Broker Advantage Blog

ICMG Wrap-Up: Finding our Opportunity in Change

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (ebrandt) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:49:00 -0900

The BrokerAdvantage team just got back from our inaugural trip to the ICMG (Inter-Company Marketing Group) Conference in sunny Miami, FL. We had a wonderful time mingling with old friends and new acquaintances while escaping the blizzard of the century back in Wisconsin. The ICMG Conference is unique with its core focus on networking. It was refreshing to see individuals from all corners of the Health Insurance industry come together to discuss pertinent issues and find common ground. The binding force between all of us was of course, Healthcare Reform. The conference speakers invited us to take a positive look at HCR and challenged us to find the opportunity that inevitably lies within all change. As for Connecture, we’ve responded with a firm commitment to make the distribution of health insurance more efficient than ever— with the hope that tools like BrokerAdvantage will make finding your opportunity a little easier.

HCR will continue posing new questions and pushing us to search for new answers. Where are you looking for your opportunity?

Connecture team: Mark, Pete, Joanna, Bob, and I

*Photo courtesy of Mike Wise

2011: New Year, New Business

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (ebrandt) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:43:00 -0900

In tomorrow’s Webinar, Bob Barry and Mark Seghers will discuss how reform impacts brokers and how technology can help you sell more business, retain more business, and thrive in a post-reform environment.

Health insurance companies are moving fast to prepare. Are you?

Click here to reserve your seat: Wednesday, January 26 12:00PM – 1:00PM CST

Extra! Extra! Hear all about it!

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (ebrandt) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 10:14:00 -0900

Don’t forget to sign up for our January Client Forum! All BrokerAdvnatage users invited for an inside scoop on our upcoming product roadmap. Mark Seghers and Lorrie Imes will be recapping the accomplishments of 2010 while answering all of your questions on what to expect in 2011. We’ve got an exciting year ahead of us and can’t wait to share it with our broker community!

Hope to see you there!

Click here to reserve your seat: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM CST

Connecture's Mark Seghers Contributing to TN Exchange Program

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (ebrandt) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:02:00 -0900

Connecture’s very own Mark Seghers has been featured in a recent article by National Underwriter on Tennessee’s first steps towards building a state health insurance exchange.

Mark has been named to sit on the state of Tennessee’s broker advisory group for exchanges to weigh in on the role brokers should play in this new sales channel. The BrokerAdvantage team is proud of Mark’s involvement in this important process, and we believe it illustrates our pledge that this commitment to brokers is just part of our job.

Click here to read the full article!

Connecture's Hitting it Out of the Park

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (ebrandt) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:50:00 -0900

As you can imagine, “reform” is a word that seems to pop up around here about every other sentence, but our offices aren’t the only place we’ve been buzzing with reform discussions. Some familiar Connecture faces have been making a big splash out in the industry. An article written by our very own SVP of Product, Market, and Reform Strategy, Bob Barry, was recently featured in National Healthcare Reform Magazine! Bob shares his thoughts on learning to thrive in a post-reform industry.

Click here to read Bob’s article! Brokers: It’s a Whole New Ballgame

Do you agree with Bob’s evaluation? What will this mean for brokers selling new business?

Meet the New BrokerAdvantage Reps: Eric

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (ebrandt) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:41:00 -0900

My name is Eric Brandt— one of your dedicated Business Development Specialists. I’m a Connecture veteran and very excited to be part of the growing BrokerAdvantage team. Prior to joining Connecture, I spent 9 years as President and founder of Benefits Executives. More importantly, I’ve spent more than 20 years in much the same position as you— working as an insurance broker. I think we can all agree that the industry landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade, but I believe that my lengthy history as a contributing member to this field will be invaluable when determining how BrokerAdvantage can best serve brokers into the future.

Like my colleagues you’ve met in previous posts, my position is centered on you, our customer. I am the point person for users who have questions and concerns about the tool or who need help making the most of its functionality. I always make it a priority to gauge the wants and needs of our users to help guide our product team in making enhancements and upgrades to the tool. I also run the daily demos for brokers in the market for sales automation software.

I look forward to using this blog as an additional resource to connect with the BrokerAdvantage community to hear your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions!

Witches, Werewolves, and Webinars

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (rgreene) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:18:00 -0900

October is notoriously a month full of spooks and scares, and many of us use the season to watch our favorite horror movies. Whether it’s gore or suspense, the number one goal is always to be the last one standing. There seems to be two types of characters in scary movies—the unsuspecting bystander and the savvy hero prepared to save the day. We all know that only the latter is fortunate enough to survive until the end credits.

This year we all have a new uncertainty lurking just around the corner—HEALTH REFORM. Connecture wants to help you meet your fears head on. Join us for our Webinar on October 27 as Bob Barry, Senior Vice President of Product, Market, and Reform Strategy at Connecture discusses how reform will impact you as a broker and how technology can be your best defense. Take action now and secure your spot when the end credits are rolling.

