BIP Winter 2025

“ Change happens when voters talk to their elected officials. NABIP helps us organize those conversations and bring real solutions forward.

Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country, which shaped Trevino’s model from the outset. Her agency includes Vietnamese, Chinese and Spanish-speaking advisors because language and culture drive trust. “When health is on the line, people want to speak in the language they think in,” she says. The commitment goes beyond sales conversations. Trevino recalls a stroke patient whose family struggled to understand next steps. Wise Insurance guided them in their preferred language, aligned providers with the plan and kept the process moving. The client returned months later — not for a new policy, but to say thank you and ask for help with ancillary benefits they now felt confident using. Why brokers matter Trevino is clear about the value brokers deliver by translating a complex system into real choices. Naturally, she pushes back on the idea that advising is just “selling a product.” The work, she says, is a full needs assessment — doctors, prescriptions, hospitals, budget — and honest guidance when tradeoffs are unavoidable. Sometimes that means choosing coverage over a preferred doctor and planning for cash-pay visits. Sometimes it means a different path entirely. In each case, informed consent is the win. She wishes policymakers saw more of this ground truth. Too often, she says, debates revolve around premiums while families struggle with total out-of-pocket costs and access issues. “More than 70% of people use a broker,” Trevino says. “Subject-matter experts should be at the table so hospitals, carriers and consumers can all win.” Trevino joined NABIP five years ago to pair her client work with advocacy. The payoff has been practical, delivering a nationwide peer network for tough state-specific questions, shared learning that improves client outcomes and a platform to educate legislators on what people face day to day. “Change happens when voters talk to their elected officials,” she says. “NABIP helps us organize those conversations and bring real solutions forward.”

Her advice to peers in the individual market is to invest in the profession that sustains your clients. Show up locally. Share data and stories. And keep the mission simple enough to measure. “Coverage matters,” Trevino says. “Care matters more.” Building trust through advocacy and action

For Trevino, professional growth and advocacy go hand in hand. As Wise Insurance expanded, she became increasingly focused on mentoring new agents — especially those entering the ACA market for the first time. “It’s not just about teaching products,” she says. “It’s about teaching empathy, accuracy and accountability. If we want to change how people experience healthcare, it starts with how we show up as brokers.” That philosophy extends to community engagement. Trevino partners with local nonprofits and cultural organizations to host benefits education sessions in multiple languages, helping families understand coverage options before open enrollment begins. These events often double as listening sessions, surfacing real-time issues that brokers can bring back to carriers and policymakers. “You learn what’s working and what isn’t by listening to people where they live,” she says. “That’s the data that matters.” Trevino says the real impact happens when brokers share what they see every day with lawmakers and partners. “When they understand the human side, progress follows,” she says. “That’s what advocacy really is — taking what you learn in the field and using it to make healthcare work better for everyone.”

WHAT IS BROKER VOICES? This series is dedicated to sharing the stories of individual brokers who play a vital role in providing millions of Americans with affordable access to quality healthcare. Discover the compelling personal accounts highlighting the critical work brokers do to protect their clients’ financial security and well-being every day.

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