Do You Need an Agent or Broker During Enrollment Period?

It’s Time to Review and Compare Current Plan Options

Choosing health coverage is one of the most important health decisions you will make. The wrong choice could cost extra money or leave you without crucial coverage. That’s why many people turn to professionals for guidance. Local Medicare brokers and agents can help you choose the right Medicare Advantage plan, at no cost to you.

While both agents and brokers are licensed professionals, there are key differences in how they operate, who they represent and the range of plans they can offer. Knowing these differences can help you make a more informed decision when choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.*

Do you need an agent during enrollment period?

A Medicare agent, sometimes called a captive agent, typically works for a single insurance company. Medicare agents can only sell Medicare Advantage, Medigap or Part D medication plans offered by the insurance company they work for.

They know the minute details of each of their company’s products and may have exclusive access to certain plan perks or discounts. Bonus? Working with Medicare agents costs nothing. They receive commissions from the insurance companies whose plans they sell.

What are Medicare Advantage brokers?

A Medicare broker is an independent insurance professional who works with multiple insurance companies. They are limited to accessing plans by the companies they contract with. Medicare brokers can help you compare plan options, premiums and benefits to match your needs with the best available plan from their partner insurers.

Working with a Medicare broker allows you to make side-by-side comparisons of the costs and benefits of a wide range of insurers. If you need to switch plans or insurers later, a broker has the flexibility to help you do so.

As with Medicare agents, the services of Medicare brokers cost you nothing, as they are paid by the insurance companies whose plans they sell.

Agents or broker services are no cost to you

Both Medicare Advantage agents and brokers must be licensed in the state(s) where they sell plans. They must also pass annual Medicare training and certification. The main difference lies in who they work for and how many plan options they can offer.

You might prefer a Medicare Advantage agent if you already know you want to stay with a specific insurance company. For example, if you’ve had a Prominence Medicare Advantage plan for years and love your network and coverage, an agent can help you select next year’s version of the same plan.

Remember: Because Medicare agents are limited to their companies’ specific plans, they do not compare plans across multiple insurers. Therefore, you could miss out on better pricing or benefits from other insurers.

If you are new to Medicare Advantage and want to compare multiple companies, find a local Medicare broker. A broker can also help you if your needs or budget have changed and you’re open to switching providers. They can also assist in better balancing premiums, benefits and out-of-pocket costs.

Medicare Advantage agents and brokers can help

Both Medicare agents and brokers can be valuable allies in navigating your Medicare Advantages choices.

• Agents may know one company inside and out.
• Brokers can provide a wider range of options.

If you want many possibilities on the table, start with a Medicare broker. If you want highly focused expertise on one insurer, work with a Medicare agent. For truly unbiased advice with no sales, start with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) before talking to either.

Contact Prominence Medicare during enrollment

Call 866-747-8855 for details on Medicare Advantage plans during enrollment periods. The Prominence provider network presently offers member access to quality medical services in Florida, Nevada and Texas.

Enroll online →

* All benefits not available on all plans