Insurance commissions going away for individual plans

in our area are getting notice – they won’t be paid for selling certain health insurance plans. abc-7’s andrew j. polk spoke to an agent speaking out … on the impact to his business – and customers. it’s a story you’ll see only on abc-7. richard madrigal has been in the insurance business more than 40 years. “the last couple of – three years with this obamacare, the changes have been humongous. you have to be abreast of it. if not, you’re going to miss everything that’s going on.” and while madrigal says he’s kept up with the latest, a change announced tuesday could force him out of the personal health insurance business entirely. “the emailed us from blue cross/blue shield at 2:16 pm, that they were cutting commissions on the agents on any individual under the age of 65 on a medical policy. whether it was marketplace or off market, effective april 1, no longer were we going to receive commissions.” madriga says the trend isn’t new — and other agencies have cut down on commissions in recent years. “over the last two years, i personally have lost approximately twenty percent of my income on the health side, maybe up to 30 percent.” he says he may not be able to offer health insurance at all, and hasn’t been able to get any response to this most recent change. abc-7 contacted blue cross/blue shield of texas about it, and got this response saying in part: “as this market evolves, we, in turn, need to make changes to the way we operate in order to continue offering sustainable health plan options to our members. bcbstx offers comprehensive resources to help them better understand their health care benefits.” gustav bujanda media and community relations, bcbstx madrigal says while comprehensive resources to help them better understand their health care benefits.” gustav bujanda media and community relations, bcbstx madrigal says while he can hopefully adjust, he’s concerned about the individual clients looking for health insurance who may not have a local agent to turn to anymore. “who’ going to want to sell it? and do work for nothing? for free?” andrew j. polk, abc- after the break … it’s to be major hang out spot once it opens in