Medicare Sales Tips
Let’s be honest: generational differences are real, and people do change as they age. And they should! Priorities change as your life changes, and with advanced age usually comes advanced experiences and perspective. As Medicare insurance agents, the majority of your client basis is likely going to be 65 or older. Here are four Medicare sales tips to keep in mind when communicating with this population:
Use the proper terms
Ever had to hesitate before using a term for older people in a conversation? Do they prefer seniors? The elderly? Aged? No one wants to be offensive, and everyone has different preferences for how to be referred to. The good news is that there have been studies done on which terms for older people are the most well-received. In general, the term “older” is the most widely accepted by this age group. There’s nothing wrong with being an older person, and it’s true to their experience. Most people also like “seniors,” although not “senior citizens,” as they feel that it’s patronizing. The least liked term according to these studies was “elderly,” as people thought it made them sound frail. “Elder,” however, has a positive connotation associated with advanced wisdom and experience. Now, there are always exceptions to every rule, but with this knowledge you’ll be less likely to unintentionally offend your clientele.
Don’t use Senior Speak
This is one of the important Medicare sales tips when dealing with individuals over 65. Speaking of seniors, there’s a verbal phenomenon that we’ve noticed that they really don’t like. Ever heard of Senior Speak? It’s when people use simplified language and even a higher pitched voice while talking to older people. Sometimes they use names like “sweetie” or “dear” instead of the person’s actual name. They might even be unaware they’re doing it. It can come off as extremely patronizing and condescending, since they wouldn’t be doing that with younger clients. It’s based on the assumption that the older clients cannot understand what you’re saying as well as younger ones, which is not only a rude assumption but, most of the time, completely incorrect. Making a conscious effort to communicate normally with older clients will prevent you from unconsciously slipping into Senior Speak and risking your sale.
Medicare Sales Tips – Practice patience
Let’s just be frank: You’re going to have to repeat yourself with clients over 65. Not because they are slower or don’t understand what you’re saying, but because for most of them this is the first time hearing all of the information you’re telling them. And it is a lot of information, with jargon and acronyms and things that take time to understand. They will have questions that seem obvious to you because you work in the industry and deal with the information every day. For people outside the industry, it can be very complicated. Using analogies and real-life examples can be very helpful for clarification.
Guide, don’t decide
Everyone wants to be in charge of making their own decisions. While you may think you know what’s best for your client, you still need to allow them to make the final decision on the best plan for their healthcare needs. A good mantra here will be, “Guide, don’t decide.” You cannot make the decision for them, but you can gather enough information about their healthcare needs and desires to guide them in the right direction towards choosing a plan that compliments their lifestyle.
Putting these four tips into your toolbox can help ensure that you’re practicing effective and respectful communication with a large portion of your client base.
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