be overwhelming.

The Importance of Comparing Medicare Supplement

Comparing Medicare supplement policies is crucial to ensure you get the coverage that best meets your needs and budget. Each plan offers different benefits, and the costs can vary significantly between carriers. Without a clear understanding of the available options, you may end up paying more for coverage that doesn’t align with your healthcare requirements.

Medicare supplement plans are standardized, meaning the benefits for each type of plan are the same across carriers. However, the prices can differ; some carriers may offer additional benefits or discounts. By comparing plans, you can identify the most cost-effective option that provides the coverage you need.  Why pay more for the exact same coverage?

Introducing Medicare Supplement Quoting Tools

Medicare supplement quoting tools are online platforms that allow you to compare and evaluate different Medigap plans, costs, and benefits from various insurance carriers. These tools simplify the process of finding the right plan by providing you with personalized quotes based on your specific needs and budget.

Instead of manually researching and contacting multiple insurance carriers for quotes, Medicare supplement quoting tools streamline the entire process. With just a few clicks, you can access a wealth of information and make informed decisions about your healthcare coverage.

How Medicare Supplement Quoting Tools Work

Medicare supplement quoting tools draw their information from insurance companies’ filings with the state insurance commissioner.  Each insurance company must file its policy with the commissioner, and the commissioner’s office must approve it.  When changes are made to the policy, including price and premium changes, those changes must be updated with the commissioner’s office.  All quoting software pulls from this one source.

Typically, you’ll need to input details such as your age, location, gender, and tobacco usage into the software. Some tools may have the ability to see underwriting guidelines.  Usually, it is better to go to the actual insurance company website and their quoting software to get more detailed and accurate quotes.  The multi-company software, however, enables you to narrow down the pool of likely policies, but it cannot get into the particulars of the company’s underwriting and application process.  The individual insurance company website software can.

Once you’ve entered the necessary information, the quoting tool will analyze the data and present you with a list of Medigap plans available in your area. You can then compare the benefits, costs, and ratings of each plan side-by-side.

Market Insights

Depending on the sophistication of the software, the quoting instrument can get very granular.  You can see age increase pricing, history of rate increases, and the number of policies by state and nation for each company.  The loss ratio and percentage of market share may even be listed.  This type of information will not be very helpful to most people because it is unfamiliar.  A professional who understands the data and is trained to interpret it accurately will need to provide context.

This information and insight allow you to evaluate your options and choose the plan that offers the best combination of coverage and affordability.

The more important consideration is the future increases.  As you age, the cost of a Medicare Supplement goes up.  There are rate increases because medical costs go up.  The number and size of claims ultimately determine how much the insurance company increases the premium to offset expenses.  That is all in the future and hard, if not impossible, to predict.  The information from the Medicare Supplement quoting software does give some insight, but does not predict the future.

Access to Medicare Supplement Quoting Tool

Computer software is usually not free.  The Medicare Supplement software we are talking about is not cheap.  Most people will not pay the price to have access to the software to do one or two quotes.  You usually get access to the software through an insurance agent.  Most independent insurance agents or brokers who offer many different companies use quoting tools.  At Omaha Insurance Solutions, we use the CSG Actuarial software.

I attended a Medicare Supplement conference over a decade ago in Florida.  In the main hall, where all the vendors gathered, I ran into CSG.  I had been looking for a good Medicare Supplement quoting software.  In the course of the conversation, I found out a number of the owners and employees were from Mutual of Omaha.  Then I asked where the company was located–Omaha, Nebraska.  I had to fly to Florida to find software that was in my own backyard.

While there are other quoting tools out there, CGS is the industry standard and widely used.  I have found them superb.

For those who do not work with an experienced insurance professional, you can get access to a quoting tool on your MyMedicare.gov personal account.  Inside the account, you can run your own quotes.  The tool is very rudimentary, but it certainly gives you prices and can narrow down the number of companies you may wish to consider.

Benefits of Using a Medicare Supplement Quoting Tool

Using a Medicare supplement quoting tool offers several benefits.

Time-Saving

Instead of manually researching and contacting insurance carriers, the quoting tool provides instant access to personalized quotes from multiple providers.  In Nebraska and Iowa, there are over 40 insurance companies offering more than 300 Medicare Supplements.  That’s a lot to sort through.  The software does it in an instant.

Comprehensive Overview

The tool presents you with a comprehensive overview of available Medigap plans, allowing you to compare benefits, costs, and ratings in one place.  Reseaching a company and policy would take hours.  With the tool, the information is at your finger tips.

Informed Decisions

By having all the necessary information at your fingertips, you can make informed decisions about your healthcare coverage, ensuring you choose the plan that best suits your needs and within your budget.  I find so many people who over pay for the same coverage because they did not effectively shop.

Cost-Effective

Medicare supplement quoting tools help you identify the most cost-effective plan by comparing prices from different insurance carriers side-by-side.

Factors to Consider When Using a Medicare Supplement Quoting Tool

While Medicare supplement quoting tools can simplify the process of finding the right plan, there are a few factors to consider.

Accuracy of Quotes

While the tool provides personalized quotes, the actual premiums may vary based on additional factors such as your health conditions or the insurance carrier’s underwriting guidelines.

On rare occasions, the quoting software is different from the company website.  The new prices may not be reflected immediately.  The software has the potential to show the different underwriting classes, but you will not know the client’s underwriting class until you make the application and it is confirmed by the insurance carrier.  The agent always needs to let the client know that she could be denied or rated.  Most agents initially show the lowest rate, which is preferred.

