They Are In ! 2009 CMS approved rates posted

[retread]

Re: THEY ARE IN! 2009 CMS approved rates posted

I agree with you that we will possably make more over the long haul..........However based on the changes this year in regards to plans changing benefits and cost do you really thing that ALL your current clients will stay with the SAME plans for 5 years??.......When their plan goes South they will call you and you may have to start from scratch explaining the plan, checking RX drugs they use, see if their doctors take the plan, do all the new paperwork, take time from your day and then YOU will breakeven on renewal commissions...A lot of work for no NEW commision......I wish I was wrong, I like this market...........But thats how I see it.......becasue I am already doing this example THIS year!

I think you are missing a really big point. Perhaps you have clients climbing over the fence to come see you, but I don't. It takes a lot of $ and time to chase down prospects. If I already have an existing business relationship with a client, I count that as an asset.

 

[scottfree]

Re: THEY ARE IN! 2009 CMS approved rates posted

However based on the changes this year in regards to plans changing benefits and cost do you really thing that ALL your current clients will stay with the SAME plans for 5 years

One thing that everyone is forgetting when talking about having a current client on the same plan for 5 years. is that in 2011 all of us that have a large book of PFFS plans will have to move them to network plans and have to explain and help clients choose again for the same renewal. That is if things don't change to this plan sooner or if there will be a totally new type of Medicare plans with the new president.

I will keep in the mix for next year but if we have to deal with this BS at all next year(which we will) I will just not do it.

 

[The Rabbi]

Re: THEY ARE IN! 2009 CMS approved rates posted

I agree with you that we will possably make more over the long haul..........However based on the changes this year in regards to plans changing benefits and cost do you really thing that ALL your current clients will stay with the SAME plans for 5 years??.......When their plan goes South they will call you and you may have to start from scratch explaining the plan, checking RX drugs they use, see if their doctors take the plan, do all the new paperwork, take time from your day and then YOU will breakeven on renewal commissions...A lot of work for no NEW commision......I wish I was wrong, I like this market...........But thats how I see it.......becasue I am already doing this example THIS year!

You definitely should leave the senior market if it is that much work.

Me, I buy internet leads and qualify the people on the phone, email them a pkg with an app and SOB (I use mostly AARP plans if they want a PPO or supp). If they want it, they print out the app and fax it to me. Done deal. I've had it with the HMOs and the crummy agencies I have to work through. I believe the AARP clients will stick.

 

[Frank Stastny]

Hey,

I think most of you know how I feel about the whole commission thing with agents having to go through an FMO and the differences between what the FMO gets and what the agent gets. Especially when considering what the agents get in the way of "training" and "help" etc.

Isn't that what the FMO's are claiming is the reason for keeping so much of what they get and passing on a much smaller amount to the agent?

I discovered the other day that I have a pretty good contract with Pyramid. I knew it was above street level but I guess I didn't realize how much above. It was at that time that I also found out that I could offer contracts.

I can offer contracts at the Regional Managing General Agent level. I have been told the commissions are quite a bit higher than the "street level" that most agents are getting.

I haven't paid a lot of attention to all of that because I only sell PDP plans. I don't offer PFFS plans in rural Missouri and I no longer sell in St. Louis or KC.

The commission levels that I can offer would be $500 MAPD and $450 for MA. Replacement commissions are slightly above 50%. Yes, I said above 50%.

I found out that I can also offer Coventry contracts above street level but I don't have the exact figures.

For Rick's benefit, no, the marketing organization I have my contract through does not give unconditional releases which means that I can't either.

However, if those figures are substantially higher than what others are offering I really don't care about getting a release. Where would I go to get a better deal if I did get a release?

What do you think? Should I post this in the Offers section?

 

[retread]

Hey,

I think most of you know how I feel about the whole commission thing with agents having to go through an FMO and the differences between what the FMO gets and what the agent gets. Especially when considering what the agents get in the way of "training" and "help" etc.

Isn't that what the FMO's are claiming is the reason for keeping so much of what they get and passing on a much smaller amount to the agent?

I discovered the other day that I have a pretty good contract with Pyramid. I knew it was above street level but I guess I didn't realize how much above. It was at that time that I also found out that I could offer contracts.

I can offer contracts at the Regional Managing General Agent level. I have been told the commissions are quite a bit higher than the "street level" that most agents are getting.

I haven't paid a lot of attention to all of that because I only sell PDP plans. I don't offer PFFS plans in rural Missouri and I no longer sell in St. Louis or KC.

The commission levels that I can offer would be $500 MAPD and $450 for MA. Replacement commissions are slightly above 50%. Yes, I said above 50%.

I found out that I can also offer Coventry contracts above street level but I don't have the exact figures.

For Rick's benefit, no, the marketing organization I have my contract through does not give unconditional releases which means that I can't either.

However, if those figures are substantially higher than what others are offering I really don't care about getting a release. Where would I go to get a better deal if I did get a release?

What do you think? Should I post this in the Offers section?

I dunno, Frank. I like you the way you are. I can't see you becoming "Frank and Associates"! LOL

As to your commission offer... that's what I get direct now, so what are you going to offer to "sweeten the deal"?

 

[Frank Stastny]

I dunno, Frank. I like you the way you are. I can't see you becoming "Frank and Associates"! LOL

As to your commission offer... that's what I get direct now, so what are you going to offer to "sweeten the deal"?

Frank Ass? I already get called that a lot, figured I might as well try to make a buck if I'm going to get called that anyway.

Hi have a couple of goats that are going to have kids next month. How about one of them? However, I don't deliver.

 

[retread]

Frank Ass? I already get called that a lot, figured I might as well try to make a buck if I'm going to get called that anyway.

Hi have a couple of goats that are going to have kids next month. How about one of them? However, I don't deliver.

May take you up on the offer. I made pocket change when I was a kid selling goat milk to ulcer patients... that was the therapy back in the 50's. My goat's name was "Annie"... she had such a big udder that it dragged the ground. I had to fashion a "bra" for her out of a burlap feed sack. When my mother saw it she almost died with hysterical laughter!

 

[MedSuppPro]

Frank,

What happened to you? I thought you were anti-Medicare Advantage. You've been into that scotch bottle again - haven't you? We all can get the same stinken level with Pyramid and besides what do you offer that the pig boys FMO don't already offer?

​

 

[Frank Stastny]

Frank,

What happened to you? I thought you were anti-Medicare Advantage. You've been into that scotch bottle again - haven't you? We all can get the same stinken level with Pyramid and besides what do you offer that the pig boys FMO don't already offer?

​

Goats!

I'm not anti MA just anti PFFS for people who live in rural Missouri. If I still lived in St. Louis I would be peddling the HMO's along with the best of them.

I have no idea what the contract pays that I have with Pyramid, my "go to guy" said that commission levels above me were solidified yet. I'm guessing my level will pay $25 above what I'm offering. If mine is higher than $25 then I will offer more.

I'm really not doing it to get in the business of recruiting, just trying to offer something better if an agent isn't getting that much.

"They" are right, no good deed goes unpunished.

How many goats do you want?

 

[MedSuppPro]

I don't want green eggs and ham. Horses is what I am.

I haven't paid a lot of attention to all of that because I only sell PDP plans. I don't offer PFFS plans in rural Missouri and I no longer sell in St. Louis or KC.​

-- FRANK

As far as St. Louis. Man, if I were you, I'd go east on I-70 and get off in St. Louis County. It has got to be a hot market for supp's.

As far as PDP's, I thought you sent your clients down to the local drug store?