Answers, in plain language.

We work for you, not for a single insurance company. Because we represent many carriers, we can compare the market on your behalf, explain the differences in plain language, and recommend the coverage that best fits your needs and budget — then stay with you for claims, renewals, and life changes.

No. Comparing options and enrolling through Port Bay is free. We’re compensated by the insurance carriers, and in the vast majority of cases your premium is exactly the same whether you use an agent or buy direct — you just get a knowledgeable advocate at no extra cost.

We’re headquartered in Sheridan, Wyoming and licensed across the Mountain West, including Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska. If you’re moving within or relocating to the region, we can often keep your coverage and your advisor with you — just ask.

Our focus is health and auto insurance — including Medicare, individual and family health plans, short-term and supplemental coverage, small-group benefits, and full auto coverage. We also help with bundling auto alongside home or renters coverage. If you have a need outside these areas, call us and we’ll point you in the right direction.

The easiest way is a phone call: (866) 827-4241. You can also request a callback through our contact page. There’s no pressure and no obligation — most first conversations are simply about understanding your situation and what you already have.

Absolutely. Many clients come to us for a second opinion. We’ll review what you have, tell you honestly whether it still fits, and only suggest a change if we can genuinely improve your coverage, your price, or both.

For individual and family plans, there’s an annual Open Enrollment Period each fall. Outside of that, major life events — moving, marriage, divorce, a new baby, or losing other coverage such as a job-based plan — can open a Special Enrollment Period. We’ll tell you exactly which windows apply to your situation.

No. For marketplace and most private health plans, the premium is set by the carrier and is the same whether you enroll on your own or through a licensed agent. You get our help understanding and comparing plans at no additional cost.

Yes. Before you enroll, we check each plan’s provider network so your preferred doctors, specialists, hospitals, and prescriptions are covered wherever possible. Networks are one of the most overlooked parts of a plan, and getting this right up front avoids surprises later.

Your deductible is what you pay before the plan starts sharing costs. A copay is a flat fee for a service, like a doctor visit. Coinsurance is a percentage you pay after the deductible. Your out-of-pocket maximum is the most you’ll pay in a year — after that, the plan covers 100% of covered services. We’ll walk through how these fit together for any plan you’re considering.

Many individuals and families qualify for premium tax credits that lower the monthly cost of a marketplace plan, based on household size and income. Eligibility changes year to year, so the best approach is a quick conversation — we’ll help you understand what you may qualify for and make sure you don’t leave savings on the table.

Self-employed individuals and families have several paths, including ACA marketplace plans (often with subsidies), private plans, and in some cases association or small-group options. We’ll compare them side by side so you can weigh cost against the coverage and network you actually need.

Short-term plans are designed to bridge a temporary gap — between jobs, after graduation, or while you wait for another plan to begin. They’re not a substitute for comprehensive coverage and don’t cover everything a full plan does, so we’ll make sure you understand the trade-offs before recommending one.

Start about three months before your 65th birthday. Your Initial Enrollment Period is a seven-month window that begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. Enrolling on time helps you avoid gaps and potential lifelong late-enrollment penalties.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) bundles your coverage — often including drug coverage and extras — usually through a network, with an annual out-of-pocket maximum. Original Medicare paired with a Medigap (Supplement) plan gives you broad provider access and more predictable costs, with a separate Part D drug plan. The right choice depends on your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and how you like to receive care. We’ll compare them for you.

Part D is prescription drug coverage. If you take medications — or want to avoid a late-enrollment penalty later — it’s usually worth having. Plans differ in which drugs they cover and at what cost, so we match a plan to your specific prescriptions and pharmacy.

It depends on your employer coverage and the size of the company. In some cases you can delay parts of Medicare without penalty; in others, enrolling on time matters. This is exactly the kind of decision worth a phone call before you act, because a wrong move can be costly.

Yes. The Annual Enrollment Period each fall lets you review and switch plans for the coming year. Because plans and your prescriptions change, we recommend a yearly review even if you’re happy — a plan that was perfect last year may not be the best value this year.

Enough to protect your assets, not just meet the state minimum. State minimums are a legal floor and are often far lower than what a serious accident can cost. We look at what you own, how and where you drive, and your comfort with risk, then recommend limits that keep one bad day from becoming a financial crisis.

Collision covers damage to your vehicle from an accident, regardless of fault. Comprehensive covers non-collision events — theft, vandalism, fire, hail, and wildlife or weather damage, which matter a lot on Mountain West roads. Many drivers carry both, especially on newer or financed vehicles.

It protects you and your passengers if you’re hit by a driver who has no insurance or not enough of it. In rural areas with long distances between towns, this coverage is especially valuable — it’s often inexpensive relative to the protection it provides.

Often, yes. Because we’re independent, we compare many carriers at once and catch discounts a single-company agent can’t offer. And if your current rate is already the best available, we’ll tell you that honestly rather than pushing a switch.

Common ones include safe-driver, multi-car, multi-policy (bundling), good-student, low-mileage, and discounts for safety features or paying in full. Not every carrier offers every discount, which is one reason comparing the market pays off. We’ll make sure you’re getting the ones you qualify for.

Usually it does, and it simplifies your life — one advisor and one renewal cycle. But not always, which is why we run the numbers both bundled and separate across carriers so you can see the real difference before deciding.

First make sure everyone is safe and move to a safe spot if possible. Call the police when appropriate, document the scene with photos, and exchange information with the other driver. Then call us — we’ll help you start the claim, understand your coverage, and follow it through to repair or payout so you’re never navigating the carrier alone.

You can start with us. While claims are ultimately handled by the carrier, we help you open the claim, explain what to expect, and advocate on your behalf if questions come up. Having a real person in your corner is one of the biggest reasons people choose an independent agent.

It depends on the claim type, fault, and your history. Not every claim affects your premium the same way. Before you file a small claim, it’s worth a quick call so we can help you weigh the cost of the repair against any potential rate impact.

Premiums are generally paid directly to your insurance carrier, and most offer monthly, quarterly, or pay-in-full options. If a bill is ever confusing or looks off, send it our way — we’re happy to help you make sense of it.

Your carrier sends renewal terms before your policy period ends. We use renewals as a natural checkpoint to review whether your coverage still fits and whether a better option has become available. You’re never locked in — if something better exists, we’ll bring it to you.