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What Types of Insurance Does SelectQuote Provide?

Shopping for Medicare often leads you to two main choices: a big national platform like SelectQuote or a local independent broker. The selectquote difference is huge. They offer plans only from a select list of partner companies, while an independent agent can shop the entire market for you. This is the core detail behind most selectquote reviews you’ll find online. Before you decide, it’s crucial to understand what types of insurance does selectquote provide and how that impacts your options. We’ll break down their model so you can clearly see if their service fits your long-term health and financial needs.

Key Takeaways

  • Convenience Has Its Limits: SelectQuote offers a fast way to compare quotes from several big-name carriers, but their selection is limited to their partners. This means you won’t get a full picture of every plan on the market.
  • Know Who You’re Working With: SelectQuote is the broker that helps you find a plan, not the insurance company that provides your coverage. You’ll always file claims directly with your insurance provider, not with SelectQuote.
  • Ask Questions to Find the Best Fit: To ensure a plan truly serves your needs, ask an agent which companies they represent and why they recommend a specific policy. For a complete market comparison, an independent broker can show you all available options.

So, What Exactly Is SelectQuote?

If you’ve turned on your TV recently, you’ve likely seen an ad for SelectQuote. They are one of the most visible insurance agencies out there, but what do they actually do? Understanding their business model is the first step in figuring out if they’re the right choice for your Medicare needs.

The Company at a Glance

SelectQuote is a well-known insurance comparison platform. Think of it as a marketplace that allows you to get quotes for several different types of insurance, including life, auto, home, and Medicare. They’ve built a national reputation as a place to shop around for policies from various carriers. While they are a large and established company, it’s always a good idea to understand exactly how their process works before you pick up the phone. Our comprehensive guide to SelectQuote can help you know what to expect and what questions to ask their agents.

Founding, Public Status, and Accreditation

SelectQuote has been a fixture in the insurance industry since 1985, growing into one of the largest and most recognized agencies in the country. It’s important to understand that they operate as a broker, which means they don’t sell their own insurance plans. Instead, they act as an intermediary, connecting you with a selection of well-known insurance companies they’ve partnered with. This model allows them to offer policies from multiple carriers, but it’s a curated list. While they are a publicly-traded company with a long history, their structure means your choices are limited to their network, which is a key factor to consider when you find a Medicare broker.

Market and Savings Claims

A central part of SelectQuote’s advertising is the promise of significant savings. Their website highlights that they help people find insurance by comparing different options for you, with some claims suggesting savings of over 50% on certain types of insurance. This comparison shopping model is appealing because it can quickly give you a sense of what’s available from several major providers at once. However, the comparison is only between the companies in their specific network. You won’t see quotes from carriers outside of their partnerships, which means you might miss out on a plan that offers better coverage or a lower premium for your unique Medicare costs.

What Types of Insurance Does SelectQuote Provide?

SelectQuote promotes itself as a one-stop shop for many of your insurance needs. They connect customers with a range of coverage options, including life insurance, Medicare plans, and home and auto policies. They even offer pet insurance. The company partners with a number of well-known, trusted insurance carriers to provide these options. Their goal is to give you a single place to compare different policies and find one that fits your budget and coverage requirements. This can be convenient if you’re looking to handle multiple insurance needs through one agency.

How Does SelectQuote Work?

SelectQuote uses its technology platform to match you with insurance plans from its network of partner companies. You provide your information, and they generate quotes from the carriers they work with. It’s important to know that SelectQuote doesn’t show you options from every insurance company on the market—only from their specific partners. This is a key difference from working with an independent insurance agent who can access a wider range of plans. Also, SelectQuote earns a commission from the insurance company you choose. This is standard practice, but it’s something to be aware of, as it can influence the recommendations you receive.

A Guide to Essential Insurance Types

While you’re focused on finding the right Medicare plan, you’ve probably noticed that platforms like SelectQuote offer a whole menu of other insurance products. It can feel a bit overwhelming, but it’s helpful to understand how these different policies fit together to create a complete financial safety net. Think of this as a quick guide to the essential types of insurance that protect you and your family from life’s unexpected turns. Seeing the big picture can make it easier to decide where to focus your attention and resources at every stage of life.

