If you’re an insurance agency looking to recruit health insurance agents and build a strong team, learning how to become a licensed health insurance agent is key. Health insurance is in high demand, and finding qualified agents who can navigate the complexities of policies is crucial to the growth and success of your agency.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how agencies can recruit, support, and onboard health insurance agents effectively, with the added benefit of EMG Insurance Brokerage’s tools and resources to streamline the process.
Key Takeaways
- To legally sell health insurance products, agents need a state-approved license, which involves completing pre-licensing education and passing the licensing exam.
- Agents can work independently or with an established insurance company, giving them flexibility and agencies the ability to tailor agent roles.
- By partnering with EMG Insurance Brokerage, agencies gain access to streamlined processes and resources to help agents get started quickly and sell efficiently.
Why Recruit Health Insurance Agents for Your Agency?
Recruiting health insurance agents offers your agency more than just expanding your team. Health insurance agents are essential for helping individuals and families make informed decisions about their health coverage. There is also a strong demand for agents, as health insurance options evolve and regulations change. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.
Here are a few reasons why many agencies actively recruit health insurance agents:
- Strong demand: Millions of Americans need help understanding health insurance plans. As rules change, licensed health insurance agents become even more critical for ensuring clients have the right coverage.
- Flexible career path: Health insurance agents can work as captive agents for one insurance company or as independent agents who represent several companies, providing your agency flexibility in choosing the right type of agent to recruit.
- Reliable income: Health insurance agents typically earn commissions from policies they sell. With the right training and support, agents can become high performers, benefiting both the agent and your agency.
Step-by-Step Guide to Recruiting and Onboarding Licensed Health Insurance Agents
As an agency, it’s essential to support your agents through their journey to becoming licensed and selling policies. Here’s how you can help your agents get licensed and start selling health insurance efficiently:
Step 1: Meet Basic Requirements to Become a Licensed Agent
First, your agency needs to ensure that any prospective agents meet the basic eligibility requirements to apply for their health insurance license:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Hold a high school diploma or GED
- Pass a background check by the Department of Insurance
- Have legal permission to work in the U.S.
Step 2: Decide: Agent or Broker?
Your insurance agency will need to decide whether to recruit captive agents (who work exclusively for one insurance company) or independent agents (who represent multiple companies). This decision will affect the types of compensation models and support you provide.
EMG Insurance Brokerage can help you structure compensation models and offer training that supports both agent types, making it easier to manage and grow your team.
Step 3: Provide Pre-Licensing Education & Support
To ensure your new agents are prepared for the licensing exam, they need to complete the required pre-licensing education:
- Typically 20–40 hours of training
- Learn about insurance laws, ethics, and state regulations
Your agency can help streamline this process by partnering with EMG to offer pre-licensing courses, either online or in person, for agents. This ensures your team has the knowledge they need to pass the licensing exam and start selling policies.
Step 4: Pass the Licensing Exam
Once the agent has completed their pre-licensing education, they’ll need to pass the state’s health insurance licensing exam. With EMG’s support, your agency can ensure your new agents have access to the necessary resources to pass the exam on their first try, giving them the confidence to move forward.
Step 5: Apply for Their License
After passing the licensing exam, agents can apply for their license through the state insurance department. Your agency should assist agents with:
- Submitting proof of completed courses
- Paying the license fee (typically between $50–$200)
EMG can streamline this process by offering support for managing the paperwork and ensuring a quick application process for your agents.
How to Become Health Insurance Agent: Special Certifications and Appointments
Once agents are licensed, they need to get appointed with insurance companies to start selling. If your agency is focused on selling Medicare or Marketplace plans, additional certifications are required.
Get Appointed with Insurance Companies
Your agents cannot sell insurance for a company unless they are appointed. As an agency, you can simplify the appointment process through EMG:
- Captive agents typically get appointed by a single company, but independent agents may need to apply to multiple insurance companies to provide clients with a range of options.
- EMG’s e-complete portal helps your agents get appointed quickly and provides ongoing support for managing their appointments.
Complete Required Certifications
To sell Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans, agents will need to complete the AHIP certification. For ACA Marketplace plans, they must complete training through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). EMG’s resources can guide your agency’s agents through the certification process, making sure they stay compliant with the necessary regulations.
Launching a Successful Health Insurance Career: How Agencies Can Support and Develop Their Agents
Once you’ve recruited health insurance agents and they are licensed, the next step is ensuring they have the tools and support needed to thrive in their careers. For your agency, this means focusing on agent development, which is key to retaining top talent and driving business growth.