The only way to guarantee the best rating is during a person’s initial enrollment into Medicare.  After that, they are subject to underwriting.

A few years ago, I ran a quote for a lady.  I only showed the preferred health category.  It was an awesome price compared to what she was paying on her current Medicare Supplement.  When we started the application process, however, she was subject to the insurance company’s underwriting guidelines.  She was not tall enough for her size.  Consequently, she went from a preferred rating to a standard rating.  The Medigap price went up, but the price was still significantly less than what she was currently paying.  She asked why the price was higher than what I initially quoted.  I explained it was because of her weight.  She was so offended that she would not consider switching to the lower-cost supplement even though it would have saved her $700 a year.

Coverage Options

The quoting tool may not include all available Medigap plans in your area. It’s essential to research and verify the options presented by the tool to ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of the available plans.

Some agents may not show all of the companies and policies in your area. They may not write a particular carrier for various reasons. They could be prohibited from writing a company.  The agent may consider the company to be inferior, so they exclude it from the list.  The agent, or agency, may have a sweetheart deal with a handful of companies.  Those are the only ones they show.

Additional Benefits

Some insurance carriers may offer additional benefits or discounts not included in the quoting tool. It’s worth exploring the carrier’s website or contacting them directly to learn more about their offerings.  A couple of Medicare Supplements offer a free gym membership.  Almost all have in-house discount programs.  But I would say it is rare they offer anything more of substance without additional premium.

Knowing Data Is Different Than Understanding Data

Many people will look at a spreadsheet of Medicare supplement prices and think they understand what it means.  They may even have very detailed information on the company and its policies.  Someone could have told them what the terms and categories all mean.  Why is it that with all the data and the Ivy League-educated analysis, stock pickers still get it wrong and lose money in the market?

Knowing information is not the same as understanding what the data means.  I’ve watched the Medicare Supplement landscape for over a decade.  It shifts like the sands of the desert.  Tools are helpful, but there is a lot that goes into interpreting the data.  And none of it guarantees the future.  Personal experience as an agent with thousands of clients and years in the industry helps me understand the Medicare Supplement universe.  A company’s track record gives the best idea, as long as the CEO or ownership doesn’t change, but at best, choosing a Medicare Supplement, even with sophisticated instruments, is an educated guess.

Bottom Line: Use The Tools to Improve Your Odds

The Medicare Supplement quoting tools more quickly and easily enable you to accurately evaluate many Medicare Supplements in your area.  The side-by-side comparisons reduce the chance of overlooking a policy or making a mistake trying to recall a price.  The tools sift and narrow down your choices, but they don’t make the choice.  The tools do not predict future premiums or guarantee success.

The exercise of running a Medicare Supplement quote will improve your chances of picking a good plan.  An experienced and trustworthy insurance professional will increase your

odds of success even more.

Give us a call at 402-614-3389 for a free consultation with a licensed insurance agent professional about your Medicare Supplement plan.

 

Why Do You Need a Medicare Agent?

Many who turn 65 realize why they need a licensed Medicare insurance agent specializing in Medicare planning. Insurance companies and insurance agents inundated you with letters, postcards, brochures, booklets, and phone calls. You need to contact the FBI for witness protection to avoid the bombardment you get from all the phone calls.

Anyone going through the experience of turning 65 and going on Medicare knows the anxiety, confusion, and overwhelming nature of the situation. There are all these insurance companies and hundreds of Medicare plans. Add in your unique mix of medications and personal health requirements. Include the foreign language called Medicare, and your head is spinning with all the stuff.

It would be best if you had someone, but whom do you trust. You turn to friends and relatives for advice. Their information is confusing and contradictory. Friends and relatives may be trustworthy, but do they really know what they are talking about?

You may hear horror stories from others–-whether real, imagined, or exaggerated–-about going on Medicare. How do you avoid the mistakes others have made?

You Need Someone Knowledgeable You Can Trust

You need an honest, knowledgeable, and experienced licensed Medicare insurance agent who does Medicare planning.  His task is to educate you on Medicare, explain the various plans, and guide you through the process of enrolling in Medicare, searching for a plan, and implimenting that plan.  And, after you are on Medicare, he needs to monitor your situation so that he can respond to any issues or changes in your circumstances.  Things are always changing including with Medicare. 

What Does a Real Independent Licensed Medicare Insurance Agent Do?

A real independent, licensed Medicare insurance agent, knows what to do. He has more knowledge than what is gained from just passing the state insurance licensing exam. Experienced agents work with Medicare, insurance companies, and clients. They get constant feedback on what is working or not. Licensed agents know the process of enrolling in Medicare and enrolling in a Medicare plan. He knows all this information because he is licensed, certified, trained, and experienced. 

Which surgeon would you like operating on you?  A surgeon who just passed his state licensing exam or one who has practiced for a decade with thousands of surgeries under his belt?  Experience, experience, and more experience.  With any professional, you hope he has worked out all his mistakes on someone else.      

Insurance Agent Problems

The barrier to entry into the insurance business is shallow. You only need to pass the state license exam. Consequently, hundreds of people are getting into the Medicare insurance business, particularly in the Omaha Metro area, each year.

They know very little about insurance, Medicare, and insurance plans. The newbie agents often reflect the prejudices and biases of insurance companies that recruited them. These newbies do not know what they don’t know. They don’t know they are pawns and being used. They see an opportunity to make “big, easy money.” That is how the recruiters present the job. So most newbie agents fail and quit pretty quickly because there is no “big, easy money.”

