Maureen Frucella, President
Maureen Frucella, President of Preferred Benefit Specialists, LLC, has over 20 years of experience in the employee benefit and health insurance arena. Maureen acquired her PA Accident and Health license in 1995 and worked for a consulting company as well as two highly respected health insurers. She started working in sales at The Preferred Healthcare System PPO in 2001. Maureen and her business partner, Brian Brumbaugh, purchased the PPO Network from the Altoona Hospital and integrated it with a full service insurance agency: Preferred Benefit Specialists, LLC, in 2009 located in Duncansville, PA. She has added certifications with the Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”/Marketplace).
Maureen also is the President of The Preferred Healthcare System (PHS). She manages the PPO network including physician credentialing and contracting. She is the point person for eligibility downloads and the interface of electronic claims transfer. Maureen is also responsible for contracting with Third Party Administrators and insurance companies who use the PHS network.
Maureen’s involvement at Preferred Benefit Specialists includes broker recruitment, broker communications, quoting and designing plan options for clients. Maureen has worked with companies with as few as 2 employees to as large as several thousand employees. Maureen has in-depth knowledge of self-funded plans and has successfully saved her clients money by introducing risk reduction programs, shopping pharmacy benefit plans, and utilizing her contacts in both the large carrier self-funded options and the independent TPA arrangements. Maureen is high versed on employer ACA compliance and has several franchise/chain employers that she has successfully developed ACA complaint benefit plan options to offer their employees. Known for her “outside the box” approach to redesigning employers’ benefits offerings; Maureen’s consulting expertise is recognized throughout central PA. Preferred Benefit Specialists are also were the first brokers for Empower 3, Center for Health, an insurance program specifically designed for the working under-insured and pre-paid medical services.
Maureen resides in Duncansville, PA, with her husband Joe and her two children, Isabella and Dominic. Maureen has always been active in her children’s activities. Having grown up with deaf parents, Maureen has a special connection to the deaf community and has been able to assist many of her parents’ friends in finding health care options that fit their needs. Maureen is a member of the Altoona Kiwanis, has been a two time past president and Kiwanian of the Year recipient.