What Medicare live transfer leads are
A Medicare live transfer is a call that has already been qualified by a screener before your agent picks up. The shopper calls in, a trained screener confirms they are eligible and interested in reviewing coverage, and the call is transferred to your agent while the caller is still on the line.
Live transfers trade a higher price per call for less work on your side. Your agents skip the opening questions that sort qualified callers from everyone else, and start with a person who has already confirmed they have Medicare, live in a state you serve and want help comparing plans.
Live transfers are especially useful when your agents are newer to Medicare, when you sell products that need more qualification, or when you want each agent conversation to start further along. They also make it easier to forecast, because a higher share of the calls you pay for become full sales conversations.
Direct versus warm transfers
There are two main kinds of Medicare live transfer, and the right one depends on your agents and how much context they want before the conversation begins.
| Direct live transfer | Warm transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Screener qualifies the caller, then transfers straight to your agent | Screener stays on, introduces the caller by name and summarizes their needs, then drops off |
| Agent starts with | A qualified caller | A qualified caller plus a short summary |
| Handoff time | Fast | A little longer |
| Typical price | Moderate | Higher |
| Best for | Experienced agents who prefer to run their own discovery | Newer agents or complex cases like dual eligibility |
Many buyers run both, using warm transfers for D-SNP or Medigap callers outside open enrollment, and direct transfers for routine Medicare Advantage shopping.
What screeners confirm before the transfer
Screeners follow an approved script that is reviewed for compliance. Before any transfer, the caller hears the recording notice and the TPMO disclaimer, then answers a short set of questions:
- Medicare status: already enrolled, or turning 65 within the next few months.
- Parts A and B: whether both are active or about to start.
- State and ZIP: to match the caller with a licensed agent and plans in their area.
- Current coverage: Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, employer coverage or Medicaid.
- What they want: a plan review, help with drug costs, a Supplement quote or another specific need.
Screeners do not discuss specific plans, prices or benefits. That conversation belongs to your licensed agent.
Making the most of the handoff
The first ten seconds after a transfer decide whether the caller stays. A short, warm greeting that confirms what the screener shared shows the caller they are in the right place.
- 1Greet by name and confirm the reason for the call the screener captured.
- 2Introduce yourself as a licensed agent and state what you can help with today.
- 3Complete any required disclosures and Scope of Appointment steps your carriers expect.
- 4Start the needs review with doctors, prescriptions and budget before discussing any plan.
Agents who repeat every screening question from scratch tend to lose callers. Trust the screen, confirm briefly and move into the conversation.
The economics of live transfers
Live transfers cost more per call than inbound calls because a screener spends time on every caller, including those who do not qualify. What you get in return is a higher share of billable calls that turn into real sales conversations. Whether that pays off depends on your agents' close rate and how much their time is worth.
A simple way to decide is to run a small inbound campaign and a small live transfer campaign in the same states for a few weeks, then compare cost per enrollment rather than cost per call. Many agencies find inbound works best in peak season, when callers are motivated, and transfers work best in shoulder months or for harder-to-qualify products.
Live transfers by Medicare product
Live transfers work across every Medicare product line, but each one benefits from slightly different screening questions and handoff notes.
Screeners confirm Parts A and B, ZIP and whether the caller is in a plan now, so agents can check networks right away.
Screeners note age and when Part B started, which tells your agent whether open enrollment rules apply.
Screeners capture whether the caller has other drug coverage and how many prescriptions they take.
Warm transfers work well here, because the screener can explain the caller's Medicaid status before the handoff.
Separate campaigns for each product let you route transfers to the agents who know that product best and compare results product by product.
Measuring live transfer performance
Judge transfers by what happens after the handoff. Track how many transfers pass the buffer, how many lead to a full needs review, how many become applications and how many of those members are still active after a few months. If transfers often end soon after the handoff, review the recordings: the screener may be setting the wrong expectation, or the agent's opening may be repeating too much. Small fixes on either side usually move these numbers quickly.
Keeping transfer quality high
Transfer quality depends on screeners following the script and not overselling the call. Our network reviews screener recordings regularly and removes publishers whose transfers show patterns like pressured callers, promises about benefits or callers who did not understand they would speak with a licensed agent.
Approved, compliance-reviewed questions with no plan or price talk.
Both the screening and the transfer are recorded in one call record.
Billable transfers that miss your criteria can be returned after recording review.
Every transfer is tied to its publisher and ad for quality reporting.
Setting up a live transfer campaign
To launch, choose direct, warm or both, select your states and products, set hours and a daily cap, and tell us the number or SIP destination calls should reach. Agree on a buffer, usually between 120 and 180 seconds for transfers, and your campaign can go live once your agency is verified. Start small, review the first week of recordings with your team and then scale the transfer types that convert.
Medicare Live Transfer Leads FAQ
What is a Medicare live transfer lead?
It is a live call from a Medicare shopper who was qualified by a screener and then transferred to your agent while still on the line.
What is the difference between a direct and a warm transfer?
In a direct transfer, the screener sends the caller straight to your agent. In a warm transfer, the screener introduces the caller and summarizes their needs before leaving the call.
Do screeners discuss plans or prices?
No. Screeners only confirm eligibility and intent. Plan discussions are left to your licensed agents.
Are live transfers exclusive?
Yes. Each transfer goes to one buyer only and is never shared or resold.
Is the screening part of the call recorded?
Yes. The recording starts when the caller connects, so it includes the disclosures, screening and the handoff to your agent.
Let screeners do the qualifying
Tell us your states, products and preferred transfer type. We will set up a test campaign that fits your floor.
Get live transfer leads