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Meet our sales team

Medicare questions? Start with our Medicare sales experts

Our team of Medicare sales experts are here to answer your questions and help you choose the right plan for your needs. They’re available to talk with you by phone or in-person in your home, if that’s more convenient for you. Some of our reps even hold meetings each month where you can come and learn all about Medicare.

We speak your language, with representatives who speak Spanish or Portuguese. If you speak a different language, we can make accommodations for that, too. No matter what part of the state you’re in, we’re here to meet your needs.

Medicare informational seminars and face-to-face appointments

Medicare sales associate Marianne Whalen
Marianne Whalen
Area served: Southern Rhode Island

A native Rhode Islander, Marianne has more than 20 years of experience helping Medicare members find the right coverage to meet their needs. She holds monthly meetings throughout southern Rhode Island to talk about our Medicare plan options, and she works closely with agencies and organizations to provide service to their members who are looking for Medicare coverage. Marianne is a member of the Narragansett Lions Club and volunteers with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Medicare sales associate Malissa Richmond
Malissa Richmond
Area served: Northern Rhode Island

Malissa is a trusted advisor, with over nine years of experience helping people simplify Medicare and Medicare coverage options. She identifies what is important to each member and guides them through the process each step of the way. Malissa, a North Kingstown resident, also collaborates with other retirement specialists to give her clients a holistic approach to retirement planning. Malissa works with organizations such as senior centers, The Point, and Tri-Town Community Action. As a BCBSRI BlueAngel volunteer, she arranges many fundraising activities.

Medicare sales associate Michael Foster
Michael Foster
Area served: East Bay

Michael has more than a decade of experience as a trusted Medicare advisor, and he knows how overwhelming it can be to choose the right coverage. That’s why he uses a personal approach to understand his clients’ specific needs and engage them in a conversation about what’s important to them. He is frequently asked to speak at clubs, associations, and businesses around the state. He also conducts individual appointments at homes and businesses to meet with clients at their convenience. Michael volunteers at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, McAuley House, and Amos House among others.

BlueRI for Duals benefits consultations

BlueRI for Duals sales associate Luis Ramos Minaya
Luis Ramos Minaya
Hablo Español

Luis, a BlueRI for Duals benefits consultant from Providence, has been with BCBSRI for more than four years. His dedication to our members began on the Medicare Concierge team, providing the highest white glove service possible. With his Medicare and Medicaid experience, Luis is engaged with the community, including the Latino population, promoting the D-SNP plan to all Rhode Islanders, community agencies, and partners. Luis is a big theater enthusiast and loves participating in musical theater productions around RI. 

BlueRI for Duals sales associate Nelly Colón
Nelly Colón
Hablo Español

Nelly began her career in healthcare in 2010 serving low-income disabled adults and seniors on Medicaid and Medicare in Massachusetts. Now a BlueRI for Duals benefits consultant, she is fluent in Spanish and is committed to working with this population, and the Latino community, to ensure they receive the best plan coverage possible for their healthcare needs. Being new to Rhode Island, she is excited about building relationships and collaborating with partner organizations. Nelly is a dedicated mom, loves to dance salsa, and is involved with a nonprofit organization empowering local women. 

Medicare phone consultations

Medicare associate Stephanie Barbosa
Stephanie Barbosa
Falo Português

Stephanie, a longtime “Townie” of East Providence, has been working for BCBSRI for five years now, where she assists the Medicare population with plan options. Her devotion to her work and her customers is widely recognized, especially in the Portuguese community, where her ability to communicate fluently in Portuguese is very well received. Stephanie is also active in the Portuguese community, committing her time to various nonprofits and other community-based projects.

Medicare associate Todd Ayotte
Todd Ayotte

For more than two decades, Todd has been finding solutions for customers. For the past five years, he has been a trusted adviser to the Medicare community. He understands the complexity of choosing the right health coverage and is committed to identifying the best solution for every potential customer. A Rhode Island native, Todd is active in his community as a member of the Conimicut Village Association, neighbors dedicated to improving the Conimicut Village area of Warwick.

Medicare associate Sheri Tarpey
Sheri Tarpey

Sheri is a lifelong Rhode Island resident with more than 5 years of serving Medicare customers. With all that experience, she has become an excellent listener and problem solver. She is very good at alleviating the worry her customers might feel while making a decision about their medical and dental plans. She’s also efficient at simplifying and streamlining the healthcare process for each Medicare customer.

Medicare associate Mandi Sherman
Mandi Sherman

A New England native, Mandi has lived in Rhode Island for 14 years, and she has 14 years of experience working with Medicare. As a BCBSRI Medicare consultant, she helps customers looking for the health plans that best suit their needs. Mandi, an avid runner, also volunteers in various organizations throughout Rhode Island, including Girls on The Run, The Heart Walk, and Save the Bay, to name a few.

Medicare associate Adam Costa
Adam Costa

Adam is a Medicare Consultant who has been with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island since 2017, when he began working at our East Providence Your Blue Store℠ location providing a variety of services to Blue Cross members. He has eight years of experience in the insurance industry, including seven years of sales experience. Adam is thrilled to work with those eligible for Medicare (or soon to be) in our state, helping to recommend plan options to fit their lifestyles and needs. A lifelong Rhode Islander, Adam served in the Rhode Island Air National Guard for four years and is an active volunteer with Boots on the Ground. He’s an avid New England sports fan, and loves basketball.

Medicare associate Leda Rodriguez
Leda Rodriguez
Hablo Español

Leda, a former Your Blue Store representative, has been with BCBSRI for 18 years. When she was a BlueRI for Duals specialist, she was an active presence in communities across the state. You may have seen Leda at Progreso Latino, a flu shot clinic, or on social media in educational videos. Leda enjoys cooking and spending time with her family in Glocester. Leda habla espanol y se mantiene activa en todas comunidades de Rhode Island.