Blog

Here’s the thing: I’ve tried this three different ways in three different states. I got told yes, no, and “maybe, but bring proof.” So, can you add your girlfriend? Sometimes. It depends on your plan and where you live. I know—annoying answer—but it’s the honest one.
If you want to see the step-by-step receipts from yet another real-life run-through (forms, costs, and the moments I totally face-palmed), you can skim my supplementary case study in this detailed play-by-play.

Let me walk you through what actually happened to me.

Short Answer First

• Employer plan with no “domestic partner” coverage? You can’t add her.
• Employer plan with domestic partner coverage? You can add her if you show proof you live like a couple.
• Marketplace plan (Healthcare.gov or your state market)? You can’t add your girlfriend unless she’s your spouse or your tax dependent.
• Taxes might bump your paycheck if she’s not your spouse. That part surprised me.

If you want an expert primer on navigating health insurance quality standards before you start calling HR, the guides at ASQH break down the jargon in plain English.

Okay. Now the real stories.

My Three Real Attempts

1) Texas: UnitedHealthcare through my job — Hard no

I lived in Austin and worked at a mid-size tech company. Our plan was UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus. I asked HR, “Can I add my girlfriend?” The answer was quick and kind: “We don’t offer domestic partner coverage.” They only covered legal spouses and kids. That was it.

If you’re wondering why some employers can say no even when the insurer technically allows it, this explainer on adding a domestic partner to your health insurance breaks down the moving parts—state laws, employer policy, and insurer rules—so the mixed answers make a lot more sense.

We stayed on separate plans that year. I paid for my own job plan. She stayed on her own plan from the marketplace. We tried to line up the same network, just to keep doctors simple. Not fun, but it worked.

2) California: Kaiser HMO through a new employer — Yes, with proof and a tax surprise

Then I moved to Oakland and joined a company that offered two plans: Kaiser HMO and Blue Shield PPO. Both allowed “domestic partner” coverage. HR gave me a checklist. I had to show that we were in a committed relationship and lived together.

They accepted:

• Our lease with both names
• A PG&E bill with both names
• A sworn “Domestic Partner” form (got it notarized at UPS)

Timeline stuff mattered. Because we became domestic partners mid-year, HR said this was a “qualifying life event.” That meant I had 30 days from the date on the affidavit to add her. We made it in time. She got added to my Kaiser HMO.

The cost? My own coverage was cheap. Adding her bumped the premium a lot, but the real shock was taxes. Since we weren’t married, the part my employer paid for her counted as “imputed income.” Simple version: the company’s share for her got added to my taxable pay. My paycheck went down—by about $60–$90 each check—depending on the month. Not the end of the world, but it stings.

By the way, California state tax rules treated it better than federal. That helped a little. But the federal tax hit still stuck.

3) New York: Marketplace plan while freelancing — No, unless she’s your spouse or dependent

Later, when I freelanced in New York, I tried the marketplace. I picked a plan, then tried to add my girlfriend. The site blocked me. The rule was clear: you can share a plan if you share a tax household. That means married, or you claim the other person as a dependent. She was neither. So we bought two separate plans. Same insurer, to keep our doctors. We even picked the same metal level, just for sanity. Not ideal, but it kept costs steady.

We got married the next year. Then we joined one plan the next open enrollment. Easy after that, oddly enough.

What Proof They Asked Me For

Across these tries, I saw the same kind of checklist:

• Joint lease or mortgage
• Shared utility bill (gas, power, water)
• A joint bank account or a shared credit card
• A domestic partner affidavit (some places need it notarized)
• Sometimes, a state domestic partner registration (California made this smooth, but not everyone does)

Tip from my own pain: keep a folder with your stuff. Screenshots. PDFs. If HR asks for one more thing (and they will), you’ll be ready.

Taxes That Caught Me Off Guard

This part isn’t fun, but it’s key.

• If you’re not married, the money your employer pays toward your girlfriend’s coverage is usually taxed to you. It gets added to your pay as “imputed income.”
• That means higher taxes and a smaller paycheck.
• I saw about $60–$90 less per check in California, but it will vary. Your rate, your plan, your state—those change the math.
• Her share of the premium often can’t be paid pre-tax if she’s not your spouse. Mine wasn’t.

If you want to be sure, ask HR for a sample paycheck with imputed income added. I did that the second time, and it saved me from a big surprise.

When You Can Add Her (Timing Matters)

These are the windows I actually used:

• Open Enrollment: once a year. Easy, but you wait.
• Qualifying Life Event: for me, signing a domestic partner affidavit counted. We had 30 days to enroll her.
• Marriage: also a qualifying event (we used this in New York later on).
• Losing coverage: if she loses her plan, you usually have 30 days to add her to yours.

Just dating or moving in doesn’t always count. You need the official partner status, per the plan rules.

Plan Names I’ve Seen and What Happened

This is just my own path, not a promise.

• UnitedHealthcare (Texas, employer plan): No domestic partner coverage. Couldn’t add her.
• Kaiser HMO (California, employer plan): Yes, with proof and a notarized form. Taxes went up due to imputed income.
• Blue Shield of California (offered by the same employer): Also allowed partners with similar proof.
• Marketplace plans (New York): No, unless married or tax dependent. We bought separate plans.

All of those jobs used traditional group insurance, but I also experimented with alternative setups—here’s what I learned when I compared group insurance vs blanket health policies.

Your employer matters more than the logo. Some plans are “self-funded” by the company. That means HR sets the rules. Ask for the Summary Plan Description (SPD). It’s dry, but it tells the truth.

What I’d Tell a Friend to Do

• Ask HR for two things: the SPD and the Domestic Partner policy. Use those exact words.
• Confirm if domestic partners are covered. Don’t assume.
• Get the proof list and the deadline. Thirty days goes fast.
• Ask payroll about imputed income. “What will this do to my paycheck?” is the key line.
• If you use the marketplace, remember: not married = separate plans, unless she’s your tax dependent.
• Check doctors and meds on the new plan before you switch. I once lost my favorite therapist for a month because I rushed.
• Save every document. Take photos of mail with both names.

Tiny Things That Helped Me

• We opened a no-fee joint checking account and used it to pay our shared bills. That gave us clean proof.
• We put both names on our electric bill. Super easy proof.
• We set a calendar alert for 30 days after any big life step. Sounds silly. It saved us twice.
• I asked HR to confirm coverage in writing. I filed that email. Call me careful—I sleep better that way.

Common Questions I Get from Friends

• Can I add my girlfriend mid-year?
  If your plan allows domestic partners and you sign the affidavit, yes—usually within 30 days.

