How to check a Medicare agent's license in North Carolina
Every agent who sells Medicare plans must be licensed by the state. In North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Insurance keeps the list. Plans must also tell the state which agents sell their plans.
- Ask the agent for their full name and license number.
- Open the North Carolina Department of Insurance Look Up An Insurance Agent.
- Search by the agent's name or license number. The state's link opens a lookup run by NAIC, the national group of state insurance regulators.
Official lookup: North Carolina Department of Insurance: Look Up An Insurance Agent
What to check
- The name matches the person you spoke with.
- The license is current and issued by North Carolina.
Questions to ask a Medicare agent
- How many insurance companies and plans do you represent in my area? They must tell you this before they discuss plan details.
- Are you licensed in North Carolina? What is your license number?
- Will you talk only about the products I agreed to hear about?
- Can I take time to decide? You should sign an enrollment form only when you are ready to join.
- Is there any fee? There should not be. Agents can't charge an enrollment fee.
Free Medicare help in North Carolina
SHIIP is part of the North Carolina Department of Insurance. It gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling and has counselors in every county.
- Program: SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program)
- Phone: 1-855-408-1212
- Website: ncdoi.gov
How Medicare agents are paid in North Carolina (2027)
For 2027, a Medicare Advantage plan can pay an agent in North Carolina up to $725 for a new member in the first year and up to $363 for each year after that. A Part D drug plan can pay up to $130 the first year and $65 each year after.
Using an agent does not change your premium for a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Federal rules say everyone in the same plan in the same area pays the same plan premium. An agent also can't charge you an enrollment fee.
Medigap is different. The insurance company pays the agent a share of the premium. CMS's dollar limits cover Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, not Medigap.
North Carolina sets limits on how Medigap agents are paid. The first-year commission can be no more than 200% of the second-year commission, and renewal pay must last at least five years.
Medigap rules in North Carolina
North Carolina adds a rule for people under 65.
- Federal rule: your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. During those 6 months, an insurer can't turn you down or charge you more because of your health.
- Federal rule: if you wait to sign up for Part B because you or your spouse still has health coverage from a current job, the 6-month window starts when you sign up for Part B.
- Under 65: if you have Medicare because of a disability, North Carolina law lets you buy Medigap Plan A, D or G.
- Outside your open enrollment period you can still apply, but the insurer can look at your health before it decides.
- To compare Medigap premiums, the North Carolina Department of Insurance points people to Medicare's online plan tool.
Medicare Advantage plans in North Carolina for 2027
Medicare lists 120 Medicare Advantage plans in North Carolina for 2027 that anyone with Part A and Part B can join. The count leaves out special needs plans. It is from Medicare's plan data as of November 2026.
No one can choose from all 120. Each county has fewer. Across North Carolina's counties, the count runs from 11 to 57. Medicare's Plan Finder shows the plans for your ZIP code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Medicare agents in North Carolina charge a fee?
Not to sign you up. Medicare's rules say an agent or broker can't charge you an enrollment fee. The plan pays the agent. For 2027, CMS caps that pay at $725 in the first year for a Medicare Advantage plan.
What is the difference between a Medicare agent and a Medicare broker?
Medicare's rules treat agents and brokers the same way. Both must be licensed by your state and follow the same marketing rules. What matters more is how many insurance companies a person represents. They must tell you that before they talk about plan details.
Does using an agent change my premium?
Not for Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. Federal rules say everyone in the same plan in the same area pays the same plan premium. A Part D late enrollment penalty or Extra Help can change what one person pays. This rule does not cover Medigap.
How do I check a Medicare agent's license in North Carolina?
Use the North Carolina Department of Insurance Look Up An Insurance Agent. Search by the agent's name or license number. The state's link opens a lookup run by NAIC, the national group of state insurance regulators. Make sure the license is active.
Where can I get free Medicare help in North Carolina?
Call SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program) at 1-855-408-1212. It is North Carolina's State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Counselors help you choose a plan, review coverage and understand costs at no charge.
Can I sign up for Medicare without an agent?
Yes. You sign up for Part A and Part B through Social Security, online at ssa.gov or by phone. You can review and join Medicare Advantage and drug plans on Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.