Articles For Agents

Why You Can Never Stop Growing Your Medicare Business
You’ve worked hard to find Medicare clients. Now your Medicare insurance sales business is the size you want it to be, and you think you can start taking it easy – but wait. If you stop trying to build your business, you’ll eventually start losing business. To remain...

Carriers Offer an Early Glimpse with First Looks
As you prepare for AEP, you’ll start to see carriers release their 2024 First Looks. These give agents an early glimpse into the plans for the upcoming year. It’s a good time to review what is changing prior to AEP and determine which plans will be the most...

Now Is the Time to Complete Your Medicare Certifications for 2024 Fall AEP
Every year, Medicare agents must complete their annual certifications prior to fall AEP. Summer is the perfect time to focus on these requirements and check them off your 2024 AEP to-do list. Start with AHIP Certification To sell Medicare Advantage and Part D plans...

Medicare Supplement Underwriting: Help Your Clients Navigate the Process
If your clients no longer have guaranteed issue rights, they will most likely need to undergo medical underwriting to change Medigap plans. You can help make the underwriting process easier to navigate by educating yourself on each carrier’s underwriting guidelines...

How New CMS Marketing Rules Will Impact Agents for Fall AEP
CMS has updated its marketing rules and regulations for Medicare Advantage and Part D. The 2024 Final Rule (issued on April, 5, 2023) focuses on reducing deceptive practices in response to thousands of consumer complaints. The following rule changes go into effect on...

Your D-SNP Clients May Be at Risk of Losing Coverage
Approximately 12.5 million people are dual eligible: enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare. Some of these dual-eligible beneficiaries are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage, meaning they will no longer qualify for their D-SNP plan. If you have D-SNP clients,...

10 Spring To-Dos for Medicare Agents
Why does a traditional spring cleaning make us feel so good? We make our to-do lists with the goal of refreshing, decluttering, and reorganizing the space around us. And when we’re done, the sense of accomplishment makes us feel more energized and productive, more...

What Your Clients Need to Know About Medicare’s Star Ratings
As a Medicare agent, you strive to educate your clients, helping them evaluate their needs and understand their options when choosing a Medicare plan. You play a significant role in helping them understand Medicare’s five-star-rating system and weighing the importance...

Life Insurance Plans for Women: Key Considerations
When it comes to life insurance, women are still dangerously underinsured. Modern women have established themselves as indispensable breadwinners, and whether or not they’re paid, they’re often caregivers, too. Families depend on women, so life insurance plans for...

Housekeeping Tips for Wrapping Up AEP
The whirlwind of AEP is finally over. You should have a sense of satisfaction for a job well done. It was thanks to your knowledge and expertise that your clients were able to enroll in the right Medicare plan. But you’re not done yet! There are some final...

AEP Crunch Time: How to Maximize Results in the Last 3 Weeks
You have another AEP under your belt – almost. The last three weeks of AEP are crunch time. To make sure this year is your best year (or if this is your first year, to make sure that your Medicare insurance career has a stellar start), you need to maximize your...

Understanding Medicare Cost Changes for 2023
Prices seem to be going up everywhere and everything is getting more expensive. Consumer prices continue to rise and are up 8.2% from a year ago. For seniors on a fixed income, this is hitting especially hard. Many are watching their retirement savings dip while the...

Ready-Set-Launch: Preparing for a Successful AEP
Medicare’s Annual Election Period officially kicked off on October 15. To make the most of this once-a-year sales opportunity, Medicare sales agents need to be ready with their A game. Don’t just let AEP happen. Take control and prime yourself for a successful AEP....

Medicare First Looks and Annual Notices of Change
Every year, prior to AEP, important information goes out to both Medicare agents and Medicare members about the upcoming year. Agents receive First Looks from major Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D carriers, which give them an early glimpse at changes for the...

Understanding Medicare Cost Savings Programs
Many Medicare beneficiaries who struggle to afford the cost of their coverage do not realize there are programs that can help them offset their out-of-pocket expenses associated with Medicare Parts A, B and D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. These...

Data Security for Medicare Sales Agents: Your Responsibilities Under HIPAA
As business associates of covered entities, Medicare sales agents must fully comply with HIPAA’s Privacy and Security rules. By nature of the business, some personal information must be exchanged for things like plan enrollment. HIPAA makes sure your client’s data...

Changes to CMS Guidelines Require New Disclaimer and Recording of Agent Calls
CMS recently released their 2023 final rule which includes two requirements that will have a significant impact on independent agents and brokers who sell Medicare Advantage and/or Part D plans. Effective Date While the marketing guideline changes are for calendar...

Your Guide to Annual Medicare Certification Requirements
Every year, Medicare agents and brokers need to meet annual training and certification requirements. This needs to be done ahead of the annual election period that happens every fall, so summer is the natural time to focus on Medicare certification requirements. What...

How to Sell Texas Medicare Insurance
Every single day, more than 10,000 Americans celebrate their 65th birthday. By 2030, all 73 million Baby Boomers will have reached that milestone. In other words, the Medicare market is booming, and the demand for Medicare sales agents is soaring. Medicare sales...

Gearing up for the New Year: Seize These Opportunities in 2022
Each new year brings new opportunities, and 2022 is already shaping up to an exciting year. This is a great time for professionals in the insurance and financial industries. To take advantage of the new opportunities in 2022, it’s time to get organized. Medicare...