How To Find a Local Medicare Agent Near You
Understanding your options and choosing the right Medicare coverage can take hours—sometimes even days or weeks—of research. Even after doing all that research, many people don’t feel confident that they chose the right Medicare plan. That’s where Medicare insurance agents come in. The right Medicare agent can put your mind at ease by explaining all of your options clearly, helping you compare costs and benefits based on your specific needs, and guiding you through the sign up process.
Finding a trustworthy Medicare agent near you isn’t always easy. Unfortunately, some Medicare agents don’t care about your interests at all. They may push you toward specific plans that pay them a higher commission, even if these plans don’t cover what you need. Even well-intentioned Medicare agents are incentivized to only tell you about the plans that they receive commissions from.
In this guide, we’ll share details about the different types of Medicare agents, how to find a trustworthy Medicare agent near you, and what to consider before choosing your Medicare agent.
Key takeaways:
Medicare agents can help make Medicare sign up easier because they know the complicated terms, coverage types, and enrollment processes.
Medicare agents are paid commissions from insurance companies, which means many may try to push you toward specific plans they get paid to sell.
You should work with a licensed and independent Medicare agent to ensure you are getting good advice. It’s best if you are sure your agent is looking at every plan from every insurance company (vs. just a handful).
What is a Medicare agent?
A Medicare agent is someone who is licensed to help you learn about, compare, and enroll in Medicare plans. Most Medicare agents don’t charge a fee for their service. They are either employed by an insurance company or get paid commissions from insurance companies that they represent.
The two different types of Medicare agents
There are two main types of Medicare agents: Captive and independent.
Captive Medicare agents work for a specific insurance company. Because they work for the insurance company, they will only tell you about plans offered by their company. For example, a captive agent who works for Humana will only tell you about Humana’s Medicare plans.
Independent Medicare agents represent multiple insurance carriers and may tell you about plans from any carrier. That said, few Medicare agents are completely independent, meaning that they’ll tell you about every plan available to you. This is because Medicare agents don’t get paid commissions for plans they are not contracted to sell.
I’ll take this moment to explain that Chapter Medicare agents are completely independent. Our agents are full-time employees who get paid the same amount, regardless of which plans they recommend. We do this to ensure that they always have your best interests at heart—because that’s how it should be.
How does a Medicare agent help you with Medicare choices?
An agent shouldn’t push you toward a specific plan. Instead, they should listen to your wants and needs, share information about your options, and guide you toward choosing the best Medicare plan for your unique situation.
Help you understand Medicare coverage types
To start, a Medicare agent should help you understand your coverage options. They should explain the differences between Original Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D. Understanding the different coverage types will help you make the best decision for your health.
Help you compare plans
When comparing plans, your Medicare agent should first take down important information, including the doctors you want to continue seeing, the prescriptions you need to take, and other considerations, including chronic health conditions and upcoming treatments.
With this information in hand, your Medicare agent can help you compare the costs of plans that meet your needs. A good agent will help you understand not just the monthly premium you’ll pay, but also the out-of-pocket costs you’ll owe throughout the year.
Help you enroll in your chosen plan
Once you find the plan that works for your needs and your budget, your agent should support you through the sign up process.
Help you review your coverage each year
Medicare has an Open Enrollment Period every year from October 15 - December 7. During this time, you can switch between Medicare coverage types and plans. Your Medicare agent should help you review your current coverage, any changes to your healthcare needs, and the plans available in the coming year. This will help you ensure that you have the coverage that fits your needs best year after year.
How Do You Find a Medicare Agent Near You?
Medicare agents are licensed by state. So, to find a Medicare agent near you, you need only find someone who is licensed in the state you live in. Of course, you should do a little research to ensure they are qualified and trustworthy, too. More on that in the “things to consider” section below.
Where to look for Medicare agents
We recommend turning to people you trust for recommendations. Consider asking a family member, friend, your financial advisor, a website you trust, or an influencer you follow.
If your network doesn’t provide you with a Medicare agent to call, you can search online. Just be sure to look at reviews or social media sites, like Reddit, to vet your agent.
You can also skip the search and work with a Chapter Medicare agent. Our agents go through in-depth training and always put your needs first. We explain things clearly and, while we are praised for guiding people through the Medicare process quickly, we always take as much time as you need to understand and feel comfortable with your coverage.
Why work with a Medicare agent?
