A health insurance plan can be bought from two types of agents, one is a captive agent and the other is an independent agent. Though you can get a good combination of price and value on a health insurance from any type of agent, be it captive or independent, an independent health insurance agent will definitely provide you some extra advantages over a captive health insurance agent.
Take a look at the pros of an Independent insurance agent to know why you should not choose a captive agent.
- Independent health insurance agents work on a broader prospect unlike a captive agent who sticks on selling the insurance products of a single health insurance agency.
- Independent agents have multiple contacts and carriers to provide you a number of options to choose from. You can easily assess the benefits of all plans from different insurance agencies and pick the one that promises the best value.
- A captive agent can only offer you benefits from a single company and have no contact or carrier from other agencies.
- If you are already under the coverage of a health insurance plan and you are not satisfied with the limited benefits of it then an independent agent can help you to move to a better plan with maximum health coverage. A captive agent cannot assure you of such a profitable change in plan as he works for a single health insurance agency and cannot move beyond the insurance products of the agency.
- Independent insurance brokers or agents have more knowledge on the current benefits and insurance plans of all the health insurance agencies. A captive insurance agent is only aware of the plans and benefits of his own agency as he receives update and newsletters from a single agency only.
- If you want to make a survey on a wider prospect then, only an independent agent can help you to do so. An independent agent have unlimited resources and associates to provide you unbiased information on any insurance plan of any agency that you want to know.
- Since an independent agent works for multiple companies he receives equal commission from all the agencies and has no particular interest for any agency. On the other hand a captive agent will always try to convince you to buy a health insurance from his agency as he will be paid an incentive on the insurance that you will buy.
- Independent health insurance agents work for your benefit to provide you maximum health coverage on minimum premium. The market information that an independent agent will provide you is impartial. Independent agent works individually without any bounding from any agency. He works for himself and his success depends on your satisfaction with the health insurance plan that you will buy from him. A captive agent works for the interest of his agency and has the sole intention of selling the insurance to you.
A health insurance plan can be of immense benefit if picked carefully. To do so, you first need to pick the right insurance agent to guide you in getting the best value for your money.