Navigating Medicare can be overwhelming. If you find you want guidance to choose what’s best for your needs, a Medicare insurance agent may be helpful. Here are some tips to help you choose the right agent for you.
Do You Need a Medicare Insurance Agent?
Whether or not you need a Medicare insurance agent is dependent on your personal situation. Many choose not to, but there are plenty of reasons why seeking out their guidance is helpful.
The biggest reason: Medicare can be confusing. It can be difficult to navigate what plan you need, and benefits and exceptions only complicate things. Buying health insurance is a huge investment, so you want to find a plan that meets your needs right away rather than having to switch to a different plan later on (and potentially get wrong again). A knowledgeable agent can help you get the best value for your money no matter what your needs are.
What to Look for in a Medicare Insurance Agent
There are many Medicare insurance agents out there, so it can be hard to find the one you want to work with. When beginning your search, look out for these things to help you figure out if the agent you’re considering is right for you.
Experience
You should pick an agent with solid experience selling Medicare plans in your state. Medicare is not simple, and it is constantly changing. It’s crucial to work with someone with many years of experience selling and working with Medicare. An experienced agent will have extensive knowledge of Medicare offerings, recent coverage changes, benefits, and most importantly, answers to questions you may have. They’ll also be able to explain to you why one plan is best suited for you over another plan. When it comes to Medicare choices, experience is essential.
Options
There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution to Medicare plans. Original Medicare may be right for you, or a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Supplement plan could be part of your choice. Much of your choice depends on not only your lifestyle, but also your future health needs, what’s available in your area, and your budget. If an agent is only selling you one plan, they aren’t the right fit. It’s important to know and ask if they sell more than Original Medicare because options can benefit you.
Support
Is the Medicare insurance agent you chose going to help you answer your questions even after you sign up for a plan? Enrollment assistance isn’t the only service agents have to offer, and it’s better if they offer more. Some provide ongoing engagement even after you sign up for a plan to help answer questions and assist you when there’s a problem. This extra support can go a long way in terms of understanding your coverage and ensuring you avoid problems with Medicare.
Good Listener
You want to choose a Medicare insurance agent who is willing to spend the time you need to make this important choice. Again, health insurance is a huge investment. You want to make sure you get the plan that fits your lifestyle and needs. The right agent will listen to your needs and concerns so they can figure out the right plan for you. If your agent isn’t listening to you, know there are plenty who will gladly listen and seek your business.
They Ask the Right Questions
Not only will the right agent listen to you, but they’ll also ask the right questions. Some of the most important questions they ask are about the doctors you’re seeing and the prescription medications you are taking. If they don’t ask for this information, there is no way they’re going to be able to find you the right plan. Making sure your preferred doctors are in your network if you’re signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan or that your prescription drugs are on your plan’s formulary is vital. When they ask these questions, you can ensure you’ll get the proper coverage with your doctors and prescriptions.
Red Flags to Watch Out for
Unfortunately, there are red flags to watch out for when choosing a Medicare insurance agent. Some agents are only looking to get paid and will scam you into purchasing a Medicare plan that’s nowhere near meeting your needs. If you notice these red flags in an agent, walk away:
- Door-to-door agents – agents who go door-to-door selling Medicare plans are typically on the prowl for the highest commission they can get and often have limited plan options.
- Not asking about your doctors or prescriptions – as we mentioned before, if they don’t ask these important questions, you may get stuck with a plan that forces you to pay out-of-pocket for your healthcare services or the total cost of your prescriptions.
- Unsolicited phone calls – an insurance agent calling you out of the blue claiming to be with Medicare is fraudulent. If you get a call like this, hang up the phone. If you filled out a form online wanting a Medicare quote and your phone starts ringing off the hook, these insurance agents purchased your information from that website. Their only intention is to get you to enroll in a plan before you hang up. Know that at Jeffery Insurance, we won’t cold call you and will be the only ones to call you when you request information (we will never sell your information).
Looking for a Medicare Insurance Agent?
If you’re on the hunt for someone to help you with your Medicare plan, we’d love to be considered as an option. The Jeffery Insurance team is here to help you understand Medicare, answer any questions you have about coverage and benefits, and sign up for the plan that suits your needs and lifestyle. Even after you sign up for a plan, we are your Medicare advocates and will be available every time you need us. We are based in Scottsdale but are happy to assist you no matter where you are in Arizona. We are Arizona’s health care resource!
