$15.00 gift

[honestagent]

Hi everyone.

I am wondering if anyone has given a $15.00 gift of some sort to any client who has given you a referral?

It's so hard that we cannot do gift cards for retail.

Does this also include food like a restaurant gift certificate?

How about a grocery store or pharmacy; does that count as retail?

Does anybody know?

Gasoline?



You know, the needs is what I'm trying to help with; I mean, afterall, what kind of a 'nice gift' can one give at $15 bucks or under? If you have, I'd love to hear; I'm sure there's a nice gift for under 15 bucks out there - I'm just having a hard time lately with being creative, unfortunately.

Btw, if you have the link handy to the CMS Guideline/s of what we can give as a token of appreciation, I'd grealty appreciate the link. Please post.

Tx.

 

[IFS_Edge]

http://www.medicarerights.org/CHA-MRC-brief_goldrush.pdf

I do not give gifts for referrals. I simply tell the client, "I know that you like the products I have shown you and you like me or you would not have bought from me." I then hand them a sheet of paper and tell them, "While I am finalizing your paperwork, try to think of five people I can share this information with." I then go in to asking them if I in any way pressured them, and I always leave with at least three, normally five, people to contact. I then tell them that I will be contacting these families but it would be nice if they could call and let them know I am calling. I usually have at least one person (especially with the MA Plans) who contacts me before I contact them.

I did this last night with a pre-arranged funeral sale and got three families (6 possible prearrangements, 6 spaces in the cemetery and 6 opening and closing charges - a possible $2900 per family - which is what I made with the family that gave me the referrals), I Love Insurance Sales.

Also, the only time I consider giving a $15 gift is when I give a seminar, that seems to be where the $15 limit comes in According to what I read in the report above. I don't think you can actually, legally pay for a referral. I know there is such thing a lead procurement fee and companies that sell leads, but it would be in poor taste to purchase a referral. You "earn the right" to ask for a referral, not pay for one.

Also, the above link, I have it as a Power Point Presentation that I found on a major insurance company's website and the PPT is much, much easier to understand.

I usually get three five dollar Dairy Queen gift cards and it seems every little West Texas town I go to has a Dairy Queen and all the seniors live there in the afternoon. I usually tell them to fill out a survey

(This is not the same survey I give them in the home, the one in the home asks them to evaluate me and then says something like, if the pesentation met your expectations, please give the name and addresses of people you think could use the information. I like this evaluation because it basically "makes" them agree to the fact that I am MARVELOUS and unless they want to disagree with them selves, they have to provide me with at least a couple of names)

asks them to grade the seminar and then immediately on my presentation and as a thank you, there will be a door prize. At the bottom of the evaluation/questionaire, I always put that I may be calling them to discuss the products we discussed today and if they are not intersted, to please make a note.

I do not get "DNCs" often. I also take names of the families as they walk in and tell them, go ahead and put their names and numbers, I have them already from when they came in, and if it was an RSVP, I tell them I already know your name and phone numbers, most of you were given a call to remind you about the seminar.

There is no reason to try to "create" a reason or make an "excuse", if you are straight-forward with your clients, they will give you the information to contact them and their friends and relatives. And if you have to manipulate them to get the information, you have already created a mis-trust and you will have to work past that before you can even begin the warm-up.

Just the thoughts of a person who has had to contact seniors about death, dying, caskets, and cemetery spaces for the last ten to twelve years.

My goodness, Medicare Advantage Plans and EASY after that!!

~IF

I type as quickly as I talk, so all my answers seem so long. Sorry for those of you who dislike long answers.

 

[Cenla Agent]

I'm not sure about the propriety of gifts specifically for referrals. I've never done it. IIRC the up to $15 gift is for seminars or for marketing in general.

 

[scottfree]

Hi everyone.

I am wondering if anyone has given a $15.00 gift of some sort to any client who has given you a referral?

It's so hard that we cannot do gift cards for retail.

Does this also include food like a restaurant gift certificate?

How about a grocery store or pharmacy; does that count as retail?

Does anybody know?

Gasoline?



You know, the needs is what I'm trying to help with; I mean, afterall, what kind of a 'nice gift' can one give at $15 bucks or under? If you have, I'd love to hear; I'm sure there's a nice gift for under 15 bucks out there - I'm just having a hard time lately with being creative, unfortunately.

Btw, if you have the link handy to the CMS Guideline/s of what we can give as a token of appreciation, I'd grealty appreciate the link. Please post.

Tx.

You can not give anything for referrals.. This is from Todays Options training.

Brokers or Agents Must not:

Offer or give cash promotions to induce the referral of beneficiaries.
Request phone numbers when asking for referrals.
Brokers and agents may request addresses only.

I can send you the presentation later if you would like me to.

Scott​

 

[Kimber]

Also worth noting is that if you are given a referral by an MA client, it is best to have them give their friend your card and ask that the friend contact you. You still cannot call a client who has not requested info personally even though a client refers them. The only other option is to get an address and mail them an approved flyer. (per the T.O. training)

 

[Mr. Bill]

What do you think about having some postcards printed up at vistaprint and give them 5 or so, already stamped with some information about you for them to send to their friends?

 

[midwestbroker]

If you did get a referral from a client, you are allowed to give them a gift up to $15 in value one time per year.

Technically, if you gave them a pen worth $1, the gift must be under $14 since they already got the pen. That is splitting hairs, but that is how it reads.

The gift cannot be pre-announced (cannot tell them you can give them a gift prior to getting a referral).

Personally, I do not give gifts like that. I normally just call them and say thanks.

 

[honestagent]

Lots of great advise. Thank you so much; and yes Scott, please send my way when you get a chance or post; thank you again to everybody!

 

[GreenSky]

What do you think about having some postcards printed up at vistaprint and give them 5 or so, already stamped with some information about you for them to send to their friends?

What a brilliant idea! Much better than handing out a few business cards.

I think you can get some postcards from vistaprint virtually free to try. I'm going to get the minimum order and give it a shot.

Rick

 

[midwestbroker]

Just do not mention Medicare on the cards unless they have been approved by CMS.

CMS is watching carriers and agents a lot more this year since the PFFS temp freeze.