Do You Need a Medicare Insurance Agent for 2027?

Navigating Original Medicare, Medicare Supplement Insurance plans, or Medicare Advantage plans can be overwhelming. When you’re first learning about Medicare plan options, the internet is a great place to start. You may want to ask family members and friends who have Medicare if they like their Medicare plans. Additionally, there are community resources to help you understand your options. If you find that you would like personal guidance to choose what’s best for your needs, a licensed insurance agent may be helpful.

That’s especially true this fall. Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and many people are seeing their Medicare Advantage plan change or end for 2027. Florida alone has 51 fewer Medicare Advantage plans than last year. An agent can help you compare what’s left in your county, check your doctors and drugs and enroll before the deadline.

Talk to a licensed insurance agent: call 877-388-1028 (TTY 711), Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

What Is an Agent?

An insurance agent is a licensed professional who helps you select and enroll in a health plan.

There are two types of licensed sales agents.

Independent

An independent state-licensed agent can partner with and sell policies for different insurance companies. The agent can choose the specific policies they want to sell from a multitude of providers.

Captive

This type of licensed sales agent can only sell policies from one insurance company.

What Is a Broker?

A Medicare licensed insurance broker is just like a licensed independent sales agent. Brokers sell plans from different insurance companies.

How Does a Licensed Insurance Agent or Broker Help You With Medicare Choices?

A Medicare-licensed insurance agent or broker can help you narrow down your options and pick the best one. To do this, they’ll learn about your health goals and budget and present you with options to meet your needs. They can help you enroll in the plan you choose.

You can also contact a licensed insurance agent or broker to help you change plans if the one you’re enrolled in changes coverage or doesn’t meet your needs.

Using a Medicare-licensed sales broker or agent is free, you don’t pay for their service directly.

How Does an Agent or Broker Get Paid?

Licensed insurance agents or brokers are either employed by healthcare companies or have a contract with the companies to sell their plans. They’re typically paid by commission. When a licensed insurance agent or broker enrolls you in a health plan, they get an initial payment for that first year. Every year you stay in the plan, they can get up to half the initial payment. CMS sets the maximum amount plans can pay agents for Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollments each year.

However, the commission’s agents and brokers receive for different plans vary by company and arrangement. For instance, the commission can be a flat fee or a percentage of the premium. Regardless, you don’t pay for a licensed insurance agent’s or broker’s service directly.

How Do You Find an Agent or Broker Near You?

You can find licensed sales agents and brokers through insurance companies, agencies like HealthCare.com, referrals and your state insurance department. (HealthCare.gov’s Find Local Help tool is for ACA Marketplace coverage, not Medicare.) Many websites of state insurance departments allow you to check the license status of someone who claims to be a licensed insurance agent or broker.

Why Work with an Agent or Broker?

Although working with an agent or broker is not required, you may choose to do so for the following reasons.

Navigating Medicare Plans

Medicare plans can be complex. There are numerous options, plan combinations, benefits, rules, and exceptions, all of which can be confusing. Buying health insurance is a huge investment, so you want to find a plan that meets your needs. An ethical and knowledgeable licensed insurance agent or broker can help you get the best value for your money. Licensed sales agents or brokers who sell health insurance products related to Medicare have to pass a test on their knowledge of Medicare every year.

Searching Multiple Companies

To find the best health plan for your individual needs, you might have to check with multiple insurance companies. One of the benefits of working with an independent licensed Medicare broker or agent is that they represent many health insurance companies. They can present you with plan options from different carriers, increasing your chances of finding the right fit.

Medical Underwriting

If you want to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy (also called Medigap) after your open enrollment period, insurance companies may use medical underwriting and set the premium based on your current health condition. They may also refuse to sell you the policy based on any health issues you have. A licensed Medicare sales agent or broker can help you figure out if you’ll meet the underwriting requirements for the plan you want.

Free, Unbiased Help: SHIP Counselors

If you’d rather get advice from someone who doesn’t sell insurance, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free one-on-one Medicare counseling. Find your local SHIP at shiphelp.org or call 877-839-2675. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) or compare plans yourself on Medicare.gov.

What to Expect When You Call an Agent

• A required disclaimer. Agents and agencies that don’t sell every plan in your area must tell you: “We do not offer every plan available in your area.” They must also say how many organizations and plans they represent and remind you that you can contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for all your options.
• Questions about your needs. Expect questions about your doctors, prescriptions, pharmacy, budget and how often you travel.
• Your consent to share your information. Under CMS rules, your personal information can’t be passed to another company without your consent.
• No pressure to decide on the call. You can ask for plan documents, like the Summary of Benefits, before you enroll.

What Type of Medicare Insurance Agent or Broker Should You Choose?

Independent

Working with an independent Medicare licensed insurance agent means you get to choose policy options from different companies. Independent licensed insurance agents and brokers are more likely to give unbiased plan recommendations and advice. But they may not have in-depth knowledge of these plans.

Captive

Licensed insurance agents who represent a particular health insurance company can only sell you plans from that insurer. These captive licensed sales agents are typically experts on all the options their company offers. But you won’t learn about plans from other Medicare insurance companies.

What Should You Consider When Choosing an Agent or Broker?

Licensure

Before choosing a Medicare sales agent or broker, make sure they’re licensed by checking with your state insurance department. Their business card should include their license number. The websites of many state insurance departments allow you to check a licensed insurance agent’s or broker’s license status. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires them to be licensed in the state they operate in.

Experience

You should pick a licensed insurance broker or agent with solid experience selling Medicare plans in your state. Ask your family members and friends for referrals. When interviewing a licensed sales agent or broker, ask about the types of plans they handle and the kind of customer they usually work with.

Customer service

Pick a licensed insurance agent or broker with excellent customer service by asking for references from previous clients. Ensure that you make time to call the references.

Can You Switch Insurance Agencies After You Sign Up for Medicare?

Absolutely. You are never bound to an agency or licensed sales agent.

If you enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you can change your plans and agencies during two enrollment periods:

• Annual Enrollment Period (or Annual Election Period): October 15 to December 7 (October 15 to December 7, 2026 for 2027 coverage)
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31

If you enrolled in Medicare Supplement or Medigap, you can change your plans anytime but you may be subject to underwriting.

If your Medicare Advantage plan isn’t renewing for 2027, you get a special enrollment period and may have a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap plan. See what to do if your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving.

Next Steps

It’s up to you whether you want to work with a licensed Medicare insurance agent or broker. Using a knowledgeable and ethical licensed sales agent or broker can make your search for a health plan significantly easier and faster. Since their services are free, you have nothing to lose by trying to find one near you. To compare 2027 plans with a licensed agent, call 877-388-1028 (TTY 711). For background, see our 2027 guide to Medicare plans and best Medicare Advantage companies for 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to use a Medicare insurance agent?

No. Licensed agents and brokers are paid by the insurance companies, so you don’t pay for their help. Your plan premium is the same whether you enroll through an agent or on your own.

Can a Medicare agent help me if my plan is leaving in 2027?

Yes. An agent can show you the plans available in your county and help you enroll before December 7, 2026, or during your special enrollment period if your plan isn’t renewing.

Where can I get free Medicare advice from someone who doesn’t sell insurance?

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased counseling. Visit shiphelp.org or call 877-839-2675.

How do I know if an agent is licensed?

Check with your state insurance department. Most states let you look up an agent’s license online.