Mlr

[harbinger]

Wait till the exchange goes into effect.

Who needs explanation when the only options available are Platinum, Gold, Silver, etc. and they're the same at every carrier. Enjoy your nutritious gruel peasants.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

The Mass. clusterf**k aside - their system of zero comp for individual health brokers doesn't seem to have any negative effect with 97% of all Mass. residents having health insurance.

Circuit City had sales reps on commissions. Their theory was consumers were better served. Best Buy came along without commissioned reps and basically put them out of business. Circuit City even changed their commission-based model but it was too late.

And now allow me to say something a lot of you may disagree with. Here it goes. Are consumers better off dealing with commission based independent health agents?

Out of 100 agents which percentage only wrote for carriers offering 20% advanced commissions? Did brokers really take care of their clients by shopping Kaiser, Blue Cross, Coventry, etc...? Where consumers better off dealing with override happy call centers only pushing two carriers?

A part of me thinks that including comp in the MLRs could level the commission playing field.

 

[SamIam]

The Mass. clusterf**k aside - their system of zero comp for individual health brokers doesn't seem to have any negative effect with 97% of all Mass. residents having health insurance.

Circuit City had sales reps on commissions. There theory was consumers were better served. Bust Buy came along without commissioned reps and basically put them out of business. Circuit City even changed their commission-based model but it was too late.

And now allow me to say something a lot of you may disagree with. Here it goes. Are consumers better off dealing with commission based independent health agents?

Out of 100 agents which percentage only wrote for carriers offering 20% advanced commissions? Did brokers really take care of their clients by shopping Kaiser, Blue Cross, Coventry, etc...? Where consumers better off dealing with override happy call centers only pushing two carriers?

A part of me thinks that including comp in the MLRs could level the commission playing field.

I agree with John 100% on the Mass exchange nobody is screaming for the need to work with an agent. The health market will be dead market for agents. This is just a fact, you people better wake up if you think there going to need you.

 

[TXINSURANCE]

I agree with John 100% on the Mass exchange nobody is screaming for the need to work with an agent. The health market will be dead market for agents. This is just a fact, you people better wake up if you think there going to need you.

Maybe post 2014 you are correct IF the bill stands and does not get watered down. Pre 2014 there is still a lucrative market on less compensation.

It is important to talk about things in terms of pre 2014 and post 2014. Pre 2014 don't think 1/1/11 it is game over, it is just a different game.

Post 2014 - It's anyone's guess at this point. We have a presidential election and two mid term elections, not to mention a host of lawsuits and other fun stuff to keep us entertained! Who knows...

Sell it for the reduced compensation, cross sell, or just do something else if you can't figure it out - your call.

 

[insurehound]

Maybe post 2014 you are correct IF the bill stands and does not get watered down. Pre 2014 there is still a lucrative market on less compensation.

It is important to talk about things in terms of pre 2014 and post 2014. Pre 2014 don't think 1/1/11 it is game over, it is just a different game.

Post 2014 - It's anyone's guess at this point. We have a presidential election and two mid term elections, not to mention a host of lawsuits and other fun stuff to keep us entertained! Who knows...

Sell it for the reduced compensation, cross sell, or just do something else if you can't figure it out - your call.

Good points. It's too bad we have no one on our side.

 

[bill3173]

And now allow me to say something a lot of you may disagree with. Here it goes. Are consumers better off dealing with commission based independent health agents?

In the current system, yes, agents are valuable assistants in the process of selecting carriers, plans and assisting with claims, etc.

If you assume that the capitalist system is evil and should be replaced with one that does not reward initiative and hard work, but allows for more goverment control and expansion, then the changes that are being made should be viewed favorably.

 

[jbage007]

Who needs explanation when the only options available are Platinum, Gold, Silver, etc. and they're the same at every carrier.

Precisely.

This is the biggest windfall in the history of insurance companies. Fire all the agents and let the Gov't do all of your marketing for you. And surely as dumb and confused as consumers are, they can figure out how to "pick a color."

Genius.

Pure genius.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

"This is the biggest windfall in the history of insurance companies"

Not really. Under the current set-up, in 2014, they may not make money.

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[TXINSURANCE]

Not really. Under the current set-up, in 2014, they may not make money.

Or they make more money...

 

[HomeService]

There will be one insurance company left standing in 2014 and that one will be a criminal monopoly run by Obama, and propped up by bailouts and Wall St. trickery through Goldman Sachs, in conjunction with our criminal government, and Obama is indicating it will be UnitedHealth.