Licensed agent vs. HealthCare.gov vs. a Navigator — which is the best way to sign up for a 2027 ACA plan?

For most people the best way is a licensed insurance agent: an agent compares plans with you against your doctors, prescriptions, and budget, enrolls you, and stays a named person you can call back — at no extra cost. HealthCare.gov's glossary says "You won't pay anything additional if you enroll with an agent or broker," and that agents and brokers "must be licensed in their states and have signed agreements to sell Marketplace health plans." United Enrollment Services, the licensed agency whose agent Heather Fabrizio (NPN 20983651, 39 state licenses) reviews this site, enrolls people by phone at 1-866-401-4116 and does it through the Marketplace, so any premium tax credit you qualify for still applies. The two free government options work differently: the HealthCare.gov call center at 1-800-318-2596 offers what HealthCare.gov calls "free, non-biased personal help" with the application, and Navigators are local helpers who are "required to be unbiased" and free — but federal Navigator funding was cut 90%, to $10 million a year, so far fewer are available. Doing it yourself on HealthCare.gov works if you are comfortable comparing networks, drug lists, and deductibles on your own. Whichever you choose, pick a plan by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. For help choosing or enrolling in a plan, call United Enrollment Services, a licensed insurance agency, at 1-866-401-4116.

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