In this episode of The Rural Voice, the official podcast of the National Rural Education Association, hosts Dr. Bill Chapman, Dr. Melissa Sadorf, and Dr. Christopher Silver welcome Brett Jennrich and Mark Gilmore of Apollo Health Insurance. Brett serves as Apollo’s Director of Affinity Partnerships, while Mark is the company’s Chief Operating Officer. The conversation introduces Apollo’s new partnership with NREA and examines what it will offer rural school districts, educators, and their families. Brett and Mark describe Apollo’s development as a family-owned insurance brokerage and explain how the company’s personal connections to education helped shape its work with rural schools. The guests discuss the escalating cost of employee health insurance, limited healthcare networks, rural hospital closures, prescription costs, and the challenges districts face when insurance pools or consortiums become unstable. They also explain how Apollo works with districts through individual consultations, employee education, claims advocacy, year-round support, and customized insurance strategies. The discussion highlights several emerging approaches, including direct primary care, level-funded plans, self-funded plans, Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, and individual coverage options for spouses, children, substitute teachers, and other part-time employees. Brett and Mark share stories illustrating how personalized assistance can reduce family insurance costs, protect families during medical emergencies, and strengthen employee recruitment and retention. The episode concludes with information about Apollo and NREA’s upcoming educational opportunities, including monthly office hours, a September webinar, and Apollo’s participation in the National Forum to Advance Rural Education in San Antonio.
We'd like to thank the Tourette Association of America for sponsoring this episode.
Guest information
Brett Jennrich is the Director of Affinity Partnerships at Apollo Health Insurance. His work focuses on building partnerships with organizations such as NREA and connecting school districts with insurance education, resources, and customized benefits strategies.
Mark Gilmore is the Chief Operating Officer of Apollo Health Insurance. A former trial attorney, he joined his family’s business after more than two decades in legal practice. He helps lead Apollo’s operations and works with districts to develop sustainable insurance and employee-benefit strategies.
Relevant links
Apollo’s NREA resource page:
https://apollo-insurance.com/nrea/
National Rural Education Association:
NREA and Apollo partnership announcement:
https://nrea.net/nrea-apollo-health-insurance-2026/
National Forum to Advance Rural Education:
Apollo’s school district contact:
school.districts@apollo-insurance.com