What Do You Do After Group Health Is Gone?

 It's Time For A Reality Check

We have all been reading about the dynamic changes that are taking place in the Group Health Market. You would have to be blind not to see that our industry and our place in this market is undergoing a revolution not an evolution. With or without a Single Pay System under government control, the position of the writing agent is going to change significantly or be eliminated completely.

Health Insurance Carriers are desperate to insure their continued existence and they have offered significant concessions in an attempt to convince Congress that a Single Pay system is unnecessary. If they are successful, those concessions come with a high price tag and we as agents are going to be a focal point when it comes time to pay. If they are unsuccessful health insurance agents will no longer be part of the process.

Ask yourself this question; if there is no underwriting, there are no rate ups, no preexisting clause and uniform plan offerings.....what will they need you for?

The decision on which carrier to chose will be made strictly on which offers the best price and your clients and the carriers will perceive that they no longer need an agent to add value to the process.  The reality is that carriers will see the agent as an unnecessary expense who's removal will enhance their competiveness and profitability.

In a best case scenario where we are allowed to continue to participate, do you honestly believe that the compensation levels of today will continue?

If you have been around for a while you may remember the State of Texas Health Insurance Cooperative. It was ill conceived and poorly run, (It was after all a government program) but the concept was not too different from the various proposals being put forward today as we move toward universal coverage.

In that program agents were allowed to participate but were not deemed necessary. If a client chose to have an agent, the compensation was significantly less than that being paid outside of the program.

So what are you going to do? Change careers?  Isn't it time for a reality check and to acknowledge that no matter how the negotiations and politics play out, that the revamping of our nation's health care system will impact our livelihood in a significant way.

Some of you will walk away from the relationships and clients you have spent years developing, but there is another choice.

AMG has spent the last two years positioning our product portfolio and developing the tools you need as an agent to transition from your dependence on group health sales for your income while maximizing the relationships you have with your existing clients.

Life insurance, LTC, DI, Workplace products, Ancillary, Occupational Accident, and Annuities; AMG has one of the most comprehensive portfolios in the industry. More importantly, we have the expertise, training programs and proprietary platforms such as EZlife and Simple Life that will allow you to successfully expand your practice.

So what are you going to do? You can continue to convince yourself that everything is going to be alright or you can pull your head out of the sand (or where ever you might have it buried) and start making plans for your future.

We are upbeat and excited about the future of AMG.  We want and can help you feel the same way about yours.