Employee benefits broker
An employee benefits broker looks after the whole package: medical, dental, vision, life and disability, plus the compliance work that comes with it. They are most useful from about 25 employees, when benefits start to shape hiring and retention.
At that size the money is real: KFF 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey figures show an average family premium of $28,303 in 2026, of which workers paid $7,471 on average.
A free matching service for employers, not a broker or insurer. We introduce you to a licensed broker and tell you who they are before anything is shared. No plan, tax or legal advice. How it works
Signs you need a benefits broker, not just a quote
- You offer, or want to offer, more than one line of cover.
- Open enrollment takes over your HR team every autumn.
- You are approaching, or past, 50 full-time equivalent employees and ACA reporting.
- You want to compare fully insured, level-funded and self-funded options.
- Employees keep asking about benefits you cannot explain.
- You need help with plan documents, notices and nondiscrimination testing.
What employers paid on average in 2026
| Benchmark | 2026 average |
|---|---|
| Average family premium Employer and worker shares together, per year | $28,303 |
| Worker share, family cover About 27% of the premium on average | $7,471 |
| Single deductible, all firms Where a general annual deductible applies | $1,955 |
| Covered workers in PPO plans The most common plan type | 50% |
| Covered workers in HSA-qualified plans Plans that let employees open a health savings account | 29% |
Source: KFF 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, published October 22, 2026. National averages for firms with 10 or more workers, weighted by covered workers. Not a quote or a rate for your business.
Six questions for an employee benefits broker
Larger accounts deserve a written answer to each of these, ideally in the broker's proposal.
Their license, in your state
A resident or non-resident producer license with accident and health authority wherever you have employees. You can check it on your state insurance department's site (the NAIC lists every department).
How they are paid
Commission from the carrier, a flat fee from you, or both. Federal rules require brokers to disclose expected pay of $1,000 or more for a group health plan in writing before you sign (DOL guidance, 2021).
Which carriers they can quote
Brokers can only place cover with carriers that have appointed them. Ask which carriers and funding types they will take your group to, and whether any are left out.
Their service team
Who your account manager will be, how many other employers they look after, and whether they attend open enrollment meetings or run them online.
What happens after you sign
Who handles enrollment, adding and removing employees, billing errors and claim problems during the year, and how quickly they reply.
Compliance help
Whether they help with ACA reporting, Section 125 premium-only plans, COBRA or state continuation notices and plan documents, or expect your payroll provider or attorney to do it.
Twenty-five employees or more and want a broker who handles the whole package? Tell us about your team and we will find one.
Find a licensed brokerHow a benefits broker usually works with you
Discovery
Your current plans, renewal history, claims data if you have it, budget and what you want benefits to do for hiring.
Strategy and marketing
Contribution strategy and plan design options, then quotes across carriers and funding types, presented side by side.
Decision and enrollment
You choose. The broker runs enrollment materials and meetings and works with your payroll or HR system on deductions.
Year-round service
Claims escalations, compliance reminders, mid-year changes and a renewal review well before the deadline.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a health insurance broker and a benefits broker?
The terms overlap. A group health broker may focus on medical plans for small employers; an employee benefits broker usually handles several lines (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, sometimes retirement) and more compliance work for larger groups. Both must hold a state insurance license.
How are employee benefits brokers paid?
Through carrier commission, a negotiated fee paid by the employer, or a mix. Larger employers often prefer a flat fee so the broker's pay does not rise with premiums. Under federal rules, brokers must disclose expected compensation of $1,000 or more for a group health plan in writing.
When do ACA employer rules start to apply?
At 50 or more full-time and full-time equivalent employees, on average, in the prior year. From then on the employer shared responsibility provisions and annual IRS reporting apply. A broker can help you track the count; an attorney or tax adviser should confirm your status.
What does "affordable" mean for an employer plan?
For plan years starting in 2026, employee-only cover counts as affordable if the employee's share is no more than 9.96% of household income; for 2027 the IRS set 10.22% (reported July 2026). It matters for employers with 50 or more full-time equivalents.
Should we review our broker every year?
Many employers review the broker relationship every two or three years, and the plan itself every renewal. A second opinion is reasonable whenever renewal increases are hard to explain or service has slipped.
Do you recommend carriers or plans?
No. We introduce you to a licensed benefits broker; they advise on carriers and plans. We are not licensed and do not give insurance, tax or legal advice.
Find an employee benefits broker
Three short steps: where the business is, what you have now, and who to speak to. It takes about two minutes and asks nothing about anyone's health.
- Free for employers. The broker pays us a flat fee per introduction.
- One broker, named to you first, with their state license number.
- No advice from us. Plans, rates and tax questions go to the licensed broker.
We are a free matching service, not a broker or insurer, and we do not quote or recommend plans. We look for a licensed benefits broker who suits your business and tell you who it is; your enquiry goes to them only with your go-ahead.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- Within one business day we will email or call to tell you which licensed benefits broker we have found, with their license number.
- Your details reach that broker only if you say yes.
- The broker reviews your renewal or your options and talks you through them. Whether to work with them is your choice. No marketing from us, ever.