On January 23, 2014 Moody’s downgraded the health insurance industry from stable to negative according to the Washington Post. There are several factors pointing to this decision which are all tied to the shaky rollout of the ACA or Affordable Care Act or better known as Obamacare. According to the Washington Post article, the Moody’s downgrade factors included the website backend issues, low and slow enrollment, especially with younger healthier adults, uncertainty of rule changes and penalty enforcement, the cancellation of non compliant insurance policies and people forced to change physicians and hospitals, higher than expected premiums arethe beginning of many changes to come. What about the health insurance agents roll in this process? How did they fair?
Let’s take a look at the numbers. According to the industry there are roughly 400,000 licensed life and health insurance agents in the United States at the end of 2010. This was a decrease of over 30,000 agents from just 2008. The industry predicted a growth of over 20% with the introduction of Obamacare. Which now we realize is not the case in 2013. However, according to USA Today,only 70,000 health insurance agents were considered certified to sell Obamacare plans. According to Reuters, as of January 2014, the national enrollment of Obamacare is just over 3,000,000 people. Since the inception of Obamacare health insurance commissions to the agents has been slashed by over 70% and it most cases just a small nominal fee is paid to the agent for enrolling someone. So, just purely mathematically the average health insurance agent enrolled about 42 clients with an average commission of $252 per person, made about $10,584, well below the poverty rate. How are these life and health insurance agents going to survive?
The only way these licensed life and health insurance agents can survive is to be able to “up sell” these health insurance clients with supplemental insurance, disability insurance, dental and vision insurance, and life insurance. These plans still are important to the client and allow the agent to make large commissions on these premiums to offset their loss of health insurance commissions. Because the vast majority of licensed life and health insurance agents are independent contractors no one sees the decrease in numbers of the 30,000 agents that left the industry showing up in unemployment numbers. This is another unsung causality of Obamacare.
I being a licensed life and health insurance agent for over 21 years do believe Mr. Obama in his campaign speech to a union group in 2007 that the final objective is to have a single payer system or socialized medicine in the United States sooner rather than later. This WILL ultimately put the health insurance agent out of business. Plan well comrades!
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Image by Stuart Miles at www.freedigitalphotos.net
Tim Wilhoit is owner/principal of Your Friend 4 Life Insurance Agency in Nashville, TN. He is a family man, father of 3, entrepreneur, insurance agent, life insurance broker, salesman, sales trainer, recruiter, public speaker, blogger and team leader with over 26 years of experience in sales and marketing in the insurance and beverage industries.
Unfortunately it’s possible the beginning of the end is here for health only agents. It is wise advice Tim to plan and perhaps even assume health insurance agents will no longer exist 5 years from now.
My recommendation is for health agents to become P&C Licensed.
I didn’t realize that Obamacare gave the right for companies, state government s amd exchange to Collude Steal chest and confiscate agents clients and commissions from agents ifir the exchange business. These fraudulent moves are all in theName of the ACA. Yet, all parties roped the agents in to help with the enrollments because the companies and exchanges couldn’t do it themselves. These partirs promised the agents in order for them to cooperate that they would preserve the agents and their commissions. Yet we all know that this was fraudulent and now sets s precedent that if a company loses money, that they can just break the law and cheat anybody that participates in the delivery system.
This is unfair competition because they can give out free money and call it a subsidy and the agents who brought the business doesn’t have such tools to earn their clients back.. TTY he fraudulent activities are creating a brand new class if subsidies which are the agents. This would not have been so bad if they told the agents 4years ago that this was their plan to use the agents for the first three years. No agent in their right mind would participatr in such promotion if the exchanges. Many if them have thousands of hours of list tone,vlients and commissions for participation in this failed initiative. This fraud was required to get the agents ti participate because the companies and the exchangs knew that they could never jump start ACA without the agents. There is nothing in the Law that was created called Obamacare to deceive agentsjust until they were up and rolling.
Jack, you are correct, they will definitely need other products to sell.
Thanks Tim – Two things come to mind about the fate of the health insurance agent: 1) Survival of the fittest – Those who are strong will make the needed adjustments to their business plans and will survive and 2) The myth of the Phoenix – Like the mythical bird some agents will rise from the ashes of their predecessors and soar!
Phil, that is an excellent way of looking at it. I really appreciate your sharing.
Tim, you ask a great question and the answer is … it depends. Many thought the same thing when Medicare was introduced, then the Medicare Advantage. There will always be holes in every plan and if the White House thinks a $12,000 out of pocket maximum is affordable for a family the industry will come up with something to plug the holes.
I think we need to give this law time to mature. No, I am not a fan and I do not think this was a well thought out piece of legislation. I am going to DC next month to speak with our legislators.
Finally, if all an agent was only selling individual health insurance, then perhaps his or her time is over. However, if health insurance was only a portion of their business, there is a great deal more that can be sold with a health license that can make real money. Products like individual disability, long-term care, critical illness, and ancillary group products like life, STD, LTD, dental, etc., etc. There are many more ways to skin a cat than meets the eye.
David, it sounds like we are in agreement on what will have to be done for agent survival. I also agree on the wait and see, however preliminary information doesn’t look good for the health insurance agent. I wish you the best of luck in DC. Not only do I hope and pray you find a law maker that will actually listen but understand what this law is doing. Thank you for sharing.
I’ll share what I am seeing. We do have a number of group health insurance clients that have been hit with significant rate increases so for curiosity sake we quoted all available group carriers and individuals for this one 5 man group…I was shocked to see at least in this instance the Exchange plans cut his group premiums in half!
I shared these quotes with the client. ( he just can’t afford the premiums anymore because of recent rate increases) and he said how soon can you switch me?
I was surprised but also intrigued with the marketing opportunity that it presents for agents to capture new customers.
I see the marketplace for health agents is to focus on the products which can fill the holes in ACA & Medicare. Unless something changes, ACA will burden American businesses and citizens for years to come!
AI totally agree with you. Jack, does OH have an exchange? TN does not, we are on the Fed Exchange, those numbers are simply not the case. I do believe agents will have a place for the first few years, but once everyone is signed on or penalized, why would they pay an agent to sell something that is against the law not to own?
I am not sure that this is the end to health insurance agents. I see a Hugh market for supplemental health insurance growing every day. Not to mention that with any case of 500 lives or smaller, There has been great success in getting them on the books with major medical products from a private exchange. I believe that the market is changing but education is now key to help our existing, and future clients come on board.
