Health Insurance Broker FAQ: Straight Answers, No Fine Print

Generally, you don't pay us a separate fee to help you compare and enroll in the plans we represent. Insurance carriers may compensate brokers when an enrollment occurs.

We'll explain our role, review the options available to you, and help you understand what you're considering before you make a decision.

Insurance brokers are commonly compensated by insurance carriers when clients enroll in certain plans. That allows us to help clients review coverage without charging a separate consultation fee in many situations.

If anything about our compensation applies differently to your situation, we'll explain it before you enroll.

Some insurance agents represent a single insurance company. Independent brokers can work with multiple carriers.

As an independent brokerage, Lighthouse Group can review plans from the insurance companies we represent and help you compare factors such as premiums, benefits, provider networks, and prescription coverage.

Yes. Our relationship doesn't have to end when you choose a plan.

We can continue helping with questions about your coverage, renewals, plan changes, and other issues that come up along the way. If something isn't making sense, you have someone you can ask.

You absolutely can.

The challenge is that a plan name and monthly premium don't tell you everything. Your doctors, prescriptions, provider network, deductible, and expected healthcare needs can all affect how well a plan works for you.

We help you look beyond the price tag so you can better understand what you're choosing before you enroll.

No. Most of our consultations happen virtually, making it easy to meet with us from home, the office, or wherever your day happens to take you.

If you'd prefer to discuss another meeting arrangement, just ask.

In many cases, yes. Open enrollment gets all the attention, but it’s not the only way in. If you’ve had a qualifying life event, like losing other coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby, you can usually enroll in a marketplace plan within 60 days of that event. And plenty of coverage isn’t tied to open enrollment at all:

Health shares and some alternative plans can often start any time of year.

Small business group plans can be set up any time of year.

Medicare has its own enrollment windows, including when you first become eligible, so you don’t have to wait for fall.

Life, disability, final expense, and long-term care insurance can be applied for any time of year.

Not sure if you qualify for anything right now? Ask us. We’ll tell you what’s available today and what’s worth waiting for.

Do you only help people during open enrollment?

Not at all. Insurance is our full-time job, 12 months a year. Open enrollment is our busiest season, but people lose jobs, start businesses, turn 65, and change plans all year long, and we’re here for every bit of it. Reach out whenever a question comes up, in March or in November.

Yes. We work with clients throughout Colorado, including the Front Range, mountain communities, and Western Slope.

We're also licensed in Texas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Arizona. Coverage and plan availability vary by location, so contact us and we'll determine whether we can assist with what you're looking for.

Marketplace health insurance open enrollment typically begins in November each year. The exact end date can vary, so it's a good idea to check the current enrollment dates before choosing or renewing a plan.

If you miss open enrollment, certain life events—such as losing job-based coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby—may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period.

Don't worry about assembling a giant insurance file.

For individual health coverage, it helps to have:

• A list of your doctors
• Your prescriptions
• Information about your current coverage, if applicable
• An estimate of household income if you're exploring Marketplace coverage

Small business owners may also want a basic employee list available.

Don't have everything yet? That's okay. Start with what you have, and we'll let you know what else we need.

We take responsive communication seriously. Messages submitted through our website go to a shared inbox so our team can keep an eye on incoming questions rather than relying on one person to catch everything.

You can also schedule a consultation online or call us at 719-645-6281.

That's not how we work.

Our process starts with understanding what you need. From there, we research your options, review them with you, answer your questions, and help with enrollment if you decide to move forward.

Sometimes the first conversation simply gives someone the answers they needed. That's perfectly fine with us.

Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal employer mandate generally applies to employers with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time-equivalent employees. Requirements can depend on the size and circumstances of your business.

Even when coverage isn't required, some small employers choose to offer health benefits as part of their approach to recruiting and retaining employees.

We'll help you understand the health insurance options available for your business.

Colorado's small group health insurance market generally serves eligible small employers with up to 50 employees. Eligibility, participation, and employer-contribution requirements can vary by carrier and situation.

We'll look at your company and help determine which options may be available.

Yes. We work with freelancers, independent contractors, business owners, and solopreneurs who need health coverage for themselves or their families.

Being a business of one doesn't mean you have to sort through your options alone.

For more information, see our guide to small business health insurance.

Open enrollment gives eligible Colorado residents an annual opportunity to enroll in or change individual health coverage.

Enrollment dates and requirements can change from year to year, so we'll help you confirm the current deadlines and compare your available options rather than relying on last year's information.

