Insurance Agent Forum

[retread]

Originally Posted by WellCare FMO

I am a FMO and I answer my own phone, we not all bad business people like you make us out to be.

I don't think you will find a post anywhere in which I made a broad condemnation of FMOs. I hope you don't think I hold such an opinion. However, of the four FMOs I am under, one is impossible to work with, is arrogant, and spiteful (sounds like a teen-ager!), and another has a reputation of refusing agents their requested release. The third is the FMO ABOVE this cranky FMO mentioned earlier, and, although seems pleasant enough when I get through to him, has not helped out in the situation, although he feigned that he would. Since he is over this FMO, one would think this matter could be easily resolved.

My biggest issue is that when I was just licensed and elected to work under another agency, I was thrust contracts to sign, with no explanation of what they meant or who were the parties involved. I trusted the agency and signed, not even knowing what an FMO was, let alone that they were an undisclosed party to the contract WHO HELD ALL THE CARDS.

How is it that CMS regulates the spit out of Medicare Advantage plans, but says nothing at all about the way agents are contracted? If they did, the headlines would be reading "FMO swindles lowly agents", etc. when CMS would bring charges in such cases. But since we have little say in the matter, and no government agency to give us teeth, we are left to our own devices. Therefore we talk amongst ourselves.

Hopefully, forewarned is forearmed, and we try to get newbees to watch what they sign. By avoiding certain FMOs, we can throw business in the direction of more agent-friendly FMOs. Perhaps the sting of a bad experience may come out in an ascerbic remark now and then, but Hey! it's hard not to strike out when wounded. I am glad you stand up for good agent relations. The FMO I met yesterday really impressed me, and I am moving all my business to him that I can. Like Bogie, in Casablanca, says to Frenchy "This may be the start of a beautiful relationship"

Note: Did any of you catch the multi-level FMO? I understand it is not uncommon to find three levels!

[agentfoxx]

Hello,
I am new on the site. After reading the post about Parker & Assc. I just had to respond. I experienced the same treatment. What is going on? Are there any FMO"s with a high level of ethics that can be trusted? I been dealing with the same problem of almost a year. What about the pay? Were you paid? On time? For all your approved apps?

[retread]

Originally Posted by agentfoxx

Hello,
I am new on the site. After reading the post about Parker & Assc. I just had to respond. I experienced the same treatment. What is going on? Are there any FMO"s with a high level of ethics that can be trusted? I been dealing with the same problem of almost a year. What about the pay? Were you paid? On time? For all your approved apps?

I think most on this board will agree to this advice: Get contracted directly with the carrier if at all possible.

Secondly, search this board carefully for comments regarding FMO's. There are some bad ones you will definitely want to avoid.

I will not expound on the bad ones, but I will testify that Senior Marketing Specialists out of Columbia, MO (Dan McNerny) has been good to me.

[Bob_The_Insurance_Guy]

I was released by United Healthcare, because it was 12 months since I wrote, and they overruled Parker's stance. With Universal and Coventry, I was stuck, because I wrote business in the past six months.

Bottom line, live and learn.

I am not writing any Pyramid for 2008, and I can change FMO's in 2009.

Luckily, I found a guy here locally, other than my FMO, for Universal, and he is a straight shooter, not a company man, and I will probably work with Universal in 2008, once they get released to sell in Ga.

Parker is the Blue Cross of the MA world. EVIL.

[Ahnuld]

This post is really interesting to me. Lots of tales of woe, lots of shared experiences, and some pretty solid advice.

Many of you have taken on some thoughts about how to resolve the dilemma presented by some of these unscrupulous parties.

I would like to hear more on this. As the saying goes, "I think there's a pony in this pile somewhere!"

[ILUVSAILZ]

I had experiences also with Parker but found a way to get Humana to contract me with a 'dual' writing number. Commissions are littered with errors but I just bank the renewals and wait for a nastygram to pay up. Parker demonstrated total incompetence and waste of space in the industry, but if you press them for anything... they will gladly bury you with their team of Attorneys petitioning YOUR records until you buckle. That's what they do.

When my friends and I contracted as 'brokers' for MA enrollments, the leads were free (later meant 'with astounding production-a small fee') you had to honor their E&O charges and contract with ALL carriers they chose including Final Expense. When UHC SNP plans were endorsed they told us we were prohibited to market Humana- that sounded captive and I split before it got worse.

I would definitely look into Integrated Benefits in West VA and see if someone wants to trade places- it happens. That's how I transfered my UHC contract from Parker. We live and learn in this buisness.
Wish you the best.

