If you work in Medicare long enough, you’ll end up attending a lot of conferences. Well, at least you will if you plan on outperforming the average agent.
The most successful insurance agents I’ve worked with throughout my career have something in common: they stay engaged with the industry. They build relationships with other agents, agency owners, carriers and industry leaders, and conferences are one of the best ways to do that.
I’ve attended a lot of insurance conferences over the years. Some are great for training. Some are great for meeting carriers. Some are basically an excuse to get out of the office for a few days.
I personally believe Medicarians is different, and I’m not paid in any way to say that!
I think Medicarians has become one of the best places to understand where the senior health and wealth distribution business is actually going.
And that’s an important distinction.
I don’t go to Medicarians just to learn how to sell more Medicare Advantage plans. I go because Medicare agents, agency owners, FMOs, health plans, care providers, technology companies, startups, lead companies, healthcare organizations, investors and product creators are all in the same place at the same time.
You can learn a lot about where our industry is headed simply by paying attention to who is there, what they’re building and what everyone is talking about.
So, is Medicarians worth attending?
For most Medicare agency owners and industry professionals, my answer is yes. For an individual Medicare agent, my answer is a little more nuanced.
Here’s what I would want to know before spending the time and money to go.
Medicarians 2027 at a Glance
- What: Medicarians Vegas 2027
- Dates: April 12-14, 2027
- Location: Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Expected Attendance: 6,000+ attendees
- Expected Agents: 3,000+ agents
- Speakers: 325+
- Sessions: 100+
- Best For: Medicare and health insurance agents, agency owners, FMOs, IMOs, health plans, carriers, healthcare providers, technology companies, distributors, senior wealth professionals and businesses serving the aging population
- My Verdict: One of the best networking and industry intelligence events in senior health and wealth distribution
What Is Medicarians?
Medicarians is an annual conference in Las Vegas that brings together people and companies across the senior health and wealth market, including Medicare agents, agency owners, FMOs, health plans, healthcare providers, technology companies, financial professionals, investors and entrepreneurs.
Medicare is a major part of the conference, but I think calling Medicarians a Medicare conference is too narrow.
As agents, we tend to look at the industry through the products we sell: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Part D, life insurance, annuities and ACA.
But the truth is the people we serve don’t live inside product silos.
The same person we’re helping with Medicare may also be dealing with prescription costs, healthcare decisions, retirement income, caregiving, life insurance or other financial concerns.
That’s what makes Medicarians interesting to me. It brings a large portion of the businesses, people and ideas being built around that consumer into one place.
Is Medicarians Worth Attending?
Yes, I think Medicarians is worth attending for agency owners and insurance professionals working in the senior market that are committed to growing their business. If you’re happy making $50,000 a year as an agent, then you probably shouldn’t invest in going to the conference if you already know you aren’t going to put forth the effort it takes to maximize the event and turn your cost of entry into an ROI.
But the value depends heavily on why you’re going.
If your only goal is to sit in a classroom and learn how to sell Medicare, there are smaller agent training events that are likely way more useful for you.
If your goal is to understand the industry, build relationships, discover technology, meet potential partners, learn what other agencies are doing, talk with health plans and identify where senior market is heading, Medicarians becomes much more valuable.
Medicarians for Individual Medicare Agents
An individual Medicare agent can absolutely get value from Medicarians, especially if you’re trying to build a larger business.
You can meet technology providers, learn from other producers, hear how successful agencies operate, discover new marketing strategies and better understand changes taking place across Medicare distribution.
The most relevant part of the conference for working agents in definitely the Agent Symposium.
However, if you’re brand new to Medicare and primarily need product training, scripts and basic sales fundamentals, Medicarians alone won’t solve those problems.
Medicarians for Agency Owners
This is where I think the value really increases.
As an agency owner, you should be looking at more than the next enrollment.
You should be thinking about recruiting, retention, lead generation, technology, carrier relationships, compliance, automation, acquisitions, cross-selling, partnerships and the economics of running your agency.
Medicarians puts people working on nearly all of those problems in one place.
For me, that’s much more valuable than simply attending another sales training conference.
Medicarians for FMOs and IMOs
If you operate an FMO, IMO or other insurance distribution organization, this is one of the more relevant conferences on the calendar.
You’ll find agents, agency owners, health plans, carriers, vendors, distributors and other organizations throughout the event.
