Medicare Blog

what license to sell medicare insurance

by Mrs. Kellie Swift Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Learning how to sell Medicare is simple, but it takes work to maintain your residual income every year. The first thing you'll need to do is obtain a health insurance license in the state you currently live in (known as your resident state health insurance producer license).Feb 10, 2021

Full Answer

How do I get licensed to sell Medicare?

  • Becoming a Six-Figure Senior Market Advisor
  • Agent writes 5-7 Medicare plans weekly
  • Get certified to sell Humana Medicare plans

How to start selling Medicare?

How to start selling Medicare Insurance 3rd Step-. Take the AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) Medicare certification. Nearly all carriers now require that an agent take the AHIP certification every year prior to being able to sell Medicare plans. AHIP cost $175 but you can get it for a lower rate if you take it through an insurance company.

What license do you need to sell Medicare supplements?

People representing Medicare plans aren't allowed to:

  • Come to your home uninvited to sell or endorse anything.
  • Call you unless you’re already a member of the plan. ...
  • Require you to speak to a sales agent to get information about the plan.
  • Offer you cash (or gifts worth more than $15) to join their plan or give you free meals during a sales pitch for a Medicare health or drug plan.

More items...

Is selling Medicare lucrative?

Selling Medicare related products can be a very rewarding and lucrative career that offers the opportunity to own your own business and enjoy passive income for years into the future. If you are looking to partner with an FMO that works with independent agents, give us a call and let us explain what we do to help our agents succeed.

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Can you make good money selling Medicare?

Earning income potential is dependent on sales commissions, talent and location. On average, medicare sales agent jobs pay around ​$65,000​ annually, but top agents can earn six-figure incomes in just three years, suggests Redbird Network.

Is selling Medicare insurance a good career?

Medicare agents have significant earning potential and a promising future of stable career growth – but it's not just about the money. Medicare agents also get to help others while taking control of their own careers. For the right person, Medicare sales can be a very rewarding and lucrative career.

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 hard is it to sell Medicare?

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 is an FMO in Medicare?

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.

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 is a 240 license in Florida?

The Florida 2-40 Health Agent license allows an individual to transact contracts for health insurance, including contracts available through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). This license has a 40-hour pre-qualification course requirement. We offer this course in both a classroom and online course environments.

What is a 220 license in Florida?

The Florida 2-20 Property and Casualty Agent License, or "General Lines Agent License," allows an individual, after being appointed by the Insurance Company, to transact any of the following kinds of insurance: property, casualty, surety, health, marine, and miscellaneous lines.

What is a 215 license in Florida?

The Florida Department of Financial Services requires anyone seeking a 2-15 Health & Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts) Agent License to take a 60-hour 2-15 pre-license course, unless they meet other requirements.

How do I get Medicare 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...

How much do Medicare leads cost?

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

Can you sell Medicare door to door?

MA/PD PLANS May not market to beneficiaries door to door, including leaving materials at a beneficiary's doorstep. May call a beneficiary they enrolled in a plan to discuss plan business, as well as discuss the availability of other plan options/types within the same parent organization.

Get Your License

A career in the medicare insurance field requires a health insurance license. You’ll apply for this license in your respective state. The coursework will teach you about health insurance basics.

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.

Choose an FMO

An FMO stands for Field Marketing Organization. An FMO is licensed to disburse insurance plans for the insurance companies. Many health insurance carriers don’t partner with agents and will hire you as a permanent employee.

Forge Agreements

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.

Is Becoming a Medicare Insurance Agent Worth the Effort?

A Medicare insurance agent is a rewarding career choice because you’re helping vulnerable seniors who need financial support for their medical needs. Becoming a Medicare sales agent is simple.

How to become a top Medicare agent?

The key to really becoming a great top Medicare agent is by committing to ongoing Medicare agent training. A great way to do this is connect with your FMO (assuming it’s an FMO that offers Medicare) and asking what their Medicare agent training programs look like.

How long does it take to get certified to sell health insurance?

