Wow – I hope everyone is excited as we are for the upcoming Selling Season (AEP & OE) with the opportunity to build up your BOB with our Best-in-Class Companies and products! Of course – we have the privilege of leading the way with Florida Blue – the Premier Health Insurer in Florida and the Foundation on which we build our client relationships and other product sales.
As we go into the 2024 Open Enrollment period – this represents the 10th OE since the introduction of the PPACA. I am proud to say Compass Health has been involved in every one of them! First – beginning in 2013 for the 2014 plan dates – as a leading FMO for multiple ACA Carriers and now – a Leading Agency for Florida Blue since 2016 (2017 plan effective dates).
One BIG reminder I want to make regarding Florida Blue ACA Compensation: On the surface – it may seem that FB pays less than the Competitors. However – FB Offers a unique pay structure that in many cases will pay more than the Competitors:
Why?
- FB pays your entire first year up front at the point of issue (2 months after submit)
- Compass pays you 6 months Fast Cash the week after submission
- Biggest Point – FB pays you the entire first year commission through November 1 effective dates AND pays you the entire Renewal Commission up front 2 months later. So – any policy issued with a February 1 effective date all the way up to a November effective date will receive the full 1st year commission + the full renewal (double dipping!)
- Not to mention FB’s customer service has been recognized as the Best in the Business with products and networks that are superior to all others offering great retention
Aside from FB – most of our other products offer excellent compensation with advances paid weekly or monthly. Plus – every sale earns Compass Rewards!
Let’s not forget about AEP – which was the precursor to the PPACA. Our Company was founded in 2007 (hard to believe!) as an Individual Health Marketing Organization. We didn’t enter Medicare until 2014. Nine years later and with Amanda Simpson spearheading our Medicare efforts – we have become a solid Medicare Agency for Florida Blue. Florida Blue wants to substantially grow their Medicare business – MA In particular. So do we!
As you folks prepare for your best ‘Selling Season’ ever – I want to provide an overview of what our great Organization actually offers to our ‘best in class’ agent partners. 17 years is a long time for our Agency to now be in business. We’ve learned a lot. One thing is for sure – more is not better – better is better! This is essentially the premise and mission statement for our Company:
We offer the Best in Class Carrier Partners, Products, Compensation & Rewards.
We have aligned ourselves with what we believe to be the Best in Class in their respective product categories:
- Florida Blue for ACA & Medicare
- Allstate for STM, ACCESS, Final Expense (new!), Ancillary and now Auto, RV & Motorcycle
- Ameritas, ANICO & National Life Group for Life w/ Living Benefits
- AFEUSA for Specialty Products & Ancillary (Great new Partnership!)
- Smart Pre-paid Cremation
You can speak to all these products with absolute confidence that you are truly providing your clients with the top tier of products available in their respective categories. All of these Companies & Products were chosen by us to fill a niche that we know exists in the market.
You should be excited and proud to introduce these products to your Florida Blue customers.
These Companies and products were not chosen just to take up space. Your customers NEED these products – just as you and I do! Don’t pre-judge what your customer needs or can afford. You have a responsibility to introduce these products to your customers. I hope all of you realize that speaking to your customers about products that can assist them in their time of need is a noble undertaking. Being in my position as the President of our Company – I have heard many stories where our products provided security, sanctuary, and peace of mind to our clients in their time of need. There is nothing better than hearing about these and the tremendous thanks our agents receive when a client was stricken with an illness – had a terrible accident and in some cases – had a family member die. Conversely – we hear just as many stories of could have – would have – should have!
Don’t let the ‘Should Have’ happen to you or your customer. I realize most everyone has a budget to work within (expect for my wife!). This said – most responsible and prudent people understand paying for security ahead of time is far less costly than at point of service.
Your Senior customers (55+) become more vulnerable and indeed – need our products even more such as Life w/ Living Benefits, Senior Indemnity plans that cover what Medicare doesn’t and of course Smart pre-paid which is a HUGE money saver offering peace of mind!
Our Foundation is Florida Blue and we are happy to be able to represent them as they are not available to the Brokerage community – just a handful of Agencies like us and you! Let’s face it – selling Florida Blue ACA & MA is not quite selling – it’s more like Order Taking; particularly given the premiums are now highly subsidized by the Federal Government.
Affordable or $0 Premium ACA & MA provides the best scenario to introduce the other products which all your customers NEED.
We are introducing a special AEP/OE Compass Rewards X-tra Bonus designed around the Senior Market. We hope you will educate and engage with these products and reach out to all your age 55+ customers to speak about these great products and how they can provide peace of mind for peenies on the dollar.
Lastly – we are hard at work developing a stable of reliable lead vendors that all our agents will be able to participate with on a cost share basis. After months of piloting multiple vendors across many product categories and lead types – we will be introducing 3 lead vendors within the next 2 weeks for agents wanting to participate. We are willing to cover upfront costs for these leads with a 50% cost share and deduct from future commissions. Last time I checked – they called this a No- brainer!
I look forward to our best-Selling Season ever and plan to host a great event at a fabulous venue to celebrate our mutual success. Best of Luck to you this Selling Season!