Long Term Care Planning

Do I Need a Medicare Insurance Agent? [Ultimate Guide 2023]

Do I Need a Medicare Insurance Agent? [Ultimate Guide 2023]

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— Last Updated May 27, 2022

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7 mins
Reviewed by
Eric Berkman

Guide Do I Need a Medicare Insurance Agent? [Ultimate Guide 2023]

— Last Updated May 27, 2022

Stephanie Wilson

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Reviewed by

Eric Berkman

Medigap can help you pay partial healthcare costs which are usually not covered by original medicare. The Medigap costs depend on multiple factors including location and Medigap plan so remember that if you are applying for disability insurance. Some Medicare plans and policies are quite difficult to understand for a layman then you need to read online insurance guides but if you need expert advice, you should look for a medicare insurance agent. 

Before choosing the right Medigap plan, it is essential to compare the available plans. This is how you will be able to have an idea about monthly installments. Making a comparison of multiple insurance companies and finding the right insurance plan requires time and money but the right agent can handle this task smoothly. Want to know what a medicare insurance agent is? Keep reading

Who Is a Medicare Insurance Agent?

A medicare insurance agent is a professional who helps you pick the best insurance plan. To make the right decision, a medicare insurance agent will have to talk to you to understand your health concerns and insurance budget. Then he will be able to present you with the right options that fit your budget. If the present insurance plan does not meet your needs, he might be able to help you switch from one insurance plan to another. 

Types of Medicare Insurance Agents

There are two main types of Medicare insurance agents; independent and captive medicare insurance agents. Let’s discuss both kinds of agents briefly:

Independent Medicare Insurance Agent

Independent Medicare insurance agents work with multiple insurance companies. They have more choices to enroll you in any of the available insurance plans from those companies.

Captive Medicare Agent

This type of Medicare insurance agent does not work with multiple companies. They only work with one particular insurance company and they can present you with a few insurance plans of that company only. 

Independent Medicare Agent vs. Captive Medicare Insurance Agent

We already have discussed the difference between independent agents and captive medicare insurance agents. Let’s understand which one is better.  As we discussed earlier, independent insurance agents work with multiple insurance companies so you will have the freedom to choose insurance plans from a wide list of plans. In addition to this, they are not biased so they can give you the best advice.  

Captive agents have great knowledge of a specific company however you will not be able to explore multiple options. 

What Are the Points You Should Consider While Choosing a Medicare Insurance Agent?

You need to be very careful while choosing a medicare insurance agent because your future greatly depends upon the insurance plan you purchase and only the right agent will help you in this regard. 

License

License is the first thing that you should consider. Make sure the agent you are going to work with has a license. You can check this information with the insurance department of your state. You can also check the license number on his business card. Various state insurance departments allow you to check the status of the insurance agent online. 

Experience

Experience is another factor that needs to be considered when choosing a Medicare insurance agent. The agent must have experience in selling medicare insurance plans. Don’t forget to ask questions about his experience and the insurance plans he dealt with in the past. 

Customer Service

Good customer service is essential to understand specific rules and laws of policies. You can check the customer service record of your agent by contacting his previous client. 

Recommendations

Find a medicare insurance agent with good customer reviews. If customer reviews are not available, you can ask him to provide you with references of previous clients so you can contact them and ask about their experience. 

What Are the Benefits of Having a Good Medicare Insurance Agent?

A good Medicare insurance agent can help you find the right insurance plans and best insurance companies in your area. Some of the benefits of having a professional insurance agent include:

Medicare Insurance Agents Are Experts

Medicare programs have different eligibility criteria and as a medicare insurance buyer, you are supposed to follow those rules. A good medicare insurance agent has years of experience and he is aware of all the enrollment laws and rules. The knowledge of a medicare insurance agent can give you the advantage when it comes to understanding specific rules.

They Present a List of Right Available Options

Medicare insurance agents have links with multiple insurance companies and they present you with the best options considering your insurance needs and budget. If you hire a good medicare insurance agent, he will help you make a comparison between different insurance companies and policies before narrowing down available options.

They Save You Money by Helping You Choose a Reasonable Plan

Medicare insurance plans are designed after considering various factors including your location, health preferences, gender and age. A good medicare insurance agent takes updates regarding deductibles changes and helps you find the most affordable plan with maximum benefits.

Medicare Insurance Agents Save You Time

Time is an asset and when it comes to finding the right insurance plan, you need to invest a lot of time if you don’t have prior links. If you hire a good medicare insurance agent, he will handle this task smoothly as the insurance agents do similar jobs daily.

Medicare Insurance Agents Are the One-Stop-Shopping Solution

Professional insurance agents deal with multiple technology-based programs to answer the questions of customers including insurance plans and insurance policy designing. So, we can say they are one-stop shopping solutions.

