About Us

    Since 1990, Distinctive Insurance has provided insurance and employee benefits consulting services to Southern Nevada businesses.

    Distinctive was founded on the belief that a benefit and risk management firm should function as an arm of the company it represents. Distinctive strives to deliver tailored insurance solutions with thoughtful strategic planning, valuable professional services, and technology-based resources.

    In 2018, Distinctive joined Alera Group, one of the nation’s top 15 largest independent insurance agencies and one of the top 10 largest privately held benefits firms.

    The Alera Group comprises over 80 firms and serves thousands of clients nationwide.  This national presence allows Distinctive  to provide employee benefits, property and casualty, and wealth management services with the resources, technical expertise and best practices of a larger national firm.

    Meet Our Team

    Amanda Armstrong

    Account Coordinator
    Amanda Armstrong

    Amanda Armstrong, Account Coordinator

    Damari Bermudez

    Account Manager
    Damari Bermudez

    Damari Bermudez has 30 years of experience in the Health Insurance Industry, beginning her career as a Member Services at Health Plan of Nevada/ Sierra Health and Life. She has been with Alera Group | Las Vegas for the past 4 months and enjoys helping all clients. She thinks outside the box and is a problem solver. Her attention to detail is one of her many strong points. She is quick to respond to all issues and her response time is what set her aside from her competitors. Customer Service is very important to her and wants to make sure all clients are treated with kindness, urgency, and professionalism. Senior Professional Customer Service with over 30years in servicing the insurance claims processing industry, dependable interpersonal skills. Service experience supporting business groups while ensuring outstanding customer service and prompt issue resolution has followed her career. Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with developed training and development experience.

    Damari is Bi-Lingual Spanish and English and loves spending time with her family and friends. She loves volunteering at the homeless shelters.

    Received The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of Cf Courtesy Award in 1998 & 2000.

    Resources

    EXPERT EDUCATION

    Events and Webinars

    Employee Benefits

    Setting Your Strategy for the New Year: Alera Group's 2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook

    Our experts will highlight key results from Alera Group’s "2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook" and explain how these trends can impact your benefits program this year.

    January 16, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual

    Sign Up
    Webinar graphic - Alera Engage

    Wealth Services

    State of the Markets

    Join us as we unveil the factors that drive the nation's financial pulse and how they may impact your personal finances.

    January 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual

    Sign Up
    State of the Markets

    Wealth Services

    State of the Markets

    Join us as we unveil the factors that drive the nation's financial pulse and how they may impact your personal finances.

    April 23, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual

    Sign Up
    State of the Markets

    Quote from Alice O’Hearn

    Studies have shown that good pay alone is not enough to keep excellent employees. Employers have to furnish employees with competitive benefit packages as well, and that is where Distinctive Insurance comes in.
    Distinctive Insurance has been an invaluable member of our team as we have grown from two employees to twenty-two over the past seven years. I’m happy to say that the team at Distinctive Insurance doesn’t quit working for you once the policy has been sold. As our needs have changed over the years, Distinctive has continually evaluated our policies and advised us how best to spend our benefit dollars.
    In addition, they have been helpful in assisting me with other human resource issues, such as employee handbooks, interview questions, employee evaluations, and more. The staff is always cheerful and prompt in dealing with the day-to-day issues that arise, such as obtaining insurance cards, adding employees to our policies, or implementing changes to existing policies, etc. It is without reservation that I recommend Distinctive Insurance.
    Alice O’Hearn Bailey Kennedy, LLP

    Quote from Lydia Guderjahn

    Our company has worked with Distinctive Insurance since 2002. We have worked with many brokers over the years, but hands down Distinctive has been the best. Their services go far beyond our insurance needs and they are always prompt to handle our questions and requests.
    Every year Distinctive helps simplify our open enrollment process. They help with auditing, enrollment meetings, individual meetings and the paperwork process.
    Most recently we have been able to experience with great satisfaction the seminars they are offering. Their seminars have proven to be very informative and interesting. The speakers are well organized and informed and the written materials are a great tool to take back to the office in implementing changes.
    I would highly recommend Distinctive Insurance to anyone. Their staff is friendly, quick to respond and very knowledgeable. We hope to utilize more of what they have to offer as they are ever expanding their services to clients. We look forward to a long working relationship with them.
    Lydia Guderjahn Children’s Heart Center
    I am a personal Representative for my brother’s estate. I want to thank Distinctive for all that they did in regards to handling Jim’s medical insurance issues. Without their efforts, Jim’s estate would have been wiped out, and his heirs would have been left without anything.
    Jim had experienced several years of extensive illness and had exhausted his lifetime maximum on his health insurance policy. As a result of your tenacious efforts working with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, the insurance company agreed to lift the lifetime cap, and was able to receive the health care that he needed.
    Distinctive spent several months working with the health care providers and insurance company, to keep the dialogue open so that over $10M of medical claims were resolved. Jim’s estate is grateful to Anthem for their compassion in dealing with his medical claims, both Distinctive and Anthem, have demonstrated a high level of professionalism in settling these medical claims.
    It has been a pleasure working with Distinctive Insurance. You are true insurance professionals who have demonstrated that you have made a significant difference in the lives of Jim’s heirs.
    Jim’s medical insurance issues
    Distinctive Insurance has provided my company with outstanding service over the past 5 years. We have recently moved all of our insurance policies over to them and the transition was a very smooth process. Everyone at the office is very helpful – Distinctive Insurance always provides superb customer service!! I highly recommend Distinctive Insurance for all your insurance needs.
    Superb Customer Service

    THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

    Insights

    Employee Benefits

    Don’t Forget About Your Gag Clause Attestations

    When the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) was enacted on December 27, 2020, it included a provision that prohibits group health plans and health insurance carriers from entering into certain agreements that, either directly or indirectly, restrict the release of certain information related to provider networks and de-identified encounter data, among other things. Such restrictions are commonly referred to as “gag clauses.” The CAA also requires plans and carriers to attest annually that their agreements do not include such impermissible gag clauses.

    November 20, 2024

    Find out more

    Employee Benefits

    Avoiding an Employee Lawsuit Over a Tobacco Surcharge Claim

    Tobacco surcharges on health insurance premiums for employees who use tobacco products are attractive options for employers looking to keep their workforce healthy while lowering their organization’s healthcare costs. But surcharges can go too far, and many employers may be unaware of the limitations. Alera Group's new whitepaper on tobacco surcharges is designed to assist employers in complying with federal regulations.

    November 19, 2024

    Find out more

    Employee Benefits

    Q4 Considerations: New HIPAA Privacy Considerations

    Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Final Rule titled HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy.

    November 15, 2024

    Find out more

    Employee Benefits

    Spotlight on 2025 Benefit Limits

    The IRS has released the 2025 benefit plan limits. The following chart shows some of the key limits for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax years.

    November 15, 2024

    Find out more