Hi, I’m Susan and I am a licensed, independent insurance broker in NM and TX. I’ve been asked the question, “How do I know if someone is a legitimate broker?”
First, brokers must be licensed by the state they work in and must take continuing education classes to retain that license. Second, in order to help people with Medicare, agents must undergo specific training and certification in order to understand the rules and procedures for Medicare beneficiaries.
But there’s another quick way to help you decide if someone is a trustworthy broker: Do they follow the rules? CMS, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, sets very specific rules for brokers that are designed to protect beneficiaries. This document gives you a summary of rules that a good broker will follow.
One final “test” to help you discern if someone is a legitimate broker: brokers are NOT allowed to make unsolicited phone calls. In other words, brokers may not call you unless you have given them specific permission. So, if someone calls you to talk about Medicare and you did not give them permission, HANG UP!
