Getting MAPD Certified Vs NOT Getting Certified

[kgmom219]

Let me just throw this out there, because "I don't wanna" doesn't seem to be a good enough reason anymore compared to the cash I am leaving on the table for MAPD on Part D's that I "advise" on.

I am currently 100% referral based. Via clients or Financial Planners. I do zero marketing, except to FP's. I plan on doing some direct mail, FB advertisements and seminars this fall to certain sector. I realize that if I get MAPD certified, there are additional hoops to jump through. I don't care about the MAPD money, but the Part D cash seems to be piling up.

I've talked a few Med Supp guys that I trust and they are all adamant about NOT getting certified, because its a hassle.

What say you? Can anyone give me a good reason(s) on BOTH sides why one would or would not get certified to "take it to the next level"? "I don't wanna" doesn't count.

TIA

 

[Labesky]

WHY would you want to? If I was where you are I wouldn't

 

[FLM2]

Let me just throw this out there, because "I don't wanna" doesn't seem to be a good enough reason anymore compared to the cash I am leaving on the table for MAPD on Part D's that I "advise" on.

I am currently 100% referral based. Via clients or Financial Planners. I do zero marketing, except to FP's. I plan on doing some direct mail, FB advertisements and seminars this fall to certain sector. I realize that if I get MAPD certified, there are additional hoops to jump through. I don't care about the MAPD money, but the Part D cash seems to be piling up.

I've talked a few Med Supp guys that I trust and they are all adamant about NOT getting certified, because its a hassle.

What say you? Can anyone give me a good reason(s) on BOTH sides why one would or would not get certified to "take it to the next level"? "I don't wanna" doesn't count.

TIA

We've talked about this at length so you know what I think but, as you know, it isn't an issue at all.

You would complete AHIP in a few hours and can then get certified by individual carriers as you need them.

My annual 'overhead' for annual certification for a bunch of carriers (Aetna, UHC, Humana, Wellcare, and Silver Script) is probably 20-30 hours-you can start in early July with AHIP and even a few hours a weeks gets you fully certified by September.

Why not just spend $150 and try AHIP? Then you will know first hand rather than getting competing viewpoints.

 

[kstein]

How many mapd sales do you think you walk away from in a given year? Now think of the referrals that could come from that and you might have your answer there.

The certification process is a breeze, all the tests are the same questions and you just have e to sit through the PowerPoint bs to get to the test. Do it while sitting on hold with carriers for customer service issues.

As far as liability issues and E and O, put them with the right carrier and sleep well at night. Your "risk" is minimal and I'd say about the same if you advise them and give them the tools but aren't the selling agent.

 

[Yagents]

Only get paid if u move to New pdp. Half your book won't budge off Humana or AARP wg.

Most biz will go to 4 companies, but certify for 10, which ones?

Zipped lips, your vernacular must change. Tongue is tied.

Website, pre approval before putting word medicare on it.

They must call u, they must sign soa, u must wait to talk.

Don't believe in ma. I don't wanna do it. Go thru Hell for a few grand, no thanks. It's not only important to figure out what to sell, but more important to know what NOT to sell.

Your seminars, may need to be pre approved. Make sure it only crackers for the meal.

Refer it out to someone u trust and does it full time. Referral fee. Self Education of each ma will bog u down.

U can't be the queen of all products, and be a specialist in any one of them.

 

[billyb]

Be carefully who you sell for. I built a book of MAPD with Florida Blue a few years back and the CGA cancelled my contract for no cause and is still receiving my renewals.

 

[DS4]

Are you selling med supps now?

 

[LostDollar]

Only get paid if u move to New pdp. Half your book won't budge off Humana or AARP wg.

Most biz will go to 4 companies, but certify for 10, which ones?

Zipped lips, your vernacular must change. Tongue is tied.

Website, pre approval before putting word medicare on it.

They must call u, they must sign soa, u must wait to talk.

Don't believe in ma. I don't wanna do it. Go thru Hell for a few grand, no thanks. It's not only important to figure out what to sell, but more important to know what NOT to sell.

Your seminars, may need to be pre approved. Make sure it only crackers for the meal.

Refer it out to someone u trust and does it full time. Referral fee. Self Education of each ma will bog u down.

U can't be the queen of all products, and be a specialist in any one of them.

You made what I see as a very scary post.

If the seminars are just to financial professionals who are not also buyers, is there still a restriction on them?

If kgmom is already doing the "extra" client education and the annual pdp drug lookups because she believes it is good business, wouldn't that reduce "going through hell" to three things: Annual certification, SOA's, and issues with seminars?

 

[Midlevel]

I can't imagine not being able to offer MA and PDP's so you have every product to offer the client and let them decide. I do get a pit in my stomach when I start seeing the recertification emails this time of year and then when I actually sit down to do them it takes a few hours over a couple days. Really not a big deal at all. It is a heck of a lot more than just a few thousand dollars if you sell a good amount of them. Get around 300 client's on MA plans and you are looking at over $60,000 in renewals and then are lifetime so don't have to switch them every 4 or 5 years.

 

[Todd King]

Let me just throw this out there, because "I don't wanna" doesn't seem to be a good enough reason anymore compared to the cash I am leaving on the table for MAPD on Part D's that I "advise" on.

I am currently 100% referral based. Via clients or Financial Planners. I do zero marketing, except to FP's. I plan on doing some direct mail, FB advertisements and seminars this fall to certain sector. I realize that if I get MAPD certified, there are additional hoops to jump through. I don't care about the MAPD money, but the Part D cash seems to be piling up.

I've talked a few Med Supp guys that I trust and they are all adamant about NOT getting certified, because its a hassle.

What say you? Can anyone give me a good reason(s) on BOTH sides why one would or would not get certified to "take it to the next level"? "I don't wanna" doesn't count.

TIA

First off, certifying isn't that hard. It gets easier each year you do it because you become more and more familiar with it.

If you're NOT going to sell MAPD then there is an easy fix. Just get appointed with SilverScript for their PDP. Easy certification.

Most of the Med Supp agents that tell someone not to certify because of it being a hassle probably have never even done it. This is just my experience.

We seem to be getting more and more "Med Supp" agents breaking down and doing MAPD now. They seem to be tired of giving away money.