New Product for Group Health Cases!!

[DBKuhnke]

Making some money for introducing a product through someone who makes more money. What an awful concept for guys in the insurance business. Why didn't anyone ever think of that before??

 

[0b1kanobee]

How many members are currently using this service? No wrong or right answer, just curious and I realize it is in the infancy stage I guess.

Also, if I understand correctly, it isn't available in every state yet?

 

[Josh]

Ob1, I think you're just feeding the troll at this point, but good questions.

 

[leevena]

The product generically has been around a while in CA and AZ but is going national now with hard roll out in September. There are also other programs who have differing versions of telemedicine plans. If you care to ask I'd be happy to explain how the group signup works and it is easy and low cost and profitable for the placing agent, beneficial for plan sponsors and lower cost for group participants. The product was initially designed for individual subscription but a group of well placed life/health agents are leading the way for HN management to develop the group market. And no, podiatrists, neurosurgeons, etc. will not be answering the calls but fully NCQA certified, U.S. based and licensed primary care physicians in all 50 states are ready willing and able to answer member calls and deal with medical issues. Give me a call if you want and I can provide a tour of the Health Nation Connect system and give you access to the demo system and hear some demo calls if you have any interest. If no interest, why spend so much time dissing what you don't know?
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You are kidding right! Ask your wife what happened the last time she called the doctor when one of the kids was sick. Tell me how his answering service solved the problem for her. Better yet, how did that work when you were on vacation at the beach and one of the kids is throwing up and running a fever 500 miles from home. This plan deals with just that access problem. For $30 a month you can call in and be called back by a primary care doctor in the State you are in, (home or away) and get a consultation, diagnosis and a prescription called to the local pharmacy if the doctor deems it necessary. If you sell groups you can't miss seeing the value here. I can assure you your clients will.

No I am not kidding. Two kids (over 21 now), plenty of travel, never had a problem. Used nurse triage most times, doctor returned call a few times. Overall very satisfied.

I have done beneifts for 30 years, with a significant amount of self-funded medical. I don't know for sure, but I doubt if any of our groups have ever purchased this type of service. And, as I mentioned earlier, at $30 per month/$20 per call, it is very expensive. I have self-funded groups with admin charges slightly higher than your cost and it includes claim payments, PPO network, OON repricing, cost control, reporting and more.

I am sorry, but I do not see the value in this service.
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Making some money for introducing a product through someone who makes more money. What an awful concept for guys in the insurance business. Why didn't anyone ever think of that before??

Could you please provide some kind of testimonial or success story. Personally, I do not see where I (broker) can make money on this. Too expensive with a difficult ROI to determine.

 

[somarco]

Lee, can't say about the "group" product, but the individual plan has a $100 sign up fee. My guess is most goes in the agent pocket.

Can't tell you how many folks tried to get me interested in CareEntree years ago and AmeriPlan. Lot's of hocus pocus there too.

What is it they say in TX? Big hat, no cattle?

 

[Josh]

If the price point was lower I could *almost* see how it could help a self-funded group lower their utilization, but at $350+/year/member or family I think it'd be almost guaranteed that the group would spend more with that. Maybe as a boutique product as a perk, "Plus, our health plan let's you call a doctor day or night to get an RX for basic things so you wouldn't have to take time off of work to go to the doctor" or something along those lines, but this is far from a slam dunk product.

 

[leevena]

If the price point was lower I could *almost* see how it could help a self-funded group lower their utilization, but at $350+/year/member or family I think it'd be almost guaranteed that the group would spend more with that. Maybe as a boutique product as a perk, "Plus, our health plan let's you call a doctor day or night to get an RX for basic things so you wouldn't have to take time off of work to go to the doctor" or something along those lines, but this is far from a slam dunk product.

Very difficult for me to ever envision when this product would decrease costs. I do agree with your assessment as a "perk" type of program.

 

[0b1kanobee]

Very difficult for me to ever envision when this product would decrease costs. I do agree with your assessment as a "perk" type of program.

I know nothing about health insurance but I keep hearing that eventually it is going to become more difficult to get in to see your doctor with healthcare reform. Perhaps this product helps in this regard.

Also, in tight times like these it is hard to get anyone to pay for perks, maybe when/if times get better?

I have a couple of friends who when they call in sick, they must have a doctor's note (I had one once and he wrote it on a scrip). Seems like this would be a good product for someone who didn't want to have to go to the doctor to get one when a simple phone call might work?

If there is a slam dunk product out there, I would like to know what it is. I find this sort of stuff interesting because my brain is always looking at new opportunities or integrating them with other products and marketing methods. Sometimes it is non-insurance related.

 

[somarco]

Niche markets are great but this has been tried before. All they did is put fresh lipstick on this pig.

 

[DBKuhnke]

It is available nationwide OB1..