The supplemental side is now doing a lot better because I see a lot of my smaller cases where the employer wants to help out with short-term disability, as well as cancer, and accident plans. Plans that do not cost them (employer) a lot of money, but will help the employee feel appreciated
Sergio, I believe you are spot on. It will be the supplemental insurance as well as life insurance where the agent of the future makes their money. The old days of making a living selling just health insurance is slowly coming to an end, Thank you for sharing.
Ohio is on the Federal exchange as well Tim…the rates in Ohio at least for 2 groups we have quoted indicate it is better to cancel the group plan and have the employees buy individual policies.
The second group plan we quoted is my group. (We have group insurance for our employees)
Cancelling our group plan and buying individual policies will save us almost 30%.
Seeing this of course gives me an idea to reactivate my telemarketing department and start cold calling small business owners who have group insurance and fall below the 50 employee threshold!
That’s a great idea Jack! I am glad it is working for you in OH. Ours personally went up 30% here in TN.
3 years I ago I was paying around $750 per months, (family of 4) now it is over $1100 per month, so we are definitely cancelling the group policy and purchasing individual policies!
That’s crazy. Ours did the opposite. We went from $650 with BCBS for family of 5 with $5,000 out of pocket to $980 and $19,250 out of pocket. Needless to say we stayed put for another year. I have decided at age 51 I would not need maternity on myself. LOL!!!
The ACA will change how agents serve clients but will not eliminate them. The complexity of the problem has increased not gone away with ACA. Agents who are transaction based and bring little value ad to the table should move on to a new industry. Health insurance is increasing a part of a holistic financial puzzle which require expert advice to solve. The coverage decision is moving from B to B environment to B to B to C new state. With this change agents will need new technology and a new approach to reaching clients and solving their problems.
Don, you make an excellent point. The advisor agents will survive and thrive in the new environment. The transactional agents who only go after the low hanging fruit will move to other industries. I appreciate you sharing that fact. The herd of 400,000 will be greatly thinned.
Insurance is still sold in nations with Single payer and state run coverage
i agree with Mr Eide – the strong will make it
the weak will not
John, that is a good point. It will remain to be seen if that is the case here as well. It will definitely thin the herd. Thank you for sharing.
Ouch Tim! Our new rate is $818 per month with the individual policy!
Well for starters it is not that affordable that opens the door for a lot of business and a lot of companies will have to restructure there policies
Anthony, that is the problem. the way the ACA law is written, policies cannot be restructured. All males have maternity, everyone has drug and alcohol rehab, whether they have ever drank or not. I still believe it is all by design to expedite us towards a single payer system. This is designed to fail.
My issue with the new health agent is the amount of time it will take to review the plan, apply online (assuming subsidy eligible), and walk the client through the process. At least for the next few years, this process will be extremely time consuming. After the second renewal cycle, it will be interesting to see who sticks, who goes, what carriers will play and those that will not. I also still hopeful for there to be a better way to solve the health care (not insurance) issue and remove the pressure on the insurance industry.
No way. Not enough of the country is on board to support it. The responsibilities and duties of the Health Ins Agent will evolve and the affordable (unaffordable to many) healthcare act will be modified greatly to address the needs of a smaller percentage of our nations population, the under insured and those not able to get private insurance (unisurable as per the private insurance companies).
Scott, I do admire your optimism. However, looking at all of the indicators for the past 4 years and hearing a President that stated in the State of the Union address, he will go around congress to get what he wants, I don’t share your same optimism. Thank you for sharing and I hope you are right.
Very interesting and mostly true I am afraid Tim, being a 20 year plus Health Agent myself I have had to move past individual sales to make a living, now more of a service to assist others.
Jim, I hope I am wrong and it is just an evolution. However, the daily signs point to our termination more than evolution. Time will tell.
I don’t believe that this is the end of the health insurance agent. I do feel that many companies will exit the stage however. Companies with vision and creativity in approaching the high cost of healthcare will survive. The bottom line here is – the health insurance industry will not be able to conduct business as they always have and the consumer will be the deciding factor. Even Obama Care can fail if the consumer decides that it is better to pay taxes and penalties than enroll in a PPACA compliant plan. It will be interesting to watch this unfold over the next couple of years
Bob, don’t forget the man behind this plan can change those penalties on a dime. I hope you are right, but the evidence is stacking up against us.
It concerns me because everyone is told how to get help and where to go to get help with Obamacare without a mention of agent’s help yet, when visiting the Ff Marketplace course outlined, the requirement is holding a writing State license.
Not everyone understands all of the questions ask when completing an application for Obamacare not everyone understands how to maneuver a computer, not everyone speak English and or Spanish. .Where do Agents stand?
Gail, you bring up an excellent point. Mr Obama snubbed health insurance agents by hiring unexperienced people at an hourly wage to help enroll instead of using experienced health insurance agents to assist with the enrollment. That I am afraid is the sign of things to come. Thank you for sharing that point.
I guess that our professional licenses are going to worthless in the Health areas. To begin with, health insurance sales commissions are truly based on volume, Now with this new health care it will be nothing/ZIPPO free services…Challenges!!!!!..
Gail, we can always use them to sell supplemental policies for the sky high deductibles Obamacare is selling.
You are right but what are you going to do.
I am a life insurance agent in Massachusetts have health since 2005-2006 rough beginning but now very common and no big deal. In terms of agents getting a cut I feel
That obama care and I supported this will be too much online and why bother to get a health license since the requirements have made it more difficult and the commissions are very low why bother to be licensed sine the online is making it easier
Anthony and Nathaniel, why I do believe the health insurance side will go away in the near future, it opens up all kinds of opportunity for selling supplemental plans, life plans, critical illness, disability etc. I for one have always believed the private sector is always to steps ahead of the public sector. It’s all about the change.
I do agree with you.
ACA = Medicaid + Preexisting Conditions….
In my mind ACA fell well short of meaningful change. The agent/advisor has a larger task now trying to explain to clients what is happening to their medical plan design and why cost are going up. Somehow DC believes that you than thrust additional cost onto American business and they can immediately recover those cost by passing it on to their customers. If the economy strengthens and we have some stability, maybe small business owners can find a way to continue the benefits for their employees even with 20 to 50% increases in rates.
The second half of the equation is how can our tax base pay for all the ACA subsidies, expand Medicaid, and fix Medicare? That is alarming to me and has a far greater impact on all of us. Maybe if the government would back away the industry can find a solution.