• Do we need a lawyer?
  No. A notary for the affidavit was enough for us.

• Will my taxes go up?
  Likely, yes, if you’re not married. Ask payroll for an estimate.

• What if we live in different states?
  That’s a headache. Networks don’t always cross state lines. Ask the insurer if she’ll be “in network” where she lives.

• Is marriage the only clean fix?
  It’s the simplest for taxes and plan rules, yes. But I get not rushing that choice. And if it ever flips the other way, remember that a judge can sometimes order ongoing coverage—my blow-by-blow of a court-ordered health insurance after divorce shows how that unfolds.

• Long-distance and missing that face-to-face vibe? Some couples turn to live video chat platforms to stay connected—before you dive in, check out this candid [ImLive review](https://instantchat.com/cam-sites/imlive

I’m Kayla. My company switched to Surest (under the UnitedHealthcare umbrella) last fall. No deductible, prices shown up front in the app—honestly, I was curious and a little nervous. Would it actually save us money? Would the app be annoying? I’ve used it for a full year for me, my husband, and our 9-year-old. Here’s how it went—real visits, real bills.

For anyone who wants to scroll through every single explanation-of-benefits and receipt, I’ve dropped the full spreadsheet in my extended real-life review of Surest Health Insurance on ASQH.

The quick take

• It works best if you check the app before you go. Prices change by clinic, even for the same stuff.
• No deductible felt freeing. We paid set prices right away, not a big surprise months later.
• The network is big, but not endless. Out-of-network? You’ll pay a lot or it won’t be covered.
• One or two bills were messy, but support fixed them faster than I expected.

You know what? I liked it more than I thought I would.
For a broader look at how different insurance structures can influence quality of care, the breakdowns on ASQH are worth a quick read. If you’ve ever caught yourself asking “what’s the catch?”, the official plan walkthrough on the Surest blog offers a straightforward primer.

How I used Surest this year

1) Annual physical (me)

The app showed $0 for a preventive visit with a local clinic. My doc did basic blood work. It was also $0—because it was coded “preventive.” I asked the nurse to mark it that way, just to be safe. Total: $0. That felt great.

2) Sprained ankle and an MRI (my husband)

He twisted his ankle playing pickup basketball. The app showed a wide range for an MRI:

• Hospital: $740
• Imaging center across town: $230

We picked the imaging center. The app warned that we needed prior approval. The clinic sent it in. It took about one day. Final bill: $230. No surprise fees. He was more annoyed about missing hoops.

3) Urgent care for our kid’s ear infection

We checked the app from the car. One urgent care nearby showed $35. Another one, same street, showed $60. We went with the $35. Ten minutes in and out. Paid in the app. Final: $35.

4) Therapy sessions (me)

I found a licensed therapist in the app. Several choices. I booked a virtual session for $25. I kept weekly sessions for two months. Eight visits total: $200. My old plan used to bill me weeks later. With Surest, I saw the price before I booked. That helped my budget a lot.
For anyone whose mental-health focus overlaps with sexuality or kink, a discreet online chat community can be a low-pressure place to ask questions before you even reach out to a clinician—check out InstantChat’s dedicated fetish space for moderated, judgment-free conversations that might help you clarify what kind of professional support you want.

5) Meds: generic vs brand (our household)

• Generic allergy pills for my husband: $8/month at a nearby pharmacy.
• Brand inhaler for my son’s asthma: $85/month. The app showed cheaper generics, but his doctor wanted this one for now. We stuck with it, but felt that price.

6) Physical therapy (me again)

I had shoulder pain from working at my laptop. The app showed PT visit prices from $30 to $90. I picked a $40 clinic with strong reviews. Four sessions: $160. My therapist gave me a home plan. It helped.

Real numbers I actually paid

• Preventive physical + labs: $0
• Urgent care: $35
• MRI at imaging center: $230
• Weekly therapy (8 sessions): $200
• Generic allergy med: $8/month
• Brand inhaler: $85/month
• Physical therapy (4 visits): $160

Could I have spent more? For sure. Picking the hospital for the MRI alone would’ve doubled or tripled it.

What I loved

• Prices up front: I saw what I’d pay. No guessing. No dread.
• No deductible: We didn’t have to hit a big number before coverage kicked in.
• App search felt… useful: It showed clinics near me, with clear prices and notes.
• Fast support: When a lab used a different billing code and I got a small extra charge ($18), I messaged support in the app. They checked it and issued a credit the next week.

What bugged me

• Out-of-network limits: Our favorite pediatric dermatologist wasn’t covered. We had to switch to someone 25 minutes away. The app warned us, but it still stung.
• Prior approval delays: That MRI paused us for a day. Not awful, but when you’re hurting, any delay is annoying.
• Coding matters a lot: If labs aren’t marked preventive, you’ll pay. I learned to speak up and ask.
• Hospital “facility fees”: The app warned about higher hospital prices, but it’s still jarring to see one clinic at $60 and the hospital at $180 for the same visit type.

A weird little hiccup

After my physical, the lab company changed. The draw was done in the clinic, but the lab billed separately. I saw an extra $18 that wasn’t in the app flow. I called. Support explained the vendor switch and fixed it. Not a huge deal, but it’s a reminder: keep your receipts.

Who this plan fits

• Great for planners and comparison shoppers. If you’ll check the app, you’ll save.
• Good for folks who see doctors in-network already.
• Not so great if your must-have doctor is out-of-network. You’ll be frustrated.
• If you love HSAs and high-deductible setups, you may miss that style. I didn’t, but some people do.

If you’re still weighing options, it can help to see how similar plans fare in real life. One writer shares an honest take after a year with Imperial Health Insurance, while another walks through the numbers in a candid review of Alliant Health Insurance. Comparing those to my Surest story gave me perspective on what matters most for our household.

Tips from my kitchen table

• Favorite your go-to clinics in the app. It’s faster when you’re stressed.
• Ask, “Will this be coded as preventive?” for annual labs and screenings.
• For big stuff (imaging, surgery), check the app first and ask about prior approval.
• Compare prices across locations. The hospital is almost always higher.
• Keep EOBs and bills until claims settle. If something looks off, message support right away.
• If you’ve ever price-compared anything online—from plumbers to pizza—think of how browsing an escort directory like ListCrawler’s Elk Grove listings can instantly display what’s available and what it costs; applying that same peek-before-you-book mindset to Surest’s app is exactly how you avoid surprise medical bills.

My bottom line

Surest made healthcare feel more clear and less scary for us this year. We paid what we expected. We shopped around a bit. We got the care we needed. Was it perfect? No. But it was close enough that we’re staying on it next year.

