Starting Medicare Soon? Why Use A Medicare Health Insurance Brokers?

Medicare is an American federal health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is limited to qualified U.S. citizens and legal residents. This article describes the role of Medicare insurance agents and brokers in the state of California (although the rules are similar throughout the United States, state laws will vary).

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Team Up with the Best Medicare Insurance Agent

Licensed Medicare agents, who may or may not be brokers, can assist in dealing with the sometimes overwhelming complexity of Medicare. A certified health insurance agent for Medicare can assist a client in finding coverage through private insurance companies affiliated with Medicare. Private insurance companies may offer a variety of plans, such as:

• Medicare Advantage Plans
• Medicare Supplement Plans?
• Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans

Medicare agents and brokers must be licensed in the state(s) in which they sell insurance plans. CMS has strict guidelines, requiring certified Medicare health insurance agents and brokers to be examined every year for their mastery of Original Medicare and the contents of the various plans they are selling, as well as criteria for Medicare eligibility. Both Medicare brokers and agents, whether independent or not,?are also required to thoroughly understand the marketing guidelines of Medicare.

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Find the Right Medicare Broker in California

While a private insurance company contracted by Medicare normally offers only its own plans, a Medicare broker typically offers a wide variety of Medicare plans from different companies. A health insurance broker provides a one-stop shop to purchase insurance coverage, allowing clients to compare various plans from different companies. A certified insurance agent is likely to be acquainted with the ins and outs of Medicare plans of various insurance firms in the community he or she serves.?

Health insurance broker services are normally free of charge to help guide Medicare beneficiaries through the Medicare plan choices available to them, whether they decide to enroll or not. The brokers may get commissions from approved private companies if they help a client enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare supplemental health insurance plan. Insurance brokers and agents are, however, not permitted to pressure a client into buying a Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage plan and cannot recommend or endorse any single plan.?Medicare Advantage brokers are licensed in the state(s) they do business and must abide by a code of ethics, which makes enrollment in the plans they offer completely?voluntary and optional, giving you the best options for coverage.

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Find a Medicare Insurance Broker

Upon finding an agent or broker you like, it is important to check their license status to confirm their credentials and get information regarding your options. Licensed Medicare agents and brokers in California need to display their license number on their business cards and any marketing materials they give to people regarding the insurance products they sell.?

Most brokers also provide support over the phone for any questions that require one-on-one help.

For additional help with these types of questions, please contact independent Medicare health insurance broker, Dale Johnsen, at 805-870-5080 or [email protected]