On the Horizon: Under 65 Med Supplments?

[HealthGuy]

ksigmtsu: Love the anaylsis....Others, please keep it coming! I like the back and forth on this....I agree, if comp. on an exchange plan is only $200 a pop, 5 a week is $1,000...That type of pay does suck if it comes to pass.

 

[Winter_123]

ksigmtsu: Devil's advocate again with you my friend - how specifically are we cut out yet come 2014 exchange time? How, in detail, have we been screwed already? Where is the proof? I'm not saying you are wrong, and commissions will drop, but who says agents are completely out of the picture?

In many instances, they will be allowed but not needed. Agents have lots and lots of reasons why they are still needed and clients wont get the same level of service as going through an exchange. Many of the reasons are valid. Unfortunately, you are dependent on consumers knowing and agreeing with that which is either doubtful or at a minimum will still have major impact on the market so that you are left dealing with just those who do think they need an agent.

 

[YouGotMyMoney]

ksigmtsu: Love the anaylsis....Others, please keep it coming! I like the back and forth on this....I agree, if comp. on an exchange plan is only $200 a pop, 5 a week is $1,000...That type of pay does suck if it comes to pass.

HealthGuy, let me ask you a question---have you figured out a game plan for next year when commission drops?

I'm not picking on you, but it seems like a lot of health agents on hoping that everything is going to be alright in re: to selling indy health.

I like selling health ins, pretty simple product to sell.

But health care reform has already made it more difficult to sell indy health:

1. No child only apps

2. Family Apps are more expensive

So, next year when commish drops I'll prob still still health to 1-3 day old aged leads or telemarket, but it will only make up 25% of my income.

I'm going to be mainly selling Medicare products and Life Insurance, of course I'm also looking into if it's realistic to sell P & C insurance completely online/over the phone.

 

[HealthGuy]

Thanks Mark...putting together the gameplan as we speak...Crosselling the hell out of 65 plus med sups, accident plans, life - whereever I can. P and C by phone has huge landmines (not because its just by phone) but P and C is a completely different business altogether....My gameplan come January isn't complete, but coming together.

 

[somarco]

I don't see how the consumer will fare any better in an exchange than they do now. They can't figure out Med supp's and there are only what, 8 plans? And all of them are standardized.

I get people every week that go to my site, pick a plan (usually one that does not cover brand Rx) and apply direct. Maybe half will never complete the app, most of the rest are declined.

Having an exchange will not improve their ability to figure out what they need or how to get an app approved.

Of course with GI they won't have to worry about underwriting, maybe, depending on the final rating scheme. It could be that everyone pays the same regardless of age, gender or medical history or there are some adjustments based on pre-ex conditions.

Regardless, I don't see the consumer getting any smarter over the next 3 years.

Of course the ones going on Medicaid won't have to worry about anything other than finding a doc willing to treat them.

 

[HealthGuy]

Somarco: I like the dialog...this was a 5 star post from you today...Thanks for the contribution, and I'm not being sarcastic. I like the viewpoint. We may always have something to sell because people are always confused and the gov't will make it more confusing. WTF...I just noticed I am now a three star general, I was 4 star. WTF.

 

[somarco]

I just noticed I am now a three star general, I was 4 star. WTF.

It must be April 1 in Kosovo.

 

[Winter_123]

I don't see how the consumer will fare any better in an exchange than they do now. They can't figure out Med supp's and there are only what, 8 plans? And all of them are standardized.

I get people every week that go to my site, pick a plan (usually one that does not cover brand Rx) and apply direct. Maybe half will never complete the app, most of the rest are declined.

Having an exchange will not improve their ability to figure out what they need or how to get an app approved.

Of course with GI they won't have to worry about underwriting, maybe, depending on the final rating scheme. It could be that everyone pays the same regardless of age, gender or medical history or there are some adjustments based on pre-ex conditions.

Regardless, I don't see the consumer getting any smarter over the next 3 years.

Of course the ones going on Medicaid won't have to worry about anything other than finding a doc willing to treat them.

Both aspects can be true at the same time. Consumers can end out going through exchanges and also not be better off.

In Maine, if you want health insurance you call Anthem or go to their website. That's it. Whether it is right or wrong or whether cosnumers are better served or not does not change the fact that that is the way it is.
Independent agents are just not part of the picture, unless you are dealing with a mega guy or something.

And of course Anthem likes it that way and all of the carriers will be making it as easy as possible for you to sign right up directly. The other thing that comes into the picture are the "navigators" if you need more than just the website. They will help and of course they are not biased like the evil agents. So even if one were to argue that they need help, then the government is going to provide it, allegedly. Not a pretty picture for agents.

Change you can believe in.

 

[ksigmtsu]

Typically monopolies are not the best solution for the consumer, as per the situation in Maine. It might be fantastic in that state but it generally isn't the best.