In this article, you will learn
- The difference between a licensed insurance agent who can sell you a Medicare plan and a general insurance agent
- Whether you can use a general insurance agent to enroll in Medicare
- Who covers your enrollment fees if you use CoverRight to enroll in Medicare (Note: It is not you)
- Where to find the advice you need to understand and enroll in the Medicare plan policy that meets your needs
- How to make sure you receive care from the physicians and care providers you like
- How to get help finding Medicare Part D coverage for the prescription drugs you need
Welcome to the Complicated World of Medicare
In some cases, a general insurance agent will have the knowledge to offer you advice on signing up for Medicare and selecting plans that meet your needs. But in most cases, you will receive better advice from a specialized licensed insurance agent who is trained to sell Medicare. In today’s article, we will explain why.
What Is a General Insurance Agent?
In many cases, this is an agent who conducts his or her business in an office that you might be able to find in your hometown or nearby. You can find them by a quick online search. Plus, many general agents advertise in local newspapers and community-based online Newsletters.
In some cases, general insurance agents state that they are affiliated with specific insurance companies by saying they are a New York Life Agent, an Allstate Insurance Agent, a State Farm Agent, etc.. However, the majority of them offer policies from a variety of different providers and they can “shop” you and compare different policies for life, auto, and home insurance.
Here are their general characteristics:
- Licensure. They are licensed by your state’s insurance department. This helps assure that they adhere to basic ethical practices that help protect consumers like you.
- Product selection. They offer a wide range of insurance policies, often from a number of different insurance companies. This is often true, even if they state their company is affiliated with one insurance company. They will help you select the policy that provides the coverage you need for your life, auto, home or other needs.
- Fees and commissions. They may charge a commission when they sell you a life insurance, or other policy. But their fee may be paid not directly by you, but by the insurance companies that issue the policies they sell you.
- Knowledge of Medicare. Some general insurance agents might know about Medicare and might be able to advise you. But few general agencies specialize in Medicare or will help you enroll or understand the intricacies of selecting specialized Medicare plans like Medicare Advantage, etc.
What Is a Licenced Insurance Agent?
A licensed insurance agent who specializes in helping people enroll in Medicare plans and providing them with advice about their Medicare options. They are knowledgeable about the different types of Medicare plans available and understand the nuances of each option.
Licensed insurance agents who specialize in Medicare are relatively new entrants in the world of insurance. They arose for a very simple reason . . . Medicare is complicated! Medicare.gov offers a confusing selection* of different kinds of coverage, private insurance companies offer different kinds of plans, and people like you have different needs. People need help signing up and making Medicare decisions, and specialized licensed insurance agents have gone into business to meet that need.
Note that CoverRight is a combination of a technology platform and specialized licensed insurance agents, who have:
- Certification. You should be sure that any consultant you use is certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- Plan selection. The consultant you work with should be able to advise you and offer you many different kinds of policies and plans.
- Expertise. The licensed insurance agent you use should have the tools and knowledge to help you select plans where your preferred physicians and other care providers are participants. Also – and this is important – he or she should be able to guide you to a plan where the medications you need most will be covered by Medicare Part D coverage.
- Zero cost. There never is a fee for services because we receive a commission from the plans directly.
What Is the Value of a Licenced Insurance Agent When Signing up for Medicare?
A Medicare selection platform like CoverRight is a tool designed from the ground up to help you make informed decisions about which Medicare plans best meet your needs. The platform includes information about different plans, helps you compare plans side-by-side, and provides personalized recommendations.
We will also help you understand your current plan if you are enrolled and identify any gaps in coverage. We are able, in just one phone call with a licensed insurance agent, quickly and easily compare different Medicare plans to determine which one is right for you.
We never charge a fee and offer ongoing advice and support.
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CoverRight is on a mission to make the Medicare plan selection process easy to understand. We are here to help you compare Medicare plans and find the one best suited to your specific situation. Try the platform for yourself.
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*https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-627
