On Episode 128 of the Agent Boost Podcast, Mike sits down with longtime agent and agency owner Riley Garner for a conversation that starts personal and ends up being a masterclass in why experience, both lived and professional, is what actually builds trust in healthcare. Riley opens up about his son's sudden health crisis: a routine day swimming in the Virgin River turned into E. coli, then Shiga toxin, then HUS, then dialysis at Primary Children's Hospital. As a licensed agent himself, Riley walks through what it's actually like to be on the other side of the desk, dealing with ACA coverage through Molina, life flight bills, a denied ambulance claim, and the appeals process, and how even industry veterans get surprised by their own EOBs. It's a real time case study in why insurance gets a bad rap until the day you actually need it, and why agents who've lived through a claim fight understand something no training manual can teach.From there, the episode traces Riley's full arc in the business: Chick fil A to personal trainer to a last minute Medicare license earned three days before the deadline, into Connection Point, then Go Health during the 700 enrollments a season era, through the Covid era collapse of the big box telesales shops, and into the hybrid field and digital model that Dan and Mike built out of that chaos. Riley became a team lead, grew the WellCare book, moved to Tampa to build out that market, and has now come full circle, opening his own agency, Health Plan Assistance, in St. George, Utah, combining phone, virtual, and face to face enrollment under one roof. Dan and Mike make the case that this hybrid, trust first model is exactly where the industry is headed, and Riley's path is a live example of what building it the right way looks like.If you're an agent thinking about going independent, opening a physical office, or just want a real story about what insurance means when it's your own family on the line, this episode is essential listening.**Chapters**00:00 Welcome & Introducing Riley Garner02:15 Riley's Son's Health Crisis: E. coli, HUS & Primary Children's Hospital05:11 Riley's Own ACA Coverage and the Molina Bills10:21 Why Even Agents Struggle to Understand Their Own EOBs12:40 Chick fil A, Meeting His Wife & Getting Licensed in 3 Days16:04 Utah as a Medicare Call Center Hub & the Old War Hero Era19:34 How Big Box Telesales Went Off the Rails24:13 The Two Types of Telesales Agents & Becoming a Team Lead26:55 Growing the WellCare Team & Moving to Tampa30:14 Building Health Plan Assistance in St. George33:08 Why Face to Face Is Making a Comeback36:42 Riley's 5 Year Vision & How to Reach Him40:34 Wrap Up💻 Website: www.agentboost.com💰Get Contracted: https://agentboost.com/get-contracted👨🏼‍🎓Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/606332946546184/📬 Our Weekly Newsletter: https://agentboost.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

In Episode 127 of the Agent Boost Podcast, Dan and Mike open with a "week of survival" tone. AEP certifications are dropping, the agent force is demoralized, and the industry feels like it's in a constant state of flux. On a lighter note, both of their sons got licensed this week, a small but meaningful signal that the business still has a future for those who approach it the right way.The centerpiece of this episode is a raw, unfiltered breakdown of why the telesales model in Medicare is dying, and why it's happening from three directions at once. Regulatory pressure has systematically outlawed nearly every outbound marketing mechanism, leaving consumer-generated inbound calls as the last legal lane. Even that lane is compromised, as lead generators routinely run unapproved URLs behind a single CMS-submitted site, meaning almost none of them are truly compliant. The 1-to-1 marketing rules that were supposed to clean up the industry have instead choked off the lead supply entirely.Carriers are finishing the job. They've made clear they prefer local, field-written business over phone enrollments, and they're backing it up with 100% call audits on telesales, requiring human review (not AI), and forcing agencies to write up agents even when the consumer never complained. It's a Salem witch trial environment, and field agents are held to zero equivalent standard. The agents getting burned are often the best ones left, the ones who survived 4+ years without a termination, while 2.5 to 4.5 million Medicare Advantage