Hidden Gems: Meet Justine Bell of BeneGuides

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Bell.

Hi Justine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My degree is in Biology, and when I was in college I worked at animal shelters. I loved the feeling of getting to make the world a better place and feel like I was helping. Unfortunately, as is so common in the nonprofit world, the pay wasn’t great. When our son was born, my shelter position couldn’t pay enough per hour to cover the cost of daycare, so I had to go get a “big girl job.” Working in health insurance gives me the same feeling of being able to help and make the world better, but with a more livable wage. When people come to us for insurance, they’re usually anxious. Statistically, the cost of health insurance is one of the top five costs for a household, and the one that they understand the least. We get to help them feel more comfortable, answer their questions, and feel confident in their health insurance choices.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No road is a smooth road, but I’ve been super blessed to add three amazing staff along the way. I honestly believe that we can conquer anything together! Whenever I get a compliment on what a great experience a client had with one of my employees, I always joke that employee is one in a million, like winning the lottery. But, if that is the case, I’ve won the lottery three times.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Traditionally the insurance space is male-dominated, but I think that women are uniquely positioned to be great partners for health insurance. Everyone in our agency right now is not only a working professional, but also a mother. We’re used to listening, and leading with empathy. Helping make a client feel at home is often necessary for us to be able to do our job, because our clients have to feel comfortable enough to tell us about things they might not be proud of, like pre-diabetes or mental health medication. If the client doesn’t feel safe enough to share those things, we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs correctly!

We have three different styles of plan, and an employee who is an expert in each. Liz, who joined us in 2020, works in the individual/family market. Most of these clients (but not all) are enrolled through the Marketplace, and we help our clients find any rate reductions that they are eligible for. Second is our Medicare department, headed by Lauren who was our second hire. Her famous “Medicare 101” helps lay out the different parts of Medicare, the pros and cons of each style, and helps clients understand and feel confident making their Medicare decisions. Last, but not least, is our small group division, headed by Sam (Samantha). She excels in helping small business owners stay organized and on top of their benefits. She handles major medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, and group life.

One thing that sets us apart from other agents and agencies is that we are proactive about reaching out to our clients every year to do their renewal together. We tell our clients that, once they join us, they never have to worry about having to figure out their health insurance alone – we’ll always be here for them! During open enrollment we attempt to reach out to every client four times – twice by email, and twice by phone.

We’re often asked how much it costs to work with us, and our clients seem surprised when we tell them that it doesn’t cost anything! Much like your home and auto insurance agent, there is a commission built into every policy. If you don’t have an agent, that money just stays with the insurance company! But the cost of the plan is the same whether you work with an agent or not, so having an agent gives you an advocate and guide with no extra cost.

If you have any questions about health insurance in Michigan, feel free to reach out to us any time! Our office line is 517-939-1981, and our email address is [email protected]. Or visit us online at https://beneguides.com

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I spent a lot of time outside as a kid. We lived next door to a large protected natural area, and my neighbors were older and basically sylvan. In the summer, I would get up early with my alarm (so that I could watch Power Rangers, naturally), and then disappear with my neighbors into the woods. We caught reptiles and amphibians, made trails and built shelters. We would greet the Spring with the May Apples and Trillium, and hide under the broad oak leaves throughout the Summer. I loved being a nature based “wild child,” and when my husband and I went looking for our home to raise kids in, we found a small farm in the country that we love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beneguides.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/BeneGuides-61550589812415