Kevin Husted, a longtime Tri-City insurance benefits broker, had a busy fall.

Husted bought the insurance side of Advisor Benefits Group in the middle of not one but two open enrollment periods, Medicare and Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange.

Husted is a 20-year insurance benefits and Medicare professional who previously worked for Marvin Liebe at Advisor Benefits Group in Kennewick.

He established Advisor Health Benefits as the successor to Advisor Benefits Group after Liebe sold part of the insurance business to Epic Trust, a multidisciplinary financial services firm in Richland.

Husted retains his focus on advising clients on health and other types of insurance, including life, dental, vision and annuities.

He serves all ages but specializes in helping clients navigate the complexities of the Medicare and Washington Health Benefit Exchange.

He also helps clients with supplemental policies and resolving issues while serving as manager for the Washington Health Plan Finder’s Tri-City enrollment center.

Clients come to Husted to evaluate their options and enroll in health and other benefit plans.

The Washington Exchange enrollment is typically Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. Because of the pandemic, it was extended to Jan. 15. He also is available to anyone seeking health insurance coverage between jobs or because they are newly arrived in the community.

If people on Washington’s low-income Apple plan are forced off because of rising income, he can help them choose new coverage.

He emphasized that it is free to use an agent to navigate the health care exchange. That includes enrolling in a plan, evaluating plans and helping sort through issues during the year.

“There is never an increase or charge. We do not charge a fee,” he said.

He also helps seniors enroll in Medicare when they turn 65. He advises those preparing for Medicare to contact him three to six months before their actual birthday to get the process started.

Best of all, he can help clients enroll online.

“You don’t have to go to the Social Security office. I can help people navigate that,” he said.

Husted is also available to help small business owners choose plans.

“We’re honest with them. In some cases, if it is an owner and one or two employees, typically it is less expensive to be on an individual plan,” he said.

Husted grew up in Ephrata and moved to Seattle for college. He launched a cleaning business, which he sold when he decided to return to Eastern Washington in 1990.

He is a former executive director for the American Red Cross who moved to the insurance industry about 20 years ago. He started as a trainer for Sterling Insurance and joined Lieb 15 years ago.

He may have left nonprofit work, but he retained an interest in supporting the community as a member of the leadership Tri-Cities Class II and Kennewick Jaycees. He is also past president of the board of Senior Life Resources, which operates Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels.

Husted retained the Advisor Benefits name signal continuity of services. He is joined by an office manager and intends to bring on insurance advisors to build and expand the business.

“All of our clients will continue to receive the same customer service,” he said.

Husted can be reached at [email protected] or 509-308-4118.