members are expected to be displaced this AEP with fewer and fewer agents available to help them.Dan and Mike also make a strong case for why FMV commissions are actually a bargain for carriers. When you pay an agent, you're not just paying for a sale. You're paying for acquisition, ongoing customer service, and retention, all bundled into one nominal fee. Carriers cutting brokers out of the equation will have to replace all three components with internal infrastructure, and they won't save money doing it.The episode closes with a timely breakdown of the Walmart retail program for 2027, covering tiered A/B/C stores, first right of refusal for agents in good standing, and cost-sharing through FMOs. Both hosts are bullish on retail as the landing spot for displaced telesales agents, and they urge agents not to wait until September. Stores will be gone before AEP kicks off.If you're a telesales agent wondering where to land this cycle, an agency owner trying to understand why the economics stopped making sense, or a field agent who wants to know what the carriers are actually thinking, this episode is essential listening.***Chapters***00:00 Welcome & Week of Survival — Both Sons Get Licensed01:09 The State of the Industry Going Into AEP Certifications04:29 Why Everything Is Changing Faster Than Ever Before07:29 Telesales Is Dead — Setting Up the Core Argument09:55 How 1-to-1 Marketing Rules Choked Off the Lead Supply13:21 The Lead Generator Problem — Noncompliant URLs and the Washing Machine19:51 The Economics of Telesales Are Broken — CPA vs. LTV Explained24:54 "The Juice Isn't Worth the Squeeze" — The Math No One Wants to Do27:52 Carriers Don't Want the Business — And They're Showing It33:31 Salem Witch Trials — Carrier Crackdowns on Phone Enrollments38:16 Carriers Are Turtling — What That Means for Distribution41:14 The Warning for Displaced Telesales Agents — There's Nowhere Left to Hop42:05 War Hero or War Criminal? Why 700 Enrollments Is No Longer a Badge of Honor43:34 The FMV Argument — What Carriers Actually Get for That Commission49:40 Walmart 2027 — Tiers, First Right of Refusal, and the Retail Opportunity57:27 Wrap Up & Final Thoughts

In Episode 126 of the Agent Boost Podcast, Mike sits down with his best friend and fellow agency owner Seth Cottle, founder of Alchemy Health Plans, for a candid conversation about what it actually takes to build a thriving insurance agency in one of the most challenging markets the industry has ever seen.Seth spent years working at Comcast while quietly building his book of business on nights and weekends before going all in on insurance. He shares exactly how he made that transition, why it worked when it doesn't work for most agents, and how that same work ethic became the foundation for everything he teaches his agents at Alchemy today.This episode goes deep on the concept of the diverse, dynamic agent, why you can no longer survive as a Medicare-only or ACA-only agent, how to properly layer products without overwhelming your team, and why the agencies that built their entire book around one product line are the ones getting wiped out right now. Seth and Mike also break down income-producing activities, the real reason agents lose momentum and leave the industry, and what a new agent's first 90 days should actually look like.If you're a new agent trying to shortcut your path to success, a seasoned broker looking to diversify, or an agency owner trying to build something that lasts this episode is essential listening.---**Chapters**00:00 Welcome & Introducing Seth Cottle of Alchemy Health Plans01:06 How Mike & Seth Met & Seth's Path from Comcast to Agency Owner06:11 Building on the Side First — The Right Way to Make the Jump10:03 Income-Producing Activities — What Actually Moves the Needle12:39 The Hoodie Agent — How One Part-Timer Outsold Everyone15:44 You Can't Be a One-Trick Pony — Diversification Is Survival20:02 How Seth Layers Products & Trains Agents from Day One27:48 Agency Value & Why Diversification Determines What You're Worth33:55 Medicare Advantage Benefits Are Drying Up — The Ancillary Opportunity Is Now35:08 Seth's Advice for New Agents — Burn the Boats & Go All In---💻 Website: [www.agentboost.com](https://www.agentboost.com)💰 Get Contracted: https://agentboost.com/get-contracted👨🏼‍🎓 Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/606332946546184/📬 Our Weekly Newsletter: https://agentboost.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