When learning about and signing up for Medicare, you have options. You can consult your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), do your own research, use a Medicare insurance agent, or a combination of the three. Let’s explore these options.
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs)
SHIPs are run by state governments to provide people with free, objective Medicare counseling. Counselors may help you understand the different parts of Medicare and your rights. While SHIPs are unbiased, many find them unhelpful when it comes to actually helping you choose a plan.
Doing your own Medicare research
The amount of time people spend researching Medicare varies. Some people spend hours or days researching Medicare. Others call an agent almost immediately to avoid getting lost in the Medicare maze. There are plenty of Medicare resources out there. Look for those that make things clear and explain the good and bad of every option.
Many people start with the Medicare and You handbook that you may have received in the mail. This comes directly from Medicare. You can also look up specific questions and plan information on Medicare.gov.
From here, you may look for additional resources online. There are also Medicare books, including our favorite, It’s Not That Complicated: The Three Medicare Decisions to Protect Your Health and Money.
A few resources we recommend for your research:
Doing your own research is helpful, but many people sink hours into trying to understand everything only to feel more confused. If you feel confused or just want to save yourself the time and headache, reach out to a Medicare agent near you.
Using a Medicare agent
Using a Medicare agent can (and should) make signing up for Medicare easy. Your agent should listen to what you’re looking for from your Medicare insurance, the doctors you want to continue seeing, and the prescriptions you need covered. They should then explain the different types of coverage, help you compare the costs and benefits of specific plans, and support you in signing up for your Medicare plan.
They should do all this in a clear way so you aren’t left with unanswered questions that can affect your health and finances. They should also be patient, making sure to take the time you need to feel good about your Medicare insurance.
One thing to keep in mind when working with a Medicare agent is that you have no obligation to follow their advice. This is your decision, and it can have serious implications on your health and finances. Don’t let anyone push you into a plan that doesn’t make sense for your needs.
Things to consider before choosing a Medicare agent
What goes into finding a Medicare agent you can trust? Your perception of an agent will depend largely on your interactions with them, but there are some things you can consider before talking to them.
Licensure
Make sure the Medicare agent you talk to is licensed in your state. While Medicare enrollment is mostly the same from one state to the next, some things can vary, including:
Plan availability and pricing
Some enrollment rules, like Medigap’s birthday and anniversary rules
Medicaid requirements, applicable for Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes and resources
A Medicare agent licensed in your state can walk you through all the details and help you enroll in a plan.
Commission and fees
Medicare agents get paid commissions from insurance companies after they enroll someone in a plan. Within Medicare, it’s also important to know that certain plan types can pay higher commissions.
Finding a local Medicare agent who isn’t influenced by these commissions is challenging. We recommend working with an agent who looks at every plan available to you (not just those from top insurance companies). If you are unable to determine if your agent will put your interests first, then do your own research to ensure there isn’t a better plan out there for you—or just talk to a Chapter agent.
Experience
Look at an agent’s training or years of experience, but keep in mind that years of experience doesn’t always mean they’re the best. A Medicare agent could have a lot of experience steering people toward one of the five plans that they sell—when it would be better if they were good at recommending the best plan out of all 40 that are available.
Customer service
Before calling a Medicare agent, you can look at their online reviews to see what kind of experience to expect. Once you call, keep an eye out for red flags, like:
Not explaining the different coverage types
Not asking about your needs, including your prescriptions and preferred doctors
Recommending a plan that doesn’t cover your prescriptions
Pushing you heavily toward a specific plan
At any point, if you aren’t happy with the experience your Medicare agent is providing, remember that you can move on!
FAQs
Who is the best person to talk to about Medicare?
An independent Medicare agent is the best person to talk to about Medicare.
Should I use an agent for Medicare?
Yes, you should use an agent to enroll in Medicare, but look for one who is independent and compares every plan. Using an agent will make things easier and help you ensure you don’t skip a step or sign up too late.
How do I find my Medicare agent?
The easiest way to find a Medicare agent near you is to get in touch with us at (855) 900-2427 or schedule a time to talk to a Chapter Medicare agent. We’ll connect you with someone who is licensed in your state and familiar with the available plans and enrollment periods.
The bottom line
Using a Medicare agent isn’t a requirement, but it’s highly recommended—just like it’s recommended to use a tax tool or consultant for your taxes. Of course, you may still do your own research, but an agent can guide you through the complicated terms and process wrapped up in the Medicare maze.