64% Of Agents Report Increased Medicare Supplement Sales

From Staff and Wire Reports

Nearly two-thirds of insurance agents reported increased sales of Medicare supplement insurance in 2018 and a higher percentage expect continued growth in 2019, according to a survey conducted by the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance.

"The vast majority of agents (64.1%) experienced increased Medigap sales in 2018 compared to the prior year," reports Jesse Slome, director of the association.

The organization polled 1,000 insurance professionals who market Medicare insurance in advance of the association's national Medicare Supplement industry conference. Over 300 agents completed the survey questions.

Some 64.1 percent of the agents reported increased or higher sales of Medigap insurance in 2018. Just over one-in-four (27.2%) indicated that their sales were about the same as the prior year with only 8.7 percent reporting decreased or lower sales.

The association asked agents to predict their 2019 sales compared to 2018.

"An ever greater majority of agents (68.6%) were more optimistic that their Medigap sales during the year would be higher," Slome said. "The percentage who expect decreased sales dropped to 3.8 percent.

"With 11,000 Americans turning 65 daily, it's no wonder why more agents are focusing on selling Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage products," he added. "There is every reason to be optimistic about the future and the continued growth of the industry."