Twice a year, Medicare recipients (and those turning 65 in six or fewer months) are bombarded with phone calls, emails, junk mail, radio and television ads, and even door knockers trying to sway people to whatever plans they have to offer. This happens during AEP (the Annual Election Period – October 15th through December 7th) and OEP (Open Enrollment Period – January 1st through March 31st). For many, this is a time of anxiety. They don’t know who to trust and fear making the wrong decision. However, you can protect them from unscrupulous scammers (as there are always a few) and give them peace of mind, by hosting a Medicare seminar at your organization.
By providing a seminar, you can choose a day or two that best fits your calendar and do a group educational event that informs, answers questions and does not try to sell. There is power in a group and your members will feel protected. Moreover, it will feed questions from your organization, as one person will spark and embolden others to speak up.
However, there are certain things to consider as you decide who to trust this sacred task to. Let’s take a look at these.
A Captive Agent versus a Fiduciary Agent
A licensed agent must conduct the presentation and Q&A session. Remember, this is an educational event. What this means is:
- No promotion of any company can take place. It’s detailed general information.
- The agent cannot approach anyone. The participants must choose to speak with the agent if they need help. No pressure at all.
- The presenter must be an expert on all participants’ needs. As we will discuss in the next point, it’s not just people 65 and over who are eligible for Medicare.
So, you must decide whether to have a captive or fiduciary agent conduct the event. What’s the difference? Great question!
A Captive Agent
A captive agent works for one insurance company or carrier. Therefore, if any member wishes to speak with him or her, they can only offer one insurance company’s policies. If what they have is not the best fit, how does the member know, since there’s nothing else to compare it to?
A Fiduciary Agent
A fiduciary agent represents no insurance company but may contract with multiple to have a large portfolio to fit a wide variety of needs. Like at YourCareRep.com (for more information, download our flyer), we contract with six (6) different carriers:
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare
- Humana
- CarePlus
- Cigna
- Devoted
- And soon to be added, Florida Blue
Moreover, a fiduciary is legally and morally bound to do only what’s in the member’s best interest, not the insurance companies.
The Presentation Should Serve All Needs
Contrary to popular belief, seniors 65 and over are not the only people eligible for Medicare and/or have Medicare needs. There are also:
- Veterans with VA Benefits
- Veterans, dependents and government retirees with TRICARE For Life or CHAMPVA
- Disabled persons receiving SSD/SSDI for 24+ months
- Disabled persons with ESRD or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, who are eligible immediately
The presentation needs to address all these different factors, as each has its own set of rules.
Whomever you choose, do your homework. Ensure he or she is knowledgeable in all aspects of Medicare and the needs of your diverse group. This will provide peace of mind because your members will know:
- You vetted whomever you chose
- They are under no pressure tactics to buy anything
- They are in an assembly with fellow members, family and friends
- They are in a safe place with no anxiety
Furthermore, with so many eyes and ears in attendance, many will remember what was presented. This provides support all around and keeps everyone accountable and honest.
If you are in Tampa Bay and would like to have this seminar at your church, school, community or organization, YourCareRep.com (Eddie Velez) is ready to cover all these points at your location.
If you are not in Tampa Bay or you are in the states of South Carolina or Texas, a virtual seminar can be conducted via ZOOM or your organization’s favorite conference platform (GoToMeeting, WebEx, MS Teams, etc.).