Should I Use A Medicare Broker?

An experienced, independent, licensed Medicare agent can teach you about Medicare. He can make the Medicare & You Handbook make sense.

If he is independent, he is a broker. He can show you many Medigap plans and Medicare Advantage plans. He is not restricted to one company. There are no restrictions on the product he can present. Brokers are like grocery stores full of products. He can explain Medicare Supplements (Medigap) policies A thru N. He shows the pricing of all the major and minor supplements. An experienced agent should know the history of the companies he offers and how they have done business over the years.

In the Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs Metro area, over 30+ insurance companies offer over 300+ Medicare Supplement, 7 insurance companies offer 26 Medicare Advantage plans, and 10 insurance companies offer 22 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.  It sounds overwhelming, but we have a simple, logical process that narrows your selection down quickly.

An independent licensed Medicare agent can explain Medicare Advantage/Part C without prejudice, talking about the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage, the various companies, and the particular plans, especially in relationship to Original Medicare and Medigap policies.

An independent licensed Medicare agent can go through your list of prescription medications and show you which plans are better because of coverage, price, and rating.

This process is not full proof assuming you find such an agent because consumers still make bad choices, hear what they want, or forget what they signed up for.

What Does A Licensed Medicare Agent Do?

A licensed Medicare agent should have a repeatable process he takes you through. He should educate you on Medicare. Without an understanding of Medicare, nothing makes sense.

Second, he should explain how the insurance products work with Medicare to complete or augment Medicare’s health coverage. After listening to your story, he then matches the insurance product to your unique needs.

The process of choosing a Medicare plan is not perfect because circumstances change. Unexpected things happen, but you have the assurance you made the best decision at that time.

What Is The Difference Between A Medicare Agent and Medicare Broker?

A broker or an independent licensed Medicare agent generally means they can offer several companies. Some agents are captive. They can offer only one or two companies because of their contractual obligation.

I’ve found some agents in the Omaha area misrepresent themselves. They tell prospective clients they are independent when they are not.  How could you know she is a captive agent?

The simplest way to check is to go to the Nebraska or Iowa Department of Insurance website–any state insurance department. There will be a tab for Agent and Agency search. Type in the agent’s name. You will see all the information you need. The insurance department lists the agent’s insurance company appointments, in other words, who they can sell. If there are only one or two companies, they are not brokers.

How Are Licensed Medicare Agents Paid?

The insurance companies pay the agents when they enroll you in a plan. If the agent is selling a Medicare Supplement, he is paid a percentage of the monthly premium. If he sells a Medicare Advantage plan, the commission is a flat payment that Medicare determines. The commission is the same amount among all the insurance companies in that state. With Medicare Advantage plans, the first-year Medicare Advantage commission is more than the if the person had already been on Medicare for a year or more.

Going Agent-Less Gains You Nothing

People have asked me if they would save money going directly to the insurance carrier. No. The price is exactly the same. The difference is that you do not have an agent. You have the 800-number of the insurance company. When you call the company with questions, you will speak with a different person every time. You will probably get different answers depending on the person you speak with.

When you have problems with the supplement or advantage plan, I can guarantee you that the insurance company will not tell you to go to another insurance company.

Since we are brokers, our only concern is the well-being and happiness of our clients, so if the problem cannot be resolved, there are always other companies that will take your business.

Are Medicare Advisors Free?

Medicare insurance agents do not cost you anything. Their compensation is the commission they receive from enrolling you in the Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan. You need not pay anything in addition. As a matter of fact, the insurance company pays the agent for the clients they retain.

The idea behind the commission renewal is that the agent will continue to service you. Unfortunately, it does not seem to work that way.  Many people referred to me who are already on Medicare have no idea who their agent is.  I cannot say how often someone comes to me for help with their Medicare plan. Clients refer their friends and relatives. I always ask who their agent is. ‘What’s that?’ Of course, some agents are out of the business. That is the main reason, but others are still licensed and receiving renewals. They just don’t do anything because they’re lazy.

Good Medicare Insurance Agents Stay in Touch

We actively engage clients because we want to serve you.  And we want more of you. We want you to refer your family and friends to us! So we call, email, and send letters, especially during the Annual Election Period (AEP) October 15th–December 7th. I also like to call on birthdays because the price is likely to increase if you are on a Medicare Supplement. I want to check if a less expensive supplement may be available with the same coverage.

Some people are do-it-yourself-ers. I understand that, but I think it is a mistake. There is so much to consider regarding Medicare health insurance that an amateur will do an amateur job. That being said, some agents are amateurs too.

Conclusion

A genuinely independent, experienced, licensed Medicare insurance agent will educate you on Medicare, show you all the available plans, and help match that plan to your unique needs at that time at no cost to you. He will be there for you over the years as your needs and circumstances change. That is why you want an experienced, independent, licensed Medicare insurance agent taking care of you. 

Give us a call at 402-614-3389, so we can take care of you.  

 

 

 

There is no full-proof way to find the best Medicare insurance agent out there. Still, you can separate a lot of wheat from the chaff by asking a few key questions.

How Many Medicare Clients Do You Have?

I recently had surgery. When I met with the surgeon, I asked how many times she had performed this particular surgery. She had to think because it was in the hundreds.

I want a surgeon–or any professional–to do what they do so frequently that they can do it in their sleep. You will find the best Medicare insurance agents can do it in their sleep.

