Exploring Life & Business with Diana Ordaz-Cherrington of Alpha Prime Health Insurance Solutions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Ordaz-Cherrington.

Hi Diana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started Alpha Prime Health Insurance Solutions in 2021, but the seeds were planted years before that while I was working at a large health system in Southern California.
I was in a position where I saw the gaps firsthand—patients who were Medicare-eligible but completely overwhelmed by their options, families trying to navigate a system that wasn’t designed with them in mind, and a real lack of culturally sensitive guidance for our multicultural community. I watched people make decisions out of confusion rather than clarity, and it broke my heart. I knew there had to be a better way.

In late 2019, I decided to believe in myself and gave my resignation. “I’m incredibly thankful for my time here and all I’ve learned. But I’ve realized I need to take a leap toward something new. Thank you for understanding and for the support.” I got licensed in late February and a few weeks later we were officially in lockdown, I had made what felt like the scariest decision of my life: I left the medical field. Here I was, walking away from healthcare at a time when it was more critical—and more in-demand—than ever. For a year and a half, I questioned myself constantly. Did I make the right choice? Was I crazy for leaving stability during a pandemic? Was I selfish for stepping away when the world needed healthcare workers most?
But I kept coming back to what I saw in my previous role—the gaps, the confusion, the families who needed an advocate. I realized I could still serve in healthcare, just in a different way. From there I proceeded to build APHIS from the ground up, and committed to being the person I wished my own family members had when they were navigating Medicare.

Now, five years later, it’s clear I made the right choice. But I won’t lie—believing in myself consistently during those early years didn’t come easy. There were so many moments of doubt. But I kept showing up. I kept learning. I kept serving my clients with everything I had.
In March 2025, we achieved Agency status, which was a milestone I’m incredibly grateful for. It meant we’d grown from just me working out of my home office to leading a team of independent agents who share the same heart for service. But honestly, the real win isn’t the status—it’s the families we’ve helped. It’s the phone calls from clients saying, “Thank you for making this make sense.” That’s what keeps me going.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Not even close. But I wouldn’t change it.

Leaving a stable career in the healthcare industry during COVID, when everyone else was running toward healthcare, felt isolating. People didn’t always understand why I’d walk away from that kind of security. And honestly, I didn’t always understand it myself.

Starting a business as a woman in a male-dominated industry came with its own challenges. I had to be persistent and not apologize for taking up space. I was building everything from scratch—no employees, no established reputation, just a vision and a lot of heart.

The Medicare landscape has been through a whirlwind of changes over the last five years. Plans change constantly, and I realized early on that my job isn’t just to enroll people—it’s to be their advocate through a system that’s constantly evolving. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that advocacy is needed at every level—not just for our clients, but for the entire Medicare program itself. Whether it’s working with health plans, medical groups, or navigating CMS regulations, someone has to be in the room speaking up. That’s the space I’ve committed to occupying.

Another challenge? Learning business acumen while building the business. I didn’t go to business school. I was learning how to run a company, manage finances, recruit agents, build systems, and maintain a balanced life—all at the same time.

But I found my lifeline in community. The Multicultural Business Alliance gave me what I couldn’t find anywhere else—real guidance I could use right now, not someday. MBA taught me how to structure my business for growth, how to navigate compliance without losing my mind, and how to build partnerships that actually matter. I learned it, applied it immediately, and scaled from there.

And now, as president of MBA, I get to do the same for other women entrepreneurs—not from theory, but from the trenches. I’ve lived the late nights, the doubt, the wins that felt impossible. I want to make that path clearer for the women coming up behind me.

I also got involved with BizFed LA, and that’s where I really learned to craft my voice and messaging—which is so important when you’re talking about healthcare. You have to be clear, you have to be credible, and you have to connect. BizFed helped me find that balance.

Balancing growth with integrity has been another ongoing challenge. I’m not just looking for people who can sell. I’m looking for people who genuinely care about serving our community. That takes time, and sometimes it means saying no to quick growth in favor of the right growth.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Alpha Prime Health Insurance Solutions (APHIS) is a Medicare-focused independent insurance agency serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange Counties. We achieved Agency status in March 2025—a milestone that reflects our growth, our commitment to compliance, and the trust our community has placed in us since we launched in 2021.
What we do is simple: we help Medicare-eligible individuals—especially those in multicultural communities—navigate one of the most confusing systems in healthcare. We specialize in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, and we work with multiple carriers to ensure our clients get unbiased, personalized recommendations. We don’t get paid more to push one plan over another. We get paid equally by the health plans, which means our only incentive is finding the right fit for each person.

What sets us apart? We lead with education and cultural competence. Many of our clients are navigating Medicare for the first time, often with language barriers or mistrust of the insurance industry. We take the time to explain everything—the cost of medications, which doctors are in-network, what benefits actually matter when you’re on a fixed income. And our relationship doesn’t end at enrollment. We’re there year-round to answer questions, help with claims, and make sure our clients feel supported.

What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is that APHIS isn’t just a business—it’s a mission. We exist to eliminate the impossible choices people shouldn’t have to make: medications or rent, doctor visits or groceries. We’re advocates first, agents second. And as an independent agency with strong carrier partnerships, we have the flexibility and resources to serve our community the way they deserve to be served—with respect, transparency, and real care.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around my large, joyous family. There was always a reason to celebrate—whether it was a birthday, anniversary, wedding, or simply Sunday. We didn’t need much of an excuse to gather at my grandparents’ house, eat too much, and just be together.

Their house was the heart of everything. It always smelled of freshly cooked flour tortillas—my grandmother made the best from-scratch tortillas, and I swear they tasted like love. My grandfather grew many of the fruits and vegetables that gave us kids the energy for whatever we were getting into next.

I was lucky enough to have more than a handful of cousins close in age to me, and we were always on some kind of adventure. We’d head to the park across the street and play family baseball—everyone played, from the little ones to the adults. Or if it was just us kids, we’d chase each other for hours, make up ridiculous games, and dare each other to do things we probably shouldn’t have been doing. Nothing dangerous—just the kind of harmless mischief that made us feel invincible. The kind of childhood freedom that only existed before everyone had a phone in their hand.

Looking back, that’s where I learned the value of community and connection. My family showed me that life is richer when you celebrate together and create joy out of the everyday. That foundation has carried into everything I do now—building relationships, showing up consistently, and making sure the people around me feel seen and valued.

Pricing:

• One of the things I’m most proud of is that as an independent agent and General Agency, we charge nothing for our services. Zero. Our clients don’t pay us a dime.
• We get paid equally by the health plans, which means there’s no bias in the products I compare for my prospective clients. I’m not incentivized to push one plan over another—I’m incentivized to find the right fit. Everything we do is educationally and customer service-centric. We take the time to understand what matters most to each person—the cost of their medications, the benefits that make a real difference when you’re on a fixed income, whether their doctors are in-network. All of it.
• My goal is to make healthcare education not just digestible, but beneficial to the member. I want to eliminate the questions of whether they’ll have to choose between paying for their medications or paying an essential bill at home—rent, food, water. No one should have to make that choice, and the right plan can make all the difference.
• And our relationship doesn’t end at enrollment. I work with my clients throughout the year to answer any Medicare-related questions or concerns. If something comes up in July, I’m there. If they need help navigating a claim or understanding a change in their plan, I’m there. That’s what partnership looks like.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: little_powerhouse
• Facebook: Alpha Prime Health Solutions
• LinkedIn: Diana Ordaz-Cherrington
• Other: https://www.aphealthsolutions.com. https://www.mballiance.org