CMS Call Recording Guidelines For 2023

The new CMS Call Recording guidelines are here for the 2023 enrollment period! Starting October 1st, 2022, all Medicare agents will need to abide by these guidelines for any interactions where Medicare Advantage or Part D plans are discussed. These guidelines include:

  • Recording all calls, for clients AND prospects
  • Storing calls for 10 years in a HIPAA-compliant manner
  • Using standard disclaimers

This is going to have a massive impact on your prospecting and enrollments. Here is what you need to know and how to stay compliant.

Why CMS Made New Call Recording Guidelines

As with most regulatory changes, the new CMS call recording guidelines are a result of a few bad apples. Last year, CMS reported over 39,000 CTMs (complaints to Medicare), which are essentially allegations of misconduct

Shockingly, 70% of CTMs came from large call centers of third-party marketing organizations (TPMOs). The TPMOs used extremely misleading ads to funnel customers into a call center, where they would be pressured into changing their health plan. 

The problem? The TPMOs would often promise plans that didn’t cover the customer’s prescriptions, primary care provider, or even any doctors in their area. 

 

As a result, CMS not only cracked down on the call centers, but also made a sweeping change: all independent agents are now considered TPMOs. That’s right, a single agent now has to abide by the same regulations as a multi-million dollar call center.

What This Means For Independent Agents

So what will agents need to do in order to stay compliant with CMS? Let’s check out the details:

Using a Disclaimer

As of October 1st, 2022, every call will need to have this standard disclaimer in the first 60 seconds:

“We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.”

Pretty awkward, right?

But wait, there’s more! You’ll also have to use this disclaimer prominently in your:

  • Electronic communication (email, online chat, etc)
  • Marketing materials
  • Website

Recording Your Calls

After that awkward disclaimer, you will need to record all of your calls with your clients and prospects. And then you will have to store all of those recordings for ten years.

“But what about personal calls?” you might be thinking. Like most people in the 21st century, you probably use a cell phone to make calls. Well, you’ll have to get a separate number with call recording and storage.

What About Texts and Emails?

The CMS Final Rule means that you will have to keep ALL of your interactions, including text messages and emails. So if you’re trying to only work off your cell phone and your texts get deleted—you could be in for some big trouble.

How To Stay Compliant With CMS Call Recording Guidelines

Seems like an expensive and time-consuming process to comply with the CMS call recording guidelines, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, there is a great solution for agents. 

As an FMO with decades of experience, RB Insurance Group has been preparing for this new change. Our agents get free access to a complete virtual call center, the Medicare Sales Engine, that solves this problem. 

The Medicare Sales Engine:

  • Records and stores every call
  • Can play a recorded disclaimer before your calls
  • Saves your text messages and emails

In addition to great technology, RB Insurance Group also offers in-depth help on remaining compliant. Rob Bever, our chief compliance officer, not only trains agents on compliance but also helps you deal with any CTMs you may receive.

Conclusion

Even though they seem intimidating, the new CMS call recording guidelines are nothing to be afraid of. Eliminating the false promises from shady TPMOs will allow consumers to trust Medicare agents again. 

And if you need the technology, training, and support to be ready for October 1st, give us a call at 1-800-997-3107 or fill out our contracting form. We would love to show you how RB Insurance Group can help you grow your Medicare business and build the lifestyle you deserve.

2023 Medicare Broker Compensation

2023 Medicare Agent and Broker Compensation

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services made their annual announcement last month, detailing the compensation limits for 2023.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a memo to Medicare Advantage Organizations, Prescription Drug Plan Sponsors, Section 1876 Cost Plans, and Medicare-Medicaid Plans detailing Contract Year 2023 Medicare Broker Compensation Rate, Referral/Finder’s Fees, Submissions, and Training and Testing Requirements for 2023.

Policies sold with an effective date on or after January 1st, 2023 will be eligible for the 2023 Medicare broker compensation so long as the selling carrier pays the Maximum CMS Allowable Commission.

With more Seniors choosing to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans than ever before combined with steadily rising commissions and the ability to earn a six-figure residual income, now is the perfect time to add Medicare Advantage into your portfolio.

Whether its our Medicare Sales Engine CRM, the Fast-Track contracting process is designed to eliminate 90% of your contracting paperwork or our soon to be unveiled multi-plan enrollment tool, RBI has the tools, technology, and training to help you meet your Medicare goals.

