In the rapidly evolving health insurance sales landscape, efficient process management poses significant challenges for Field Marketing Organizations (FMOs) and Brokerage General Agencies (BGAs). Enrollment, quoting, customer management and engagement, and commissions are handled by disparate platforms that lack communication and may not be tailored to the industry's specific needs.

This Wednesday, December 14 at 1 pm eastern, join NAIFA's first financial security champion, E4 Insurance Services, for their next Building Relationship Every Week (BREW) webinar.

This week's BREW will feature Steve Walker, CLTC, LUTCF, Vice President of Institutional Accounts at E4, loyal NAIFA member since 2009, and a NAIFA 4 Under 40 Award Winner in 2021. 

One of the best parts of being a health insurance broker that works with financial advisors is I get referred to clients who care about making sure they are financially prepared for as many contingent emergencies as they can. In addition to that, I hear from the financial advisors who made the referral. After a medical issue befalls the client I get a thank you for making sure that medical emergency did not strike down years of careful preparation, potentially putting a sound financial plan at risk.

On June 30, 1965, President Johnson signed H.R. 6675, which led to the creation of Medicare and Medicaid. Under this bill, Medicare Parts A and B were created and today these benefits are commonly referred to as “Original Medicare”.

To understand Medicare, it’s important to start with Original Medicare, because Parts A and B are often considered its building blocks. Having a solid understanding of the costs and benefits of Original Medicare is important since almost everyone is required to enroll in Parts A and B when seeking post-retirement health benefits. For example, to enroll in additional benefits such as a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan, enrollment in Original Medicare is a must. Additionally, many employer-retiree plans, Tricare, and other corporate-sponsored retiree programs require enrollment into Original Medicare as part of your post-retirement health benefits.

If an agent working with people on Medicare is even somewhat successful at what they do, hundreds of people, if not thousands, will depend on them. The statistics are not merely numbers but hard facts that impact real people. For example, out of 100 clients, statistically, in the US, an estimated 40 out of 100 men and 39 out of 100 women will develop cancer during their lifetime. That means you are very likely to have the opportunity to help many of your clients deal with the financial impact of cancer. Knowing how Medicare will work for treatment and having a publication ready to share will show them that you are a qualified advisor. 

The famous New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to the fork in the road, take it.” While clearly this quote provides humor, it provides no clear path or direction when seeking your destination. Our Medicare options can be viewed as a fork in the road, however, there is a decision to make about which direction to take. 

When the time comes for you to start Medicare, your first step is to enroll in Original Medicare. Original Medicare consists of Parts A and B and together they provide comprehensive health insurance for your medical needs. Once securing your enrollment in Original Medicare, the next step is to determine if you will remain on Original Medicare or select a Medicare Advantage plan. Taking the time to understand how each option works will go a long way in selecting the right Medicare plans.

As a Medicare insurance broker, I am in the process of getting ready to offer the next year’s products. Insurance companies are also getting ready to advertise next year’s plans, and clients are beginning to wonder if this is the year they should make a major change. Every year, marketing during the Medicare Annual Election Period [AEP] has gotten intense, and there is no evidence to show it’s slowing down. As trusted advisors, you can expect clients to go to you for advice as their opportunity to change plans approaches. Fortunately, you do not need to know the intricacies of the two main types of competing products to be able to advise on financial impacts of them. Here’s the basics of what all financial advisors need to know.

Giving access to care for our clients by building comprehensive plans requires that we look at any benefits that they may have access to and any ways we can assist them. If you have American Indian or Alaska Native clients, Medicare can be a confusing topic because of the benefits offered to them by the Indian Health Service.

As an advisor to individuals on Medicare or advising a caregiver to someone on Medicare, you require accurate information. One of the best reference tools for you to share with them is Medicare publications. They are easy to access on Medicare.gov and available on a variety of topics. Here are a few that I find outstanding.

Presented by NAIFA’s Limited and Extended Care Planning Center