Helpful Notes

All advertising has two goals.  One, is to make you aware of who is selling what and secondly, stir you to action.   It's that 'stir to action part that's tricky because every company (salesperson)  needs to convince you they are the only company you should buy from. 

In the insurance world,  a particular company offers a particular policy in your particular geographical area.

That policy price, benefits and provisions are the same no matter who is selling it: the company employee, the 800 agent (national or regional) or, your local agent in your area.  You get to decide which way makes the most sense for you.

If products from different companies are basically the same, each company strives to differentiate themselves from others.  For some, it's price, for others, benefits  It's up to you who must decide how this mix best fits you.

Some companies appear to offer more benefits.  More giveaways usually means more takeaways somewhere else.  A medical plan with extra benefits, or, extra benefits with a medical plan is not the same  thing.  Carefully look over all the benefits and features of a plan to get a sense of what that plan wIll provide and what it will not.

In the insurance industry, pricing is usually determined by the sum of claims, administration and desired profit divided by the number of insureds.  When any one of the variables move, so does pricing.  A Good Price this year, does not necessarily mean A Good Price in future years. 

A large company offers stability.  Because.  The factors that make everything work are there, year after year.  Lots of insureds bring in lots of premium to pay lots of claims and lots of costs.  For stable rates over the years, your best bet is a large company. 

Here's what happens when you respond to the TV advertisements. 

While you may think you are calling a helpline or just review of your current coverage or benefits that have not been offered to you you don't have... that is likely to be unlikely.

When you call, you go to a third party company who collects and sells your information to national/regional

solicitors (agencies/agents who are licensed in your area)

An agent who has paid for your information has an incentive and a limited number of calls (maybe just one) to get you to say yes.   How they get you to say yes is usually the issue.  Medicare ethics prohibit harassment, high pressure and misinformation.  Likely all of us have experience with the hype and reality of phone solicitation so we can wrap up this thought here.

Thing is, if they're actually in the insurance business and legitimate, they offer the exact same plans and benefits (and price) that a local agent does.