We’re happy to help and talk with those wanting to learn more about this industry, just give us a call (1-800-997-3107) and ask for Jim Gramp.



doctor compensation
doctor compensation

There are Just 24 months Between S.S.D.I. and Medicare Automatic Qualification

There are 24 months Between S.S.D.I. & Medicare Automatic Qualification

What You Need to Know to Grow Your Book of Business.

The Social Security Administration estimated in December 2018 that 8.5 million Americans received Disability Income or S.S.D.I.. To get a sense of who is covered by S.S.D.I., check the Administration’s Definition of Disability and view its complete list of impairments for adults and children.

What does this mean for you the agent? S.S.D.I. and Medicare work together to support individuals with disabilities. Independent Medicare agents have a rewarding opportunity to serve these disadvantaged beneficiaries. Whether someone is physically disabled and needs assistance with mobility or those with intellectual disabilities or those suffering with mental illnesses, they all need assistance with finding the right health coverage for them. Many times, S.S.D.I. beneficiaries qualify for Medicaid due to lower earnings over their lifetime. This provides you with a unique opportunity to partner with others to assist these beneficiaries. Once they have Medicare, you have a client for life!


“Realizing the the implications that Medicare is not just for seniors 65 and older opens up your book of business to new streams of income.”


It’s fairly simple, once a person has been on S.S.D.I. for 24 months, he or she automatically qualifies for Medicare. You can read more about eligibility for S.S.D.I. here. Individuals with S.S.D.I. can receive Medicare benefits before 24 months if they are fully disabled & have no expectation to work because of their disability. This is not granted automatically; the beneficiary must apply for it. I have had some clients receive Medicare benefits within three months of applying once they began receiving S.S.D.I..


Independent Medicare Agents have a Rewarding Opportunity to serve these Disadvantaged Beneficiaries

Most states do not have Medicare Supplements available to individuals under age 65. If Medicare Supplement plans are available, they can be cost prohibitive because most companies are group or age rated. An individual on Medicare due to Disability is bound to have higher health costs, so they often go with a Medicare Advantage plan simply because that is their only choice. Many Medicare Advantage plans have different networks than your new S.S.D.I. clients may have used in the past, so make sure they are comfortable changing their doctors and specialists.


“It’s fairly simple: Once a person has been on S.S.D.I. for 24 months, he or she automatically qualifies for Medicare”


It’s often the case that many individuals with a disability & families with a disabled family member don’t know where to turn for help. Some have Medicaid, some have no insurance and some live off of their savings.  Tragically, we have bared witness to cases where disabled clients have been Bankrupt by medical bills and are now on Medicaid after burning through their entire life savings because they had no insurance. Most are in their Forties or Fifties and believed they had at least 10 to 20 years or more to work.

Knowledgeable and caring Medicare agents can really make a positive difference in the lives of Disabled prospects by helping these individuals understand S.S.D.I. & Medicare. Realizing the the implications that Medicare is not just for seniors 65 and older opens up your book of business to new streams of income.

Call RB Insurance at 800-997-3107 or email to learn more about Social Security Disability Income, Medicare for Disabled individuals and how to Market yourself to new prospects. RB Insurance Group, llc. A Field Marketing Organization (FMO) for Insurance Agents and Agencies, specializing in the Senior Insurance market. The Agent Advantage Blog is designed with your business agents in mind. Explore the information below & subscribe to our blog to get CMS and regulatory updates with the agent’s perspective. Then give us a Call:800-997-3107 or Email: Producer@rbi-group.com  to find out how RBI can help you expand your business!

Disability Evaluation Under Social Security*

Listing of Impairments –  Adult Listings (Part A)

The following sections contain medical criteria that apply to the evaluation of impairments in adults age 18 and over and that may apply to the evaluation of impairments in children under age 18 if the disease processes have a similar effect on adults and younger children.

1.00
Musculoskeletal System

2.00
Special Senses and Speech

3.00
Respiratory Disorders

4.00
Cardiovascular System

5.00
Digestive System

6.00
Genitourinary Disorders

7.00
Hematological Disorders

8.00
Skin Disorders


9.00
Endocrine Disorders


10.00
Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems

11.00
Neurological Disorders

12.00
Mental Disorders

13.00
Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)

14.00
Immune System Disorders

Listing of Impairments – Childhood Listings (Part B)

The following sections contain medical criteria that apply only to the evaluation of impairments in children under age 18.