When you are trying to pick a new Medicare insurance agent, ask your prospective agent how many Medicare clients he has. His client base should be in the hundreds. While not a foolproof method, the number tells you how much practice he has. The most important thing is to determine if he has practiced on lots of other people, and over time–you hope–he has worked out all his mistakes on others.

It is important that he gives you an exact number.  The generalities of hundreds are meaningless.  The “Good Shepherd knows his sheep and they know him.”  He knows them by name.  I can tell you each day exactly how many clients I take care of.

‘How many active Medicare clients do you currently have in your book of business’?

How Many Years in Service?

Like any profession, there is a history. Insurance products, practices, and trends change and evolve over time. A Medicare insurance agent who has been around the block several times has seen how the business of Medicare works, how various insurance companies performed, and how products functioned and/or failed.

That only comes with time in service. Some call it the school of hard knocks. You want your Medicare insurance agent to have a Ph.D. in hard knocks, not someone who just learned to spell ‘Part A.’

I have been a licensed insurance agent for almost 20 years, but I have only done Medicare planning exclusively for 9. Medicare is a different world from life insurance, home & auto, annuities, and commercial buildings. Those are not bad things to know, but they really add no value to someone doing Medicare insurance.

To find the best Medicare insurance agent, you need to ask specifically about Medicare experience.

‘How long have you been doing Medicare insurance?’

Positive Reviews as A Medicare Insurance Agent

When you are walking down the street hungry in a new town, which restaurant do you choose? You look in the window and at the parking lot of the restaurant. Which restaurants are full and which ones are empty? We look for social proof to determine which is the best place to eat, and you should do the same for your Medicare insurance agent.  

How many Google reviews does the person or business have? Google is a third party. Google doesn’t cost anything for someone to use. How many Google reviews does the agent or agency have?  Are the reviews positive?  Do they specifically mention Medicare?

Agents are marketers. They usually put client reviews on their websites and in their sales brochures. How many reviews do they have? What do the clients say? What is the quality of the reviews? Again, this is not infallible, but it certainly helps you quickly separate out the bad apples and find a better Medicare insurance agent.  When you buy something on Amazon, does it make a difference if one product has 5,134 5-Star reviews and the other has 62 3-Star reviews?  

‘How many reviews does the Medicare agent have?’

Is There Demonstrated Expertise in Their Field

“Content marketing” is a popular form of marketing. Content marketing is people putting out information from their field of expertise to help others make decisions (like this blog). The content is free. It helps people understand and solve problems, answer questions, and generally improve their lives. Many Medicare insurance agents have websites with information about the insurance world and insurance products.

When you visit an agent’s website or read his sales literature, does the Medicare insurance agent demonstrate adequate knowledge and expertise about his subject and craft? Is the information generic and uninformative? Is he is calling upon his experience as an agent and telling stories of clients HE helped, problems HE solved, and obstacles in the area of Medicare and insurance HE  overcame? Or is the contect bland nothing and useless fluff?

You judge the quality of a Medicare insurance agent by following the bread crumbs of knowledge he leaves for you to follow.

‘Does the Medicare agent demonstrate a high degree of knowledge and professional excellence in his field?’

Do They Have Peer Endorsements as the Best Medicare Insurance Agent in the Area?

You can call insurance companies that offer Medicare plans and Medicare supplements. The local insurance company offices work with hundreds of agents. They know the local Medicare insurance agents who are compliant, competent, and conscientious. Ask an insurance company for a referral.

The agent they recommend may favor the referring insurance company, but still, you will find a good Medicare insurance agent in this way. The local insurance company representatives do not want to recommend an agent who would not reflect well on their company.

When I get a phone call from an insurance company referring someone to me, I always tell the company that I will present their products in the best possible light. But, they know I will also show the whole breadth of Medicare products because I am an independent agent. I get calls from insurance companies regularly.

‘Who are your best Medicare insurance agents in my area?’

Five Questions To Ask To Find the Best Medicare Insurance Agent

There is no foolproof way to find the best Medicare agent near you. Still, you can significantly narrow down the field by asking these five crucial questions:

1. ‘How many active Medicare clients do you currently have in your book of business’?
2. ‘How long have you been doing Medicare insurance?’
3. ‘How many reviews does the Medicare insurance agent have?’
4. ‘Does the Medicare insurance agent demonstrate a high degree of knowledge and professional excellence in his field? 
5. Ask a Medicare insurance company, ‘who are your best Medicare insurance agents in my area?’

After you have finished your research, when you are ready to meet the best Medicare insurance agent in the Omaha, Lincoln, Council Bluffs, and the surrounding metropolitan area give me a call!  402-614-3389.

Are You An Independent Medicare Insurance Agent in the Omaha Area?

There are different kinds of Medicare advisors in Omaha, NE. Some Medicare agents are captive, meaning they sell Medicare insurance company products exclusively for one insurance company. Some of those companies may have subsidiaries, so it appears the agent offers multiple companies, but in fact, he commits exclusively to just one Medicare insurance company. By contractual obligation, he cannot offer or sell other insurance companies or their products. If he discusses other insurance companies and products, it is usually to sell against his competition. There are a large number of captive Medicare insurance agents in the Omaha Metro area.

Captive Insurance Agents

The problem with captive agents is that you cannot compare the many different companies and Medicare insurance products available objectively. So inevitably, the captive agent will usually conclude his company and products are the best. Physicians Mutual and Blue Cross Medicare insurance agents in the Omaha area and throughout the state are examples of captive agents.

