Do you pay a health insurance broker? No — and here's exactly why

How brokers actually get paid

Insurance carriers build a small commission into every plan and pay it to the licensed broker who helps you enroll. That cost is already baked into the premium whether you use a broker or not. So if you sign up alone, the carrier simply keeps that amount — you don't save anything by skipping the broker. Use a broker and you get the same plan, the same price, plus a licensed advocate for the life of the policy.

Is the price different if I go direct?

No. By law and by carrier rules, the premium for a given plan is the same price whether you buy it directly, through Healthcare.gov, or through a broker. A broker cannot mark it up, and going direct does not discount it.

What does a broker do that a website doesn't?

A website shows you plans. A broker tells you which one is right for your doctors, prescriptions, and budget — and then stays on call when a claim is denied, a bill looks wrong, or it's time to renew. You get a direct line instead of a 1-800 hold queue.

Are brokers unbiased?

An independent broker isn't tied to a single company, so the goal is finding what genuinely fits you rather than selling one carrier's product. That independence is the whole point.

Bottom line

Same plans, same prices, zero broker fees — with someone in your corner. I'm Carson Hornish, licensed in 24 states (NPN 21581721).