Some general "getting started" questions about Medicare Advantage

[south_oc_sales]

My wife and I just got our licenses to sell life and health insurance in California. We're particularly interested in selling SNP's due to their sell-ability during closed enrollment.
We have a few questions for anybody who can help:
1. Which of the insurance providers in California that offer MA plans are the best to get appointed with?
2. Do you recommend selling MA plans with SNP options?
3. Please offer any opinions on the lead-generating services that sell (minimum) 20 leads a week for about $30 each? They claim that their agents boast a 40% close rate overall. Certainly seems worth it if true. Thoughts?
4. What is the best way to become familiar with all of the different plans so that we may be equipped to answer any question or concern that arises in the field? Stands to reason that I'll really have to know my stuff if I'm spending over $600 per week in leads.
5. Would you mind sharing which avenues of insurance sales you've found to be particularly prosperous and rewarding, whether it be during open or closed enrollment?
6. Is it mandatory in California to have a Managing General Agent?
7. Are some Managing General Agents better than others, or is an agent's success pretty much self-directed?
I know it's a lot of questions but any advice is appreciated

 

[GreenSky]

My wife and I just got our licenses to sell life and health insurance in California. We're particularly interested in selling SNP's due to their sell-ability during closed enrollment.

There is limited value in selling to dual eligibles in California. Medicare and MediCal provide a very rich benefit so enrolling a person in an HMO does not necessarily make sense. However, if you can get some doctors to recommend the change to their patients, you can make some "real" money.

Chronic Illness SNPs can be sold year 'round and are primarily a gimmic. There are only 2 plans in Southern California. The Health Net plan is going bye-bye because it only covers one condition. Evercare (Secure Horizons) remains and actually is a decent plan with good benefits. Is it better than a non-SNP plan? Maybe not - you need to compare.

Commissions are going down starting with the 2009 policy year. My best guess is $25 per month due to changes in CMS rules and federal law. Can you live on $25 per month per plan?

I can help you with contracts for many of the companies in California and certainly am willing to help. Give me a call or shoot me an email insure (AT) greensky (DOT) com.

Rick

 

[MedSuppPro]

 

[gbass]

Have you received commission schedules from the companies already? I know the law was signed into effect a couple weeks ago, did not know the companies had already released that info.