Top Five Reasons to Use a Benefits Consultant
Top Five Reasons to Use a Benefits Consultant
By Marc Pieroni
The federal government launched the Health Insurance Marketplace on October 1, 2013. The online marketplace, currently available in 36 states, is where individuals may shop and compare insurance plans and rates, with 14 states operating their own state-run exchanges. With all this information now at your fingertips, you may find yourself wondering, “why choose the services of a benefits consultant?”
With reported glitches in the online portals, compromising of secure information and vague information as to specific coverage, it is now more important than ever to utilize the services of a benefits consultant. A recent panel asked people what mattered most when buying insurance and used those criteria to determine the differences between buying direct and using a benefits consultant. The results revealed that using a benefits consultant excelled at satisfying the top five most important criteria when considering purchasing insurance.
The top five reasons to choose a benefits consultant are:
- Cost. Contrary to popular belief, benefit consultant pricing is actually better than going it alone. A good benefits consultant knows the difference between what looks like a good plan and what is the best plan.
- Half of consumers believed buying online direct would be the easiest option. However, when put to the test, most direct services fell short when queries or changes became necessary, especially later in the life of the policy. A benefits consultant has their own website and is much better at answering questions and providing follow-up services. A benefits consultant also offers a full service on-site facility.
- Speed. A benefits consultant can access information more accurately and quickly than an online service. This leads to better pricing, faster dispute resolution and personal detail. A benefits consultant will save you time by offering personal service and swift resolutions so that you can focus on growing your business.
- Peace of mind. A benefits consultant is more efficient at cross-checking policies and educating its clients about the best coverage available to suit each client’s needs. A good benefits consultant should provide superior customer service so that clients achieve peace of mind about their insurance needs.
- Security of personal data. Internet-based services rely solely on the data provided and do not provide personal care. Diligence about providing personal security and making sure the client is in safe hands should be top priority when considering a secure and trustworthy option for your insurance needs.
Marc Pieroni is the Managing Partner of BenefitCorp, a commercial insurance consulting agency founded in 1995. Marc is dedicated to helping businesses implement, administer and communicate all lines of insurance and financial products. Please call Marc at 972-480-0109 www.benefitcorp.com
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Vince – the blogger’s Reality Bite: Agree whole heartedly that if you are interested in providing health coverage for you employees a benefit consultant is the way to go. After all, the ones I have used over the years are not paid by you but by the insurance company.
