Recent Federal Changes Could Lead to Potential Health Insurance Savings for Realtors®

Pennsylvania Realtors® may qualify for potential cost savings on their health insurance coverage due to recent federal changes. The deadline to apply for 2021 coverage or possible reduced rates is Aug. 15, 2021.

PAR has partnered with My Benefit Advisor program to help you determine if you and your family qualify for these savings and can potentially save on your health insurance costs.

For Realtor® Phil Kuntz of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty in Elizabethtown, the savings on his health insurance were substantial.

“We were initially hesitant to call My Benefit Advisor, but we were pleasantly surprised,” he said. “The advisor was helpful and walked us through the process and we were able to knock our monthly premium down from $1,500 per month to $800. They were extremely helpful and we’re thankful we contacted them.”

PAR CEO Mike McGee said, “We know many Realtors® have high health insurance costs. This program may not offer everyone relief, but for some individuals it could be beneficial. My Benefit Advisor is able to help Realtors® navigate the current insurance options to find potential savings.”

The American Rescue Plan, enacted earlier this year, includes enhanced federal funding through tax credits to help individuals and families get lower cost health care coverage through the marketplace.  Even if you did not qualify previously, you may now be eligible for these savings, which could significantly lower the cost of your monthly insurance premiums.

Helen Miernicki, a Realtor® with Realty World in Ashland, said she initially thought the offer to save on health insurance costs was too good to be true.

“I’ve applied for other programs to save money in the past but didn’t qualify,” she said. “I contacted My Benefit Advisor and the representative walked me through the process and I ended up with a different insurance and I’m saving over $700 a month.”

“Finally, I got some relief from the high monthly insurance payment I’ve been making. I’m so glad PAR has been promoting this and I would highly recommend people contact My Benefit Advisor to see if their situation qualifies for a lower rate,” Miernicki added.

Some members are finding they can receive better health insurance coverage for the same price they were paying.

Realtor® Matt Gokey with Bering Real Estate in Lancaster said the representative from My Benefit Advisor was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. “She broke down everything very quickly and I found I had more options that offered better coverage. The subsidies available from the American Rescue Plan helped me get better coverage for the same price I had been paying,” he said.

Elaine DiCocco, a Realtor® with Compass, and her husband Gregory also saw reduced costs for their health insurance coverage. Gregory said they were initially skeptical about calling My Benefit Advisor but were glad they did.

“It was amazing that we had options to choose from,” Gregory said. “They found us much better packages and saved us $800 a month with better health, dental and vision plans. It was almost too good to be true.”

McGee added, “It’s exciting to see the savings some of our members have experienced through the Pennie program but we realize that this may not be a universal reality. It’s a strategic priority for PAR to explore options for identifying affordable health coverage for its members.”

If you have health insurance or have used Pennie, Pennsylvania’s insurance marketplace, you may have a potential cost-saving opportunity, but you must apply by Aug. 15, 2021. You can contact PAR’s recommended insurance broker to learn more at My Benefit Advisor (MBA), 610-684-6930 or email at [email protected].