Property & Casualty Insurance

Homeowners and Renters Insurance

This is the policy that protects your home and the things inside it. Whether you own or rent, this insurance is designed to help you recover financially from events like a fire, storm, or theft. But it does more than just cover your belongings; it also provides crucial liability protection. If a guest is injured on your property, this coverage can help pay for their medical expenses and protect you from a lawsuit that could otherwise jeopardize your savings. It’s a foundational policy for safeguarding your assets and ensuring you can get back on your feet after a disaster.

Car Insurance

While car insurance is legally required in most states, its true value lies in the financial protection it offers. Beyond covering repairs to your own vehicle, its liability coverage is what shields you from catastrophic costs if you cause an accident that injures someone else or damages their property. Medical bills and legal fees can quickly add up, and without adequate coverage, your personal assets could be at risk. This is why simply having the minimum required coverage often isn’t enough to fully protect the nest egg you’ve worked so hard to build.

Umbrella Insurance

Think of umbrella insurance as an extra layer of security that sits on top of your existing home and auto policies. It’s designed for worst-case scenarios where a major claim exceeds the liability limits of your standard insurance. For example, if your auto policy covers you for $300,000 but you’re found liable for $1 million in damages, an umbrella policy would cover the remaining $700,000. For anyone with significant savings or assets, this coverage is a smart and often affordable way to protect your financial future from a single, devastating event.

Health Insurance

With medical costs continuing to rise, health insurance is absolutely essential for protecting both your health and your finances. A single unexpected illness or hospital stay can lead to bills that could easily derail your financial goals. As you approach age 65, your primary health coverage will likely transition to Medicare. This is a significant milestone, and the choices you make—between Original Medicare, a Supplement plan, and a Medicare Advantage plan—will have a lasting impact. This is where getting clear, unbiased advice that covers all your options, not just a curated list from a few partner companies, is so important for your long-term well-being.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

We all plan for retirement, but we don’t always plan for an illness or injury that could prevent us from working until then. Long-term disability insurance is designed to protect your income if you become unable to work for an extended period. It replaces a portion of your paycheck, allowing you to continue paying your bills and saving for the future without having to dip into your retirement accounts early. For those in their peak earning years, this coverage acts as a critical bridge, ensuring that an unexpected health issue doesn’t derail a lifetime of careful financial planning.

Life Insurance

Term vs. Permanent Life Insurance

Life insurance is fundamentally about providing financial support for your loved ones after you’re gone. The two main options are term and permanent. Term life is simple and generally affordable; it covers you for a specific period, like 20 or 30 years, making it ideal for covering expenses like a mortgage or college tuition. Permanent life insurance, such as whole life, lasts your entire life and builds cash value over time. Many people compare term life insurance policies on large platforms because it’s a straightforward way to secure peace of mind for their family during their working years.

Long-Term Care Insurance

This is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, types of insurance for those planning for their later years. A common misconception is that Medicare will cover extended assistance with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or eating—but it doesn’t. This type of care, whether at home or in a facility, can be extremely expensive and can quickly deplete a lifetime of savings. Long-term care insurance is specifically designed to cover these costs, helping you preserve your assets while ensuring you receive the quality care you need without placing a financial strain on your family.

Identity Theft Insurance

In our increasingly digital world, the threat of identity theft is real. While this insurance can’t prevent your information from being stolen, it provides invaluable support in the aftermath. Its greatest benefit is often the access it gives you to a dedicated restoration specialist who will do the heavy lifting to restore your identity. Instead of you spending countless frustrating hours on the phone with banks and credit agencies, an expert manages the process for you. This service can save you an immense amount of time and stress, offering peace of mind and a clear path to resolving the issue.

Your Guide to SelectQuote’s Insurance Plans

SelectQuote positions itself as a one-stop shop for many of your insurance needs. While you might know them from their Medicare commercials, their services extend into several other areas, including life, home, and auto insurance. They operate as an insurance agency, which means they don’t underwrite the policies themselves. Instead, they partner with a wide range of insurance carriers and present you with different options.

The main idea is to simplify the shopping process. Rather than going to ten different insurance company websites to get ten different quotes, you can go to SelectQuote and see multiple options in one place. This can be a huge time-saver, especially when you’re trying to compare complex products like Medicare plans. However, it’s helpful to remember that because they cover so many different types of insurance, their agents are generalists. An agent who helps someone with car insurance in the morning might be discussing Medicare Advantage plans in the afternoon. Understanding the full scope of what they offer can help you decide if their model is the right fit for your specific needs.