In Episode 125 of the Agent Boost Podcast, Mike sits down with Jeff, who just returned from the CMS Annual Marketplace Meeting in Baltimore, to break down everything brokers and agents need to know heading into this fall's open enrollment season.This episode covers the real state of ACA in 2025, from what CMS leadership actually thinks about brokers, to breaking news about the three-way call finally going away, to a full carrier-by-carrier forecast for the coming open enrollment. Jeff shares firsthand intel from inside the CMS building, including what was discussed at the large agency roundtable that rarely gets talked about publicly. Mike adds his predictions on which ACA carriers are going big, why bronze plans and HSAs are about to become dominant, and why he believes the ACA market won't truly stabilize until 2028.The conversation also digs into the very real pressure brokers are facing, overlapping Medicare AE and ACA OE deadlines, new consent form regulations, 75% QLE verification requirements, and the ongoing question of whether big tech is trying to eliminate brokers altogether. Plus, Dan and Jeff break down why 50% of agents have left the industry over the past two years and the two types of agents who are already gone.If you're an ACA agent, a Medicare broker trying to cross-train, or an agency owner trying to set your team up for the most challenging open enrollment in years, this episode is essential listening.---**Chapters**00:00 Welcome & CMS Meeting Overview00:33 Inside the CMS Building in Baltimore03:31 ICHRA Update — Why It Still Isn't Working07:34 Dan's Canada Healthcare Story & What It Reveals About ICHRA09:14 Jeff's AI Panel at CMS — HIPAA, ChatGPT & What's Allowed12:01 Is CMS Trying to Eliminate Brokers?15:07 CMS Leadership Is Pro-Broker — Here's What They Actually Said17:18 Fraud vs. Real Brokers — Why They Keep Getting Lumped Together19:00 2.8 Million Ghost Enrollments & $20 Billion in Fraud Cleaned Up22:22 Large Agency Day — The NPN Problem Nobody Is Solving Fast Enough24:45 BREAKING: The Three-Way Call Is Going Away Before Open Enrollment27:51 Open Enrollment Shortened to Nov 1–Dec 31 (And Why That's a Problem)29:31 Medicare AE and ACA OE Running at the Same Time32:35 Mike: 50%+ of ACA Clients May Need a New Plan This Fall33:06 Bronze Plans & HSAs Are About to Explode — Here's Why33:50 75% QLE Verification — What It Means for Your Book of Business34:41 The Utah AI Data Center Story (Kevin O'Leary vs. All of Utah)38:16 ACA Was the Wild Wild West — How Far We've Come39:06 New CMS Consent Form Rules Coming — What You Need to Know40:45 What Every Broker Should Be Doing Right Now Before OE42:30 Go Health Files Chapter 11 — The End of the Churn & Burn Era44:08 Why You Need the Right FMO Heading Into This Open Enrollment47:48 Carrier Predictions: Oscar, Ambetter, United, CSSC & Who's Out50:27 Short-Term Medical Growth & When the ACA Market Finally Stabilizes51:49 50% of Agents Have Left the Industry — Who's Gone and Why54:26 ACA Spammers & Bad Actors Getting Eliminated55:01 Final Thoughts & What's Coming for Agent Boost---💻 Website: [www.agentboost.com](https://www.agentboost.com)💰 Get Contracted: https://agentboost.com/get-contracted👨🏼‍🎓 Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/606332946546184/📬 Our Weekly Newsletter: https://agentboost.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

In Episode 124 of the Agent Boost Podcast, Dan and Mike sit down with Nate Brown, National Vice President of Sales at Agent Boost, to talk about what actually makes great Medicare agents stand out in today’s market.This episode dives into leadership, relationship-building, training, diversification, compliance pressure, and why the insurance industry is becoming harder for average agents to survive in. Nate shares lessons from years in the field, what younger agents are missing, and why long-term trust still matters more than flashy marketing or shortcuts.The conversation also covers how the Medicare industry is evolving, the increasing pressure agents are facing, and why the next generation of successful brokers will need to become more dynamic, adaptable, and relationship-focused than ever before.If you're building an insurance business, growing an agency, or trying to become a better producer, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest conversations about what it takes to win long term.