The 2019 Project?

It felt like a punch to the gut I wasn't expecting.

The call I had with one of my old friends (who holds a high position with a major National Medicare Advantage carrier) ended and I learned the following.

We are NOT independent.

We are OWNED.

We are COMMODITIES.

We are trapped.

It was a revelation to me to learn about the deal struck between National Carriers and the vast Medicare insurance conglomerates in 2019.

The 2019 Project?

The carriers created a new title of National Distribution Partner. The companies that got these deals could go out with venture capital and start buying up agencies, company, brokerages, et al and place them under their conglomerate structure.

As agent chattel, we had no say. Sold off and out by our FMO "partners" as assets.

So many baubles were dangled. Partnership, Ownership, Awards, Trips. This went on and on, but has anyone looked behind the curtain?

Other than the FMO who sold out or "partnered" (for a couple years only) what did we get?

In 2019, one of these vast conglomerates boasted of 500,000 agents and advisors.

In 2020, another conglomerate said they had 350,000 agents and advisors

As best I can guess, we are all tied to one of these most likely. If not, you are an outlier and your time will come.

The end of your dream?

If you had aspirations of becoming a National Distributor Partners forget it. My friend told me there will be no more National Distribution Partner agreements given by any of the National carriers.

As far as advancing to a higher commission level, it may be possible for a few dollars more, but that will be all. Eventually, you will bump heads with your GA, MGA, SGA, whatever and that will be the end of it.

Maybe if you switch hierarchies? A fools game. You will go through a ton of work and end up under a vast conglomerate and in the same situation.

A side note of interest.

This exact thing was done on a much smaller scale in the bail bond business in Ohio. The bail bondsman all got together (in their "association") and made the State of Ohio Department of Insurance place new regulations on getting a license to sell bail bonds.

The person interested in getting licensed must work for one of the "approved" (the old boys & girls bail bonds agency's) as an apprentice for a period of time. Then after successful completion, they could go to work as a bail bondsman for that sponsor agency.

No new bail bondsman could hang up a shingle anymore. All those wishing to sell bail bonds in Ohio from the time that rule was passed by the State of Ohio were OWNED. No independent business people need apply.

Privacy Policies Matter

As my previous article on the conglomerate "privacy policy" told you that if you use there software you are agreeing to have your entered data shared among their subsidiaries.

That is the "privacy policy" (in super small font at the bottom of the login page) that you NEVER read.

These conglomerates own call centers, lead companies, multiple other brokerages and agencies. By their very own privacy policy you agreed to share your data with them.

Are you ok with your client data being shared?

Is it? How do you know? Does it matter since you are owned anyway?

Since these conglomerates own multiple call centers here and partner with ones overseas did your customers get more calls or less this year?

What about mailings, text, and emails?

A Solution

Can any of us do anything about all this?

This was one of the biggest reasons we created our safe harbor for independent agent client data. Search & Save.

As an independent agent starting my 40th year in our industry, it was apparent something had to be done.

I pledge to you that we will NEVER mine, sell, or share your client data with anyone. EVER!

Please stop using your current Medicare quoting & enrollment system. You are giving away the store with your own permission.

Check us out and see how our system is superior to what you are using now for accuracy, privacy, and book of business protection.

Go to https://mmqsearchandsave.com to a video presentation of our system.

Take a 30-day free trial with no credit card needed! Go to https://searchandsave.org

Attend a system demonstration and ask questions. Go to https://ssdemo.online to register. Demonstrations are held Tuesdays at 1:00 pm EST.

Questions? Call me at 800-283-0040 ext 110