Life Insurance Options Through SelectQuote

Life insurance is a core part of SelectQuote’s business. They help people find policies that provide financial protection for their loved ones in the event of their death. The company primarily focuses on term life insurance, which is often one of the most straightforward and affordable options. A term life policy covers you for a specific period, like 10, 20, or 30 years. If you pass away during that term, your beneficiaries receive a payout. SelectQuote’s agents can walk you through quotes from various carriers to find a term length and coverage amount that fits your family’s financial goals and your budget. They also offer other types of life insurance, but term life is their most common product.

Understanding Their Medicare Plans

Medicare is likely how you first heard of SelectQuote, and it’s a huge part of their operation. They are a major insurance comparison platform for Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement (Medigap), and Prescription Drug Plans (Part D). Their process involves connecting you with a licensed agent who asks about your health needs, doctors, and prescriptions. Based on your answers, they present plan options from private insurance companies that contract with Medicare. The goal is to help you compare costs, networks, and benefits from multiple carriers at once. This can be particularly helpful for those new to Medicare who are trying to make sense of all the different parts and plans available in their area.

Home and Auto Insurance Bundles

Beyond health and life insurance, SelectQuote also helps customers bundle their home and auto policies. Much like their other services, they don’t provide the insurance directly. Instead, they shop for policies from a network of well-known insurance companies on your behalf. Their agents can help you find coverage for your vehicle or property, look for potential discounts (like bundling home and auto with the same carrier), and compare quotes to find a competitive rate. This service is designed for people who want to streamline their insurance shopping and potentially save money by having an agent compare multiple providers for them.

Pet Insurance for Your Furry Friends

As pets become a more integral part of the family, pet insurance is growing in popularity. This type of insurance helps cover the costs of unexpected vet bills for accidents or illnesses. While it’s not one of their primary offerings, SelectQuote has been exploring opportunities to expand into new insurance categories, and pet insurance is one of them. This move shows they are adapting to customer demands and looking to broaden their portfolio. If you’re looking to insure a furry family member, it’s worth checking if they have officially rolled out this service in your area, as it could be another convenient way to manage your policies through a single agency.

How Much Does SelectQuote Cost?

It’s important to understand that SelectQuote doesn’t set the prices for the insurance plans it sells. The premiums are determined by the actual insurance carriers, like Humana, Aetna, or Progressive. The price you see in a quote is calculated based on a specific set of factors that vary depending on the type of insurance. For Medicare plans, your age and location affect the cost. For auto insurance, your driving record, vehicle type, and location are key. SelectQuote’s role is to gather your information and present you with the official quotes from their partners, so you can compare them side-by-side.

What’s It Like to Use SelectQuote?

Understanding what to expect can make any process feel less intimidating. When you work with an insurance broker like SelectQuote, the experience has a few distinct stages, from getting your first quote to managing your policy long-term. It’s helpful to walk through what that journey looks like, including the good parts and the potential bumps in the road, so you can decide if their approach is the right fit for you.

Getting Your Quote and Applying

Your journey with SelectQuote will likely start online or over the phone. As an insurance comparison platform, their main draw is the ability to get multiple quotes for different types of insurance—including Medicare, life, auto, and home—all in one place. You’ll provide some basic personal information, and their system will generate quotes from the insurance companies they partner with. The initial process is designed to be quick and straightforward, giving you a snapshot of potential plans and prices without having to contact each insurance carrier individually. This convenience is a big reason why many people turn to platforms like this in the first place.

What to Expect from a SelectQuote Agent

After you receive your initial quotes, the next step is usually a call with a licensed SelectQuote agent. Their job is to help you understand the options, answer your questions, and guide you through the application if you decide to move forward. Because SelectQuote positions itself as a one-stop shop, their agents are often knowledgeable about various types of insurance. However, it’s important to remember they work in a call center environment. This means you might speak with a different person each time you call, which is a different experience from having a dedicated, independent agent who gets to know you and your needs over time.

How to File a Claim

This is a common point of confusion, so it’s crucial to clarify. You do not file a claim with SelectQuote. SelectQuote is the broker that sells you the policy, but the actual insurance coverage comes from the carrier (like Aetna, Cigna, or Humana). If you need to use your insurance, you will file the claim directly with the company that issued your policy. Your insurance card will have all the contact information you need. While your broker can sometimes offer guidance, the responsibility for processing and paying claims rests entirely with the insurance carrier you chose.

