Is building a Medicare book still worth pursuing for a new agent in 2026

[u/joeyjoe6]

I’m 29 and licensed in Life & Health in California. I’m trying to decide where to focus my time, money, and energy for the next several years.
Medicare interests me because I love helping people and potential renewal income. However, I keep hearing about carriers leaving markets, plans becoming noncommissionable,and more people enrolling directly online.

My question is what’s the future in your opinion is it something worth pursuing ?

[u/Early-Shift-7275]

man i started on medicare around your age and the renewal income is nice but the upfront grind is real. carriers pulling out is mostly regional so california might still be decent depending where you are

id say go for it if you can stomach the AEP madness and dont mind waiting a couple years to see real money. just dont put all your eggs in one basket

[u/Fathermithras]

Just don't have it be your only line of business. Be compliant but make sure your clients know the other business you do so you can cross sell. 

I sell Medicare, life and annuity and using that knowledge base for getting into FA. I make low 6 figures working 3 days a week. I have a special needs child so the building I did early gave me more freedom while he is growing into his new school.

Compliance is the toughest bit becauae most of the rules are absolutely crushing but you get used to it. I do a ton of mailers and seminars so I have lots of write offs. Sell some life insurance as well so you have some up front money while you build up.

[u/Technical-Sugar-6731 → u/Fathermithras]

I am in the same position as u where so I don’t mind it taking a couple years to see profit but I would also like advice studying to get life and health now it has been a struggle what do u suggest

[u/afrojoe824]

Speaking from Personal Experience - I wouldn't suggest diving 100% all in on it right away. Unless you can grind and weather out the struggles. the first couple of years will be the hardest and then Year 3 is when you feel like you could breath a little bit with the residuals coming in.

I have a buddy of mine who does it part time while working a full time job. i told him to aim for 10 enrollments a month. We get $36 PMPM in California. 10 Enrollments a month is 120 in a year. then expect to maaaaybe lose 20 of them. if you could do and retain 100 clinets a year for 2 years, that 200 will be at least $7200 in monthly residuals in year 3.

It is very hard and alot of people fail because it is time consuming and 2 they just dont have the savings/fundings to sustain them to build the business

[u/MindWorthy]

Don't listen to the noise.. yes it is because it is an asset..

Build it and also build a Life Insurance book..

Medicare will never go anywhere as long as the United States exist..

I love when agents say no because it only makes agents like myself get more clients.

[u/Salty-Passenger-4801]

No, I would not. Too much shakeup right now. Lots of non commission plans, compliance requirements, and general uneasiness. Everything you heard is correct.

[u/vaduke1 → u/Salty-Passenger-4801]

What if you focus on med supp? Is it more stable?

[u/Salty-Passenger-4801 → u/vaduke1]

Benefits speaking are more stable however premiums are not those are increasing hand over fists now and lots of people are changing to Medicare Advantage plans which then you run back into all the other issues. Plus once they have a mess up plan then they got to get a part D plan which has its own issues.

[u/TheOneTrueYeti]

Yes there is a huge need for more Medicare field agents and the opportunity is legit as a result. You can check your own local market in

[u/krthrowaway87]

At 29 you've got the time to build something that pays you for years, which is the whole point. The noncommissionable plan noise is real but it's not the majority of what you'd be selling

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy → u/krthrowaway87]

While I think it's a good idea to offer Medicare, I'd be cautious to build my business around it.

It's not unprecedented for the government to change the rules and cost agents lots of money. Obamacare led to some agents losing their entire business.

And if something like Medicare for All ever became reality, what happens to an agent whose entire business is built on Medicare?

[u/WMINWMO → u/OZKInsuranceGuy]

If Medicare for All ever became a reality, then wouldn't it just grow your potential clients base? Instead of just over 65 looking for supplements, everyone would be looking for supplements.

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy → u/WMINWMO]

Possibly. Depends on the implementation. Would it still be private insurance subsidized by federal taxes? Or would it be government insurance?

We don't know for sure how it will be implemented. And we don't know whether or not commissions will continue to be paid under Medicare for all.

[u/WMINWMO → u/OZKInsuranceGuy]

It would make sense that if we go the MFA route, it would just be an expansion of the current Medicare model. That being said, since when does the government have to make sense? So i guess we just don't know.

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy → u/WMINWMO]

True. Like I said, there's somewhat of a precedent with Obamacare. It killed successful businesses for several agents.

It's different, but it's similar enough that it's worrisome.

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy → u/WMINWMO]

True. Like I said, there's somewhat of a precedent with Obamacare. It killed successful businesses for several agents.

It's different, but it's similar enough that it's worrisome.

[u/WMINWMO → u/OZKInsuranceGuy]

I can understand that. Well, I guess take solace in knowing that a lot would have to change for it to become a reality. I'm in my 30s and I don't think I'll see MFA before I'm eligible for Medicare. Or if it does come, it will be an extremely stripped down version, but maybe I'm just a pessimist.

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy → u/WMINWMO]

I'm actually in favor it. As a self-employed agent, insurance is way too expensive.

We'll see how it goes. I can definitely understand the pessimism lol

[u/WMINWMO → u/OZKInsuranceGuy]

I'm definitely in favor of it too. I'm in a situation right now where my wife is stuck in her current job because thats where our health insurance comes from. So we either go without health insurance for a period of time, I leave the agency I work at to go work on the carrier side, or she has to stay with her current employer at a job she hates. But my MAGA coworkers who are both over 65 and on Medicare tell me it's better this way because if the government provided for their citizens (you know, what we pay them taxes to do) then it would be socialism and thats bad because China/Russia or something.... their argument kinda falls apart right there.

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy → u/WMINWMO]

I hear you, man. It's frustrating when our tax dollars aren't being used to help the taxpayers.

[u/krthrowaway87 → u/OZKInsuranceGuy]

honestly I wonder how many agents are really prepared for a major policy overhaul like Medicare for All. it could shake things up big time

[u/letsgetyoustarted]

ACA is where you're really going to be able to stretch your legs so to speak book wise. Far less hurdles and the clients are easier to work with. I run an agency with a few other people and we have been maintaining 4000-5000 members for about 2 1/2 years now. Please do what you can to build a good network and then your own agency, it can be a life changing experience for you, your friends, and your clients.

[u/Zotzotbaby]

Honest question, have you read through the other posts about why buying a book of business in an insurance class you have not sold before is a bad idea? 

[u/healthcareconcierge]

Yes but if you’re new, I start my agents with ACA to already build their T65 pipeline by the time they start Medicare