Do I have to pay a Medicare agent, and how do they get paid?

You don't pay a licensed Medicare agent for their help — they're compensated by the insurance carriers whose plans they offer. Those commissions are regulated and are generally the same whether you enroll through an agent or directly with the carrier, so using an agent doesn't raise your premium. Because an agent is paid by the carriers they represent, asking which carriers they work with helps you understand the range of plans they can compare with you.

— Medicare Agent Scout editorial team