First of all, it is important to distinguish between insurance agents and brokers.
Insurance agents are professionals who work for one or more companies. Depending on who they work for they are:
• Captive insurance agents: these work with a single insurance company.
• Independent insurance agents: these work with several insurance companies.
Brokers are experts who offer professional and independent advice to people who wish to take out insurance policies, without maintaining ties to particular insurance companies.
Therefore, amounts paid to captive insurance agents is deemed to have been paid to the insurer, whereas the amounts the customer pays to an independent insurance agent are not deemed to have been paid to the insurer unless, in return, the independent insurance agent provides the policyholder with the premium receipt from the insurer.
A premium payment made to a broker is not deemed to have been made to the insurer unless, in return, the broker provides the policyholder with the premium receipt from the insurer.