Let’s be honest. Getting started as a Medicare agent is exciting, until it isn’t.
You finish contracting, your inbox fills up with carrier updates, and people tell you to "just get out there and start selling." But no one really tells you how. So you start guessing.
That’s where good agents start making avoidable mistakes.
If you’re just getting started, or if you’ve been spinning your wheels for a while, here are three of the biggest traps we see agents fall into and what you can do instead.
1. Chasing “Free Leads” and Cold Lists
We’ve seen this one too many times. An agent gets promised free leads or a lead program, and next thing you know, they’re chasing strangers who don’t want to talk to them.
Here’s the truth. Leads aren’t magic. And most of the time, “free” means someone else already tried and failed to work that list.
What to do instead:
Focus on building a presence in your own community. Learn how to talk about what you do. Let people know you’re available and that you care. When done right, this leads to consistent referrals and a business that doesn’t rely on hoping a stranger picks up the phone.
2. Trying to Figure It All Out Alone
We get it. You’re independent. That’s probably one of the reasons you got into this business.
But independence doesn’t mean isolation.
The Medicare landscape is always changing. Trying to keep up with it all using carrier portals and YouTube videos will burn you out fast.
What to do instead:
Get connected to a real support system. You need people who have walked this path before. Not a corporate phone tree. Not a dashboard full of documents. When you partner with our team, you don’t just get tools. You get people. Real humans who show up for you, even when things get messy.
3. Waiting Too Long to Start Marketing
This is one of the most common issues we see. You tell yourself you need to learn everything first. Or you decide to wait until AEP. Six months later, your phone still isn’t ringing.
What to do instead:
Start simple and start now. Choose one or two easy marketing actions you can take this week. Talk to a neighbor. Reach out to a local business. Claim your Google profile. The agents who grow the fastest are the ones who take action, even when it’s not perfect.
Final Thought
The most successful agents we work with aren’t the flashiest. They’re the ones who keep showing up, stay plugged in, and build trust with both clients and their support team.
If you’re tired of guessing your way forward or you’re ready to grow without chasing strangers, let’s talk.
Want help avoiding these common traps?
Schedule a call with our team or learn more about what it means to partner with us.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. We’ll walk with you.
