Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert McVay.
Hi Robert, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up just outside of Boston and went to College at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. After college and earning my degrees in business and Professional Golf Management, I became a proud member of the Professional Golfers Association of America and had a successful career in the golf industry, which is what brought me to Ponte Vedra Beach (where I still live today).
In 2013, I decided I wanted to do something entirely different (and with less traveling). Through a family member, I was introduced to a local independent insurance agent in St Augustine (shout out to Shannon Millican and her team!). She took me under her wings and mentored me. Next thing I know, I got licensed and spent the next 5 years learning everything I could about property and casualty insurance, as well as life insurance, here in Florida.
In order to continue to grow professionally and to get some exposure for other parts of the industry, I briefly spent some time in the captive arena with Allstate and then State Farm before eventually finding my calling with HealthMarkets Insurance Agency as an independent health insurance agent. I’ve been with HealthMarkets now for over 5 years.
For someone that is not an advocate or a proponent of our American healthcare system, I love being able to educate my clients on the nuances of our system, whether it’s with Obamacare, transitioning to Medicare, or with private health insurance options. Being independent ensures that I’m never biased to just one company and I can offer what’s only ever in the best interest of my clients. I take great pride in protecting their assets because there is no faster way to ‘the poor house’ in this country than by getting sick or injured and not having proper insurance (or any insurance, for that matter).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Ha! I have to chuckle at this question. When is life ever ‘smooth’? Just wait a little bit and the road will get bumpy again. Going through a difficult divorce with little children involved, having to scramble to get a W2 position in order to keep my house, taking care of aging parents with health issues, navigating the State’s Medicaid system for a loved one, having to sue my dad’s first nursing home, getting bad legal advice, the passing of my only sibling, and dealing with an evil developer that desecrated our neighborhood a few years back has only helped make me mentally tougher….and in my business, one needs to be mentally tough. Eddie Vedder, an idol of mine, said it best at one of the many concerts I’ve attended of the years, “Life is nothing more than a series of tests with happiness in between.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
HealthMarkets is one of the country’s largest independent health and life insurance brokerages. We have agents from coast to coast and we’re all running our own small businesses. We specialize in helping people understand their health care options should they be under age 65 and not able to receive any health benefits through an employer. If they are age 65 or over, we assist with the transition to Medicare, which honestly needs to start about 6 months prior to someone turning age 65. Other areas of specialty include life insurance and supplements, such as dental, vision, hearing, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans.
What sets us apart is the time we take with our clients to educate them on our healthcare system, their options, and the products themselves. We believe in fostering long-term relationships and truly getting to know the families we protect. When a client leaves an appointment with me, they could basically go do my job and teach their friends. They know exactly what they’ve enrolled in, how the coverages work, what their premiums will be, and ‘why’ they’ve signed up for what they’ve signed up for. People will never pay more for their health insurance when working with a HealthMarkets agent. The prices for Obamacare, Medicare, and private insurance are the exact same whether someone tries going it alone or if they work with an agent. However, when someone goes it alone, they are truly on their own and do not have anyone in their corner should there be an issue ‘down the road’ or should they need unbiased guidance.
My clients know that I’m available 24/7. They get my personal cell phone. And, yes, I have had clients calling me from the ER at 2:00 am needing assistance. Those calls are some of the most rewarding because it validates why I do what I do. Providing exceptional, white glove service is paramount. Simply being available, answering the phone, doing what you say you’re going to do, setting realistic expectations, and prompt replies to communications from clients are a big part of this. It’s really a simple formula to success.
When it comes to working with my fellow HealthMarkets agents and I, clients should know they are working with an agent that is held to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. We are vetted. We do not mess around when it comes to compliance and laws. Everything is ‘by the book’. If a client could sit in on our weekly team calls, they would say, “Wow! This company truly cares about their clients and they’re not trying to sell me something I do not need. Their hearts are in the right place and they’re doing what they do for all of the right reasons.” I’m 100% confident on this, which is why I stay with this organization. Plus, agents are set up for success at HealthMarkets from the start. The support structure we have from our Home Office in Texas, to our regional and territory field sales leaders, to our office assistants, and all of the tools and technologies we have at our disposal is unmatched.
What are your plans for the future?
Our industry is constantly changing from one year to the next. There are always changes to Medicare, Obamacare, and private health insurance options every open-enrollment season, and this year is no exception. At HealthMarkets, we’re always staying on top of things so that we can keep our members informed and ahead of the curve.
With a 5 year old son and a 10 year old daughter, I’m in those special years of seeing them grow and getting them through school. We’re pretty stable with this routine and with their schools and with where we live, which is very important to me, so I don’t plan on any major changes in life that would disrupt this. With regards to work, it’s just more of the same….loving on our existing clients and helping out those that need our help navigating their Medicare, Obamacare, and life insurance options.
Pricing:
- Consumers will not pay more for their Medicare or Obamacare when working with an agent. Our time is free. We get paid by the insurance companies when we submit enrollments and the price is the same whether you work with an agent or not..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.healthmarkets.com/local-health-insurance-agent/rmcvay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthMarkets.Robert.McVay
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-mcvay-15770a79/