If you’re really paying attention, it also gives you an opportunity to see where your competitors and adjacent businesses are investing in their growth.
Medicarians for Vendors, Providers and Technology Companies
As you can imagine, the attendance we have talked about already is attractive to the industry vendor community.
But based on my experience as a multi year attendee, I’d approach it carefully.
I’m an insurance agent too, and get pitched by vendors constantly!
Showing up and immediately trying to sell everyone you meet isn’t a great networking strategy, but that’s just my opinion.
I would suggest learning what agencies are struggling with. Have real conversations. Understand the problems before trying to sell your solution.
If your product actually solves a problem, the business conversation will follow.
Now ask yourself, is Medicarians the right conference for what I’m trying to accomplish right now?
My Medicarians Review: What Makes the Conference Different?
I’ve attended a lot of insurance conferences over the years, and the thing I appreciate most about Medicarians is the diversity of the attendees.
At a traditional agent event, you might primarily interact with agents, carrier representatives and a handful of vendors.
Medicarians expands that considerably.
You can have one conversation with an agency owner trying to recruit 100 agents, another with a carrier executive, another with someone building some kind of new technology, and another with a healthcare company trying to solve a problem for seniors or caregivers. It’s endless!
But from my experience, those are the exact types of conversations that have helped me understand the industry differently over the years.
Every year when I attend, I don’t just want to know what happened in Medicare last year.
- I want to understand what’s likely to change over the next three to five years.
- Where is distribution going?
- How is technology changing the agent experience?
- How are health plans thinking about growth and the role the agent plays in it?
- How are agencies changing their customer acquisition strategies?
- What are startups and product creators building? This is a big signal for me!
- What are the latest trends that might actually change how we acquire or serve customers?
Those are the kinds of questions Medicarians is good at helping me think through and I think those that attend with the right mindset will agree.
My Networking Hacks for Medicarians
Like anything in your life, what you get out of something is directly related to what you put in to it. Here are my hacks.
Hallway Conversations Can Be More Valuable Than the Sessions
I enjoy the educational sessions, but some of the most valuable conversations I’ve had at industry conferences happen between sessions, over coffee, at dinner or while standing in the exhibit hall.
That’s one reason I don’t recommend building a schedule where every minute of every day is booked.
Networking Starts Before You Get There
If there are specific people or companies you want to meet, you have to lock those down before the conference.
Calendars fill up quickly.
A 30-minute meeting scheduled three weeks before the event is usually much more productive than hoping you randomly bump into someone in a crowd of thousands.
I have my entire calendar booked with time slots dedicated for impromptu meetings before I ever even get there. Doing this makes my time there very well spent and I would highly suggest anyone considering going to do the same.
Your Competitors Aren’t Your Enemies
This might be one of my favorite parts.
Some of the best relationships I’ve built in insurance have been with people who technically compete with us.
Believe it or not, we share ideas and even compare notes.
We even make introductions for each other and sometimes find ways to work together.
In my opinion, there is enough business in the senior market that I don’t think every conversation needs to be viewed through the lens of competition.
Pay Attention to What People Are Building
This one is HUGE!
One of the most useful things you can do at Medicarians is walk the exhibit hall and pay attention to where companies are investing.
You’ll see trends around lead generation, AI, enrollment technology, CRMs, customer engagement and retention, and of course compliance.
The good news is that you don’t need to buy everything, or anything for that matter.
But you should understand what’s changing in our business and if you pay attention, you’ll begin to see and learn the patterns.
Your Best Takeaway May Not Be Medicare
Medicare agents have spent years talking about lifetime value.
If you’re serving someone for Medicare, there may also be opportunities to help with life insurance, annuities, final expense, wealth management and even other topics like estate planning.
Medicarians will expose you to businesses and ideas outside the traditional Medicare sales conversation, and I think that’s increasingly important.
Medicarians Agent Symposium
One of the most relevant parts of Medicarians for agents is the Medicarians Agent Symposium.
For 2027, the Agent Symposium is scheduled for Monday, April 12 from noon to 5:00 p.m. at Caesars Forum.
The program is designed specifically for agents and agency principals and focuses more directly on the issues producers face when building and managing a book of business.
Based on looking at my agenda’s from the last 3 years, topics have included:
- Growing an insurance book of business
- Marketing and customer acquisition
- Customer support and retention
- Compliance
- Regulatory changes
- Agency operations
- Technology
- Diversification
- Business growth
If you’re an independent writing agent, I would absolutely put the Agent Symposium near the top of your agenda.