100.00
Low Birth Weight and Failure to Thrive

101.00
Musculoskeletal System

102.00
Special Senses and Speech

103.00
Respiratory Disorders

104.00
Cardiovascular System

105.00
Digestive System

106.00
Genitourinary Disorders

107.00
Hematological Disorders

 108.00
Skin Disorders


109.00
Endocrine Disorders


110.00
Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems

  111.00
Neurological Disorders

 112.00
Mental Disorders

113.00
Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)

114.00
Immune System Disorders

*Information from Social Security Administration Website:
https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/ChildhoodListings.htm
https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

Save Big: Medico + USA Senior Care Network

Medicare SEP

About the Author: With his signature common sense, quiet good humor, and brilliant customer service, Jim is an integral part of the RBI team — we’d go so far as to say we’d be lost without him! An Arizona native, Jim manages agent relationships for the East Coast and specializes in the RBI agent tools, especially the Agent Market Edge. Jim has been a licensed health insurance agent for 2 years, and has worked at RBI for almost 3 years. An accomplished bassoonist, he is known around the office for his amazing musical skills. In addition to keeping busy around the office, Jim frequently contributes to our blog, bringing a new agent’s perspective to the RBI online presence.

Save Big with Medico + the USA Senior Care Network

Medico is introducing a brand new program that is designed to save your client’s money. This new program, the USA Senior Care Network program, is a completely voluntary program designed to help save you money when you obtain inpatient services at a USA Senior Care Network hospital. Best of all, this new program costs absolutely nothing!

About the Program

USA Senior Care Network has contracted with hospitals across the U.S. to waive all or a portion of your client’s Medicare Part A deductible if they’re admitted into a participating hospital. This allows them to pass some of those savings on to your clients in the form of a $100 premium credit on their next months Medicare supplement premium payment. For a list of participating hospitals in your area, click here!

USA Senior Care Network

How do You Receive the Premium Credit?

Beginning on June 22nd, 2018, when your clients are admitted into a hospital in the USA Senior Care Network, show your new insurance card with the USA Senior Care Network logo on the back (mailed on June 7, 2018). When Medicare applies a Part A deductible to their claim, the hospital will waive all or a portion of that deductible and will notify your client that an upcoming premium payment will be reduced by $100.

There are two groups of policyholders who will not be eligible for this program:

  1. Medicare Supplement Plan A policyholders are not included, because Plan A does not pay the Medicare Part A deductible.
  2. For legal reasons, this program is not available in the state of Missouri.

Current Coverage

Your clients Medicare supplement policy will remain unchanged by this program. They are not required to use a participating hospital, and you can still go to any hospital you choose. Your clients can now access their policy information on Medico’s secure customer portal at www.gomedico.com or they can call Customer Care Center at 1-800-228-6080.

Medico offers a whole suite of products that are designed to protect your clients from a multitude of situations! If you would like to get contracted, or learn more about their product offering, give me a call directly at 1-800-997-3107!

Low Income Subsidy Roll-Up
Dual Eligibles Roll-up

New Agent: Getting Started

About the Author: With his signature common sense, quiet good humor, and brilliant customer service, Jim is an integral part of the RBI team — we’d go so far as to say we’d be lost without him! An Arizona native, Jim manages agent relationships for the East Coast and specializes in the RBI agent tools, especially the Agent Market Edge. Jim has been a licensed health insurance agent for 2 years, and has worked at RBI for almost 3 years. An accomplished bassoonist, he is known around the office for his amazing musical skills. In addition to keeping busy around the office, Jim frequently contributes to our blog, bringing a new agent’s perspective to the RBI online presence.

New Agent: How to Get Started

So you just got your Health Insurance License and now you’re wondering where you go from here.  Let RB Insurance Group help you avoid many of the pitfalls a new agent can fall into.

Prime the “Pump”

Zig Ziglar said it best, you have to think of your sales pipeline like an old water well. You’re going to have to work hard to prime that old well’s pump before anything starts coming out the other end. But once that water DOES start flowing, it doesn’t take much work to keep it going. The idea here is that acquiring new business is always the most difficult and typically the most expensive cost for an agent. Once you’ve built your Book of Business to a considerable size, you can use your existing clients to bring in new business!

