A broker finds you a plan. A consultant helps you figure out the right problem to solve first.
Most people looking for health insurance are actually trying to answer a more specific question underneath the surface. It might sound like “which plan has the lowest deductible?” But what they’re really trying to figure out is: what’s my actual financial exposure if something serious happens?
Those aren’t the same question — and the right answer to one might be the wrong answer to the other.
Both brokers and consultants can represent plans from multiple carriers. The difference is in how they engage the problem.
A broker typically starts with the product catalog. They ask what you’re looking for, match it to something available, and walk you through enrollment. That’s a useful service. It’s just not always the whole picture.
A consultant starts somewhere else. They want to understand your situation before recommending anything. What are you trying to protect against? What does your healthcare use actually look like? What are you assuming is true that might not be? Are there strategies beyond the obvious ones worth considering?
The difference isn’t about whether they earn a commission. Both do. It’s about whether they’re thinking about your problem or the product that solves it.
Health insurance is expensive, and the stakes are high. The right plan for your situation isn’t always the one with the lowest premium or the highest brand recognition. Sometimes the better strategy combines a few things you hadn’t considered together. Sometimes it’s a different way of looking at your actual risk exposure.
316 has been working this way since 2003. We don’t start with the product catalog. We start with your situation. When we have a clear enough picture, we make a recommendation and explain exactly why — including the tradeoffs and what you’d be giving up.
That’s what we think this job actually is.
Schedule a consultation. We’ll ask the questions first and let the strategy follow from there.
Schedule a Consultation (316) 282-3440