Sunday marked the end of the third Federal Open Enrollment and also an end to agents in the individual health market. As of April 2016, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) announced that they will eliminate paying commissions for individual under-65 plans. Blue Cross is following the path taken by United Healthcare which announced that they would not pay brokers as of 1/1/2016. Aetna also ended commissions to brokers two weeks ago.
Brokers have provided a valuable service to our clients in offering objective but thorough advice in choosing an individual health insurance plan in this complicated and ever changing market of health insurance options. I have become very close to many of my clients over the last three years. I am sad to see this career path come to such an abrupt end. We know this will make it very difficult for consumers going forward to have all the information they need to really make informed decisions. Unfortunately this is the path these companies have chosen. I am happy I was able to provide the help I could over these last three years.
As many of you know, I have an existing business Chicks Building Nest Eggs which I will now move into full time. I am excited about the incredible opportunities to teach my clients how to greatly increase their retirement income using tax free strategies. As the stock market enters a period of serious unrest, insurance offers a way to save safely for retirement without government control, and offers huge savings in taxes during retirement.
*UHC has stated that they will NOT be an option in 2017.