Title: Health Insurance Reform: Simply Survive, or an Opportunity to Thrive?

Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Click here to reserve your Webinar seat: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/557260843

Rolling with Reform

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (mlacenski) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:16:00 -0900

“If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians.” –Warren Buffett

Change can be a difficult visitor to welcome, but with healthcare reform beginning the first stages of implementation, change has moved in, unpacked and settled in for an extended stay. As members of the health insurance industry, it’s time we got comfortable too. Lucky for us, change always brings along its sidekick— opportunity.

The insurance industry is an overwhelming place for the average consumer, and as more clients demand choice, the need for brokers to step in as expert advisors will continue to grow. Here lies our opportunity. Brokers now have the ability to quote multiple carriers and act as a personal guide for consumers wishing to make an informed decision. By presenting various options, you have both the knowledge and tools that your everyday consumer is lacking. This is an undeniable point of leverage.

With lower commissions and the loss of advances, efficiency will be critical. Brokers will need to present as much information to as many clients as possible. Thriving in our post-reform environment will be dependent on creating a sustainable competitive advantage. A multi-carrier quoting platform like BrokerAdvantage streamlines your everyday business practices making it possible to sign more clients in less time.

Like most industries, technology is guiding our future, so continue looking forward and equip yourself to be successful. With innovative tools on your side, change just might become one of your good friends.

Hit the Books: FREE BrokerAdvantage Training

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (mlacenski) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:59:00 -0900

It is officially "that" time of year. Yep, back to school, and maybe it's time for a BrokerAdvantage refresher course. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an industry newcomer, there is great value to be found in each of our 3 FREE BrokerAdvantage Training sessions we offer to all customers.

The Basic System Training includes general set-up, licensing information and carrier set-up. CRM Training instructs you through basic lead input, importing leads, client management and system navigation. For those of you who have upgraded to the Pro version of BrokerAdvantage, this special session of BrokerAdvantage Pro Training shows you how to use the enhanced BA Connect feature as well as setting up your consumer portal.

Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of each training session is the Q&A time. Brokers in the same position as you ask thought-provoking questions and offer great tips for creating a seamless sales process.

These three BrokerAdvantage Training sessions are scheduled each week on Monday and Wednesday:

· Basic Training at 1:30pm (EST), MW

· Pro Training at 2:30pm (EST), MW

· CRM Training at 4:00pm (EST), MW

Before you grab a pen and paper to write this down, log into your broker portal and check out the training “widget” on your home screen. This handy training calendar will ensure that you remain up-to-date on training times and receive maximum benefit when utilizing the BrokerAdvantage tool. Just click “More Details” under your desired time to view the complete log-on information.

I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this great, free service. Having a more comprehensive understanding of the BrokerAdvantage tool may be the edge you need to sign more clients. Training is brief, painless, interactive… and even fun! I look forward to seeing you there! (No pop quizzes, I promise!)

Insurint becomes BrokerAdvantage

blogmoderator.nospam@nospam.insurint.com (limes) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:12:00 -0900

What makes two companies “fit?” The people? The products? I happen to think it’s their purpose. And based on Connecture’s recent acquisition of Insurint, I’d say that the folks in charge here at Connecture happen to agree. Both companies shared a common goal: to ease the distribution of health insurance. In this case, we deliver a multi-carrier quoting tool for brokers to sell more business quickly and efficiently. Combining Insurint’s technology and Connecture’s rich industry experience laid the foundation for building a successful relationship.

Connecture is a family of sorts. This is true not only with our employees, but also with our products. Each of our products play off the others’ strengths, and innovation in one area inevitably benefits the entire product line. The Insurint platform and the community of brokers it serves have been whole-heartedly welcomed to the Connecture family. And what’s a family for if they don’t build you up and make you better than you are today? That’s exactly what we’ve done with Insurint.

Since April, Insurint has been undergoing an “extreme makeover.” Our product team took the tool under the knife to work on bug fixes, browser compatibilities, and big enhancements. By now I’m sure you’ve noticed the first release of updates that became available to you earlier this month. While we’re very pleased with the progress being made, we’ve got bigger and better plans for our favorite quoting tool.

With new features and new functionality, we’ve decided it’s time to give Insurint a new persona as well. To help complete the transformative process, we’ve renamed the platform BrokerAdvantage. All of the updates we’re making are focused on a single pledge—to give our users the edge they need to thrive post-reform. Success is truly about securing the upper-hand. Your advantage is the ability to sell more business, retain more business, and therefore grow your business.

What does this facelift mean to you? Sit back and enjoy! There will be no interruptions or changes to your current workflow because BrokerAdvantage is the same product that you’re used to. Your login credentials will remain the same. You can even use the same portal sign-in page and be automatically redirected to portal.broker-advantage.com.

Take a look around and tell me what you think!

Sincerely,

Lorrie Imes

Vice President of Customer Support