David, I have believed for as long as HSA’s have been around that the solution has been in front of us. Tell the legislators that HSAs should be expanded to allow all Americans to have one regardless of plan design. Deductibles and OOPs are so high what difference does it make if you have co-pays for office visits and Rx? Give us a way to plan for the expected and the unexpected and have a tax incentive to do it. FSAs are great but ACA limited those for the average American by reducing the annual limit to $2500. $500 rollover is great and all but the use it or loose it rules constrict the long term planning aspect of life. The HSA is a better vehicle all around especially if we can expand its use. Next would be better transparency in medical cost. All providers should be required to post their fees for their services in or out of network, doctor’s diagnosis accuracy, hospital per diems and infection rates, efficiencies, etc. You want to buy a TV, you can shop and find the best value for your needs, Can’t do that when seeking medical care. Once the consumer is more involved and knows how to purchase care, the insurance industry will develop the product to fill the need to cover risk and the individual will decide how much risk he or she can tolerate.
The role of the agent is advisor. It’s been that way for some time now, but ACA has made our role more important if the medical insurance consumer will value it that way. The government would love to commoditize it and eventually take it over and our industry will evolve to fill needs. I don’t want to be subject to government run healthcare and go by the way of Canada. Our country is better than that.
Murray, you do bring up some excellent points. Just the transparency point alone would have gotten our healthcare system under control This government does want it under control. They want to control it. When you control a country’s healthcare system you have full control of it’s people. You decide by law, what people eat, smoke, exercise, etc. This is a HUGE step in losing more and more freedom and that is the only thing that makes this country great. The only way to control cost is to dictate what doctors and hospital can charge. Mark my words, that is next to come. Thank you so much for sharing this, it was awesome!
Interesting article, thanks Tim!
Thank you for your kind words Mark.
Ignorant on numbers?
What % of the population is covered by:
Medicare- 10,000 new per day turing 65 and 1/3 are under 65 on disability
Medicaid
Med Advantage Plans
Employer Group Plans with over 50 employees
Union plans
Federal Employees
State Employers
Under age 26, still in college, living at home
Self employed
Small businesses – under 50 employees
Am I leaving anything out?
The OTHER BIG DEAL – Long Term Care – small percentage of Pop. purchasing LTC and the cost and need in th future will be horrendous.
Thanks
Sadly, I say yes; it is the precursor to the elimination of health insurance agents. And the beginning of a single payer system. And it is systemic. In my state, BCBS is the only player and they have changed the rules for agents. No direct access enrollment, reduced comm’s on individuals and the creation of four Highmark call centers that are manned by HM agents to enroll you without independent agents (aka no commission expenses). Also, no comm’s are paid if you become AOR after the fact so now you’re giving advise/education without any compensation. I’m fearful for my groups,. also. SHOP will be a disaster; just like Ocare. The biggest problem is that people that don’t follow this industry are clueless. They have no way or don’t care to understand what’s going to hit them. Glad I’m close to retirement!!
Tom and Thom, thank you both for sharing. Tom I agree and I hope we are both wrong, but you and I are in agreement. Thom, I am a bit confused by your point and there was no number. What is that number? I do have a number to discuss. How many health agents sell Medicare or Medicaid plans? Answer zero. They are provided by government. With our current government it is just a small leap to controlling it all. There will not be a need for health agents in that world. I hope and pray I am wrong, but the evidence sure leans in that direction.
I think the supplemental insurance market will boom.
Not the end, but you will see a move to zero commission policies and the eventual upheaval in the industry. Group health will take the big hit….medicare sups have already seen some carriers introduce extreme commission changes….someone mentioned LTC….really? Have you watched that segment? Called clients with another 30+ percent increase? I’m glad I never went down health path….
Jim, at zero commissions, I believe that would be the end. Not too many agents will want to work for free. I think the health insurance agent’s role will change to the supplemental market to fill those big out of pocket holes of Obamacare. I do agree with you on LTC, that is a product that needs to get it under control before government takes over nursing homes as well. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Not the end, once everything is settled a newer version and level , will be created. Insurance companies and people will move a notch higher for better living standards. OBAMACARE will be on the same level of MEDCAID .Only time will tell.
Hope your right Vincent. The evidence doesn’t support it yet.
No one has the numbers to see how many are affected by the ACA?
Jim- Your 30% LTC premium increases – I guess CA – I have had employers, over 50 employees, that have had 18% to 38% premium increases in group health coverage in the past 6 years before the ACA.
COSTS- the source- reference the TIME Special Report, March 04,2103, bu Steven Singer,
” Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us”. Hospitals, Hospitals, Hospitals.
He has followed up with the people he interviewed the past year.
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
WOLF! WOLF!
When I started in Medicare in 2008, I did not like the annual testing. Now it is a few years later and I appreciate it. It keeps all the fly by night yahoos out of the business (which is the reason we have so many regulations on Medicare).
Also, many people consider Medicare a single payor system (I do not debate that) and there is still plenty of use for agents. Just last night I was approached by a gentleman who an agent had put with a 2 star Medicare rated company. The agent did not check his doctors or hospital coverage (he had a history of going to both) and neither was in network. I gave him the state Dept of Ins number and told him to report the guy. (yes, I believe in turning in the ones who do wrong).
Luckily he has Medicaid and a rolling SEP, we are getting together next week to fix the problem.
If you know Don Dare, local TV personality who does reports on people who are wronged, there is a lady who was on state Medicaid and enrolled (on her own) in a Metallic Plan without the help of an agent. She went in for her next cancer treatment (she was about half way through) and “Sorry miss, we do not take that insurance, you need to go else where for the rest of your treatments”.
She was PISSED!
But that is the result of not using an agent and it will happen again.
And here in East TN, I am seeing more Navigators and Volunteers screw things up from the application to giving advice on a plan, which they are not allowed to do.
As for up selling…come on, it is in the client’s best interest to have something to replace their income. If you really believe lower Max Out Of Pocket (MOOP) is going to decrease bankruptcy filings, you are a fool and do not understand what causes the bankruptcy.
It is not the big medical bill, you call the hospital and say “I can pay you $x a month for the next Y years”.
It is the being unable to work, loss of income, maxing credit cards to keep the lights on, roof overhead, food on the table and then not being able to service that debt or threat of foreclosure/eviction while dealing with the medical crisis and not knowing other options. (hence I always tell my clients to call me and I know about forbearance and those policies some people still by on their credit cards to take care of the debt)
People seem to think that these products were made up (disability, critical illness, etc) so we would have something to sell. Not as a result of something that was needed.
When the first guy had the first heart transplant it took 6 months to recover. His family was financially devastated. Medically we have come a long way. But if I have a heart attack, I would like to be able to take a few days off to reflect on my life and not have to use up vacation pay (if my job offered it)
I agree with the guy who said never let a good crisis pass you by.
And even with online wills, we still have attorneys, good agents who can adapt are not going anywhere, the weak ones (or the ones unwilling to change) will leave.
Time will tell, thanks for the post.
David, that is a very interesting take. I have been doing this over 20 years and have seen multiple examples of some of what you claim not to be true. I do agree that time will tell. I do believe this President when he states that he wants single payer which I agree with you totally eliminate health insurance, but it will drastically change how we agents make money at it. Thank you for taking the time to share your post. I appreciate it.
Think about this … the small employer will not provide the health insurance, but will start to consider offering other ancillary benefits (group dental, life, disability, etc.) to keep and attract good talent. Those agents that are trained to help the business owner/executive should do quite well once the health insurance situation settles down. From my point of view, I cannot help but think the under 50 market is a great segment for many producers who really want to be hands on and help their clients. As I have said on other threads, I also believe that the voluntary market will boom over the next few years.
David, I am 100% in agreement with you. I believe it is all by design. Thank you so much for saying it!
Tim I commend you for your polite reply, I have seen such arrogance and ego lately when people have a different opinion or experience in some of these conversations.
Would you mind sharing some of your different examples?
Agents who can adapt to the new insurance landscape will have the opportunity to thrive. Those who are unwilling, or unable to adapt, will perish.
It’s a take off on survival of the fittest. This is one of those cold, hard truths. More will probably perish than survive, but that is how the natural order of things works during times of famine. The culling of the herd will leave more food for the survivors to regain their strength with.
Assuming the goal of this whole Obamacare exercise is to move us in the direction of a single payor system, I believe it is also safe to assume that it will be an expansion of the medicare system, putting everyone on medicare from craddle to grave. If that happens, those of us who are still left in the business will get rich selling Med Supps.
Many of you may not agree with me, but don’t attack me for telling the truth, as I see it.
Am I a pessimist, or an optimist? Both actually. For those of you who can understand this, I am pessimistic enough to be optimistic. It’s evolution in action.
Martin, pretty accurate assessment. The real test is to be able to build machine like enrollment and management, because to survive, an agency will have to have a very large book of business.
If Harry Reid’s wish comes true, the medicare supp type of business will also come under fire, and squeeze the commissions just like the individual markets and groups.
Sorry I sound pessimistic, yet the landscape might change in November, when there is a good chance to make the senate Republican enough to fix the mess called Obamacare. Would Obama have the courage to veto truly effective fixes, all on principle?
Until then, this transition of insurance to a bill paying service will continue. There is virtually no actuarial science left, only something looking a lot like single payor. As a result, it makes insurers into nothing more than claims processing companies, and agents moved from consulting to high volume en-rollers, with corresponding loss of income.
Martin, I believe you are spot on. Both you and Tom are “realist” it will be survival of the fittest and those who adapt the fastest will thrive. I really don’t have faith in one party or the other. Our government gets larger and larger and with that breeds more and more power and greed. The agent must find the holes, adapt and thrive. Thank you both for sharing.
I don’t think I’ve posted in here before, but noticed this discussion and would like to offer my own $0.25 cents.
The Individual Market is not going away. This law is already coming off the tracks. It was founded on a Lie. The Lie was that the PPACA would address the issue of the Uninsured. That can be broken into three groups:
* Those with Pre-X who couldn’t qualify for insurance, in most cases because they waited too long to apply for coverage, I.e. until after their house was on fire.
* Those who couldn’t afford insurance.
* Those who could, but chose to not, instead opting for the Plasma TV, or a trip to Vegas.
The largest percentage of the Uninsured falls into the 3rd category.
That so few Americans have signed up for Obama’sCare is testimony to the fact that the Uninsured are not impressed. They don’t like the high deductibles, which in their minds makes it as unaffordable as it was before ACA (clearly a misnomer).
The percentage of those Uninsured who don’t trust this law is 2 to 1. That is massive.
“Opposition to ObamaCare now 2:1 … among the uninsured”
http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/30/opposition-to-obamacare-now-21-among-the-uninsured/
Obama lied again, (no surprise there) in the SOTU, when he said that 9 Million Americans signed up because of his law. No, the did not.Six Million were among those who signed up for Medicaid,. 4 Million of whom would have anyway. They do every month. Obama knows that. He is a pathological liar, so it fit to his agenda, and he lied.
Three Million signed up on the Exchange Market for Private insurance, but most of them were insured before and were among the 12-15 Million Americans who lost coverage when 6.1 Million policies were canceled prior to January 1, 2014. Another lie.
The actual number of those who enrolled, NOT PAID FOR, but enrolled, is 2 Million.
Two Million? Most of whom are on Subsidies? Oh that’s going to provide for a really healthy Risk Pool alright, if you’re betting on the losses. The companies aren’t. Which is why it is entirely likely that the Bailout of Insurance Companies, built into the law by crafty ol’ Obama and his Gang, before they passed the legislation and sent it to His Nibs’ desk (His Nibs refers to Monarchs, which America isn’t supposed to have) for signature.
How do any of you think the American Electorate will react to Obama already promising the Insurance Companies, those big bad insurance companies, a bailout? I think they’ll go ballistic.
Now add to this stew, the reality that sometime this May or June, we will most likely see the actuarial numbers come out for the 2015 Individual and Group premium rate ups.These numbers will be calculated using the numbers of actual young and healthy insureds versus the older and not healthy. They are going to be exponentially higher than for 2014. They are going to make the high rates in 2014 look like a walk in the park. America will Explode, while Obamacare Implodes.
In November of this year we have the 2014 Midterm elections. There are 19 Democratic Party seats up for grabs in the Senate. If the GOP takes just 6 of those seats, the Senate will be controlled by the GOP. Remember that Bill that Democratic Senator Harry Reid put into law making the only majority needed in the Senate to pass legislation a simple 51% instead of the prior 60%? Wham! The GOP will have the ability to pass legislation like water pouring out of a faucet. Will Obama veto everything that hits his desk?
No. Not unless he really wants to go down in American History as the worst, most divisive, most dishonest, most horrible, most do nothing president in our (then) 240 year history.
Once the GOP controls the Senate and the House, the Democratic Members of Congress and His Royal Highness Barack H. Obama will have no choice but to negotiate and come to consensus with the Republicans, whose main job will be to NOT gloat and go to the other extreme, but to do the right thing, amend the hell out of this law, toss the bad, keep the good (there is some good), and then try to fix the immense damage this law will have caused America.
We needed really tough Insurance Company Reform. We didn’t get it. We need to amend the PPACA until it is nothing more or less than good Insurance company Reform, that will allow access to coverage for ALL Americans, period.
