United Healthcare Terminates Contract With Houston Methodist

October 26, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

As of December 31st, 2019, United Healthcare (UHC) plan members may lo

Supplies For Your 2020 Year: Do’s and Don’ts

October 11, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

Have you ordered your 2020 Medicare Advantage (MA) supplies? The Annual Enrollment Period is only a few days away and with your schedules filling up, it’s important to have supplies ready to go. Do you have all the requirements met in order to place your supply order? Are you going paperless and switching to online enrollments? How much is too much? With this quick article, we will lead you through the Do’s & Don’ts of AEP readiness when it comes to your needed materials for the 2020 AEP.

2020 AEP Supplies Do’s

What carriers did you get certified with for this upcoming AEP? From October 15th to December 7th you will be able to sell supplies to Medicare-eligible clients. If you were able to complete the 2020 certifications and AHIP you should have received an email from your carrier reps about ordering supplies. This email will give you instructions on how to get your supplies as well as marketing materials. The marketing materials are a must for each carrier and will go along with your presentations to potential clients. Be sure to order for all carriers and have some stashed for appointments. You will want to provide the best option for your client’s needs and not just who pays the most. Bring your laptop just in case, to do a paperless application (e-App), which might save you if you run out of needed material.

2020 Don’ts

When it comes to ordering supplies too much can be a bad thing. You might over order and be stuck with plans that you will need to get rid of by the end of the year, so plan thoroughly. Although you can order supplies from around your license state, you don’t want to order things you won’t be able to sell in the areas you are working in. When it comes to selling, do not order or take supplies you are not appointed with. This will get you flagged and the carrier will keep the commissions. If a plan is right for the client, reschedule the meeting then get certified.

If you run out of materials, don’t fret. Although shipment times can be long, you might be able to contact your local rep for extras. Empower Brokerage offers agents the ability to pick up extra supplies we have if you are certified. If you’re in need of supplies check our events calendar for upcoming Open Houses in your area.

AHIP: A Recap of America’s Health Insurance Plans Course & Test

June 25, 2019June 17, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

As the AEP slowly approaches agents like you are getting ready for the sellin

Keeping Your Clients Happy Year Round

June 13, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

Keeping Your Clients Happy Year Round

How are you keeping track of your clients? As an insurance agent, your book of business can grow exponentially year to year, full of clients new and old alike. With so many people to keep track of its common for someone to slip through the cracks. This can lead to bad business practices and in worse case scenarios your client switching plans over to a new agent. In order to avoid the loss of clients, how can agents take initiatives to avoid it? Today we will cover best practices when dealing with client data.

Friends or Just Numbers?

Are your clients just numbers? Your clients should be considered more than a book of business. By knowing to take your clientship to more than an acquaintance level, you have the chance of not only creating friendships, but also an interpersonal relationship. You like to make sure your friends are taken care of. You also check in on friends every so often even if it’s every other month. By creating a friendship with your client you not only create a bond but a solid way to remember to check in on them.

Check-In on Your Clients

How often are you checking in on your clients? Smart business practice is to check in on your client using the 30-60-90 day program. This program is used when dealing with new clients, checking in 30 days after writing a new policy. The first check in at day 30 is to make sure everything in their plan is working properly. The next check-in is at day 60 to follow up and make sure that they are still happy. On the 90th day, you ask if they have noticed any changes that might be a concern. By using this following method you leave the room for error down. It also allows you to discuss a new plan add-on that can benefit your client’s needs.

Holiday Calls/Text

Do you wish your client Happy Birthday? This is often a simple way to check in on your client once a year. A simple phone call will not only make their day but gives them the feeling that you notice. You can also check in during special holidays such as memorial day, veterans day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Updated Clients Info

Sometimes your clients can switch their information whether that’s address, phone number, or email. It is important to keep in touch about these changes and to make updates to you BOB when these changes occur.

Feedback

Finally, ask for feedback. Communicating is important and if you’re doing something wrong you don’t want to continue doing it. Ask your clients how you can be better and make adjustments when able.

ACA 2019-2020: Is It Right For Your Client?

June 12, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

With the 2020 selling season slowly approaching, you might be looking for new plans to better fit your clients. Agents might have been avoiding the ACA in hopes to find a plan that better fits their client’s financial needs. Affordable Care Act plans have been known for their high deductible prices and monthly premiums despite being a full coverage plan. Looking ahead of 2020 according to the rate filings for this year it seems that rates didn’t fluctuate as much as previous years. Does this mean that ACA will be a viable option for your clients?

