Hope Suhr, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: Why I Like Being a Medicare Agent

One of the main reasons I love being a Medicare agent is that I get to help people during some of the most stressful and vulnerable times in their lives. Every day, I meet people who are not only navigating complex healthcare decisions but are also concerned about how to afford the care they need. As a Medicare agent, I get to offer clarity and reassurance, guiding clients toward coverage options that fit their unique circumstances. I help them decide w/o regrets because I educate them, so they can make an informed decision.

With approximately 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the demand for Medicare guidance continues to grow steadily, ensuring a robust client base and job stability well into the future. This steady influx of new clients, coupled with the ability to build long-lasting relationships as people live longer, allows me to help more people while also growing my business. The role offers flexibility, independence, and a chance to become a trusted advisor in my community. As I grow my team, I will train them just like me, to take an educational approach. I’m also a second-generation medicare agent of 43 years —a combination that makes being a Medicare agent both a stable career choice and a personally meaningful vocation.

Answer: I feel that, as a Medicare agent, my job is to help you navigate into a plan that won’t financially cripple you, but will benefit you—both for your health and your finances.

I would suggest you consider purchasing a Hospital Indemnity plan after I do my discovery on your needs.

We know the Medicare space is evolving and constantly changing. I will be just a phone call away, and I’ll stay on top of the changes in the industry for you.

Answer: Unfortunately, when you make a change during open enrollment, also known as OEP, you get to make one change if you’re on a Medicare Advantage plan. If you were on a Medicare supplement plan that changed during your birthday month, your agent that you’re working with should educate you on how you obtain the correct information and know what you need to do when you need to do it.

The industry is constantly changing, so your agent must stay up-to-date on all other happenings in this specific industry.

Answer: I’m not sure that this is the case, and he has everything to do with number one, your income, number two, your ZIP Code, and number three, how much are you paying with your regular insurance? It’s important to work with an agent that evaluates all of that and ask those questions for instance, this morning, I had a phone call from the lady that said her husband are going to be retiring soon and he has a company that’s going to pay their insurance for the rest of their life And I said well let’s find out how much you’re paying. I asked how much they were paying, and after we did the evaluation, we found out that it would be more expensive for them to go on a Medicare advantage plan or a Medicare supplement plan, so I suggested to them to stay where they’re at.

This also has a lot to do with whether you need freedom to go wherever you need to go Nationwide wherever original Medicare is accepted or your insurance is or gives you the freedom to go wherever you need to go and your Health Issues there’s a lot of concerns here with this question, so make sure you work with the agent that does a deep dive Discovery on your background, your history, etc.

Answer: This is a great question. As you establish a relationship with your insurance agent, you’ll begin to see why that relationship matters, starting with this: we pick up our phones.

You’ll always know we’ve got your back. We don’t get paid by you—we’re paid by the insurance company. If you call the insurance company directly, you’ll rarely get the same person twice. They all have different training, and unfortunately, they don’t always give you the right answer.

I’ve had to call multiple times myself, sometimes waiting an hour or two, just to get a correct answer. That was back in my early days, and I don’t want you to waste your time like that.

If I don’t answer right away, it’s because I’m either with another client or taking some much-needed personal time. I work hard—Monday through Saturday, and sometimes even on Sundays. While I prefer to reserve Sundays for family, I understand that when a call comes in on a Sunday, it’s usually urgent.

Rest assured, I stay trained and informed. I invest approximately 80 hours a year in certifications and training to keep up with industry changes, so I can serve you better.

Answer: Well, there’s a lot here. I’m ready to unpack it: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D.

This is very confusing, and it’s hard to navigate.

I had somebody talk to me when they met me at a medical office, because I’m a preferred agent in one of the medical groups, and she said, “I made a big mistake.” I helped my neighbor, and I screwed it up so bad that we had to call the insurance company, cancel it, and I had to go with another company.

And because she was in that window—that window—she was very lucky.

Understanding Part A, understanding Part B, understanding Part C, and understanding Part D—it’s not just understanding those parts. It’s all of the information that goes behind that, with asking you the right questions to get to the result.

Very important that these questions are asked.

Hence, that new friend of mine is going to have me help her when it’s time to make that change, because she does not want to do this ever again.

It’s not easy to do by yourself. I’ve been in the industry for a long time, and I know what I’m doing—but it took me a long time as well.

And I feel like I’m a pretty sharp lady.

