Agents: Crossing the line can be costly

Some unethical agents may be thinking that the Medicare open enrollment period going on now is the perfect opportunity for the type of high-pressure sales tactics endured by Dwain and Elsie Miennert, whose story was reported recently in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

After believing the government had sent them a postcard asking for information, the Miennerts filled it out and returned it, not realizing they had just invited a three-hour sales pitch from Eugene Evasku, a broker who had previously been accused of misleading seniors regarding insurance policies.

At their 2007 meeting with Evasku, the Miennerts, who are in their 70s, were persuaded to cancel their longtime health insurance policy and sign up for one provided by Evasku. Late this year, Evasku’s alleged misdeeds finally caught up with him when Minnesota decided to revoke his license and fine him $30,000.