Pros
I sincerely hope that an Assurance upper level manager or executive read this. When I initially found Assurance, I was so great full for this opportunity. Being a 1099 agent allowed me to have freedom of time and also earn a great income as I have always been a top producer with this company. Assurance used to be a 5 star company, they’ve not earned 2 stars based off our their recent decisions to use grossly non-compliant and misleading ads that violate CMS guidelines as their primary lead source, which in turn has made this job become miserable and exhausting. The good news is that I believe that Assurance has the ability to make the right decision and turn this around. Hopefully sooner rather than later, for their own good.
Cons
The reason for the two-star rating is due to recent marketing decisions to use non-compliant Medicare Advantage leads as their primary lead source. I have consistently been a top producer, and for the past two years, my monthly conversion rate never dipped below 20%. However, in the last few months, Assurance switched to cheap, non-compliant, and misleading leads that promise seniors $900/month grocery cards and "stimulus checks" worth thousands of dollars. These benefits are simply non-existent and grossly non-compliant with CMS guidelines. Since this change in marketing, my fellow top producers and I, who previously maintained a 20%+ close rate, now struggle to convert at even 10%. Our sales per hour metric has dropped from 1.0 to 0.5. Assurance also recently changed the compensation plan, tying our pay directly to our close rate. It seems too coincidental that this switch happened alongside the use of non-compliant leads. While these cheap leads may be highly profitable for Assurance, they have several negative consequences: - Agents become exhausted and burnt out when leads convert at 1 in 20. - Customers perceive Assurance IQ as shady and misleading. - The company risks legal trouble. - Top-producing agents will leave in droves (as some already have). *Assurance management/executives, please read this next part VERY carefully* We have attempted to discuss this issue with management without success. Upper-level management seems unresponsive to feedback. If Assurance does not address the concerns about these non-compliant and blatantly false ads, MANY AGENTS will report Assurance's non-compliant activity directly to CMS and all of the carriers that Assurance represents. To reiterate: If these non-compliant and blatantly misleading lead sources continue to taint our calls, MANY AGENTS will write detailed emails and reports about Assurance's non-compliant behavior and send them directly to CMS, Humana, United Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, and WellCare. I sincerely hope and believe that Assurance has the ability to do the right thing. If you just use the same lead sources as last year, that would be fantastic. I can’t remember the last time I got a lead that wasn’t a grossly misleading “$900/month” grocery card or stimulus check lead. Assurance has the ability to be a brokerage that top agents want to be at. Be that brokerage for us Assurance. You’ve been great in the past, be great again!