Customer Service: The Good and The Bad

When it comes to customer service, experiences can vary widely. On the positive side, many find the process efficient. You have a single point of contact to compare several plans, which can save a lot of time. On the other hand, a common criticism seen in customer reviews is the sheer volume of follow-up calls, which some people find overwhelming. Because it’s a large call center, the service can also feel less personal than what you might get from a local, independent agent who is focused solely on your long-term satisfaction.

What Customers Love

The biggest draw for most SelectQuote customers is convenience. People appreciate being able to compare multiple insurance quotes quickly without having to shop around on their own. For those looking to bundle different types of insurance, like auto and home, or life and Medicare, SelectQuote offers a streamlined way to manage it all through one agency. This simplicity is a major selling point. The ability to see several options side-by-side helps many feel more confident in their decision, knowing they’ve at least explored a few different plans before committing.

Common Customer Complaints

A frequent complaint about SelectQuote is its limited selection of insurance carriers. While they offer quotes from multiple companies, they only work with a specific list of partners. This means you aren’t seeing the full market of available plans. An agent can only recommend products from the companies they represent, so you might miss out on a better or more affordable plan from a carrier outside their network. This is a key difference between using a service like SelectQuote and working with a truly independent broker who has the freedom to shop all available plans to find the best fit for you.

Specific Customer Ratings and Response Rate

SelectQuote holds a 4.3-star “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot, and many positive reviews highlight the agents’ friendly and knowledgeable service. This shows that a significant number of customers are satisfied with their initial interactions. However, a deeper look at their customer service practices reveals a potential concern. Our in-depth review of SelectQuote found that the company has only responded to 3% of its negative reviews on Trustpilot. This low engagement with dissatisfied customers might indicate that resolving problems after you’ve signed up could be difficult. While the initial sales process may be smooth, post-enrollment support is just as important.

Employee Reviews and Work Environment

A company’s internal culture often shapes its customer service. Reviews from people who have worked at SelectQuote, found on sites like Reddit, frequently describe a high-pressure sales environment where employees are pushed to meet quotas. For you, this could mean that an agent’s primary goal might be to make a sale rather than to find the absolute best plan for your unique health and financial situation. When an agent is under that kind of pressure, their recommendations may be influenced by sales targets. This is an important factor to keep in mind as you evaluate the advice you receive.

Legal and Ethical Concerns Surrounding SelectQuote

While convenience is a major draw, it’s important to be aware of some serious legal and ethical issues that have been raised about SelectQuote’s business practices. The company has recently faced significant legal challenges, including a federal lawsuit involving the Department of Justice. These concerns center on how agents are compensated and whether their recommendations are always in the best interest of the customer. Understanding these issues can help you ask the right questions and make a more informed decision when choosing a Medicare plan.

Department of Justice Lawsuit

SelectQuote is currently facing heightened legal scrutiny after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company. The lawsuit alleges that SelectQuote engaged in deceptive sales practices by accepting illegal kickbacks from a select group of Medicare Advantage carriers. According to the allegations, these payments incentivized SelectQuote’s agents to enroll beneficiaries in those specific plans, regardless of whether they were the most suitable option for the person’s health needs. This kind of arrangement raises serious questions about the impartiality of the advice given to consumers who are simply trying to find the best possible coverage.

Allegations of Misleading Sales Tactics

The lawsuit further claims that SelectQuote’s agents were trained to guide beneficiaries toward certain plans that were more profitable for the company. This has led to a situation where an investor sues the company, alleging that executives knowingly made false statements that artificially inflated the company’s stock price. For the average person seeking a Medicare plan, the core issue is the potential for receiving biased advice. When an agent’s recommendation is influenced by financial incentives rather than your unique healthcare needs, you may end up in a plan that doesn’t cover your doctors or prescriptions adequately, leading to unexpected costs and gaps in care.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

At the heart of these issues is a potential conflict of interest. SelectQuote earns a commission from the insurance company you choose. While this is a standard practice in the industry, it can create a situation where an agent’s recommendations are influenced by which insurance carrier pays a higher commission. As we’ve seen in our own review of SelectQuote, their agents can only present plans from their partner carriers, which already limits your options. When you add financial incentives to the mix, it becomes even more important to question whether the plan being recommended is truly the best one for you or just the best one for the agent’s bottom line.