That process typically takes a few days.

How much does AHIP certification cost?

The annual AHIP certification exam comes with fee of $175 each year. However, Redbird offers a $50 discount to all agents. Brandon’s Suggestion: Sign up for AHIP using the discount link below and it will automatically apply the $50 savings during the checkout process.

What is E&O insurance?

E&O insurance is insurance intended to protect you should you give a client incorrect or misleading information for which they take legal action against you. This can be purchased though most property and casualty agencies as well as many insurance associations. Some FMOs will provide you with E&O insurance .

What are the areas of study for a health insurance license?

Here are some of the important areas of study you will find in the health insurance license process: Deductibles. Co-insurance.

Who regulates Medicare plans?

It is important to understand that selling certain Medicare products requires special certification as determined by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS regulates Medicare plans, the insurance companies, agents, and agencies who sell them.

When does AHIP certification start?

AHIP certification usually begins in late June or early July for the following Medicare plan year. For example, if you take your certification exam in late June or July 2020, you are likely being certified to sell the 2021 product to eligible seniors during the 2021 annual enrollment period.

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?

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.

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, ...

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.

Do you need a life insurance license to sell Medicare?

Take note that many health insurance exam vendors also offer life insurance certifications at the same time. While it is not required, selling Medicare and having a life insurance license is a good idea – it provides you the option to offer clients other products they may need down the road.

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.

How to get insurance license?

Step 1: Complete a Pre-License Education Course. Some states require that you complete a pre-license education course to be able to register for the insurance exam, while others only need your completion certificate on test day. Some states do not require a course at all.

How to sell life insurance in Florida?

To sell insurance, you will need to take a state insurance licensing exam in the specific line of insurance you want to sell. For example, if you want to sell life insurance in Florida, you will need to take and pass Florida’s life insurance licensing exam.

What is a FINRA license?

FINRA Securities License Exams. Many insurance agents go on to get their securities license as well. These licenses allow insurance agents to market and sell securities or variable-contract life insurance policies and are administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

How much does it cost to become an insurance agent?

The cost to become an insurance agent varies by state and is typically around $350. For example, if you are applying to become a life insurance agent in North Carolina, you will pay the following fees: 1 Pre-licensing education course: between $129 and $249, depending on the course 2 Licensing exam: $45 3 Registration fee: $50 4 Application processing fee: $44 5 Fingerprinting: $38

How much does an insurance sales agent make?

The highest earning insurance sales agents work for direct health and medical insurance carriers and make $65,180 annually. Those working for direct insurance carriers other than life, health, and medical make $54,110 annually. Finally, those who work at insurance agencies and brokerages make $49,000 annually.

What is the best way to study for the state insurance exam?

A pre-license education course is still the best way to study and master what you need to know to pass the state insurance exam. The specific information tested will vary by state and type of exam. It may include: Purpose of insurance for financial security and emergencies. Contract law as it applies to insurance.

How many hours do you need to take a pre-license course?

A pre-license education course is the most comprehensive and straightforward way to prepare for the test. Most pre-license education courses range from 20 to 40 hours and will meet the requirements of your state. The material covered varies by state and type of insurance license that you plan to pursue.

What is producer insurance?

Insurance "producers," commonly known as insurance agents or brokers, are individuals who are licensed by a state's insurance department to sell insurance within that state. Each state has its own set of procedures for applying for a producer's license. The process will vary depending on the type of insurance—known as a "line ...

How many hours do you need to get a Florida insurance license?

Yes for most types of licenses. 40 hours for: life and variable annuity; health only. 60 hours for: life, health, and variable annuity; personal lines. 200 hours for general lines (property and casualty) Yes. Florida Insurance Code and related resources.

How many hours do you need to take Illinois insurance exam?

Illinois. No, but applicant must provide two forms of identification on exam day. 12.5 hours for motor vehicle (5 hours of which must be in classroom setting) 20 hours for any other line of authority (7.5 of which must be in the classroom setting) Yes. Illinois Insurance Code and Department of Insurance.

