Time on my hands...

[Thomfam]

I have been in the Medicare world for over a decade, and that will remain to be my focus... however with the new norm of isolation I'd like to increase my skill set by getting into under 65 health plans through the exchange.

it's not often I run into an opportunity, but I do occasionally.

Can anyone provide guidance on best practices for training and contracting? I will sell in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

Thanks!


BTW I am set with my Medicare FMO, they just don't do ACA stuff.

 

[sman]

I have been in the Medicare world for over a decade, and that will remain to be my focus... however with the new norm of isolation I'd like to increase my skill set by getting into under 65 health plans through the exchange.

it's not often I run into an opportunity, but I do occasionally.

Can anyone provide guidance on best practices for training and contracting? I will sell in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

Thanks!


BTW I am set with my Medicare FMO, they just don't do ACA stuff.

Not sure what that market is like in the three states you mentioned, but in Georgia it seems to not be a worthwhile endeavor. I gave up on the under 65 individual plan crowd after the first or second year of ACA being in full effect. First of all, the plans we have here are horrible. I don't want my name associated with products that are going to upset my clients. Second, the commission is atrocious here in Georgia. Especially considering the amount of work that goes into helping someone pick a plan. Again, this may not be an issue in the three states you mentioned, but I'd recommend you find out how widely accepted the plans on the Exchange are in those states and also what the commissions are before jumping in.

Also remember that outside of a SEP, no one is enrolling in plans right now. That brings up another issue here in Georgia, if someone enrolls outside of Open Enrollment, the carriers don't pay any commission. Again, that could be different in those three states.

 

[LostDollar]

His posts here suggest yagents has the opposite experience in AZ, using U65's as a feed for T65 medicare.

 

[sman]

His posts here suggest yagents has the opposite experience in AZ, using U65's as a feed for T65 medicare.

Sure, if you want to put in the effort to do that. I think he may have already been heavily in that market so it's just a natural progression to hang onto those clients, especially if they are in their late 50's to early 60's. For me, I had about 70 under 65 clients. Many nowhere near age 65. It wasn't worth the effort for me to spend a few hours with each client and then have them super frustrated with the lack of doctor availability in their network and the high premiums.

And it sure wouldn't be worth the effort to start from scratch here in Georgia unless you could narrow your marketing to those closer to age 65 (and I'm still not convinced it would be unless they are 63 or older - wouldn't want to have to do that for more than two open enrollment periods). But at a commission of $10 per month, how much money could you really justify spending on marketing?

Remember, the OP doesn't currently work that market which means he's starting from scratch on building that book of business. And I clearly stated the market could be different in those 3 states. But for $10 per month (here in Georgia), I'm just not willing to do the work that goes into helping someone pick a plan (looking up medications, doctors and hospitals). Not to mention the reviewing of multiple plans and then finally suggesting one that they aren't going to be happy with. My time and sanity is worth much more than that.

 

[LostDollar]

Sure, if you want to put in the effort to do that. I think he may have already been heavily in that market so it's just a natural progression to hang onto those clients, especially if they are in their late 50's to early 60's. For me, I had about 70 under 65 clients. Many nowhere near age 65. It wasn't worth the effort for me to spend a few hours with each client and then have them super frustrated with the lack of doctor availability in their network and the high premiums.

And it sure wouldn't be worth the effort to start from scratch here in Georgia unless you could narrow your marketing to those closer to age 65 (and I'm still not convinced it would be unless they are 63 or older - wouldn't want to have to do that for more than two open enrollment periods). But at a commission of $10 per month, how much money could you really justify spending on marketing?

Remember, the OP doesn't currently work that market which means he's starting from scratch on building that book of business. And I clearly stated the market could be different in those 3 states. But for $10 per month (here in Georgia), I'm just not willing to do the work that goes into helping someone pick a plan (looking up medications, doctors and hospitals). Not to mention the reviewing of multiple plans and then finally suggesting one that they aren't going to be happy with. My time and sanity is worth much more than that.

Thanks for the comments. That ought to give op a good perspective for his considerations.

 

[Thomfam]

I appreciate the insight... I am really only getting into under 65 as a courtesy for my Medicare member's spouses that need to do something, its not about the money at all. They won't like any of the options (true), but they won't like them either if I just send them to healthcare.gov