How Does SelectQuote Compare to Other Brokers?

Shopping for insurance can feel a lot like shopping for a car—there are dozens of models and dealerships, and it’s hard to know who to trust. SelectQuote is just one of many options available, so it’s helpful to see how they stack up against other insurance brokers. Each has a slightly different approach, and the right one for you depends on the level of choice and personal guidance you’re looking for. The main difference you’ll find is the number of insurance carriers they partner with. Some, like SelectQuote, have a select group of partners, while others have access to a much wider market. This can directly impact the variety of plans and prices you get to see.

SelectQuote vs. Key Competitors

When you start comparing, you’ll quickly see that not all brokers are created equal. The biggest factor separating them is their access to different insurance companies. This is why it pays to understand the business model of any broker you’re considering.

The Big 65

The most significant distinction between SelectQuote and an independent broker like The Big 65 is the breadth of options. SelectQuote only compares plans from a small group of partner companies. This means that while it seems like they offer a lot, The Big 65 explains that the company only works with a limited set of partner carriers. An independent broker, on the other hand, isn’t tied to specific companies and can shop the entire market on your behalf. This often results in a more customized plan that truly fits your unique health and budget needs.

eHealth

eHealth is another large online marketplace, but it generally offers a wider range of Medicare plans from a more extensive network of insurance carriers compared to SelectQuote. If your main goal is to see as many options as possible in one place, eHealth’s broader selection might give you a more complete picture of what’s available. This increased variety can be beneficial for finding plans with specific benefits or doctor networks that might not be available through SelectQuote’s more limited partnerships.

GoHealth

GoHealth is known for its user-friendly online platform and the extensive educational resources it provides for people exploring Medicare. Their approach often feels more guided, aiming to help you understand the ins and outs of Medicare before you choose a plan. While SelectQuote also has agents, GoHealth puts a strong emphasis on its technology and support tools to create a comprehensive shopping experience. If you feel you need a bit more education during the process, GoHealth’s model might be a better fit.

HealthMarkets

HealthMarkets stands out by offering a broad selection of insurance products and placing a strong focus on providing personalized service, often through local agents. This approach can feel more personal and less automated than the high-volume, call-center-based model that SelectQuote often uses. If you prefer to build a relationship with a local agent who understands your community’s healthcare landscape, HealthMarkets may offer a more appealing alternative.

A Side-by-Side Look at Services

At its core, SelectQuote operates as a well-known insurance comparison platform that allows you to get multiple quotes for life, auto, home, and Medicare insurance. The service is designed to be fast and efficient, using technology to match you with plans from its partner carriers. You’ll typically interact with an agent over the phone who guides you through the options they can offer. This model is great for people who want a quick, straightforward way to see several quotes at once without doing all the research themselves.

Coverage Options: How They Compare

SelectQuote positions itself as a one-stop shop where you can find several types of coverage under one roof. As The Big 65 points out, they connect customers with options for life insurance, Medicare insurance, and auto and home policies. This can be convenient if you’re looking to handle all your insurance needs through a single point of contact. However, remember that the actual coverage comes from the insurance carrier (like Aetna or Cigna), not SelectQuote itself. SelectQuote is the intermediary, or broker, that helps you find and enroll in the plan.

Price Check: SelectQuote vs. Others

A key part of SelectQuote’s appeal is its focus on finding competitive pricing. Their process is built to compare policies from various highly-rated insurance companies to find coverage that fits your budget. Because their agents can pull quotes from multiple partners, they can often present you with a range of price points for similar plans. While getting a good price is important, it’s crucial to look beyond the monthly premium. Make sure you also compare deductibles, provider networks, and out-of-pocket maximums to ensure the plan’s value holds up when you actually need to use it.

Key SelectQuote‘s Key Features

When you’re trying to find the right insurance plan, understanding how a company operates can make all the difference. SelectQuote has built its business around a few core features designed to simplify the shopping process. From comparing carriers to using online tools, let’s walk through what you can expect when you work with them.

