Recommendations for Seminars During AEP

[Limozine]

I'm sorry, but, lol.

Would you like the carriers to present for you as well, and, perhaps, fill up your gas tank? Maybe they can give you some pens so that you can get the signatures more easily.

I've already received more support from some carriers than others. That fact alone proves my point.

 

[sshafran]

I've already received more support from some carriers than others. That fact alone proves my point.

I wish you the best, but this desire for "support" from a carrier should be a short-lived thing.

Carriers are disposable at best - we should be myopic in focus: what plan is the best fit for my client? Period. Not...which one helped me set up a table and gave me some flyers and made me feel good about my new opportunity? Ok, it was carrier x, so I'll make sure to push them next year.

The best independent agents out there have little-to-no loyalty to any specific carrier.

My two cents - worth at least a penny.

 

[Limozine]

I wish you the best, but this desire for "support" from a carrier should be a short-lived thing.

Carriers are disposable at best - we should be myopic in focus: what plan is the best fit for my client? Period. Not...which one helped me set up a table and gave me some flyers and made me feel good about my new opportunity? Ok, it was carrier x, so I'll make sure to push them next year.

The best independent agents out there have little-to-no loyalty to any specific carrier.

My two cents - worth at least a penny.

I don't disagree with anything you've said. But in my area, five or six different carriers may offer plans that are essentially the same. If they all benefit my client to the same degree, why shouldn't I promote the one that will be the easiest to sell?

My point is only that I have a limited number of hours, days, and finances to work with. So it seems to me to make sense to focus my resources where they are most effective. All other things being equal, if carrier A sends me 30 leads and carrier B sends me zero, it would seem to me that I would have a vested interest in maintaining a good relationship with carrier A, and not so much with carrier B. My loyalty to carrier A wouldn't be based on loyalty for loyalty's sake, but simply self interest.

On the other hand, suppose neither carrier sends leads, and seminars for each produce roughly the same results. But carrier B provides much more logistical support in setting up the seminars. Which do I promote? The one that gets the same results for less effort on my part, which in this case is carrier B. Again, it's not loyalty for the sake of loyalty. It's loyalty to the carrier that helps me get the best results with fewer resources. I can then invest more of those resources into that same carrier.

 

[mdlovell]

I don't disagree with anything you've said. But in my area, five or six different carriers may offer plans that are essentially the same. If they all benefit my client to the same degree, why shouldn't I promote the one that will be the easiest to sell?

I would be very surprised if these plans are as similar as you think they are. There are major factors in how plans work other than premium, deductible, and MOOP.

How many pcp's do they have? Do the specialists work in pods? How big of a difference are their formularies? This isn't meant to be all inclusive but wanted you to get the point.

Maybe you have already compared these factors. If you haven't then it would be a good use of time.

 

[somarco]

I see no mention anywhere of compliance.

MA and compliance can be onerous to navigate, even for an experienced agent.

I am sure the carriers will have your back in the event you step over the line.