How can I tell the difference between an experienced Medicare Broker and an inexperienced Medicare Broker?

Question

***Medicare Melanie*** · Accepted Answer

Regarding the experience of Brokers. Your wisdom and intuition will lead you to the right Broker. Experience isn't measured by years when it comes to brokers, however it is certainly a contribution factor. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find professional help, however I do encourage you to look at recommendations from your friends and family at a higher consideration, than recommendations from other professionals, as sometimes recommendations from other professionals, such as your financial advisor could be clouded with other motives. Brokers with experience have a diverse portfolio of insurance products, and the broker you are working with should be able to offer you plans from many different insurance carriers.

Answered by ***Medicare Melanie*** on May 9, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL & GA

Answered by ***Medicare Melanie*** Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Caldwell · Answer

I would be less worried about experience and more worried about honesty and integrity to be perfectly honest. To many seniors fall prey to these slick talking telemarketeers and their bait and switch tactics. Someone may be inexperienced, but if they're honest and hardworking, they'll usually have a more experienced agent check their work to make sure mistakes aren't being made, and if they do accidently make a mistake, they'll own it and help to fix it. What I really worry about are the predators in the Medicare industry blowing up people's phones, promising things they can't provide and often switching seniors plans without permission once they have their personal information.

Answered by Michael Caldwell on June 9, 2025

Broker Licensed in IN, AL, AR & 31 other states

Answered by Michael Caldwell Medicare Insurance Agent

Alondra Arce · Answer

An experienced Medicare broker will ask about your doctors, meds, and budget — not just push one plan. A newbie might seem unsure, skip important questions, or only talk about one company.

Renee Brown · Answer

An experienced Medicare broker will ask questions and show that they have a good understanding of Medicare plans, recent changes, and benefits. An inexperienced broker may struggle with these questions and details. They may also not feel comfortable looking at all the options and therefore only offer limited options. Experienced brokers will also be able to clearly explain the different Medicare plan options Exp: Original Medicare and A Medigap plan vs a Medicare Advantage plan with all the pros and cons, so you not only know your options but so they can tailor their recommendations to your specific needs

Answered by Renee Brown on June 1, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 32 other states

Answered by Renee Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

Nydia Flores · Answer

Hello 
An experienced Medicare broker will ask you questions that pertain to your overall needs and concerns.  An inexperienced Medicare broker would only be concern with enrolling you into a plan without considerations. 

The broker should be interested in your needs, what you want from your plan, and what you may need in the future.  

Thank you
Nydia Flores

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Hesitation is the dead giveaway. Not to sound crass but a younger agent simply has not experienced the wide variety of questions that an agent of over, let's say 7 years has. I am glad that you used the word broker since that definition will be more appropriate for a Medicare expert!

Answered by Steven Bleicher on May 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven Lovell · Answer

Primarily, is the agent just trying to sell you the first thing available immediately, or does the agent actually spend some time trying to determine your needs.

Gary Henderson · Answer

Well you can ask them how long they've been in sales for Medicare. That should answer that question. All brokers are licensed and have to go through a lot of testing 
My personal case is I'm also a Medicare customer so I have first-hand experience with it.

Vachik Chakhbazian · Answer

focus on their knowledge, experience, and approach. Experienced brokers will have a deep understanding of Medicare, its various plans, and how they work together. They will also be able to explain the benefits, restrictions, and complexities of Medicare, including recent changes and updates. Inexperienced brokers may lack this detailed knowledge and may be less helpful in navigating the intricacies of Medicare.

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian on June 1, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA, AL, AR & 22 other states

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian Medicare Insurance Agent

Andrew Kramer · Answer

An experienced Medicare broker should be asking you many questions on the phone, so he/she can prepare ahead of time which plan most suits you. Also, you want an independent agent who represents multiple Advantage plans in your county, 5 or more, and also supplements. Lastly, some who has at least 5 years experience and over 200 clients, or more. You can ask! Also, it's probably best to get a referral from friends, relatives or neighbors, of a broker they used and how often that broker communicates with them, either by phone, or email.

Answered by Andrew Kramer on May 9, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL

Answered by Andrew Kramer Medicare Insurance Agent

Jaye Maxx Alexander II · Answer

The best way to tell an experienced broker from an inexperienced broker is by the questions that they ask you about your needs, wants, and desires. They will have more than one policy and plan to offer they will take the time to tailor the plan for your current and future needs .

Answered by Jaye Maxx Alexander II on May 22, 2025

Broker Licensed in NC, AK, AL & 47 other states

Answered by Jaye Maxx Alexander II Medicare Insurance Agent

Douglas Carney · Answer

You can tell the difference between an experienced Medicare Broker and an inexperienced Medicare Broker by their approach. Are they asking you or telling you? An experienced broker will do a needs analysis and let the client tell them what coverage works best for their needs. Then the broker will align the client with the plan best meets their needs

Answered by Douglas Carney on May 10, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, GA, NC, OK & TX

Answered by Douglas Carney Medicare Insurance Agent

Rachael Metcalf · Answer

Their clients and how long the clients have been using them. By meeting them and talking to them.  A local agent that likes in your community would be the best resource.

Glenn Soucek · Answer

How can a senior distinguish between an experienced Medicare broker and an experienced Medicare agent? 

An experienced Medicare agent has been in the business for several years and offers information on a variety of Medicare supplement plans, rather than just a single plan. Additionally, a knowledgeable Medicare agent should be non-captive, meaning they represent multiple insurance companies rather than being tied to just one. It is important to verify that the agent is licensed in the state by the Department of Insurance. They should also engage in continuing education, and be ethical, trustworthy, and friendly.

Christine Itami · Answer

A seasoned Medicare Broker will take the time to meet with you, either in person, or by phone or Zoom and educate you about your Medicare Rights, Entitlements and Options.  They will also walk you through a thorough education about Medicare, the pros and cons of different types of plans that work with Medicare, costs, out-of-pocket costs, your specific drug costs and coverage.  They will also evaluate your existing coverage to determine if staying on a particular plan (Group) is more advantageous depending upon your cost comparison, and dependent needs, etc.  
An inexperienced Broker will only be focused on selling you a product as quickly as possible without covering the above mentioned, important information to assess your individual needs.

David Alelishvili · Answer

This is a great question, and honestly, it’s something most people don’t think about until it’s too late.

A lot of Medicare brokers will tell you how long they’ve been in the business — and sure, experience matters. But that doesn’t always mean you’ll get better service. In fact, some brokers with 10+ years under their belt will give you a little attention up front, and then disappear once you’re enrolled.

What really matters is having someone who pays close attention to the details and sticks with you. A good broker should:

Go over every doctor you see to make sure they’re in-network and figure out which plan fits best with your providers.

Review all your prescriptions to see what’s covered, what it costs, and which plan gives you the best deal.

Break down your plan’s costs and check if you qualify for any financial help. (A lot of people miss out on extra savings because no one takes the time to go over it with them.)

And just as important — you want someone independent, who works with multiple carriers and isn’t tied to just one company.