How to check an insurance agent's license in Maine

Look the agent up in Maine

1. 1

   Ask for their full name and NPN

   Every licensed agent has a National Producer Number. A real agent will give it to you without hesitation.
2. 2

   Open the Maine Bureau of Insurance's license lookup

   Maine agent license lookup. It's the official lookup from the Maine Bureau of Insurance. Search by the agent's name or license number. Maine lists some agents based in other states separately, so if you can't find one, call the Bureau.

3. 3

   Check four things

   The status is active, the license is for Maine (resident or nonresident), it includes a health line of authority, and it hasn't expired.

What the results mean

Active

The license is current. This is what you want to see.

Inactive, expired or lapsed

The agent can't legally sell insurance in the state right now. Don't enroll through them.

Resident or nonresident

Resident means their home office is in Maine. Nonresident means they're based in another state and licensed to work here. Both are fine.

Line of authority

The kinds of insurance they can sell. For Medicare plans, look for Health or Accident & Health. Life-only isn't enough.

Regulatory or disciplinary actions

Some lookups list fines or other actions. One old, small action may not mean much; several, or a revoked license, is a reason to look elsewhere.

Extra steps for Medicare plans

A state license is the first check. For Medicare plans, two more things apply:

• Appointment: the agent must be appointed by the insurance company whose plan you're choosing. Ask which companies they represent in Maine.
• Yearly certification: agents who sell Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans must complete each plan's training and testing every year.

Agents who sell for more than one company must also tell you, before discussing any plan's benefits, how many companies and plans they represent in your area. None of them works for Medicare.

Switching Medigap plans in Maine

Year-round rights. You can switch at any time to the same or lesser benefits if you haven't had a coverage gap of more than 90 days, and every insurer must offer Plan A to anyone for at least one month each year.

This applies to people who already have a Medicare Supplement policy. See every state's Medigap switching rule.

Medigap if you're under 65 in Maine

Required. In Maine, if you get Medicare before 65 (for example, for a disability), you get a 6-month Medigap open enrollment when your Part B starts and another 6-month open enrollment when you turn 65; in either window any insurer must sell you the plan you choose, even with health problems.

If you have Part B when you turn 65, you get a new 6-month Medigap open enrollment then. See every state's rule for people under 65.

If something looks wrong

• License not found or inactive: don't share your Medicare or Social Security number, and contact the Maine Bureau of Insurance at 1-800-300-5000. You can also file a complaint online.
• Someone claiming to be from Medicare: hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).
• A listing on this site looks wrong: report it and we'll look into it.

Free, unbiased help in Maine: SHIP

Every state has a free Medicare counseling program. In Maine it's the Maine State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Its counselors are trained, don't sell anything, and can help you compare your options or check what an agent told you, for free.

Common questions

Nearby states

Agents often work across state lines. Check that they're licensed in the state where you live.

• Check a license in New Hampshire
• All states

Keep reading

• How to choose a local Medicare agentQuestions to ask, warning signs, and the dates to know.
• Medicare agent vs. broker: what's the difference?Agent, broker, producer: what the words mean, the one difference that really matters (how many companies they work with), and how to tell before you meet.