They Are With You Even After Purchasing Insurance Policies

Your Medicare insurance agent will be there after signing the insurance policy. He is available to answer the queries and can provide you with guidance regarding the insurance policy. Moreover, he can help you in renewing insurance plans.

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How Much Does a Medicare Insurance Agent Cost?

CMS does not regulate compensation for medicare insurance so there is a huge difference between medicare insurance costs. In general, there are two types of commissions insurance agents get. 

  1. Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan or a flat fee per application 
  2. Percentage of the premium insurance or medicare supplements

Medicare Advantage and Part D Commissions

In this plan, a medicare insurance agent gets a flat fee when you purchase an insurance plan. We can say that renewal commission and initial commissions come under the umbrella of medicare advantage and medicare part D commissions. You have to pay commission to medicare insurance when enrolling in a new plan. He also receives commission yearly if you stay in the existing plan or if you switch to a similar plan.  

Medicare Supplement Commissions

While you buy a Medicare supplemental insurance policy, agents get a few percent of the premium. For medicare supplements, CMS does not define maximum commission. The commission of an agent depends on the insurance company, contract and some other factors. So, there is no specifically defined percentage of commission. 

How Does a Medicare Insurance Agent Get Paid?

The compensation of medicare insurance agents depends on different factors including the kind of agents they are. Some agents get paid based on new enrollments and others get paid by the company they represent. 

The most common form of agent compensation is commission. They receive a commission when they enroll someone in a medicare insurance plan. For instance, If you purchase a Medicare plan with the help of an insurance agent, he will receive payment for the first year fee. After the first year, they will only get half of the first payment. They receive a commission as long as you stay in that insurance plan. The amount of commission varies depending on the insurance plans and companies.

Do I Need a Medicare Insurance Agent?

Yes, a medicare insurance agent can help you make the right decision. Here is how:

He will narrow down the available options of medicare plans and guide you about the best offer. Choosing the right enrollment period is another important step while buying the insurance plan and an agent can give you the best advice in this regard.

Licensed medicare insurance agents have years of experience and vast knowledge. In addition to this, they stay updated about insurance regulations which will be beneficial for you.

As an individual, you will not be able to explore all the available insurance companies and medicare insurance plans. If you try to find all the available options, you will have to invest a lot of time. On the other hand, insurance agents already know most of the companies and insurance plans, they only have to invest a little time to present you with the best options. This is how you will be able to save your time and avoid frustration.

Working as an individual, you may not be able to find the best options in hassle, however, the insurance agent will present you with all the available options and help you choose the most cost effective option, this is how he can save you money.

A Medicare insurance agent can review your annual insurance plans and can help you make changes in the plan if you want to switch from one plan to another.

Where Can I Find Out More and Get Advice on Medicare Insurance Agents?

There are multiple Medicare insurance agents available on the internet but finding the right agent is a very difficult task because a licensed and experienced insurance agent can save your time and money. 

No need to worry if you don’t know any experienced medicare insurance agent. Policy solver is here to serve you. We are a team of professional and experienced insurance agents who can help you find the best insurance company and present you with the best medicare insurance plan. 

All you have to do is contact us, our licensed agent will ask you a few simple questions to understand your health needs and budget. Then he will be able to introduce you to the available insurance companies and provide you with a comparison table between the best insurance plans of those companies. After careful analysis, out Policy solver medicare insurance agent will give you the best advice. 

So, are you ready to choose the best medicare insurance plan? Contact us or schedule a free consultation, and we will get back to you soon!

Conclusion

Selecting the right plan and buying medicare insurance is not a piece of cake and the right decision can save you money and time. A good Medicare insurance agent can make your experience hassle-free. Insurance agents are experienced and deal with such tasks on a daily basis. If you are looking for professional insurance agents let us know. You are welcome to get a free quote. We would love to help you choose the best insurance company and the right insurance plan.

References:

Jill, N. (2021) How Much Does a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Cost. Retrieved from healthline website: https://www.healthline.com/health/medicare/medigap-plans-cost

Anonymous, N. (2021) Why choose an independent medicare insurance agent.Retrieved from Medicare insurance az website: 

https://www.medicareinsuranceaz.com/independent-medicare-insurance-agents/

Craig, N. (2018) Should I Use A Medicare Insurance Agent.Retrieved from capinsurance website: 

https://www.capinsurance.net/blog/should-i-use-a-medicare-insurance-agent

Roxanne, N. (2020) How Much Can Insurance Agents Make Selling Medicare.Retrieved from Ritter insurance market website: 

https://www.ritterim.com/blog/how-much-can-insurance-agents-make-selling-medicare/#med-supp

Tolu, N. (2020) What Are Medicare Agents and Brokers.Retrieved from Very well health website: 

https://www.verywellhealth.com/medicare-agents-brokers-5080195[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
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