Medicare Blog

why would ever sell medicare supplement book of business

by Ms. Noelia Cruickshank Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Full Answer

Do you have a book of business selling Medicare supplement?

If you already have a book of business, you're primed for Medicare Supplement sales. People already want and need supplemental insurance, and they're going to go somewhere to get it – they might as well get it from you. For a quick overview of what we'll cover today, view this slideshow:

What do I need to sell Medigap or Medicare supplement insurance?

The following are things you need to understand in order to sell Medigap or Medicare Supplement Insurance. Original Medicare is divided into two sections: Part A and Part B. Parts A & B cover 80% of costs after deductibles and coinsurance. The remaining 20% is an out-of-pocket expense, which is what supplemental coverage would pay for.

Why get into the Medicare supplement market?

In sum, there are three great reasons to get into the Medicare Supplement market: There's a built-in need for a secondary insurance with Medicare Before we get into this, you need to be aware that there are two main routes a senior can take when it comes to their health insurance:

What does Medicare supplement cover?

A client must have Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a supplement plan. Dental, vision, hearing and wellness services would be covered by Medicare Supplement. Medicare Supplements also cover the deductibles for Part A and Part B. There are very low or even no premiums for Medicare Advantage. Some plans include prescription drugs too.

Can I sell Medicare Supplement plans?

Medicare Supplements are the perfect product for senior health insurance agents to sell. Most don't require an annual certification and can be sold year-round.

How do you value a book of business?

There are typically two primary methods to deriving the value of an agency / book of business; (1) a multiplier of revenue, or (2) a multiplier of profits (a.k.a. “EBITDA”)[1]. Similar to composite rating of various insurance products, both multipliers of Revenue and Profits can be converted to a function of the other.

How do you make money selling Medicare supplements?

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).

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 does it mean to sell your book of business?

Selling Your Business Definition: The process of putting your business up for sale by an individual or other company. Just as you needed a plan to get into business, you'll need a plan to get out of it. Selling or otherwise disposing of a business requires some forethought, strategizing and careful implementation.

What should I pay for a book of business?

If a buyer would pay 2.5X cash flow, an average selling price for a business, the buyer should be willing to pay up to $500,000 for the book of business. In this sale, the selling price of the book of business should be between $250,000 and $500,000.

Is selling Medicare Worth It?

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.

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 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.

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.

Why should all agents sell Medicare Supplements?

Perhaps the most important reason why all agents should sell Medicare Supplements is the readily available market. Unlike other forms of insurance, Medicare Supplements target an aging population who needs insurance. And what’s more, the potential pool of clientele is increasing on a daily basis.

How long do Medicare Supplements stay on the books?

These plans stay on the books for a very long time (8 years or more) and require very little servicing on your part.

What is Medicare Part A?

If a client chooses this route, they will sign up for Medicare Part A. It’s provided free of charge to seniors who paid Medicare taxes during their working years. Part A covers inpatient care and some nursing facility expenses.

What age does Medicare cover?

Here’s our abbreviated recap of the current state of the Medicare program. This government-run health insurance program is available primarily to Americans aged 65 and older, as well as certain other folks with specific disabilities or diseases.

Do Medicare leads have a cellphone?

Most of your Medicare leads had a cellphone before today’s high schoolers were even born. Some may have been texting since they were under 50. Twitter, Facebook, and iPhones came out more than ten years ago. This is one way that today’s Medicare customers are different from past customers.

Can seniors apply for Medicare Supplement?

Seniors will still be able to apply for Medicare supplement coverage after this six-month window, however, it could mean they will pay a higher premium for coverage, or if they have serious medical issues, they could be turned down for coverage. Thus, for seniors looking for affordable and reliable benefits, earlier is better.

Is Medicare supplement coverage regulated?

Medicare supplement coverage is regulated at the state level, and so this means insurance agents often target leads within a particular state or a few states.

Do Medicare leads read fine print?

Today’s Medicare leads also aren’t afraid of reading the fine print, with their reading glasses, of course, and asking you pointed questions. These consumers like to make well-informed buying decisions.

How many Medicare Supplement Plans are there?

