Pat Pane, founder of Medical Insurance Assistance, Inc., was no stranger to the world of health insurance and medical benefits.  For more than twenty years, she had been responsible for employee benefits and medical insurance at a Fortune 100 corporation.

Since Pat had extensive knowledge of the field (and a big heart), she often went beyond the duties of her job description, helping her co-workers navigate through the treacherous bureaucracy of submitting insurance claims and getting proper reimbursement for medical care.

In fact, you could even say that Pat wrote the book on medical insurance and employee benefits!  She was so gifted at putting all of that daunting medical insurance terminology into easy-to-understand laymen's terms, she actually re-wrote the entire incomprehensible health benefits summary manual their national healthcare provider had printed.

In later years, Pat was conflicted about her work: she wanted to be of service to her fellow co-workers, but her job responsibilities no longer permitted her to give hands-on assistance to people who needed help with their medical insurance claims.

One weekend, after a particular work incident left her feeling frustrated and helpless, Pat reallized her new calling.  She immediately set the wheels in motion to launch a company where she could use her knowledge of the medical insurance industry to help individuals understand their medical bills, make proper payments, obtain refunds, and successfully submit claims for legitimate discounts and write-offs.

In October 1993, Medical Insurance Asisistance, Inc. opened its doors and helped its first client.  Since then, Pat and her staff have saved her clients millions of dollars!! Pat is not only a Certified Claims Assistant Professional, she is also a nationally recognized medical insurance expert.  She has been featured in many publications including The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Woman's Day and Money magazines.

Don't let Pat's sweet, charming disposition fool you: in the medical industry she's known as "the pit bull" because once she sinks her teeth into a medical claim, she won't let go until she's achieved a satisfactory outcome for her client!

Although she unleashes unparalleled tenacity on tough insurance claims cases, Pat has also created a welcoming and caring company culture.  Clients sometimes come to see her in housecoats or pajamas; those with back problems have consulted with her while lying on the floor.  Her offices are headquartered in an old Southern cottage that is one-hundred-percent professional, but still has a homey feel.  And her mission remains the same as it was when she first opened the company; to help others through her extensive knowledge of the medical insurance field.

To learn more about Pat and Medical Insurance Assistance, Inc., read about the team (below), visit our press page, or call 1-800-504-9501 or 910-397-0021.

Company Founder and Certified Claims Assistant Professional

Pat Pane is North Carolina's foremost expert in medical insurance claims.  She is the state's only Certified Claims Assistant Professional (CCAP) and was the 84th person in the entire United States to achieve this distinction

Pat has been featured as a national expert in many publications including The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Woman's Day Magazine, Business North Carolina Magazine and Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (where she's been cited 9 times!).  Pat has appeared on Retirement Living television and has been interviewed by former Datrline NBC reporters.  In 1999, she received the Small Business Service Award from the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

When you meet Pat, you'd never guess that she is a heavy-hitter in the medical insurance world because she's also a caring, gentle and unassuming lady, passionate about helping others.  But underneath that sweet Southern demeanor, is what the Wall Street Journal called a medical insurance "pit bull".  Pat jokes:  "When I'm fighting on behalf of one of my clients, I can go from angel to witch in under 60 seconds!!"

Pat sharpened her medical insurance chops for 20-plus years in the corporate world, working in benefits and health insurance for a Fortune 100 company on both the local and corporate levels.  She was active in the Cape Fear Health Care Coalition and had many innovative ideas for cost containment programs in the health care industry that earned her several recognition awards.

In addition to operating Medical Insurance Assistance, Pat serves the community by giving seminars that provide helpful hints on how to better organize one's medical bills and spot errors that can result in substantial savings.

Pat ia married to Joe Pane and has 3 children (including a set a twins) and 3 wonderful grandsons.  She does not, however, own a pit bull.  Her husband, Joe, jokes:  "One pit bull in the family is enough!".

Claims Assistant Professional

Kimberly Ayers is no stranger to paperwork and bureaucracy.A trained paralegal, she used to work as Assistant Clerk of Superior Court in New Hanover County, where she handled the administration of the court system.Kimberly’s parents knew that with her strong attention to detail and her experience reading “the fine print” of legal documents, she was perfectly suited for resolving medical insurance claims.

In 2003, Kimberly joined Medical Insurance Assistance as a Claims Assistant Professional.She has worked on both the patient and the provider sides of the business, but these days, most of her time is spent working with our Medical Provider clients.Kimberly says:“The work is rewarding and it has taught me a lot, including patience and perseverance!”

