Plain answers.Honest cover.
Medicare, health, life, home and car insurance, compared side by side and explained in plain English. Oakmere Insurance Agency is an independent, family-run agency in Downtown Cedar Rapids, and is not tied to one insurer.
- Location
- Downtown Cedar Rapids
- Weekday hours
- 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Telephone
- (000) 000-0000
01 · Services
Medicare, health, life, home and car insurance
Five lines of cover from several insurance companies, compared side by side and explained in plain English. Insurance has no fixed price list, so each line starts with a free review or quote, and nothing on this website completes an application.
01.1 · Cover index
- 01MedicareNo-cost Medicare review
- 02Health insuranceFree plan comparison
- 03Life insuranceFree needs review
- 04Home insuranceFree quote
- 05Car insuranceFree quote
- 06Home and car bundleFree quote
02 · Approach
Several insurers, one honest comparison, explained in plain English.
Many agents sell the plans of one insurance company. Oakmere Insurance Agency is independent, so its agents can say which plan fits, and which does not: several insurers are quoted, the plans are shown on one page, and every client keeps the same agent each year, with a review before each renewal and someone to call when it is time to make a claim. How Oakmere works.
02.1 · Three steps
From a first conversation to the right cover
-
01
Talk it through
A 20-minute call or visit about who and what you need to cover: turning 65, a new baby, a first home or a teen driver. Bring your current policies or your Medicare card.
No cost, 20 minutes
-
02
Compare side by side
Several insurers are quoted and the plans shown on one page: cost, cover, deductibles, doctors and drugs.
Before you choose anything
-
03
Choose and enrol
You pick the plan, Oakmere handles the forms and the start date, and an agent stays on call for any claim.
Then a yearly check-in
02.2 · What one review contains
- 01 Scope
- Who and what needs cover, and which of the five lines of cover, from Medicare to car insurance, the review looks at.
- 02 Inputs
- Your current policies or Medicare card, a list of your doctors and prescriptions for Medicare and health plans, and any renewal letters.
- 03 Handoff
- A side-by-side page of the plans quoted, with cost, cover and deductibles, and the forms handled once you choose.
- 04 Next step
- A review every year before renewal, and an agent to call first if you ever need to make a claim.
03 · Gallery
What Oakmere helps protect
04 · Staff
Your four licensed agents
04.1 · Principal agent
Margaret Hale
Founder · Principal agent
Margaret Hale is licensed in property, casualty, life and health insurance and has spent 25 years in insurance. She started Oakmere in 2009 and still meets clients at the Downtown Cedar Rapids office every week.
04.2 · Medicare specialist
Daniel Ortiz
Medicare specialist · Turning 65 evenings
Daniel Ortiz is certified with Medicare plans every year, and runs Oakmere's “Turning 65” evenings at the Cedar Rapids library.
04.3 · Health & life
Priya Nandakumar
Health and life insurance agent · Marketplace-certified
Priya Nandakumar is Marketplace-certified and helps families and the self-employed find health cover and tax credits, and term or whole life cover sized to what a family would need.
04.4 · Home, car & claims
Tom Becker
Home and car agent · Claims advocate
Tom Becker handles quotes, renewals and claims for home, renters, landlord and car policies, and stays with each client from the first call until a claim is settled.
05 · Reviews
What Oakmere clients say
01
Daniel sat with me for an hour and compared every Medicare plan my doctors take. I finally understand what I'm paying for.
Linda R., Marion
- Service
- Medicare
- Written
02
Our home and car were with two different companies. Oakmere bundled them and our cover actually got better.
Mark and Jen S., Cedar Rapids
- Service
- Home and car bundle
- Written
03
When the hailstorm hit our roof, Tom handled the claim with us from the first call to the final cheque.
Carol P., Hiawatha
- Service
- Home insurance
- Written
04
Priya found us a Marketplace plan with a tax credit we didn't know we qualified for.
Andre W., Cedar Rapids
- Service
- Health insurance
- Written
05
Margaret set up term life for us after our daughter was born. Simple, quick and no pressure.
Kate M., Robins
- Service
- Life insurance
- Written
06
I call every October and they review my Part D plan. Every year it saves me a headache.
Ron T., Ely
- Service
- Medicare
- Written
06 · Questions
Common questions about insurance
Plain answers on what an independent agent costs, when to sign up for Medicare and how much cover a family needs. No jargon, no pressure and no hard sell.
06.1 · Answers
01 Does it cost anything to use an independent agent?
No. Oakmere is paid a commission by the insurance company you choose, so the review, the quote and the yearly check-in cost you nothing extra.
02 When can I sign up for Medicare?
Your Initial Enrollment Period runs for seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, that month, and the three months after. Oakmere recommends starting the conversation about three months ahead.
03 Can I change my Medicare plan later?
Yes, during the Annual Enrollment Period, 15 October – 7 December, and in some other situations. Oakmere reviews your plan with you every autumn.
04 What is the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap?
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan, often with a network and extra benefits. A Medigap plan sits on top of Original Medicare and pays some of the costs it leaves. Oakmere explains which fits your doctors and budget.
05 I am under 65 and self-employed. Can you help with health insurance?
Yes. Oakmere compares individual and family plans, including Marketplace plans, and checks whether you qualify for a premium tax credit.
06 How much life insurance do I need?
It depends on your debts, income and family. Oakmere does a free needs review and shows term and whole life options side by side.
07 · Contact
Book a free review
The free review starts with a 20-minute call or visit about who and what you need to cover. Meet in the office, by phone, by video call, or at home for Medicare clients who prefer it. Enquiries are answered by email or telephone during office hours.