Career Agents

Some insurance companies have “Independent Career Agents.” Those Medicare insurance agents contract with large insurance carriers that supply them with leads. The agent receives leads from the insurance company and he must only present that company and write for that company. Depending on the insurance company, they may or may not enforce the exclusivity. United Healthcare has many Medicare insurance agents in the Omaha Metro area, along with Nebraska and Iowa, who are career agents.

Again, the conflict is you will never know whether you receive disinterested and objective advice when an agent has special relationships with insurance carriers.

Do You Sell Medicare Supplements AND Medicare Advantage?

Some agents only sell Medicare Advantage plans. I’ve found agents that started in the business selling Medicare Advantage tend to stay with Medicare Advantage. Agents who started selling Medicare Supplements stick with selling Medicare Supplements. Ask the agent if he offers both. They are both very different ways to approach Medicare, but they are not as apples to oranges as some would lead to you believe.

Do You Enroll Clients In Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans?

One of the difficulties I have found with agents who only sell Medicare Supplements (Medigap) is they are not certified to offer Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Certification is costly, time-consuming, and challenging. If you are not certified to sell Part D, you cannot offer Part D prescription drug plans. Those kinds of agents give their clients an 800-number and tell them to call Medicare for their prescription drug plan rather than help them pick one. The insurance companies pay very little for Part D drug plans. Most agents find it does not make financial sense to get involved.

I find prescriptions are sometimes the most critical part of a person’s health plan. On top of that, prescriptions can be costly, difficult to understand, and hard to navigate. Ask your Medicare agent to run your medications for you to see which of the Part D plans or Medicare Part C/Medicare Advantage plans are the best fit for your mix of prescriptions. He can do that on the Medicare.gov website or his private software package. If he can not easily do that for you, you have a good idea of the level of his knowledge and expertise or lack thereof.

Are You A Local Medicare Insurance Agent?

When you turn 65, Medicare insurance companies and Medicare insurance agents will bombard you with mail, email, and phone calls non-stop. You almost need to go into witness protection! Some of my clients tell me they receive 10 or 15 phone calls a day. Most of the phone calls come from call centers in Florida, So. Carolina, California. Hundreds of insurance agents stacked on top of one another in rooms full of phones are cranking out thousands of phone calls a second. They use automatic dialers that simultaneously dial ten persons at once. The first person who answers they solicit. After that, the other lines go dead.

Persons you never met, persons you will never meet, persons you never heard of until that moment will ask you for your banking information, Medicare number, and birth date. You will probably never hear from them again after you sign up with them. They may or may not be in the insurance industry by the end of the month. These call centers churn and burn agents like they do clients.

If that is how you like to do business, then it will be very convenient. Our method is to have Medicare insurance agents sit down with people face-to-face at least once if not more times. I grew up in Omaha, went to South High, own a home here. I will be buried next to my parents at Calvary Cemetery. We are as local as local can be. With thousands of clients, we are not going anywhere. So if you like that, you will like us.

Independent Agent Or Broker

Independent Medicare insurance agents or Medicare insurance brokers will show you a wide variety of insurance companies and products. For example, they can show you the Medicare Supplements and Part D prescription drug plans along with the Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare insurance brokers should share their experience with the various companies and plans over the years and show you data and statistics that prove their points. There are many Medicare advisors in Omaha, NE.

How Often Do You Contact Your Clients?

There are three certainties. Medicare will change, the Medicare plans will change, and your needs will change. Consequently, your agent needs to contact you to keep you abreast of those changes.

I’ve had clients ignore my letters and calls. After Annual Election Period passes, some clients call because their prescriptions have gone through the roof. There is nothing I can do at that point except to ask the insurance company for an exception.

Many Medicare insurance brokers in the Omaha Metro area do not call their clients regularly. Some not at all. They sign you up and disappear. Ask how often they will call you and check.

Happy Birthday!

I like to call clients on their birthday. Everyone likes well wishes on their birthday, but I also like to check in to make sure the Medicare plan is operating as designed. Sometimes problems come up, and sometimes clients don’t call. I like to be proactive and deal with issues head-on.

Also, for those on Medicare Supplements, their premium may increase because of age or rate increases. I like to check and see what clients are paying. I can do a quick quote over the phone. If there is a lower-cost supplement available, we complete an application over the phone. Saving $300 or $500 a year is always a good birthday present.

It is essential to see how often your agent will contact you because circumstances change, and you want to know he will be on top of those changes and problems. Also, Medicare insurance agents tend to disappear.

I have been in insurance since 2002–20 years. Getting an insurance license is not very difficult or expensive. The barrier to entry into this industry is not high. Lots of people get into insurance, and lots of people get out. A friend of mine was a human resource manager for a large Medicare insurance company recruiting Medicare agents. The average length of time in service for his company was six months.

Many times a Medicare agent will sign up a person and disappear. They disappear because they get out of the industry, have a full-time job doing something else, or are just lazy. Make sure to ask how often your Medicare agent plans on contacting you and hold him to that.

When Did You Become A Medicare Insurance Agent in the Omaha Area?

The insurance industry goes through a lot of people. Insurance recruiters make promises of flexible hours, high income, being your own boss. While writing this article, I got an email with the title, “There’s No Limit On How Much Cash You Can Earn.” Depending on the company or agency, they may promise lots of leads and opportunities.

