Aetna, Cigna Game Plan

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Well...Now I feel bad. I do write Aetna. In specific areas, they are very competitive.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Great. Aetna is counting on you. Hey, if you'll take 4% maybe you'll take 1.5%? After all, we're helping people.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Sorry. If Aetna is the best fit for the customer, I will offer it to them.

Of course, I don't fill out the apps like you. If I did, I probably would stay away from them. Everybody has their system and what works for one may not work for another.

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[Crabcake Johnny]

Just a different way of doing business. They could be offering plans for $50/mo with a free bowl of soup but for 4% starting comp, if my clients want to find out about their plans there's this thing called the internet. They can search away.

 

[aheff]

Sorry. If Aetna is the best fit for the customer, I will offer it to them.

Of course, I don't fill out the apps like you. If I did, I probably would stay away from them. Everybody has their system and what works for one may not work for another.

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Chumps,
For the past 5year, I wrote exclusively for Aetna. Good coverage, competitive, easy sale, easy underwriting. During those years, they were on par with Blue Cross, but significantly easier to deal with. Now, I plan to write exclusively Blue Cross for the same reasons that I wrote Aetna in the past. Blue Cross is simply a win-win situation for client and agent, in my neck of the woods. I'm pretty much done with Aetna-and I have been a fairly big producer for them. I thoroughly enjoyed the 20 minute conversation I had with the Aetna manager about the lack of apps submitted recently!

 

[GreenSky]

I wonder what would happen if agents had the balls (and the finances) to stop writing for 3 months?

Unless it's a referral or an existing client, I just give them my website address and let them do it themselves. I'll take 4-12% if I don't have to do any work.

Rick

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Rick I totally agree. If there was insane blow black from the move Aetna just pulled - if individual brokers would just all stop writing Aetna they'd get the message.

As we just saw, Aetna changed their compensation for business currently on the books. Why? Obviously agents went mental and Aetna reacted. Only Aetna and Pacificare have base comp at 4%. It's totally unjustified based on the schedules of all other carriers. Climbing their ladder to get to 10%? Sorry, but bite me.

This is why I'm saying that agents who reward Aetna's individual comp schedule by continuing to give them business...well....

 

[GreenSky]

Rick I totally agree. If there was insane blow black from the move Aetna just pulled - if individual brokers would just all stop writing Aetna they'd get the message.

As we just saw, Aetna changed their compensation for business currently on the books. Why? Obviously agents went mental and Aetna reacted.

This is why I'm saying that agents who reward Aetna's individual comp schedule by continuing to give them business...well....

Exactly. If agents want to bend over eventually the companies will even stop using vaseline.

Rick

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Also agree. They issued their insanely low schedule and will set back waiting on suckers to continue to give them business. If they can find enough pigeons then why change it.

It would be nice if agents would get riled up about it and try to do something. All I seem to find is independent cows continuing to graze on whatever crap they get fed.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

aheff...I understand what you are saying. I also like working with IBX, Highmark ...Capital BC etc...

But if Aetna is the better option, I will show it with (not exclusively) the other options.

Rick...I'm with ya! I make sure they know I'm available any time, but most don't want the help.