Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 42F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..
Periods of rain. Low 38F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Updated: April 2, 2024 @ 6:19 am
LaFever
LaFever
Bovina native Jillienne LaFever is in the business of benefits.
LaFever, 47, owns LaFever Insurance Agency Inc., launched in July 2006, though she brings more than 20 years of experience to insurance provision.
“I started with insurance back in ’99 and I was working for another firm,” she said. “I basically ran their health insurance program, then I worked there probably seven or eight years and I just decided I wanted to go out on my own and start my business. I left there and formed LaFever Insurance and have been self-employed since. And why I enjoy it is, I like working with small businesses and individuals and learning about what their business entails and working with them to find benefits that fit their needs.”
LaFever said her educational background informs her approach and customer base.
“I was born and raised in Bovina but went away for college and have a bachelor’s degree in adulthood and aging — gerontology — so that works nicely, because I work a lot with Medicare plans, Advantage and Supplement, for those who are over 65,” she said. “I specialize in one niche; a lot of times when people think insurance companies, they think home and auto, and I don’t offer any of that. I specialize in employee benefits and health-related benefits.
“Specifically, I offer group and individual health insurance,” LaFever continued. “Right now, more than anything else, I work with the Medicare Supplement plans and Medicare Advantage plans, but I also work with life insurance policies.”
LaFever said clients appreciate her customized care.
“All together, I’m licensed with about 20 different insurance carriers,” she said. “I’m a broker, so what I do is shop the market. You could call me and, instead of calling all these different carriers for rates and what would fit your needs, you call me. We talk about what prescriptions you use, what facilities or hospitals and who your doctors are and what your needs are, then I narrow it down to see what fits your needs. And there’s no additional cost to working with me, rather than calling these call centers and talking to 100 different people and never having the same response or knowledge base. And (clients) can call me every year for any questions on their renewal or if their needs have changed.
“I am extremely fortunate and love my client base,” LaFever continued. “We are in a rural area, so a lot of my clients I have had for years and years; my turnover is extremely small and, once I enroll groups or businesses, I rarely ever lose them. As far as who I try to enroll … it’s typically those over 65 but that can be those with disability, and there’s a huge base for that specific product. A lot of towns and unions and small businesses in the area — those are also a major part of my current client base. And I’ll come right out to (individuals’) homes and meet them, and people like knowing who they’re talking to and having that one point of contact if they have questions, and I try to be really responsive.”
Such personalized services, LaFever said, are distinct in the industry.
“All these large companies are scaling back with rates, but what that does is, it forces a lot of the customer service to be outsourced,” she said. “Then there’s language barriers and all those issues, so it’s nice and I think people really do love the fact that they have someone who’s been in the industry for 25 years. I just have the experience and knowledge base to help point people in the right direction and facilitate their enrollment. Then, if they ever have claims issues, I’m a liaison. People really like having that hands-on experience.”
LaFever said, while enrollment is period-specific, she is accepting new clients.
A mother of two, LaFever sits on the Bovina Town Board and Bramley Mountain Fire Tower Board, said she hopes to grow while maintaining her commitment to customized care.
“I’ve always kind of kept small, as far as just having myself as the one employee through the corporation,” she said. “I have considered hiring on additional staff, but it’s one of those things where … I’ve been happy with the growth I’ve had in my business, and I really feel like clients like that. They’re going to call and speak with one person. But, futuristically, I have a niece graduating high school and she’s extremely interested in the insurance business, so I may be bringing on some young blood.”
For more information, visit lafeverinsurance.com, email lafeverinsurance@gmail.com, call 607-832-4815 or find LaFever Insurance Agency Inc. on Facebook.
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