If you can use the app and your doctors are in-network, I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5. On busy weeks, seeing that price before I walk in—that’s the little thing that keeps me sane.

I’m Kayla, and I used the Latino Health Insurance Program in Massachusetts. Yes, me. Not a cousin. Not a friend of a friend. I walked in myself, with my mom, a folder full of papers, and a little knot in my stomach.

Why? We needed coverage. My mom speaks Spanish. I speak both, but insurance words can twist your brain. Premium? Deductible? Network? I needed someone who wouldn’t rush us. Someone who gets the culture and the stress. If you’d like the full back-story with even more details, you can read my expanded narrative here.

They did. For a wider look at why culturally tailored navigation matters, check out the concise resources from the American Society for Quality Healthcare here.

What This Program Actually Does

It’s not an insurance plan. It’s a small team that helps you get insurance. They help with MassHealth, ConnectorCare, and sometimes employer stuff too. They explain things in Spanish or English. They set up doctors. They help with renewals. They also check dental and vision, which many folks skip by mistake.

If you’re shy about sharing info, I get it. They kept everything private. And they didn’t make my mom feel bad for asking the same question twice. Or three times.

My Sign-Up Day (A Real Play-by-Play)

It was a cold January morning. My hands were numb. Their office smelled like coffee. A little loud, but friendly loud.

What I brought:

• Pay stubs (two months)
• My ID and my mom’s passport
• Lease and a utility bill
• Social Security cards (mine) and a tax letter
• A list of my mom’s meds

We checked in. They called my name in Spanish first, then English. I liked that.

A navigator named Marisol sat with us. She was calm. She asked about our doctors. She explained terms with simple words. Premium is what you pay each month. Deductible is what you pay before the plan pays. Copay is the small fee at the visit. See? That helped my mom relax. Me too.

She ran our income. She checked our zip code. She walked us through two plan options. We looked at one with a $0 premium for my mom (MassHealth) and one for me at about $46 a month (ConnectorCare). We picked based on our clinics. Not on fancy names. If you want a plain-language explainer on how ConnectorCare works, this legal-aid guide is gold: ConnectorCare Health Insurance.

For context, I once spent a year on Imperial Health Insurance—my unfiltered breakdown of that experience lives here.

Then she booked my mom’s first visit with a bilingual primary care doctor. Same day. No kidding. She also found a dentist in our area. She gave me a paper with phone numbers and the pharmacy list. She wrote them out big.

Two Moments That Sold Me

• The scary letter: In March I got a notice that I might lose coverage. I panicked. I sent a photo of the letter through WhatsApp. Marisol replied in 20 minutes: “Bring your pay stub. We’ll fix it.” We did. Coverage stayed on. No gap. If you’re curious about using a privacy-first messenger for moments like this, I later tested Signal — check out this honest Signal review to see how its end-to-end encryption can keep sensitive insurance docs extra safe.

• The meds refill: My mom needed a refill for her blood pressure. The system was messy. The plan wanted a “prior auth.” I didn’t even know what that was. They called the doctor. They called the plan. It took a day. Then it went through. My mom cried a little from relief on the bus home. Me too, a little.

Costs and Care (What We Actually Paid)

• My monthly payment: $46
• My mom’s monthly payment: $0
• Mom’s primary care visit: $0
• My urgent care copay: $10 (sprained wrist)
• Dental cleaning for Mom: covered
• My telehealth visit: $0

I know costs vary. But that’s what we paid.

Help Beyond Paperwork

They didn’t stop after sign-up. They:

• Texted reminders for renewal season
• Checked our clinic networks before we switched doctors
• Gave me a list of Spanish-speaking therapists
• Ran a vaccine table at a church fair near us (free blood pressure checks too)
• Explained how to ask for a medical interpreter at the hospital (always free)

Little note: They don’t ask about more than they need. If your home has a mix of statuses, they’re careful. No shame. No lectures.

What Bugged Me (Because nothing’s perfect)

• Wait time: I waited 40 minutes one Saturday. They were swamped. Bring a snack.
• Paperwork pile: It felt like a school project. Keep a folder. Label things. Trust me.
• Phone line: If you call at lunch, hold music forever. Mornings worked better for me.
• One hiccup: My plan paused for three days when a letter got lost in the mail. They fixed it, but I still felt stressed.

Tips If You Go

• Call early and book a time. Walk-ins work, but you’ll wait.
• Bring two pay stubs, ID, address, and any letters from the state.
• Keep a “health folder.” Paper on one side, notes on the other.
• Ask about dental and vision. People forget those.
• Check your doctors are “in network.” If not, ask for a clinic nearby.
• Save the navigator’s name and number. Text a photo of any scary letter.
• Set a phone reminder for renewal month. Two weeks before is safe.
• If you’d like to preview or compare plans ahead of time, you can browse them directly at the official Massachusetts Health Connector site: betterhealthconnector.com.

Who This Helps Most

• Spanish-first families who want kind support
• New parents picking a pediatrician
• College students with part-time jobs
• Folks between jobs or with gig work (especially remote single-carrier roles like the one I reviewed here)
• Seniors who need meds covered
• Mixed-status homes that need careful guidance

If you live far from Massachusetts—perhaps out in Pocatello, Idaho—and you’re hunting for any kind of local resource directory that’s sorted by neighborhood and easy to scan, you can check out this city-specific roundup at ListCrawler Pocatello which compiles up-to-date local listings in one searchable place so you can find what you need in just a few clicks.

Little Things I Loved

• Kids’ corner with crayons
• Staff who switch between Spanish and English without making you feel small
• Big print handouts
• They explained my bill line by line, not just “it is what it is”

Final Call

Would I use the Latino Health Insurance Program again? Yes. I’d send my neighbors too. It wasn’t magic. But it was human. They helped my mom feel safe. They helped me save money. They made health care feel less like a maze and more like a map.

My score: 4.6 out of 5. Friendly, real, and useful. Bring your folder, your questions, and maybe a granola bar. You’ll be fine. You know what? You might even walk out breathing easier. I did.

Quick Wins I Use Now

• I ask the doctor, “Are you in-network for this exact plan?” while I hold the card.
• I check urgent care hours before flu season. I save two locations that actually take my plan.
• I snap photos of bills and EOBs. If something goes sideways, I have proof.
• I set a phone reminder to re-shop on November 1. Ten minutes now saves me months of stress.