The reality is selling insurance products is hard work. The vast majority fail. Even those who struggle for several years and others who do it part-time end up quitting because the costs, constant testing, compliance requirements, and client service needs are too much with the other life demands.

How long an agent has been doing Medicare planning is critical because Medicare has lots of rules. The insurance products have their own intricacies, and the Medicare bureaucracy itself is not easy to deal with. I learn something new each week. The companies provide training. Medicare sends out notifications. The state insurance commissions are a source of information. I especially learn from clients as problems come up. Every year each Medicare insurance company has training meetings. It is interesting to see the new Medicare advisors in Omaha, NE, at the meetings and those who are no longer there.

How Many Medicare Clients Do You Have?

I recently had an operation on my Achilles tendon. I asked the surgeon how often he was in surgery per week. He said he performed between 10-15 surgeries per week. I like that number. When someone comes at me with a sharp object, I want to know that they know what they are doing.

This is the same for Medicare. The amount of time you have been a Medicare insurance agent and the number of clients you have tells you a lot about the agent. Most people never ask. If you have been making Medicare sales for five years and have only a hundred clients, you haven’t even averaged two new clients a month. How can you be good at anything when you only do it twice per month?

What Is Your Medicare Insurance Agent Process in Omaha?

Every salesperson has a process. If they do not have a process, that is their process. Ask your potential Medicare insurance agent to explain his process of working with clients. If he gives you a blank stare or hems and haws, that would not be a positive sign.

This is a little of what my process looks like when a prospective client meets with me for the first time. I take them through a 3 step process.

• Educate them on the basics of Medicare using the Official Medicare Handbook
• Show them the hundreds of supplements and plans with pricing
• Find out about their unique and particular health concerns

At the end of the meeting, I hand them a brochure with the details of the meeting, printouts of the supplements with prices, Medicare Advantage Benefit Highlights sheets, and a prescription drug list run through the Medicare.gov software, along with an email of those materials.

Printed Quotes and Follow Up Phone Calls

As a Medicare Insurance agent in Omaha, I mail them the printed materials again after the meeting. I follow up in a week with a phone call to see if there are any questions or need for clarification. I call and schedule the second appointment when they are in their open enrollment period. We review the Medicare materials again with updated details until they are comfortable making a decision. We complete the paperwork. My office sends a follow-up letter going through the details of what we did in the enrollment meeting. We call within ten days to update the client on the application and give the policy numbers. Then in another ten days, we call to make sure the client has all their cards and customer service phone numbers.

Thirty days after the policy starts, we follow up to make sure everything is going fine with the plan. In another thirty days, we double-check again to see if there are any issues. The following contact is either on a birthday or during the Annual Election Period in October of every year. The client, of course, can all at any time with questions or concerns.

I tell people this is a long-term relationship. ‘Until death does us part.’ I hope you are my client for the rest of your life, and I will be in contact with you during all that time to make whatever adjustments are needed. I have one client who is 102!

Should Medicare Insurance Agents in Omaha Have Testimonials?

I ask many of my clients to share a testimonial for my website. You can see them on the bottom of the home page and the last page of the website. Many say ‘Yes!’

I take their picture and write down what they liked about working with me. My clients are very kind and generous.

Of course, you could say that is very self-serving, so I use Google Reviews. Clients can go to my profile on Google. There is a spot they can click and write a review. You can see those reviews. Google curates them and serves as the third party. I cannot delete or alter them. Those reviews should give you a good idea of how we work and the quality of our work.

Like on Amazon or other companies, you should be able to check an agents’ references. Ask the agent if there is some way to see the quality of their work. With hundreds of clients, a Medicare insurance agent in the Omaha area should very quickly be able to produce some testimonials about his service.

These are some ways to evaluate the quality of your potential Medicare insurance agent.  

 

 

 

Finding a Medicare advisor in Omaha, NE, is not difficult. If you are turning 65, marketing companies sell your contact information, including birthday and phone numbers, to insurance agents. Lead companies are mailing you business reply cards (BRC) in hope that you will fill them out and mail them back in. Direct mail marketing companies are sending you postcards, flyers, and brochures because they want you to call their 800-Medicare number. Joe Namath and Jimmy J.J. Walker are on an endless loop of commercials coming into your living room telling you about the unbelievable Medicare benefits you do not qualify for.  Dynomite! 

You will have to contact the FBI witness protection program to avoid the onslaught leveled against you as you approach Medicare eligibility!

Just Having An Insurance License Does Not Make You A Medicare Advisor

As you age into Medicare, an army is coming after you–an army of insurance agents. Some insurance agents, like me, have been around for a while. I earned my Nebraska & Iowa insurance licenses in 2003. Other agents just get their license for the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) when Medicare beneficiaries can change their Medicare plans. During those seven weeks of Medicare Annual Election Period AEP (Oct 15th–Dec 7th)–sometimes called “Open Enrollment”—Medicare insurance agents in Omaha, NE, are looking to make some money.  They want to get new Medicare clients who are looking to change their Medicare plans.

People, however, are trying to find a Medicare advisor in Omaha, Ne, who is knowledgeable, competent, and trustworthy.

What Does It Take To Become A Medicare Insurance Agent in Nebraska?

A Nebraska insurance license only means that you passed the licensing test and paid the $50 licensing fee. It doesn’t tell you how many times the person took the test to finally pass. It doesn’t tell you her score. You cannot even determine how long the person has been licensed, though you can find out their license number on the Nebraska Department of Insurance website.

While doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, and even hairdressers go through a lengthy and difficult training and testing process, insurance agents for Medicare do not. I do not say this with any sort of pride, but as a matter of fact. Many of my fellow Medicare agents in Omaha, NE, have little or no training, are doing this as a temporary part-time gig, and/or will probably let their license drop at the end of the year.

Baby Boomers Increased The Demand For Medicare Advisors

Medicare health insurance is a federal program that began in 1965. The government created it because most insurance companies did not offer affordable health insurance to seniors. Congress intervened to create a program to protect seniors who were going bankrupt handling healthcare as the American population was living significantly longer in large numbers by the 1960s.

Insurance companies quickly developed insurance products to supplement Medicare where it was lacking. Insurance agents started selling these Medicare supplements. As the baby boomers started aging into Medicare, the demand exploded. There was more demand than what insurance companies and agencies could handle, so they began mass recruiting to find people to sell Medicare supplements. Recruiters promised the usual things to attract large numbers of people–huge sums of money and easy work. 

The sales pitch works because each year, thousands of people get their insurance licenses and become Medicare advisors in Omaha, NE, but quickly they find the work is not easy and they do not become rich overnight. Consequently, after they sell to a few friends and relatives, they let their license lapse. The people they signed up then lose their agent.

The Fallout from Poor Medicare Advisors

The consequence is Medicare beneficiaries are left on their own with an insurance product they probably do not understand in a health insurance program that is as foreign as a foreign language. The agent-less persons are now older. Their needs and circumstances are probably changed, and their income is even more limited.  It is a bad situation.  

While Medicare is not rocket science and I am not a brain surgeon, Medicare and Medicare insurance products have a certain level of complexity.  A person needs a knowledgeable advisor to help them avoid pitfalls and maximize their benefits because Medicare and insurance products are always changing.  

Independent Medicare Advisors in Omaha, NE

We are independent Medicare advisors in Omaha, NE. That means we do not work for an insurance company. We are not captive to an insurance company restricted to selling only one company or brand. We offer a large variety of companies in Nebraska and Iowa–the big names and the small. They all pay us the same commission, so there is no incentive to offer one company over the other. We are Omaha, Nebraska, Medicare insurance brokers, so we look for the best deal for our clients.

How to Pick a Good Medicare Insurance Agent in Omaha, NE

First, we offer both Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage. These are both great options for those whom they fit. Our goal is to educate you on Medicare. The official Medicare handbook, Medicare & You, is over 120 pages of incredibly dull reading. We make it simple and understandable.

Secondly, we show you the actual Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. Our software pulls together the policies and prices in nice neat rows and columns so you can compare and contrast. You can see the plans on one big four-foot computer screen, and we print out the quotes on one sheet of paper you can take with you. 

From my experience, people come to us with separate quotes from various companies and a number of different agents. The mess of papers adds to your confusion. We pull the data up and let you see all the copays, co-insurance, maximum out-of-pocket, and premiums. It is only when you can look at them side-by-side on one computer screen and sheet of paper you can really see and compare.

We print out the quotes so you can take the material home with you. There shouldn’t be any pressure to decide or buy ‘right now.’ Picking a Medicare plan should not be a rush.

Finally, we find out about you and how you wish to manage your healthcare needs. Everyone is unique in how they wish to handle healthcare. Some of that has to do with your personality. Other reasons are your health. Your budget is an important determining factor.  We work with you to see what fits you and is most comfortable for you.

Find A Medicare Advisor in Omaha, NE

You will be on Medicare hopefully for a long time. You want your Medicare advisor in Omaha, NE, to walk with you during that time to help you adjust and change as needs and times change. This is an important relationship for the long haul.  Give us a call and find out how we help 402-614-3389.

#1. A Good Medicare Insurance Agent Should Ask “What Kind of Prescription Medications You Are Taking?”

After almost a decade of being a Medicare insurance agent, I still get nervous when prospective clients push their list of medications across the conference table. When I look at the list, I either tense up or breathe a sigh of relief.

Medication Costs Can Be Devastating

As a licensed Medicare agent in Omaha, Nebraska for more than 10 years, I see examples of this every day. Yesterday I was completing an application for a relative of mine in Texas. He is a great guy. Jim is older than me. I remember playing together when we were kids. He was like a big brother. Being the firstborn in my family, I didn’t have an older brother, so I idolized Jim.

Jim is retiring in a few days. He is bone tired and is looking forward to getting out of the rat race. For the past year, his doctor gave him samples of Entresto for his heart. The manufacturer offered coupons for the medication too, but those stop once you are on Medicare. He was mainly paying nothing for it. When I told him the medication was around $600 a month, you could feel the ice-cold silence through the phone.

The Reality of A Fixed Income

On the Medicare Part D plan, the deductible would be $445 upfront, and the monthly dose would be $47 per month. After his icy pause, the response that we Medicare Insurance Agents hear too often came, “I can’t pay that.”

Like many people going on Medicare and retiring, his Social Security is really all he has. Even a part-time job isn’t a viable option when his body and nerves are shot. So I took a big swallow.

Jim thought I had it wrong or made a mistake. I explained the reality to him about Medicare Part D and prescription costs if you are on high-dollar medications. I don’t think he believed me even after that.     

His response was he would quit the medication, which is what many of my Medicare insurance clients say. And a few do that. Others listen to their doctor, a pleading spouse and children, or their body that sometimes tells them they need the medication.

