According to a study by the National Association of Health Underwriters, small businesses rely on health insurance agents and brokers to help with purchasing health insurance coverage that best fits their budget and health care requirements. Agents also play an important role in servicing the policy after the sales process, the survey finds.

The survey, which questioned more than 3,300 of NAHU's members, finds over 50 percent spend half of their time providing client service beyond the sales process. Nearly 95 percent of all respondents facilitate claims and billing issues, and almost 90 percent assist clients with compliance information every day.

"In the midst of this massive health care overhaul, the agent's role as advisor and educator is even more critical," states NAHU CEO Janet Trautwein. "As members of a profession that requires a license and has stringent educational requirements, agents and brokers serve more as advocates for clients than simply salespeople. Without the assistance of health insurance agents or brokers, health care consumers would be left alone to deal with the ever-changing landscape of our health care system.