There are six Medicare Supplement plan options: F, N, G, L, K, High F. In most states, the plan option offer standard benefits, meaning that benefits can not vary from one plan to the next. For instance, if a company offers a plan F, then they must offer the same benefits as the other carriers also offering plan F. Ultimately, the only difference between carriers offering Medicare Supplements is the monthly premium, as well as added benefits like Silver Sneakers.

Is Medicare Supplement the same for all clients?

Underwriting for Medicare Supplements is not the same for all clients; it depends on their situation and their residing state. For instance, those turning 65 or those with a qualifying event have guaranteed issue. In some states, all plans are guaranteed issue whereas other states only offer guaranteed issue during certain periods.

How much does Medicare Part A cost?

Medicare Part A is earned, but it can also be bought for those who need it. In 2019, it cost up to $413 a month to buy Medicare Part A. Gaps in Medicare Part A can easily cost thousands of dollars. Included in Medicare Part A: home health services, hospice care, inpatient hospital care, nursing facility care and more.

How much is the Medicare Part B deductible?

This penalty can be waived if your client has coverage with an employer. The Medicare Part B deductible was $183 in 2017. Your client will pay that much out-of-pocket before Medicare begins to cover services. After coverage beings, the client is responsible for 20% of doctor visits and other approved Medicare services.

What is the difference between Medicare Part D and Medicare Part B?

Medicare Part D. Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs and has a monthly premium. Like Medicare Part B, there is a penalty for late enrollment unless your client has an existing health insurance plan. Your client may have several Part D plans offered.

What is Medicare Part B?

2. Medicare Part B. Medicare Part B covers some of the most essential types of medical expenses. A client begins the initial enrollment period 3 months before the month in which they turn 65 and ends 3 months after the birthday.

Why do you want to have your client insured during the open enrollment period?

You’ll want your client insured during the open enrollment period because this is the only time they don’t have to worry about pre-existing conditions. Underwriting is much simpler. It’s only if your client misses this open enrollment period that they will have to pass health questions. 12.

How to determine if Medicare is my primary coverage?

To determine if Medicare can be your client’s primary coverage, it’s important for you to ask your client about their age. Also, ask if they are working or retired. If they are still working, ask how many employees the company employs. 6.

Can a 65 year old use Medicare?

If the client is 65 and older and is still working and on a group health plan with fewer than 20 employees, they are eligible for Medicare. Also, if your client is disabled, under the age of 65 and on an employer-funded health plan with fewer than 100 employees, he/she may use Medicare as the primary coverage.

Getting Started Selling Medicare Supplements Is Easier Than Ever Before!

If you want to sell Medicare Supplements, you don’t need to spend hours scouring the internet for the basics, like what license is needed to sell Medicare Supplements (just your health insurance license!), how to get licensed and contracted, the best Medigap plans, or sales tips.

Discover Fresh Ways to Market & Sell Medicare Supplement Plans

Have some experience with selling Medigap plans? How’s your closing rate? Inside the guide, we share multiple tried and true strategies for targeting ideal Medicare Supplement clients, marketing your services online and offline, narrowing down the right plan, pitching it, and more.

Unlock Higher Commissions Without Paying for Them Another Way

How much do agents make selling Medicare Supplements? With the right training, tips, and effort, it’s reasonable to say that you could be making a six-figure annual salary from Medicare Supplement sales alone after just a few years! Our guide covers the sales tools that can help you work efficiently (free access links included!), expand your client base, and turn a bigger profit.

Enjoy the Free, Complete Training & Sales Support You Desire & Deserve!

At Ritter Insurance Marketing, our primary goal is to help agents grow their businesses quickly, efficiently, and compliantly.

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.

What is the Medicare Part B deductible for 2021?

When you have a Plan G, everything is covered except the Medicare Part B deductible, which is $203 in 2021. There are no other costs – it’s 100% coverage from there.

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.

Why does the seller want goodwill?

The seller wants goodwill – lower taxes for the seller! It's in the buyer's best interest to treat a sale as commissions, and it's in the seller's best interest to treat the sale as goodwill, which are taxed at the capital gains rate.

Is a C corp an asset sale?

Whenever you go to sell, you have to determine if it's an asset sale or a stock sale. Very few agents have a C-corporation, so in our world, it's almost always an asset sale.

Is goodwill taxed at capital gains rate?

You ideally want the buyer to treat the sale as goodwill, which is taxed at the capital gains rate and will likely save you thousands in taxes.

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