A totally different but surprisingly helpful stress-management hack: during the Ambetter year—when money was tight and date nights were nonexistent—I discovered that a playful, stay-at-home “adult date” can take the edge off insurance headaches. If you and your partner are open to spicing things up, check out this live cam cum-show on InstantChat for a private, on-demand experience that costs whatever you decide to tip and lets you unwind without adding another bill to the pile. If you’re more intrigued by meeting someone face-to-face than watching a livestream, skimming the candid review of Taylor’s Listcrawler experience on One Night Affair can give you clear do’s and don’ts, plus honest pricing info that keeps the evening fun instead of stressful.

Final Take

Pasco County health insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. My best year was Florida Blue because it covered my favorite places and the billing was boring. Boring is good. My cheapest year was Ambetter, which kept us covered when money was tight. My smoothest tech year was Oscar, with fast claims and helpful guides.

If I had to pick tomorrow? I’d start with the doctors we actually use, match a plan to them, and only then look at price. Sounds backward, but it saved me from surprise bills and long drives down U.S. 19. And if all else fails, I keep Premier Community HealthCare in my back pocket for low-cost care when life gets messy.

Got questions about a clinic here? I’ve probably sat in that waiting room with a snack and a cranky kid. I can tell you how the coffee tastes. And yes, I’ll still say: call the office first. It’s the one step I never regret.

Please provide the article in markdown format, and I’ll insert the link(s) as requested without altering any of the existing content.

I’ve used Metropolitan Health Insurance for a year and a half. I live in a big city. Busy trains. Busy clinics. I picked their Silver PPO plan through my job. Not fancy. Not cheap. But I wanted lots of doctors in-network, since I’m all over town for work and kid stuff.

Here’s what actually happened when life got noisy.

First things first: signing up felt simple… until it didn’t

The website looked clean. I picked my plan, set up auto-pay, and got my digital ID card in the app. That part felt smooth. The plan brochure, though? Wow. Thick. Lots of small print. I had to call a rep to learn what counted as “preventive” and what needed “pre-approval” (they called it prior auth, but yeah, pre-approval).

The rep was kind. Wait time was about 12 minutes at lunch. Not great, not awful. She even walked me through the provider search tool. I saved a few doctors as “favorites” in the app. That came in handy later.

Real-life test #1: a Saturday ankle sprain

My son rolled his ankle at a soccer scrimmage. It was 5 p.m. on a Saturday in February. Cold. We hit an in-network urgent care nearby. The front desk ran our card. Copay was $40. He got an X-ray. No break. Just a bad sprain and a brace.

The claim showed up in the app in four days. It was paid in nine business days. Our total cost was the $40 copay. I got an email anytime the bill moved. That tracking eased my brain. I like receipts, and the EOB (the “what we paid” paper) was clear.

Real-life test #2: 2 a.m. fever and a quick call

At 2 a.m. in May, I used their nurse line. My kid had a fever and a cough. The nurse offered a telehealth visit right then. The doctor joined us in six minutes. He sent a script for an antibiotic to our 24-hour pharmacy. Ten-dollar copay. We were back in bed by 3.

The next morning, the app showed the visit and the pharmacy charge. That kind of “hey, we see you” update feels small, but it matters at 2 a.m. While we’re on the topic of video calls, if you want pro-level tricks for making your camera feed look sharp and private during late-night telehealth sessions, this candid “Webcam Secrets Exposed” interview with a seasoned cam girl breaks down lighting, angles, and quick backdrop fixes you can pull off in minutes.

Real-life test #3: therapy was harder than it should be

Finding a therapist took work. The directory was big, but many folks weren’t taking new clients. I called six people. One called back. She was in-network, which helped.

Copay was $35 a session. After eight sessions, they wanted a treatment note for more visits. That slowed things down for two weeks. I won’t lie. That felt frustrating. My therapist faxed the paper (yes, fax), and then we were fine. If mental health is your main need, plan for phone time.

Real-life test #4: a surprise bill that wasn’t my fault

I had a small outpatient procedure. The surgeon and the hospital were in-network. But the anesthesiologist, who I never met, wasn’t. I got a $1,140 bill. My stomach dropped.

I called Metropolitan. The rep flagged it under the No Surprises rules. They reached out to the billing group. Two weeks later, the bill was adjusted to the in-network rate. I paid my normal coinsurance instead. It took three calls and some patience, but they did fix it. Keep your EOBs. They help.

If you ever get blindsided, the ASQH website breaks down the No Surprises Act in plain language and lists the exact steps to dispute a bill. You can also skim this clear overview from the Mayo Clinic for quick context.

Real-life test #5: my inhaler and the “pre-approval” dance

My inhaler got bumped to a higher tier this year. First month, it rang up at $55. I asked my doctor for a pre-approval and grabbed a manufacturer coupon. Next fill, it dropped to $20. You know what? It’s silly we have to ask. But the fix worked.

Preventive stuff stayed free, which I love

My annual checkup was covered. No copay. Basic labs were covered too. The doctor did try to add a non-routine test, and that would’ve hit my deductible, so I said no thanks. Tip: ask, “Is this preventive?” It changes the bill.

The app and the people

• The app is solid. Digital ID card, find-a-doctor map, claims, and a simple cost estimator.
• Chat works for quick things like “Is this lab in-network?” For tricky questions, I still had to call.
• Phone waits were 8–18 minutes for me, most days. Early morning was fastest.

Money talk, quick and plain

This is what I paid and saw on my plan. Yours may vary.

• My share each month: $482
• Deductible: $2,500 (me), $5,000 (family)
• Out-of-pocket max: $8,700
• Copays I saw: $40 urgent care, $10 telehealth, $35 therapy
• Rx tiers: $10 generic, $35 preferred, 30% for special meds

In the city, the network felt big. In the near suburbs, still good. But one trip upstate for a weekend soccer thing? Choices were thin. We used an out-of-network urgent care and paid more. Not tragic. Not fun.

When travel takes you to smaller spots—say, Livermore in California’s Tri-Valley wine country—and you need to scope out local walk-in clinics or other last-minute personal services fast, a surprisingly handy directory is Listcrawler Livermore which compiles up-to-the-minute listings, phone numbers, and map views so you can see who’s actually open right now without wading through pages of outdated Google results.

What I liked

• Fast claims and clear EOBs
• Strong city network and solid urgent care options
• Telehealth that actually works at weird hours
• App that doesn’t make me guess
• Good fix on the surprise bill

What bugged me

• Mental health access took too many calls
• Pre-approvals slowed care a bit
• Some meds jumped tiers mid-year
• Customer service can feel rushed on complex stuff

Little tips that saved me money

• Ask “Is this code preventive?” before labs
• Get pre-approval early if your doctor hints at it
• Save EOBs; they’re your proof
• Let the pharmacy run your insurance and a coupon card; sometimes both help
• If care gets complex, ask for a case manager. Mine was calm and very human.