Why are insurance agents important?

Insurance agents have the important role of providing the public with insurance coverage for our families, homes, and property. Many of us rely on the protections offered through insurance, and trust our insurance agents to recommend appropriate and comprehensive coverage. It's therefore not surprising that all states require insurance agents ...

How many lines of authority do insurance producers need?

Insurance producers must be licensed for each line of authority that they sell. You can be licensed for more than one line of authority, but in many states you must take separate pre-licensing training courses and exams for each line. Some common lines of authority include:

Do I need to fingerprint my Arizona business license?

Applicants with an existing license or who are adding a new line do not require fingerprinting. No pre-exam training hours required. Yes, if primary residence/place of business is Arizona or applicant has relocated from another state and wants a license not previously held.

Do insurance agents need to be licensed?

It's therefore not surprising that all states require insurance agents to become licensed before selling insurance to the public. The specific requirements for an agent to become licensed varies considerably from state to state.

What to do after you have completed your pre-licensing?

After you have completed all of your required pre-licensing education, the next step is to apply for your license . If you have more than one line of authority that you have taken the education for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.

How many exams do you need to take for life and health insurance in Florida?

Life, Accident, & Health 2-15 (L&H) and Property & Casualty 2-20 (P&C) lines are combined lines in Florida, so you will take two exams if you wish to attain all of these lines of authority: Property, Casualty, Life, Accident, Health.

How many hours do you need to get a Florida life and health license?

This means that if you wish to get a Property and Casualty 2-20 license, you must take two-hundred (200) hours of pre-licensing, and for Life and Health 2-15 (including Annuities and Variable Contracts) you must take sixty (60) hours.

What is the phone number for Florida insurance?

For more information on this topic, call the Florida Department of Insurance at (850) 413-3140 or email the Insurance Department or check the information on this page.

Is it hard to get an insurance license?

Insurance license tests are intentionally difficult, but not impossible by any means. You should study to the point of comfortability with the information before you attempt the test. Failing the exam isn’t the end of the world, but keep in mind that you will need to pay the fee each time you attempt the test.

Does Florida require fingerprints?

Fingerprinting And Background Check. The State of Florida requires that all insurance license applications provide fingerprints prior to licensing. Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts.

What to do when selling Medicare supplements?

When you sell Medicare supplements from home, you need to offer a variety of products to meet each beneficiary’s needs. This includes supplement products, prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage products, and ancillary products. Ensure the products you are offering benefit the client, not a push for your pocketbook.

How many clients does Medicare have?

Your income is only limited by the time you put into working. On average, a Medicare insurance agent in business for five (5) years has around 400-500 clients.

How to remain independent with Medicare?

To remain independent, you will likely need to obtain your insurance company contracts through a Medicare Insurance FMO. An FMO will work to obtain the best contracts for you to sell clients. Their support in finding you the best product to offer frees your time to meet clients and close sales.

What is Medicare Advantage?

One of the benefits is the sale of Medicare Advantage or a Medicare supplement that provides you with a residual income for years. This is a passive income you enjoy the benefit of from every sale. Working as an independent agent means the commissions pay directly to you.

How many people will be on Medicare in 2060?

Projections are that by 2060 there will be 98 million people in that age range. The estimation is 21.1 million over age 85 in 2030. What this means when it comes to Medicare insurance sales is that one in every seven people, the equivalent of 15.2% of the population, meets Medicare age qualifications.

How many Americans have Medicare Advantage?

Ambition to put forth the effort to make sales. About 1/3 of Americans obtain their Medicare through Medicare Advantage Plans. The other 2/3 of the eligible persons have original Medicare, and about 81% of those enroll in supplement coverage.

What is an independent agent?

An independent agent is not an employee of any agency, leaving them free to contract with any company that meets their business criteria. As an independent agent, you are responsible for choosing the products you sell, determining the market area you want to work, and establishing your own hours.

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