Build the Right Skills for Success
Successful health insurance agents don’t just memorize facts—they build key skills that help them engage with clients, close sales, and foster long-term relationships. Here’s how your agency can support agent development in these areas:
- Active Listening and Client Needs Assessment: Equip your agents with training on how to understand clients’ health insurance needs. This will help them offer tailored solutions, resulting in better client satisfaction and higher conversion rates.
- Clear Communication: Ensure your agents can explain complex health and life insurance policies in simple terms. Provide training materials and access to EMG’s resources to help agents improve their communication.
- Time Management and Organization: Use CRM tools and other resources to help your agents stay organized, manage leads, and meet sales goals efficiently.
- Sales Techniques: Provide sales coaching and ensure your agents are confident in closing deals without being pushy, helping them build trust with clients.
By offering training programs, mentorship, and ongoing support, your agency can help agents hone these essential skills, setting them up for long-term success.
Choose the Right Niche for Your Agents
While your agents can specialize in a variety of health insurance products, focusing on a niche can help them build expertise and stand out from the competition. Here are some niche areas your agency might encourage agents to specialize in:
- Individual Health Insurance: Focus on policies for individuals or families seeking coverage.
- Group Health Plans for Small Businesses: Equip agents to handle group plans, helping small businesses offer coverage to their employees.
- Medicare and ACA: Specialize in government-backed plans, which are always in demand and require specific expertise.
- Life and Health Combo Plans: Combine life and health insurance offerings for clients seeking financial planning solutions.
By identifying and fostering expertise in specific areas, your agency can position agents as trusted experts in their niche, leading to better client relationships and increased sales.
Use the Right Tools and Technology
As an agency, you can help your agents succeed by providing the right tools that streamline their processes. Agents who feel equipped to manage their business efficiently are more likely to perform well. Some key technology tools include:
- Online Portals for quoting, policy submission, and tracking client details.
- CRM Tools to manage client relationships and ensure agents stay organized.
- Dedicated Support Team: Having a dedicated support team that can answer questions, handle issues, and provide ongoing agent support is crucial to agent retention.
By partnering with EMG Insurance Brokerage, you can provide agents access to the e-complete portal, which simplifies quoting, submission, and tracking, allowing agents to focus more on client interaction and growing their book of business.
Partnering with EMG Insurance Brokerage
As an agency, working with EMG Insurance Brokerage provides the tools, support, and resources your team needs to succeed:
- Nationwide Licensing: EMG is licensed in all 50 states, so your agents can sell across the country.
- Tools for Success: EMG’s e-complete portal simplifies submissions and tracking, helping your agents stay productive and efficient.
- Specialized Support: Whether your agents are focused on life insurance, health insurance, or employee benefits, EMG provides the support and guidance needed to help them succeed.
- Work with Multiple Insurance Companies: As an independent broker, your agents can represent a variety of carriers, increasing their earning potential and flexibility.
By partnering with EMG, your agency will have access to resources that accelerate agent onboarding, help you manage their performance, and provide ongoing support to grow your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can EMG help my agency recruit and onboard health insurance agents?
A: EMG provides resources and tools to help your agency recruit qualified health insurance agents. From pre-licensing support to appointment assistance, we simplify the process and ensure your agents are ready to sell quickly.
Q: Can my agents sell insurance in multiple states?
A: Yes, but they will need to obtain non-resident licenses for each state. EMG can help streamline this process, making it easier for your agents to expand their sales territories.
Q: How long does it take for my agents to become licensed?
A: Typically, it takes 4 to 8 weeks, including pre-licensing education and the licensing exam. EMG’s support ensures your agents move through this process efficiently.
Q: What type of support can EMG offer my agents?
A: EMG provides training, tools like the e-complete portal, and ongoing support to ensure your agents succeed. Our system helps agents submit business quickly, track performance, and stay compliant with industry regulations.
Final Thoughts on Recruiting and Onboarding Health Insurance Agents
Recruiting and training health insurance agents is crucial for the growth of your agency. By partnering with EMG Insurance Brokerage, your agency gains access to the tools, resources, and expertise necessary to attract, train, and retain top health insurance agents. With our support, your agents will have the resources they need to succeed, while your agency can focus on expanding your business and increasing sales.
Ready to streamline your agent recruitment process and start building your team? Contact EMG Insurance Brokerage today and take the next step toward growing your agency.
