For ALL the ages: Medicare expert advises under-65 clients, too
For years, Kim Rourke of ACA Benefits, LLC, has helped hundreds of clients navigate the world of Medicare coverage. But he recently added another powerful tool to his practice: personal experience.
Rourke turned 65 this year. Now he can identify with clients as he gets them signed up for Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement coverage through United Health Care.
“In the Medicare business, the grayer my hair gets, the more I fit in,” he said. “(Being) old is an advantage.”
The guiding principle of his firm, which he launched about six years ago after years of selling many types of insurance and benefit plans, is fundamental.
“You treat people as you want to be treated,” he said. “And as you do, the business grows and you get lots of referrals. And people stay with you.”
That philosophy has lifted him into the top 1-2 percent of agents representing United Health Care. But he also helps many under-65 clients find affordable individual health insurance on the open market, even more important amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m dealing with more people losing insurance, because of losing jobs,” he said. He’s worried it will get worse when government benefits expire in coming weeks.
“A lot of companies that have managed to keep people on are going to be forced to let people go,” he said. “People (are) suddenly faced with unemployment they didn’t expect. You’ve got to find a solution for them.”
Rourke, who serves clients all over east central Missouri and in seven counties in Illinois, has a message for people seeking Medicare coverage or individual health insurance.
“Get an agent who knows what (he or she) is talking about,” he said. “When I meet with a client, I’m their agent. I legally (have to) look after their interests, so if they have an issue or a problem, I’m there for them.”
ACA Benefits is at 10 Strecker Road, Suite 1090, in Ellisville. Rourke’s phone number is 314-374-7735.
