CMS has made some big changes to the 2019 Medicare Marketing Guidelines. HealthCompare Insurance Services, Inc. is a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organizations and Medicare Prescription Drug plans with a Medicare contract. A knowledgeable broker can save you time on research and plan comparison, especially if Medicare coverage is new to you. Legally, they have to be licensed to enroll you in a Medicare related product. Licensed insurance agents can help you decide if you should enroll in a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) and can help you review and compare plans based on your particular budget and medications. A broker can help you choose Medigap plans that will best fit your needs and budget. If you are enrolling in Medicare for the first time, you may be wondering how you should receive your Medicare benefits. Those . A licensed sales agent can help you make the choice that is best for you. Healthcare coverage decisions can have serious consequences on your health and financial well-being, and a licensed insurance agent may be the knowledgeable resource that helps you and your loved ones find the quality Medicare insurance plan that is right for you, at a price you can afford. Companies that contract with Medicare to provide health care coverage or prescription drugs typically use agents/brokers to sell their Medicare plans to Medicare beneficiaries. This doesnt mean they answer the call every time you beckon, but they should be easy to reach. Sometimes dealing with Medicare products requires you to disclose personal information and you want to be comfortable with who youre talking to, Are they available? This means understanding Medicare, your plan choices (stay with Original Medicare with/without a Medigap plan OR enroll in a Part C plan), learn what doctors and hospital(s) are in a plans network, how much it will cost you if you use non-network providers, and how much it will cost you to use a plans health care services as well as your cost to have prescriptions filled. You could easily extrapolate the answer to this question from the section above, but heres a neatly packaged cheat sheet of the benefits: You can see why I believe that I will be the best Medicare Broker for you. A few others that always get asked and will be covered below are: "What is a Medicare Insurance Broker? Grow your book of business by offering our innovative health plans that fit every stage of life. With access to online comparison sites that Read more There are distinct advantages of working with a licensed sales broker who can help guide you through the process of enrolling in Medicare insurance coverage. Customer retention is important to a Medicare Broker. Captive agents will only make money if they sell you a plan their company represents whether or not it is the best fit for you. Although Medigap policies are standardized, the costs can vary. How to Choose a Medicare Insurance Broker, 30-40 hours learning about Medicare specifics, 10-20 hours learning individual companies and underwriting guidelines. These are the two most common questions I get when Im consulting with someone about a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan. It is individual insurance, but any decisions you make can affect your family. Medicare agents and brokers are paid a commission directly by the insurer, so youll never pay extra when you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, Part D drug plan, or Medigap plan. Are they licensed? Are they insured? Will it Cost More to Go Through a Medicare Broker? There should never be any fees when it comes to working with a licensed Medicare agent. Besides, who do you think will work harder to solve your problem: a call center agent who is paid a salary regardless of the outcome of your personal situation, or a Broker who represents only few hundred clients and gets paid only for as long as youre with them? If you look at the average hourly wage as of 2018 which is $22.10. You are here: Home / Medigap Plans / Why Should You Use an Independent Broker to Choose a Medigap Plan. Partnering to sell Medica products. Independent Medicare Brokers are paid directly by the Insurance Carrier. The senior market is pretty hot right now and because of that, were starting to see more 1-800 numbers and call center style companies popping up. so it can be helpful to have an expert help you find the pan that will be right for you. MedicareInc.com agents specialize in working with seniors to ensure theyre receiving the right coverage for their health and financial well-being. Medigap brokers are often confused with Medigap agents, but there are important differences between the two groups. For a complete list of available plans please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov. Do they help you when you have a problem? Youre one step away from finding the best companies with the lowest cost. Expertise Licensed sales agents in the Medicare arena go through hours and hours of training and education every year in order to sell Medicare insurance plans. Medicare Part A Insurance Wellbeing insurance is one policy you will need to consider if you wish to get hold of a great insurance approach. Keep in mind all Insurance Agents who specialize in Medicare benefits are not endorsed, employed, or recommended by Medicare, CMS, or any other governing body. