5 ms·

Why do we need the brokers at all?

• CGamesPlay 10y ago
  Zenefits doesn't want to be an insurance company, they would much rather be a broker. But to actually answer your question, a broker is a tool for the consumer / provider to facilitate sales. If there's a better replacement tool, we don't need brokers. For example, travel agents used to be the best tool to find and purchase flights, but they have been replaced by Kayak and competitors.
  • beambot 10y ago
    I know what brokers ostensibly do. I'm asking: Why do we need healthcare insurance brokers in this day and age? If the answer is "we might not", then entrenched middlemen shouldn't be propped up by outside lobbyists, regulations, or "because, jobs." In fact, you could probably make a real case that middlemen are directly responsible for substantial markup on healthcare insurance costs!
    • Broken_Hippo 10y ago
      You could make that last case: However, I think a broker is probably the best way to compare different insurance plans when buying from the market instead of through your employer. For example, take 3 insurance shoppers. One has asthma, the second diabetes, and the third has MS. The three have vastly different needs for care and coverage, and the key to matching up the needs is the broker. The need for brokers could theoretically be eliminated, but that would take some government software and regulation and whatnot to get done.