Do I Need a Health Insurance Broker?

Ryan Michalek, Licensed Health & Life Insurance Agent, NPN 21043091. Last updated November 10, 2026

Do I need a health insurance broker?

Not always. If your income qualifies for a meaningful subsidy and your situation is simple, the marketplace on your own can work fine. A broker earns their keep when you're over the subsidy line, self-employed with income that moves, covering a family, living in two states, or want private and marketplace options compared side by side. There's no fee to work with a broker. Ryan Michalek at Michalek Health Solutions, an independent brokerage in Tampa, Florida (licensed in 31 states, NPN 21043091), will tell you which camp you're in, at no cost to you.

When you probably don't need a broker

If your income qualifies for a meaningful subsidy, you're comfortable with the marketplace website, and nobody in your house has a complicated health picture, doing it yourself can work fine. I'd rather tell you that than take up your afternoon. If you'd still like a hand with a marketplace enrollment, I'll point you to a licensed partner who does that work, and it costs you nothing.

When a broker earns their keep

You earn over the subsidy line and you're paying full price, so the marketplace stops being the automatic answer.
You're self-employed or 1099 and your income moves year to year.
You're covering a spouse and kids and want it all to fit together.
You live in two states, just moved, or travel a lot for work.
You want private and marketplace options laid side by side by one person who explains the trade-offs.
You want someone to call after you enroll, at renewal, or when something about your coverage doesn't make sense.

What reaching out actually looks like

A lot of people put this off because they picture a high-pressure sales call, or a flood of calls from strangers. Here's how it works with me:

You pick the time. Book a slot and I call you then, from (813) 833-7448. Send the form instead and I’ll reach out once and ask what time works for you.
Your information stays with me. It isn't sold or passed to a dozen other agents, so you won't get a pile of calls from people you never talked to.
It's about fifteen minutes. Have your ZIP code, the birth dates of everyone who needs coverage, a rough idea of your income, the doctors and prescriptions that matter to you, and what you pay now if you have a plan.
You leave with a clear answer. One recommendation and one backup, with the reasons, not a stack of quotes to sort through.
No decision on the call. You can think about it, talk it over at home and check everything yourself first.

Straight answers to the pushback I hear most

Won't a broker just push whatever plan pays them the most?

That's a fair worry. I'd rather keep you as a client for years than oversell you once, so I show you why I'm recommending a plan and what you'd give up with it. When another path fits you better, like a marketplace plan with a big subsidy, I'll point you there even when it pays me nothing. How I'm paid is laid out plainly on my how-we're-paid page.

If I fill out a form, will I get calls from a dozen agents?

Not from me. Lead websites often sell your information to several agents at once, which is where the flood of calls comes from. When you reach out to me, your information stays with me, and you hear from me, not a string of strangers.

Is my situation too small or too complicated for a broker?

Neither. One person on a simple plan gets the same attention as a family of five, and two-state households, variable self-employed income and past health issues are normal here. If private coverage isn't a fit, I'll tell you quickly and point you to what is.

You're in Tampa. Can you help me in another state?

Yes, if I'm licensed in your state, and I'm licensed in 31. Everything happens by phone or video, so you get the same help whether you live down the street or across the country.

I've been uninsured or turned down before. Is it worth calling?

Yes, and there's no judgment either way. A lot of people have gone without coverage for a stretch or been declined for a plan. A denial for a medically underwritten plan doesn't close every door, and the marketplace can't turn you down for health history, so it's worth looking at your options with someone who knows both paths.

I already have an agent. Should I still talk to you?

Only if you want a second look. If your coverage fits and your agent takes care of you, keep them. If something feels off, or you've never had anyone compare both paths for you, a second opinion costs you nothing, and I'll tell you if what you have is already right.

Can I just wait until I actually need coverage?

You can, but know what you're giving up. Many private plans ask health questions, so waiting until you're sick can close that door, and the marketplace mostly lets you enroll only during open enrollment or after a qualifying life event. That isn't a reason to rush. It's a reason to know your options while you have the most of them.

What if I enroll and change my mind?

Ask how cancellation works before you enroll, and I'll walk you through it for the plan you're looking at. You're never locked into working with me, and if you have questions after you enroll, you call me, not a call center.

Can't you just send me something in writing?

Yes, I'll send you the plan document so you can read it yourself before you decide. What I don't do is explain your specific coverage over email, because that's where details get lost. We go through it live, so you can ask every question and get a straight answer.

I need to think about it. What should I do in the meantime?

Take your time. Check my license and reviews, read the plan document and look up the insurance company. My guide on whether private health insurance is legit walks through every check. When you're ready, pick a day and I'll call you back then.

There are too many options. How do I choose?

You shouldn't have to sort through a pile of quotes. I narrow it to one recommendation and one backup that fit how you earn and how you use care, and I explain why, so the choice is between two clear options instead of twenty.