If you’ve done your job right, your clients will trust you as their Senior Insurance Adviser and ultimately refer their friends and family to you. The key here is, you must be proactive. Agents across the US would all be starving if we just sat by our phones waiting for them to ring with a prospective client on the other end. In the famous words of (okay, maybe not so famous… YET) RBI National Sales Manager, Charlie Ferrell. “He who climbs the tree and hollers, is the one that gets the dollars.”

New Agent

Getting your First Clients

I can see it on your face, you’re thinking, “This sounds great and all, but where do I actually start?” Like I said above, when you’re first starting out as a new agent, you’re going to have to work for it. There’s a few different ways you can go about building that precious *Smeagle’s voice from LOTR* Book of Business.

Buying Leads

This is probably the first thing that goes through your head when I talk about getting started. There’s a reason why there are so many companies selling leads: it works. But there is a catch here that’s no secret, it’s expensive. There are a few different routes you can go when buying leads for Medicare Advantage: Direct Mail, Online, and more. Which avenue you choose is going to be largely determined by your target market.

Buying leads a fantastic way to “prime your sales pump”, especially if you have some extra cash to invest in your business. But your best bet is to combine a few different strategies to find new clients and not put all your eggs in one basket so to speak.

Educational Events

Educational events are a fantastic way to fill your sales pipeline with leads. The approach with educational events is more of a long term approach than simply just buying leads. The number one reason for that is, you can’t enroll or accept applications at a Medicare Educational event. So how effective are educational events you ask? Last year one of our agents made over 250 enrollments with leads from educational events. The goal is to put on an amazing event so that the attendees will look to you as a trusted adviser. It’s simple, people buy from people they trust. Now, you do have follow CMS regulations regarding educational events to remain compliant.

One of my favorite reasons for putting on educational events, especially for a new agent? They don’t break the bank!  Your local public library will typically have space available to hold seminars at very little to no cost.

So how do you get people to show up? I like to get permission and put up flyers at different businesses (that are close to your event) to advertise, think of places where seniors are more likely to be. Think of any groups you belong to, church, book clubs, golf buddies, etc. The trick is to let everyone know what you do! Even if they’re not Medicare eligible, I can guarantee you that they know someone that is. Word of mouth is hands down the cheapest way to get people to show up. Last but not least, cold calling. Just the words “cold calling” leave a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, but it is a great skill to have, especially if you plan on doing Medicare educational events. You have to be careful here though, as you cannot discuss Medicare Part C and D plan specifics with prospective beneficiaries, even if they ask you about it. If you called them and they bring up Medicare Advantage, you cannot talk about specific benefits. You are ONLY trying to get them to attend your educational event, DO NOT try to sell these people over the phone.

Upcoming Webinar on Thursday, March 21st, 2019!

Join RBI National Sales Manager, Charlie Ferrell, for our webinar: “Medicare Educational Events for Newbies!” Use the Button below or click HERE to RSVP!

Also be sure to check out my blog post about the “Power of Voice Inflection” for great tips to improve your phone skills!

Words of Wisdom

Here’s a story from Bob Bever, CEO at RBI. It was November of 2017. Bob was pumping gas, filling up before heading to an appointment across town when the guy next to him asked him about his “Medicare Compare” shirt. Bob spends 3 minutes with him telling him exactly what he does and how he helps people, then hands him a business card. A few days pass and the guy ends up calling Bob and enrolls in a plan that fit his needs. Not bad for a lead that only cost him 3 minutes of his time.

Agents tend to minimize their experience and ignore the people around them every day. People you know, people who you meet in your daily life, have no idea what you do. Spend 3 minutes with these people and tell them exactly what it is that you do and how you help people. Then hand them a business card. Being a new agent doesn’t have to be a struggle! RB Insurance Group has the tools and experience to help you! With a little hard work you’ll be on your way to what we all strive for, that six-figure residual income.

Are you a new agent that’s looking to get started in the Medicare industry? RB Insurance is here to “Make it Happen for You.” We love helping new agents succeed in the Medicare market. Give us a call today to see how you fit in the RBI family at 1-800-997-3107!

Your Holly and Jolly Christmas Facts

The Holly and Jolly Christmas Facts

It just wouldn’t feel like the holidays without some random trivia!  But first, make sure you check out Events Calendar for our upcoming Webinar Wednesday training’s that will start in January!  Without further ado, here are 10 Holly and Jolly Christmas facts that you can impress your family with at the dinner table.

