Burgau Insurance Agency

03/26/2026

🚨 Heads Up, Medicare Beneficiaries!
YES — Medicare is issuing new Medicare cards with updated numbers to about 103,000 people. If you’re one of them, you’ll first receive an official letter letting you know a new card is on the way.
And whenever something like this happens… the scammers come out.
Here’s what you need to know:
🔹 Medicare will NOT call you.
🔹 There is NO fee for the new card.
🔹 Any legitimate mail will come directly from the Department of Health & Human Services.
🔹 Never give out your Medicare number, Social Security number, or personal information to anyone who calls you unexpectedly.
🔹 If you get mail telling you to “call this number to verify your info,” toss it — it’s a scam.
Stay alert, stay informed, and protect your identity.

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from all of us at Burgau Insurance Agency!
Our offices will be closed On Wednesday, December 24th and Thursday, December 25th, to allow our team well-deserved time with their families.

12/19/2025

Do you have a UCare Medigap Plan? You will need new insurance for January 1!

Insurance agents say seniors can hurry to find replacement Medigap policies, but call the short notice “shocking.”

11/04/2025

Medicare Isn’t Broken Because of Agents, It’s Surviving Because of Them
Every day, Licensed Medicare Agents sit across kitchen tables, take late-night calls, and walk seniors through impossible choices, not because it pays well, but because we care.
The average agent writes about 40 Medicare Advantage plans a year and earns around $28.92 per member per month. Prescription Drug Plans? Zero compensation. Yet we keep doing it because that’s someone’s Gramma, and she deserves to be cared for!
New rules are written every year with the goal of protecting seniors, but enforcement remains inconsistent. The truly bad actors, offshore call centers and deceptive lead vendors, adapt easily, while the ethical, community-based agents doing the real work carry the compliance load.
The system itself is split in two:
🔹Medicare Advantage is federally regulated.
🔹Medicare Supplements are state regulated.
That gap creates confusion, inconsistency, and opportunities for abuse. And it’s seniors who pay the price.
Hospital systems are leveraging the media for contract negotiations, carriers are cutting plans midyear, and Star Ratings are declining, all of which leaves seniors scared and searching for answers.
It’s time to shift the narrative. Agents aren’t the problem, we ARE the backbone.
💬 If you’re an agent: Share your story.
📣 If you’re a policymaker: Reach out. Let’s create smarter enforcement and collaboration.
🤝 If you’re in healthcare leadership: Let's chat and figure out how to protect our seniors.
Because the Medicare system isn’t broken because of agents. It’s surviving because of them.

10/23/2025

As the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for 2026 begins, thousands of Minnesota seniors are turning to 1-800-Medicare and MN Aging Pathways for help navigating their Medicare plan options. What’s missing from recent coverage, however, is the critical reason behind this surge: many insurance carriers have chosen to eliminate the role of local brokers by withholding compensation.
This decision has left dedicated, licensed agents—many of whom have served their communities for decades—working without pay. Despite the lack of financial support, brokers continue to provide personalized guidance, education, and advocacy to seniors across the state.
This isn’t just a business issue—it’s a public service crisis, when carriers remove the incentive to serve, they undermine access to trusted, local support—especially in rural areas where seniors rely on brokers to help them understand complex plan changes.
The impact is especially felt in underserved regions, where brokers often serve as the only accessible resource for Medicare education and enrollment assistance. Without them, many beneficiaries are left navigating a confusing system alone.
Industry leaders and advocacy groups are calling for transparency, fair compensation, and a renewed commitment to beneficiary access. As the AEP continues, the message is clear: seniors deserve informed choices—and the professionals who help them make those choices deserve respect and support.

10/23/2025

As Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period begins, NABIP and a coalition of national insurance and financial organizations are calling on CMS to take immediate action to protect seniors and stabilize the market.

Our joint letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz urges the agency to address plan exits, reduced options, and rising costs that are leaving beneficiaries — and the agents who guide them — struggling in an increasingly unstable environment.

Licensed agents and brokers are essential to helping seniors make informed choices during AEP. When they’re supported, beneficiaries are protected.

We stand firmly behind our agents and the millions of Medicare beneficiaries they serve.

