Medicare Blog

insurance agent how to get licensed for medicare

by Dee Haag V Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Step 1: Pre-Licensing The first step to becoming a licensed Medicare agent is to complete a pre-licensing course. You...
  • Step 2: The State Licensing Exam The next step to becoming a licensed Medicare agent is to pass the state licensing exam.
  • Step 3: Apply for Your License

Steps to Becoming a Medicare Insurance Agent
  1. Get your health insurance license.
  2. Complete AHIP Certification.
  3. Get errors and omissions insurance (E&O insurance)
  4. Contract with a Medicare Field Marketing Organization (FMO)
  5. Get contracted and appointed with multiple Medicare companies.
  6. Complete your annual certifications.
Feb 10, 2021

Full Answer

Why you should use a licensed agent when buying Medicare?

Once you pass the exam, you’ll receive your health insurance license, but you cannot sell Medicare insurance yet. Medicare Training. The next step is completing a Medicare training course. You’ll enroll through America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) to complete the training. You must pass the course with a 90% minimum to get your certification. The Center for …

What your Medicare agent should do for You?

 · Steps to Becoming a Medicare Insurance Agent. Get your health insurance license. Complete AHIP Certification. Get errors and omissions insurance (E&O insurance) Contract with a Medicare Field Marketing Organization (FMO) Get contracted and appointed with multiple Medicare companies. Complete your ...

How do you become a Medicare insurance agent?

 · Here is a quick guide on how to become a Medicare insurance agent. Get Your Licenses You are not required to get a Bachelor’s degree in order to be an insurance agent. But many companies prefer that their employees get educated. Go to a credentialed, four-year college and graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or finance.

How to become a Medicare Advantage insurance agent?

Becoming a licensed Medicare Agent – Apply for License. After passing the exam, apply for your license by completing an application at the National Insurance Producer Registry website. Congratulations! Most companies will require that you have an active Errors and Omissions (liability insurance) Policy.

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How do you make money selling Medicare?

Generally, insurance agents often earn two types of commissions when selling Medicare plans: A dollar amount per application (Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans) or a percentage of the premium sold (Medicare Supplements).

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.

How do I prospect for Medicare Advantage clients?

⍟ 14 Ways to Generate Medicare Supplement LeadsBuild & Maintain a Website. ... Social Media Presence. ... Video Marketing. ... Blogging, Writing Articles. ... Email. ... Online Events: Live webinars, podcasts. ... Direct Requests / Client Referrals. ... Lead Swapping Partnerships (Asking other professionals for referrals)More items...

What is a Medicare advisor?

What Are Medicare Advisors? Medicare advisors are insurance agents, Medicare brokers and Medicare underwriters. They work for private companies that are under contract with Medicare to sell certain Medicare plans — Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

Is selling Medicare lucrative?

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.

How do I become a certified Medicare agent in Florida?

Steps to Becoming a Medicare Insurance AgentGet your health insurance license.Complete AHIP Certification.Get errors and omissions insurance (E&O insurance)Contract with a Medicare Field Marketing Organization (FMO)Get contracted and appointed with multiple Medicare companies.Complete your annual certifications.More items...•

How much do Medicare leads cost?

As mentioned previously, new Medicare Advantage pay $25 for each direct mail lead.

What is a Medicare FMO?

FMO stands for field marketing organization, which is very similar to an independent marketing organization (IMO). FMOs provide independent agents with perks and resources and help them get contracted with carriers to sell plans.

Where do Medicare leads come from?

Medicare Leads from Direct Mailer Campaigns. Sending direct mailers to gain Medicare leads is another method agents utilize. Running a direct mailer lead campaign can be pricey, but luckily, carriers and field marketing organizations (FMOs) often offer marketing co-op to help cover a percentage of the cost.

Are Medicare advisors legitimate?

Yes, United Medicare Advisors is a reputable company offering legitimate services and insurance products. Its licensed agents can provide free, reliable advice as you navigate the confusing world of Medicare supplement insurance so that you can choose the best plans for your needs and budget.

Do Medicare reps come to your house?

Hard Facts About Medicare Medicare will never call or come to your home uninvited to sell products or services. SSA representatives may call Medicare beneficiaries if they need more information to process applications for Social Security benefits or enrollment in certain Medicare Plans, but, again, this is rare.

Why do Medicare advisors call?

Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you for personal or private information. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a government agency. Calls requesting health insurance information should not be trusted. There are no "plastic" Medicare cards.

How to sell Medicare products?

To sell Medicare products, partner with health insurance companies. If you want to sell with Cigna, for example, you’ll need an agreement with the company. The approval process may take some time, and the approval times depend on the carrier.

How much does Medicare exam cost in 2021?

If you pass the exam during this period, you can start selling Medicare plans during the open enrollment period in 2021. The cost of the annual exam is $175 a year, but you may get a rebate that would lower the cost.

What is the job description of a Medicare agent?

When you become a Medicare insurance agent, there are two main groups you are marketing to. Those are turning 65 and becoming eligible for Medicare health benefits. Those who are disabled, under 65, and are eligible for Medicare. Selling Medicare health insurance can be rewarding in many ways, ...

