Writing United and Commisions

[sman]

because every dollar counts more for them ... if a drug isn't on their formulary they pay full price or they can't afford $40 to see a specialist, or they can't afford a monthly premium ... they have a slew of problems sometimes and really need educated advice and direction.

and guys I call people the first month they are into the program and the 3rd month to make sure they're doing well and still on the books, which I would advise you guys to do too also.

so there you guys have it ... my secret to success!!! Youre Welcome (stay out of My Markets)

So if you write 10-20 applications per week, that's 40-80 phone calls the first month in addition to your 12 appointments per day. By the third month, you have 80-160 phone calls per month in addition to your 12 appoitnments per day. And I'm sure anyone can attest to this, if you have 30-40 appointments per week, you're definitely going to have some call backs and follow up work. I don't see how it's physically possible. Man, do you have a life outside of Medicare Advantage plans?

 

[Slick]

Just glad to be here.

 

[Cenla Agent]

No thanks...I smell trouble. I see CMS lurking around the corner.

Based on what I've read here (cold calling for MA) I think CMS would be quite interested.

 

[Cenla Agent]

Kyle,

I have done 6 in one day only once. Four of them were within a few blocks of each other. Most of them I had already given the price to and qualified them over the phone before I actually went on the appointment. I had to take the next two weeks off.

I consider myself very, very lucky to be able to get the appointments to make twelve presentations a week, let alone twelve a day.

To do twelve a day I would have to drive up to the house, sit in the driveway, honk the horn, have them come out to the car and sign the app on the hood without turning the engine off.

I guess I am stuck using "Old Fashion Marketing" unless I can figure out a new way of doing it.

If he is selling Advantage plans and could write 20 apps per week (I get $350 per app from Pyramid) that would be $7,000 per week. That is some serious money! If one could do that every week it would be $364,000 per year. That's a hell of a lot more than I make! I know he said 10 to 20 but even 10, in his second year of selling insurance, is kicking ass and taking names big time.

I have a new hero!

I think the most I've ever scheduled is 5. When I do that, typically at least one is a no-show. I have been working in rural areas the past few months and am doing good to schedule 3 solid appointments per day, in part due to logistics. It's also often difficult to schedule appointments for early am (before 9) or after 6 pm.

 

[Slick]

I think the most I've ever scheduled is 5. When I do that, typically at least one is a no-show. I have been working in rural areas the past few months and am doing good to schedule 3 solid appointments per day, in part due to logistics. It's also often difficult to schedule appointments for early am (before 9) or after 6 pm.

I love working rural, starting late and quitting early. What is your closing percentage rurally? (is that a word?)

 

[Cenla Agent]

I love working rural, starting late and quitting early. What is your closing percentage rurally? (is that a word?)

Some of the rural areas I was talking about are 1-2 hours away, so starting late and quitting early only really allows you a couple of good appointments, but that's what I did many days.

I have been remiss in keeping records as well as I should have (I basically have the info, just haven't calculated the %) but I'd say the % is pretty high when it is a good prospect, i.e. non Medicaid, no group insurance and Original Medicare only. I had little success this year replacing supplements because the MA I was selling was expensive (avg. $100) in most of those areas. (Some probably wouldn't switch even for $0 premium, and in some cases shouldn't). If I had been selling a cheaper product I would have sold a good many more than I did since several turned it down due to the premium.

A lot of the rural areas are very underserved by insurance agents. One client from last month told me he had been trying to get someone to come out for about 6 weeks, and he lives in a neighborhood just off of a major highway and isn't nearly as remote and off the beaten path as many other places I've been.

 

[johnrocks]

I think some people may be misunderstood about calling for MA, it is my understanding that you can call if your out- bound telemarketing script has been approved by CMS. You can't under any circumstances go door to door though.

 

[Cenla Agent]

I think some people may be misunderstood about calling for MA, it is my understanding that you can call if your out- bound telemarketing script has been approved by CMS. You can't under any circumstances go door to door though.

The ability for out-bound TM with an approved script makes sense since some companies use telemarketers to set appointments. Typically, the companies that do that will prohibit their agents from buying lists, etc. since the company is already doing that, as well as helping avoid any problems with compliance.

 

[johnrocks]

The ability for out-bound TM with an approved script makes sense since some companies use telemarketers to set appointments. Typically, the companies that do that will prohibit their agents from buying lists, etc. since the company is already doing that, as well as helping avoid any problems with compliance.[/quot

But being an indy., I can buy a list and use an approved script; I can even submit my own script for approval.

 

[Cenla Agent]

The ability for out-bound TM with an approved script makes sense since some companies use telemarketers to set appointments. Typically, the companies that do that will prohibit their agents from buying lists, etc. since the company is already doing that, as well as helping avoid any problems with compliance.[/quot

But being an indy., I can buy a list and use an approved script; I can even submit my own script for approval.

Have you done that?