Being an employee benefits broker can be very rewarding. There is a lot of satisfaction that comes from helping employers and their employees find coverage that makes sense for their families, their businesses, and their budgets.
There are also the financial rewards – including the insurance sales commissions you earn. The icing on the cake, of course, is the bonuses you can earn throughout the year.
Using Broker Bonuses – Who, What, How Much?
Bonus terms, qualification periods, state(s) where offered, and the products on which bonuses can be earned vary significantly by carrier and program. Some carriers offer added comp for Medical sold alone or in combination with other products. Added comp may also be available on specialty coverage added to an existing group with Medical, or new Medical bundled with specialty or ancillary products like Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, and others.
A bonus may be offered for a specified period – like a calendar month – or it may be available during a multi-month period like fourth quarter (or a season, like Spring or Summer). Often, there’s a minimum number of employees who must enroll in order for you to be eligible for a bonus. Again, specifics vary by company and state.
During some months, there may be limited bonuses available. During other months, or multi-month periods, there may be competing bonuses from several carriers and administrators.
For example, during the fourth quarter of 2021, Word & Brown brokers could earn bonuses for business written through several carriers and administrators, including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, BEST Life, CaliforniaChoice, Cigna + Oscar, E.D.I.S., Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, Prominence Health Plan, United Concordia Dental, and others.
Finding Broker Bonuses
Right now, multiple Word & Brown carrier partners are offering bonuses on Medical:
Blue Shield of California
You have the opportunity to earn more when enrolling members in Blue Shield products. You can earn a reward for enrollments in a Trio HMO, Tandem PPO, Dental, Vision, Life, or Ancillary Combo. Get point details in the Blue Shield flyer.
Health Net
Two broker bonus programs were announced in December 2021 for 2022. One program offers an additional $60 per member for each new small business employer groups sold. The second offers added comp of 2% of paid premiums received for 12 months for each new large employer group. Download the Small Group flyer or the Large Group flyer for details.
UnitedHealthcare
Two bonus programs began April 1, 2022. The first is on fully insured and level-funded new business. It’s available to California brokers selling groups with up to 100 eligible employees. A minimum of 10 employees must enroll for Group Medical effective April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023. A second UnitedHealthcare bonus began April 1, 2022 on new fully insured Harmony Medical groups. Details are summarized in our 3/30/22 Newsroom article. ADD LINK
Humana
A Specialty Growth Bonus is available as part of Humana’s 2022 producer partnership plan. Available February 1, 2022, through January 31, 2023, it offers rewards for multi-line sales year over year. There are bonus opportunities for selling new and retaining existing business.
Eligible products include:
- Group Term Life (including AD&D)
- Voluntary/Supplemental Group Term Life (including AD&D)
- Group Vision (including Voluntary Vision)
- Group Dental (including Voluntary Dental)
Download the Humana flyer for program highlights, including points earned per line on new and inforce business, premium persistency calculations, and more.
Not Always Cash
While cash may be a preferred reward for many, bonuses also come in other forms. For example, Companion Life is offering Nevada producers the opportunity to qualify for a 2023 trip to Florence, Italy, for sales through December 15, 2022. Two qualification levels are available. Download the Companion Life Leaders Conference flyer for details.
Watch for Your Opportunity to Earn
Word & Brown routinely publicizes bonuses when we receive word of them from our partners. We encourage you to check our Newsroom regularly for the latest information. Or, ask your Word & Brown representative about bonuses for which you may be eligible. You never know when a new one might be announced on your favorite product or by a preferred carrier.
