How to Find a Health Insurance Broker

Health insurance brokers are liaisons that work between consumers and health insurance companies. A health insurance broker will help provide you with information about different health insurance plans and costs associated with different policy types. If you decide to use a health insurance broker to secure your coverage, you may need assistance in finding one in your area.

Instructions

1. Use the "Find an Agent" tool on the National Association of Health Underwriters website (see Resources). Provide your location and the type of health insurance coverage you are interested in. The tool will return contact information for health brokers near your location.

2. Browse the health insurance broker directory on the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (see Resources). To find additional health insurance brokerage firms, you can use this association's consumer tools.

3. Contact your state's insurance commissioner consumer hotline. This department can not only give you a listing of different health insurance brokers, but will also allow you to check on the agent's disciplinary record.

4. Get in touch with a health insurance broker through your selected insurance company. If you are interested in a particular insurance provider, a customer service representative can let you know the name of agents in your area that you can use.

5. Ask for referrals from other consumers or businesses that use a particular health insurance broker. Once you get a few names, you can proceed to check their references, as well as ask to review a copy of their licenses. During initial contact with potential insurance brokers, you will want to inquire about the types of policies that they offer as well as which companies they work for. You will also want to find out if they charge commissions to the insurance companies or if the cost is passed on to the consumer.

Resources

• National Association of Health Underwriters
• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors