| By Brent Trice
Danger, not all health insurance agents are
created equal. Finding the right policy, coverage,
company and agent can be riddled with frustration.
Consider the type of Agent before you consider
the plan.
In every industry their are may types of people.
The health insurance industry is the same. If
you have ever filled out an internet request
for a health insurance quote then you have probably
been flooded by several types of health insurance
agents. There are the "boiler room agents",
the "one plan" agent, the "cheaper
is better" agent, and the "consultant"
agents. It can be helpful to understand each
of these types and how they effect your health
insurance decision making process.
The "boiler room" agent - usually
an agent in a call center responding to internet
request for information. He/She is judged by
their employer on the number of call made and
the number of sales made. This becomes the driving
force for their advice to you. If you do not
have a good understanding of health insurance
you may be pressured into a policy that may
or may not be the best plan for your situation.
The "one plan" agent - is normally
a captive agent that exclusively represents
only one company. This in it self is not bad
but it too can lead an agent to make recommendation
based on their own selfish interest rather than
you unique situation. Many of the plans from
captive agents are limited benefit plans or
hospitalization plans rather than major medical.
In my experience this is seldom explained to
the you the customer until you get your policy
in the mail. By that time it becomes such a
hassle to get your premium money back and cancel
the policy that most never make the desired
change.
The "cheaper is better" agent - can
be an independent agent that represents several
companies. However, they become conditioned
to selling rather than listening to your needs.
This agent often pitches the cheapest plan because
it sells. The approach is the problem not the
product. Most of us when we shop we are price
aware. If price is the only thing driving our
decision then we will quickly fall prey to "cheaper
is better" only to regret our decision
at the time of a claim.
The last type is the "consultant"
agent - I favor this type because it focuses
on needs not plans. This agent usually asks
many questions and spends more time listening
to your answers. The positive side is that you
usually end up with a health insurance plan
that fits your needs and your budget. The negative
side is that the process might take longer and
might require more involvement on your part.
This can be frustrating because most of us have
been conditioned with fast food mentality.
You will be better informed and find a better
policy by selecting the right agent prior to
considering just the plan. Don't allow yourself
to be sold a policy. Ask questions of your agent.
Determine if they have your interest in mind
or just theirs.
http://www.DallasLifeAndHealth.com
|
