4th Quarter 2009
Lighten the Load
Relief for our clients' health-care headaches
Uncertainties about our health-care system don't appear to be going away anytime soon. Employees still struggle to understand their health plan or make sense of their hospital bill. Employers share the burden when frustrated employees lose work hours managing their health-care issues or turn to their HR departments for help.
The Health Advocacy Solution from The Standard can help lighten the administrative workload for your clients, their employees — and you. Offered in partnership with Health AdvocateTM, a leading health assistance and support company,1 the Health Advocacy Solution helps employees and their family members navigate the health-care system thanks to a team of Personal Health Advocates (PHAs).
Advocates to the rescue
PHAs are usually registered nurses, supported by medical directors and administrative experts, who help resolve employees' clinical, insurance and administrative issues. They serve as liaisons with health-care providers, insurance plans and health-related community services.
Here's how the Health Advocacy Solution helps:
- An inexpensive outsourcing option for understaffed benefits departments
- Complies with applicable state and federal privacy standards, including HIPAA
- Employers can look to Health Advocate for health-care related assistance, rather than their broker
- You now have good news to share when delivering the often difficult message that a plan has changed: Employees can call on their PHAs to explain cost implications before seeking treatment
- Easy to use, offers peace of mind and is a confidential source for health-care help.
- The PHA can help employees identify the most appropriate health-care treatments and best utilize their health-plan benefits
- Connecting with a PHA frees employees to focus on their work
- Services are available for employees, dependents, spouses, parents and parents-in-law — even if they are not covered by the employer's benefits plan
Examples of Health Advocate Services
- Find doctors, obtain second opinions, research treatments, schedule appointments
- Locate and arrange special-need services
- Resolve insurance claims, assist with billing issues
- Prepare members for doctor visits, inform them about medical tests and treatment
- Provide information and resource support for eldercare, Medicare issues and wellness services
- Identify alternative resources that might not be covered by the employer's benefit program
The Health Advocacy Solution is available with our group Life and Disability products. It is also included with Absence Management Services (see article this issue) for the first two years. Get more information by calling the Employee Benefits Sales and Service Office for your area at 800.633.8575 or visit www.standard.com.
1. Health Advocate, Inc. is an independent company not affiliated with any insurance or third-party provider. Health Advocate does not replace health-insurance coverage, provide medical care or recommend treatment.