Even if you don’t watch a lot of television, you’ve still likely encountered some shameless advertising surrounding Medicare. Oftentimes, it features a familiar celebrity with a pitch that goes something like, “make sure you get all the benefits you deserve…”, or “get money back every month…”. While these claims in and of themselves are not deceptive, there are some very important pieces of information that conveniently get left out.
Did you know that there are over 3,800 Medicare Advantage plans available? In the state of Florida alone, there are 583 potential Medicare Advantage plans to choose from. Drilling down even further, in Central Florida where we specialize, there are over 50 plans available in any given zip code.
The first, and most important piece of information that gets left out of these advertisements is that you will NOT be speaking with a Medicare specialist in your area. The fact is, you will be speaking with an agent in a call center that has very little specialty in any one plan area. Most of the people you would speak with when you dial a commercial’s 800 number will be from another state. As is the case with most call centers, turnover is high – so not only will you be speaking with someone unfamiliar with your area, you will in most cases, be speaking with someone that has limited experience with Medicare as a whole.
The next bit that gets left out of these big dollar promotions is that not all Medicare plans, and plan benefits are available in every area. This is a point some mention, but only briefly. Medicare plans will vary depending on the zip code of your primary residence. The reason this omission becomes a larger issue is because of the subsequent “bait and switch” that happens once they have you on the line. These companies pay top dollar to get honest, hard working folks like you to pick up the phone and dial their number. Once they have you on the line, their main priority is to close a deal… not to do right by you as their client.
Lastly, most of the agents you speak with will have limited access to carriers. With over a dozen insurance carriers in most regions, having an agent with access to only 2 or 3 of them is a complete disservice to you as a client. Because these companies are motivated by the bottom line, your best interest goes out the window. These agents are tasked and incentivized to sign you up on that phone call, even if that means selecting the plan that is NOT right for you.
At Medicare Information Project, we are a team of licensed, independent agents. All that means is that we don’t work for any single insurance carrier, we advocate on your behalf to ensure you find exactly what you need. We don’t limit your plan options, because every year we undergo contracting with over a dozen carriers to make sure that we can provide you with the most comprehensive options possible. Our motivation is to treat you like family, and take care of you as our clients for life!
If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a no cost consultation, we look forward to hearing from you.
Medicare Information Project