However, in order to sell Medicare, you need to first obtain your license by taking the following steps. The first step to becoming a licensed Medicare agent is to complete a pre-licensing course. You can usually choose to take this course in a traditional classroom setting or online in a self-study format if you prefer.
Full Answer
Why learn how to sell Medicare Advantage?
Learning how to sell Medicare Advantage, you’re selling a product that they’re using that’s going to maintain their health. So it’s so much easier. Remember, you’re not asking for money.
Do you want to make money selling Medicare?
If you are making good money but have a desire to step out of the office rat-race and build your own lucrative business, you are in the right place. Knowing how to sell Medicare can take your income to new heights. Your income is only limited by the time you put into working.
How do I start selling Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans?
Before you can start selling any type of Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan, you’ll need to first complete these requirements: Who Is Your Target Market? While checking off your certifications, you can start honing in on your selling strategy.
Is selling Medicare supplements a good career for beginners?
There is a lot of opportunity to start a lucrative career selling Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare sales offer a great first-year commission and annual residuals, creating a huge income potential by providing ongoing compensation for years after the sale.
Can I make money selling Medicare?
Is Selling Medicare Lucrative? In short, yes. The average Medicare Advantage policy pays around $287 a year in commission if the purchase replaces an existing plan. However, you can get approximately double that — $573— if you write up a new Medicare Advantage plan for someone who hasn't had one before.
Is it worth it to sell Medicare?
When you consider that approximately 10,000 people will turn 65 every day for the next 13 years, one thing becomes clear: it's definitely worth your time to sell to the senior market. If you're a health insurance agent who's not selling Medicare products, you should consider doing so.
How do I start a Medicare business?
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started In Medicare SalesStep 1: Complete prelicensing education. ... Step 2: Take the Life and Health Insurance Exam. ... Step 3: Decide what products you want to sell. ... Step 4: Get contracted with the carriers you want to sell. ... Step 5: Take the AHIP and certify with each MA and PDP carrier.More items...•
How do I become Medicare expert?
How to Become a Medicare Specialist. Entry-level Medicare specialist jobs require a high school diploma and provide on the job training. Higher level roles as require a bachelor's degree in a field such as healthcare administration and experience in the field.
How much do Medicare leads cost?
As mentioned previously, new Medicare Advantage pay $25 for each direct mail lead.
Do Medicare agents get residuals?
As an insurance agent, you need a residual income base to create a career with long-term sustainability. Medicare can be that residual income.
Is selling Medicare hard?
No, it's not hard to sell Medicare Supplements. When you're first starting, it should be easy, because everyone on Medicare needs one. It's just an insurance product. You're not a member – you're a policyholder, and that means a lot to people.
What are the three main ways in which Medicare sales occur?
There are three different types of Medicare products sold by agents and brokers: Medicare Supplement plans (Also called Medigap plans), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D Rx plans.
What license do I need to sell Medicare insurance in Florida?
The 2-15 agents license allows an agent to sell all forms of Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Medicare Supplement, HMO, Home Health Care, Managed Care and Long Term Care policies in Florida.
What is CMS training?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed two web-based training (WBT) courses. The courses are: Part C Organization Determinations, Appeals, and Grievances, and. Part D Coverage Determinations, Appeals, and Grievances.
How do I become a Medicare agent in California?
To receive a California license to become a health insurance agent or broker a person must complete a state approved insurance course, pass a licensing exam, be fingerprinted for a background check, and have their application approved by the California Department of Insurance.
What is a field marketing organization?
A field marketing organization (FMO) is a company that supports independent insurance agents in their sales endeavors and client retention. FMOs provide an extra level of support to agents through excellent customer service and state-of-the-art resources and tools.
How to become a Medicare agent?
The first step to becoming a licensed Medicare agent is to complete a pre-licensing course. You can usually choose to take this course in a traditional classroom setting or online in a self-study format if you prefer. Choose your state of residence , select the “Life and Health” option , and then choose the exam prep package that best suits your needs. Once you’ve completed the course, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion that is valid for one year from the date it was issued. You will need to pass your state licensing exam within this time.
Is selling Medicare a good job?
Selling Medicare is a great line of work for individuals who are professional, outgoing, and self-motivated. It can also be a very lucrative line of work if you’re willing to work as hard as you can and set ambitious goals for yourself.
What is Medicare quoting engine?
2. Medicare Quoting Tool / Online Quoting Engine - A Quoting Engine makes it easier for agents. to have access to accurate, up-to-date pricing and plan details for the nations top senior.
