Innovation. It’s not likely the first word you think of when it comes to health insurance, but health plans, employers, and health care providers in Utah are seeking to change that.
According to a Utah Foundation report from 2016, nearly 61% of Utahans are insured through employer-sponsored coverage—the highest percentage in the U.S.
High deductible health plans are an example of a common response to increasing costs; they can lower premium costs by sharing some of the costs with the consumer. These plans are one way to manage burgeoning costs of health care and health insurance, but they are only one tactic to address a more complex problem. Now health plans are exploring other ways to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, including employers, employees, and providers.
Create a Unique Health Insurance Product
Companies like SelectHealth®, a not-for-profit health plan, are working closely with the community to find ways to offer predictable premiums and greater affordability while helping people live healthier lives. In 2016, the health plan introduced a product called SelectHealth Share®, an employer-sponsored plan that requires employers, employees, providers, and the health plan to work together to support a culture of health in the workplace and meet requirements such as preventive health screenings and disease management programs.
The employer groups on SelectHealth Share represent a cross section of industries who were early adopters of the plan. SelectHealth is guaranteeing current customers on SelectHealth Share a 2.0% premium increase for their next three years of participation. In 2017, these Utah businesses saw 8.1% lower medical costs when compared to other SelectHealth large employers. In addition, SelectHealth Share members have had 4.5% fewer emergency room visits and a 3.8% lower hospital admission rate when compared to SelectHealth members on other large employer health plans. And over 70% of employees on SelectHealth Share plans are actively participating in physical activity campaigns, completing health assessments, and engaging with digital health coaching.
Foster a Culture of Wellness at Work
For the better part of a decade, employers, providers, and insurers have increasingly shifted their focus from treating illness to preventing diseases and encouraging wellness. Employers can have a particularly positive influence and have found a partner in health plans who understand the benefits of a healthy workforce.
At SelectHealth, our Healthy Living product offers an integrative approach to worksite wellness. The SelectHealth team meets onsite to provide employer wellness consultations, digital tools, and workplace health education to engage employees in adopting behaviors that support health and well-being.
Successful workplace wellness programs consist of more than just lunch-and-learns or flyers in the elevator, however. They take dedicated effort from everyone involved and entail a lot of work to maintain engagement throughout the year to build a sustainable culture of health in the workplace.
For a program to be effective, health plans and employers must work closely together to create a customized, scalable plan. Consultants provide data-driven reports and check in with employers quarterly to discuss successes and review areas for improvement. Employers are expected to meet required metrics, and the health plan is an active partner all year long in achieving success.
Fully engaged employers and employees tend to lead the most successful workplace wellness programs. As an integral part of SelectHealth Share, the Healthy Living product supports active engagement from employers and employees, such as annual health education and screening events, cultural assessments, team activity challenges, digital health coaching, and sponsorship of a health management program such as a flu shot clinic or tobacco-free workplace.
Stay Tuned for Innovation
While the path to better health for the industry may be long, it’s clear that no one is getting out of taking the journey. Employers, consumers, providers, and health plans are all going to be heavily involved in trekking toward better health and coming up with new ideas. Innovation may sound sleek and easy, but sometimes it’s just plain hard work. In this case, the results are worth the effort!!