The short answer: no, a broker does not cost you more

This is one of the most common worries we hear from folks in Charlotte and across North Carolina who are approaching 65: "If I work with a broker, am I paying a markup?" The honest, plain-English answer is no. Working with a licensed Medicare broker or independent agent costs you nothing extra. The premium you pay for a Medicare Advantage plan, a Part D prescription drug plan, or a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy is the same price whether you enroll on your own or through an agent. There is no "agent fee" added to your bill, and there is no secret markup on your premium.

Instead, the insurance company pays the agent a commission. For Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, those commission amounts are actually set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — the federal agency that runs Medicare — not by the agent and not by the plan. Because the commission comes from the carrier and is standardized, an agent has no financial way to charge you more than the person sitting next to you who enrolled in the exact same plan directly.

Why the price is the same either way

It helps to understand how the money actually flows. When you enroll in a Medicare plan, the private insurance company that offers it collects your premium (if the plan has one). If you enrolled through a licensed agent, the carrier pays that agent a commission out of its own budget. That commission is a cost the insurer already builds in — it does not get tacked onto your premium.

So the choice really comes down to this: you can spend hours comparing plans on your own, or you can have an experienced professional do that comparison for you — and the price you pay is identical. Given that the guidance is free to you, the real question isn't "does a broker cost more?" It's "which agent gives me the best guidance?"

What "free" does — and does not — mean

"Free to you" means no out-of-pocket cost for the agent's help. It does not mean the plans themselves are free. You are still responsible for your own Medicare costs. For example, in 2026 the standard Part B monthly premium is $202.90, the annual Part B deductible is $283, and Part A carries a $1,736 inpatient hospital deductible per benefit period. Those are federal Medicare figures that apply whether or not you use an agent. A good agent's job is to help you choose the coverage that fits your budget, doctors, and prescriptions — not to change what Medicare itself charges.

Independent agent vs. captive agent: an important difference

Not every agent is the same, and this is where the "cost" question quietly matters. Some agents are "captive," meaning they represent only one insurance company and can only show you that company's plans. An independent agent represents multiple carriers, so they can compare plans across many companies and help you find the one that actually matches your situation — rather than fitting you into the only plan they're allowed to sell.

The Jordan Insurance Agency is an independent agency. Because the commission structure is standardized by CMS, an independent agent has no financial incentive to push you toward one carrier over another for their own benefit. That independence is what lets the guidance stay genuinely in your corner.

What you should look for in a Medicare agent

Since the price is the same everywhere, the value is entirely in the quality of the advice. An experienced, full-time, properly licensed independent agent gives materially better guidance than a brand-new or part-time agent. Here is what separates the two:

  • An active state insurance license — the baseline requirement to legally advise you.
  • Annual AHIP certification — a yearly Medicare training and testing requirement that agents must complete to sell Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
  • Per-carrier certifications — separate certifications for each insurance company the agent represents, completed every year.
  • Errors & omissions (E&O) coverage — professional liability insurance that protects you if a mistake is ever made.
  • Appointments with multiple carriers — so they can genuinely compare, not just sell one brand.
  • An annual renewal review — because plans, drug formularies, and provider networks change every single year.

That last point is easy to overlook. A part-time agent who enrolls you once and disappears leaves you to catch changes on your own. Plans adjust their costs, drug coverage, and networks annually. An experienced full-time agent reviews your plan every year during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7 in 2026) to make sure it still fits — at no additional cost to you.

When timing matters more than cost

One area where good guidance pays off is timing. Your Medigap (Medicare Supplement) Open Enrollment Period is a one-time, 6-month window that starts the first month you are both 65 and enrolled in Part B. During that window you have guaranteed issue rights: an insurer cannot turn you down, cannot use medical underwriting, and cannot charge you more because of pre-existing conditions. After it closes, insurers generally can use underwriting. An experienced agent makes sure you understand that window before it passes — and again, reviewing it with you costs you nothing.

How The Jordan Insurance Agency helps

The Jordan Insurance Agency is an independent, full-time, licensed insurance agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving clients throughout the state. Because we are independent, we represent multiple carriers and compare plans across companies to find the fit that matches your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget — and it costs you nothing to work with us. Your premium is the same whether you enroll on your own or through our team; the carrier pays the commission, which CMS sets for Medicare Advantage and Part D.

Our agents complete the annual AHIP certification and per-carrier certifications, carry E&O coverage, and review your plan every year at renewal so nothing quietly changes on you. If you are approaching 65 — or helping a parent who is — reach out to The Jordan Insurance Agency for calm, neutral, plain-English guidance. For any current-year figure not covered here, you can also verify details at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Plan availability & disclaimer

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. The Jordan Insurance Agency is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.