Essentially there are two ways to buy a Medigap plan in Georgia.
You can buy direct from a carrier or through an agent.
When you buy direct from the carrier you get the same plan at the same rate as buying from an agent. Carriers have in house representatives that can only tell you about their plan. They don't know about competitor plans and are prohibited from discussing a competitor plans.
Once you purchase a plan from a carrier any follow up questions are handled by a CSR rep. When you call you can expect to have an automated service answer your call, following the obligatory "Press 1 for English" you will be told to "Please listen carefully as our options have changed". From there you will be routed most often to voice mail. Your call will be returned on their schedule, not yours. You will never talk to the same person twice.
Or you can buy from an agent that lives in Georgia and is familiar with plans in your area. Some agents will insist on coming to your home, while others will allow you to purchase over the phone using email and your mailbox.
Some agents will only represent one carrier. If you go that route you might as well buy direct.
Most agents will represent several carriers and help you understand the pro's and con's of each carrier. They will be familiar with rate history and can tell you which ones have a better track record of customer service.
There are about 15 or so carriers in GA that offer Medigap. Some only sell direct or through their own representatives.
Others use independent brokers that represent several carriers.
Maybe a third of carriers make their rates available online but most will only disclose rates if you talk to them direct or through an agent.
Hint: Some of the most competitive rates are not found online . . .
Most of the plans use issue age rating but a few, including the top two carriers (ranked by sales) use attained age brackets.
You need to understand the difference in pricing structure and rate history if you want to avoid sticker shock on renewal.
#GeorgiaMedigapPlanRates #GeorgiaMedicarePlans
The best place to get a Medigap plan in Georgia is through an Agent that is Independent and working for you. A great benefit of a Medigap plan is that the level of coverage is standardized by the government. Every Insurance Company is offering the same level of coverage using letters A through N. The major difference being the price of the plan as each company offer a different price for the same amount of coverage.
A good Independent Agent will have many companies to look at and be able to discuss the best price offer. This best price is not always based on the current rates for your age. They need to be able to discuss the company's pricing history at ages down the road . You do not want a company that lures you in with a low initial premium and then historically raises it as you get older.
You should consider the Customer Service of the Insurance Company and look for a responsive company that answers your questions and can work with your agent. Your agent should be able to help over the phone or be there in person if needed.
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You can buy direct from a carrier or through an agent.
When you buy direct from the carrier you get the same plan at the same rate as buying from an agent. Carriers have in house representatives that can only tell you about their plan. They don't know about competitor plans and are prohibited from discussing a competitor plans.
Once you purchase a plan from a carrier any follow up questions are handled by a CSR rep. When you call you can expect to have an automated service answer your call, following the obligatory "Press 1 for English" you will be told to "Please listen carefully as our options have changed". From there you will be routed most often to voice mail. Your call will be returned on their schedule, not yours. You will never talk to the same person twice.
Or you can buy from an agent that lives in Georgia and is familiar with plans in your area. Some agents will insist on coming to your home, while others will allow you to purchase over the phone using email and your mailbox.
Some agents will only represent one carrier. If you go that route you might as well buy direct.
Most agents will represent several carriers and help you understand the pro's and con's of each carrier. They will be familiar with rate history and can tell you which ones have a better track record of customer service.
There are about 15 or so carriers in GA that offer Medigap. Some only sell direct or through their own representatives.
Others use independent brokers that represent several carriers.
Maybe a third of carriers make their rates available online but most will only disclose rates if you talk to them direct or through an agent.
Hint: Some of the most competitive rates are not found online . . .
Most of the plans use issue age rating but a few, including the top two carriers (ranked by sales) use attained age brackets.
You need to understand the difference in pricing structure and rate history if you want to avoid sticker shock on renewal.
#GeorgiaMedigapPlanRates #GeorgiaMedicarePlans
A good Independent Agent will have many companies to look at and be able to discuss the best price offer. This best price is not always based on the current rates for your age. They need to be able to discuss the company's pricing history at ages down the road . You do not want a company that lures you in with a low initial premium and then historically raises it as you get older.
You should consider the Customer Service of the Insurance Company and look for a responsive company that answers your questions and can work with your agent. Your agent should be able to help over the phone or be there in person if needed.