Agent Signing for an Applicant

[bill3173]

I wonder if you did the app over the phone and uploaded it to the paramed so the paramed is getting the client signature while doing the paramed would that constitute f2f?

I tried that with one carrier, and they told me to get in the car, drive to the applicant's house and ask all the questions and they would call the client back to verify that I did, and they did.

They weren't fooling around either, I felt like a little kid the way they handled me on this case, but the way they looked at it, they cut me a break.

They could have cancelled the app and told the client that I was an asshole.

 

[Gulliver]

Frank,

Sounds like the UA agents from Springfield, MO. I forgot the guys name who was selling Plan A and tearing off the receipts for Plan F. He got shut down but the whole thing was a mess back then.

Gulliver

 

[Frank Stastny]

Frank,

Sounds like the UA agents from Springfield, MO. I forgot the guys name who was selling Plan A and tearing off the receipts for Plan F. He got shut down but the whole thing was a mess back then.

Gulliver

You win the prize. Have our paths ever crossed?

I can picture him but I can't remember his name either. There were a couple of guys that were just crooks, no nice way to put it.

Thank God, "time wounds all heels".

 

[Gulliver]

Frank,

I never met you but I remember your name on the production list. I was only there for a few weeks. I had a P and C background and got convinced to try working with them. (Like everyone else around Springfield) I just happened to be there when that guy was doing the bad stuff; it was around June of 2000.

Paul and Larry were the coordinators then. Jeff was and I believe still is the manager of that group. They are constantly recruiting people. No training or care about the integrity of operations.

Gulliver

 

[arnguy]

Questions, methinks you are beating a dead horse. Just don't do it----plain and simple!

 

[Frank Stastny]

Frank,

I never met you but I remember your name on the production list. I was only there for a few weeks. I had a P and C background and got convinced to try working with them. (Like everyone else around Springfield) I just happened to be there when that guy was doing the bad stuff; it was around June of 2000.

Paul and Larry were the coordinators then. Jeff was and I believe still is the manager of that group. They are constantly recruiting people. No training or care about the integrity of operations.

Gulliver

I know, that makes me very sad. That was about the time I became an independent agent.

Some of the best years I have had selling insurance was when I was with UA. I made a lot of money, ethically, and sold a lot of insurance. UA literally treated me like a king. I traveled all over the world on trips I won. Andy King was president at the time and he became a good friend. When I went on convention Andy would send a limo to the airport to pick me up. Those were good times.

 

[gregfurlong]

Absolutely Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jacobtn]

You win the prize. Have our paths ever crossed?

I can picture him but I can't remember his name either. There were a couple of guys that were just crooks, no nice way to put it.

Thank God, "time wounds all heels".

UA's extremely high prices caused some ages to be just plain crooked. Not making excuses for them of course, but a few years ago, I had at least 4 clients who UA agents in Chattanooga TN sold plan A to, and described their coverage as "good as what they had but cheaper price". Then they would emphasize the worthless UA partners program as dental, glasses, and prescription coverage (which was a pile of $hit).

A couple of my clients filed complaints with the DOI and I think action was taken against one agent in particular.

Now their plan A is priced higher than everyone's F so I don't see them anymore

 

[Frank Stastny]

UA's extremely high prices caused some ages to be just plain crooked. Not making excuses for them of course, but a few years ago, I had at least 4 clients who UA agents in Chattanooga TN sold plan A to, and described their coverage as "good as what they had but cheaper price". Then they would emphasize the worthless UA partners program as dental, glasses, and prescription coverage (which was a pile of ).

A couple of my clients filed complaints with the DOI and I think action was taken against one agent in particular.

Now their plan A is priced higher than everyone's F so I don't see them anymore

All of their Med Supp premiums are "way too high". There is a specific reason for that. If you truly want to know why read on.

In the 90's the health questions on the app were extremely easy for anyone to answer. They were insuring a lot of chronically ill people as a result. Why they didn’t see that is anyone's guess. We, the agents, could see that.

In the late 90's they began getting inundated with a huge amount of claims as a result of insuring a tremendous number of chronically ill seniors. (The thing that drives premium increases are claims.)

For those who don't know, an insurance company MUST, by law, pay in claims a minimum of 65% of what they collect in premiums. If the company is paying out less than 65% in claims they MUST, by law, either reduce or refund premiums. If they are paying out substantially more than 65% then the DOI will authorize a premium increase.

Because of the lack of in depth health questions and the tremendous amount of claims, UA went through three consecutive years of 35% premium increases in the late 90's. The healthy people canceled. The “sick” ones were stuck with the policy. This resulted in even less revenue coming in and an even higher percent of money going out to cover claims.

That is why UA is priced so high. There was nothing funny about it. It was very tragic, not only for seniors but for agents as well. A lot of good agents ended up getting out of insurance. So before you start laughing it would serve you well to learn about Medicare and Medicare Supplement insurance.

During that time UA insured a lot of people who would not have been able to take a Med Supp policy with another company. Are those seniors paying for it today? Yes. Is it better than not being able to get a Med Supp policy? Maybe.

I am not defending them, I just feel that it is important for any agent working the senior market to have all of the facts and understand the reasons why things happen. The next time agents bitch because of the underwriting questions on an app, I hope they will reflect back upon this post.

The health questions on the app are the first thing I look at when I license with a new company.

 

[mcmillian-1]

Is it ever okay, in any state as an Agent to sign an application for your customer/the applicant?

I don't mean to curse...but HELL NO!!!

IF Anyone signs a contract for their client...when they are caught my be jailed or hit with a huge fine...my vote is for jail time!!!!