What Is The ACA?

The ACA, also known as ObamaCare, if a health reform law that provides Americans with access to affordable health insurance. The act was originally created to provide affordable health. In the recent decade, health insurance prices have been all but affordable for most Americans. The plan attempts to accomplish the above through a number of regulations, taxes, tax breaks, mandates, and subsidies.

Those In the Federal Poverty Level

When deciding if your client would be a better fit for an ACA plan instead of other alternatives, you must first judge your client’s current situation. There are two groups best served by an ACA plan. The first group of people who fit best with the ACA plans are those within the 250% federal poverty level. The plans are offered to these people at a low-cost coverage premium through the ACA’s Tax Credit. Those who fall into this category also have lower deductibles as well as co-pays because of cost sharing reimbursements.

Serious Health Complications

The other category of clients who might be a better fit for the ACA than other plans are those with certain health conditions. The Affordable Care Act is a guaranteed issue, which means everyone who applies is accepted. Other Health providers usually have a system of underwriting which can cause certain clients to not be accepted into certain plans. Clients with serious health conditions that might not make it through underwriting will receive acceptance into an ACA plan. Clients who also have high bills due to their conditions also might want to enroll with an ACA plan due to it actually helping lower the expensive bills.

Increase Your Life & Financial Business for 2019-2020 with Weekly Webinars

May 9, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

Looking for ways to increase your Life & Financial business? Life & Finacial Specialist, Enrique Torres, has over the last few months hosted weekly webinars, equipping you with the tools needed to have a successful year.

These webinars include but are not limited to:

Training Videos
Carrier webinars
Mobile App tutorials
Life & Finacial tools

These webinars are co-hosted by guest speakers from each carrier presented, giving you knowledgable information on new products as well as best selling practices. These webinars although Life specific so far, will include annuities, long term care, and disability income insurance.

We know what you’re asking. How do you sign up to be a part of this opportunity to increase your business? To join in and be apart of these weekly webinars contact Enrique Torres, Life & Finacial Specialist, by phone at 817-410-5812 and he will instruct you on how to get signed up. You can also email him at Etorres@empowerbrokerage.com, in order to join the email list for a weekly reminder of the webinars. Webinars are every Tuesday morning at 9:30 am (CST) giving you the ability to block off the time each week.

But what if you miss a webinar? No worries, each webinar recording can be accessed through their previous registration link, Enrique can provide. He also created a page where all previous recordings are conveniently available to all that want to partake https://www.gotostage.com/channel/lifeandfinancial. This means with a little catching up, you can watch all webinar recordings from the beginning of the year! Don’t miss out on your chance today, to prepare yourself for the 2019-2020 year.

Life Insurance: Overcoming Your Clients Objections

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

There are many obstacles when it comes to selling Life Insurance. The biggest ones usually come with the objections of clients and their reasoning behind not having a plan. To not only help your client but improve your business, you must understand those objections. By being prepared to rebuttal their reasoning, which can easily have been misinformed, you will need a brush up on the top reasons most Americans don’t have life insurance.

“Life Insurance Is For Old People”

Most people relate Life Insurance with being old and there is a good chance your client is one of those people. We must break down that idea, especially to the younger generations. Life Insurance is for everyone, specifically those who have people they care about and want to protect. With around 17% of the population believing they do not need Life Insurance you must break that stereotype from their mind. Life continues to build up even after someone were to pass away. By explaining that bills won’t stop for a loved one even after they are gone, this might help your client understand the importance of Life Insurance.

Tax-Free Savings

Another way to help your clients understand why Life Insurance is important is its ability to create tax-free savings. Most of us are always putting money aside into a rainy day fund. Why not put it away in a guaranteed policy that will give your kids protection? Life Insurance can not only provide a policy that builds up the more you pay into it, but it’s also tax-free. Explaining the benefit’s of this type of protection can easily perk the ears on any client trying to manage money correctly.

“It Cost Too Much”

” I can’t afford it”. We have all heard this statement in some sort or fashion. 52% of Americans choose not to buy Life Insurance because it involves spending more money. A life policy is often compared to nonessential costs, such as eating out, bar trips, or other forms of entertainment. By cutting out two or three of those costly events each month, you will be able to cover the cost of Life Insurance premiums. There are also different types of Life Insurance that drastically cut the cost down.