A native Wilmingtonian, she is married with 2 boys and 2 dogs, which means life at home is just as hectic as it is at work!

Accounting Manager

Joe is enjoying his second career at Medical Insurance Assistance.He retired from E.I. DuPont after 32 years of service as a Relief Shift Supervisor and Continuous Process Operator in the Wilmington plant, but his wife, Pat, wasted no time in recruiting him to work full-time for her growing company.Joe is responsible for all company accounting.He jokingly brushes off the difference between being the boss of dozens of shift workers versus being his wife’s employee:“The transition from ‘Chief’ to ‘Indian’ was an easy one—I was used to following my wife’s orders at home!”

When he’s not at the office or trying to learn a new feature in QuickBooks, Joe enjoys spending free time with Pat (his high school sweetheart), his 3 children and his 3 wonderful grandsons.He never misses the boys’ football and baseball games!

Claims Assistant Professional

Polly Clawson was born and raised in Louisiana.A graduate of Louisiana Tech in Business Administration, her first career was as a buyer in women’s retail.Later, she spent sixteen years as a full-time parent who homeschooled her own children and two others.Now that her son and daughter are teenagers at Hoggard High School, Polly has returned to the world of business.

As a Claims Professional Assistant, Polly concentrates on assisting individuals with their insurance claims, researching claim precedents, and piecing together big insurance claim “puzzles”.She says: “I’ve always loved working with people and this work is especially rewarding.It feels great to help relieve some of the stress and chaos clients have endured when trying to resolve their medical claims.”

Administrative Assistant

Also, from Louisiana, Gail Hulon is happy to be living and working near the beautiful Carolina beaches.She and her husband of 17 years recently fulfilled their dream of relocating to the area from Laurinburg, NC.

In 2008, Gail joined Medical Insurance Assistance to provide the team with administrative support.As a former sales coordinator for a modular home builder, she knows how to juggle appointment scheduling, phones, correspondence and all of the other diverse responsibilities that fall under her job description. Gail is the first person most people meet when they call or visit the office, and she says that’s her favorite part of the job:“I really enjoy meeting and greeting our wonderful clients!”

When she’s not at work, Gail loves spending time on the beach with husband and her dog Molly, whom she rescued from an animal shelter.

Pat Pane, founder of Medical Insurance Assistance, Inc., was no stranger to the world of health insurance and medical benefits.  For more than twenty years, she had been responsible for employee benefits and medical insurance at a Fortune 100 corporation.

Since Pat had extensive knowledge of the field (and a big heart), she often went beyond the duties of her job description, helping her co-workers navigate through the treacherous bureaucracy of submitting insurance claims and getting proper reimbursement for medical care.

In fact, you could even say that Pat wrote the book on medical insurance and employee benefits!  She was so gifted at putting all of that daunting medical insurance terminology into easy-to-understand laymen's terms, she actually re-wrote the entire incomprehensible health benefits summary manual their national healthcare provider had printed.

In later years, Pat was conflicted about her work: she wanted to be of service to her fellow co-workers, but her job responsibilities no longer permitted her to give hands-on assistance to people who needed help with their medical insurance claims.

One weekend, after a particular work incident left her feeling frustrated and helpless, Pat reallized her new calling.  She immediately set the wheels in motion to launch a company where she could use her knowledge of the medical insurance industry to help individuals understand their medical bills, make proper payments, obtain refunds, and successfully submit claims for legitimate discounts and write-offs.

In October 1993, Medical Insurance Asisistance, Inc. opened its doors and helped its first client.  Since then, Pat and her staff have saved her clients millions of dollars!! Pat is not only a Certified Claims Assistant Professional, she is also a nationally recognized medical insurance expert.  She has been featured in many publications including The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Woman's Day and Money magazines.

Don't let Pat's sweet, charming disposition fool you: in the medical industry she's known as "the pit bull" because once she sinks her teeth into a medical claim, she won't let go until she's achieved a satisfactory outcome for her client!

Although she unleashes unparalleled tenacity on tough insurance claims cases, Pat has also created a welcoming and caring company culture.  Clients sometimes come to see her in housecoats or pajamas; those with back problems have consulted with her while lying on the floor.  Her offices are headquartered in an old Southern cottage that is one-hundred-percent professional, but still has a homey feel.  And her mission remains the same as it was when she first opened the company; to help others through her extensive knowledge of the medical insurance field.

To learn more about Pat and Medical Insurance Assistance, Inc., read about the team (below), visit our press page, or call 1-800-504-9501 or 910-397-0021.