Does the Regulatory Content at Medicarians Actually Matter to Agents?
I’ll be honest. Regulatory sessions are rarely the reason I attend Medicarians. It’s just not where I focus my time and efforts, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important.
As a producer and agency builder, knowing every detail of the latest CMS final rule doesn’t necessarily help me serve the person sitting across the table from me.
A lot of regulatory change happens upstream and is outside an agent’s control.
Where I start paying attention is when a rule changes something I actually have to do.
For example:
- Does it change how I can generate or purchase a Medicare lead?
- Does it change when or how my agents can contact a beneficiary?
- Does it change something we need to document?
- Does it change the Medicare Advantage enrollment process?
- Does it affect commissions?
- Does it create a new certification or compliance requirement that could require us to make internal systems updates?
- Does it change how we communicate plan information to existing customers?
- Does it create additional work for the agent after the sale?
- Does it materially change the economics of serving a customer?
That’s the regulatory information I want from the conference. What changed, what do I need to do differently Monday morning and what happens if I don’t?
If the answer is “nothing,” I probably don’t need a 60-minute session explaining every paragraph of the final rule because I’ll learn it from my peers.
There are people in our industry who spend considerably more time on policy and regulatory advocacy, and I’m glad they do.
Amanda Brewton is a great example. She has been involved with NABIP’s Medicare Advisory Group and has made regulatory advocacy a much larger part of her work than I have.
There is certainly value in having producers and industry representatives willing to spend time communicating agent concerns to policymakers and regulators.
That’s simply a different role than the one I normally play.
I want the people who live in that world to help producers translate policy into actual action.
Technology and Startups
Captain obvious here, did you know technology is becoming a larger part of insurance distribution every year?
AI, automation, CRMs, enrollment platforms, call routing technology, data and others are changing how agencies operate.
The conference gives you a lot of exposure to startups and product creators developing solutions for the aging population.
Now, I don’t think an insurance agency needs to chase every new technology trend.
In fact, constantly switching systems can create as many problems as it solves.
What I do think agency owners need to understand is where technology removes friction and where consumer expectations are changing.
- Can something reduce administrative work and open more hours for revenue generating activities?
- Can it make enrollment easier?
- Can it help an agent communicate with clients more effectively?
- Can it improve retention?
- Can it lower acquisition costs?
- Can it help us identify another legitimate need for an existing customer?
Those questions are much more interesting to me than whether something has “AI” in the product name.
I’ve found that simply walking the exhibit hall is one of the easiest ways to get a snapshot of where companies believe insurance, healthcare and senior technology are headed.
Medicarians Hosted Agent Program
One of the more interesting opportunities for agents is the Medicarians Hosted Agent Program.
The program allows qualified licensed agents, agency principals and qualifying teams to apply for a complimentary All-Access Pass.
In exchange, approved participants agree to attend at least one designated sponsor-led session during the conference. It’s kind of like the old school time-share value proposition!
Who Can Apply?
I haven’t used this, but here’s what it looks like based on my research.
The program is designed for licensed agents and agency principals who are actively selling, or interested in selling, Medicare, ACA or senior financial products.
It looks like team options are also available.
Applications say they are reviewed, so applying does not necessarily guarantee acceptance.
Is the Hosted Agent Program Really Free?
The standard Hosted Agent Program can provide an approved agent with a complimentary conference pass.
But that doesn’t mean the entire trip is free.
You should still expect expenses such as:
- Airfare
- Hotel
- Transportation
- Some meals
- Entertainment
- Other travel expenses
Should Medicare Agents Apply?
If you’re a qualifying agent and you’re already considering attending Medicarians, I think it’s absolutely worth reviewing the Hosted Agent Program before purchasing a standard registration for a couple thousand dollars.
Just understand the commitment you’re making and make sure you attend the required sponsored programming.
How Much Does Medicarians Cost?
Medicarians registration pricing changes depending on when you register, your attendee type and whether you qualify for programs such as the Hosted Agent Program.
Rather than hard-coding a registration price here that will eventually become outdated, I recommend checking Medicarians.com before budgeting for the conference.