Read the press release: https://ow.ly/oLsc50Xa2C5
Read the joint letter: https://ow.ly/GVjv50Xa2C8

10/11/2025

Minnesota Medicare is shifting—and seniors are losing trusted support.
This year, we’re seeing fewer plan choices, higher premiums, and increased out-of-pocket costs. But the biggest change? Most plans are now non-commissionable, meaning local agents are no longer paid to help seniors enroll. And in 2026, some carriers plan to remove agents from the process entirely.
That means hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans will be left to navigate Medicare alone.
If you believe local agents matter—if you’ve ever relied on one to guide you or a loved one—please take a moment to speak up.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.votervoice.net%2Fmobile%2FNABIP%2FSurveys%2F11551%2FRespond%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6NWbqsUEo15mYNC_VCu9xDfE7VnskhZXPq_d4ciQ4hNIg3Vdsq79EAgmKxeQ_aem_lIqmK_VUqVNdLbPU6QAnVg&h=AT3H5svV4tHDTGP0o8i857hIcfvzDuAGEXuQ268kChzqez0yPY17REgjsDKf4G88D-4awp2IXmliS84gPwZt_hsAokeSYR9G0NiaRDgHHaxhWyIWibLVTANLItCSYK3u1rrT1lNy0wvuAg&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT0jhES5JJqY4FcwcuMCwpT3Zih5sy4c2OSA4N7Mv3EBs53qHdxqHlgDGWY_uHUoTgsUwMfPJyyACd1jQOxw7sTwriDAgMIFlMn_LQ_LNnWR6e59Jg3IXVTHvPDNMa8XS0pTHEptncSMXu0iE5oEc-j80KoioyflHAs8yHHEO4AXmaF6Yra2v7O2R04Ufh4h2sLKCDZPC933e4Mqvi8jD9Bq

Medicare beneficiaries, we need your help!The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) represents over 100,000 licensed health insurance agents, brokers, general agents, consultants, and employee benefits specialists...

10/10/2025

Funny, but true.

All joking aside, we need to band together to protect the industry and our clients who rely on us!

“I want to help people for free and not get paid by insurance companies!”“Same!”“Let’s do it together!”All joking aside, we need to band together to protect ...

10/02/2025

https://www.startribune.com/medicare-advantage-minnesota-higher-premiums-fewer-options-unitedhealthcare-healthpartners/601483594

Double-digit rate increases and insurance company exits promise disruption ahead for seniors.

10/01/2025

CHANGES TO HEALTH INSURANCE MAY LEAVE MANY WITHOUT AN AGENT!
Please take two minutes to watch this important news reel about the challenges Medicare agents are facing during this year’s Annual Election Period (AEP).
Whether you're Medicare-eligible yourself or helping a parent or grandparent with their coverage, this affects you. The AEP runs from October 15 to December 7—the only time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can review, change, or enroll in plans for the upcoming year.
Local agents play a vital role in this process. They help seniors understand plan benefits, compare options, run prescription drug analyses to ensure medications are covered, and estimate out-of-pocket costs. For many, this personalized guidance is essential.
But that support is now at risk.
Some insurance carriers are choosing to make their plans non-commissionable, meaning agents receive no compensation when helping clients enroll. It is illegal for an agent to charge any type of fee for their assistance. Without income, many dedicated agents simply won’t be able to stay in business—leaving seniors without trusted help to navigate an increasingly complex system.
This isn’t just a professional issue—it’s a community one. Please watch the reel and stay informed.

This year has seen changes to Minnesota's health insurance ecosystem, and with Open Enrollment approaching, those changes will soon hit the public, particularly senior citizens with Medicare who use insurance agents.

10/01/2025

CHANGES TO HEALTH INSURANCE MAY LEAVE MANY WITHOUT AN AGENT!
Please take two minutes to watch this important news reel about the challenges Medicare agents are facing during this year’s Annual Election Period (AEP).
Whether you're Medicare-eligible yourself or helping a parent or grandparent with their coverage, this affects you. The AEP runs from October 15 to December 7—the only time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can review, change, or enroll in plans for the upcoming year.
Local agents play a vital role in this process. They help seniors understand plan benefits, compare options, run prescription drug analyses to ensure medications are covered, and estimate out-of-pocket costs. For many, this personalized guidance is essential.
But that support is now at risk.
Some insurance carriers are choosing to make their plans non-commissionable, meaning agents receive no compensation when helping clients enroll. It is illegal for an agent to charge any type of fee for their assistance. Without income, many dedicated agents simply won’t be able to stay in business—leaving seniors without trusted help to navigate an increasingly complex system.
This isn’t just a professional issue—it’s a community one. Please watch the reel and stay informed.

09/27/2025

We are seeing major disruptions in the Medicare landscape for 2026! Join us on Tuesday, October 7 at 4:00 pm, Perham Lakeside Golf Course & Event Center, 2727 450th St, Perham to see how these changes to Medicare may affect you and your Medicare coverage. We will share information that will equip you with the knowledge to make an informed choice during AEP, Oct 15 - Dec 7.
This is an EDUCATIONAL EVENT - NO SALES.
RSVP here:

Medicare's Annual Election Period (Oct 15 – Dec 7) is your chance to make crucial healthcare coverage decisions. Join us to learn essential tips for reviewing your current plan, exploring new options, and making confident choices for the year ahead. We’ll arm you with the insights needed to navi...