Company Founder and Certified Claims Assistant Professional

Pat Pane is North Carolina's foremost expert in medical insurance claims.  She is the state's only Certified Claims Assistant Professional (CCAP) and was the 84th person in the entire United States to achieve this distinction

Pat has been featured as a national expert in many publications including The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Woman's Day Magazine, Business North Carolina Magazine and Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (where she's been cited 9 times!).  Pat has appeared on Retirement Living television and has been interviewed by former Datrline NBC reporters.  In 1999, she received the Small Business Service Award from the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

When you meet Pat, you'd never guess that she is a heavy-hitter in the medical insurance world because she's also a caring, gentle and unassuming lady, passionate about helping others.  But underneath that sweet Southern demeanor, is what the Wall Street Journal called a medical insurance "pit bull".  Pat jokes:  "When I'm fighting on behalf of one of my clients, I can go from angel to witch in under 60 seconds!!"

Pat sharpened her medical insurance chops for 20-plus years in the corporate world, working in benefits and health insurance for a Fortune 100 company on both the local and corporate levels.  She was active in the Cape Fear Health Care Coalition and had many innovative ideas for cost containment programs in the health care industry that earned her several recognition awards.

In addition to operating Medical Insurance Assistance, Pat serves the community by giving seminars that provide helpful hints on how to better organize one's medical bills and spot errors that can result in substantial savings.

Pat ia married to Joe Pane and has 3 children (including a set a twins) and 3 wonderful grandsons.  She does not, however, own a pit bull.  Her husband, Joe, jokes:  "One pit bull in the family is enough!".

Claims Assistant Professional

Kimberly Ayers is no stranger to paperwork and bureaucracy.A trained paralegal, she used to work as Assistant Clerk of Superior Court in New Hanover County, where she handled the administration of the court system.Kimberly’s parents knew that with her strong attention to detail and her experience reading “the fine print” of legal documents, she was perfectly suited for resolving medical insurance claims.

In 2003, Kimberly joined Medical Insurance Assistance as a Claims Assistant Professional.She has worked on both the patient and the provider sides of the business, but these days, most of her time is spent working with our Medical Provider clients.Kimberly says:“The work is rewarding and it has taught me a lot, including patience and perseverance!”

A native Wilmingtonian, she is married with 2 boys and 2 dogs, which means life at home is just as hectic as it is at work!

Accounting Manager

Joe is enjoying his second career at Medical Insurance Assistance.He retired from E.I. DuPont after 32 years of service as a Relief Shift Supervisor and Continuous Process Operator in the Wilmington plant, but his wife, Pat, wasted no time in recruiting him to work full-time for her growing company.Joe is responsible for all company accounting.He jokingly brushes off the difference between being the boss of dozens of shift workers versus being his wife’s employee:“The transition from ‘Chief’ to ‘Indian’ was an easy one—I was used to following my wife’s orders at home!”

When he’s not at the office or trying to learn a new feature in QuickBooks, Joe enjoys spending free time with Pat (his high school sweetheart), his 3 children and his 3 wonderful grandsons.He never misses the boys’ football and baseball games!

Claims Assistant Professional

Polly Clawson was born and raised in Louisiana.A graduate of Louisiana Tech in Business Administration, her first career was as a buyer in women’s retail.Later, she spent sixteen years as a full-time parent who homeschooled her own children and two others.Now that her son and daughter are teenagers at Hoggard High School, Polly has returned to the world of business.

As a Claims Professional Assistant, Polly concentrates on assisting individuals with their insurance claims, researching claim precedents, and piecing together big insurance claim “puzzles”.She says: “I’ve always loved working with people and this work is especially rewarding.It feels great to help relieve some of the stress and chaos clients have endured when trying to resolve their medical claims.”

Administrative Assistant

Also, from Louisiana, Gail Hulon is happy to be living and working near the beautiful Carolina beaches.She and her husband of 17 years recently fulfilled their dream of relocating to the area from Laurinburg, NC.

In 2008, Gail joined Medical Insurance Assistance to provide the team with administrative support.As a former sales coordinator for a modular home builder, she knows how to juggle appointment scheduling, phones, correspondence and all of the other diverse responsibilities that fall under her job description. Gail is the first person most people meet when they call or visit the office, and she says that’s her favorite part of the job:“I really enjoy meeting and greeting our wonderful clients!”

When she’s not at work, Gail loves spending time on the beach with husband and her dog Molly, whom she rescued from an animal shelter.