©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com
by Andrea Palmer
Saratoga Life is a Saratoga Springs-based insurance broker, providing solutions for insurance and Medicare issues to people over 50.
Kandis Paolone, owner, has lived in the area for 20 years.
“We now specialize mostly on senior products, such as Medicare,” she said.
Besides selling insurance, Paolone works at being a resource to seniors, as well as military veterans. She advises them about activities they may be interested in, special discounts, transportation and additional benefits they could be eligible for.
“My younger children and I enjoy volunteering at local charity events,” said Paolone. “I believe in teaching them ways to give their time and efforts to helping others. In response, you get an added gift of self gratitude.
Paolone majored in biology and psychology in college, believing she would pursue a career in one or both fields. Those plans changed when she began having children.
“I was that mom who just wanted to hang out with these cute little people all day,” said Paolone. “So I started a home daycare and ran it for about 30 years. I still find time to do a few weekends and holidays for some. My joke is that I went from children to seniors because I don’t play well with people my own age.”
Paolone established Saratoga Life in 2017. At that time, she was selling insurance products and became aware that when she mentioned the insurance company’s name, she wasn’t getting what she called “a warm and fuzzy response”.
“I had decided to concentrate on selling life insurance because that’s what most of my clients wanted. I have lived in Saratoga for over 20 years and that’s where I intended to do most of my business,” said Paolone.
While studying for her life insurance license, Paolone took a part-time job at a senior apartment house as the senior nutrition program site manager.
“This became so much more than a job,” said Paolone. “I connected to the residents like my own family. I looked forward to every day. While there, knowing I was learning the insurance market, I would get a lot of questions regarding Medicare … I reveled in the joy and satisfaction when I provided them with that information.”
After a few months with the insurance carrier, Paolone realized she wanted something different. A friend who owned a Farmers Insurance agency mentioned she sold Medicare products, and asked if Paolone was interested.
“The first time I looked it over, it was so confusing I was going to pass. But it just wouldn’t leave my mind. I kept thinking of the small problems that I helped my senior friends with. If Medicare looked too confusing for me, who was helping these guys? So I put everything else on the back burner and made up my mind to focus on health insurance for those eligible for Medicare,” said Paolone.
Paolone rearranged her house to give herself an office.
“Some days that tiny office became what felt like solitary confinement, but I knew, in the long run, it would be a job that I’d love and never leave. So it was worth it,” said Paolone. “I’m excited in the morning to start my day interacting with great people doing great things, and happy to lay my head down at night.”
Saratoga Life provides services in life, health and accident insurance. She works closely with low-income individuals.
“We are proudly partnered with a U.S. veteran-owned business, Advocate Health LLC where we show them how to synchronize their VA benefits with the right Medicare coverage,” said Paolone. “We believe this maximizes the impact on overall health and minimizing out of pocket costs. We are connected to many local support groups to help local veterans in any way we can.”
Saratoga Life is located on Loudon Road in Saratoga Springs. The phone number is 518-879-8958.