Florida real estate agent Beth Silverman faced two battles at age 26: Fighting a diagnosis of breast cancer and fighting for healthcare coverage and fair costs. As an independent contractor, Silverman was forced to purchase insurance on the open market where both were challenging.
“Being a real estate agent meant endless battles for insurance that normal people who have not been touched by cancer can never understand,” said Silverman.
Silverman’s story is just one of many experienced by real estate agents and entrepreneurs across America. Without affordable health insurance, agents face costly medical bills or even go without insurance. That’s why eXp, as an agent success obsessed company, launched eXp Agent Healthcare in 2019.
“Our priority is our agents’ success and well-being,” said Mike Vein, Senior Vice President of People at eXp. “We know that being without health care can detract from agents’ peace of mind because wondering how you’re going to care for yourself or your family is a profoundly stressful experience. We’re committed to supporting our agents in their business and their lives, and we’re proud to offer our agents access to affordable health care.”
Long Beach, NY Agent Saves More Than Half in Monthly Premiums Using eXp Agent Healthcare
eXp agent Joe Sinnona of Long Beach, New York, says the savings from his old plan to eXp Agent Healthcare is substantial. Last year on his old plan, Sinnona was paying about $1,500 a month for a family of four and starting January 1, he was notified his premium would go up to $1,850 for the same coverage.
“My wife and I looked at each other and said no way are we going to be able to pay for this,” Sinnona said. “We decided we were just going to drop health coverage for ourselves and just have it for the kids.”
That is, until Sinnona started to explore eXp Agent Healthcare and learned it was possible for everyone in his family to have coverage for half the cost. He said his monthly premium is now $791 for a family of four and with the savings, he was able to add dental insurance for his family an extra $100 a month.
“I want to be a living testimony to every agent out there who is looking for good health insurance,” Sinnona said. “Same doctors, same quality of care. I raised the deductible and I was able to get this affordable health insurance through eXp Realty.”
Silverman Says eXp Agent Healthcare Just Another Example of a Forward-thinking Company
While Silverman’s cancer is in remission, she recalls the many challenges of the market, including re-enrolling each year, rising premiums and limited health insurance networks.
With eXp’s Agent Healthcare, she is saving about $8,000 per year in monthly premiums.
eXp Realty has partnered with Clearwater Benefits, an insurance brokerage, to offer eXp Agent Healthcare. eXp Realty agents can enroll in traditional insurance or an innovative healthcare option, medical cost-sharing, that is potentially more affordable than coverage purchased on the open marketplace.
“I have a cost-sharing plan through eXp and it’s different than what people are used to. It’s community-based and trust me – people might not be sure of the model. But I’m saving thousands in the yearly premium and prescription costs are a bit cheaper.”
And in keeping with eXp’s agent success obsession and innovative approach to everything from technology to benefits, Silverman says, “It’s kind of a cool feeling. It matches the eXp vibe of betterment for everyone together.”