In that process, we can not only keep the role of the Agent and Broker community as the only true advocates for the Insurance Consuming American Public, we can solidify the role of the Agent Community as that Public’s Advocate in all matters Health Care Funding.
Pretty strong introduction, huh? Hi folks. 😉
Spencer,
Excellent well-thought position. The question is whether the Congress and/or the voters will recognize that same validity. I have my doubts.
Brian, thank you for your comment, and compliment! I’ve been involved in the Health Care Insurance Market for over 47 years (started at age 21, and am now…hmmm…old, Lol…68).
I’ve also been involved in Politics for that same period of time, have chaired successful campaigns, and have run my own legislation under my candidate’s signature, and had it passed into law (all insurance related, of course).
I do truly believe that when the Voters realize just how badly they’ve been “had”, and they will this year before the 2014 Midterms, and how much higher the rates will be for next year, and they will be, and given that the GOP must take the Senate to control the Congress, and there is every likelihood that they will, then we can effect truly needed change.
In the process of our educating the Public and the Congress as to the important role that we play in advocating for our clients, the Insurance Consuming Public, and NOT for the Insurance Companies, those co-conspirators with Obama and the Congressional Democrats, along with the Pharmaceutical Companies, the Unions, the NEA, the AMA, and Blue-Dog Democratic Party Senators like Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, all of whom were paid bribes in mega millions of dollars in earmarks by Obama to vote for the ACA, we will also be reinforcing the obvious to the Companies and to the Congress, and that is that we are the ONLY real pathway to educate the Electorate so that they will purchase insurance and once again be protected.
After all, Brian, if nothing else (and there is a lot else), this destructive lesson to America should at the least make clear that without us, the Public will not purchase insurance. It is a “Need” about which only those of us who are true professionals and experts can Educate the Public. It is because of the education that we provide, that the Public writes that check to purchase the intangible that we are able to help them to understand that they need.
We have a golden opportunity in front of us to finally, once and for all, make clear to that Public and the Congress to which you and I refer, that our role is essential to the economic wellbeing of our clients and the country.
Hmmm, Brian, would that count as an addition $0.25 cents worth? 😉
Spencer, first off let me thank you for your 47 years of service in our great industry. I can’t remember discussing such an important topic with an individual as schooled on the insurance and political side. Your comments are worth way more than .50 cents. I do lean towards Brian’s comment however. The GOP seems to have splintered and “sold out” the consumer by trying to stay in the middle of the road. That’s where road kill lives. I hope and pray it goes as you predict, I just think this time they have created a destructive enough path to lead us into single payer.
Maybe the next big question is will it be like the UK where you can pay your NH taxes, but still opt to purchase your own insurance to get the better quality private care?
If that’s the case then the top end doesn’t go away. If it’s not then as you said there are other product lines we can sell.
Short Term Care is more affordable. But you are right, the supplemental products are a great way to help the client.
Richard, if the ultimate goal is Medicare for all, there will always be buy-up plans — I believe that is where the progressives would like to see this country move our health insurance. Insurance companies need to sell product in order to profit so they will always be looking at new products and offerings. In addition, they will require a distribution network and that is where agents/brokers will enter the picture.
@Jil, what do you mean “Short Term Care” is more affordable? To what are you referring?
I am a licensed health and life agent and was working primarily with supplemental. Last year was extremely rough as most business owners were focused on the ACA and didn’t want to talk about supplemental or life or anything really. However, I do believe this year will be different. I have switched my focus to life with full living benefits as a versatile product that can help the consumer in several ways. I’m excited about 2014, but I do worry about my health colleagues whose commissions have been cut. I don’t think that anyone, including the government, really knows where this is headed.
Every indication is that this will lead to increased VB sales. Further, partnering with the right VB company can provide you with access to enrollment services and a whole slew of other value added benefits that can help you stay in front of the business owners and maintain access to all those employees and dependents regardless of which direction they decide to take their health plan. It also provides a pretty robust revenue stream for the agency when it is implemented correctly.
I’m in the Voluntary Benefits world. 10 years this month. It’s ABSOLUTELY poised to explode. We can tell by just he amount of carriers emulating us and of course the Success of doing business right.
We’re 75 years strong. 2013 was the best year EVER for my team. Lets talk. I’m pretty sure once you know the “WHY” The “WHEN” becomes evident and the ‘HOW” is a Systematic approach. I’m just looking for the “WHO” everything else is ready. Lets talk. I can Honestly help you change your life. (It’s what we do)
Hi Tim. Thank you for your nice words.
As regards Single Payer, there is no question that Single Payer has been the goal all along. Senator Harry Reid made that clear long ago.
However, the American Electorate, against Obamacare from the beginning, is even more against it today, in far greater numbers. A big majority of the electorate does not want this law in its current form. At the same time, they don’t want it repealed, either.
In order to promote and have a chance of having Single Payer be acceptable to the Electorate, the Democratic Party Members of Congress (Members is always capitalized when referring to Congress), needed to instill in America trust and confidence that the Government would handle the job. They have managed to accomplish the opposite.
By the time this next year evolves, and the rates for O’Care for 2015 are released, which will be prior to the 2014 Midterms, and considering that HealthCare.gov STILL isn’t up and working properly and that the “Back room”, in which all of the billing, policy declarations, policy assignments to the specific companies, etc. still hasn’t even been completed, let alone be up and running efficiently, any attempt to implement a Single Payer System will not only fall on deaf ears, it will fall on very angry voters who will kick these bums out, for the first time in years.
The Democratic Party, already deeply concerned about Obamacare’s impact on the 2016 elections, has just made a crucial decision to not continue to pour money into House races this year, only the Senate races, which they are already in real danger of losing, and keeping the vast majority of their money for 2016.
As long as the GOP doesn’t screw it up again, as they did in 2012, they will take the Senate. Then they’ll control the Congress. BUT! What if they don’t?
Even if they don’t take the Senate, the American People are fed up with all of the lies, the dishonesty, and the nonsense. By the time the new rates are announced for 2015, they will be apoplectic.
No, Tim, Single Payer will not become a reality in America, for many decades to come, if ever.
Last night, a close friend of mine from Seattle, a true blue Liberal, called me. He let go with a string of epithets at Obama, about Obama’sCare, and told me how angry he is that O has betrayed him and all of America. I was stunned. This is not a man given to that kind of 180 degree reversal. He told me that he’s finally wakened to the truth, and that most of his Liberal friends have as well, and they are angry!