Do you need certification for Medicare Supplement?
Medicare supplement products however, do not require any additional certifications beyond your state’s licensing requirements.
Selling Medicare Basics
Before you can start selling any type of Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan, you’ll need to first complete these requirements:
Who Is Your Target Market?
While checking off your certifications, you can start honing in on your selling strategy. The first step is narrowing in on who you’re selling to. Baby boomers, yes. But to really sell effectively, get into their mindset and view the sales from their perspective.
Why Medicare Advantage?
Understanding the value proposition behind Medicare Advantage will be key in closing your sales. Generally, the major selling point of Medicare Advantage plans is that they have no or low monthly premiums and they cover more than what Original Medicare does However, the mark of a savvy agent is the ability to peel apart the plan benefits and apply what’s relevent to the specific person they’re servicing..
Medicare Compliance
The Medicare industry has a strict set of compliance standards to protect consumers. Knowing and following these rules is a must for all Medicare agents.
Set Yourself Up for Success
The Medicare market is an intricate one to navigate. You can take the guesswork out of selling Medicare products by teaming up with an experienced partner.
How to get started selling Medicare?
Obtain Life & Health Insurance License. To get started in Medicare sales, the first step will be to obtain your life and health insurance license. You can get this through your state’s department of insurance. It involves an application, background check, fingerprints, and passing the test. With a license in hand, you can begin selling many life ...
How to start Medicare sales?
And although it may seem a little daunting, it’s not a difficult process if you take it one step at a time. Obtain life and health insurance license. Begin contracting with Medicare carriers. Take certification modules and get certified in AHIP.
Can you leave a Medicare business on the table?
Be careful not to leave any business on the table if the one product you offer won’t work for them. If you’re brand new to the world of Medicare and don’t know which carriers you should contract with, consider working with a partner.
Why do people want to work in Medicare?
There are many good reasons why someone would want to have a career in Medicare sales. The first is; you really are not selling anything . Most people will enroll in some type of Medicare program; either an MAPD, Medicare Supplement and/or a Medicare PDP plan.
When do you get Medicare A and B?
Medicare A and B: People become eligible for Medicare A and B the first of the month they turn 65. Everyone is automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A. Medicare Part A is hospitalization insurance. In most cases people are not charged for Medicare Part A.
How long does Medicare pay commission?
Some Medicare supplement companies only pay commission for a certain number of years. Six years of payouts is common for carriers that limit payout years. This means, you will only receive renewals for a set number of years. CMS sets the commission rates for both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D each year.
When do Medicare OEP payments start?
Most companies do not make you wait until the plan is effective to pay you. Although, during the Medicare OEP, companies hold all commission payments for cases written in OCT, NOV and DEC for a January 1 start date. These cases are paid out in January. During the year, companies pro rate the commission payments.
How long does it take to build a book of business with 500 clients?
If you are a hard working, successful agent; you can build a book of business with 500 clients in only 2 to 3 years. A book of this size can generate renewal income of $120,000 a year. Many successful agents realize they need with time and patience to learn the business.
Do Medicare Advantage agents need to get carrier certification?
It is very important to understand that getting in front of enough people will be one of your biggest challenges. Agents must complete annual carrier certifications in order to sell Medicare Advantage and Part D Rx plans. This can be time-consuming and some people are not willing to do it.
Do Medicare Supplements require annual certification?
Medicare Supplements do not require any annual certifications but, Advantage plans and Part D Rx plans do. An annual product certification is required for every company’s advantage plan and/or Part D Rx you plan to sell. This can be time-consuming.
What is the certification test for Medicare Advantage?
Selling Medicare Advantage plans, you get a contract with a carrier, but once you’re contracted with that carrier every year that you are in Medicare Advantage sales, you’re going to have to take a certification test called AHIP. A lot of people freak out, “Oh, it’s so hard.”. Well, it’s Medicare 101. You need to know the product that you’re ...
What is the age limit for Medicare?
LM: When somebody has Medicare they’re normally 65 and over. You do have a segment of the population under 65 that get Medicare who are usually disabled. Once someone is on Medicare they have two options – Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement. There’s not a good or a bad option, there is simply two options.
How often do you need to take AHIP certification?
Now, certifications in AHIP have to be done every year. It’s a yearly requirement for all Medicare Advantage agents. DD: When you take these certifications, you’re learning all the intricacies of the product, which helps you sell more Medicare Advantage plans. So, these tests are important.
What is the difference between Medicare Supplement and Advantage?