Why Multiple Carriers Matter

One of SelectQuote’s biggest selling points is that it’s an insurance comparison platform. Instead of you having to call multiple insurance companies one by one for quotes, SelectQuote does the initial legwork for you. They partner with a selection of well-known national carriers, allowing you to compare different plans and prices in one place. While this is convenient, it’s important to know that they don’t work with every insurance company out there. For example, for life insurance, they represent about 11 carriers. This gives you options, but it’s not a complete view of the entire market. Think of it as a curated list of choices rather than an exhaustive one.

Using Their Online Tools

SelectQuote leans heavily on its technology to connect you with insurance options. Their website is the central hub where you begin the process by entering your information to get initial quotes. This tech-driven approach is what allows them to quickly sort through their partners’ plans and present you with options that match your profile. If you’re comfortable using the internet for research, you might find their platform helpful for getting a preliminary look at what’s available. This process is designed to be efficient, giving you a starting point before you even speak with an agent, which can save you a good amount of time.

How to Tailor Your Insurance Plan

The goal of using a service like SelectQuote is to find a plan that truly fits your life. Because they offer several types of insurance—including Medicare, life, auto, and home—they position themselves as a one-stop shop for your coverage needs. An agent will talk with you about your health, budget, and what you’re looking for in a policy. They will then present you with options from their network of carriers that they believe are a good match. This guidance can be helpful in narrowing down your choices and finding a plan with the specific benefits you need, whether it’s a Medicare Supplement plan or a term life policy.

Where Is SelectQuote Available?

SelectQuote is licensed to operate in all 50 states, so you can use their services no matter where you live in the U.S. However, the specific insurance carriers and plans they offer can vary significantly from one state to another. Insurance is regulated at the state level, so a plan available in Florida might not be an option in Texas. When you get a quote, it will be based on the options available in your specific zip code. The company also continues to expand its product lines, exploring new types of coverage to add to its portfolio, such as pet insurance.

How Their Agents Are Paid

It’s important to understand how any insurance agent gets paid. SelectQuote’s agents work on commission. This means they are paid by the insurance company when you purchase a plan through them. This is a standard practice in the industry, but it’s something to be aware of. Because an agent’s income is tied to sales, there could be a financial incentive to recommend certain plans over others. A good agent will always prioritize your needs, but knowing about the commission structure empowers you to ask direct questions and ensure the plan being recommended is truly the best one for you.

What to Consider Before You Choose

Choosing an insurance broker is a significant decision. You’re not just looking for a policy; you’re looking for a trusted partner to help you with important healthcare choices. Before you decide to work with any broker, including SelectQuote, it’s wise to look beyond the initial price quotes and flashy advertisements. Taking a moment to consider the bigger picture—like the variety of plans they offer, the kind of support you’ll receive, and how their business operates—can help you make a confident choice that you’ll be happy with for years to come.

This process is about ensuring your long-term well-being and financial security. Think about it: Will you see every plan available, or just a select few from partner companies? What happens if you have a question about a claim six months from now—will you be able to reach someone who can help? Is the agent you’re speaking with truly an expert in the complexities of Medicare? These are the questions that matter most. Getting clear answers upfront helps you find a partner who has your best interests at heart. The following points are a great checklist to run through as you evaluate your options.

Are There Gaps in Coverage?

One of the most important things to understand is that SelectQuote partners with a specific, limited group of insurance companies. This means that while you can compare several options, you won’t see every single plan available in your state. This could result in potential coverage gaps if the ideal plan for your needs comes from a carrier outside of their network. It’s also helpful to know that agents earn commissions from the insurance carriers they represent. While this is standard practice, it’s a factor that can shape the recommendations you receive. This is why working with an independent broker who can show you all your options is often beneficial.

What Paperwork Will You Need?

When you’re ready to apply for a plan, you’ll need to have some personal information on hand. While SelectQuote doesn’t publish a specific checklist of required documents, you can generally expect to need your Medicare card, which includes your Medicare number and the dates your Part A and Part B coverage started. It’s also a good idea to have a list of your current prescription medications and preferred doctors and pharmacies nearby. Being prepared with this information will help make the application process much smoother, no matter which company you ultimately choose to work with.

When Can You Get Help?

What happens after you’ve enrolled in a plan? Knowing you can get help when you need it is crucial. Before you commit, this is a great area to ask some direct questions. Find out the company’s customer support hours and the best way to get in touch with your agent or a service team if you have questions about your coverage. Ask what the process looks like if you need help with a claim or have an issue with a provider. Having a clear understanding of the support available can provide significant peace of mind down the road.

