From Health Benefits Nightmare to Peace-of-Mind

About KDM Group

Ken, the owner of the KDM Group, has been through the wringer when it comes to healthcare and navigating benefits coverage through the Marketplace. After working with Meridio, it quickly became clear that the transparency and guided support offered made all the difference in reducing Ken's benefit headaches.

We recently had a conversation with Ken about his experience in business and healthcare over the last decade. After a long career in banking as a Senior IT Manager, where Ken personally oversaw the layoff of 2,800 people as regulatory changes forced massive offshoring, the current Founder of KDM Group made a deliberate choice to build something different when he left banking in 2010.

When founding the KDM Group, Ken intentionally chose to keep the team lean.

I didn't want to scale fast. I wanted to do good work with good people.Ken McKeown, Owner of KDM Group

The Breaking Point

Ken's healthcare story before Meridio is a cautionary tale that many small business owners will recognize. His company did offer benefits, but the Obamacare plans proved far less useful when it came time to actually utilize the coverage. When his wife faced serious health issues, including ICU stays and surgeries, Ken found himself in immediate and ongoing conversations with healthcare billing departments.

At the same time, their son contracted sepsis while attending college out of state, exposing costly gaps in out-of-state coverage. To try and fill those gaps, Ken purchased separate Marketplace plans for his kids. Meanwhile, his time was being split between managing his family's healthcare crisis and supporting his clients.

Then, to add another layer of frustration, his insurer backed out mid-year after he had already paid $4,200 per month in quarterly premiums upfront. No refund was issued for the advanced premium payments. To make matters worse, the penalty came to the tune of $15,000.

I seriously looked into moving my family to Ireland. I have dual citizenship. Free healthcare started to sound pretty good.

Finding Meridio

Ken found Meridio the way many determined people find solutions: by refusing to stop searching. A late-night deep dive led him to Meridio, and he made a call expecting to be brushed off or handed a brochure full of fine print. That didn't happen. Instead, he was met with genuine compassion and real support.

"The rep in New York, I warned her upfront. I said, 'I have been through the wringer with healthcare. I am going to have a thousand questions.' And she just said, 'Ask them.'"

Ken dug into every detail he could and asked question after question. What he found was surprising. At every step, he was met with transparency and clear answers. Unlike his previous providers, there have been no billing surprises and no bait-and-switch bills with Meridio. For the first time in years, he is no longer bracing for the other shoe to drop.

Business with Meridio

For Ken, the experience has been more about the support for himself and his family. Meridio gave him time back, which in turn gave him peace-of-mind to focus on his business and his specific team and client needs.

I can focus on my clients and my family now. That's it. That's the whole win.

He isn't spending time calling and emailing providers, he's running a small consulting business knowing his family is taken care of. Meridio provides Ken a consistent stream of clear answers and responsive support when needed.

Advice for Small Business Owners

Ken keeps it straight-forward himself saying, "Most Americans don't even know options like Meridio exist, if only they knew. Don't wait until you're in crisis mode. If healthcare has ever threatened to take down your business or your family, know that there's a better way forward."

I recommend Meridio based on firsthand experience with what the alternative looks like. That's not a small thing.

Ready to talk strategies? Learn more about Meridio's affordable health benefit solutions designed for small businesses. Connect with our team today to see if Meridio is a good fit for your business.

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