  1. If you were around from 1659-1681, celebrating this day in Boston would have cost you a fine of as much as five shillings! Gives me shills just thinking about it!
  2. US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world’s presents on Christmas Eve, traveling at 650 miles a second. I’d say that’s us during AEP!
  3. Get your plate ready! Many parts of the Christmas tree can actually be eaten, with needles being a good source of Vitamin C. If you don’t feel like eating your tree, some zoos take donated trees and use them as food for the animals.
  4. In Poland spiders are considered to be symbols of prosperity and goodness at Christmas. In fact, spiders and spider webs are often used as Christmas tree decorations. According to legend, a spider wove baby Jesus a blanket to keep him warm – that’s a big NOPE from me.
  5. If you gave all the gifts listed in the Twelve Days of Christmas, it would equal 364 gifts.

    RBI

  6. NORAD’s “Santa Tracker” was born from a misprint in the newspaper. A 1955 Sears ad was supposed to print the number of a store where children could call and tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. The number printed was to the hotline of the Director of Operations for the U.S. Continental Air Defense. Colonel Shoup ordered his staff to give the children updates on the flight coordinates of Santa.
  7. Bicycle, the U.S. playing card company, manufactured cards to give all the POWS in Germany during World War II as Christmas presents. These cards, when soaked in water, revealed an escape route for POWs. The Nazis never knew.
  8. The Friday and Saturday before Christmas are the busiest shopping days and not the Black Friday.
  9. In 1914 during World War I there was a now famous Christmas truce in the trenches between the British and the Germans. They exchanged gifts across a neutral no man’s land, played football together, and decorated their shelters. (Read more about it in the book “Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce” by Stanley Weintraub.)
  10. Want to know the typical number of calories in your average Christmas dinner. I’m going to leave that one to you as we all know Christmas calories don’t count!

Can’t seem to get enough holly and jolly facts? Never fear! Click this link to read 99 Interesting Facts About Christmas.  It’s important to remember  the spirit of the Holiday season is about giving, especially to those less fortunate than yourself.  So with that in mind, we would like to wish you Merry Christmas from everyone here at RBI! 

Looking for more sales opportunities now that AEP is over?  Give RBI a call today to find out how we’re keeping busy outside of the Annual Enrollment Period! 1-800-997-3107

2017 Sales Champion Summit Wrap-up

RBI’s Senior Sales Coordinator: James Gramp

About the Author: With his signature common sense, quiet good humor, and brilliant customer service, Jim is an integral part of the RBI team — we’d go so far as to say we’d be lost without him! An Arizona native, Jim manages agent relationships for the East Coast and specializes in the RBI agent tools, especially the Agent Market Edge. Jim has been a licensed health insurance agent for 2 years, and has worked at RBI for almost 3 years. An accomplished bassoonist, he is known around the office for his amazing musical skills. In addition to keeping busy around the office, Jim frequently contributes to our blog, bringing a new agent’s perspective to the RBI online presence.

2017 Sales Champion Summit Wrap-up

You missed it!  Do you know what we did with the brokers that missed last year’s Sales Champion Summit?  We made them take the AHIP… a second time… Okay, that may or may not be a lie.  All kidding aside, LOTS of people are busy on a Tuesday morning, so hopefully this wrap up does our Sales Champion Summit justice because I know I had a great time!  Without further ado, I give you a brief summary of the once in a lifetime a year event that you missed.

The Value of TRUST – Presenter: Charlie Ferrell

Have you ever wished you had a personal sales coach to help you with setting business goals, making sales action plans, and being more effective in home visits.  Charlie Ferrell introduced RBI’s new TRUST Training, a program designed around 15+ years of senior insurance experience.  So what does TRUST stand for?

T – THINK: Put yourself in the client’s shoesSales Champion Summit

R – RESPECT:  Build rapport

U – UNCOVER:  Needs analysis

– SOLVE:  Overcome objections

– TAKE ACTION:  Ask for the sale

The bottom line is, if people don’t trust you, they will never buy from you.

Marketing to Fill Your Appointment Book – Presenter: Justin Bever

A lot of independent Medicare brokers in the industry today see the need for marketing, but don’t know how to take that need and translate it into action.  Marketing for your business should be about building a system that fits your budget, your schedule, and is easy to maintain.  After all, the goal is to scale your marketing to fit YOUR business growth.

