When do the Medicare shops begin?

Just wondering if anyone knows when the Medicare shops begin? I prefer the Formal shops where you meet at a restaurant or hotel.

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Open enrollment is October 15 to December 7. I would think you will be seeing shops posted any time now.

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I had a scheduler contact me Saturday night to see if I was free to do one at 9:30 this morning. It was on the other side of town, so I said 'No', but that was my reminder to start checking the job board.

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I got a Medicare shop next week, so it's started, usually Oct., but check it out.

Live consciously....

None in my area yet, but I keep looking!

One MSC has tons of them.....

Live consciously....

I like the MSC that pays $34 and provides lunch or snacks.

One MSC has had them ongoing all year long in my area. They just posted a bunch for the next couple of weeks.

I have 2 scheduled for next week.

I just checked and the MSC that does these for a decent price, has none listed yet. I did all my testing and ready to go. I just need to wait until they list some.

Since no one has mentioned any medicare providers yet (health Insurance companies etc) I would be interested in knowing who the best msc are for this....I like the idea of lunch! and a good fee.

I'm checking that company's website on a regular basis, but all they have are informal events, and all of the locations are completely across town from my house.

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I just checked and the MSC that does these for a decent price, has none listed yet. I did all my testing and ready to go. I just need to wait until they list some.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

@KathyG wrote:

I'm checking that company's website on a regular basis, but all they have are informal events, and all of the locations are completely across town from my house.

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I just checked and the MSC that does these for a decent price, has none listed yet. I did all my testing and ready to go. I just need to wait until they list some.

I don't like the informal events. The one and only informal event that I did do.... was a bust!

The lady did not want to help me and had someone sitting there. She just threw a pamphlet my way and I could not get her to discuss the Medicare Advantage Plans.

So, just Formal events for me!

I went to a formal event on my own last year but there were only a handful of people. I thought they did not make it understandable at all. And I am well versed in health insurance and coverages. They may or may not have hit all the points needed for the mystery shop though. They did not even mention the Advantage plans and when I asked they told me that was a different session. This one was not advertised as only the non Advantage plans and the ins company did offer advantage plans. So they need us!

I've had "bombshell statements" that were said by the agents. Those are always fun to write.

I just signed up for a bunch of them in two weeks doing 2 shops a day filling out the forms while between the shops.

OK, I have a question. One MSC, that pays like clockwork every 2 weeks, has a BUNCH of these Medicare shops at the BIG BOX store (whose HDQTRS are in Arkansas). In past years, I seem to remember that we had a range of hours that we could do this shop in. THIS YEAR, each and every store has a "start time" of 10 am!! I wrote the MSC and asked WHY it was this way, and the response I got said that it was because the Agents have listed this as the start of their "event". So I wrote back and asked to please double check on this, explaining that the Agents at these stores DO NOT have an "Event" per say, (as do the hotels and restaurants), but just SIT at their tables ALL DAY LONG unless and until someone comes up to them and starts talking with them about this. So I'm waiting on another reply about this. I don't shop till afternoon hours, and this just put a crimp on my being able to pick up any shops. Any of you find this odd this year??? Or is it just me??? Thanks.

@guysmom wrote:

OK, I have a question. One MSC, that pays like clockwork every 2 weeks, has a BUNCH of these Medicare shops at the BIG BOX store (whose HDQTRS are in Arkansas). In past years, I seem to remember that we had a range of hours that we could do this shop in. THIS YEAR, each and every store has a "start time" of 10 am!! I wrote the MSC and asked WHY it was this way, and the response I got said that it was because the Agents have listed this as the start of their "event". So I wrote back and asked to please double check on this, explaining that the Agents at these stores DO NOT have an "Event" per say, (as do the hotels and restaurants), but just SIT at their tables ALL DAY LONG unless and until someone comes up to them and starts talking with them about this. So I'm waiting on another reply about this. I don't shop till afternoon hours, and this just put a crimp on my being able to pick up any shops. Any of you find this odd this year??? Or is it just me??? Thanks.

I'm seeing 8:00 AM start times for the informal big box store events, and that's why I didn't take any of them.

Are these easy to do?

@pegleg2000 wrote:

Are these easy to do?

In a formal environment where there are 30+ attendees I feel more comfortable and stay in the background, so to speak. My biggest worry is that the agent turns to me and asks a direct question. I try to act natural and I find these shops relaxing and informative. I do like the extra perks, like one buffet place, they let us get dessert off the bar. The most important thing is to listen to the speaker because you have to report back what he did and did not say (vitals) in narrative form.

@pegleg2000 wrote:

Are these easy to do?

They are for me, because I'm in the age demographic. So any info is helpful to me, and I tend to remember it come report time, notes or no notes.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2018 06:07PM by guysmom.

I've been hesitant to sign up for any. Do the $34 shops entail a lot of narrative? $34 doesn't seem like very good pay if the meeting is 90 minutes and the report takes 45 minutes. What has been your experience; are these times accurate approximations by the MSC?

Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I don't like the informal events. The one and only informal event that I did do.... was a bust! The lady did not want to help me and had someone sitting there. She just threw a pamphlet my way and I could not get her to discuss the Medicare Advantage Plans. So, just Formal events for me!

I don't understand why you found the agent blowing off the presentation to be a problem. Formal presentations should take about 45 minutes, but often take much longer because of stupid questions by stupid attendees with nothing better to do. OTOH, the kiosks tend to take 15-20 minutes at the most, less if the agent acts like yours or doesn't even show. Granted, the MSCs I have completed the shop for will pay me the full fee regardless of what the agent does or does not do.

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When do the Medicare shops begin?

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