Bill Proctor & Associates Insurance Services, Inc.
Why Should You Use an Independent Broker
When Applying for Medicare?
An Independent Advantage
We are Independent Agents, free to choose the best carrier for your insurance needs. We do not work for an insurance company; we work for you. We work on your side when you have a loss and follow through to see that you get fair, prompt payment and service. Bill Proctor & Associates Insurance Services, Inc represents a carefully selected group of financially strong, reputable insurance companies. Therefore, we are able to offer you the best coverage at the most competitive price.
What is an Independent Insurance Agent?
When you decide to buy a car, you wouldn’t purchase the first one you see. What if one day the automobile industry decided to make only one type of car, one make and one model. You wouldn’t have a choice!
The same situation holds true for insurance. You need insurance to drive a car, to purchase a house, to protect your family’s financial future and to run a small business. But if there was only one insurance company that offered only one type of insurance, you wouldn’t have a choice. The only solution would be going to that one company.
With an independent insurance agent, you have choices. Independent agents are not tied to any one insurance company. One of the advantages of using an independent agent is that he or she works to satisfy your needs. You are using an expert for an important financial decision.
An independent agent has several companies that he or she can approach to get you the best coverage at the best price. And your independent agent will know the companies with the most efficient claims departments to recover your losses as quickly as possible.
When you buy insurance, you want an advocate who will properly assess the risks you face and give you an objective analysis of the marketplace, because it’s up to you to make the final choice.
Choosing a Medicare plan carries a high degree of importance for several reasons:
- You want the best healthcare coverage for your situation
- You want to keep your out-of-pocket expenses manageable
- You want a plan that you understand, so that you don’t experience unpleasant surprises
- You want to take advantage of the best opportunities available to you, during the appropriate time windows
- You don’t want to experience shocking gaps in coverage
- And probably a few more reasons, depending upon your circumstances
But because Medicare can be a complicated topic, with many different plans available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and confused. Working with an independent health insurance broker can help you make sense of all your options.
Benefits of Using a Broker
Insurance brokers are independent agents who represent multiple insurance carriers. This professional has dedicated their career to understanding the complex web of Medicare insurance options, and therefore has experience dealing with almost any situation imaginable.
Because brokers work independently, rather than for a specific insurance carrier, they can offer you unbiased guidance. You can feel confident that this professional is helping you identify your own priorities and needs, and is using those to inform their recommendations.
After you’ve enrolled in your chosen plan, a broker continues to offer support. You will have access to a team that can answer your questions and help you learn about your policy. And in the event of a problem, your support team can help you:
- Solve billing errors
- File an appeal for coverage
- Access medications when pharmacy exceptions occur
- Answer questions about your coverage
- Alert you when your coverage options change
Since brokers are intimately familiar with each insurance provider’s underwriting procedures, they can offer you vital information regarding your application. Often you can save significant amounts of time by applying for a policy through a broker, who already knows which companies are likely to accept you.
How do brokers get paid?
Brokers are paid a commission by the companies they represent, and that commission is prebuilt into the cost of each policy. The rate you pay for your Medicare plan is the same, whether or not you use a broker. When you enroll directly with the insurance carrier, they keep that commission money for themselves, rather than offering a discount.
That means you can access the unbiased services of a broker at no extra cost to you. Plus, you can enjoy all of the continued extra benefits as part of the deal.
How are brokers trained/certified?
Health insurance brokers undergo hundreds of rigorous training hours on Medicare law before they begin working with clients.
Each broker must complete the following steps in order to represent Medicare insurance companies and provide vital assistance to their clients:
- Complete pre-licensure education according to state law
- Pass their state’s licensing exam
- Apply for, and obtain, a license through the National Insurance Producer Registry
- Complete AHIP Medicare certification
- Purchase errors and omissions coverage, as required by law
- Apply for work through a brokerage firm, such as a National Marketing Organization or National Marketing Alliance
- Complete Annual Carrier Medicare Certifications
- Maintain Health Insurance License Continuing Education
Our licensed and certified agents are in your local area and ready to answer your questions and help you with the Medicare application process – all at no cost or obligation!
Have You Watched Our Medicare Essentials Video Quick-Course?
This video tutorial covers the basic elements of Medicare in a format that is easy to understand and you can watch it from the comfort of home! It’s yours at no cost and no obligation, just tell us where we should send it!