Is the Pricing Clear and Honest?

Using a service like SelectQuote to compare quotes is free, which is a definite advantage. The company makes its money by being paid a commission from the insurance provider you enroll with. This is a standard industry model, so there are no hidden fees for you to worry about. The price you are quoted for a specific plan is regulated and will be the same whether you buy it through a broker or directly from the insurance company. The key is to ensure you’re being shown the best plan for your health needs and budget, not just a plan from a preferred partner company.

How Knowledgeable Are the Agents?

The agent you work with can make all the difference in your experience. Their expertise is what helps you find the right fit from a dizzying number of options. Don’t be shy about asking about an agent’s background and qualifications. You can ask how long they’ve been a licensed agent, if they complete ongoing training each year, and if they specialize in Medicare. A knowledgeable agent should be happy to share their qualifications and will be able to confidently answer your questions about the different parts of Medicare. Feeling comfortable and confident in your agent is key.

Is SelectQuote the Right Choice for You?

Deciding on an insurance broker is a big step, and it’s smart to weigh your options. SelectQuote can be a useful tool for some, but it’s not the right fit for everyone. Let’s walk through who might benefit from their service and when you might want to look elsewhere.

Who Is a Good Fit for SelectQuote?

If you’re in the early stages of research and want to quickly compare quotes from several well-known insurance carriers, SelectQuote can be a good starting point. The company operates as an insurance comparison platform, allowing you to see multiple options for life, auto, home, and Medicare insurance in one place. This approach is helpful for people who feel comfortable sorting through different plans and want a straightforward way to see what’s available from a specific group of providers. For someone who wants a quick, high-level overview of policies from major names, SelectQuote offers a convenient, side-by-side look.

When to Consider an Alternative

You may want to consider an alternative if you’re looking for a comprehensive, unbiased view of the entire market. SelectQuote only works with a limited set of partner carriers, which means you won’t see every plan available to you. Because their agents earn commissions from the insurance companies they partner with, their recommendations may be influenced by their business relationships. If your priority is finding the absolute best plan for your unique needs, regardless of the carrier, you’ll be better served by an independent broker who isn’t tied to a small selection of insurance companies and can offer more personalized guidance.

Essential Questions to Ask Your Agent

If you decide to speak with a SelectQuote agent, it’s important to be prepared so you can get the information you need. Being an informed consumer is your best strategy. Before you commit to a plan, make sure you have clear answers to a few key questions. This will help you understand the agent’s recommendations and feel confident in your decision.

Here are some questions to ask:

  • Which insurance companies do you represent for this type of plan?
  • Are there other major carriers in my area that you don’t work with?
  • How are you compensated for selling this particular plan?
  • Why is this specific plan a better fit for me than other options?

Asking these questions can help you better compare insurance companies and the policies they offer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does SelectQuote get paid? Do I have to pay them a fee? Using SelectQuote to compare plans is completely free for you. They make their money by earning a commission from the insurance company you choose to enroll with. This is a standard practice in the insurance industry, but it’s helpful to know that their agents are compensated by the carriers they represent.

What’s the biggest difference between using SelectQuote and an independent broker? The main difference comes down to the number of choices you get to see. SelectQuote works with a specific, limited list of partner insurance companies, so they can only show you plans from that group. An independent broker isn’t tied to any particular set of carriers and can shop the entire market to find the plan that truly fits your needs, regardless of the company that offers it.

If I get my plan through SelectQuote, do I file claims with them? No, you will not file claims with SelectQuote. They are the broker that helps you find and enroll in a policy. The actual insurance coverage comes from the carrier, such as Aetna, Humana, or Cigna. When you need to use your insurance, you will file the claim directly with the company that issued your policy, using the contact information on your insurance card.

Why might I not see every available Medicare plan when I get a quote? SelectQuote’s business model is built on partnerships with a select group of insurance companies. Because of this, their agents can only present you with plans from that specific network. This means you won’t get a view of the entire market, and you could miss out on a more suitable or affordable plan from a carrier that isn’t on their list.

Can a SelectQuote agent help me with just Medicare, or do they handle other insurance too? SelectQuote agents are often trained to sell several different types of insurance, including life, home, and auto policies, in addition to Medicare. This means they are typically generalists who handle various products. This is a different experience from working with a specialist who focuses exclusively on the complexities of Medicare plans.