When I asked him about how he’d feel about single Payer, his response was: “They can’t even get a website that was no big deal up and running for Obamacare, and it isn’t even close to finished, there is no back room yet (Premiums, knowing who bought what and when, etc), and the whole damn thing has no security at all! Single Payer? Sh*t! They can’t do this! Hell no, no more government in our lives!”
See next post:
No exaggeration. This is moving across the country at lightening speed. America is becoming more angry than I’ve seen it is my 68 years. I keep hearing the conservatives telling us that this is marking the end of the Liberal Era. Up until now, I paid that little credence. No longer. I think it is actually happening.
If Obama and his Gang of Chicago style political thugs couldn’t pull this off, the country is not about to go along with a complete turnover to them for a fully Government owned and run Health Care system. Not a chance. They had their bite at the Apple, Tim, and they choked on it. They won’t get another. And remember, this is only a month and a half into the law! It has barely begun! And the Democrats, those Asses, have already blown it.
Well good on ’em! Now we have a real opportunity to educate the Public about the true value of the Agent and Broker Community to the process. WE are the only true advocates for the Insurance Consuming Public, and now it is time we start to educate ALL Members of Congress, and the American People about the role we play to advocate for our clients, and give them the best possible education and service that we can.
We’ve earned this time, and now we’d better take advantage of the Democratic Party’s massive mistake, to hammer that message home.
We only want dramatic amending, until the PPACA (renamed) resembles the Insurance Company Reform law it should have been from the beginning.
Spencer, you leave me in awe with your inside knowledge. My problem is not with parties but the entire government. The check and balance system set up by the Founders is gone. Executive orders, abuse, a Supreme court upholding unconstitutional laws. Forgive my cynicism but my faith in this system has been greatly shaken. I REALLY do hope and pray for reform. I have my doubts.
David, I have sat with people financially ruined by medical bills. Paying a bit at a time is an urban myth. private hospitals can and will come after payments and force bankruptcy. I once had a case where an injured man was “stabilized” at Vanderbilt MC (private hospital here in Nashville) still bleeding through his bandages was discharged and sent without transportation to Metro General (Public hospital). To a person earning $25,000 per year, a $4,000 deductible on a Bronze plan may as well be the entire bill. They can’t pay it. I admire your optimism, I just don’t share it. Thank you for sharing.
Tim, thank you. I could finish the week on your nice words and consider it a good one.
That knowledge is borne of decades of work not only in health care, but in politics, both chairing successful campaigns, authoring legislation and seeing it passed into law (although not under mysignature, but I never cared about the glory, just the getting the job done), and lobbying pro-bono in Washington State and WA DC for many years. Hey, you know, Tim, that when you take on a task to represent thousands of agents in one state, and then hundreds of thousands nationally, you either put your money where your mouth is, or slink away. I’m not good at slinking, ;).
Your cynicism is understandable. I’m an optimist, have always been, but after this many years in politics, am a cynical optimist. Nonetheless, first and foremost an optimist.
You are so correct about our needing reform, it hurts! We need serious political reform, and I think the country is getting far closer today than we’ve ever been, thanks to Obama and Gang.
We need Term Limits, desperately. We need laws that demand that Congress may make no laws that don’t pertain directly to the Members of Congress. The audacity of the congressional Democrats, that they passed this law in direct contradiction to the Will of the People, and then tried to exempt themselves, is beyond all comprehension. And they still managed to get Obama to give them exceptions to the law by making them eligible for subsidies that should only be for those in marginal income brackets. These yahoos make a lot of money!
We need to see our politicians serve no more than two terms, then go home and live under the laws they made, period. No more “Special Class of Privilege”. The Members of Congress have forgotten just who works for whom. They need to be reminded, and then held to accountability.
Tim, we can change this, we really can. I believe that with all my heart. It will take an immense amount of hard work, and by us, to continue to hold their feet to the fire, do all we can on a Grassroots basis to help those of our Congressional delegations to win in our states, to help those who need to be kicked out to find their bus ticket home, and get their opponents elected, and then to make sure they do their jobs.
This really is our opportunity to change what is into what should be, for our sakes, and for the sakes of our clients.
Oh, good Lord, I’m off and running again, Lol. I was born with a congenital defect, I”m “Brevity challenged”. 😉
LOL! We All have our challenges. I really appreciate your sharing.
Thanks for the experience. I know for the ACA to work, hospitals will not be able to write off the bills they used to. It is just amazing to me that businesses think it is helpful to spend money on legally chasing bills under the terms they want to be paid at and get nothing instead of working with those owing the money. I have seen it in people losing their jobs and credit cards, but not on the medical bills…yet
David, hang in there. You’ll see enough people that you’ll find the one crying across the table from you. Much continued success my friend.
I agree with several of the comments here. First, I think that it is about the survival of the fittest, just as Tim mentioned. Secondly, I think that since Obamacare is in its infant stages then consumers need agents more than ever. It is a confusing process because most people are so ill-informed when it comes to the terms of Obamacare. As a result, some people who are qualified for breaks don’t think that they are and vice versa. The only people who are qualified to sort through the confusion are the agents.
Well phrased and I do tend to agree……………it is a beginning of the end. It is a well-sanded machine. Yes, I meant what I said; not oiled, sanded. Full of grit and grime and in my opinion will never run smoothly. The politicians all helped push this through and now, can’t seem to figure out how to make it work. The American public needs to remember this when voting. Stop creating a population who is reliant on assistance for everything from food stamps to now health care. I did not say this intending to open a can of worms because there are true situations where there is no other choice but for many………it has become a taught “I expect, I deserve, I get it free”. Everything worth having is worth working for, including the right to choose to keep my own plan, which many couldn’t because carriers discontinued due to ACA. The more training and quoting I do on this, the more I realize the bad outweighted the good with the intentions of O/C.
David, the Progressives love for the single payer system might be overcome with the practical aspects of using the insurance companies as front men to place blame on. That way it isn’t the government limiting your choices and benefits it’s the bad old insurance companies.
Richard you are spot on! This government has to have a scape goat for all of their failures. Our industry will be the blame. It is all by design. Thank you for stating it.
http://www.wate.com/story/24436043/confusion-for-west-knox-county-woman-after-signing-up-for-obamacare
And still more proof the insured need agents to protect them from the lying politicians (both sides) and all the media.
Tim, today I took someone from a Silver Skinny network to a Platinum Full network with the Blue carrier here locally. Much better and her total annual out of pocket (premium and for the surgery she has planned) is about 20% lower. Proof agents are still needed. And with the results I have seen from people using volunteers, we are still needed.
David, don’t misunderstand, I know agents are needed. I am just stating they won’t get paid. Not very many will help for free. Thanks again for your example.
I am a life insurance and wanted to do
Health after realizing that healthcare is moving to be a online exchange it seems to be a waste of time getting licensed. The exam also Makes it very hard to get the right answers correct and the clients will have less agents to make the right choices
Nathaniel, if you want to serve in the insurance business I would encourage you to still get your health insurance license. You will need it to sell supplemental and the way Obamacare is structured, this will be a huge opportunity. I wish you well.
forget about the agent. It is the end of business. Carriers will be next
Bill, this I believe to be true as well. We are already seeing health insurance companies exit the market and there will certainly be a lot more. Again I believe that survival of the fittest will apply to carriers as well. Thank you for making that point.
Tim, I do not see us not being paid. Paid less yes, but not being paid, no.
Since this whole HCR started, agents have been paid less (2010 from the MLR being implemented) and those that are one trick ponies (only one product) have left. (insert “if you do not adapt blah blah blah”)
ACA is based in large part after MAPD (Medicare Part C) plans and I am sure there was lots of stink about agents not being needed back then either. But agents play (per HHS) “a vital and crucial role” in the implementation of the ACA, I do not see us being cut out completely. (maybe I am being egotistical here but I believe this will improve the quality of the agents like in the world of Medicare, annual AHIP training, etc.)
After Part C Medicare started, people went to their elected representatives and raised hell due to mis represented plans and how we got paid such varied commissions between carriers and even products.(I see the pay difference between carriers already).
I believe it is going to happen again and I think the role of the Navigators and the volunteers are going to come more under scrutiny for giving advice they were not to give (plan selection) or the fact they do not provide all the help someone needs to enroll. (Best comparison I have come up with is at the County Court House you have a person accepting legal documents and telling you what you need to file whatever, divorce/custody/complaint/etc. but you do not want that person telling you what to do in the court room, it is still advisable to use an attorney) I try very hard to work with the volunteers and Navigators around here (East TN) and they are about as unwelcoming as a wet dog. I offer to come to their events and help people select plans (which they are not allowed to do) but I get politely brushed off and do not get the announcements of their enrollment events at churches or libraries. They also help people once every few weeks, while an agent will help up to 16 families a week (a few agents in my office are running that many appointments). We have much more experience.
I am willing to let them do their part on the federal site and I will do the carrier part of enrollment (but I go off on a personal beef here).
Most agents, agencies, Blogs, etc talk about all the negativity and how hard it will be. It is just a matter of adapting and adding value.
I had my Agency meeting Thursday and since 1st qtr 2011 we have grown in writing agents, annual volume, and diversified our products. We have adapted and are welcoming the changes coming from the ACA. We still write lots of Health Insurance and even with the cuts in commission, as an Agency, our commissions paid is still close to what it was in 1st qtr on Health but the other products have greatly increased!
Also, if the ACA collapses because it becomes non self supporting and the gov’t cannot bail it out with taxpayer dollars, we will be here for whatever comes along afterwards. And if it is still around afterwards, we will help more people enroll in individual plans (there is expected to be a shift from people insured in group coverage to individual) we will also be expanding into the SHOP market place and we are going to diversify farther into offering payroll services and other complimentary services for business owners. (yes, that is my soft pitch to contact me about an Agency that is planning for the future, you are welcome to join us)
And if nothing, we will adapt, do the health insurance for free to get us in the door so we can offer other products. P&C agents have loss leaders to get them in the door and then they cross sell to business owners.
Would love to talk if you want to look at even moving part of your practice over with us. I still have my carriers before coming on board here, still get some trails from prior carriers.
David I do admire your optimism, but I don’t share it. Agent’s commissions are being phased out. I am a 20+ year veteran of the industry and commission are down to 25% of what they use to be heading to zero. You mention Medicare. No agent gets paid on part A or B it is administered by the government. Now either this year or next Med C or Med Advantage plans will be administered by the government, eliminating commissions. Slowly but surely paying an agent will go away. Think of it in a big picture. If the law states you must own health insurance or we will fine you, why pay someone to sell it if you can only get it from one source, single payer? It is not a matter of if, just a matter of when. Take advantage while you can, but have a plan B my friend.
Obamacare is not an answer to Health insurance problems, and never was. We all should realize by now that Obama and his Demo-Socialist regime used this pretext to simply garb more power and try to defeat capitalism in our USA. What has happened is that the people of this country are now realizing that Obamacare is a clear indication of what a disaster Socialist Government control of healthcare really is.
First of all, the people are recognizing that Obama lied about everything, and that he is still lying about all of his Administration’s programs, from the economy to Benghazi to Healthcare. All insurance agents should be making it clear to their clients that Obamacare is destroying the American Healthcare system for pure socialistic political reasons, even while enrolling them in this soon-to-fail system that will produce only ruination of the best existing healthhcare system in the world. We must encourage our clients to do everything they can to prevent their healthcare from a disastrous outcome to them and their family, is to REPLACE ALL DEMOCRATS in the Senate and the House in the upcoming elections.
Paul, I agree with your comments except for it being a democrat issue. I submit to you it is not a party issue, but an out of control power hungry, greedy government problem. If it were about the parties our Supreme court would not have allowed an unconstitutional law to pass. It is way more troublesome than voting in another party that does nothing to stop these actions. Thank you for sharing.
Tim – after 30 years as a broker/consultant working with Mercer and regional agencies, I got out of the business because of Obamacare. I started an inbound marketing agency – it’s not without its challenges, but I’m much happier and challenged intellectually. It will be interesting to see the backlash as more and more of the truth is revealed. It seems that many politicians don’t see the possibility that their “solutions” are worse than the status quo. I think there will definitely be a culling of the herd, but as long as employers are offering health plans, there will be a need for good broker/consultants. Good question – thanks for posing it.
John, I believe you and I saw the writing on the wall a few years ago. While I still believe the opportunity for insurance agents are strong as ever, we won’t be making money in the health insurance arena. The good news is we can always count of the government to screw it up and it opens tons of opportunities for those of us paying attention. I thank you for sharing, great points.
Hey Tim… How’s my home-boy. Looks like the action in all these groups in Nashville Strong 🙂 Article made great points. It’s exactly why you and I are positioned to “survive” as someone else put it. It’s no mystery that the industry has already been hemorrhaging from the loss of agents. ACA will speed it up, but it’s not the initial disease. But that’s another subject for this forum. Here are a few friendly thoughts:
1) A far as the “machine like enrollment”, it is NOT NEEDED. With our system, each family (or employee if WS) is worth almost a thousand dollars in income. So you don’t need a puppy mill to make a great living. (I know you didn’t say puppy mill so plz don’t get huffy. I’m just saying that it’s not at all necessary to put quantity over quality).