Usually when I say marketing, agents tend to think of $$$.  But what they may not realize is the most effective marketing/advertising is word of mouth.

7 Habits of Sales Champions – Presenter: Charlie Ferrell

If you’re like me, building strong habits that work for you is a struggle. Charlie Ferrell, broke down how to be a real sales champion by building habits like a ladder to success! My number-one takeaway from this event was S.M.A.R.T. goal setting, always focused on learning, and are passionate about their work.  (Don’t know what SMART goal setting is?  We’re just a phone call away!)

Here’s a taste of this presentation:

The most successful agents I know are masters of #7 on our list, follow-up.  Whether it’s simply following up with clients, referral sources, or returning phone calls, following-up is always my top priority when it comes to just about everything…except for maybe returning that phone call from your mother-in-law.

DSNP’s: Who They Are & Why Work Them – Presenter: Rob Bever

This presentation captured the many reasons that Dual Eligibles are a great market for any agent. A quick recap:

Most agents I talk to don’t like working with Dual Eligible beneficiaries and want nothing to do with them.  The most common reason I hear is that they fall off the books too easily.  This got me thinking, “How was RBI’s Sales Manager, Charlie Ferrell, able to build his business on Dual Eligible’s while I’m talking to agents who can’t even get them to stay on the plan for 1 year?” The answer is usually a combination of a couple things like, not following-up, and not returning phone calls.

If you ask me, working with Dual Eligible beneficiaries is more fulfilling than selling regular MAPD’s or Medicare Supplement policies, because these are people that truly need help and in a lot of cases have no one else to turn to.

Grassroots Campaign: Business Growth Through Educational Events – Presenter: Charlie Ferrell

This presentation was all about the radical idea that a truly GREAT Educational Events will pay dividends with referrals and building a reputation in your community.

Here’s the exceprt:

Imagine you hosting a great educational event every 3 months at the same location.  If you’re doing it right by, making them fun and interactive, being engaging, and of course presenting good information then the people who attend are that much more likely to tell their friends and family about a great free event (your event if you’re still following me) and even more likely to reach out to you when they have questions about their Medicare or want to switch plans.

Intentional Scheduling: How Efficiency Increases Sales – Presenter: Justin Bever

How do you ensure that you’ll have a great open enrollment?  It’s all in the preparation. 

In this presentation, we talked about managing back-end office processes like, turning in all your applications at the end of the day while making sure everything gets documented and saved along the way.  You’ll be amazed at just how much time you can save by working smarter, not harder, to stay organized and on top your crazy workload during the Annual Enrollment Period.

My bottom-line takeaway? Hire a temporary assistant (or get a family member to help for cheap labor!) to help stay organized during AEP. Even if they just call and set appointments with your clients and potential clients, you’ll be able to see more clients in a day.

How to Succeed in a Commission-only Business – Presenter: Justin Bever

The focus of this presentation was an answer to the question: how do Medicare brokers survive until late January and sometimes early February before they even see a dime from their Medicare Advantage enrollments from last year’s AEP?

Short Answer:  Burn through your savings account.

Long Answer:  Very carefully!  All kidding aside, if you don’t have a good amount of cash that you can live on for 3+ months, what do you do for the Annual Enrollment Period?  There’s a couple options:

  1. Look for an agency that will advance your commissions (usually career agent programs will offer this — call RBI to learn about this option, ask for Charlie!)
  2. Cross-sell ancillary products like Hospital Indemnity, First Diagnosis Cancer, and Short Term care that typically pay in 7 – 10 days, MUCH quicker than MA plans.

Turning Your Business Into an LLC – Presenter: Charlie Ferrell

The two major reasons ANY agent should run their business as an LLC are tax advantages and to protect you and your assets with an extra layer of liability protection. Another reason is the ability to provide for your family should something happen to you. For example, if you were to pass away suddenly and you are contracted directly with a carrier as an individual, those commissions would cease to be paid upon your death. If you were contracted as an LLC and you were to pass away, your commissions would continue to be paid as long as your entity remains in compliance with the carrier contract.

We’ve actually partnered with the ASU Alumni Law Group to get you a discounted rate when forming your own business entity.  If you  would like their contact information, please give us a call (1-800-997-3107) and we’d be happy to help. Don’t forget to tell them that RB Insurance Group referred you.

Thank You!

