Independent broker · Buffalo, NY · Licensed in 24 statesHealth Insurance for Individuals, Families, the Self-Employed, and Small Businesses. Explained in Plain English.
Richard "Dick" Tracy · 80+ carriers · Updated August 8, 2026
I'm Dick Tracy. Real name, real job: independent health insurance broker. I help individuals, families, self-employed people, and small businesses find coverage that actually fits, from my home base in Buffalo and across the 24 states where I'm licensed. I'm not tied to any one carrier, so I'm not here to sell you the one plan I happen to have. With 80+ carriers behind me, I show you the whole board, side by side, and you pick. I spent years on the healthcare side of this business, so there's no gag clause on me: you get the tips, the tricks, and the traps. I educate, you decide.
Who I help
How I work
Education first, always. Bring me your situation and I'll show you every option you actually qualify for, with real numbers next to each other: what it costs, what it covers, and where the traps are. Billing codes, allowable rates, prior authorizations, the true price tag. I know that world from the inside, and I'll walk you through it in plain English. No hard sell, ever. If the best answer for you is a plan I don't write, I'll tell you that too. That's the whole detective bit: I find the truth, you make the call.
Start with the free tool everyone needs this year
The marketplace subsidy cliff came back for 2026, and one dollar of income over the line means losing every dollar of help. Most people find out at renewal, when it's too late to plan. Don't be most people: the free 2026 Subsidy Cliff Calculator tells you in 60 seconds which side of the line you're on. No email, no signup.
Common questions, straight answers
Do you only work with small businesses in Buffalo?
No. I help individuals, families, self-employed people, 1099 contractors, and small businesses. Buffalo is home base, and I'm licensed in 24 states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, WV, and WI. Most of my work happens over Zoom or the phone, so where you live just tells me which options are on your table.
What does it cost to work with an independent broker?
Nothing extra. Brokers are paid by the insurance carriers, and a plan's price is the same whether you buy it through a broker or on your own. The difference: on your own you see one slice of the market. With me you see the whole board, 80+ carriers, side by side.
Is the healthcare.gov marketplace my only option?
No, and that's the most expensive myth in health insurance. The marketplace is one option, and with a good subsidy it can be the right one. But there are private plans outside it, coverage built for the self-employed, and small-group strategies it never shows you. Compare everything before you assume.
What kinds of coverage do you work with?
Health insurance first: marketplace, private medical, and small-group options. Around that core, the supporting pieces where they earn their keep: accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and life. I call it building a house: a solid roof for the catastrophic stuff, the right rooms for everyday life.
How do we get started?
Two easy doors: book a free 30-minute call below, or fill out the quick details form and I'll do my homework before we ever talk. Either way, step one is education, not a pitch. I educate, you decide.
Watch: what my clients say (2 min)
Tell me your situation and I'll show you your real options with real numbers, side by side. No hard sell, ever. I educate, you decide.
Grab a time right here
Pick a slot below and it lands on both our calendars. No phone tag, no hard sell. I educate, you decide.