Julie Akins
Summary
Proven track record in enhancing client retention and sales growth, notably at Aetna/CVS Health, where I managed key accounts generating $95M in annual revenue. Expert in sales strategies implementation and deal negotiation, I excel in developing solutions that meet client needs, achieving targets through superior service and strategic account planning.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Account Executive- Key Accounts
Aetna/ CVS Health
01.2023 - Current
- Develops service strategy to ensure renewal and growth of business and retention of members for assigned accounts
- Service and retain approximately 20 Accounts with mix funding of both fully insured and self -funded clients
- Accounts vary in size from 300-3000+ employees
- Total estimated book of business annual revenue is $95M
- Primary account owner, responsible for overall account delivery and renewal strategy
- Responsible for strategic design of Aetna’s plan offerings that meet the expectations of the plan sponsors
- Service products that contribute to the continued growth, profitability, and retention of business
- Provide superior customer service to internal and external customer/partners by meeting and exceeding expectations
- Investigate, analyze, and develop creative solutions to client- specific problems related to systems, claims, networks, providers, eligibility, ID cards, billing, banking and portal through active cross -functional team participation
- Coordinate all activities for timely implementation of products and services
- Responsible for delivering monthly and adhoc claim utilization reports to brokers/clients
- Review accounts for opportunity to cross sell any applicable Ancillary Aetna products into existing medical coverage
- Participate and facilitate the annual utilization review meeting with plan sponsors and brokers
- Maintain strong relationships with clients and brokers to increase retention and participate in continual education of products and services for new sales opportunities
Account Manager
Aetna/ CVS Health
01.2017 - 01.2023
- Service and retain approximately 90-120 Accounts with mix funding of both fully insured and level funded clients
- Accounts vary in size from 51-300+ employees
- Responsible for delivering monthly claims utilization to plan sponsors and brokers
- Review accounts for opportunity to cross sell any applicable Ancillary Aetna products into existing medical coverage
- Maintain strong relationships with clients and brokers to increase retention and participate in continual education of products and services for new sales opportunities
- Assist with onboarding of new business and conduct open enrollment meetings for new and existing business as needed
Account Executive
Wells Fargo Insurance Services- Employee Benefits Division
Seattle
01.2013 - 01.2017
- Company Overview: Wholesale Employee Benefits
- Support the operational deliverables and workflow for internal team members for marketing, underwriting, benefit consultant and sales professionals
- Support external operational deliverables and workflow with TPA, Insurance carriers and client(s)
- Coordinate and schedule monthly stewardship meetings with client(s)
- Coordinate with internal system and reporting team member for website updates and monthly data requirements
- Initiate and actively participated in annual pre-renewal meetings
- Facilitate the monthly operational meeting with Administrator and Carriers
- Responsible for all client(s) non-renewal and renewal essential documents, forms, brochures and business rules
- Coordinate various client management and leadership deliverable requirements including preparation of quarterly trust meetings, client relationship activities, new client onboarding, contracts, and agreements
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customers and carriers
- Prepare, analyze and distribute monthly and quarterly financial reports to stakeholders
- Wholesale Employee Benefits
Account Manager
HMA, HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATORS
Bellevue
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Company Overview: Third Party Administrator of Health Benefits
- Managed self-funded accounts for client groups (100 to 2,000+ lives), handling all client and broker issues and questions to ensure customer satisfaction
- Prepare, analyze, and distribute monthly financial, annual and ad hoc reports for 30+ key accounts
- Prepare annual group renewal process and reporting packages and send RFP's to stop loss carriers, renewal contracts, benefit recommendations, Summary Plan Descriptions, and Amendments; attend employee benefit meetings
- Interpret experience data to help clients understand plan performance
- Assist clients with understanding and implementing the mandates of Affordable Care Act
- Coordinate with internal departments to develop and maintain broad knowledge to effectively manage client benefit plans; Compliance, Claims, Customer Service, Accounting, Health Services, IT and Enrollment
- Daily communication with external vendor partners: Stop Loss carriers, PBM's, brokers and clients
- Solicit and develop “stop-loss” proposals from insurance carriers and coordinate with major broker partners
- Systems Analysts function for developing and testing new reports for User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
- Third Party Administrator of Health Benefits
Account Manager
ORCA BAY BENEFITS
Mercer Island
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Company Overview: Employee Benefits Insurance Brokerage
- Managed existing book of business (300+ client groups), including the installation of new accounts, proactively serviced and renewed clients for employee benefit plans
- Knowledge of benefit products, including group medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D and disability coverage
- Responsible for renewal and new business enrollment process by preparing comprehensive renewal analysis and managed client renewals from start to finish
- Implemented new business by shopping carriers, create plan proposals, presentations, sales materials, update client database, customizing employee benefit packets
- Researched and resolved complex claim, billing and eligibility customer service issues
- Administered health plan accounts by acting as a liaison for clients, providers, carriers and TPA (Third party Administrators)
- Primary contact for client/carrier customer service and benefit issues; Managed office supply inventory, marketing material and client benefit packets
- Employee Benefits Insurance Brokerage
Broker Commissions Analyst/ Project Manager
Premera Blue Cross
Mountlake Terrace
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Update and maintain records on brokerage system to ensure timely and accurate commissions are paid
- Calculate and complete check requests for commissions not included in the automated process
- Answer all inquiries from Brokers, Sales and Underwriting regarding Brokerage calculations and commissions
- Perform internal audits to provide brokerage accounting to underwriters and brokers upon request
- Respond to both internal and external inquiries regarding commission payments both verbally and in writing
- Provide information, resolve issues and problems for brokers and agents
- Run and produce standard monthly production reports and administer databases
Broker Relations Manager
Association of Health Plan Services, LLC
Redmond
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Developed and maintained relationships with agents/brokers and existing clients to meet/exceed renewal and account service standards
- Responsible for agent/customer problem resolution, benefit and claim management
- Managed health plan accounts and acted as a liaison for clients, brokers and TPA
- Participated as back-up support for renewal and new business enrollment processes and underwriting
- Assisted marketing director to appoint and train new agent/brokers
- Credentialed new agents and maintained current agent/broker records
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Sociology
University of Washington
Seattle, WASkills
- Sales target monitoring
- Sales methodologies
- Account planning
- Deal negotiation
- Product and service expertise
- Sales strategies implementation
Education And Professional Licenses
- Washington, Life and Disability Producer License, 01/01/04, Current
- Arizona, Life and Disability Producer License, 01/01/23, Current
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, B.A. (incomplete), Sociology
Timeline
Senior Account Executive- Key Accounts
Aetna/ CVS Health
01.2023 - Current
Account Manager
Aetna/ CVS Health
01.2017 - 01.2023
Account Executive
Wells Fargo Insurance Services- Employee Benefits Division
01.2013 - 01.2017
Account Manager
HMA, HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATORS
01.2010 - 01.2013
Account Manager
ORCA BAY BENEFITS
01.2008 - 01.2010
Broker Commissions Analyst/ Project Manager
Premera Blue Cross
01.2006 - 01.2008
Broker Relations Manager
Association of Health Plan Services, LLC
01.2004 - 01.2006
Some College (No Degree) - Sociology
University of Washington
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