Discovery Session: UPG Insurance

Direct-to-consumer insurance agency serving individuals and families across South Carolina. Covers Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Part D, ACA/Marketplace plans, dental & vision. Carriers include BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Ambetter, Devoted. Competes against call centers with local, face-to-face, concierge-level service. Led by Tim Dasinger and Roger Garner.

Separate division serving employee benefits brokers as a General Agency. Provides carrier quoting, Employee Navigator benefits admin, custom benefit booklets with SPDs/ERISA language, ACA compliance & 1094/1095 reporting, and an HR compliance library. Potential future AI engagement once insurance side proves value.

Jason Newman — President/Founder. Appalachian State finance degree, 17 years running a national GA's Charleston office before founding UPG in 2015. Sits on carrier advisory councils. 11–50 employees, staff averages 10+ years in group/individual benefits. HQ in Mt. Pleasant, office in Atlanta.

UPG Insurance's entire value prop is "we're your neighbors, not a call center." But personal, local service is hard to scale across 46 counties with a small team. AI is the force multiplier — automating plan comparisons, answering member questions 24/7, handling compliance paperwork, and freeing agents to do what only humans can: build trust.