---# Chapters00:00 Welcome Back & Introducing Nate Brown01:19 Nate Brown Joins Agent Boost03:42 Building Relationships in Medicare Sales06:18 Why Old School Agents Still Win09:11 The Difference Between Great Agents & Average Agents12:44 Training, Leadership & Building Better Teams16:30 What’s Changed in Medicare Sales20:12 The Industry Is Getting Harder24:08 Why Diversification Matters More Than Ever28:40 Compliance, Pressure & Industry Challenges33:17 What Younger Agents Need To Understand38:22 Building Trust With Clients Long Term43:10 Why Relationships Still Matter Most48:36 The Future of Medicare Agents53:02 Final Thoughts & Advice For Agents---💻 Website: www.agentboost.com💰 Get Contracted: https://agentboost.com/get-contracted👨🏼‍🎓 Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/606332946546184/📬 Our Weekly Newsletter: https://agentboost.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

Devoted Health CEO, Ed Park on Building a Different Kind of Medicare Advantage Plan | Agent Boost Podcast at Medicarians 2026Live from Medicarians 2026 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the Agent Boost Podcast sits down with the CEO of Devoted Health for a powerful conversation on growth, trust, broker partnerships, and what it takes to build a healthcare company differently.In this episode, we talk about Devoted crossing 500,000 members, expanding into 29 states, and moving from a regional player to a national Medicare Advantage organization. We also dig into what makes Devoted’s model different, including its member-first mission, virtual care model, concierge-style support, broker relationships, and focus on improving the health and lives of American seniors.The conversation covers healthcare waste, preventive care, GLP-1s, food and health data, broker trust, commission concerns, future expansion, and why Devoted believes the future of Medicare Advantage depends on better care, not just better benefits.https://www.devoted.com/00:00 Introduction from Medicarians 202600:35 Meet Devoted Health CEO Ed Park01:15 Broker feedback and the energy at Medicarians03:10 Why Devoted is standing out in a challenging market04:40 Devoted reaches 500,000 members05:30 Why the 500K member milestone matters06:35 Maintaining service while scaling fast07:45 Devoted’s mission and “prime directive”09:10 Why Devoted was built differently from the start11:20 Athenahealth, healthcare payment models, and the origin story13:15 Building an alternate universe healthcare system15:05 Organic growth vs acquisition growth17:00 Working with family and building with purpose19:00 The hardest decision in building Devoted21:15 What’s next for Devoted23:00 Building trust with brokers and members25:20 Why Devoted remains optimistic in a tough funding environment27:45 Healthcare waste and preventable hospitalizations30:00 GLP-1s, seniors, muscle loss, and unintended consequences32:20 Food, health data, and better member outcomes34:00 Weathering margin compression through the care model36:00 Agents as the tip of the spear38:30 Broker relationships, commissions, and long-term partnership41:00 Devoted’s future goals and “virtual blue zone” vision43:20 Final thoughts and appreciation for agents💻 Website: www.agentboost.com💰Get Contracted: https://agentboost.com/get-contracted👨🏼‍🎓Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/606332946546184/📬 Our Weekly Newsletter: https://agentboost.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

Recorded live on the floor at Medicarians Vegas 2026, Dan and Mike sit down with Jay Weintraub, the founder and driving force behind Medicarians, the industry's premier annual conference that has grown from 1,100 attendees to over 5,500 in just five years.Jay pulls back the curtain on how Medicarians got started, what it was like buying a struggling conference and nearly getting it wrong, and what it actually takes to build a show that serves agents, carriers, IMOs, and vendors all under one roof. He shares the honest story of early mistakes, the feedback that shaped the event, and why getting the right people in the room changed everything.Dan and Mike also dig into how to maximize your time at a show like this, what agents should be trying to accomplish before they ever set foot on the floor, why Medicarians moved to Caesars Palace for 2027, and what Jay sees for the future of the event and the industry.If you've ever attended Medicarians or wondered what goes into building something like it, this is