Is this a conflict of interest?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

My full-time job is CM with a huge health insurance company. Everyone has heard of them. My question is can I work for myself selling Medicare insurance on a part-time basis? To be honest I don't feel any kind of ANYTHING that would make me steer customers to or away from the party I work for full-time, but the idea feels competitive-ish. What are your thoughts, please?

Dear Can I Work for Myself,

Selling Medicare products can be a rewarding, perhaps even lucrative, career once you are trained, licensed. and certified. There will always be a need for Medicare insurance. You can earn a healthy residual income as you build your book of business.

Most insurance carriers require independent agents to work through Field Marketing Organizations (FMO) to obtain their products.

Your question is, is it a conflict of interest to work for an insurance company that presumably offers Medicare products and also work for yourself selling Medicare products?

I would think so. It's hard to see where your employer would not object. It's possible that even the FMOs may see your full-time job as a conflict of interest. But this is not my wheelhouse, and I highly recommend you reach out to someone in the field, before you take steps that might endanger your job or even have legal ramifications.

Try contacting one of the Medicare agent training companies with your question.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth