Insurance Specialists Group

What Insurance Specialists Group does

Insurance Specialists Group is a privately held, independent insurance brokerage headquartered in Hailey, Idaho, with a secondary office in Boise. Founded in 1989 by Don and Brooks Mathern, the firm is now led by their daughter, Michelle Sandoz, who holds multi-state insurance licenses. The company specializes in Medicare insurance advisory and enrollment, representing more than 20 carrier organizations and 108 products spanning Original Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans including Plans G and N, plus employer group health, individual health, dental, life, accident, and retirement/annuity products.

The business model is a free, consultation-led service in which licensed independent agents (Michelle Sandoz, James Lofthus, Emily Schow, with admin support from Brandi Popke) assess client needs and recommend plans across the carrier portfolio. The company is compensated exclusively through commissions paid by insurance carriers, which are built into plan premiums; clients pay the same premium whether they use the agency or contact carriers directly. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering rests on agent expertise, carrier breadth, and personal service.

The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, anchored in a long-running community presence in Idaho's Wood River Valley, organic search and educational content on Medicare topics, social media presence, referrals and word-of-mouth, and direct phone or contact-form intake. The firm is positioned as the human-service alternative to AI-driven enrollment experiences, and there are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no funding rounds, no institutional investors, and no plans for digital platform expansion. Operations are stable and family-owned, with founders retired from active roles and the second generation now leading the agency.

Name

Insurance Specialists Group

Legal name

Insurance Specialists Group

Website

https://insurancespecialistsgroup.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Insurance Specialists Group is a family-owned independent insurance brokerage in Idaho that provides free Medicare and ancillary insurance advisory and enrollment services across 20+ carriers, serving individual beneficiaries, families, and employer groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage Services

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Benefits, Insurance & Long-Term Care Planning Navigation (Medicare/Medicaid/LTC) (HLADALAI)

Keywords

• Medicare insurance brokerage
• Independent insurance agency
• Health insurance advisory
• Medicare supplement plans
• Group health insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Hailey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Agent Commissions: Insurance Specialists Group is paid commissions directly by insurance carriers when a client enrolls in a plan through their agency. The commission is built into the plan's monthly premium — clients pay the same price whether they use the agency or go directly to the insurance company. The company represents over 20 insurance organizations offering 108 products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Insurance Specialists Group is an independent insurance brokerage that sells Medicare and broader health, life, dental, accident, and annuity products on behalf of 20+ insurance carriers across 108 product offerings. The agency matches clients to carrier plans through free consultations with licensed independent agents, providing comparative guidance, enrollment support, and ongoing year-round client service from offices in Hailey and Boise, Idaho.

Product overview

Insurance Specialists Group is an independent insurance agency founded in 1989, specializing in Medicare insurance products and solutions. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of Medicare-related products including Original Medicare (Parts A and B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, and Medicare Supplement/Medigap plans (Plan G, Plan N, and others). Beyond Medicare, they provide employer group health insurance, individual health care plans, dental insurance, life insurance, accident insurance, and retirement/annuity products. The agency operates as an independent broker representing over 20 insurance carriers and 108 products, offering free consultations to help clients find the most competitive rates and appropriate coverage. Services include in-depth analysis of Medicare options, enrollment assistance, out-of-pocket cost management, and ongoing support throughout the duration of insurance plans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medicare Insurance Advisory and Brokerage Free consultation, comparative guidance, enrollment support, and ongoing service for individuals navigating Medicare plan choices, delivered by licensed independent agents.
• Medicare Advantage Plans

Quantifiable outcome

• Representing 20+ carrier organizations and 108 products in the service area
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Select HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSelect Health is one of the 20+ insurance carriers represented by Insurance Specialists Group. The agency's agents recommend and enroll clients in Select Health Medicare plans as part of their carrier portfolio.
• HumanacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHumana is one of the 20+ insurance carriers represented by Insurance Specialists Group. The agency's agents recommend and enroll clients in Humana Medicare Advantage and supplement plans.
• Mutual of OmahacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMutual of Omaha is one of the 20+ insurance carriers represented by Insurance Specialists Group. The agency's agents recommend and enroll clients in Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement plans.
• WellCarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWellCare is one of the 20+ insurance carriers represented by Insurance Specialists Group. The agency's agents recommend and enroll clients in WellCare Medicare plans.
• AARP / United HealthcarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAARP (through United Healthcare) is one of the 20+ insurance carriers represented by Insurance Specialists Group. The agency's agents recommend and enroll clients in AARP Medicare plans.
• Pacific Source (AWH)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPacific Source (AWH) is one of the 20+ insurance carriers represented by Insurance Specialists Group in the Idaho service area.
• Blue Cross / BCIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlue Cross / BCI is one of the 20+ insurance carriers represented by Insurance Specialists Group. The agency's agents recommend and enroll clients in Blue Cross Medicare plans.
• Medicare.gov / CMSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance Specialists Group directs clients to Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, and State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) for comprehensive information on all Medicare options. The agency operates within the Medicare regulatory framework established by CMS.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SelectQuote: SelectQuote is a publicly traded, direct-to-consumer insurance brokerage specializing in Medicare (Medicare Advantage and Supplement) and life insurance. It is highly comparable to Insurance Specialists Group because both serve Medicare-eligible individuals through licensed agents who shop multiple carriers for the best fit, and both earn commission-based revenue from carriers.
• eHealth: eHealth is an online health insurance marketplace and brokerage offering individual, family, Medicare, and small-group plans across multiple carriers. It competes directly with Insurance Specialists Group in the Medicare brokerage space, using a digital-first shopping experience versus the agency's phone-led, high-touch local model.
• GoHealth: GoHealth is a Medicare-focused health insurance brokerage operating both a digital platform and a large agent-led tele-sales organization across multiple carriers. It is comparable to Insurance Specialists Group because both are licensed Medicare brokers placing clients into multiple carrier plans and both earn carrier commissions, though at very different scales.
• HealthMarkets: HealthMarkets is an independent insurance agency network that connects individuals, families, and small businesses with health, Medicare, life, and supplemental insurance from multiple carriers. It is a direct peer to Insurance Specialists Group because both operate as multi-carrier independent agencies brokering Medicare and related coverage for the same type of customers.

Emerging players

• Chapter: Chapter is a tech-enabled Medicare advisory that helps seniors compare Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Part D plans through licensed advisors. It overlaps with Insurance Specialists Group in the Medicare navigation and brokerage category but differentiates through a digital-first, advisor-supported experience rather than a traditional local agency model.

Broad incumbents

• Humana: Humana is one of the largest U.S. health insurers and a major Medicare Advantage and Supplement carrier. It is a carrier partner of Insurance Specialists Group and a broad incumbent in the same Medicare ecosystem the agency serves — clients often compare Humana plans against alternatives when working with the agency.
• Mutual of Omaha: Mutual of Omaha is a long-established insurance carrier offering Medicare Supplement, life, and accident insurance. It is one of the carriers represented by Insurance Specialists Group and a broad incumbent whose products the agency actively distributes to Medicare clients.
• UnitedHealthcare / AARP: UnitedHealthcare, which underwrites AARP-branded Medicare plans, is one of the largest Medicare Advantage and Supplement carriers in the U.S. It is a carrier partner of Insurance Specialists Group and a broad incumbent whose Medicare products the agency places clients into.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/InsuranceSpecialistsGroupIdaho
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/michelle-sandoz-9084453

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Insurance Specialists Group