Based on their website, a standard All-Access registration generally provides access to:
- Conference sessions
- Exhibit hall
- One-on-one meetings
- Breakfast and lunch during designated conference days
- Networking receptions
- Closing entertainment
- Session recordings
But registration is only part of your total cost.
When deciding whether Medicarians is worth attending, budget for:
- Conference registration
- Airfare
- Hotel
- Ground transportation
- Meals outside conference programming
- Dinners and networking events
- Time away from your business
For agency owners sending several employees, those costs add up quickly.
That’s why I think it’s important to decide what you’re trying to accomplish before you go.
Why the Medicarians Venue Matters More Than You Might Think
One thing I’ve learned after attending a lot of insurance conferences is that the venue can have a surprisingly big impact on the quality of the event.
My preference is a conference where as many attendees as possible are staying in the same hotel or at least within the same connected property.
There’s a reason for that.
Some of the best networking opportunities don’t happen during scheduled networking events.
They happen when you run into someone getting coffee in the morning, sit next to someone at the hotel bar, bump into a group after dinner or continue a conversation after the official conference programming has ended.
When everyone is staying in one place, the conference almost takes over the property.
You keep seeing the same people.
Conversations that started earlier in the day continue later that night.
Someone introduces you to someone else.
Small groups form organically.
That’s difficult to manufacture with a networking app or a scheduled 15-minute meeting.
What Happens When Everyone Is Spread Across Different Hotels?
When a conference outgrows its host hotel or requires attendees to stay across several different properties, some of that dynamic disappears.
At the end of a day, everyone leaves in different directions. That stinks and frankly is part of how I decide if a conference is worth attending or not.
Instead of walking downstairs for a drink and running into 20 people from the conference, you’re getting into an Uber and heading back to another hotel.
That doesn’t make the conference bad.
But it absolutely changes the networking dynamic which for me, is the driving reason I attend.
Where Should You Stay for Medicarians 2027?
Medicarians Vegas 2027 will take place at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.
Harrah’s is currently one of the official hotel options and is connected directly to Caesars Forum by a walkway.
That’s the kind of thing I pay attention to.
What I Don’t Like About Medicarians
No conference is perfect.
It Can Be Overwhelming
The size is a benefit, but it’s also a downside.
If you don’t plan your schedule, you can easily miss people or sessions you wanted to see.
It’s Not Pure Agent Sales Training
If you want three straight days of scripts, objection handling and product training, this probably isn’t the best description of Medicarians.
Las Vegas Isn’t Cheap
Flights, hotels, meals and entertainment can turn a conference into a meaningful investment, especially if you’re bringing a team.
You Have to Participate
This isn’t the kind of event where I would recommend sitting in the back of the room, attending a few sessions and flying home.
The real value comes from participating.
What Should You Wear to Medicarians?
I’m a business casual guy 99% of the time and it’s generally the safest approach for most of the conference.
You’ll see everything from suits to jeans depending on the person’s role, meetings and schedule. However, I actually wore a mullet wig and 80’s sunglasses last year, so the options are endless!
My bigger recommendation is simple:
Wear comfortable shoes.
You’re going to walk.
A lot.
If you have an important meeting or dinner, dress accordingly, but I wouldn’t sacrifice three days of comfort because you thought an insurance conference required dress shoes from 7:00 a.m. until midnight.
Be smart about your shoes!
My Final Medicarians Review
I’ve been in the insurance business long enough to know that attending another conference doesn’t automatically make your business better.
What you do with the access matters.
Medicarians gives you access to a large concentration of people, ideas, and businesses.
That’s why I keep going.
For an agency owner, FMO executive, carrier, vendor or entrepreneur working in the senior market, I think Medicarians belongs on the short list of industry events worth considering.
For an individual Medicare agent, I think the decision depends on where you are in your business.
If you’re trying to become a better producer and still learning the fundamentals, I would personally focus on training and execution first.
If you’re starting to think bigger about building an agency, marketing, technology, partnerships, diversification and the future of your book of business, the value of Medicarians increases significantly.
Most importantly, don’t just show up.
Know why you’re there and who you want to meet.
Ask good questions and prioritize talking to people you don’t know.
And most importantly, follow up when you get home.
I’ve said this before and it’s worth repeating. What you get out of attending Medicarians will be directly related to what you put into it.
Good luck, and I’ll see you there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicarians
What is Medicarians?
