Corbin Rotary welcomed local insurance speaker

Macee Swafford, The Times-Tribune, Corbin, Ky.Times-Tribune

CORBIN — The Corbin Rotary Club met last Thursday and welcomed guest speaker Meredith Cima, owner of Cima Insurance Group and co-founder of Main Street Mingle, to discuss the services her business provides and opportunities available with open enrollment approaching.

Before Cima’s presentation, Secretary J. Bill Sosh updated members on a grant the club had applied for through the Rotary district for the Southeastern Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund.

“We got the check in the mail this week,” said Sosh. “The check always comes to the club, and then the club transfers those funds to the Empty Stocking Fund.”

He reminded newer members that the fund is a separate legal entity from the Corbin Rotary Club. Members later approved the club’s regular $750 contribution to the program for 2025.

Cima then spoke to the club about her business and her connections to the community.

“My family is from Harlan County. I grew up in Corbin, and a little in Knox County, so I am very familiar with this area,” she said.

Cima explained she has operated her business for about three years, specializing in private PPO (preferred provider organization) insurance rather than marketplace or ACA (Affordable Care Act) options.

“Instead of having to go through Obamacare, I am able to shop the private market,” she said. “That means that you are able to have nationwide coverage. You will be able to choose which doctor, and facility that you want to go to.”

She emphasized that her work often benefits small businesses.

“That’s one of the reasons I started doing this, because there are not a lot of insurance companies that help focus on small businesses,” Cima said.

She described how she customizes plans by evaluating each employee’s age and health, allowing employers to provide individual coverage without group plan restrictions.

“They don’t have to deal with COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), and they don’t have to deal with any kind of lapse in insurance,” she added.

Cima also noted that she works both from her office and remotely, offering meetings over Zoom or in person.

Her plans, often through United Health Care Choice Plus PPO, include critical illness coverage and wellness benefits.

“It is not the same as your United Health Care Marketplace, it’s going to be a separate entity,” she said.

For clients with Medicare needs, she refers them to a Medicare Supplement Specialist.

“Usually, in most cases, I come in quite a bit cheaper than marketplace,” said Cima. “Marketplace is a very cookie-cutter insurance; it’s based on everybody’s health whenever I can customize individually.”

Those interested in learning more about Cima Insurance Group were encouraged to contact Cima at (606) 620-8103 for information on PPO plans, dental, vision and other coverage options.