2) Will work site sales grow? Yes.nYou better get SEVERAL carriers in your tool box though, even if your carrier has been around 75 years, it’s WAY too easy to take accounts if the business has ONE carrier. Sure, it’s a tad easier to just bring your blue & green binders to the table, but when we show a business how to give their employees better protection for less $, they don’t mind 2 or 3 carriers being in the mix. Sell solutions, not brands ladies & gentlemen.
3) What the surviving agents should do it connect with someone like my friend Tim, myself, or someone in your state, that is an experienced trainer of agents, who happens to have great contracts with many carriers. (Tim is a wonderful trainer) GET OFF the rah-rah-rah bandwagon of some of these marketing groups, get a fair contract/commission level, and learn to make a living on your own. I see toooooo many agents “trying so hard to make 100K” to get some sort of ring or gold plate, they forget to make 20K.
I so appreciate ALL the viewpoints in these forums. It makes me think hard about my own thoughts/beliefs, business practices, and it really does help me sharpen my skills. THANKS everyone.
Joe, thank you for your kind words. You and I are definitely on the same page. Much continued success my friend.
Nathaniel, if you are a realtor, perhaps you should stay there. If you are going into the insurance business, a health license is vital in order to provide total protection for your client(s). One of many products that require a health license is disability insurance. Overlooking the health insurance issue for now, Medicare Supplements, Critical Illness, and Accident Expense plans all require a health license.
As to the exam, it should be difficult to help with the overall quality of individuals that enter our industry. In addition, you have CE requirements just like in the real estate field. Perhaps you should link up with a qualified and experienced agent, that will keep you out of trouble and as long as you keep your life license, you can collect a commission (but not on health cases).
I think one thing that the politicians are learning is that distributing health insurance doesn’t come without some huge costs. Here in California, we are seeing “Covered California” constantly advertise for people to join the exchanges. They are putting these caps on insurance company expenses, yet I would bet the exchanges are spending significantly more than the 7 to 10% that an agent is paid in commissions. Unfortunately this is what happens when bad and inexperienced leaders are elected. I would hang in there, cross your fingers and hope the voters elect a competent individual to run the country. In the mean time, the exchanges are insuring a small percentage of the country, take advantage of this, grow your books as to when we do get some quality change in America, you will set yourself up to move forward and thrive. The bottom line is, Agents are a bargain to the system and the commissions are well justified, most especially since the exchanges now see how much it take to put on an insured.
Tim,
Obamacare was passed by a Democrat-controlled Senate and a Democrat-controlled House.
Every Democrat voted for it’s passage. Not a single Republican voted for it’s passage.
How believable do you think you are when you say it was not a “Party” issue? Perhaps you don’t have those facts, but you do now. Obamacare is, was, and will be a Democrat Party bill, even though many Democrats are trying to flee from the bill they voted for unanimously,
It never was, and is not now, a bi-partisan bill. It is OBAMA”S HEALTHCARE BILL!
Paul, please don’t misunderstand what I am stating. No where did I state Obamacare was Bi-partisan, there is no doubt the dems own it. My issue is the republicans lack the “guts’ to over turn over repair the damage of this bad law. It was upheld by the supreme court as an unconstitutional law. My problem is “all talk and no action”. How many video taped lies does Obama get to tell the American people before he is impeached? Clinton was impeached for one #$% job! I hope and pray you are right and the republicans own the majority of the Senate along with the house, I just have serious doubt they do it. I would love to be wrong.
I’ve heard this mantra before. When Internet sales of health and life insurance started to blossom, that was going to be the demise of the insurance agent. When banks were allowed to offer life insurance, that was to be the demise of the insurance agent.
We have many arrows in our quiver. Our licensure allows us to offer more than just one product. If we do not take advantage of that, that is our own fault. Now, we may be more familiar and comfortable with one product over another, but we still have other services to offer.
At worst, it can now act as a gate opener for other discussions regarding other products and services we offer. That’s my take on it. My clients have told me they will always use me and refer others to me. Yes, they can order over the Internet, or call into a call center, but when they use me, they have me on their side and me to fight for them.
I’m sure if it wasn’t Obama care, it would be something else. Perhaps, the changes in long-term care underwriting, or the cluster that is the IUL.
My very long answer to a very short question is: No, it is not the end of the agent, just a repositioning of his or her duties
I am new to the Insurance business, coming over from the Information Technology environment, software development, project management. I am now an insurance agent, new to the business, one year or so. In the short time I have been an agent, I am in agreement with Mr. Levine. Bundling up our products, offering more than one product would seem to me to be able to hold that client longer. And as Bob says, they have a face, a person, a personality with you as their agent rather than just a online messenger from any part of the country. In any field, we must be adaptable and be able to reposition as stated above. Thanks for your time.
Frank and Bob, please go back and reread my article. I never stated it was the end of the insurance agent. I do believe with all of the evidence that it will be the end of the commissioned health insurance agent. The good news is our government really doesn’t do anything efficiently so it opens up all kinds of opportunities for agents to sell many new and existing products. My point was status quo is gone and change is inevitable . Thank you both for sharing.
Paul…. take a chill pill my friend. I know Tim. He knows who did what. Yes, your FACTS are correct. It’s also a fact that the guys with a “R” on their business card have had several solid opportunities to halt the implementation and funding. But they fold like the house of cards they’ve built. Truth is that there are as many R’s that look like D’s an D’s that look like R’s.
The law sucks. The flaws show up weekly, if not daily. Such as today’s announcement that employers under 100 people won’t have to provide coverage till 2016. We’re in this situation because of the lack of principled people….on both sides. Like the messed up IRS codes, what we CAN do is advise our clients, within the rules, to do what’s best for their families.
Tim, I appreciate the voice of experience!
I just do not think we have history to repeat, we are (unfortunately blazing a new trail).
I see the govt managing MAPD as a good way to upset seniors and that seems to be someone the politicians do not want to upset.
I also recently spoke w a buddy from India and some family from Western Europe and the single payor system has some good and bad qualities.
I am still trying to figure out what happened to all the underwriters that got let go on Dec 31st…did they swell the ranks of the IRS as part of the 16,000 additional jobs our govt created?
I think it was you who mentioned above about insurance agents who do not show up on the rolls of unemployed, a valid concern.
Maybe I will go back to “Hi, this is David and I see you recently refinanced your house…”
Great discussion, we will see!
Dave