Medicarians is an annual conference focused on senior health and wealth distribution. It brings together Medicare and health insurance agents, agency owners, FMOs, health plans, healthcare providers, technology companies, startups, product creators, investors and other organizations serving the aging population.
When is Medicarians 2027?
Medicarians Vegas 2027 is scheduled for April 12-14, 2027. The Agent Symposium, ACA Health Summit and Life & Annuities Forum are scheduled as kickoff programs on Monday, April 12.
Where is Medicarians 2027?
Medicarians 2027 is scheduled to take place at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Is Medicarians only for Medicare agents?
No. Medicare agents represent an important part of the conference, but Medicarians covers the broader senior health and wealth ecosystem. Attendees include agency owners, FMOs, health plans, insurance carriers, healthcare companies, care providers, technology providers, distributors, life and annuity professionals, investors and entrepreneurs.
Is Medicarians worth attending for Medicare agents?
I think Medicarians can be very valuable for Medicare agents, particularly agents who are building an agency, evaluating technology, looking for partnerships or trying to better understand the future of Medicare distribution. Agents who primarily need basic product and sales training may find more concentrated tactical training at smaller agent-focused events.
What is the Medicarians Agent Symposium?
The Agent Symposium is an agent-focused kickoff program held as part of Medicarians. It is designed for agents and agency principals and covers topics such as marketing, compliance, regulatory changes, business building, customer support, diversification and growing an insurance book of business.
What is the Medicarians Hosted Agent Program?
The Hosted Agent Program allows qualified licensed agents, agency principals and teams to apply for a complimentary Medicarians All-Access Pass in exchange for agreeing to attend at least one designated sponsor-led session. Applications are reviewed for approval, and travel and hotel expenses are not included.
Can Medicare agents attend Medicarians for free?
Qualified agents may be able to receive a complimentary All-Access Pass through the Medicarians Hosted Agent Program. Eligibility and program requirements can change, so agents should review the current program information on Medicarians.com before making travel plans.
Does Medicarians provide Medicare services to beneficiaries?
No. Medicarians is an industry conference, not a Medicare insurance agency or consumer enrollment service.
Medicarians does not directly help beneficiaries select or enroll in Medicare plans. Instead, the conference brings together many of the agents, agencies, health plans, healthcare providers, distributors and technology companies that serve Medicare beneficiaries and the broader senior market.
What are the benefits of Medicarians for Medicare insurance agents?
The biggest benefits for Medicare insurance agents are access to other producers and agency owners, networking opportunities, exposure to health plans and technology companies, agent-focused education, potential business partnerships and a broader understanding of where Medicare and senior health distribution are headed.
How many people attend Medicarians?
Medicarians currently expects more than 6,000 attendees at the 2027 Las Vegas conference, including more than 3,000 agents.
What happens at Medicarians?
Medicarians includes educational sessions, an expo hall, networking events, one-on-one meetings and specialized programs including the Agent Symposium, ACA Health Summit and Life & Annuities Forum. Topics span Medicare, health insurance, healthcare, technology, regulation, lead generation, distribution and senior financial products.
Is Medicarians a good place to learn about Medicare regulatory changes?
Yes, but I would focus on regulatory sessions that translate policy into something actionable for a producer. The most valuable regulatory information explains whether a change affects marketing, leads, beneficiary communication, enrollment, compensation, compliance requirements or how an agent serves an existing client.
What should I wear to Medicarians?
Business casual is appropriate for most attendees, although you’ll see a range of attire depending on meetings and roles. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended because large conferences involve considerable walking.
Where should I stay for Medicarians?
I prefer staying at an official conference hotel that is connected to or very close to the conference venue. Keeping attendees concentrated in the same properties creates more opportunities for spontaneous conversations before and after scheduled programming. For Medicarians 2027, review the current official hotel options before booking because conference room blocks can sell out.
When should I arrive for Medicarians 2027?
If you plan to attend the Monday kickoff programs, arriving Sunday, April 11 is the safest option. That gives you time to check in and be ready for the Agent Symposium and other Monday programming without relying on same-day travel.
How do I get the most value from Medicarians?
Set specific goals before attending, identify people and companies you want to meet, schedule important meetings in advance, choose sessions strategically and leave time for unscheduled networking. Most importantly, take notes and follow up with valuable contacts soon after the conference.
Planning to Attend Medicarians 2027?
Visit the official Medicarians website for current registration, agenda, speaker, Hosted Agent and hotel information.