If you’re still comparison-shopping, I’ve road-tested a few other insurers too. You can peek at my honest take on Imperial Health Insurance, my candid review of Alliant Health Insurance, my real-life review of Surest Health Insurance, the real deal on Taro Health Insurance, what helped and what hurt with Pasco County Health Insurance, and my no-nonsense first-person take on Purdue Health Insurance. Each review spells out the costs, surprises, and sanity-saving tips just like this one.

So… would I keep it?

Yes. For city folks who want lots of in-network choices, it’s a strong pick. It’s not perfect. No plan is. But when my kid limped in with that ankle and when I stared at that scary bill, they showed up. I’d give it a 7.5 out of 10.

I’ll renew unless my job offers a plan with better mental health access. And maybe, just maybe, fewer faxes.

If you’re picking this plan, keep notes, use the app, and ask clear questions. Simple stuff, but it makes the whole thing less painful—like good shoes on a long walk.

I’m on Medicaid. I needed a dentist. Simple. Stressful. You know how that goes.

Here’s the short answer: yes, Alcona Health Center Dental took my Medicaid. They took my card, checked it, and treated me like a regular person, not a problem to fix. Let me explain what happened, step by step.
If you want the full play-by-play of how Alcona handled my Medicaid card, check out my detailed write-up here.

The First Call: Quick check, zero drama

I called the dental desk and said, “Do you take Medicaid?” The person asked for:

• My full name and birthday
• My Medicaid ID number
• The plan on my card

They ran it while I was on hold. Then they said, “You’re covered.” I didn’t need a referral. They also told me about their sliding fee program, just in case my coverage changed. Nice safety net. (If you want a peek at the exact income guidelines and paperwork, the clinic posts them here.)

Honestly, that first call set the tone. Clear. Kind. No shame.

Visit One: Cleaning, X-rays, and a small surprise

I brought my photo ID and my Medicaid card. I signed a few pages. It took maybe five minutes. The waiting room felt calm. Not fancy, but clean.

I waited about 25 minutes. The hygienist, Amber, did a full set of X-rays and a basic cleaning. She talked me through each step, which helped my nerves. My gums felt sore but not bad. Then the dentist came in, looked at the X-rays, and found a tiny cavity on a back molar.

What did I pay that day? Nothing. Medicaid covered the cleaning and X-rays. I got a printout of my treatment plan with simple notes: one filling, back right molar.

Visit Two: The filling that didn’t ruin my day

A week later, I came back for the filling. No pre-approval needed for that one. They numbed the spot, waited a few minutes, and got to work. I picked a white filling. It took about 40 minutes. I left with a funny lip and a free toothbrush. I ate soup later. No bill. No “surprise” fee. Just… done.

You know what? I’ve had fillings that hurt for days. This one was fine by dinner.

Visit Three: The bigger fix (and a short wait for approval)

Three months later, the dentist saw a cracked part on another molar. I grind my teeth at night. They said I might need a crown. That needed pre-authorization from Medicaid. Big word, simple meaning: they send a note to make sure it’s covered.
The same approval dance often applies to oral surgeries too, and I found a helpful breakdown of how insurance works for those bigger procedures here.

They sent the request that day. It took six business days to get the yes. They called me and booked me in. The crown visit was longer, about an hour and a half with the fitting. Medicaid covered it for my case, so I didn’t pay out of pocket. I did say yes to a night guard later. That one I planned for, and they showed me the cost ahead of time.

My Kid’s Turn: Sealants and a sticker

My 7-year-old also goes there. She’s on Medicaid too. The staff was patient and funny with her. They showed her the “spit vacuum,” let her hold the mirror, and put on cartoons. She got sealants on her back teeth and a fluoride varnish. Zero cost. She left with a purple toothbrush and a fox sticker. She still talks about the chair that goes “whoosh.”

Billing and Paperwork: A tiny mix-up, fixed fast

I got a statement in the mail once that looked scary. It showed big numbers and “This is not a bill” in small print. I brought it in. The front desk smiled, explained it, and printed the zero balance. They also set me up for text reminders, which I love because, well, life.

The Good, The Not-So-Good

Here’s me being straight with you.

What I liked:

• They took my Medicaid. No runaround.
• Staff treated me with respect. No rush.
• Clear talk about costs. No guessing.
• Kids do great there. Cartoons help.
• Text reminders keep me on track.

What could be better:

• Appointments book up fast. I waited three weeks for a morning slot.
• One time they ran 20 minutes behind.
• The crown needed that approval wait. Not their fault, but still a wait.

Tips if you’re going

• Call first and have your Medicaid card ready.
• Bring your photo ID.
• Ask if your treatment needs approval. It can save a second trip.
• If your coverage is weird or new, ask about the sliding fee program.
• Need a quick rundown of Alcona Health Center’s dental services, hours, and accepted insurance plans? Check the concise listing on FreeDentalCare.us before you call.
• If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard. It saved my crown.
• Thinking about wisdom teeth removal? Read this real-life take on what insurance does (and doesn’t) cover here.
• Want to put that fresh, confident smile to good use on dating apps? Read Top Tips and Tricks to Have a Tinder Fuck in 2025 for straight-to-the-point guidance on profile photos, opening lines, and safety so you can turn matches into real-world connections.
• Passing through Arkansas after your dental tune-up and looking for a location-specific way to meet new people? Check out the up-to-date Listcrawler ads for Hot Springs here: Listcrawler Hot Springs — you’ll be able to browse real-time listings, compare rates, and read candid reviews before choosing who you’d like to meet.

For a deeper dive into how Medicaid benefits can be used at community health centers like Alcona, the American Society for Quality Healthcare has a clear primer here: ASQH.

So, do they take Medicaid?

They took mine. They treated my kid. They explained everything. I left with healthy teeth and no surprise costs. Could policies change? Sure. Different plans can be tricky. Call your local Alcona Health dental site and have your card ready, just to be safe.

But from my real visits: yes, Alcona Health Dental took my Medicaid insurance—and they made the whole thing feel human.

—Kayla Sox

I used Unity Health Insurance (under Quartz) for a full year in Madison, Wisconsin. Family plan. One kid with asthma. One clumsy ankle (mine). A few sore throats. Normal life stuff.

Here’s the thing: I didn’t expect to care much about my health plan. But when your kid needs an inhaler at 9 p.m., you care.

The setup: picking the plan and getting started

My employer offered a few choices. I picked Unity (Quartz) HMO because the UW Health clinics near me were in network. My share was $124 per paycheck. Deductible was $1,500 for me and $3,000 for the family. Out-of-pocket max was $4,000/$8,000. Co-pays were simple: $25 for a primary care visit, $35 for specialist, $75 for urgent care.

