8 Things to Look for an Agent of Individual Health Insurance

Here are eight things to look for when picking an agent or agency to represent you or your employees in purchasing an individual/family health insurance policy:

1. Shopping. If you like to shop online, the agent should have an online web site where you enter your family information to get instant online price quotes on different policies offered by different carriers. This allows you to shop at your leisure until you are ready to make a decision. A good online insurance web site will not ask for your name or contact information until you have seen quotes and are ready to choose a policy.
2. Appointments. Agents you contact should be appointed to sell health insurance from several or most of the major health insurance carriers in your state—and they or someone at their agency should have a professional relationship with the underwriters at each carrier.
3. Knowledge. The agent should know and be able to clearly explain all of the information contained in this chapter.
4. Selecting a carrier. Should you or a family member have or have had a health issue, the agent should know which carriers in your state may have a bias against certain preexisting conditions. Once a carrier is selected, the agent should be able to contact the carrier without mentioning your name and ask the underwriters whether your medical issue raises any red flags.
5. Access. You should be able to speak to the agent or a licensed associate on the telephone or via e-mail at your convenience, or to visit that individual in person. Your health information is personal and confidential, and you should feel secure when sharing it with
   someone.
6. Monitoring. The agent or agency should have a process in place to monitor your application once submitted and, after consulting with you, be able to withdraw your application or amend it before it gets formally rejected, uprated, or approved with an exclusionary rider.
7. Negotiation. The agent should have a personal style and communication ability that makes you feel comfortable—as he or she will be the one representing you to the underwriter if you have an issue with your application.
8. Volume. The agent or agency should be a significant producer of policies for the carrier selected. This will enable that person to better negotiate on your behalf during the underwriting process and to help you solve issues with the carrier at a future date.