In this article, you will learn
- What to look for when selecting an insurance agent to help you with your Medicare enrollment
- Some of the questions to ask when selecting a licensed insurance agents
What to Look for When Selecting a Licensed Insurance Agent
“Who am I going to call?” is a question we all ask when we are looking for someone to help make a difficult decision that requires expert knowledge. And making the best choice of Medicare plans certainly is one of those difficult decisions. There are so many critical questions to answer, including . . .
- Will your current health conditions and/or illnesses be covered?
- Can you continue to use the physicians and other care providers you are seeing now?
- Will the plan you pick pay for the expensive prescriptions you want and need?
- If you have a specific operation or procedure coming up, will the plan pay for it?
There are so many questions to answer. So . . . who are you going to call? You could call the same insurance agent who sold you your life insurance policy or the policy that covers your home or your car. Or you could call relatives and friends who are already on Medicare and ask them to recommend an agent or a company that set them up with their coverage.
It’s Time to Step Back and Ask the Important Questions
You could take those steps. But we would recommend that you ask some critical questions before you call anyone and buy the products or plans they represent.
What questions should you ask? Here’s a list. Remember, your goal is to choose the right licensed insurance agent – one who can explain a variety of Medicare plans so you will obtain coverage that meets your specific needs in the months and years ahead.
Question One: What is the reputation of the licensed insurance agent and organization you’re talking to?
Be sure to research online reviews, including client feedback that customers have posted. Do individual clients give good reviews?
Question Two: Is the agent and his or her organization credible?
Research the company the agent works for and review its reputation.
Question Three: Can you get references from customers who have used the services of the company you are talking with?
They shouldn’t be your friends. They should be people you don’t know who have used the services of the company you’re talking to.
And don’t simply call the people who the agent tells you to contact. Dig deeper and ask for a list of four or five people who can share their experiences. Don’t be afraid to ask for additional names.
Question Four: Is the agent and his or her company licensed to sell insurance in your state?
They should be licensed insurance agents in the state where you live. A licensed insurance agent will have the appropriate knowledge to provide advice on various Medicare insurance plans.
Question Five: Do they know what they are talking about?
You will get a sense of this as soon as your conversation with the insurance agent begins. Do they seem to have mastered the tools they are using, such as systems to verify that your care providers and medications will be covered by the plans they offer? Does their approach make you feel confident you are getting the best advice?
Question Six: Does the agent project an air of complete professionalism?
This is another way of looking at Question Five above. The licensed insurance agent should be a professional who provides courteous and respectful customer service. And the emphasis should be on providing you with information and choices, not on selling something to you.
Question Seven: Who is on their team?
The company should have additional staff besides the licensed insurance agent you are speaking with about your needs. If you need additional support, it should be available to you.
Question Eight: What ongoing technical tools and resources does the insurance agent’s company provide?
Do they offer technical tools to help evaluate and compare plans based on your doctors, medications, health conditions, and more?
For example, check out the Medicare Basics page at CoverRight or walk through the platform to explore all the available tools to help you make a Medicare decision.
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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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