The David Berkley Insurance Group is taking a no-holds-barred approach to offering insurance coverage
By Mimi Vanderhaven
No limits. That’s the philosophy embraced by the team at the newly formed David Berkley Insurance Group, in Medina.
Headed by Patrick Althof, Mark Odabashian and Mitch Zofka, David Berkley is changing the way we think about—and buy—insurance.
“Most people in the area will recognize our names as having been affiliated with a different company,” Patrick says. “Where previously our focus was exclusively on health insurance, now we’re able to offer the full spectrum of products.”
“We wanted to be able to do more for the community,” Mark says. “By creating our own agency, we’re able to offer more options, greater access, and lower prices.”
Oh, and Mitch says to find out how the guys came up with the name David Berkley, you just need to stop into the office and ask. I got the funny version during my visit, but they’ve sworn me to secrecy so I can’t reveal the answer here.
The David Berkley team still offers health insurance, for both the under 65 and over 65 markets. But they’ve also added home, auto, small group and business insurance to the mix.
It’s Medicare Time
Patrick suggests if you’ve been visiting their location for the past few years for your annual Medicare review, you needn’t change a thing.
“Annual enrollment goes from Tuesday, October 15, until Saturday, December 7,” Mitch says. “People can enroll in Medicare during that time. A lot has changed this year, as the over 65 population has exploded in recent years and insurance companies have revamped their offerings to provide even more options.”
“The competition for business has really heated up,” Patrick states. “Plans are more comprehensive and features have been added to make them even more attractive. If you haven’t had a Medicare review in a few years, now is the time to find out if there’s a better option available to you. You might even be able to get more and spend less.”
“A review is also important to find out if your doctors are still in network and your other coverage musts are still active,” Mark shares. “We’re not bound by contracts to carriers and can provide people with access to hundreds of different options. With us, there are no limits to what’s available.”
“This can be a confusing time for people trying to determine which Medicare plan will best meet their needs and budget,” Mitch says. “Right now, they’re likely being inundated with information. Instead of trying to sort through it all, just give us a call to set up a convenient time for a review. It won’t cost you a thing and can eliminate a lot of stress.”
If you’ll be turning 65 in 2020, the guys say now is a perfect time to start planning for Medicare.
Affordable Care Act Enrollment
The tax penalty for not maintaining insurance has been eliminated, but the need for coverage is clear. Open enrollment for the ACA (Obamacare) goes from Friday, November 1, until Sunday, December 15.
“Based on the size of your family and household income, you could get a huge subsidy from the government, which might make taking advantage of an ACA plan really affordable,” Mark says. “And with the ACA, you can have a preexisting condition and still get coverage.”
If you don’t qualify for the subsidy, the guys say there are a ton of coverage options outside of the ACA that offer creative solutions to obtaining healthcare coverage.
“If your insurance premium is high, it pays to schedule a review with us,” Patrick insists. “There are a lot of variables, such as your current health, your household income, and whether you plan to have children soon or want to add them to your policy. We take all of those variables into account and can find a plan that gives you everything you need while potentially saving you a lot of money.”
Every Phase of Life
“No matter where you are in life, we can be there for you,” Patrick emphasizes. “Because we have the freedom to work with any carrier, we can provide several options on the insurance products that make the most sense for where you are in life. Whatever type of insurance you’re shopping for, we’ve got options.”
“We aren’t a captive agency,” Mitch notes. “That means we can help people who are easily insurable, and even those who might have a blemish on their record, find the insurance they need.”
And when it comes to customer service, the guys describe their approach in one word: Relentless.
“When you work with us, you work with one agent who handles all of your insurance products,” Mark says. “And, we offer a discount for multiple policies. Most people don’t even have to come into the office if they don’t want to. We can handle everything over the phone.”
“Chances are, no matter who your carrier is or what your insurance needs are, we can save you money,” Mitch notes. “And it won’t cost a thing to give us a call to find out.”
David Berkley Insurance Group is located at 3705 Medina Road, Suite B, in Medina. The phone number is 330-241-4208. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and other times by appointment. A second location is at 28715 Center Ridge Road, in Westlake. The phone number is 440-467-1495. The web address is DBInsuranceGroup.com.