Cards came fast. The app showed a digital ID, which saved me when I forgot my wallet. Yep, that happened in January. Cold brain.

Real visits and bills I had

• Saturday urgent care for strep throat at UW Health East: I paid $75 at check-in. Swab, results in 15 minutes, done. The claim hit the portal in three days. EOB in five. No surprise charges. That felt rare and nice.

• My kid’s inhaler drama: The brand we used wasn’t on Tier 1. Pharmacist said I’d pay a lot. I called the Unity/Quartz number on the card. The nurse line walked me through a generic that worked. Co-pay dropped to $20. We did a quick prior auth later for a spacer. It got approved the next day. I exhaled. So did my kid.

• Physical therapy after my ankle sprain: 6 visits. $35 each. They flagged visit 7 and asked for notes. My PT sent them. It got okay’d. One bill came in wrong at $120. I sent a message in the portal with a photo of the receipt. Fixed in a week. Not fun, but clean.

• Annual checkup with labs: $0. Preventive stays free. The lab tried to bill a vitamin D test as “diagnostic,” which would’ve cost me. My doctor updated the code. It turned back to $0. Pro tip: Ask how they bill it, not just “what” they ordered.

• Mental health therapy: I found a therapist in network on the Quartz directory. The first two had waitlists (ugh), but the third had openings. $25 co-pay, telehealth was fine. Audio was better than video, which made me laugh. Six sessions helped. No extra charges.

• Travel hiccup: We went to Chicago. My kid got a nasty cough. Urgent care nearby wasn’t in network. They billed me $180. Not the end of the world, but it stung. The plan is great in Wisconsin, but outside the area? Not so much unless it’s a true emergency.

The portal and the app

The app is simple. I could:

• See claims in a few days
• Check co-pays and my deductible
• Pull a digital ID
• Send a message to support

It got quirky when I tried to upload a PDF on my phone. It kept crashing. I switched to my laptop and it worked. Annoying, but fixable.

There’s also a wellness program. I synced my step counter and earned $100 in rewards by hitting activity goals. Free money for walking? I’m in.

Network strength (and weak spots)

In Madison, the network is strong. UW Health, Meriter, clinics all over town. My primary care doctor was 10 minutes away. Referrals to a dermatologist and PT were fast. Like, “see you next week” fast.

But the network felt tight outside our zone. Finding care near my parents in northern Wisconsin was hard. I had options, just not many. So plan ahead if you travel or split time in two places.

One unexpected side quest while hunting for out-of-town clinics was realizing how many geo-filtered apps exist for, well, everything—restaurants, yoga pop-ups, even adults-only communities. For instance, the location-based interface on LocalNudes makes it easy to see and chat with real people who live nearby, so if you’re traveling and want a consenting-adults network instead of just medical help, the site’s city filter and private messaging give you a fast, no-pressure way to connect. Similarly, if you detour down to Florida’s Treasure Coast and want another hyper-local directory, check out the Fort Pierce section of ListCrawler, where you can browse real-time postings, read community reviews, and message providers before deciding to meet up.

What I liked

• Clear co-pays. I knew what I’d pay most of the time.
• Claims moved fast. Five days was normal for us.
• Nurse line was kind and helpful. Real humans. Not robots reading a script.
• Preventive care really was $0. No sneaky fees.
• Wellness rewards paid out. Small thing, but it kept me moving.

What bugged me

• Out-of-network stuff adds up quick. Even for small things.
• The provider directory wasn’t always current. I called two therapists who weren’t taking new patients.
• The app upload glitch. Tiny, but still a glitch.
• Prior auth for simple items can feel fussy. It did get approved fast, though.

My cost snapshot (your numbers may differ)

• Premium (my share): $124 per paycheck
• Deductible: $1,500 individual / $3,000 family
• Out-of-pocket max: $4,000/$8,000
• Co-pays: $25 primary, $35 specialist, $75 urgent care
• ER: $300, then 20% after deductible (we didn’t use it, thank goodness)

Who this plan fits

• You live in southern Wisconsin, near UW Health or Meriter
• You’re good with an HMO and staying in network
• You like simple co-pays and quick claims
• You want a decent telehealth and nurse line

Before you commit, it’s worth scanning independent quality scores for Unity/Quartz and other Wisconsin insurers on the ASQH site. I’ve also put together a separate, blow-by-blow account—my real-life review of Unity Health Insurance (Quartz)—if you want even more nitty-gritty numbers.

Another good independent take is the Unity Health review on Expert Insurance Reviews, which digs into plan options, pricing, and complaint data. If you want to see how other members score the carrier, the crowd-sourced Quartz Health Insurance ratings on USInsuranceAgents.com break down customer service, claims experience, and network breadth.

Who might struggle:

• Folks who travel a lot or split time out of state
• People who want total freedom to see any doctor, anywhere

(Curious how a nonprofit carrier compares? Check out the wins, bumps, and huh moments I had with a nonprofit health plan.)

Tips I wish I knew sooner

• Always check if a clinic is in network before you book.
• Ask how tests get coded. Preventive vs diagnostic matters.
• Save your receipts and EOBs. Take photos. It helps with fixes.
• Try mail-order pharmacy for refills. My cost went down a bit.
• Add your digital ID to your phone wallet. It saves your day.

Final take

Unity Health Insurance (Quartz) worked well for my family. It’s steady, fast with claims, and solid in the Madison area. It’s not perfect—out-of-network stuff can bite—but it did what we needed without nasty surprises.

I’d give it 4 out of 5. Would I use it again? If I’m staying in Wisconsin, yes. If I move or travel more, I’d think hard about a broader network. (I later tried a very different model—my real-life review of Surest Health Insurance—and comparing the two opened my eyes to how much plan design can change the day-to-day experience.) You know what? For a year full of sniffles and a cranky ankle, I felt covered—and that’s the point.

Quick outline:

• Who I am and what plan I have
• What I pay and what I get
• Real visits and bills I had
• Customer service wins and misses
• The network and where I got care
• What surprised me
• Pros, cons, and tips
• Final take

First, who am I and what plan is this?

I’m Kayla. I live in Henderson, just outside Las Vegas. I have Sierra Health and Life Insurance through my job. My card says “Sierra Health and Life (SHL).” My plan is an EPO. That means no out-of-network care unless it’s an emergency. Simple on paper. Tricky in real life, sometimes.

For readers who like to see independent ratings, the Better Business Bureau keeps a detailed Sierra Health and Life Insurance Co. profile that outlines accreditation status and customer feedback.

