Need some guidance; making the move...

[sshafran]

At the risk of sounding like this is rocket surgery, how do i find the 'best carriers to write?' Price alone?

Please, try to answer without the sarcasm...thanks, I'd appreciate it.

Pretend like you are a consumer shopping for your parent's med supp. What are you as a consumer looking for? That's likely what your prospects will be looking for.

You can get much of the data that you'll need from csg. (How long have they been in your market? What is their rating? Do they have a policy fee?) Subscribe to their quote engine in your state - it's cheap. Then, run the quotes... play around with it, take note of the well-priced carriers at different ages / male/female, etc.

Pick the ones carriers who perform well overall - and request contracting. You'll likely pick 6 carriers but only really end up writing 3 or 4. And in 5 months from now, you'll probably add a new one to your bag.

Do you have to have the cheapest med supp to be able to sell a med supp? No way. But, you shouldn't be $45/mo more than the cheapest.

As vague as this may sound - find 5-6 that you like, that you would buy if you were shopping for Medigap insurance - and sell for them.



I'd rather you pick 6 that you've identified as good, and start selling, then pick 2 that an FMO told you was good. Guess which method will give you more confidence as you sell?

 

[kgmom219]

Nice quick duck. Of the 2 training sites being mentioned in your quote, one is a liar and the other isn't.

I've never known Todd to lie.

Chris has NEVER lied to me. And has always been helpful. And sweet. But I'm cuter than you, so there's that, too

I called Todd last week and he gave me some great info, too. And that was after I called/spoken to 10+ other people and was hitting the same brick wall.

Neither of them are my upline (I don't have an upline). But I appreciate those who are willing to give back and take the time to help a girl out.

 

[goillini52]

Chris has NEVER lied to me. And has always been helpful. And sweet. But I'm cuter than you, so there's that, too

I called Todd last week and he gave me some great info, too. And that was after I called/spoken to 10+ other people and was hitting the same brick wall.

Neither of them are my upline (I don't have an upline). But I appreciate those who are willing to give back and take the time to help a girl out.

i have no doubt that you're cuter than me, but if CW was your up-line you might not be able to say that. I only had one contract with him...until I fired his lyin' ass! The # of lies he told me in the brief time I had that contract is comical/pathetic.

 

[midwestbroker]

I am catching up on the forum...

If you or anyone else wants to check out Senior Marketing Specialists, join the Medicare Cafe (shameless self-promotion). I host this with one of our sales people, Olivia. We do not disclose our member list to anyone else, so you can join the Medicare Cafe without having to sign a contract or be contacted with a marketing call. Our goal is that you will call us when you are ready to chat. We go live every Tuesday at 10:00 am (Central) and it lasts on average 20 minutes. Can't make it, we do a 5ish minute recap video and email out any links or resources.

As for FMO's: If you are looking for one, act like you are taking on a business partner (because that is basically what you are doing). Do they offer releases? Do they have a good reputation? Do you need to assign your commissions? What do you need and can they provide it? If they are offering free leads, ask how they are funded, created, and at what cost to you (there is always a cost...). Hope this helps!

 

[insurancechic127]

Hi guys! Well I just passed AHIP yesterday; on my first try...I got 100%. It wasn't a difficult test, but I did have to study, and pass all the modules. I downloaded all the slides and kept them in an open Word doc while I was answering the questions.

I picked Garity Advantage as my FMO. I want to contract with UHC and Blue Cross, and they are one of the very few that can do the latter. I'm also picking up a few other carriers.

They've partnered me with a really nice GA in my area, he's anctually ex-Aflac (like me). Agreed to mentor me; we've met once, had many conversations. He is smart, professional, and helping me develop my marketing strategy, which I'll be starting another thread about, I think.

Thank you to all the replies here. Senior Marketing Sales couldn't get me contracted with Blue Cross, and that was one of the reasons I didn't choose them.

Okay, off to take the modules on Fraud, Waste and Abuse...

-Robin

 

[somarco]

Why limit yourself to only one FMO? Very few, if any, offer contracts for all carriers in your area.

Your area may be different, but BX is a PITA to deal with. High rates, low commissions and often higher rate increases than competitors.

Exception on rate increases would be the Omaha family of carriers . ..

The most complaints come from clients placed with those 2 carriers. Why is my renewal so high?

Just saying.

Frankly I fail to understand the fascination from non-res agents who want to sell in Florida. It is primarily an MA state. BX does not allow brokers. They have some kind of screwy liscensing (or appointment) by county.

Focus on your backyard first and forget FL. There may be other neighboring states that are easier to work.

Can't comment on Medicare in Massachusetts other than to say they have their OWN Medicare supplement plans. One of 3 states that do not offer standardized plans.

Their Medigap plans are GI which creates other challenges which may include lower commissions.

Think I will stop now. Don't want to overwhelm you but perhaps you need to rethink your overall marketing plan.

 

[insurancechic127]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. I'm not going to be marketing in FL. I am licensed there because I have an elderly mother with cancer and at one point it looked as if I might have to move down there, but she is now in remission (thank God) and doing very well so I'm staying put.

I will be starting out in my own backyard, as you say. And yes, I probably will branch out to other FMO's and/or carriers, but for now i need training and to learn this whole game, how it works, etc.

Thanks again!

-Robin

 

[LostDollar]

Again, I'm just so confused. There seems to be some just-below-the-surface fighting on here, and I don't care for it. I'm also appalled at the way some folks speak/write to me. Geez, whatever happened to being gracious and kind?

(Not an agent.)

Yes, there is. However.........

I have almost been shot twice doing door to door cold calling to sell a product; once by a crazy person and once by one who, in my judgement, had the potential to be a cold blooded killer.

In the last 30 years of my career, I worked in three corporations. I was fired from all of them. I was both a victim of, and observer of, speech, writing and behavior that was just as objectionable, or more so, than some of the things that go on here. All one can control is oneself.

rousemark
somarco
kgmom
goillini
chazm
sshafran
vic120

present an absolutely fascinating spectrum of knowledge, wisdom and skill in regard to the Medicare supplement market and selling within it. Particularly as an unknowledgeable non-agent I have managed to get crossways with most of them. Regardless of that,they are the people whose business models and approach to the market I considered when I was considering selling medsupps.

Just as going to the movies has a cost, accessing that wisdom and knowledge has a cost. The currency is just different.

As far as FMO's are concerned, after sifting through old posts off an on for a few weeks, I decided that for me, were I to sell medsupps, Todd King or SMS Columbia would be the two to consider. I never got to the point of needing to choose which one to start with.

Wish you well with your career change.

 

[insurancechic127]

Thank you!

Just finished all the required training and certIications for UHC. The module and exam on SNP, CSNP, and MMP was challenging...

 

[roadrunner]

Robin

First, love the name!

You got this girl!!

Roadrunner (aka Robin)