A Medicare Insurance Agent Should Find Out The Medication Costs At the Beginning

It is painful to watch people go through this. Consequently, I have learned early on as a Medicare insurance agent to find out what medications people are on right away. The various software, including the Medicare.gov website, are helpful–though not infallible. I explain to clients the reality that sometimes Medicare and the Medicare insurance companies make mistakes in listing their medications. They may take medications off the formulary or raise the tier level. Consequently, even if we do everything right, there may be some surprises down the road on their medications.

As a longtime Medicare insurance agent, an old trick I’ve seen insurance companies pull is to put a medium-cost medication in tier 3, so you get hit with the deductible versus keeping it in tier 2, where it has been for a long time.

Fortunately, most of these problems are infrequent, but expensive medications, like Entresto, insulin, or other anti-diabetic medications, can be bank-breaking.

If you are on no medications, very few medications, or inexpensive medications, God bless you. Of course, circumstances can always change, but you should still understand that a good Medicare insurance agent will very carefully ask about your medications and conscientiously show you the plans that best address those medication needs. “What are your medications?” is a very important question, and it should be one of the first.

#2.  A Good Medicare Insurance Agent Should Ask “How Do You Handle Risk?”

When you go to the casino, which slot machines do you play? The nickel slots? The quarter slots? Or the dollar slots? Or don’t you play at all?

Everyone handles risk differently. When I was in the investment side of financial services, before becoming a Medicare agent, we would put clients through a risk assessment. We walked them through several scenarios of their investments going up and down based upon the level of risk they were willing to take.

Of course, everyone was happy when the investments went up, and no one was happy when the investments went down. They understood, however, unless they were going to put their money in a can and bury it in the dirt, they would have to assume some level of risk.

What Is Your Tolerance For Risk?

People’s risk tolerance was all over the board. Some were conservative. Others moderate. A small group was high-risk takers. In the end, they would sign and date the risk assessment form, and it was put in their file. Then, the investment advisor would invest their money based upon how much risk they were willing to take.  What does this have to do with Medicare insurance?  I’ll explain.  

I remember when clients came back during downtimes in the market. All of them were angry that their assets went down. The advisor showed them the history of the different asset classes and how they go up and down depending on markets and the type of assets. Clients were not impressed.

In the end, the clients complained their money went down too far. So then the advisor pulled out the risk assessment the clients all had completed months or years earlier. Right there in black and white was their signature next to the level of risk they were willing to assume, and their assets went down precisely what was predicted.

When the asset went up, they never called. A Medicare insurance agent should be testing your ability to handle risk.

No One Knows The Future: That’s Why You Buy Insurance

Over the years, in my role as a Medicare insurance agent, I have talked with clients months and years after choosing their Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap policy. I go through the same presentation with everyone. Thousands of clients have heard the exact same words over the years. I could do it in a coma.

People still come back and say I didn’t think the copays on my Advantage plan would end up being this much. I didn’t think my supplement premium would go up this high.

Whether you purchase a Medicare supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan, there are costs. Over time and as you age, those costs will go up. Unavoidable. The reality of those costs hit us differently than the idea of those costs when we are considering our options. It is crucial when considering your options to look at how you have handled risk in the past.

Did you pick the car insurance or the homeowners insurance with the high deductible? Were you ok when s__t happened?

Or did you pay the much more expensive premium, so you didn’t have a hefty deductible? Or did you switch after a while? That will tell you more about the type of Medicare insurance you should choose. How do you handle risk?

#3.  A Good Medicare Insurance Agent Should Ask “Which Way? Pay As You Go Or Pay Upfront?”

Would you prefer to pay upfront and not worry, or would you rather pay when you actually use the service?

I love to travel. Over the years, I have been all over the United States and the world for pleasure and business. No style of travel is more appealing. I have gone on tours. Put some stuff in a knapsack and just gone out the door with no place in mind.

Depending on what I’m doing and how much money I have for the project, I make my strategic travel plans.
When I have gone on the cheap, I pay for the bare minimum. It saves money. I don’t mind sleeping on overnight trains and park benches–at least when I was younger. I paid for things when I wanted them or really needed them.

Other times, usually when I had more money, I did the all-inclusive thing. I didn’t have to worry about the nickel-and-dime stuff. I was comfortable with everything being taken care of and paying a lot for it.

Two different styles. Two different experiences. Two different outcomes. What type of experience do you want?  As a Medicare insurance agent, that’s a question I need to ask.  

What Kind of Experience Do You Want with Medicare?

Medicare Advantage is pay as you go. You don’t pay any copays unless you see a doctor, get a test, have surgery. The nice thing is you save money at that moment. But when something serious happens, like cancer treatment, you may be paying thousands of dollars–with a limit–for that year.

On the supplement side, you pay your monthly premium. Remember, this premium will keep going up each year. So when you are probably your healthiest on Medicare in those initial years, you may not use Medicare and your supplement much, but you are paying.

As you get older, the premium will go up. It may double at some point from what you initially paid when you turned 65. At that point, you are older. You are starting to have medical needs, but nothing serious yet. Do you change to an Advantage plan because supplement premiums are going up? But now the likelihood of something costly happening during the twilight years of life significantly increases. You have already forked out a considerable sum on Medigap premium. Do you keep trudging along and pay increasing premiums, or do you cut your losses? Do you risk potentially high copays or pay certain higher premiums? What if I can’t afford Medicare premiums anymore?

Which scenario is less damning? What do the questions cause you to think and feel?

A good Medicare insurance agent asks these hard questions, but only you can answer them.