A broker-of-record letter changes who represents you. Nothing else.
- No change to your plan, carrier or rates
- No new enrollment for employees
- No gap in coverage
- Your new broker can request renewal and plan information from the carrier
A broker-of-record letter is a short, signed letter on company letterhead that names a new broker as your representative with a carrier. The carrier records the change, and from then on the new broker can request renewals, quotes and service on your behalf.
Your plan, your carrier, your rates, your effective dates and your employees’ ID cards all stay the same. Employees usually notice nothing until they need help, and then they reach a different person.
Broker-of-record letters are filed with each carrier, so you can appoint a new broker for one line of coverage, such as dental, and leave another arrangement in place for the rest.
Switching in four steps.
Send what you have
Your current plan summaries, the latest renewal or rates, and an employee census. A short call is enough to start.
Sign the letter
We draft a broker-of-record letter for each carrier. You sign it on company letterhead.
Carrier confirms
We submit the letters and follow each one to confirmation. Some carriers notify the current broker and wait a short period before the change takes effect.
Review and compare
With your renewal in hand, we compare it against the market, including level-funded and HRA options where they fit, and walk you through the choices before your deadline.
When to switch.
You can change brokers at any time. You are not locked to your renewal date, and the change does not have to wait for open enrollment.
Starting 60 to 90 days before your renewal gives the new broker room to request renewal information, gather a census and quote alternatives before decisions are due. Later still works; there is simply less time to compare.
Four questions to ask before you renew.
A 43-second checklist for the conversation to have before your renewal is due.
Switching brokers, answered.
Will our employees have to re-enroll?
No. Changing brokers does not change the plan, so there is no new enrollment. Employees keep their coverage and their ID cards.
Do we have to tell our current broker?
It is courteous but not required. The carrier records the change, and some carriers notify the current broker as part of the process.
Can we switch in the middle of the plan year?
Yes. A broker-of-record change does not have to wait for renewal. If you decide to change the plan itself, that usually happens at your renewal date.
Does it cost anything to switch?
We do not charge a fee for our brokerage services; brokers are compensated by the carriers. Some administration services, such as COBRA, are run by third-party administrators that bill their own fees, and we tell you about those before you sign up.
Can we change brokers for just one coverage line?
Usually, yes. Broker-of-record letters are filed with each carrier, so you can appoint a new broker for one line and keep another arrangement for the rest.
Tools that help you prepare.
Send your employee census
Enter employees online or upload a spreadsheet. The file is locked before it is sent.
Start the census →ACA affordability calculator
Check whether your lowest-cost employee-only plan meets the affordability test.
Open the calculator →Full-time equivalent calculator
Count full-time equivalent employees the way the ACA does.
Open the calculator →The rest of the administration.
Benefits Enrollment
Online enrollment your employees run themselves, at no additional cost.
Read more →Employee Education
Group meetings, private consultations, and virtual sessions that help employees understand their choices.
Read more →ACA Compliance
The filings and notices that carry real penalties when missed.
Read more →COBRA Administration
Deadline-driven notices handled by a professional administrator.
Read more →HRA, HSA & Pre-Tax
Tax-advantaged accounts that cut cost for the company and the employee.
Read more →Get a second opinion before your renewal.
Send your renewal and census. We will tell you plainly whether a change makes sense.