I recently caught up with an old friend for coffee. We chatted about this year’s crazy winter, our latest Netflix obsessions and, of course, work.
Anna, a health insurance agent, is super talented, smart beyond belief, compassionate and great at her job; but she is so frustrated that she confessed to often dreaming of quitting.
I, on the other hand, love what I do. I am a health insurance broker.
I know, I know—what’s the difference, right? There are actually several distinctions; but the most important centers on the issue of being “captive.”
- Agent—Anna represents specific health insurance carriers. As their voice to the client, she must adhere to what they say. For instance, if Lion’s Share Health Company determines that it isn’t selling enough of a particular product/plan, it can tell Anna that she must push it to her clients. She is held captive to the needs and requirements of Lion’s Share.
- Broker—I have access to all of the health care options available to my clients. Free from guidelines and restrictions imposed by specific carriers, I evaluate each individual’s lifestyle, finding the plan that matches them. Since Lion’s Share is unable to influence my decisions, I am able to act as a true client advocate.
Let’s say that you have five kids, who are all involved in sports. You’re going to want a policy with a heavier emphasis on accidents (especially since little Trey has developed a sudden obsession with parkour) than your neighbor Ken, who quietly raises a glass to you over the fence, as he smirks about having successfully raised his two risk-averse bookworms to adulthood.
Here’s one huge advantage to using a health insurance broker. The Dayton area includes many business sectors that transfer personnel far and wide. Many of my local clients have moved to other parts of the country. As a national broker licensed in more than 40 states, I have my finger on the pulse of what’s happening across the nation. New Jersey’s health care system is vastly different than Texas’ or Florida’s. Believe it or not, it can be more difficult to navigate the wide array of hospital and network options we have within a 50-mile radius here than a simple two-provider system in, say, Idaho.
Although some agents may be licensed in all 50 states, they are often still limited to specific geographic regions. Because I develop relationships with my clients and care that their needs are met, I deeply appreciate having the flexibility to support them, no matter where they move and what kind of system awaits them there.
While Anna has given life as a health insurance agent a low grade, our talk gave her hope. Who knows? She may actually be a broker on my team someday; and I would be honored to work with her!
Communicate with a broker who can adjust your health coverage at any time of year, no matter how life’s circumstances change. Find out more at coveredbystephanie.com or 937-619-9939.
