For agents, agencies, and individuals
Line of authority: the permission behind health work
A licence is not one permission. The line of authority decides which products you may actually discuss and place.
What the line actually grants
What is a line of authority?
It is the category of insurance your licence permits, such as health, life or property. Two agents can both hold a valid licence and still be allowed to sell entirely different things, because their lines differ.
Why does the resident state matter so much?
Your resident state grants the underlying authority, and other states generally extend recognition from it. If the health line is missing at home, adding non-resident licences elsewhere does not create it.
Can I discuss a product I am not licensed for?
Discussing it in general terms is not the same as advising on it or placing it. The safe line is simple: general education is fine, and recommending or enrolling is not, until the authority is there. When in doubt, hand off.
How do I add a line?
Through your state insurance department, usually with an examination and a fee, and sometimes with prelicensing education. Plan for it well ahead of the season you want to sell in, because approval is not immediate.
Staying inside it
What happens if I step outside my line?
It is a licensing matter, not a paperwork slip. The consequences sit with your state department and can reach the licence itself, which is why the boundary deserves more care than any single sale.
How do I handle a client who needs more than I hold?
Say so plainly and bring in someone who holds it. A client who is handed to the right person remembers the honesty; one who is quietly served outside a licence becomes a risk to both of you.
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