A special thanks to those of you that were able to attend our 2nd annual Sales Champion Summit!  We truly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy lives to attend.  Hopefully you had a lot of good takeaways from the event that will help take your Medicare business to the next level.  We hope you will be able to join us for next year’s Sales Champion Summit!  Check out some pictures below from this years event.

Sales Champion Summit

Sales Champion SummitSales Champion Summit



It’s our goal as an FMO to “Make it Happen for You”.  Read more from RBI Director of Marketing, Justin Bever, about how and why your FMO should work for you.  Interested in partnering with RB Insurance Group?  Give us a call today to get started! 1-800-997-3107



America's Health Insurance Plans
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Happy Independence Day!

James Gramp

RBI Senior Sales Coordinator

With his signature common sense, quiet good humor, and brilliant customer service, Jim is the other half of the RBI phone answering dynamic duo! An Arizona native, Jim manages agent relationships for the East Coast and specializes in the RBI agent tools, especially the Agent Market Edge. Jim has been a licensed health insurance agent for over a year, and has worked at RBI for 2 years. An accomplished bassoonist, he is known around the office for his amazing musical skills. In addition to keeping busy around the office, Jim frequently contributes to our blog, bringing a new agent’s perspective to the RBI online presence.

Happy Independence Day!

I don’t know about you, but it’s my favorite time of year!  You get to enjoy all the BBQ’s, fireworks, delicious in-season watermelon, and depending on where you live, warm weather.  I say depending on where you live because during the summer time in Phoenix you can literally cook an egg on the sidewalk while you have cookies baking on the dashboard of your car.  Don’t believe me?  You’re one google search away from enlightenment…

July fourth is the day we stuck it to the Brits and made our Declaration of Independence.  We basically told them to “keep your tea and your taxes!”  Alright, I might be embellishing a little with that last line, but taxes were a big part of why we declared our independence.  The famous phrase “no taxation without representation” comes to mind.

The colonists didn’t have direct representation in British Parliament and so they believed Britain didn’t have a right to levy taxes onto the colonies.

Little known fact:  It took Congress 94 years to officially declare July 4th Independence Day in 1870.

fourth of july AHIP

If you’re really a go-getter, it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the long weekend and knock out all of your certifications!  Haven’t taken your AHIP yet?  Click Here to claim your $50 discount and have the opportunity to get the total cost of your AHIP reimbursed!

Celebrate this Fourth of July with RB Insurance Group and give us a call to make sure you have the most competitive Medicare products in your portfolio. 1-800-997-3107!

Dual Eligibles Roll-up

Video: RBI Carrier Hall of Fame Week 2

Video: RBI Carrier Hall of Fame Week 2 (ICYMI)

So if you’ve been following along this week on all our emails and event calendar, you know that April is “Carrier Spring Training” month! We are so excited for this new initiative, and just finished up our second week of webinars! But if you missed these webinars and don’t have time to re-watch them, here’s the RBI sales team to break down the highlights of each carrier, and what they do for your portfolio. Watch the video below: RBI Carrier Hall of Fame Week 2!

This week, we collaborated with Aetna, Humana, and United Healthcare. A huge shout-out to our presenters, Daniel Santos (Aetna), Kirk Sanich (Humana), and our own Charlie Ferrell stepping in for Ken Colvard (United Healthcare), who did a fantastic job showcasing their products and what makes them compelling for members.

RBI Carrier Training Highlights:

  • Aetna by Rebecca Howard
  • Humana by James Gramp
  • United Healthcare by Charlie Ferrell

Video: RBI Carrier Hall of Fame Week 2

Look for this symbol on all our new “Carrier Hall of Fame” videos!

The RBI bottom line is that all three of these carriers offer something different and that they work together nicely to fill out your portfolio as a senior insurance advisor. We recommend that you contract with all three today because everyone is different and it’s important to have the products that fit the needs of your clients.

Watch the recording: Aetna Webinar. Watch the recording: Humana Webinar. Watch the recording: United Healthcare Webinar.

Click here to get contracted. Click here to see all our contracted carriers.

Sign up for next week’s webinars today!

  • Monday, April 17 at 9 AM MST/12 PM EDT“Hit a Homer with Mutual of Omaha” Register.
  • Tuesday, April 18 at 9 AM MST/12 PM EDT“Steal Second with GTL” Register.
  • Wednesday, April 19 at 9 AM MST/12 PM EDT“Bat 1.000 with RBI’s Quoting Tool” Register.
  • Thursday, April 20 at 9 AM MST/12 PM EDT“Out of the Ballpark with SilverScript” Register.

