While health insurance leads purchased online can provide excellent opportunities for insurance agents to expand their client base, the upcoming open enrollment period can also allow agents to focus on their existing customers by increasing their knowledge.
Many workers say that most employers do not put enough time or effort into explaining their employee benefits programs, which leaves them with an insufficient level of education about the various insurance products and other things they might be eligible for.
In a recent survey by Unum, 28 percent of respondents who reviewed their benefits during the last year said that their education guidance was either poor or merely fair. In addition, just half said they had received a brochure talking about their benefits and barely a third got the opportunity to attend an information session.
"In this climate, the need for effective benefits education is greater than ever," said Barbara Nash, vice president of Corporate Research at Unum. "Our research shows that a good benefits education experience is a highly effective, low-cost way for employers to demonstrate their concern for employees and their well-being."
Satisfaction with employee benefits was also reflected in employees' overall job satisfaction, which can filter back to agents in terms of reduced customer turnover and retention as a company's representative.
According to the survey, 79 percent of people who rated their benefits education highlighly said they would stay in their current position if offered another job with similar compensation. In addition, 82 percent of people who had high ratings for their benefits education said that their company was a good place to work. Among those who rated their benefits education less favorably, only 27 percent said the same.
