Get to know Kazuko

Kazuko is a highly accomplished and experienced insurance professional who has earned the trust of clients throughout the community. As an independent agent with Premier Benefit Consultants, she is especially dedicated to helping Japanese-speaking individuals and families understand Medicare through clear explanations, patient guidance, and dependable ongoing service.

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Kazuko assists people at every stage of their Medicare journey, including those preparing to retire and transition from employer-based coverage, individuals becoming eligible for Medicare for the first time, and current beneficiaries who want help understanding or reviewing their existing health plans. She also welcomes questions from family members, guardians, employers, physicians, and anyone seeking a clearer understanding of Medicare.

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Fluent in Japanese and English, Kazuko understands how important it is for beneficiaries to discuss their healthcare needs and receive detailed information in the language they are most comfortable using. Her bilingual guidance is especially valuable for individuals who have moved to Hawaiʻi from Japan and may be unfamiliar with Medicare and the American healthcare system.

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Kazuko takes the time to listen carefully, explain the available options in an understandable way, and help each client make an informed decision based on their individual healthcare needs and circumstances. Her commitment continues after enrollment, and she remains available whenever questions, concerns, or changes arise. Complimentary consultations are available by appointment over the phone or through video conference.

 

Born and raised in Tokyo, Kazuko began her professional career with Continental Bank’s Tokyo branch after graduating from college. Following her marriage in 1974, she and her husband lived in Bethesda, Maryland, for five years before making Hawaiʻi their home in 1979.

 

Kazuko’s diverse professional background includes experience in the travel, real estate, and insurance industries. Her interest in insurance began while caring for her mother in Japan following a stroke. That experience inspired her to learn more about Social Security benefits, long-term care, and the resources available to help families prepare for the future.

 

She became a licensed life and health insurance agent in Hawaiʻi in 2008 and initially worked with life insurance, long-term care coverage, and annuities. Kazuko later chose to specialize in Medicare after her husband incurred a Part D late-enrollment penalty following the loss of his employer-sponsored coverage. Experiencing firsthand how complicated Medicare rules can be strengthened her desire to help others avoid confusion and costly mistakes.

 

Today, Kazuko finds great fulfillment in helping seniors understand Medicare plans that may change from year to year. She is particularly passionate about serving people who have immigrated from Japan, carefully explaining Medicare in Japanese and assisting them throughout the enrollment process.

 

Kazuko is a highly valued member of the PBC family. Her extensive experience, professionalism, and deep understanding of insurance have made her a trusted resource for Medicare beneficiaries and their families. PBC greatly appreciates the important role she plays in serving Hawaiʻi’s Japanese-speaking community and has complete confidence in the knowledgeable, attentive care she provides.

 

Outside of work, Kazuko enjoys spending time and talking story with her husband, line dancing with friends, and attending computer classes.

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横江和子

 

東京出身。

大学卒業後、1974年CONTINETAL BANKの東京支店に勤務, 結婚し

BETHESDA, MDで5年間過ごし、1979年ハワイに引っ越して来ました。

結婚46年になり、金婚式を目指しています。

ハワイでの職歴は観光業、不動産及び保険です。

母の介護時期にアメリカの年金や介護に興味を持ち、勉強しているうちに保険の資格を取得。

主人が66歳の時、パートDのペナルティがかかり、メディケアの勉強をし、資格を取り、毎年プランの内容が変わる複雑なシニアの医療保険を特に日本から移住している方に解り易く説明し、加入手続きをお手伝いしています。

余暇は主人との会話、ラインダンスとコンピュータークラスなどで楽しんでいます。​​