We don't recommend the cheapest plan. We recommend the right plan. Here are the 7 criteria every TBB advisor scores before suggesting any coverage.
Most brokers compare plans on one number: monthly premium. That's how people end up with a "cheap" plan that doesn't cover their doctor, doesn't cover their meds, and bankrupts them the first time they actually need to use it.
We do it differently. Before any TBB advisor recommends a plan, we score every option in your area against 7 criteria and we tell you exactly where each plan lands on each one.
No black box. No hidden incentives. No "this one's our recommendation, trust us."
We pull your providers (primary care, specialists, your hospital) and check each plan's network. If your doctor isn't covered, that plan drops in rank full stop. Switching plans almost always means some network change, and we flag every one before you commit.
Every plan has a formulary that groups drugs into tiers. We check each of your medications against each plan's formulary and project your actual monthly Rx cost not the brochure number. We never recommend a plan that doesn't cover what you're already taking.
Premium is what you pay every month. Out-of-pocket max is what you'll pay in a bad year. We score plans on the worst-case number including deductible, copays, and coinsurance because that's the only honest measure of catastrophic risk. The 2026 federal cap is $9,200 individual / $18,400 family; many plans land well below it.
The "cheap" plan isn't cheap if the deductible is $14,000. We model your expected annual cost (premium + likely out-of-pocket) against each plan's benefits coverage breadth, copay structure, drug tier, max OOP and pick the plan with the best dollar-for-dollar value for your usage pattern, not the cheapest sticker.
A great plan on paper from a carrier that denies routine claims isn't a great plan. We weight carrier-level claim-denial rates, complaint volumes (NAIC), in-network access, and our own client experience with each carrier in your state. Some "competitive" carriers we will not recommend, regardless of price.
For Marketplace plans, we run your income + household size against the Premium Tax Credit formula and Cost-Sharing Reduction thresholds. We also apply enhanced subsidies (in effect through 2026) that cap your premium at 8.5% of income even if you're above 400% FPL. The same plan can cost very different amounts to two households; we show you yours.
Marketplace plans cover every essential health benefit and protect pre-existing conditions the gold standard. Private plans (MEC, indemnity, short-term) cost less because they cover less. We score whether each path actually makes sense for your health profile, budget, and time horizon and we're willing to tell you the marketplace plan is wrong for you if a stacked Private setup serves you better.
Book a free 30-minute call. We'll run all 7 criteria on every plan in your ZIP and tell you exactly which one fits.
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