How I'm paid, in plain words

The short version

The Health Plan Cost Review fee

The Health Plan Cost Review takes real time: your plan documents, your renewal, your claims reports, and about 2 to 3 weeks of analysis that ends in a written report and deck.

The Renewal Snapshot is $0. The Health Plan Cost Review is a flat fee set in your engagement letter: $7,500 for the standard scope, $12,500 when a self-funded structure is priced. If you place coverage through me, the carrier pays me a commission of $35 per employee per month. Nothing paid, and nothing using your documents or claims, starts before the engagement letter and broker-of-record letter are signed. You get my pay in writing, in dollars and per employee, before you sign. Taking part doesn’t depend on whether you ever buy coverage through me, and the engagement letter says exactly what it covers.

The Health Plan Cost Review is an advisory analysis of your plan's costs, not an audit opinion.

See a sample Health Plan Cost Review

When I’m paid a commission

If the findings point to a change and you decide to place coverage through me, the carrier pays me a commission of $35 per employee per month. It’s disclosed in writing, in dollars and per employee, before you sign anything. The disclosure covers the whole chain: my commission plus any agency or general agent override.

If both happen

If you ever pay me directly and also place coverage through me, I’ll disclose both to you in writing, and you’ll acknowledge it before you sign anything. Texas has written disclosure rules for agents paid by both the client and the insurer. Federal law also requires brokers and consultants to group health plans to disclose their pay in writing when they expect $1,000 or more, at any plan size.

If anyone else would ever pay me in connection with your plan, that’s in the same written disclosure.

What I don’t do

• I don’t pay referral fees.
• Nothing paid, and nothing using your documents or claims, starts before the engagement letter and broker-of-record letter are signed.

I’m independent. I don’t work for the insurance company.

Do health insurance brokers charge a fee?

Many are paid only by commission from the insurer. Some charge a fee. Some do both. With me: The Renewal Snapshot is $0. The Health Plan Cost Review is a flat fee set in your engagement letter: $7,500 for the standard scope, $12,500 when a self-funded structure is priced. If you place coverage through me, the carrier pays me a commission of $35 per employee per month. My pay is disclosed in writing, in dollars and per employee, before you sign anything.

How is a broker's commission calculated?

It’s usually a percentage of premium or a flat amount per employee per month, set by the insurer. Mine is $35 per employee per month, disclosed in writing, in dollars and per employee, before you sign anything.

Do you pay referral fees?

No. I don’t pay referral fees.

Do I have to buy anything after the Health Plan Cost Review?

No. You aren’t committing to anything, and you keep the findings either way. You can use them to negotiate your renewal, keep your current plan, or revoke the broker-of-record letter and take them elsewhere.