If you’d like a quick refresher on how EPOs differ from PPOs and HMOs, the plain-language guides over at ASQH lay it out clearly.

It’s under the big UnitedHealthcare umbrella. So the app and portal use that look and feel. That part threw me at first, but it’s fine now.

What I pay and what I get

• I pay $312 a month for me and my son. My job pays the rest.
• Primary care visit: $35 copay
• Urgent care: $50 copay
• Generic meds: $10
• Deductible: $2,000
• Out-of-pocket max: $7,500

Is it cheap? Not really. Is it fair for Vegas? From what I’ve seen, yes.

Real moments that sold me (and one that bugged me)

Here’s the thing: insurance only shows its true face when life pops you in the shin. I’ve had a few hits.

• Sprained ankle at a kids’ soccer game

  • I went to an urgent care on Eastern Ave. They were in-network.
  • X-ray, ice, and a brace. I paid $50 at the desk. The final bill later showed $0 more due.
  • My explanation of benefits (that “how we paid” sheet) came 5 days later. Clean and easy.

• A scary stomach pain on a road trip to Utah

  • We went to an ER in St. George. It was an emergency, so it counted.
  • No fighting over the bill. I did get a balance letter after, which made me sweat. I called Sierra. They said, “Yep, ER is covered when it’s life or limb.” They reprocessed it and the balance went away. I kept the letter, just in case.

• An MRI that needed pre-approval

  • My knee kept locking. My doc sent me for an MRI at Desert Radiology.
  • The office asked for pre-approval. It took one business day. I got a text that said “approved.”
  • I paid toward my deductible. Not fun, but at least it was clear.
  • Side note: a coworker on Unity Health Insurance (Quartz) said their MRI approval dragged for a week, so SHL felt lightning-fast in comparison.

• Therapy online when my nerves ran hot

  • Three virtual visits were $0 for the first few sessions that year. After that, $35.
  • The first visit felt clunky to set up. Then it worked like clockwork.

• A weird surprise lab bill

  • My dermatologist was in-network. The lab they used wasn’t.
  • I didn’t choose the lab. Still got a $186 bill. Ouch.
  • I called Sierra and asked for a review since I had no clue the lab was out-of-network.
  • The lab had used the wrong code. Sierra reprocessed it, and I paid $0 in the end.
  • Lesson: always ask, “Which lab do you use, and is it in-network?”

Customer service: actually reachable

Hold times varied. Monday mornings were slow. Mid-morning Tuesday was fast.

You can also browse the BBB’s running list of formal complaints against Sierra Health and Life to see how issues similar to mine have been resolved.

• Best call: A rep named Alana walked me through an EOB line by line. She talked normal. No robots. I even laughed once.
• Worst call: I got bounced between the plan and the imaging center for 20 minutes. Then it clicked—wrong fax number on the imaging order. Not fun, but it got fixed that afternoon.
• Compared to my stint on Surest Health Insurance last year, SHL’s phone support feels more old-school but also more thorough.
• Chat in the app was handy for small stuff, like getting a card resent or checking a copay.

The network: who I saw and where

• Primary care: Southwest Medical (Henderson). Easy to book. Parking’s good. My doc calls me “kiddo,” which I don’t love, but she listens.
• Specialists: Ortho in the same area. Smooth hand-off.
• Imaging: Desert Radiology. They knew the Sierra process cold.
• Urgent care: I tried two spots—both took my card and had the rates dialed in.
• Pharmacies: My local grocery store pharmacy handled my meds with the plan price. Mail-order worked, but shipping took longer than I wanted, so I went back local.

If you live in Vegas, Henderson, or Summerlin, you’ve got choices. Reno folks, too, but I only know Vegas first-hand.

What surprised me

• EPO means simple rules, but tight fences. If you love a certain doctor, double-check they’re in.
• The card says Sierra, but the app and letters use UnitedHealthcare style. It’s all the same plan. Took me a minute.
• ER coverage worked out of state. Thank goodness for that.
• Labs are the hidden trap. Ask, every time.

What I like, what I don’t

Pros:

• Clear costs for most visits
• Fast pre-approval for the MRI
• ER coverage honored when I was out of state
• Friendly reps who will explain the messy parts
• Strong network in Las Vegas and Henderson

Cons:

• The out-of-network lab surprise
• Mail pharmacy shipping felt slow
• Monday phone lines get jammed
• EPO has no wiggle room outside the network

Little tips I wish someone told me

• Ask every office: “Are you in-network with Sierra Health and Life?” Don’t just say “Do you take my insurance?”
• Ask labs by name. If the clinic wants to send to a lab, you can often request an in-network one.
• Save EOBs. When a bill looks odd, the EOB is your map.
• Use midweek mornings for calls. Faster help, in my experience.
• Screenshot pre-approval texts. If something gets lost, that proof helps.
• When the insurance side of life finally quiets down, channel that freed-up energy into your personal life—if boosting your dating confidence is on your self-care checklist, the step-by-step playbook at Secrets to Get Laid Every Night lays out practical mindset shifts and conversation starters you can put to work immediately for more fulfilling evenings.
• If work or play takes you up to the Bay Area and you’re curious about vetted, same-day companionship resources in El Cerrito, the up-to-date provider roster on Listcrawler El Cerrito lays out photos, hourly rates, and real-time availability so you can compare options quickly and discreetly.

Would I keep it?

Yes, I would. For me, Sierra Health and Life has been steady. Not perfect. But steady. I know what I’ll pay for most things. I get care fast in my area. And when a bill went sideways, they fixed it.

If you want a huge national pick-any-doctor plan, this may feel tight. If you live near Las Vegas and like clear rules and a deep local network, it’s a solid fit.

You know what? Insurance is like a goalie. You don’t cheer much when it just does its job. You only notice when it misses. With Sierra, mine blocked most shots. A couple pinged the post, but they went back and patched the net. That counts.

Hi, I’m Kayla Sox. I sell a simple lead service (I tried lead generation for health insurance—what worked, what flopped, and what I’d do again) and CRM clean-up to small health insurance agencies. Mostly two to twenty agents. Medicare shops, ACA shops, and group brokers. (Back when I worked a single-carrier health insurance job from home in Texas, I wrote an honest review of the experience here.)

Cold outreach scares most folks (here’s a deeper dive on exactly what worked for me). You know what? It scared me too. For another real-world look at cold outreach tactics that resonate with health-insurance brokers, I recommend this straightforward playbook. But I needed meetings. So I tested a bunch of stuff. Email. Phone. LinkedIn. Short video. Even mail. I’ll show you the real scripts and the real numbers. No fluff.

And yes, I used all the tools I mention here myself. Some helped. Some wasted my time. I’ll tell you which is which.

