Written and reviewed by Emily Daza, licensed health insurance advisor, NPN 21284721 · Updated October 16, 2026
Do you pay a health insurance broker in Florida?
Usually not. Licensed agents and brokers are generally paid by the insurance companies whose plans they represent, not by you. You shouldn't pay a separate fee for a quote or for enrolling. Before you buy, ask which insurers they work with and look up their license on the Florida DFS Licensee Search. Emily Daza's NPN is 21284721, and her help costs you nothing. Source: HealthCare.gov
What worries people about using a broker?
- You expect a hidden fee to appear once you've handed over your details.
- You filled out one online form and your phone hasn't stopped ringing since.
- You can't tell a Marketplace navigator from an agent, or which one can actually sell you a plan.
- You have no way of knowing whether the person on the phone is licensed.
- You suspect the agent will push whichever insurer pays them best.
What Emily does for you, at no cost
- Compares private PPO plans. Options available in your ZIP code, side by side, with the real monthly price.
- Checks your doctors and prescriptions. Before you apply, not after your first claim.
- Tells you when ACA is the better fit. Emily only sells private plans. If you have a pre-existing condition or qualify for a subsidy, she'll say so and point you to HealthCare.gov. Private vs ACA, explained.
- Stays on after you enroll. ID cards, claims questions, changes and renewals go through one person.
- Explains it in English or Spanish. By phone, WhatsApp, video or at her office in Plantation.
How do health insurance brokers get paid?
HealthCare.gov puts it plainly: agents and brokers are "generally paid by insurance companies whose plans they represent." That commission is part of how the insurer does business. It isn't a charge added to your bill. Source: HealthCare.gov
In practice, the same plan generally costs the same whether you buy it through an agent or straight from the insurer. Confirm it on your own quote: the premium an agent shows you should match the insurer's price for that exact plan. If anyone asks for a separate fee just to quote or enroll you, ask what it covers, in writing, before you pay.
One limit is worth knowing. You can get premium tax credits through an agent only if they enroll you through the Marketplace. Emily doesn't sell Marketplace plans, so if a tax credit would help you, she'll tell you and send you to HealthCare.gov.
Broker vs navigator vs buying direct: what's the difference?
Florida uses HealthCare.gov for its Marketplace, and it's the busiest in the country: 4,538,772 Floridians picked a Marketplace plan for 2026, more than any other state. Source: CMS You have three main ways to get help.
Marketplace navigators and assisters are free and help you apply for ACA plans. Their work is limited to Marketplace coverage.
Buying direct means going to one insurer's website or phone line. You'll see that company's plans and no one else's, and nobody compares them for you.
A licensed agent or broker can show plans from each insurer they're appointed with. For private PPO plans sold outside the Marketplace, you'll generally go through a licensed agent. That's the part of the market Emily works in.
How do you check a Florida agent's license?
It takes about two minutes. Go to the Florida DFS Licensee Search, search by the agent's name or license number, and look for an active license that covers health insurance. The state publishes step-by-step instructions. Source: Florida DFS
You can also ask for the agent's National Producer Number, or NPN, a single ID that follows a licensed agent from state to state. Emily's NPN is 21284721, and she's licensed in 31+ states.
While you're at it, ask two more questions: which insurers do you represent, and will you still be my contact after I enroll? HealthCare.gov notes that some agents "may not sell plans from insurance companies they don't represent," so their list tells you how wide the comparison really is. Source: HealthCare.gov
Licensed broker vs navigator vs buying direct
Here's how the three compare for someone shopping in Florida. Rules for any one agent or insurer can differ, so ask.
| Licensed broker | Marketplace navigator | Buying direct from an insurer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | No fee; paid by the insurer | Free | No fee |
| Plans you see | Plans from the insurers they represent (ask which) | ACA Marketplace plans | One insurer's plans |
| Private PPO plans | Yes; Emily's focus | No | Only that insurer's, if it sells them |
| ACA Marketplace plans | Some brokers do; Emily doesn't | Yes | If the insurer offers them |
| Compares options for you | Yes | Helps you apply | No |
| Help after you enroll | Your agent stays your contact | Varies | Insurer's customer service line |
How it works
- Ask anything first. A short call or the form below; no fee and no obligation.
- Look up Emily's license. NPN 21284721 on the Florida DFS Licensee Search, before you share anything personal.
- Compare side by side. Private PPO options with real prices, your doctors checked, and an honest word if ACA fits better.
- Enroll and keep one contact. Emily handles questions, changes and renewals after you're covered.
Check Emily's credentials yourself
- NPN 21284721, licensed in 31+ states; verify it on the Florida DFS Licensee Search.
- 5.0 on Google from real clients.
- $2.3M+ in sales and all 4 Hope Awards; she leads a team of 8.
- Born in Colombia, bilingual in English and Spanish, with an office in Plantation, FL.
Keep exploring
- Coverage: Individual plans · Family plans · Small business · Self-employed
- Guides: Private vs ACA · Open Enrollment · FAQ · All guides
- More articles: Cost of health insurance in Florida · Health insurance for 1099 workers · PPO vs HMO in Florida
- Local brokers: Plantation · Fort Lauderdale · Miami · En español