Subscribe to the the RBI Agent’s Advantage Blog today

Did you miss last week’s webinars? Watch the full recording: American Continental Webinar. Watch the full recording: Equitable webinar. Watch the full recording: Medico webinar.


All videos are for agent use only.




America's Health Insurance Plans
America's Health Insurance Plans

President’s Day Trivia Quiz

James Gramp Rebecca Howard Photo

Written by James Gramp & Rebecca Howard

Sales Coordinators

When Jim and Rebecca put their heads together, great things happen!  Jim and Rebecca comprise the worker bees of the Marketing Department, and much like this collaboration on United States Presidents, they spend their days swapping fun facts and brilliant puns. Who said work had to be boring anyway?



What do you think of our list?  

Did we miss any President’s Day trivia that you know?

Let us know and we’ll add it to our list.

President’s Day Trivia Quiz

How well do YOU know your history?



From plantation owners to pecan farmers, from frontiersmen to Hollywood, our Presidents hail from all walks of life! This past Monday we celebrated President’s Day and we at RBI have been learning about Presidents all week. How well do you know your Presidents?  Test your knowledge with our President’s Day Trivia Quiz!  Match the President with the facts, or the facts with the President and see how you do!

Music Man:

Which President aspired to be a concert violinist, and often entertained guests at the White House with his performances at parties?

Answer: John Tyler.  Fun Fact: after the death of his first wife, Tyler remarried. He was the first President to marry while in office and he fathered a total of 15 children. Read more about John Tyler here.

A Toothy Problem:

Which President was famous for dental issues, but never had wooden dentures?

Answer: George Washington, of course! George Washington is legendary for many Americans, but according to the folks at Mount Vernon (now a museum), George never had wooden teeth. Instead, his dentures were made of gold, ivory, lead, and animal teeth. Read more about George’s teeth here.

Speed Demon:President's Day Trivia

Which President likes to go fast, and has actually been cited for speeding multiple times?

Answer: Ulysses S. Grant.  While many remember Grant for his role in the Civil War, Grant is often remembered in DC lore as a speed demon!  He is said to have received multiple citations and even speeding tickets.  Read more here and here.

A Shocking Development:

What President was the sitting president when electricity was installed in the White House?

Answer: Benjamin Harrison! In 1891, the White House went electric! At the time, this was such a new development that not many people understood how it worked.  In fact, President Harrison was so afraid of being electrocuted that he refused to touch the light switches. Read more here.

Fun-sized President:

What President was the smallest to date?

Answer: James Madison, though known for his part in framing the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and his many contribution to The Federalist Papers, was the smallest US President, weighing in at 122 lbs, and just 5′ 3″ tall!  Read about him here.

Give me a 4! Give me a 3! 

What President was a Cheerleader in his youth?

Answer: George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, was a cheerleader during his school years. Read more (and see photos!) here.

Polly wants a ****:

Which President of the United States famously taught his pet parrot how to swear?

Answer: Andrew Jackson. Jackson, a President known to cause controversy with his policies during his tenure in office, caused uproar even at his funeral when his pet parrot started swearing. Read more here.

P-P-P-Pokerface:

What President was an avid poker player, and even bet the White House china collection?

Answer: Warren G. Harding was known for his games of chance, and yes, even bet –and lost– the White House china collection in a card game. Read more about Harding here.

So call me maybe:

Which President used the telephone first as an election vehicle?

Answer: William McKinley.  In 1896, the telephone was still a brand new technology, and McKinley’s campaign used it to keep in touch from New York to Ohio to Chicago.  Read more here.

Campaign Financed:

Which President funded his first political campaign with poker winnings?

Answer: Richard Nixon. Nixon is best known for Watergate, but before he entered politics, he won about $6,000 from playing poker as an officer in the Navy.  He later used his winnings to fund his first congressional campaign. Read more here and here.

At RBI, we keep our agents up-to-date on all the important stuff, like our great Fun Friday updates! You can get contracted by clicking here to see our carriers or call us at 1-800-997-3107 to speak to one of our sales team!  Want to get in on the blog newsletter? Click here to subscribe and you’ll never miss an update again!


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RB Inusrance 2016 AHIP discount no contract required