As long as you’ve done that you’ve done your CYA. The other difference between a Supplement and an Advantage plan is you have a prescription portion. So you’ve got to sell a prescription drug plan with a Medicare Supplement.
Can you door knock Medicare Advantage?
Now in the Medicare Advantage world if you don’t have permission to contact you’re not supposed to contact. You can’t door knock for Medicare Advantage, so you’ve got to wait for it to come to you, but you can put a lot of honey out there to attract the bees.
Does Medicare Advantage include prescriptions?
For Medicare Advantage a prescription plan is included. The copays per carrier are probably different, but they function the same way. All you’ve got to do is pull up the formulary, which is usually in a PDF and just do the search for the medications and make sure they’re in there.
Can you make a ton upfront selling Medicare Advantage?
Selling Medicare Advantage insurance, you don’t make a ton upfront.
Open Doors
Talking about Medicare opens the door for the cross-sale. Lower your client acquisition cost while solidifying your households and renewals. Whether you are brand new to the industry or looking to just add Medicare plans to your portfolio offerings to be a more well-rounded agent, learntosellmedicare.com can help you be successful!
It's Easy!
With us on your side, the odds are in YOUR favor! There is NO reason for you to refer your clients out to someone else because you don’t understand Medicare. Let us show you how easy it is. Look at how much money you have given away by referring business out or how much money you will make once you understand how to sell Medicare plans.
How Much Money Can I Earn Selling Medicare?
There are NO caps on your earning potential. As with starting any new business, you will get out of it what you put into it.
Making your new career easier than ever to begin!
Do you want to offer multiple carriers but are slightly intimidated by having to learn ALL of the carriers and VARIOUS policies available to your clients? Let us help make it easy for you!
Why do people get into the Medicare supplement market?
In sum, there are three great reasons to get into the Medicare Supplement market: There are lots of prospects. Medicare is standardized. There's a built-in need for a secondary insurance with Medicare. Back to top.
How much does Medicare cover?
Medicare Supplements are standardized. No networks. Medicare covers about 80% , and the supplement covers about 20%. Here are the two plans I'd recommend for you, and here's how they work.
How many seniors turn 65 every day?
There are a ton of prospects in the Medicare market. Ten thousand seniors turn 65 every single day – that's a lot of prospects that need Medicare Supplements. When we look at a person that is going onto Medicare, it's pretty confusing and overwhelming. Seniors get a ton of Medicare-related mail.
What to do if you've made it this far?
If you've made it this far, hats off to you . There's a lot of information you need to take in when you're learning about Medicare, but once you've got it down pat, you're off to the races.
Does Medicare Supplements include prescription drug insurance?
Medicare Supplements helps with doctor and hospital costs only – it does not include prescription drug insurance. CMS puts out a publication each year called the Medicare & You Handbook. In the 2019 version, you can refer to pages 69-72 while explaining Medicare Supplements to clients and prospects.
Is Medicare the primary insurance?
Medicare is always going to be the primary insurance. As a general rule of thumb, Medicare is roughly 80% coverage, and the supplement is roughly 20% coverage. Every insurance company has to provide the exact same benefits for each plan.
Is Selling Medicare Lucrative?
In short, yes. The average Medicare Advantage policy pays around $262 a year in commission if the purchase replaces an existing plan. However, you can get approximately double that — $525 — if you write up a new Medicare Advantage plan for someone who hasn't had one before.
Medicare Licenses and Training
Medicare Advantage is a great line to sell, whether you're a newcomer to selling insurance or an experienced insurance professional looking to diversify your portfolio. But no matter how much experience you have, you need proper Medicare insurance sales agent training to complete the certification process.
How to Choose Medicare Carriers and Plans to Sell
Most new agents want to rush in and offer every Medicare Advantage plan from day one. It's an understandable ambition, but it can quickly become overwhelming.
Ordering Medicare Enrollment Kits from Carriers
Each carrier has its own Medicare enrollment kit, which includes handouts that policyholders need when they're considering signing up. Different carriers include various materials in their kits, but most contain:
Help Protect Yourself with E&O Insurance
As a Medicare insurance sales agent, your role is to help your clients prepare for the unexpected and help protect themselves from financial risks. You might have the best intentions, but sometimes things don't work out as planned.
Start Working Toward a Rewarding Career Selling Medicare
All of these certifications, training requirements, and legal protections can make selling Medicare insurance feel overwhelming at first. But don't let them deter you from reaching your end goal — a rewarding and lucrative career.