Forget the stereotypes of older adults who can’t figure out how to use a computer. Although some seniors struggle with tech, many of today’s seniors are tech savvy – and they expect their insurance agents to be, too. When you adopt tech as part of your enrollment process, you unlock a safer, more efficient system that benefits both you and your clients.
Meet the New Tech-Savvy Senior
A couple of developments have turned seniors into technology users.
First, many retirees had to use technology back when they were working. Things like computers, the internet, smartphones and apps aren’t exactly new anymore. A 70-year-old who retired five years ago would likely have used all of these things while working. Now that they’ve retired, they still know their way around technology, and they can adopt new technologies as they become available, just like everyone else.
Second, many seniors had to become tech-savvy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing rules meant that if they wanted to see a doctor or talk to their family, they needed to learn how to navigate video conferencing and other remote options.
The majority of today’s seniors are tech savvy:
- 75% of U.S. adults age 65 or older use the internet, according to Pew Research Center, and 45% use social media.
- 55% of adults age 50 and older use AI technologies, according to the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, including 14% who use AI to receive health information.
- 79% of U.S. adults age 65 or older own a smartphone, according to Pew Research Center.
How Tech Is Changing Medicare Enrollment
Google Trends data shows that searches for “Medicare” and “Medicare Advantage” reached peak popularity on October 16, 2025 – one day after the annual enrollment period started. Searches for “Medicare Enrollment” reached peak popularity on October 15.
When tech-savvy seniors want to learn about Medicare, they’ll probably go online. When they want to find an agent, they may turn to Google or ChatGPT. When they want to enroll, there’s a good chance they’ll prefer a digital enrollment over a cumbersome paper- or phone-based process.
This doesn’t mean Medicare enrollees don’t need assistance. Although some opt for a do-it-yourself approach, many people find Medicare far too confusing to try to tackle alone. According to the American Journal of Managed Care, 75% of Medicare beneficiaries say it’s challenging to select a plan.
Insurance agents can help by providing a tech-forward enrollment process.
The Advantages of Remote Appointments
Online enrollments tend to be faster, and there’s a reduced risk of error. You don’t have to worry about a paper application getting lost or something not being legible. Although some carriers still accept paper applications, many are moving away from them.
There are two ways to approach online enrollment:
- Meet in person and enroll online. You can discuss options face-to-face and then handle enrollment online.
- Conduct a fully remote meeting. Since the enrollment will be done online anyway, there’s no real need to meet in person.
Although some clients may be more comfortable with in-person meetings, remote appointments offer agents some major advantages. For one thing, they’re more efficient. Because you’re eliminating commute times, you can knock out more remote meetings in a single afternoon. You don’t have to pay for gas, either.
Remote meetings are also safer. Whenever you walk into a client’s home, you’re entering an unknown environment. When you conduct remote meetings in the safety of your own home, you don’t have to worry about pets, parking, neighbors, or any other unexpected situations that can disrupt meetings.
How Western Asset Protection Support Agents
Western Asset Protection is an Integrity company, which means WAP agents have free access to IntegrityCONNECT tools. These best-in-class tools help you grow your business, stay organized, and enroll your clients. If you’re not already using the all-in-one solution for client engagement, tracking, quoting, enrollment,s and follow-up, you’re missing out – it’s the easy way to become a tech-savvy agent.
Learn more about IntegrityCONNECT.