An unprecedented opportunity

For three years I have heard the mumblings, I have heard the grumblings, I have heard more health insurance agents complain about the loss of the “good ole days” then I care to count. The truth is, though, that they are all correct — the good old days of the health insurance business are over. You can either cower, duck, play ostrich and stick your head in the sand, and continue to do things as you did in the past, or you can open your eyes, smell the new roses blooming and morph into a health insurance superstar under a different set of rules.

As we move further into the open enrollment season we see that many fears were unfounded.  Commissions have not gone away and the role of the agent or broker is still incredibly vital to the end-user. In fact, with new decisions for groups and consumers to make and new rules to make them under with Obamacare, this role is more important than ever. This is only the case, however, if you take the time to become a student of your craft — learn the new rules, learn about and get certified with the new exchanges, and study the new products and terminology associated with them, so that you can make the otherwise complicated world of health insurance simple for your clients.

Simply put, if you haven’t taken the time to grow as a professional, then I have no sympathy for you. Your insistence upon continuing life in the “good ole days” will bring your business lean days ahead. On the other hand, if you have attacked the change in rules as the opportunity that it truly is, then you have the foundation to build yourself a business for the future — a future where your specialized health insurance knowledge will be valued and sought after. And, yes, you will be well compensated.

When major markets change, opportunities occur. When lifestyles change, opportunities occur. When the government changes the rules of the game, new games are started, bringing with them even more opportunities. So what does this new playing field look like?