Questions people actually ask
What does this cost me?
Nothing. We are paid by the insurance company when you enroll, the same amount no matter which plan you pick. You will never get a bill from us.
Why do you need my Social Security number?
Because the application does. The government checks your identity and your income against records it already has, and it uses your Social Security number to do it. Without it the application cannot be submitted.
We know that is a lot to ask from a website. Our license numbers are on every page. You can look us up with your state's insurance department before you give us anything.
Do you sell my information?
No. We are the licensed agents who will handle your application. We are not a lead company. Your information goes to the health insurance Marketplace and nowhere else.
What happens after I sign up here?
You will get a text and an email asking you to finish verifying your identity. That part only you can do — nobody at our office can do it for you, and no honest agent will offer to.
After that, we review everything and contact you either way: a confirmation if it is all set, or a message telling you exactly what is missing. You will hear from us regardless. If you do not, something went wrong, and you should call us.
Do I have to file taxes?
Yes, and this one catches people.
The help you get is paid to the insurance company during the year, then squared up when you file. If you take the help and do not file a return, you lose the help the following year.
If you earn more than you estimated, you pay some back. If you earn less, you get money back. Either way, file.
What if my income changes during the year?
Tell the Marketplace. Do not wait until tax time.
If your income goes up and you do not report it, you are quietly building a bill you will owe in April. If it goes down, you are leaving money on the table every month. Reporting a change takes about ten minutes.
I'm 64. What about Medicare?
Once you have Medicare, you cannot get help paying for a Marketplace plan. If you turn 65 during the year, tell us — the timing matters and getting it wrong is expensive.
Can you help me if I don't speak English?
Yes. Everything on this site is in Spanish, and Brandon speaks Spanish.
What if I already have a plan?
You can change it during open enrollment. Plans change their prices and their doctor networks every year, and the plan that was best for you last year may not be this year. It is worth twenty minutes to check.