Tips to become successful Health Insurance Agent

Are you looking forward to become a health insurance agent? You need to be aware of what all you have to take to be able to sell health insurance. The state Department of Insurance of your region will have a catalog having information on all of your state specific requirements. It is necessary that you complete a certain amount of pre-licensing training. You can do this training through various modes i.e via classroom, online, or through independent study. As soon as you complete pre-licensing training you will have to schedule, pay for, and pass a licensing exam. You should score at least 70-75% in your pre-licensing exam. In the next step you will have to apply for an Accident & Health producer license. The application form is available on your state Department of Insurance web site. The Insurance Department will usually carry out a background check and then issue your license. It is not mandatory to pass the college education to be a licensed insurance producer.

You will have to maintain good standing with your state Department of Insurance in order to maintain your license plus you need to complete a certain amount of continuing education hours. Usually license renewal occurs every 2 years and for that you have to complete 24 hours of continuing education. Credits for continuing education may be earned through online, classroom, or self study training. In order to demonstrate your understanding and completion of your continuing education requirements you need to pass test(s). Before you spend the money on the courses you need to decide upon what type of training meets your learning approach as several pre-licensing and continuing education providers available in the market.

Now that you are licensed to sell health insurance products, you need to choose if you want to work for an insurance company as a captive agent or as an independent health insurance agent or broker. A captive agent works only for one company and sells only the products of this particular company. An independent agent or broker is like a businessman on their own. The independent agent works with many companies simultaneously and sells health insurance products of these companies. The independent agent usually contract with all of the insurance companies using field marketing organizations which in turn provide back office assistance and marketing help.

Major long-term care insurance, medical insurance, disability insurance, Medicare products, and others are those in the list which health insurance agent is able to sell. Each type of insurance product may involve certain requirements and further training before you are able to sell the specific product. Often, you will have to purchase Errors & Omissions insurance to protect yourself from professional liability as a captive agent and as an independent agent or broker.