Choice Insurance Agent

Learning how Medicare works can sometimes seem an insurmountable burden. Besides TV ads and radio commercials, a person turning 65 is often bombarded by truckloads of direct mail from insurance companies who all proclaim to have the right plan for you. For most beneficiaries, the Medicare Part B open enrollment period only comes around once in a lifetime, so picking a plan randomly is not a good idea. Your best bet is to seek an insurance agent who specializes in Medicare-related products and can show you several medicare supplemental options.

Where can you track down an ethical individual to help you who will keep your best interests in mind? Try the following tips for finding a trustworthy and proven insurance agent.

First, beware mail that you receive directly from an insurance carrier. If you call the number listed on these solicitations, you will reach a worker who offers only that one carrier’s products. Does this individual have your best interest in mind? Probably not, since he only earns his living if he can convince you that his product is better than the rest. Instead, you want a broker that represents several different insurance carriers so that they are not biased when explaining your choices, and won’t try to direct you to any product that doesn’t fit your needs or give you access to your physicians.

Try to locate an insurance broker specializing in just Medicare products, such as Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans. Some insurance agents try to offer everything from life insurance to group health insurance to dental plans. Unfortunately, Medicare-related insurance plans can be confusing, so they generally require an agent willing to dedicate quite a bit of time to learning these products really well. The agent must spend additional time doing annual required certifications in order to continue selling various plans. When an agent sells more than one type of insurance, he can quickly become bogged down by the amount of information he needs to know. If this happens, he probably doesn’t have the time to keep up with the ever-changing rules and regulations that surround Medicare. Put another way - he isn’t an expert in any type of insurance because he knows only a little bit about a lot of different insurance plans.

Next, find out if the agent has considerable experience in the Medicare field. Look at the agent’s business card to see if there is a toll-free phone number, a recognizable business address, and a website. If the agent’s card lists his email address as insurancebystephen@yahoo.com, he probably hasn’t even invested the time or money into a website that offers free information to the public. A business address tells you that the agent you are working with has an actual office where you can walk in the front door whenever you need help. Agents who list P.O boxes or no addresses at all probably work out of their home. This doesn’t necessarily mean the agent is inexperienced, but it might mean you’ll have trouble reaching the agent at times when he is out meeting with other clients or pursuing new sales. Furthermore, if the agent wants to meet with you at your home, you are getting yourself into a high-pressure situtation. It’s advisable to meet either by phone or at the agent’s office, where you can take your time deciding, and hang up or walk out if something tells you the agent has his own agenda.

Last but not least, find out if the agent works alone, because this may be an indicator that the agent is rather new to the business. Veteran agents with long experience will most likely have employees that they have hired to help them manage their client base. These agents want to make sure that if you call with a question when the agent is in a meeting, there is someone else on hand to answer your questions. It’s advisable to find an agency with roots - one that has several qualified employees answering incoming calls and questions during normal working hours.

By following this advice, you can find a credible and knowledgeable person who doesn’t pressure you, but rather approaches your phone calls and meetings as educational opportunities. He or she should take time to make sure you understand how Medicare itself works as well as the supplemental insurance product you eventually choose. This broker can become a trusted resource and advisor for years to come.

In summary, consult an independent agent who specializes in Medicare-related products and is appointed with numerous carriers and plans. He or she should have an agency location with employees trained in Medicare-market products to respond to urgent questions. The agent should offer to hold meetings in his or her office conference room, or by phone if you prefer that. Finally, don’t hesitate to ask for references. Any agent worth his salt can allow you to speak with several happy clients who can share with you whether that agent was helpful to them when they were going through the same learning process that you are.

If you or a friend is seeking an experienced Medigap insurance agent, be certain to read the wealth of great information compiled by the exemplary team at Boomer Benefits.