Broker storefront takes voluntary sales away from worksite

Jon Rauser is a traditional group insurance broker from Milwaukee who was profiled for EBA’s February cover for his use of storefronts to enroll new individual clients on the health insurance exchanges. But the owner of The Rauser Agency has more plans for his retail locations — increased access for his employer clients’ employees to their insurance broker, especially when it comes to voluntary products.

“When you do an employee presentation on the worksite, they have a whole menu of products to choose from … and at the employee meeting you only present a few and you can’t explain them all,” Rauser says. “But are you presenting the right two products for everyone?”

Rauser plans to build out a learning center-type concept over the next few months, now that Jan. 1 group renewals are over. “I believe if we have a classroom in our offices and present to employees after-hours then they can bring their spouses with them,” he says.

The working title is Thirsty for Knowledge Thursdays and he’ll have one session a week, rotating between his two locations in downtown and suburban Milwaukee, with different topics addressed each evening, from all types of voluntary to Medicare supplements to wellness.

Rauser says that, of course, every employer is different, so some are open to promoting the concept within their organizations and others may opt to continue with voluntary presentations onsite. Rauser plans to advertise the classes in the local papers and on his website to attract more people interested in learning as well.