When you are beginning your Medicare journey, one thing that you should consider is seeking help from an insurance agent that focuses on Medicare. Insurance agents have to go through many certifications to be able to assist individuals in choosing the right Medicare plan. The first step is that they have to become licensed to sell health insurance in the state that they intend to do business. Then they need to pass an AHIP test that ensures that the agent understands Medicare and is aware of fraud, waste, and abuse to help protect the Medicare system. The final step is that each insurance company has their own certifications which an agent must pass in order to represent their plans.
While that is great, the big question is, can I do it on my own or should I use an agent. As an agent that represents multiple Medicare plans, I can say with 100% confidence that every Medicare beneficiary should utilize the services of an agent. While every agent has their own business model, our agents at Senior Benefits Consultants strive to provide honest and unbiased guidance. We are not motivated by commissions, rather we seek lifelong relationships built on trust and service. Hawaiʻi is a small place and if you do bad business, everyone will know sooner or later.
Our agents represent multiple insurance companies which allows us to recommend a plan that fits your needs best. Often times if you meet an agent that only represents one or two plans, they may focus on those plans even though they may not be a good fit. That is because agents earn a living off of commissions. My advice is to interview several agents and select the one that YOU feel most comfortable with. I’m a true believer that everyone has the ability to sense whether or not the other person (agent) has your best interests at heart.
Some of the services that our agents provide include Medicare education, assisting with applying for Medicare, choosing the right Medicare plan, exploring if you qualify for government programs that would assist with Medicare costs, help apply for Medicaid, and much more! There is never a fee for our service and our agents are glad to assist in any capacity. I welcome you to visit our homepage and contact one of our agents. We would be honored to help you. Our agents live on all islands and we service the entire state of Hawaiʻi.