No — using a health insurance broker does not cost you extra. Brokers are paid a commission by the insurance carrier, and it is built into the premium whether you use one or not. The plan price is identical either way; enroll direct and the carrier simply keeps it.
It's the first thing most people ask on an initial call with Cavin: "So what do you charge for this?"
The answer — nothing — is usually met with skepticism. Because in most areas of life, personalized professional guidance costs money. So how does a health insurance broker spend time comparing plans, answering questions, and staying available through the life of your policy, all without charging you a dime?
The answer has everything to do with how the health insurance industry is structured — and once you understand it, it actually makes a lot of sense.
How Brokers Actually Get Paid
Health insurance brokers are compensated by the insurance carriers, not by the people they help. When you enroll in a plan through a broker, the carrier pays the broker a commission — a percentage of your monthly premium that's already baked into the cost of the plan itself.
Here's the part most people don't realize: that commission exists whether you use a broker or not. If you go directly to an insurance carrier or enroll on healthcare.gov without a broker, the carrier keeps that commission for themselves. You pay the same premium either way.
So when you work with an independent broker, you're not paying extra. You're just redirecting money that was already accounted for in your premium toward someone who's actually working for you.
Broker vs. Going Direct — What's Actually Different
If the price is the same either way, what exactly does a broker add? Quite a bit, as it turns out.
Access to more options
When you go to an insurance company's website directly, you see that company's plans. When you call a captive agent — one who works for a single carrier — you see that company's plans. An independent broker like Cavin has access to plans across multiple carriers and can compare ACA Marketplace options and private plans in the same conversation. You get a fuller picture.
Someone who checks the details that matter
Online comparison tools show you premiums and deductibles. They don't call ahead to confirm your specific doctor is in-network, or flag that a plan's formulary doesn't cover your prescription. A broker does. These details can make the difference between a plan that works and one that costs you money you didn't expect.
Help after enrollment
This is where the real value shows up. When a claim gets denied, when your EOB doesn't make sense, when your plan changes at renewal — a broker is your advocate. You call Cavin directly, not a 1-800 number with a 45-minute hold time. That concierge-level service continues for the entire life of your policy, at no additional cost.
What to Watch Out For: Captive vs. Independent
Not all brokers operate the same way. A captive agent works for one insurance company and can only sell that company's plans. They're technically "free" to work with too — but their incentive is to sell you their employer's product, not to find you the best fit across the market.
An independent broker has no allegiance to any single carrier. Cavin gets paid a similar commission regardless of which carrier or plan you choose — which means his incentive is simply to find the right fit for your situation. That independence matters.
The Bottom Line
Using a health insurance broker costs you nothing out of pocket. The commission structure is built into the insurance industry — you're paying it either way. The question is whether that money goes toward someone who's actively working to find you the right plan and sticks around when things get complicated, or whether it stays with the carrier.
For self-employed individuals, 1099 workers, and families navigating coverage on their own, having an advocate in your corner — at no extra cost — is genuinely one of the better deals in the insurance world.
Book a free call with Cavin and see what your options actually look like.
Common questions
Does using a health insurance broker cost extra?
No. A broker costs you nothing extra. Brokers are paid a commission by the insurance carrier, and that commission is built into the premium whether you use a broker or not.
Is the price different if I buy directly from healthcare.gov or the carrier?
No. The plan price is identical. If you enroll direct, the carrier simply keeps the commission instead of paying it to a broker. You do not save money by going without one.
How does a health insurance broker get paid?
The insurance carrier pays the broker a commission when a policy is placed, and continues paying while the policy stays active. It comes out of the carrier's side of the premium, not as an addition to your bill.
Does Rohr Health Advisors charge a broker fee?
No. Cavin Rohr charges no fee of any kind. Compensation comes from the carrier, which is why the NPN is published on the licensing page and the plan price is the same either way.