Ruth brought a friend, Hannah, to my office because Hannah needed help. She enrolled in a Medicare supplement policy “on line” using her computer. Now she has a claim and has questions about how it was paid. She called the insurance company and didn’t get a satisfactory answer - or an answer that she could understand. Ruth asked if I could help her. Since she enrolled “on line”, the insurance company is not allowed to give anyone but Hannah information about her policy. I called the insurance company and got a “release” that Hannah signed that authorized them to provide me information about her policy. I was then able to get information and help Hannah with her claim questions.
Hannah told me the reason she enrolled “on line” is because she thought the premium would be less. You may think the same thing. Actually if you enroll “on line”, directly with an insurance company on the phone or with a qualified, professional agent, the premium is the same. The advantage of having an agent is that you have someone who you can always contact directly; you’ll always talk with the same person and that person has a true interest in you and your well being. Then later that week a customer’s daughter called. She and her mother were both in a panic. Her mother needed to get her prescriptions filled and could not find her Medicare prescription ID card. She could not remember what company it was with – she could not find any of the information I had given her or that the insurance company had mailed her. They had no idea where to go to get help to find out what prescription company she enrolled in. She had already paid all the premiums for the year but the check had not cleared and it was not in her check register. Oh, my! Then they called me. Since her daughter has power of attorney, I was able to give her all the information she needed for her mother to get her prescriptions filled. I also ordered her mother a new ID card. After the panic was gone, the daughter took a deep breath and said “Oh my, what if mom had enrolled directly with an insurance company or didn’t keep your business card nearby? How would we have ever known?” Am I biased about working with a qualified, professional agent? Yes, and these two recent issues are reasons why. Will you need help like Hannah and my customer? Who will you call? As Ruth tells her friends, work with an agent. Work with someone you trust and you feel is looking out for you and your well being – someone who will take care of you. Did you know that most agents represent several insurance companies? This way they can help you find the company and plan that fits you. Questions? Need help? Call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?”
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AuthorCaroline Beauchamp specializes in personalized life and health insurance solutions. Archives
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