Why do shady insurance agents prey on seniors?

Sadly, insurance agents target on seniors because they know that they probably need help the most. As seniors shop around for insurance, they now have much more to worry about than just shopping around.

Sadly, senior citizens should have been warned about the way shady insurance agents are going to try to do everything they can – even lie – in order to properly persuade them.

Joe Baker, executive vice president of the Medicare Rights Center claims that if you are a senior citizen who is losing Medicare HMO coverage, you shouldn’t panic.

He also recommends not to be pressured to immediately purchase a Medigap policy because a sudden decision of any kind may come back to haunt senior citizens.

By taking these few basic precautions, you will be able to thoroughly protect yourself:

• It is an excellent idea to know who is running a seminar about Medicare. Baker claims that the ultimate goal for a private company is to sell its products to you. That’s why it is important to watch out for private companies who are want to trick senior citizens into rushing their decisions. 
• It is important to refuse if someone tells you to sign a policy before you leave the seminar. Take the material home where you’ll be able to read it carefully.
• Even though you probably heard this more times than you can count, it is still very important to shop around for insurance. Even though Medigap plans are standard in most states, that doesn’t mean that premiums won’t vary. Shop around for a good rate.
• Always feel free to call Medicare officials when in doubt about any issues regarding Medicare. This is their number: (800) MEDICARE. Ask them for advice or help that you need when in doubt.
• Suspicious agents should always be reported to your state insurance department. However, if you are about to report suspicious insurance agencies make sure that you have good reasons why you consider them suspicious.

By following those steps, you will be able to avoid any misunderstandings without being tricked into anything. Making sudden decisions and being “far too persuasive” is the problem that keeps occurring with senior citizens and shady insurance agents. Clear the insurance fog and know what you are going to do next. Be an educated consumer in order to avoid any problems.