Gather the Documents
A short document list lets a new broker review your plan quickly. A new broker typically asks for the current renewal or rate sheet, a recent employee census, the last few invoices, plan summaries or benefit summaries, and prior-year rates.
What a new broker needs from you.
A new broker typically asks for the current renewal or rate sheet, a recent employee census, the last few invoices, plan summaries or benefit summaries, and prior-year rates. Claims information and a contribution schedule are useful where the carrier provides them.
Most of these are in HR or finance files already. A broker who is serious about helping will tell you exactly what is needed and take the work of organizing it off your plate.
Why Documents Make the Review Faster.
A new broker can only review what they can see. The faster the documents arrive, the faster the review. A tidy package, even if incomplete, is better than waiting.
If you cannot find something, say so. The carrier can often provide it, with your authorization.
Group size matters: larger groups usually need claims data and several years of renewals.
A few more questions.
Do I need claims data to start?
No. A first review can begin with the renewal, census and plan summaries. Claims data helps later, especially for larger groups.
Can the new broker request the documents for me?
With your signed authorization, a new broker can often request information directly from carriers. Ask what they will do versus what you need to send.
What if we don’t have a census?
Your payroll or HR system can usually produce one. The new broker can give you a template.
Can the carrier send documents directly?
With your authorization, yes.
How should we send them?
Ask the broker for a secure method rather than ordinary email.
Related guides.
How to Switch Benefits Brokers in Michigan
Signs it is time, the six steps, and timing.
Review Before You Commit
A good broker reviews the renewal and the market first, so you can see whether a change is worth making before anything is signed.
The Carrier Processes the Change
The carrier records the new broker. Your coverage stays in force while this happens.
Send us your renewal.
We’ll tell you whether it looks competitive, where we see opportunity, and the five questions we’d put to your carrier. No cost, and no obligation to move anything.
The renewal letter
Your current plan summary
Contribution split by tier
Enrolled counts by tier
Four documents — two more if your group is 50 or more. Nothing else; every extra one is a reason to postpone.
An independent employee benefits consulting firm. We look at the entire benefits program: cost, plan performance, risk and administration.
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