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH AN AGENT: BEFORE you meet with the agent: The agent must get your permission to meet in person and must document the plan options you wish to discuss Visit for more: https://medigapseminars.org/new-to-medicare/ Call 800-847-9680, ask for a free private consultation. A Medicare broker provides unbiased, informed advice on your options and decisions when you need help with Medicare. learn about Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans. Below I will answer everything you need to know about using a Medicare Broker for your Medicare needs. Do they have any complaints filed against them? A Medicare insurance broker matches you with the Medicare plan that fits your needs. If it was a situation where they shouldnt be allowed to do business anymore their license would have been revoked. There are many great reasons to use a broker when choosing a Medicare plan. A good broker should be able to properly educate you and help you make a decision in less than 2 hours. Both brokers and captive agents generally only make money when they assist someone to enroll in a plan. Your Medicare Broker has spent between $2,000 and $2,500 of their own time (likely a lot more than that) preparing to help you with Medicare. What are the benefits of using a Medicare Broker? So whether you call a broker, or the carrier directly, your price per month will be exactly the same. Keep in mind we will not always be able to answer every single question on the spot. While you and/or your family may have previously been covered by group insurance plans through an employer or an individual or family plan, Medicare insurance is different. Brokers - Because a broker is solely focused on your unique needs, he or she can help with comparison-shopping, honing in on the best prices for the coverage you need. Typically, the Medicare Supplement plans can cost $30-$250 per month depending upon the plan. Incentive to help. Here are some things to consider when choosing a broker: Aragona Village Virginia Beach, VA 23455, 2019 Medicare About You. for a quick easy to read description of all of the different parts of Medicare. Mon-Fri / 5:00am - 8:00pm PT They will also explain parts of your policy or "How does a Medicare Broker get paid?". Supplementing Your Original Medicare Coverage. Here are just a few: On top of that Insurance Agents are required to maintain continuing education to continue carrying a valid insurance license. Most Medicare beneficiaries can only change their Medicare insurance coverage once a year, during the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 through December 7, so you will likely be stuck with the insurance you choose for twelve months, unless you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. You also can use the agency's search tool to find available plans in your ZIP code. Throw into the mix all of the Government rules and regulations and youd think you were an aspiring law student after a few hours of reading. Without having to leave their site, you may be able to research and compare Medicare coverage options, request proposals, and even enroll in some Medicare Advantage plans. Original Medicare. Trust me when I tell you its better to have to wait a few hours for an answer than to be given misinformation and finding out once its already too late, Do you get along? Not all Insurance Agents that sell Medicare products specialize in Medicare. 10 Benefits of Using a Medicare Broker to Pick a Plan Medicare Options. I mean, fortunately for you, you found our website. Having a broker that contracts with different carriers helps eliminate bias as they help you research and compare. The brokers we work with are contracted with multiple carriers and will listen to your situation before giving you an explanation of the options available to you. www.HealthCompare.com contains information about and access to insurance plans for Medicare beneficiaries, individuals soon eligible for Medicare and those advising on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. The wealth of collective data at your fingertips is essential as you search for the Medicare insurance plan that best meets your individual needs, and an independent broker can help you narrow your choices and make an informed decision. When it comes to searching for health insurance, can - and should - we purchase it without the help of a sales professional? They are also required to be licensed in whatever state they are writing business in. In fact, the rates offered by insurance plans already account for commissions paid to insurance brokers, so your cost will not differ whether you work with a broker or enroll on your own. There are a handful of reasons for this weve listed the top 7 reasons to use a Medigap broker below: 1. Many offer 24/7 assistance, answers to the most frequently asked questions, and webinars regarding issues that are important to you. With experience in the Medicare market, your insurance agent can be your guide into Medicare terminology, policies, and processes. For example, in order to sell a Prescription Drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan agents are required to receive an AHIP certification and most carriers require a separate carrier specific certification in addition to that. The plans we represent do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. Prescription drug coverage is not available through Part A, Part B, or Medigap policies, so you may need to consider Part D prescription drug coverage. An agent should never set it and forget it. I should add that most insurance representatives start out as an agent working for an insurance company. Other things require us to reference material in order to make sure the information is accurate and up to date. A PDP is a stand-alone plan offered by private insurance companies that will help cover the costs of prescription drugs. As a Medicare Broker (independent licensed agent) we work diligently to find the most competitively priced Medigap plans offered by top A-rated insurance companies available in your area. 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