Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Facebook Twitter

Don’t Let a Phone Call Cost You Your Plan – Or Your Agent!

Have you ever had a quick question about your health insurance and thought, “I’ll just call the insurance company real quick”? It seems harmless, right? Unfortunately, that innocent call could end up causing more trouble than you bargained for.
I’ve seen it happen time and time again—someone calls the insurance company to get clarification or make a simple change, and without realizing it, they end up losing their plan, getting enrolled in something totally different, or even having their trusted agent removed from their file.
Let’s talk about how this happens—and how to prevent it from happening to you.

How It Happens


When you call the insurance company directly, you’re often speaking with a representative who may not understand your full needs or the plan options available in your area. Even worse, they may offer to “help” you by switching your plan or updating your application—and just like that, you’ve been reassigned to a call center agent.

That means your local, personal agent—the one who knows you, your doctors, your medications, and your health history—gets kicked off your policy. And sometimes, you won’t even know it happened until it’s too late.

Real Consequences of Calling Direct
  • You could be enrolled in a plan that doesn’t cover your doctors or prescriptions.
  • You might lose access to extra benefits like food cards or transportation that you qualify for.
  • You lose the personalized service and ongoing support your independent agent provides.
  • Most importantly, you may not even know it happened until a problem arises!
How to Protect Yourself
  1. Always call your agent first.
    If you have a question, no matter how small it seems, reach out to your agent. We can usually get you a faster, clearer answer—without risking your plan.
  2. Never authorize changes over the phone.
    If a representative offers to “update” or “review” your plan, politely decline and call your agent instead.
  3. Be cautious of recorded lines.
    Many insurance reps will ask if they can record your call for a “review.” This could be a disguised sales call, and saying yes may start a new enrollment.
  4. Save your agent’s contact info in your phone.
    Make it easy to reach out when you need help. I’m always just a call or text away.
The Bottom Line

I’m here to help you year-round—not just during enrollment. Whether it’s finding a specialist, checking on prescription costs, or making sure you’re getting all the benefits you qualify for, your agent should be your first call. Calling the insurance company directly can accidentally undo all the care and attention we’ve put into choosing the right plan for you.

Let’s keep your plan—and our relationship—right where it belongs.

If you have questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help you navigate your options and find a plan that works best for you.

Brenda Gilliam, Your Insurance Agent, Medicare Insurance Agent & Extra Help Coordinator

Phone: 423-276-5807

Email: brenda@gilliaminsuranceadvisor.com
Learn the Benefits of Working with a local Insurance Agent
* Not affiliated with any government agency.

*We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 13 organizations, which offer 131 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1–800–MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program to get information on all of your options.