the episode.Chapters:00:00 Welcome – Live from Medicarians Vegas 2026 & Introducing Jay Weintraub00:56 How Medicarians Got Started & The Origin Story03:15 Why Medicare Needed a Trade Show & Early Mistakes05:13 What Was Missing – Getting Agents in the Room06:38 Building a Neutral Platform That Works for Everyone07:48 Taking Feedback & How the Show Evolved09:07 Is the Medicare Industry More Complex Than Others?10:14 Selling Leeds Con & Staying in the Events Business11:32 Insurtech, Venture Capital & How Jay's Career Led to Medicarians13:26 Serving Agents, IMOs, Carriers and Vendors Under One Roof15:03 How ACA and Life Got Added to the Agenda16:08 What Most People Don't Know About Running a Live Event18:04 How to Prepare and Maximize Your Time at Medicarians21:18 The Two Shows Inside Medicarians – Agent Track vs. High Level Meetings22:37 Growth Goals & Where Medicarians Is Headed24:04 Why Medicarians Moves to Caesars Palace for 202727:18 The Hardest Part & The Most Rewarding Moment28:25 The Real Cost of Running an Event in Vegas29:11 How Jay Curates Content and Tracks for Every Attendee31:25 Closing – Why You Should Attend Medicarians 2027💻 Website: www.agentboost.com💰Get Contracted: https://agentboost.com/get-contracted👨🏼‍🎓Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/606332946546184/📬 Our Weekly Newsletter: https://agentboost.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

Recorded live on the floor at Medicarians Vegas 2026, Dan and Mike sit down with returning guest Jared Strock, actuary, owner of Telos Actuarial, and founder of the Medicare Market Insights newsletter, for one of the most data-rich conversations we've had on the podcast.Jared breaks down what he's hearing from carriers, distributors, and industry insiders at the conference: less money in the system, tighter MLRs, shrinking benefits, and a market that's forcing everybody to do more with less. But it's not all doom and gloom. There are real signals of stabilization, and the carriers who've made smart strategic moves are starting to show it.We dig into UnitedHealthcare's Q1 results and what their 9% enrollment drop actually means, why Medicare Supplement plans are under more pressure than most people realize, the $4 billion fraud case (Operation Gold Rush) that hit carriers, not the government, and what that means for rising premiums, why broker commissions are one of the best deals in healthcare and carriers have lost sight of that, how AI is (and isn't) being used at actuarial firms right now, and what Jared sees coming for the Med Supp and MA markets in 2027 and 2028.Mike also pushes back on the industry narrative to abandon Medicare Advantage and chase annuities and explains exactly why Agent Boost's strategy is different.If you want to understand what's actually happening beneath the surface of this industry right now, this is the episode.Chapters: ---00:00 Welcome – Live from Medicarians Vegas 202600:33 Introducing Jared Strock – Telos Actuarial & Medicare Market Insights01:54 Day 3 at Medicarians – Sentiment & Key Themes02:22 "Doing More With Less" – What Everyone Is Saying03:06 CMS Funding vs. Medical Inflation – Where the Gap Is04:13 Did Carriers Actually Profit From the MA Boom Years?05:22 UnitedHealthcare Q1 Results & What the Numbers Mean06:43 The Pendulum – When Does MA Start Swinging Back?08:08 The New Normal for Carriers Going Forward09:49 Are MA Benefits Today Still Better Than 10 Years Ago?12:34 The Revenue Gap – How Distribution Is Trying to Fill the Hole14:59 Med Supp's Perfect Storm – Birthday Rule, GI & Rising Premiums17:55 Why Broker Commissions Are One of the Best Deals in Healthcare19:55 What Telos Actuarial Does & How They Help Carriers20:46 IBNR Reserves Explained23:39 Operation Gold Rush – The $4 Billion Med Supp Fraud Case24:46 What Does the Med Supp Market Look Like in 2027 and 2028?27:57 Jared's Growing Public Presence & Medicare Market Insights App31:17 AI in Insurance – Hype vs. Practical Reality33:52 Personal Connection Will Matter More as AI Grows37:03 What Jared Is Worried About and What He's Optimistic About39:21 What Mike Is Optimistic About – CMS Is Actually Listening40:56 Closing + Next Trip to Utah on the Table💻 Website: www.agentboost.com💰Get Contracted: https://agentboost.com/get-contracted👨🏼‍🎓Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/606332946546184/📬 Our Weekly Newsletter: https://agentboost.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/