That depends on factors such as your household size, expected annual household income, and eligibility for other coverage.

Premium tax credits for eligible Marketplace coverage are available through Connect for Health Colorado. We can help you explore your options and determine what information you'll need when checking your eligibility.

No. Health care sharing arrangements and health insurance work differently.

Health shares generally aren't regulated as health insurance and may have different rules regarding eligible expenses, pre-existing conditions, and payment of medical bills.

For some households, the monthly cost can make them worth considering. The important part is understanding the differences before making a decision. We'll walk through those trade-offs with you

You may be able to enroll outside the annual open enrollment period if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Certain life events—such as losing qualifying coverage, getting married, having a baby, or moving in qualifying circumstances—may open an enrollment window. Deadlines and eligibility rules apply, so it's worth checking promptly after a life change.

For more information, see our guide to individual health insurance.

Your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period generally begins three months before the month you turn 65 and continues for seven months.

If you have qualifying employer coverage, you may be able to delay certain parts of Medicare without a late-enrollment penalty.

Medicare enrollment rules depend on your specific coverage and employment situation, so we'll help you understand which enrollment period may apply to you.

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period generally runs from October 15 through December 7 each year.

People enrolled in Medicare Advantage also have a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31, during which certain changes may be available.

Special Enrollment Periods can also apply after certain qualifying events, such as moving or losing other coverage.

They work in different ways.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies and may include provider networks, prescription drug coverage, and additional benefits depending on the plan.

Medicare Supplement plans work alongside Original Medicare and can help with certain out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover. Prescription drug coverage is generally obtained separately through Part D.

Your doctors, prescriptions, budget, travel habits, and available plans can all affect your decision. We'll help you compare the Medicare options we represent so you can understand the differences.

Sometimes, but the timing and circumstances matter.

Outside certain guaranteed-issue situations or your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, a Medicare Supplement insurer may use medical underwriting and may not approve an application.

Before changing your current coverage, we can help you review the options available to you and understand what the change could involve.

Medicare Supplement plans generally don't include prescription drug coverage.

If you want Medicare prescription drug coverage, you would typically enroll separately in a Part D plan. Going without creditable prescription drug coverage when you're eligible may result in a late-enrollment penalty.

We'll help you look at prescription coverage as part of the bigger Medicare picture.

Start with your Annual Notice of Change. This document explains changes to your plan's costs, benefits, provider network, and prescription drug coverage for the coming year.

During an applicable enrollment period, we can help you compare your current plan with other Medicare options we represent in your area. Then you can decide whether staying put or making a change makes sense for you.

Not even a little.

Start with what you know. We'll ask about your current coverage, doctors, prescriptions, budget, and questions. Then we'll explain the Medicare options we represent in plain English.

You don't need to study for your consultation.

You generally don't pay Lighthouse Group a separate fee for helping you review and enroll in the Medicare plans we represent.

Insurance carriers may compensate licensed agents or brokers when an enrollment occurs. We'll explain our role and the plans we represent before you make a decision.

Lighthouse Group is based in the Colorado Springs area and works with Medicare clients throughout Colorado, primarily through virtual consultations.

Medicare plan availability varies by county, so we'll review the plans we represent that are available where you live.

For more information, see our Medicare guide.

There's no single number that works for everyone.

A useful starting point is considering what the people who depend on you could need if your income were no longer available. That might include a mortgage, other debts, everyday living expenses, education costs, and final expenses.

We'll walk through those considerations with you and help you understand the coverage options available.

It depends on why you need the coverage.

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specified period and can be an option for needs that may decrease over time, such as income replacement during your working years or helping cover a mortgage.

Whole life insurance is designed to provide permanent coverage as long as policy requirements are met and may be considered for certain long-term financial needs.

We'll explain the differences, costs, and available options so you can decide what makes sense for your situation.

If your household relies heavily on the income you earn, disability coverage may be worth considering.

Self-employed people don't typically have an employer-sponsored group disability plan to fall back on. Individual disability insurance can provide income benefits when a covered disability prevents you from working, subject to the terms and limitations of the policy.

We'll help you understand how the coverage works before you decide whether it belongs in your plans.

Medicare generally doesn't cover most long-term custodial care, such as ongoing assistance with everyday activities.

Long-term care insurance and certain life insurance products with long-term care features may provide benefits for qualifying care, depending on the policy.

If long-term care is something you're thinking about, we can explain the insurance options we offer and the role they may play in your planning.

For more information, see our guide to life and disability insurance.