Door to Door

[dandan]

I spoke with an agent yesterday who solicits Medicare Supplements door to door. He never makes appointments and only offers supps, no advantage or plan Ds.

When I started in the Med Supp business I also sold door to door. I know Advantage and Part D door to door soliciting is prohibited, but is it still legal to solicit supps this way?

 

[midwestbroker]

Door to door and cold calling is permitted with supplements, final expense, annuities, etc. Just not Part C or D of Medicare.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I would find soliciting seniors door to door to be difficult. Most senior housing in my area - condos or other senior living communities would never allow door to door.

 

[midwestbroker]

It is hit and miss.

I have done the door to door with an age in list. Works a lot better in the lower income area.

I do not do door to door in middle / upper class neighborhoods.

 

[dandan]

I thought I read somewhere that any Medicare product was now prohibited.

Hard to keep up with all the rules

 

[G.Gordon]

It is hit and miss.

I have done the door to door with an age in list. Works a lot better in the lower income area.

I do not do door to door in middle / upper class neighborhoods.

Don't let those upper class neighborhoods discourage you. I've done D2D in country club communities and had great luck. No matter what a person's financial station in life we're all the same. We all put our pants on one leg at a time.

 

[retread]

Don't let those upper class neighborhoods discourage you. I've done D2D in country club communities and had great luck. No matter what a person's financial station in life we're all the same. We all put our pants on one leg at a time.

I'm surprised you never had a cop pull you over for a talk. In most middle class neighborhoods in my area, the city codes prohibit door to door solicitation without a permit. The police know that often criminals will canvass neighborhoods looking for "targets of opportunity".

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Agreed - in any managed community in my area you'd get to the 10th door before the cops would be called. Either whip out your county permit for solicitation or you'll likely get a summons. Even with a permit the property manager can 86 your a**.

 

[retread]

And despite having a lead card in your hand, it doesn't matter. No permit, expect a summons.

Look for signs that post warnings about neighborhood solicitation. That's a clue, but even if signs are not posted, city codes rule... "ignorance is no excuse" will be the judge's retort. Before you go into a community, check the local ordinances. If this is too much effort, then just go with the admonition: Forget door to door sales... don't invade the privacy of those who are not in the least bit interested in what you have to offer. Do the respectable thing, and write or call first!

If enough agents take advantage of the fact that door-to-door is not prohibited with Med Sups, you can expect the next item on CMS's agenda will be to extend that prohibition to MS, too. Sooner or later, if you can't bring yourself to respect the seniors you serve, you will face governmental intrusion. When seniors get riled up, they write their congressmen... guess where that leads?

 

[policy doctor]

It's also a safety issue: caution. Many people of all ages hate to be approached by strangers for solicitation...just driving or walking up to someone's driveway uninvited makes you a peddler. Times have changed and we must adapt. Years ago that was a method of choice though hard work.

I resent being approached by newspaper salesmen and sample reps even in a grocery store. You almost hate to make eye contact. (lol)

I think we all have been marketed to death.

Those seminar people have hit on something. Be in a specific locale and let the people come to you. You can always set home appt's from that.