Does Medicare require special certification?

Understand that selling certain Medicare products does require special certification as determined by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS regulates Medicare plans, the insurance carriers, and insurance agents and agencies who sell them.

Is selling Medicare insurance rewarding?

Selling Medicare health insurance can be rewarding in many ways, including personally, professionally, and financially. You are helping a lot of people who need it and building strong relationships along the way.

When do you get your AHIP certification?

AHIP certification will most often start in late June or early July for the following Medicare plan year. For example, getting certified in June or July 2021 will get you certified to sell for the 2022 plan year. The exam costs $175 to take each year.

What is E&O insurance?

E&O insurance is insurance intended to protect you in the event you give a client incorrect or misleading information and they decide to take legal action against you. As well as getting covered through an FMO, these policies can also be purchased through many property and casualty insurance agencies.

What does a Medicare agent need to know?

A Medicare insurance agent needs to be familiar with the ins-and-outs of every Medicare plan. They have to know what plan works best for a person and their needs. They need to describe plans in great detail, tailoring their words to what a person wants. A Medicare insurance agent also needs to be a good salesman and marketer.

What is Medicare insurance agent?

You have a few options. A Medicare insurance agent helps people consider and evaluate different Medicare plans. They guide people toward choosing the one that is best for them. A Medicare insurance agent needs to be familiar with the ins-and-outs of every Medicare plan.

Why is Medicare the most popular government program?

Medicare is one of the most popular government programs in the country because it provides for basic medical needs. More than 60 million Americans receive health insurance through Medicare. But not all Medicare programs are alike. Some offer different services than others. The Medicare insurance agent works with people on ...

How does Medicare work?

The Medicare insurance agent works with people on the services they need in Medicare. You can become an insurance agent and promote the health of thousands of people. You just need to know how to get started. Here is a quick guide on how to become a Medicare insurance agent.

How many hours does a Medicare agent work?

You can hold presentations, offering your services and experience. A Medicare insurance agent works a forty-hour workweek. You will spend many of your days with clients. You will keep them updated on their current policies and sell them new ones.

What is pre licensing?

Pre-licensing courses help transition you into the insurance marketplace. They also train and prepare you for the exam. Depending on your state, you may be required to complete classroom training. You may have to self-study for a minimum number of hours.

Can an insurance agent be independent?

As an insurance agent, you can be independent. You can work with different insurance companies, enrolling people in plans with any of them. Independent agents have terrific flexibility, but they have to train themselves on their own with some guidance.

How to become a Medicare agent?

1. Becoming a licensed Medicare Agent – Complete a pre-licensing course. Courses tend to be similar in price and content. Depending on your own specific learning/studying style, you can choose to take the course in a traditional classroom, online or via self-study.

What to bring to Medicare exam?

What to Bring to the exam: Becoming a licensed Medicare Agent. An original copy of the Certificate of Completion from a completed pre-licensing course of study. A current, signed form of identification.

Does Crowe and Associates offer E&O insurance?

Most companies will require that you have an active Errors and Omissions (liability insurance) Policy. As a matter of fact, Crowe and Associates offers its contracted agents E&O insurance at a very competitive rate. Click here to learn more about E&O insurance through Crowe and Associates.

Why Become a Licensed Medicare Agent

If you’re looking to start a new career in sales or want to have an extra source of income, there is a great opportunity available for you. Medicare sales is an excellent career choice for people who want to make good money and help members of their community get Medicare.

Seeking the Right Training and Certification

If you want to start working as a licensed Medicare agent and make money, you will need to meet several requirements. The first thing you will need to do to become a licensed Medicare agent is to get a Medicare license.

Working as a Licensed Medicare Agent

If you want to become a licensed Medicare agent, you should consider pursuing this career. There is a process to become this type of agent. You will need to get a license and certification, as well as training.

Get Your Resident State Health Insurance Producer License

The very first step to becoming a Medicare health insurance agent is obtaining a health insurance producer license from your resident state.

Carry Out AHIP Medicare Health Insurance Training

Besides studying and sitting for your health insurance license, you’ll also need to complete annual training with the AHIP if you want to sell Medicare products.

Choose an FMO

The next step to becoming a health insurance agent is to choose a suitable FMO. FMO stands for Field Marketing Organization. You can also opt to go with an IMO, which stands for Insurance Marketing Organization.

Get E&O Insurance

Before you can contract with most carriers you will need to take out E&O insurance. E&O insurance protects you from liability should you ever find yourself embroiled in court proceedings over accused negligence.

Pass Carrier-Specific Certification Exams

Depending on which carriers you contract with, you may also need to complete carrier-specific training and certifications to sell their products. Cigna, Anthem, and Aetna are some examples of carriers that require agents to complete certification exams.

Keep Up Your License

If you want to sell Medicare insurance plans, you’ll also need to be prepared to maintain your health insurance license each year.

Invest in Medicare Health Insurance Agent Training

If you want to learn how to sell Medicare health insurance and be successful at it, sitting the required licensing and certification exams isn’t all there is to it.

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.

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.

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