About

Insurance doesn't have to be confusing

Name: Mere Benefits
Address: 9428 Baymeadows Rd. STE 137, Jacksonville, FL, 32256, US
Telephone: (904) 654-5450
Price range: Free consultation

Mere Benefits was founded on a simple belief: people make better decisions when someone takes the time to explain their options honestly. Our mission is to simplify health insurance so you can focus on what matters most.

Woman-owned Founder & lead agent

Meet the founder

Kate Spilsbury

A fourth-generation Floridian, Kate graduated from Brigham Young University and has been licensed in insurance since 2007. She's lived and worked in Northeast Florida since 2008 — spending more than eight years in corporate insurance and two years leading a nonprofit before founding Mere Benefits. That path taught her how much a clear, honest explanation matters when families are making decisions about their health and money.

Kate is bilingual in English and Spanish, which she learned during a 19-month church mission, and she serves clients in both languages. As a Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA®) and Certified Medicare Insurance Planner (CMIP®), she brings credentialed depth to the two areas people find most confusing: Medicare and Social Security timing.

Outside of work she's a wife and mom to two kids under 10, and an Adult Sunday School teacher. That teacher's instinct — patient, clear, never condescending — is exactly what clients say they value most.

My job is to make insurance make sense, then let you decide. No pressure, no jargon — just honest guidance from someone in your corner.

What we stand for

Education, guidance & trust

Three pillars behind every recommendation we make.

Education

“We believe informed clients make the best decisions. That's why we teach — not just sell.”

Guidance

“Every situation is different. We listen to your needs and walk you through your options step by step.”

Trust

“We're honest about what works and what doesn't.”

Your advisors

Licensed agents in your corner

The credentialed agents who compare your options and give you a straight recommendation — no pressure, no jargon.

Kate Spilsbury

Founder & Licensed Insurance Agent

RSSA®CMIP®

A fourth-generation Floridian and BYU graduate, Kate founded Mere Benefits to make insurance make sense — leading with education instead of pressure. As an RSSA® and CMIP®, she brings credentialed depth to the two areas people find most confusing: Medicare and Social Security.

English & Spanish
Medicare, Social Security, ACA & life insurance

Read Kate's bio

Kate is bilingual in English and Spanish, which she learned during a 19-month church mission, and she serves clients in both languages. As a Registered Social Security Analyst® (RSSA®) and Certified Medicare Insurance Planner (CMIP®), she brings credentialed depth to the two areas people find most confusing: Medicare and Social Security timing.

Outside of work she's a wife and mom to two kids under 11, and an Adult Sunday School teacher. That teacher's instinct — patient, clear, never condescending — is exactly what clients say they value most.

Kate's full profile

Jim Partlow

Licensed Insurance Agent

AncillaryPPOACA

A Marine Corps Reserve veteran with an Iraq deployment, Jim leads with questions and careful listening — guiding clients to the right fit without pressure. He's licensed in Florida for ancillary, PPO, and ACA Marketplace plans, with Medicare on the way.

English
Ancillary, PPO & ACA Marketplace (Medicare coming soon)

Read Jim's bio

Jim brings a rare blend of life experience to insurance — from six years in the Marine Corps Reserve (including a deployment to Iraq, where he earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his work as a solo HQ liaison on a convoy security team) to music education, to two years in Catholic seminary. What unites it all is a genuine drive to serve people well.

Growing up, Jim and his family of musicians regularly visited nursing homes and convalescent centers to sing and simply be with residents. Later, while in seminary, he served in a hospice — his first experience in end-of-life care. These experiences shaped a deep appreciation for the elderly and those approaching Medicare age, and a genuine desire to help them navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives.

Jim's approach is simple: ask questions first, listen closely, and guide clients to the solution that truly fits their life — without pressure or rush. He's not in the business of selling people things they don't need, and if a client already has a great plan, he'll tell them so. He speaks plainly, keeps things clear, and believes peace of mind is the only outcome worth working toward.

Jim is currently licensed in Florida and contracted with many insurance carriers.

Jim's full profile

Client support

A multilingual team behind you

After you enroll, our customer-service specialists keep everything running — answering questions and handling paperwork in the language you're most comfortable in.

Ellen Janine Lamorena

Customer Service Specialist

Keeps clients supported and paperwork moving, with friendly, multilingual help for Medicare and Marketplace members.

English, Tagalog & Ilocano

Medicare & ACA / Marketplace support

Rica Mae Hojas

Customer Service Specialist

Supports members across Medicare, Marketplace, group benefits, and Social Security analysis in four languages.

