The short answer
The insurance company pays my commission when you enroll in a plan through me. You don't pay me a fee, and your premium is the same whether you use me or not. That holds for Marketplace plans and for plans outside the ACA.
Who pays me
When you enroll in a plan through me, the insurance company that issues the plan pays me a commission. That's the whole arrangement. I don't charge you for the call, the quotes or the application.
HealthCare.gov puts it plainly in its definition of an agent: "You won't pay anything additional if you enroll with an agent or broker." The same page notes that agents and brokers often get commissions from insurance companies for selling plans.
Your price is the same either way
The insurance company pays my commission, so your premium is the same either way. Enroll through me or enroll on your own, and the plan costs you the same.
That's true on the Marketplace, and it's true for the plans I place outside the ACA. If you qualify for a premium tax credit, you still get it when an agent enrolls you through the Marketplace. HealthCare.gov says that on the same page. The credit only applies to Marketplace plans.
I compare more than one insurance company
I'm appointed with many insurance companies, so I'm not there to sell one company's plans. For Marketplace coverage, I shop every major Marketplace insurer.
I also place private-market plans, and when you qualify, they're usually the first thing I price. Many of those aren't ACA plans: approval comes from your health answers, and if your health qualifies you, one can be a good fit. When a marketplace plan fits you better, I'll tell you.
What that means for my advice
Commissions aren't the same on every plan. It's fair to ask whether that shapes what I recommend, and you should ask it of anyone you talk to.
Here's the rule I hold myself to: if another option is better for you, even one I don't offer, I'll tell you. That's the job. Sometimes the better option is the plan you already have. Sometimes it's COBRA, if you're in the middle of treatment. And when the Marketplace is the right answer, I'll help you enroll there.
If you want to know more about who I am, start with the About page. How the guides on this site are checked is on the editorial standards page.