How to Host a Medicare Seminar Online

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we have to be able to adapt! Insurance has a history of being slow to adapt. No one likes change, but admit it, you’re saving a lot of time by doing your client consultations over the phone. Lets take that same mentality and grow it on a platform where the reach is bigger. We’ll walk you through how to host a Medicare seminar online. It might seem intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Let us help you plan and host your first webinar.

Create a Presentation

First things first, get your information organized. You’ll want to explain the basics like Original Medicare, Parts A and B, Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage. What may seem obvious to you might be completely foreign to someone in their 60’s.

If you’re having trouble creating a presentation, let us know! Gordon Marketing can provide you with materials.

Pick the Right Platform

For an education seminar, you’ll probably want a single speaker format. Make sure you’ll have to ability to do a split screen between your presentation and a live stream of you. It’s always a good idea to have some sort of Q&A capability. Engagement is key. You want to pick a format that will keep your audience captivated. Zoom, Go to My Webinar, and Google Hang Outs are all possible options.

Set Up the Necessary Equipment

A quiet place to host your seminar is super important. I recommend setting up a table with your computer and a lamp in front of a wall, rather than somewhere with a lot of background area. You’ll want to limit distractions.

As far as electronic equipment goes, you don’t need anything too high tech. The camera on your computer should work just fine. If you’re comfortable using technology and plan on doing a lot of online seminars, a webcam could be a good investment. Make sure it’s something you’ll actually get enough use out of it. I know how precious space in the junk drawer is, we don’t want to waste it!

Connect With Your Target Audience

Spread the word! Make sure you’re using social media to let people know about your event. I promise you, seniors are on social media too. Email is another great way to let your network know about your event, but make sure you avoid the #1 mistake of email promoting… You must give the recipients the option to opt out of future emails. This is a Medicare requirement.

Follow All Medicare Guidelines

As mentioned above, email communication must have an opt-out option, but there are two more guidelines you’ll need to be sure to follow.

The seminar must be advertised as “educational.” Since you are just educating your audience, you cant include any sales activities. That means collecting plan applications is a no, no. Similarly, distributing marketing materials is also off limits.

Understand the Guidelines’ Limits

While the guidelines are pretty strict, there are still things you can do. You can and should make your contact information available. Remember, the beneficiaries must be the ones to initiate contact with you. You can’t reach out first. It’s also okay for you to set up future marketing appointments with the attendees.

You can answer beneficiary initiated questions, but be careful doing so. Mentioning specific carriers or plans could get you in trouble. You can talk specifics at a later date.

Practice, Practice, Practice 

It’s likely that your audience will be a little uncomfortable with technology, so it’s important to work all the kinks out before hand. Make sure you are familiar with the platform’s tools — especially the “mute all” button. Background noise can be super distracting!