English, Spanish, Tagalog & Visaya

Medicare, ACA, Group Benefits & RSSA® support

Credentials

Credentialed, independent, accountable

RSSA® Registered Social Security Analyst®

CMIP® Certified Medicare Insurance Planner

Since 2007 Licensed Insurance Agent & Broker

Multi-State Licensed in multiple states

NABIP Leading Producers Round Table

Elite 2025 Elite Circle of Champions

JAX Chamber Chamber of Commerce Member

BBB Accredited Business

Where we help

Local to the First Coast — licensed in multiple states

We meet clients in person across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, and serve the rest of our licensed states by phone and video. Our office is at Baywood Center, 9428 Baymeadows Rd. STE 137, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

See our full service area

In person

Duval (Jacksonville)
Clay
Nassau
St. Johns
Baker
Camden County, GA

By phone & video

Arizona
California
Maryland
Michigan
New Jersey
North Carolina
South Carolina
Texas
Utah

Out in the community

This is what the work actually looks like

Seminars across the First Coast, an office you can walk into on Baymeadows Road, and a standing invitation to ask questions before you ever sign anything.

Kate Spilsbury leading a Medicare discussion around a conference table — A Medicare session on the First Coast

Attendees at a Mere Benefits Medicare education seminar — Education first — questions before signatures

Kate Spilsbury presenting Medicare slides to a full banquet hall at a community All Star Night event — Walking through what changed this year

A full hall of attendees at a Mere Benefits Medicare seminar — A full house at a Medicare seminar

Mere Benefits Best of Florida nomination badge — Nominated: Best of Florida

Kate Spilsbury wearing a Mere Benefits shirt and an Ask Me About Medicare badge — Ask me about Medicare — she means it

The Baymeadows Center office building where Mere Benefits is located — 9428 Baymeadows Rd. STE 137

Certifications & memberships

A wall of trust worth checking

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why should I work with Mere Benefits?

We're independent, credentialed (RSSA®, CMIP®), and education-first — we explain your options plainly and recommend what fits you, not what pays us most. There's no cost to work with us, and through MereCare we stay with you long after enrollment.

How can Mere help me find the right health insurance plan?

We compare the plans available to you across the carriers we represent, check that your doctors and prescriptions are covered, and show you the real, after-subsidy price of each — so you can choose with confidence instead of guessing at a website.

How do I schedule a consultation?

It's easy and free. Call or text (904) 654-5450, email info@merebenefits.com, or use our contact form and we'll follow up quickly. Meetings can be in person on the First Coast, or by phone and video anywhere we're licensed.

What types of health insurance plans are available through Mere Benefits?

Medicare (Advantage, Supplement/Medigap, and Part D drug plans), ACA Marketplace individual and family plans, self-employed coverage, short-term and supplemental plans, dental and vision, and group health for employers.

Can Mere Benefits assist with Medicare and Medicaid plans?

Yes. We help with all parts of Medicare, and we guide people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligible plans), plus programs like Extra Help and Florida KidCare. Note: we're a private agency and are not connected with or endorsed by the federal Medicare program.

Does Mere Benefits help with retirement planning?

We focus on the insurance and Social Security side of retirement. As a Registered Social Security Analyst® (RSSA®), Kate helps you choose the optimal claiming strategy and coordinate it with Medicare. This is planning coordination, not investment, tax, or legal advice — we're glad to work alongside your financial advisor and CPA.

Can I still get coverage if I have a pre-existing condition?

For ACA Marketplace and Medicare plans, yes — they can't deny you or charge more for a pre-existing condition. For Medicare Supplements the timing of your first purchase matters, and life insurance is medically underwritten. We'll steer you to the coverage that accepts you.

What types of services do you offer?

Medicare, ACA/Marketplace health insurance, self-employed and small-business coverage, life insurance, dental and vision, critical illness and supplemental plans, group benefits, Social Security timing analysis, and estate-planning coordination.

Who do you typically work with?

People turning 65 and current Medicare beneficiaries, under-65 individuals and families who buy their own coverage, self-employed and 1099 workers, small-business owners setting up benefits, and anyone weighing when to claim Social Security.

Talk with a real person

Have a question for the team?

One free, no-pressure conversation and we'll translate your options into a clear recommendation — built around your doctors, medications, and budget.

No cost to you
RSSA® · CMIP®
No pressure, ever