Commentary by Bob Adams
I was visiting with a wonderful lady in Sheridan to help her understand her Medicare options. The business part of our discussion took about 30 minutes. However, after discussing family, farm and apple pie she told me something I’ll never forget. She was nervous about inviting me into her home because I might try to pressure her into buying something. After she told me this, she then told me, “but you turned out OK.”
That was nice to hear and I told her I was going to rush home and call my mother and let her know “I turned out OK.”
Her concerns are real because there are agents with one thing on their mind, making a sale. With the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period approaching, you may need help. How do you know who to trust? Here are some tips:
1. Ask your friends for a referral.
2. Don’t call from a TV ad. You won’t get an unbiased view.
3. Don’t ask questions online. You’ll get calls for weeks.
4. If you are talking to an agent, ask them who they represent. It is best if you work with an agent that represents multiple companies.
5. If an agent starts bashing other companies tell them goodbye.
6. Ask how long they’ve been in the senior health market. Be leery of anyone who has limited experience. This is your health we are talking about.
7. An agent may have to ask about assets like life insurance, but Medicare does not allow an agent to present a Medicare plan and sell other insurances in the same visit.
8. A good agent will take the time to make sure you are in the right place. I call it “due diligence.” They will check networks and drug formulary. These agents care about you.
9. Medicare requires an agent to get permission called a Scope of Appointment, prior to showing you a Medicare program. Without that, you should not be discussing anything.
Be cautious this AEP (Annual Enrollment Period). If you consider these tips, perhaps you too will be able to say of the agent visiting you, they turned out OK.
Bob Adams is an independent insurance agent at Robert Adams Insurance. He may be contacted at 402-3171 or [email protected].
