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In This Article

When you’re new to Medicare, all the choices might feel overwhelming. You’ll be faced with lots of questions that have no right answer. Should you go with original Medicare? What about a Medicare Advantage plan? Which Medicare Advantage plan is best? Do you need Medigap or supplemental insurance, too? Which prescription drug plan should you choose? Even when you already have Medicare, it’s a good idea to review your plan and coverage each year to make sure what you have is still your best option. As your needs, plans, and their costs change, you might want to make a switch.

If you’re struggling with these decisions or just want more help, consider talking to a Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Each state has at least one SHIP office. SHIPs are funded by the federal government and are free to you. They provide trusted, unbiased advice on your Medicare options and your rights. You can find your local SHIP by calling (877) 839-2675 or on their website.

Once you’ve talked to a SHIP and understand your options and are ready to sign up, you can go to Medicare.gov to compare plans and enroll. If you want additional help enrolling, you can try using a Medicare broker.

What Is a Medicare Broker?

A health insurance broker is a trained professional who can help you sign up for a health insurance plan. They’ll work with you to explore your options for Medicare health insurance. They should listen to what you need and want and give you information about what’s available.

One thing to keep in mind: If you’re talking to someone who says they’re a health insurance agent, then they probably work for just one company. Brokers usually work for more than one company. But they don’t necessarily work for all companies or look at every possible plan. It’s a good idea to ask your broker (or agent) which company or companies they work for and if they’re exploring all of your options or only some of them.

Not just anyone can act as an insurance broker. To do so, a person must be licensed in your state.

How Much Does a Broker Cost?

For you, it should cost nothing. You usually won’t pay anything extra to work with a broker. They get paid by the insurance company or companies they work for and represent. That’s one reason it’s good to know who a broker works for.

You’ll want to choose a reputable broker. It’s best to find one who isn’t paid based on which plan you select. That will ensure the broker is there to help you understand your options and pick the plan that’s best for you. A good broker shouldn’t try to get you to choose one Medicare plan or another.

How Can I Find a Broker?

Start by asking around. Word of mouth is a good way to find a local broker that others have worked with and trust.

You can also search for brokers or agents through online directories. The National Council on Aging has a list of brokers that meet its Standards of Excellence. That means they should give you information that’s in your best interest, not that of any company.  The American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance has a search tool based on your ZIP code.

Remember: Online searches may lead you to ads and brokers that work for certain companies and not others. This can affect which Medicare plans they’ll tell you about. One study showed this can shape Medicare choices in ways that might not always benefit you. So you want to be sure you know who your broker works for and that they’re really trying to find the best plan for you.

Questions to Ask Your Broker

Before you decide to go with a certain broker,  make sure you know who they work for and which decisions they can help you with. Some questions to ask include:

  • Who do you work for?
  • Do you work for one company or more?
  • How much experience selling Medicare plans do you have?
  • Can you help with Medicare Advantage plans?
  • What about Medigap or supplemental coverage and/or prescription drug plans?
  • Will you look at every plan that’s available to me or only some of them?
  • Who can I call with more questions?

What to Watch for When You’re Working with a Medicare Broker

Medicare brokers or agents must follow a lot of rules. Knowing the rules will help you spot red flags. Don’t work with a broker who isn’t following the rules. If you think someone you’ve spoken with is breaking the rules, call (800) MEDICARE.

Medicare brokers can:

  • Give you materials and information about Medicare plans.
  • Give you an enrollment form to fill out.
  • Collect your form after you’ve filled it out.
  • Leave you with business cards to give to other people you know if you wish.

Medicare brokers can’t:

  • Ask you for lots of personal information over the phone that they don’t need to enroll you in a plan you’ve chosen.
  • Come to your house unless you’ve scheduled them to come or call you when you haven’t joined a plan.
  • Give you money, gifts, or other incentives.
  • Ask you to pay them or for your credit card or bank information.
  • Try to talk to you or sell you a Medicare plan or product you haven’t agreed to talk to them about or anything unrelated to Medicare, such as a life insurance policy.
  • Try to sell you the products you haven’t agreed to hear about.
  • Try to steer or pressure you into any one plan or another.
  • Give you wrong information or tell you that any one plan is “best.”
  • Ask you for names of other people they can contact.
  • Ask you to sign up before you’re ready.

Don’t sign up for a plan if you’re not sure or have any doubts about the broker you’re talking to. If you want to check that your broker isn’t leaving out options you want to consider, you can find lots of information and do your own search for plans based on where you live at Medicare.gov.

Show Sources

Photo Credit: Marko Geber / Getty Images

SOURCES:

Healthcare.gov: “Agent and Broker (Health Insurance).”

National Council on Aging: “What Is a Medicare Broker and Why Should You Consider Talking to One?” “Get expert help understanding your Medicare plan options.”

American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance: “Find a Medicare Supplement Insurance Agent,” “Medicare Insurance Agent: Things to Know,” “10 Tips to Choose a Medicare Insurance Broker.”

Medicare.gov: “Meeting with Agents One-on-One,” “Marketing Rules for Medicare Plans,” “Get Started with Medicare,” “Explore Your Medicare Coverage Options.”

The Commonwealth Fund: “How Agents Influence Medicare Beneficiaries’ Plan Choices.”