‘I Don’t Understand The Policies”

The final argument you might hear is that “I don’t understand it”. This is where you come in. As the agent, it’s your job to make it easier for your client to understand the benefits of Life Insurance. By having a strong list of carriers that are balanced you have the ability to fit your client’s needs. There are new Life policies every year and by finding something flexible for your client, you can help them have the coverage they need.

National Life Group: New Flexible Whole Life Product TotalSecure

June 3, 2019May 8, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

How is your life business going? Have you written a policy lately? We tend to overlook the Life side of the business, but it’s important to remember Life Insurance gives your clients the security needed for the worst possible scenario. Life Insurance companies continue to provide this much-needed service for your clients it’s important that you stay up to date on the best products available for your client. Today we will be looking at National Life Group’s new Flexible Whole Life policy that is sure to give your customers the coverage they deserve. This product not only gives your customer the coverage they deserve but also gives them the flexibility for when it’s needed most.

Who Is National Life Group

National Life Group is a trusted Life insurance carrier with 170 years of history. With their aim to do good in their communities and with the individual families they serve. National Life Group recently announced their Total Secure plan, a new, flexible whole life insurance product that offers more living benefit options than any other life insurer.

The TotalSecure plan gives your client the benefits of a traditional whole life plan. It also guarantees level premiums, cash values, and flexible new features. The plan gives your clients the ability to edit their coverage to handle their specific needs. In order to view the plan in full detail follow the link here.

The TotalSecure plan offers:

Predictability through strong death benefit guarantees, cash value accumulation guarantees, and premium payments that will never go up.
Convenience through EZ Underwriting and eApp.
Flexibility through premium payments that can be customized around your client’s needs, access to cash value through loans and withdrawals, and National Lifes valuable living benefits.

Plan Highlights

The plan allows your client to choose the time frame they wish to pay-up for the policy. With the option to pay into before or after retirement gives the ultimate flexibility based on their needs. Clients can access death benefits to cover expenses that qualify with illness or injury. There is no additional cost riders advance payment should your client be diagnosed with illness whether terminal, chronic, or critical.

The death benefits of the policy can be used for anything whether its travel, medical expense, additional care or other costs that are unexpected. If needed your client can dial down the cost of the insurance program. This is done without putting their death benefit guarantee in jeopardy (within the 10 year guarantee period). Through the plans waiver of premium, the client of the plan can determine how much of their premium will be waived in case of becoming disabled, giving them more control.

The new TotalSecure plan from National Life Group is exactly as the name states, its total security. Putting the choices back into your client’s hands, while giving them immense flexibility for any type of situation. Learn more about this outstanding product by visiting the product details page.

Empower Brokerage 2019 Senior Summit Day 1

April 23, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

On April 15th & 16th, Empower Brokerage flew in the top producing agents

Cigna HealthSpring Wellness Exam Rewards

February 1, 2019 by Jadon Sennet

Cigna Offers $50 Gift Card For Examining Your Health

Agents,

Preventive care and screenings are vital to our customers’ overall health, and it’s our goal to help them stay as healthy as possible. Cigna-HealthSpring has been encouraging customers to get their free yearly 360 exam (wellness exam) with a customer bonus incentive offered through for the first half of 2019!

Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare Advantage customers in eligible markets or plans* – who complete their yearly 360 Exam (wellness exam) between January 1, 2019 and May 31, 2019, and return the signed provider form – have the opportunity to receive a $50 gift card to one of three retailer of their choosing: Walmart, Amazon or Subway.

This is a positive benefit for our customers, and we want to be sure that you’re well informed in the event that you receive questions. For additional details about how this program works, please review the following Program Overview and Quick Reference Guide.

If customers have questions about the $50 Prevention Bonus Program, please refer them to the Customer Service phone number on the back of their ID card.

What is Preventive Care?

Preventive care screenings help our clients reduce risk and possibly avoid possible diseases. By taking action and presenting these options to your client you could possibly even save a life. It is important to do these screenings, which fall into three categories: cancer screenings, cardiovascular disease screenings, and immunizations. Whether you’re male, female, or even a child there are about 20+ screenings that specifically cater to each group since our bodies all experience different circumstances. Preventive screenings can also save your client money in the long run. On average these screenings save close to 3.7 billion dollars in medical bills annually in America.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact your local Cigna-HealthSpring Broker Sales Representative or call the Cigna-HealthSpring Agent Assistance Line (HAAL) at 866.442.7516