Find a Local Independent Medicare Insurance Agent
A Medicare Agent Broker Near Me? Why It Matters!
Medicare is a NATIONAL program. But, your plan choices can be LOCAL. A plan available in the county you live in, MAY NOT be available across county lines.
Medicare offers enormous choice. All those choices can be confusing. Is Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) better for you? What are the TV ads promoting FREE coverage NOT telling you?
When you call a toll-free number, are you speaking to an INDEPENDENT Medicare agent? Or, are they going to try to steer you to just one or two plans?
Information is power. You should get as much as possible. We strongly believe it is smart to speak to a local Medicare insurance agent. The Association makes available an online directory. It is 100% free to use. Even more important, it is 100% private. You only enter a Zip Code to see the listing. No personal information.
Enter your Zip Code (box to the right) or Click the link to find Medicare Agent-Broker Near Me
What To Look For In A Medicare Insurance Agent
It seems obvious. But here is some things you might not know.
All insurance policies are sold by agents. When you call a toll-free number for information, you will ultimately be speaking to an insurance agent (or broker). We will explain the difference below.
Medicare insurance agents brokers generally do not earn a salary. That’s right, they are typically working for free (until you buy something). Then they may get paid a commission or some sort of marketing fee.
Is working for free good or bad? It can be good because try to get free advice from a lawyer or a doctor (good luck). A dedicated Medicare insurance agent knows they are not being paid to educate you, discuss options and advice. That makes them a great resource (working for free).
Working for ‘free’ could also be bad. It could mean not spending the time you need to compare or get your questions answered. It could be bad if they are trying to lead you to choose the coverage (plan) they want you to buy.
Medicare Agent versus Medicare Broker
We call them all agents. But there is a difference between ‘agents’ and ‘brokers’. The difference can matter to you.
Agents generally are appointed to sell insurance policies from one company.
Brokers are typically appointed to sell insurance policies from multiple companies.
WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU? Because if the person you are speaking to ONLY is appointed to sell with one company, they CAN ONLY BE PAID when you buy that company’s policy. It may be the best choice for you. But there may be better choices you should know about.
It is important to know whether you are speaking to an agent or a broker. We have a few questions to ask below.
No Agent Sells Every Medicare Plan Available Locally
Depending on where you live, there can be 30 or 40 different Medicare Advantage plans available. Add to that 10 different Medicare Supplement plans (letters A through N) available from 10 or more different insurers.
No Medicare agent broker can ever sell them all. They generally are appointed with the plans they feel are best suited for people in their area.
For all of these reasons, the Association believes in 2 things:
1. It is important to seek information from at least 2 or more Medicare sources.
2. Speaking with someone local will benefit you in terms of finding the best plan for your needs.
Questions To Ask Every Medicare Agent Broker You Speak With
Here are a few questions that will help you get a better sense of who you are speaking to; their experience and why they may be recommending one Medicare plan over another.
- How many years have you been selling Medicare insurance plans?
- Do you offer Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement options (or just one of these)?
- How many insurance companies are you currently ‘appointed’ with?
- When I have future questions, do I call you or will I be speaking with someone else?
One final plus for choosing a local Medicare agent. There will inevitably be questions. You may want to talk about changing plans. Local agents should want to treat you well. You can be a great source of referrals. For this and all the other reasons, we hope you will use the Association’s directory to find local professionals near you.
Thank you for reading.
Additional Medicare Resources For Consumers
Latest Medicare insurance statistics – what people buy, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement
Medicare drug plan tips to find best Medicare prescription plan coverage