Independent · Free to use · No call centers
Find a Medicare agent you can actually check up on.
Most directories show you a list of names. We show you which insurance companies each agent can actually sell, whether their license is active today, and what they specialize in — so you can compare them before you pick up the phone.
- Every license checked against the state register
- We never sell your details to lead buyers
The six questions
What you should compare agents on
Nobody turning 65 has been taught how to judge a Medicare agent, and the industry has not been in a hurry to explain it. These are the six things that change the advice you get. Every profile on this site answers all six.
Independent, or tied to one company?
A captive agent can only sell you plans from the one insurer they work for. An independent broker can compare across many. Neither is dishonest, but you should know which one you are talking to before you take their recommendation.
Which carriers are they actually appointed with?
An agent can only sell plans from insurers who have appointed them. "We compare all plans" is rarely true. We show the real list.
Is the license active right now?
We check the number against the issuing state’s public register and show you the date we last looked. A lapsed or revoked license is not a small detail.
Advantage, Medigap, or both?
These are genuinely different products needing different expertise, and an agent who mostly sells one will tend to steer you toward it. Medigap in particular has a once-in-a-lifetime enrollment window that is easy to miss.
How are they paid, and by whom?
Agents are paid a commission by the insurance company, not by you. Commission amounts are capped by CMS and are similar across plans, but they are not identical — so it is a fair question, and a good agent will answer it plainly.
Will they still take your call in March?
Plenty of help appears in October and vanishes in December. Claims problems, network changes and appeals happen all year. We show how long each agent has been licensed in your state.
Know the difference
Three very different people will offer to help you
All three are legal. All three are free to you. They are not equally useful, and the television advertising does not distinguish between them.
| What you get | Independent local broker | Captive agent | National call center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can compare plans from several insurers | Yes | No — one insurer | Sometimes, a limited panel |
| Knows whether your doctors are in network | Usually — they work locally | Sometimes | Rarely |
| Same person answers next year | Usually | Sometimes | Almost never |
| Helps when a claim is refused | Yes | Yes | Rarely |
| Your phone number may be resold | No | No | Often |
Captive agents are not doing anything wrong — many are excellent, and if you already know which insurer you want, one is a perfectly sensible choice. The problem is only ever being given a one-company recommendation while believing you were given a comparison.
All 50 states and DC
Browse Medicare agents by state
Medicare Advantage plans, and the rules for buying a Medigap policy after your first six months, are set state by state. Start where you live.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Straight answers
Questions people ask us
Does it cost anything to use a Medicare agent?
No. Licensed Medicare agents are paid a commission by the insurance company whose plan you enroll in. You pay the same premium whether you enroll through an agent, through a call center, or directly with the insurer yourself.
What is the difference between a Medicare agent and a Medicare broker?
In everyday use the words are interchangeable, and both must hold a state insurance license. What actually matters is whether the person is captive — able to sell plans from only one insurer — or independent, able to compare across several. Ask that question rather than asking about the job title.
Will I get a flood of phone calls if I look for an agent?
Not from us. We do not sell your details to lead buyers and we do not pass your information to anyone until you choose a specific agent and ask us to. That is a deliberate difference from the sites that generate leads for a living.
How do you decide the order agents are listed in?
By your filters and by distance, and we publish the full rule on our methodology page. Agents can pay to be featured, and when they have, the listing is labeled "Sponsored". We never give a sponsored listing a rank number and we never call it "top rated".
When can I change my Medicare coverage?
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7 each year, and changes take effect on January 1. There is also a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, and separate Special Enrollment Periods if something changes in your life, such as moving or losing employer coverage.
Ready when you are.
Put in your ZIP code and see who is licensed near you. Nothing is sent to anyone until you choose an agent yourself.