Answer: Great question and one that confuses a lot of people, Medicare agents, and Medicare brokers. There’s not a lot of difference between them. There’s a captive agent as well means that they’re working for the insurance company. They get paid by the insurance company, not usually commission, it’s general pay, so when you talk to somebody who is working, Great question—and one that confuses a lot of people: Medicare agent and Medicare brokers.

There’s not a lot of difference between them.

There’s a captive agent, which means they’re working for the insurance company. They get paid by the insurance company, not usually by commission; it’s usually general pay. So, when you talk to somebody who is working for an insurance Medicare company, they’re going to move you into their plan.

A Medicare agent is a licensed professional. They can find a Medicare plan that will best fit you and your needs.

Then there’s a broker. A broker has other agents usually underneath them, or they have a whole line of insurance carriers that they’re appointed with. They can find out your needs and then turn around and put you in the plan that’s going to fit your needs and benefit you.

I’m a Medicare broker. I have a team below me. I work for you, not the insurance company—and that’s a beautiful thing, by the way. That means I have no motive other than to serve you.

And it doesn’t cost you.

That’s the good news for you.

Answer: Well, first we have to look at your Social Security—just to make sure you’re in the right time to start your Medicare.

We want to find out what your full retirement age is. We want to find out what your health history is, and what your partner’s health history is.

There are a lot of loaded questions here, and it’s very individualized based on your finances. Whether you’re divorced or remarried, there’s a whole lot to consider, so it’s really hard to narrow this question down.

It is case-by-case, and there’s very little generic information that applies.

This is where it’s a good idea to sit down with me, to go over many questions that will help guide us to the right decision, whether we move forward in putting you into a Medicare plan, or we tell you to hold off.

I had a phone call this morning from a client who said her husband is seven years younger than her, and she’s going to be 65 in six months. His company will pay for her insurance until he retires.

So if he’s seven years younger, he’s got more years to work before he retires. But the insurance she’d be paying for is a lot of money.

We did the calculations, and we figured it’s probably a good idea for her to go ahead and take her Medicare.

She’s also not healthy, she’s very stressed, and she doesn’t know if it’s worth it for her to stay working, so we came up with a plan.

I also asked many questions, and that’s how we were able to come up with that solution.

If you are under 65, you can get on disability if deemed by a medical professional and by Social Security. It starts as permanent coverage after your 24th month.

Answer: Well, first we have to look at your Social Security—just to make sure you’re at the right time to start your Medicare.

We want to find out what your full retirement age is. We want to find out what your health history is, and what your partner’s health history is.

There are a lot of loaded questions here, and it’s very individualized based on your finances. Whether you’re divorced or remarried, there’s a whole lot to consider, so it’s really hard to narrow this question down.

It is case-by-case, and there’s very little generic information that applies.

This is where it’s a good idea to sit down with me, to go over many questions that will help guide us to the right decision, whether we move forward in putting you into a Medicare plan, or we tell you to hold off.

I had a phone call this morning from a client who said her husband is seven years younger than her, and she’s going to be 65 in six months. His company will pay for her insurance until he retires.

So if he’s seven years younger, he’s got more years to work before he retires. But the insurance she’d be paying for is a lot of money.

We did the calculations, and we figured it’s probably a good idea for her to go ahead and take her Medicare.

She’s also not healthy, she’s very stressed, and she doesn’t know if it’s worth it for her to stay working, so we came up with a plan.

I also asked many questions, and that’s how we were able to come up with that solution.

If you are under 65, you can get on disability if deemed by a medical professional and by Social Security. It starts as permanent coverage after your 24th month.

Answer: Here it is! Stop the AEP and use your birthday month as the time to change. One month before your birthday month, and one month after.

Answer: 80% coverage, 20% you pay for the coverage. You do the math.

Here’s my answer:

That 20% can get real expensive—real fast—especially if something major happens. That’s why I recommend looking at coverage that protects you from those big surprise bills.

It’s not about which one is “better.” It’s about which one fits your health needs,

Answer: The trap of a Medicare Advantage plan is that it’s an HMO plan, and you have to get prior authorization for a specialist. However, the cost is minimal. If zero out-of-pocket.

That’s the benefit of having the Medicare advantage HMO plan, along with all of the other benefits that come along with dental, vision, hearing, chiropractic, acupuncture, over-the-counter benefits, so on and so forth.

Answer: The best way to verify is to contact an insurance agent licensed in your state who has the tools to compare and check if it’s a legit plan. If you don’t have an agent, maybe someone you know can refer you to one. Don’t call the carrier directly, as agents like us have access on the back end to look it up. The reality is, if there’s anyone in your community, area, or state selling Medicare, they’ll know right away whether it’s right or wrong.”