To find a licensed Medicare agent who meets in person in Durham County, verify their NC license at sbs.naic.org and confirm they are independent — not a single-carrier captive agent or call-center contractor. Robert Simm (NC #10447418, NPN #10447418) meets clients at 2731 Meridian Pkwy, Durham NC 27713, or at your home anywhere in Durham County. He represents every major carrier — Humana, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Wellcare, Anthem, Mutual of Omaha — so the recommendation is based on what fits you, not on which carrier pays the most. For your specific situation in Durham County, call Rob Simm at (828) 761-3326 — free, no obligation.

What Durham families ask

What should I actually look for in a Medicare agent?

These are the four questions Durham County residents ask most before choosing a broker.

How do I know the agent is actually licensed?

Go to sbs.naic.org, select North Carolina, and search the agent’s last name. Confirm the license is active for “Accident and Health.” Robert Simm’s NC license is #10447418.

Will they push me toward one carrier?

Captive agents sell one brand. Independent brokers like Rob Simm are contracted with every major carrier and earn the same commission regardless of which plan you choose.

Do they know which plans cover Duke Health?

National call centers use federal directories that run 6 months stale. A Durham-based broker verifies Duke Health, Duke Regional, and Duke Cancer Institute contracts directly with each carrier before recommending a plan.

Will the same person answer next year?

Call centers rotate agents every call. An independent broker is your permanent point of contact — same person, same phone number, every Annual Enrollment Period for life.

⚠️ The 1-800 number trap

National Medicare call centers (eHealth, GoHealth, SelectQuote) are under active DOJ investigation for steering enrollees into plans that pay the call center more — not plans that fit the enrollee. After the call, your phone number is resold and you receive 6–15 calls per day for weeks. A local independent broker answers their own phone, doesn’t sell your data, and earns the same commission on every carrier.

The difference

What’s the real difference between doing it alone and working with a Durham broker?

What do you need to know?	Medicare.gov	Rob Simm — NC #10447418
Plans you can compare	Every plan listed, no local context	Every major NC carrier, filtered to your doctors and drugs
Durham provider networks	Generic federal directories, often 6 months stale	Direct contract verification with Duke Health and each carrier
Part D formulary check	Manual entry per drug, per plan	Every prescription pre-checked on every eligible plan
2026 budget math	Generic rules, no IRMAA or spousal coordination	Run with your real income and household situation
Same person next year	Different agent every call	Same broker, same phone number, every AEP for life
Cost to you	$0 (plus your time and risk)	$0 — paid by the carrier, same commission on every plan

2026 Medicare numbers

What are the key 2026 Medicare numbers for Durham County?

$202.90

Part B premium per month

2026 standard rate. Higher with IRMAA surcharge based on income above $106,000.

$283

Part B annual deductible

You pay this before Medicare covers 80% of outpatient care.

$9,350

MA in-network out-of-pocket max

2026 cap on in-network Medicare Advantage spending.

$2,100

Part D out-of-pocket cap

No catastrophic Rx costs in 2026. Insulin capped at $35/month.

💡 Broker Tip — Durham County

In Durham County, the most common mistake is choosing a Medicare Advantage plan based on a $0 premium without verifying that Duke Health, Duke Regional, and the Duke Cancer Institute are in-network for the current contract year. Carrier directories lag behind actual contracts. Before you enroll, ask your broker to call the carrier directly and confirm network status for your specific doctors — not just the hospital system. That 10-minute call can save you thousands in out-of-network bills.

— Rob Simm, Licensed Medicare Broker, NC #10447418

10 minutes. You'll know where you stand.

Rob Simm · Licensed NC Medicare Broker · NPN #10447418

Now pick how you want to move forward — your pace.

PLAN MATCH · 3 MINUTES

Let's start with you.

15-MIN CALL · SAME-WEEK SLOTS

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Prefer to just talk? (828) 761-3326

Licensed in North Carolina · Serving NC residents only

No pressure · No sales pitch · Your data never sold

Real scenario · Durham County

What happens when you pick the wrong Medicare agent?

Called a 1-800 number

$4,200+

Out-of-network bills after discovering your Duke oncologist wasn’t covered by the plan a call-center agent enrolled you in. The federal directory said “in-network” — the actual carrier contract said otherwise.

Worked with a local broker

Rob called Duke Health and the carrier directly, confirmed network status for your specific doctors, and enrolled you in a plan where every provider is verified in-network for the current contract year.

It pays to talk to the right broker

How much does it cost to work with an independent Medicare broker?

It doesn’t — because I get paid by the insurance carrier to manage your plan. Most call centers get paid more to steer your business toward certain carriers based on volume and contracts. The only thing I’m optimizing for is making sure you’re covered correctly when you actually need it. That’s what keeps people coming back. And referring their neighbors.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How do I verify a Medicare agent is actually licensed in North Carolina?

Go to sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup, choose North Carolina, enter the agent’s last name, and confirm their license is active for “Accident and Health.” Robert Simm’s NC license number is #10447418 and his NPN is #10447418.

What is the difference between an independent broker and a call-center agent?

An independent broker like Robert Simm is contracted with every major carrier and has no incentive to push you toward a single brand. Call-center agents typically work under contracts that pay them more for steering volume to specific carriers — which means the recommendation is filtered by what pays them best, not what fits your situation.

Does it cost anything to meet with a Medicare broker in Durham County?

No. Brokers are paid by the insurance carrier when you enroll, and the commission is the same whether you enroll directly with the carrier, through Medicare.gov, or through a broker. There is no fee to compare plans, ask questions, or change your mind. Call (828) 761-3326 to schedule.

Can a Medicare agent come to my home in Durham?

Yes. Robert Simm meets clients at home throughout Durham County, Orange County, Wake County, and the surrounding Triangle. CMS requires a Scope of Appointment form to be signed before any in-home Medicare conversation about specific plans — that’s a federal rule, not a sales hurdle.

Should I choose a Durham-based agent or a national 1-800 service?

A Durham-based agent knows which Medicare Advantage plans actually contract with Duke Health, Duke Regional, and the Duke Cancer Institute — and which ones drop those contracts mid-year. National call centers don’t track NC-specific carrier contracts at that level. If keeping Duke access matters, choose local. Call (828) 761-3326.

Related Medicare guides

Medicare Enrollment in NC – 2026 Guide Extra Help/LIS Eligibility NC 2026 Compare Medicare Advantage Plans in NC Extra Help / LIS in NC – 2026 Eligibility Guide Working Past 65 – Medicare Enrollment Special Enrollment Periods in NC Cheap Health Insurance Without Employer Coverage Free Medicare Quotes Online

Get help in nearby NC counties

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Robert Simm

Licensed Independent Medicare Broker

Helping NC families navigate Medicare since 2014. Independent — I work with all carriers and get paid the same regardless of which plan you choose. I verify provider networks with Duke Health directly and answer my own phone the next year when something changes.

📞 (828) 761-3326 📋 NC #10447418 🏥 AHIP Certified ⭐ 5.0 · 20+ reviews 📍 2731 Meridian Pkwy, Durham NC 27713 🕐 Mon–Fri 9am–7pm ET

Last Updated: 2026-05-04 | Reviewed By: Robert Simm, Licensed Medicare Broker, NC #10447418 | Next Review: October 2026

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for information on all of your options. GenerationHealth.me and Robert Simm are independent agents not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed agent may contact you. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Plan availability, premiums, and benefits vary by location and carrier. © 2026 GenerationHealth.me