Is this good news ?

[Winter_123]

Re: Is this good news???

Guaranteed issue here we come. It is not only the reduction in commissions that will be a game changer. The carriers couldnt care less about the independent agents. The system will be structured to drive the maximum amount of business through captive agents, telesales, and government approved/controlled channels.

As discussed ad nauseum over the years here, too many agents think in terms of whether we either will have a universal health care system or we wont. The change will not look like that. It will come in increments and as the rivets continue to pop out, each agent will have to decide how long they want to fly in the plane. Certainly, there is nothing on the horizon that would cause me to waiver from the idea that guaranteed issue is coming-period. Hopefully, we can put that debate behind us now. It is coming.

 

[Guest]

Re: Is this good news???

Would you care to offer support for your Joe Namath type guarantee?

Guaranteed issue here we come. It is not only the reduction in commissions that will be a game changer. The carriers couldnt care less about the independent agents. The system will be structured to drive the maximum amount of business through captive agents, telesales, and government approved/controlled channels.

As discussed ad nauseum over the years here, too many agents think in terms of whether we either will have a universal health care system or we wont. The change will not look like that. It will come in increments and as the rivets continue to pop out, each agent will have to decide how long they want to fly in the plane. Certainly, there is nothing on the horizon that would cause me to waiver from the idea that guaranteed issue is coming-period. Hopefully, we can put that debate behind us now. It is coming.

 

[retread]

Re: Is this good news???

A good thing?? This is the United States of America! Where we are "free". the argument of auto insurance being mandated falls on its face, its only mandated, if you are going to drive. not the same at all.

To have the government mandate that people purchase something from the private sector is insane. whats next??

the government is not here to mandate healthcare, the government is not here to "decide" which private companies succeed and which fail. The public and market place should decide those things.

Smaller government seems to be a fleeting dream.

By that logic, anyone who wants "health" must get healthcare insurance, those who do not want "health" should not have it. You can't take a metaphor from P&C and carry it over to Health Insurance. Having insurance to drive a car is a privilege, not a right, as any Magistrate will tell you. Having "health" is a basic human right. Without it we die.

 

[LGilmore]

Re: Is this good news???

"The carriers couldnt care less about the independent agents"

I don't know if I agree with you. I do agree they could care less about "the agent" in general independent or captive. I do know you just pay independents a commission, you don't schedule vacations, retirement, office space, benefits or anything else.

I was with NYL when they changed their attitude about captured agents back in the 90's. I think just the opposite may come true.. I think alot of carriers will cast off carreer agents to reduce overhead. While they will maintain an online or phone direct system for direct purchase. the house agent will become an endangered species if past practices stay true.

 

[Dave020]

Re: Is this good news???

A good thing?? This is the United States of America! Where we are "free". the argument of auto insurance being mandated falls on its face, its only mandated, if you are going to drive. not the same at all.

To have the government mandate that people purchase something from the private sector is insane. whats next??

the government is not here to mandate healthcare, the government is not here to "decide" which private companies succeed and which fail. The public and market place should decide those things.

Smaller government seems to be a fleeting dream.

Would you like to explain that to all of the people who are declined for health insurance coverage due to medical history, need hundreds of dollars worth of medications just to ensure they can live, and have no option but to go uninsured and risk bankruptcy and the loss of everything they have worked their entire life for in the event they end up in the hospital. My decline rate runs about 32% on average, should I tell them "sorry, you're screwed, we can't ask people to spend beer money on premiums and we can't have the gov'ment interferring now can we?"

If you have a solution to insure the millions of truly uninsurable people who are most in need of major medical health insurance coverage without mandating to force the slackers to actually balance the risk pool, I'd love to hear it.

BTW, group coverage is already MANDATED, at state levels. It's not like this is anything new. Do your homework.

 

[retread]

Re: Is this good news???

"The carriers couldnt care less about the independent agents"

I don't know if I agree with you. I do agree they could care less about "the agent" in general independent or captive. I do know you just pay independents a commission, you don't schedule vacations, retirement, office space, benefits or anything else.

I was with NYL when they changed their attitude about captured agents back in the 90's. I think just the opposite may come true.. I think alot of carriers will cast off carreer agents to reduce overhead. While they will maintain an online or phone direct system for direct purchase. the house agent will become an endangered species if past practices stay true.

I see it that way, too. Furthermore, as the digital age progresses, I forsee a time when everything will be done either over the 'net or cell... untouched by human hands (VOX).

 

[TXINSURANCE]

Re: Is this good news???

GI is coming because it sounds good and is part of the Democratic "master plan". GI is the biggest failure of the industry - the current GI states should be ashamed of themselves for such a flawed and wrong system.

The ultimate failure of GI will be a good door opener for true national health care, which make no mistake is the ultimate goal - just not possible at this time.

Agents will likely still be around but at 3 to 8% commission, and many more captive agreements. If you want to see the future you don't have to look past NY, NJ, ME , VT and a few others.

 

[Guest]

Re: Is this good news???

Yes, but the premiums in NY are generally much higher, Aetna alone asks $900 for an individual, and it stays level. So it can balance itself. Although I don't sell here, LOL

GI is coming because it sounds good and is part of the Democratic "master plan". GI is the biggest failure of the industry - the current GI states should be ashamed of themselves for such a flawed and wrong system.

The ultimate failure of GI will be a good door opener for true national health care, which make no mistake is the ultimate goal - just not possible at this time.

Agents will likely still be around but at 3 to 8% commission, and many more captive agreements. If you want to see the future you don't have to look past NY, NJ, ME , VT and a few others.

 

[Salary_Guard]

people with preexisting conditions that get denied can be solved another way other than the government mandating everyone purchases coverage. If the government wants to require health coverage, they should do what great britian and canada have done. make all "medical" jobs a government position, pay doctors next to nothing, people can go to any hospital and its paid for, no insurance forms to file out, and claims to make. sounds great, till you talk to someone from one of those countries....

It takes months to get in to see a specialist, the quality of the healthcare has gone down, and the taxes on the people of those countries is out of control. Is that the next step? Probably.

I know people personally who live in canada and the UK who have had to deal with this problem, in the midst of trying to get treatment for their cancer....they are dead now...but their health care was free. delays in seeing the dr.'s and delays in getting tests and treatments.

some times there is no great answer to the problems. If i had the perfect solution, I wouldn't be sitting here talking on this forum...

I don't think the government sticking their big size 12 foot in the industry at this level is the answer.

as far as the "unisurable" that is up to the private companies to deal with. They want profits...bottom line, and they won't take the risk if they don't have to. If they were in business to truely help people, then things would be different, but lets face it, they are in business to make $$$$.

 

[Winter_123]

Re: Is this good news???

"The carriers couldnt care less about the independent agents"

I don't know if I agree with you. I do agree they could care less about "the agent" in general independent or captive. I do know you just pay independents a commission, you don't schedule vacations, retirement, office space, benefits or anything else.

I was with NYL when they changed their attitude about captured agents back in the 90's. I think just the opposite may come true.. I think alot of carriers will cast off carreer agents to reduce overhead. While they will maintain an online or phone direct system for direct purchase. the house agent will become an endangered species if past practices stay true.

I don't disagree with that. It is just a matter of timing. In the short run, they care about captive agents because they are on their payroll so they are more interested in funneling sales and leads through them. But they are also working on a system that will be agent-free as well. Same thing with MA's. If they can put a referral through a captive agent they will. That is better than putting it through an independent. However, not as good, in their mind, as putting it through telemarketing.