How to check an agent's Florida license
- Get the agent's full name and NPN. A licensed insurance agent should give you both without hesitation, and a Florida license number if you ask.
- Open Licensee Search. Go to licenseesearch.fldfs.com, run by DFS's Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services.
- Search by name, license number or NPN. The NPN avoids mix-ups with agents who share a name. DFS says the data is close to real time.
- Read the result. Check that the license is valid and that its type covers health insurance (see the table).
- Check for discipline. Licensee Search doesn't show disciplinary actions yet. DFS points to its orders on Florida Administrative Information Online: search for Department of Financial Services, then Insurance Agent and Agency Services.
Florida license types that cover health insurance
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Health | 2-40 | 8-40 |
| Health and Life (including annuities and variable contracts) | 2-15 | 8-15 |
A license alone doesn't let an agent sell a company's Medicare plans; the company must also appoint the agent. Licensee Search has a checkbox for "Only Licensees with No Qualifying Appointment," which can show that a license holder has no active appointment.
Questions to ask
- Which companies do you work with in my county? Florida has 297 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone statewide for 2027 from 22 companies, from 7 in Monroe County to 52 in Hillsborough (CMS data; see Florida Medicare by the numbers).
- Can you check my doctors, my prescriptions and my pharmacy before I enroll?
- If I'm a state retiree, how would an outside plan affect my State Group Insurance coverage? See Florida state retirees and Medicare.
- Will you help me after I enroll, for example if my plan ends? See plans ending in 2027.
Red flags: someone who calls you without your permission, says they're from Medicare, pressures you to decide today, offers a gift for switching, or asks for your Medicare number before explaining anything. Medicare's rules require a Scope of Appointment, a record of which types of plans you agreed to discuss, before a sales appointment. See how to file a complaint against a Medicare agent in Florida.
Agents on this site
Our licensed insurance agents page lists independent licensed insurance agents who are licensed in Florida and work with Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. They aren't Benefits Life employees, and when they enroll you in a plan, the agent and Benefits Life may be paid by the insurance company. They can explain plans from the companies they work with. You can also request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
How do I complain about a Medicare agent in Florida?
When something goes wrong.
Why do I get so many Medicare calls?
Sales calls and your rights.
How can I help my parent with Medicare?
Meeting an agent together.
Sources
- Florida Department of Financial Services — Licensee Search
- Florida Department of Financial Services — Licensee Search FAQ
- Florida Department of Financial Services — License qualifications and classes
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.2272, licensing and appointment of marketing representatives
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.2264, beneficiary contact and Scope of Appointment
More questions in this guide
- How can I help my parent with Medicare in Florida as a caregiver?
- How do I file a complaint against a Medicare insurance agent in Florida?
- How do I appeal a hospital discharge in Florida if I'm not ready to go home?
- How do I appeal a Medicare denial in Florida?
- Why do I get so many calls to change my Medicare plan?
Part of the guide: Florida Medicare contacts · All questions
Frequently asked questions
What is an NPN?
A National Producer Number is a unique ID the National Association of Insurance Commissioners assigns to each licensed insurance agent. It stays the same across states, so it's the most reliable way to look an agent up.
Does an agent have to live in Florida?
No. DFS issues nonresident licenses, and Licensee Search lets you filter by resident or nonresident. What matters is that the Florida license is valid and covers health insurance.
Does it cost anything to use an agent?
No. Licensed insurance agents are paid by the insurance companies whose plans they sell, so their help is at no cost to you. A plan's premium is the same whether you enroll through an agent or on your own.
Can any licensed agent sell me any Medicare plan?
No. Medicare rules say a Medicare Advantage or Part D company may use only agents licensed in the state and appointed by that company. Ask which companies the agent is appointed with in your county.
Medicare in your Florida county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Hillsborough · Orange · Duval · Pinellas · Lee · Polk · Pasco · Brevard · Volusia · Seminole · Sarasota · Osceola · Manatee · Lake · Marion · Collier · St. Lucie · All 67 counties →
