Kevin Krejsa (TKA Health)

Kevin Krejsa is the owner of TKA Health, a company that offers health insurance to people and families of all ages. 

Originally from the Chicago suburb of Vernon Hills, Krejsa later attended Indiana University, where he studied finance. 

Upon graduating, Krejsa traded in his cap and gown for a suit and tie, his days predominantly spent in front of a desk while working for an insurance conglomerate, Allstate.  

“I hated it,” says Krejsa, who was not in good hands, figuratively.

“I sat behind a computer all day.”

Tired of the monotony, Krejsa pivoted into the restaurant industry, his hands and mind stimulated by the various dishes he prepared.

Being in hospitality had its perks (Krejsa spent time in different parts of the country), and eventually the former Hoosier found himself relocating to Minnesota in 2018 to open a food court at Rosedale Mall. 

But like many in the food business, COVID-19 affected his livelihood. 

Socially distanced from others, and arguably professionally distanced from his true purpose, Krejsa relished the newfound time he got to spend with his kids.

Perhaps Krejsa assumed he would simply return to hospitality once restrictions were lifted, but then his persistent neighbor encouraged him to become an insurance agent. 

“I really didn’t want to do that,” Krejsa says with a laugh.

A few months later, following continued badgering from his neighbor, Krejsa began to examine the insurance business with more optimism. 

“He [the neighbor] wore me down,” Krejsa adds, this time with a bigger chuckle. 

Soon a licensed insurance agent, Krejsa initially sold property and casualty insurance for Farmers before quickly transitioning into focusing almost exclusively on health insurance. 

Since becoming an insurance broker, Krejsa, an amiable father of two (with a third on the way), has made a concerted effort to lead with information, a tactic that has trumped overzealous competitors who are more keen on selling than educating. 

“I don’t sell people anything,” Krejsa insists, because unlike some of his peers, he sees himself as someone who disseminates information, which in turn attracts clients who are looking for guidance and value above price.   

“For context, it’s free to meet with me,” Krejsa says.  

“And really, my value proposition is, because I study insurance every day, I can appropriately consult clients on new laws and regulations, and more importantly, match them with a health plan that best suits their needs.”

Sounds simple enough, but that alone hasn’t always been enough to engender good faith among potential clients, particularly in an industry as cutthroat as insurance. 

“It’s not easy,” Krejsa responds when asked how difficult it is to achieve success as a healthcare insurance broker. 

“See, regardless of carrier, every time someone applies for a health plan, I make money. In theory, that sounds easy, but in practice it’s not as seamless, although, over the long-term, how I generate income is by having a large book of business.”

Adds the congenial Krejsa: 

“But in order to get that big book of business, you need to have hundreds, if not thousands of people who know, like, and trust you, and also proactively believe in the services you offer.”

Cultivating that level of trust takes time, plus an unwavering commitment to constantly staying updated on all things related to healthcare insurance.  

“You don’t just wake up one day and know everything there is to know about health insurance,” says Krejsa, who when he’s not helping clients or being interrogated by pesky journalists, can again be found scouring the internet for pertinent changes to healthcare plans. 

Working off that, with open enrollment soon to begin for 2025, it’s crucial that people partner with an insurance broker they trust and educate themselves on any potential upcoming changes to their healthcare plan. 

For seniors specifically, with Medicare currently undergoing a significant revamp, now is an optimal time to open a dialogue with your insurance agent. 

“With Medicare, the annual out-of-pocket maximum has decreased from $8,000 all the way down to $2,000,” Krejsa reveals. 

“That means you cannot spend more than $2,000 on your prescription drugs from January 1, 2025 moving forward.”

This change will benefit older people who have been prescribed expensive medications, but as with anything in life, there are no wholesale solutions, only trade-offs.   

“With that reduction in out-of-pocket maximums, that likely changes the price of premiums,” Krejsa points out. 

“We don’t know yet how much the premiums are going to change, or if they will even change at all, but they might change formularies, meaning the prescription drugs that are covered might be different.”

On this alone, it is vital that individuals arm themselves with as much information as possible so that they can find a healthcare plan that is right for them.

“It’s absolutely paramount that people talk to someone knowledgeable about their healthcare plan,” Krejsa reaffirms.  

“The easiest thing to do is to spend a half hour with me and go over the type of coverage you need, and that appropriately accounts for your circumstances.” 

Recently, Krejsa was working at the Minnesota State Fair, and like many, he indulged in a Pronto Pup and a basket of cheese curds. 

More germain to the topic of healthcare though, Krejsa was approached by forty individuals who were teachers from St. Paul. They were worried that their healthcare plans would be compromised by negotiations between United Healthcare and Health Partners.

Fortunately, Krejsa was able to assuage their concerns by notifying them that he knew of plans that would allow them to keep their primary care doctors, but had Krejsa not been in a position to disclose this information, those teachers’ sense of security could have been jeopardized. 

“Because I do this day in and day out, I know 99% of the options that are available,” Krejsa says. 

“That being said, I won’t know everything at all times, but if I don’t know something, I know how to find that information.”

Looking ahead, the Maple Grove resident isn’t obsessing about how to scale his business.

In many ways, for Krejsa, profits don’t supersede people, and that much is evident when he discusses his plans for the future.  

“The goal for me is to help clarify health insurance for 1,000 people over the next three years,” he says. 

”I don’t need all 1,000 people to become my clients, but I want to have that kind of impact on people because that’s how much I care about ensuring people are making informed decisions that are conducive to their overall well-being.” QS

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