Before you start with the search for an insurance agent you should decide the criteria that are important for your health plan and establish a budget that is manageable for your business. Only then should the selection process for an agent begin. The agent you select should be knowledgeable in insurance coverages and skilled in packaging a health plan that meets your criteria with out compromising your budget. A good Agent will check on you regularly (not just during re-enrollment time) and will ask questions that will help assess how well your health plan is working for the company and the employees. At the end of the year you and your Agent should be able to review the company’s financial and coverage needs and determine if there are adjustments or changes that might be necessary. One piece of advice: your health plan should never be on an automatic renewal basis. Your Agent should serve as an advocate for your company and should voluntarily present new solutions that will help improve your coverages, your bottom line or both.

Taking the time to look around and research before employing an agent, and then explaining clearly what you want to the person that you find will increase the chances of a perfect fit between you, your company and the insurance broker.