HOLDING HANDS HOLDS EMPLOYEES
As health care systems become increasingly complex and employers explore multiple options for containing costs, employees often find themselves caught like the proverbial "deer-in-the-headlights." Co-pays, deductibles, utilization decisions, referrals, out-of-network charges, and other esoteric terms seem to create an impassable swamp of complications and decisions. Add such processing issues as billing errors, inappropriate claims denials, or changing lists of "approved" medications, and you have near gridlock.
If you combine these internal issues with those in the exterior world -- media reports of chaotic employer health environments, skyrocketing costs, and letters from doctors and medical providers saying they're no longer taking payments from certain carriers or networks -- your employees might lose the security and peace of mind your benefit plans are designed to provide for them. Frightened employees soon lead to low productivity, declining workplace morale, and a rise in workplace conflict.
What can you do to deal with this situation? One solution involves better training for your HR service staff in dealing with such everyday employee concerns as billing, changing physicians, or how co-pays work. You might also use a "patient advocacy" firm to walk your employees through their concerns, as well as more complex scenarios such as helping put together a comprehensive care program for a seriously ill family member.
Whatever option you choose, it's no longer enough simply to provide a benefits program. Your employees are looking to you to guide them through the swamp and back to solid ground. We'd be happy to help -- just give us a call.