---

Quick Game Plan (So You See the Flow)

• Who I reached out to and when.
• The list tools I used (mini reviews).
• The one email that got steady replies.
• A phone script that didn’t feel pushy.
• LinkedIn and a 45-second video move.
• A weird “mail” test that stuck.
• My 10-day cadence.
• What bombed.

I’ll drop real replies and call notes too.

---

Who I Reached Out To (Timing Matters)

I had the best luck with:

• Medicare agencies in Jan–Mar (after AEP cool-down).
• ACA shops in Feb–May.
• Group brokers right after Q4 renewals (Jan–April).

Best days and times for me:

• Tue–Thu, 8:10–9:30 a.m. local time.
• Fri at 8 a.m. was sneakily good too.

Why? Owners check email early. Phones aren’t ringing yet. Coffee’s still warm.

---

My List And Tools (Short, Honest Reviews)

I used these myself. Here’s what helped and what hurt.

• Apollo: Good for email lists of small agencies. Cheaper than ZoomInfo. Data was decent, not perfect. I always verified.
• ZoomInfo: Better for bigger brokerages and group teams. Pricey. Good phone numbers.
• NeverBounce: I ran every list through this. It saved my domain. Worth it.
• Clay: For matching websites and pulling “carriers we sell” lines. Helpful for custom lines.
• HubSpot CRM: Clean pipeline. Easy tasks. Free tier was enough to start. I’m a fan.
• Instantly: Simple sender rotation. Fewer bells. Better deliverability for me than Lemlist.
• Lemlist: Pretty UI. But I had more spam issues. Your results may differ.
• Loom: I made fast 45-second videos. Thumbnails helped.
• Calendly: Easy booking. I keep the link short and simple.

Side note: every now and then, I’ll sanity-check a direct dial or email by looking at public-facing classified directories—seeing how frequently contact details get refreshed there can clue you in on overall data hygiene standards. A hyper-local example is the Listcrawler board for Palo Alto (you can browse it here: Listcrawler Palo Alto ), and skimming a page like that shows just how rapidly phone numbers and ads rotate, which reminds you why regular list cleaning matters if you want your outreach to hit fresh, working contacts.

Little tech tip: I set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC on my domains. I also used a sending domain like get.kaylasox.com. That kept my main domain safe.

---

Email That Got Replies (Real Example + Replies)

Subject lines that worked:

• “Quick idea for [Agency Name]”
• “Saw your [Carrier] page”
• “7-min idea, then I’ll go away”

Here’s my top winner (I sent this to Medicare agencies in January):

Subject: Quick idea for [Smith Medicare]

Hi [First Name] — Kayla here in [City].
I help small Medicare teams clean old leads and book warm calls.
I saw you list [Carrier A] and [Carrier B].

Would a 7-min chat be crazy?
If not, I’ll zip it.

— Kayla
Kayla Sox
[City, State]
If not a fit, reply “stop” and I’ll remove you.

Why it worked:

• Under 70 words.
• One clear ask.
• I used a line from their site (“We sell [Carrier]”).
• Tone felt human. Not needy.

Real replies I got:

• “7 min is fine. Tomorrow 8:30?”
• “We’re set for now. Circle back in May.”
• “How do you ‘clean’ the leads?” (This led to a call.)

Numbers from one run (287 contacts, Jan–Feb):

• Open rate: 64%
• Reply rate: 14%
• Booked calls: 5.2%
• New clients: 3 (two Medicare, one ACA)
• Spend: about $340 (tools + domains)
• New revenue in 60 days: about $12,400

Not bad for a simple note.

---

Cold Call Script That Didn’t Feel Gross (Role-Play)

I call after email, same week.

My opener (gentle, fast):
“Hey [Name], it’s Kayla. Super quick. I help small agencies turn old leads into booked calls. Did I catch you for 30 seconds, or bad time?”

If they say “bad time,” I say:
“Totally fair. I’ll email a one-liner. Best address?”
(Then I hang up. Respect helps.)

If they say “go ahead,” I go with:
“Cool. Two lines. I noticed you sell [Carrier]. We take your old leads, scrub bad numbers, and text a simple yes/no check-in. You get live calls booked. Worth a 7-minute chat next Tuesday morning?”

Role-play from a real call:

• Owner: “How do you scrub?”
• Me: “We validate emails and phones with NeverBounce and a carrier ping. Then we send a short check-in. No PHI. You see replies in your CRM. You approve the calendar slots.”
• Owner: “Cost?”
• Me: “Pilot is $900 for 30 days. If we don’t book at least 10 calls, we keep working free till we do. Fair?”
• Owner: “Book it. Send invite.”

That one closed in 11 days.

---

LinkedIn Message That Landed Meetings

I only messaged people who posted in the last 30 days. No mass spam.

Connect note:
“Hi [Name] — saw your post on [Medicare 101 in church halls]. I help small teams revive old leads. Would love to swap a tip or two.”

After they accept, I sent this:
“Thanks, [Name]. Quick idea: we run a 3-text check-in on 6-18-month old leads. It’s gentle: ‘Still looking? Y/N’. If that’s useful, I can show a live sample. If not, no stress.”

That got me 1–2 calls a week. Slow, but high quality.

---

Short Video That Punched Above Its Weight

I used Loom and held my phone. One take. No script on screen.

Before I settled on business-friendly tools like Loom, I spent an afternoon studying how the most attention-grabbing live-video platforms hook viewers in seconds—for example, this detailed CamSoda review lays out the interactive features and psychological triggers that keep an audience glued to a webcam performer. Skimming those retention tactics can spark ideas for making your own 45-second outreach videos irresistibly clickable.

My 45-second video:
“Hey [Name], I’m Kayla in [City]. I saw your page that lists [Carrier]. I love that you host Medicare 101 nights. We help small shops like yours warm up old leads and book live calls. No PHI. Here’s what it looks like in HubSpot (shows one fake contact card). If you want a 7-minute look, I can show this in real time. If not, all good. Thanks for doing right by seniors.”

I sent the Loom link as a reply to my own first email.
Video emails got 2x more replies than plain text in my Medicare test.

---

The Weird One: A Little Mail Kit

I sent a tiny “AEP Survival Kit” in early September to 20 Medicare shops:

• One yellow highlighter.
• One sticky note pad.
• A note card: “When the phones cool down in Jan, I’ll book you warm calls from your old leads. —Kayla, [number].”

Cost: about $7 each.
Results: 3 called me in January. One became a client in March. Slow, but sticky.

---

My 10-Day Cadence (Simple, Not Loud)

Day 1: Email 1 (the short one above)
Day