[susannajill]

Hi Ahnuld,
You are absolutely right! Right now, I am fighting a company called
SENIOR SOLUTIONS with TOM HINSON - whom I've never written business for - and am fighting him on getting a release so I can get appointed with
SECURE HORIZONS. It's horrific. I've been fighting now for 2 1/2 months and can't work for them until I get this release.

This is a huge problem and I find that many insurance companies can be real jerks about it. Also, I've made every contact and there is no one in any department (or Insurance or otherwise) that can protect the Agent.

If anyone has any idea - which I'm sure is quite impossible - let me know please?
Susan N

[GreenSky]

Originally Posted by susannajill

Hi Ahnuld,
You are absolutely right! Right now, I am fighting a company called
SENIOR SOLUTIONS with TOM HINSON - whom I've never written business for - and am fighting him on getting a release so I can get appointed with
SECURE HORIZONS. It's horrific. I've been fighting now for 2 1/2 months and can't work for them until I get this release.

This is a huge problem and I find that many insurance companies can be real jerks about it. Also, I've made every contact and there is no one in any department (or Insurance or otherwise) that can protect the Agent.

If anyone has any idea - which I'm sure is quite impossible - let me know please?
Susan N

This is exactly the reason why I'm on a crusade to have every agent get a pre-nuptial agreement.

Rick

[arnguy]

You are sooo right, Rick. My ex-wife took me to the cleaners because I did not have one.

[GreenSky]

Originally Posted by arnguy

You are sooo right, Rick. My ex-wife took me to the cleaners because I did not have one.

But there is a silver lining. She's making someone else miserable now.

Rick

[stormtracker]

Just an FYI: Parker has complaints with TX DUI regarding their withholding of commissions for "chargebacks." This FMO is vindictive and extremely jealous of competition-- from top to bottom. You can FORGET being released once you sign the dotted line. And, forget your commission holdbacks, not to mention the lies.

[tommyk]

Had a company called MedAdvatage Solutions out of New Jersey send me a real nice email. They will set all my appointments and all I have to do is run them. $1000 to $1500 a week. Secure Horizons and Wellcare. Sounded good, had them send me the paperwork....guess who the FMO is?????????????
Parker and Associates out of MS.
Emailed them back about a release...they said yes and no. Yes they do release 3 - 6 months after termination. The reason is because they advance and it takes that long to get the money from the companies.
I was also told that business written is expected to stay on the books 90 days. If under 90 days then would be charged back.
My response was that means since no charge back can occur after 90 days, then 90 days would be the max they could hold my release.....Last contact with them....And I owe it all to you agents...without the heads up...who knew who Parker was...Thanks

[senior-advisor-indiana]

They go by the name of Greenway Marketing also.

[AgentPipeline]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAILZ

I would definitely look into Integrated Benefits in West VA and see if someone wants to trade places- it happens. That's how I transfered my UHC contract from Parker. We live and learn in this buisness.
Wish you the best.

We have had success working with Parker. If the situation is right, they will release and/or trade agents.

No promises, but we can try...

[theinuranceguy]

Word on the Street:

Parkers captive side would advance agents and keep a 20-30% in escrow... pay them that after 90 days... word has it, they are not paying that money out of escrow and told managers that they will keep it...

[Mr. Bill]

And.....I have heard that a group (30-35) agents who went direct contract with Secure Horizons (their ICA group) haven't been paid for ANYTHING this Medicare season, and a regional manager (wholesaler, whatever)'s response was So?

[theinuranceguy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bill

And.....I have heard that a group (30-35) agents who went direct contract with Secure Horizons (their ICA group) haven't been paid for ANYTHING this Medicare season, and a regional manager (wholesaler, whatever)'s response was So?

THey didnt get paid for business they wrote after they went direct?

[SunDevil]

Is this the same Parker and Assoc?

Parker & Assoc. has hit Rip-off Report
Execcutive Trade Associates AKA Parker & Assoc.

[AgentBartlett]

Granted, I've only been in the business since Dec. 07, but in that short time as an Indy, I have found that the companies that I have to go through an FMO to sell for ---------I DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO SUBMIT APPS, HANDLE CLAIM ISSUES, ..........EVERYTHING. I say again, what do fmos do for the agent.......Now, I know the answer. It's exactly like having a Union. The insurance companies say that they would rather deal with a few FMOs than thousands of agents. Now they are dealing with a few FMOs AND thousands of agents. The FMO gets their cut. That's really what it's all about. As soon as they send leads to me, I'll be loyal to them.

Having said all that, if you sell in Michigan or the surrounding states, call Multi-State insurance. They actually work for their cut. If you can produce, they will produce for you.

[tommyk]

Sun Devil

In a word

YES, I believe that to be correct