Hello, my name is Dawn McFarland and I am the founder and president of M & M Benefit Solutions Insurance Services in Los Angeles, CA. I began my career in the health and life insurance industry late in 2012 just prior to the implementation of the ACA. I helped 400+ individuals through the complicated process of determining subsidies and selecting plans best for them and their families the first year of Covered CA.
I am happy to say that the career move into health insurance was one of the best decisions I have made to develop not only a career, but my own business that aligns with my core values and ethics where I have been able to truly help others. I love to problem solve and have developed great business and personal relationships by consulting with agency owners on how to build efficient operating systems and increase revenue by thinking creatively. I felt the pull of the Medicare market in 2015 at the first Los Angeles chapter Medicare event and held out until 2018. In 2018, I began soaking up the knowledge of the Medicare market with a long-term goal of being a resource to fellow agents. I help educate their clients and client’s employees on Medicare options, saving both employers and employees’ significant dollars on their healthcare spend. I also find joy helping seniors navigate their options and making what may seem overwhelming and scary, comprehensible. Problem solving is fun for me, and I am determined to help find solutions for one of the biggest problems I run into with my clients – Rx costs.
At the beginning of my career in health insurance (2012), I attended an event held by the Los Angeles Association of Health Underwriters and immediately began volunteering at the local level. I have found my involvement with the organization invaluable in networking, learning and understanding the healthcare industry, as well as keeping up to date on the important legislation and compliance issues that have been so involved since the inception of the ACA. I became a member of the Los Angeles Chapter board of directors, serving as the communications chair in 2013-2014, secretary in 2015, ran for president elect in 2016, served as president for 2017-2018, earning the LAAHU Paladin Award, the NAHU Presidential Citation and Platinum Certification for the Los Angeles Chapter. I then migrated to the CA State Board (CAHU) as communications chair and am now president of the newly reintroduced CAHU Foundation. I currently serve on the NAHU Medicare Advisory Council as well as the NAHU Membership Council, and served as the social media chair on the Media Committee for NAHU in 2018.
On a personal note, I am married to the most supportive man and all of our children have paws. In 2018 we added #BaxterTheHealingAusky to our clan and we are still not sure if therapy dog is his calling, but he sure has the ability to brighten anyone’s day.
I continue to find that my passion lies in helping each person understand their options in regards to what they pay for, and be able to make the best choices for their families. My most common statement - “It’s a math problem,” then we find the solution or solutions.