What it costs to work with me
The honest version is short: insurance help is free to you, the Social Security analysis has a fee I'll tell you on the first call, and there is nothing else. Here is how each part works, including who pays me and why it doesn't change your premium.
Medicare plan comparison, enrollment and yearly reviews cost you nothing; the carrier pays me a commission that CMS caps at the same amount for every carrier, and your premium is identical whether you enroll through me, the carrier or medicare.gov. Auto, home, business and life insurance are the same: commission from the carrier, never a broker fee, and New York law would require a signed disclosure before any such fee could be charged. The Social Security claiming analysis is a separate advisory service with a flat fee, quoted on the first call before anything starts; it is the only thing I charge for.
The three answers
| Service | What you pay | Who pays me |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare — plan comparison, enrollment, Annual Enrollment reviews, questions all year | $0 | The carrier, a commission capped by Medicare at the same amount for every carrier |
| Auto, home, umbrella, business, life — quotes, placement, renewals, certificates, claims questions | $0 | The carrier, a commission built into the premium; no broker fee, ever |
| Social Security claiming analysis — your claiming scenarios side by side, written report, spousal and survivor sequencing | Flat fee, quoted on the first call | You; it's an advisory service, not tied to any product |
Medicare: why free to you really is free
When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan through an agent, the plan pays the agent. Medicare sets the maximum every year and publishes it; for 2026 the national figure is $694 for a new Advantage enrollment and $347 a year while you stay enrolled, and $114 / $57 for a stand-alone drug plan. Three things follow from that:
- Your premium doesn't change. The plan's premium is the plan's premium, filed with Medicare. Enrolling directly doesn't make it cheaper.
- No carrier pays me more. The cap is the same for every company, so there's no plan I'm steered toward by the commission. Where you see me steer is toward the plan whose directory lists your doctors.
- I'm paid to keep you, not to move you. The renewal is paid while you stay enrolled, which is the right incentive: a plan you leave in March is one I did badly.
Medigap works a little differently: the commission is a percentage of the premium and varies by carrier. That's the one place a commission could pull, so I put the DFS rate comparison in front of you with every carrier's price on it, and the standardized letters mean the plan is identical whichever name is on it.
Auto, home and business: no broker fee, ever
New York lets a broker charge a fee, but only with a written memorandum, signed by you, stating the amount (Insurance Law §2119). I don't charge one and won't. The carrier pays a commission that's inside the premium, and that premium is the same whether you buy through me or from the company. What you get for it is someone who priced the coverage across carriers, reads the declarations page, and answers the phone when there's a claim. Certificates of insurance are free too.
Social Security: the one thing I charge for
The claiming analysis isn't insurance, and no carrier pays for it. It's an advisory engagement: your my Social Security statement (and your spouse's), a conversation about work, health and household, then a written report showing 62, full retirement age, 70 and the sequences in between, with a recommendation and the reasons. It's priced as a flat fee, which I quote on the first call once I know the shape of it — one record or two, spousal, survivor or divorced-spouse benefits — and nothing is billed until you've said yes. If you'd rather only talk Medicare, the fee never comes up.
If you don't buy anything, you don't owe anything
A good share of my Medicare conversations end with "keep what you have." That costs you nothing and it's a result I'm happy with. The only invoice I ever send is for a Social Security analysis you asked for and agreed to.
- 42 CFR §422.2274, agent and broker compensation limits (eCFR) — initial at or below fair market value; renewal at most 50%
- Contract year 2026 agent and broker compensation rates, CMS memo of June 2025 (copy hosted by Ritter) — $694 / $347 Medicare Advantage; $114 / $57 Part D, national
- New York Insurance Law §2119, broker fees require a written memorandum (NY Senate)
- Comparison of 2026 Medicare Supplement premiums (NY DFS) — the same rate through any channel
I do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information I provide is limited to the plans I do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for information on all of your options. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Social Security Administration or the federal Medicare program.
Common questions
Short answers to what people ask before they call.
Is it more expensive to get a Medicare plan through an agent?
No. Medicare Advantage and Part D premiums are set by the plan and filed with Medicare; Medigap premiums are filed with the New York Department of Financial Services. The price is the same whether you enroll through me, call the carrier, or use medicare.gov. What changes is who checked your doctors and prescriptions first, and who you call next year.
How much commission do you get on a Medicare plan?
Medicare sets a national maximum each year and every carrier pays at or below it. For 2026 that is $694 for a new Medicare Advantage enrollment and $347 a year for a renewal, and $114 / $57 for a stand-alone Part D plan. Because the cap is the same for every carrier, there is no carrier I earn more for recommending. Medigap commissions are a percentage of the premium and do vary by carrier, which is why I show you the DFS rate table with every company's price on it.
Do you charge a broker fee on auto, home or business insurance?
Never. In New York a broker may charge a fee only with a written, signed memorandum disclosing it (Insurance Law §2119); I don't use one. The carrier pays a commission built into the premium you'd pay through any channel.
What does the Social Security analysis cost?
A flat fee, which I quote on the first call once I know whether it's one record or two, and whether spousal, survivor or divorced-spouse benefits are involved. Nothing is billed until you've agreed to the fee. It's separate from Medicare help, which stays free even if you decide against the analysis.
What if I don't enroll in anything?
Then nothing is owed. Plenty of conversations end with me telling someone their current coverage is the right fit; that's a fine outcome.
Start with a short call
Tell me which decision you're working on. If it's Social Security, I'll tell you the fee before we go further; if it's insurance, there isn't one.