MAXIMIZE YOUR FSA INVESTMENT
A flexible spending account (FSA) is a key ingredient to building an attractive employee benefit package, but you might be surprised to learn some employees are reluctant to take advantage of this cost-saving benefit. In fact, in a typical company, less than 20 percent of employees sign up. Let HealthPartners EmpowerSM FSA plan get your employees on the bandwagon.
Problem: Low participation – workers don’t understand the money-saving advantages of an FSA and don’t sign up
HealthPartners Solution: Personalized service
To help workers understand the advantages, our account reps will come to your work site to:
- Show employees how to reduce their taxable income and save on medical, dental and dependent care expenses – even over-the-counter drugs
- Offer one-on-one support to help them complete their FSA worksheet
Problem: Use it or lose it – employees are afraid they will lose money because they forget or find it difficult to file claims
HealthPartners Solution: Hassle-free reimbursement
- Forget the paperwork – HealthPartners medical, dental and pharmacy claims are automatically submitted to the employee’s FSA account for reimbursement
- Our debit card offers employees instant access, so it’s even easier to pay point-of-service transactions like pharmacy copays
- Employees submit just one claim for ongoing services, such as orthodontic treatment, and get ongoing monthly reimbursement
Our no-fear FSA helps you:
- Save money! No income or employment taxes mean you save $.0765 in FICA taxes for every dollar contributed by you or your employees. Unused FSA balances are yours at the end of the year – which helps offset administrative fees for the plan
- Build employee satisfaction
- Enhance your benefits package to attract and retain top-notch employees
There’s still time to implement a HealthPartners FSA before the new year. Call your broker, consultant or HealthPartners account representative today for a quote.
| St. Paul Public Schools Finds an A+ FSA
Unhappy with their current FSA vendor, St. Paul Public Schools were looking for a cost-competitive FSA that offered top-notch service and quality.
Terri Bopp, benefits administrator with St. Paul Public Schools, was pleased to learn HealthPartners was in the running. She has enjoyed a strong working relationship with HealthPartners and knew she could count on HealthPartners proven track record of service.
In the end, St. Paul Public Schools chose HealthPartners as their new FSA partner because our plan delivers both cost savings and reliable service. How do we do this? To deliver maximum convenience, efficiency and cost savings, HealthPartners uses the latest technology to implement electronic connectivity for:
- Enrollment
- Claims submission
- Claims processing
- Payroll deduction elections
- Reimbursement (direct deposit)
- Employee online account information
These days, nearly everyone offers an FSA plan. St. Paul Public Schools’ experience proves you don’t have to sacrifice great service to get a good price. |
PUTTING THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP TO WORK FOR YOU
HealthPartners doesn’t just contract with providers, we partner with them. One component of our collaborative approach is our outcomes recognition program.
“This program recognizes and rewards physicians for delivering the evidence-based care that we know improves health and saves lives,” said Gail Amundson, M.D. HealthPartners associate medical director for quality improvement.
- This year, HealthPartners will award physicians in 30 medical groups in the Twin Cities $1.4 million in bonuses for meeting goals to improve patient care and safety.
- The bonuses are awarded for providing all of the recommended care for diabetes and coronary artery disease, preventive services, tobacco cessation counseling and support, generic drug use and patient satisfaction.
- At an Outcomes Recognition Program awards dinner at the Nicollet Island Inn on Nov. 9, 2005, Northwest Family Physicians received the highest honor for meeting all six quality measures.
The evidence proves this approach works, noted Dr. Amundson: “Delivering optimal care for heart disease, for example, has helped reduce the number of deaths from heart disease in Minnesota by about 4,000 each year and delivering all of the recommended care for diabetes resulted in the prevention of 80 heart attacks, 120 amputations and 320 eye complications that can lead to blindness among HealthPartners members.”
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HOW WE ADD VALUE
DIABETES – YOUR RISKY BUSINESS
November is American Diabetes Month – a good time to think about how diabetes is affecting your company. Studies show that well-managed diabetes costs about $1,500 per employee per year versus $20,000 for employees with uncontrolled diabetes. That means increased utilization and higher premiums for you as an employer.
Early detection and proper care are critical to managing your employees’ health and your health care expenses. By raising awareness about diabetes, you can improve your employees’ quality of life and save money!
CareSpan® Diabetes Programs
HealthPartners has the right providers, programs and support resources to identify your employees who have, or who are at risk for, diabetes and help them manage their condition. That means your employees are getting the right care – and using health care resources effectively – resulting in better cost containment for you. Overall, our diabetes program provides an expected 1.1–1.5 : 1 return on an employer’s investment. Visit us online to learn more about HealthPartners Diabetes Programs.
Get Your Employees Involved
Nip risk in the bud and encourage your employees to take our quick online Diabetes Risk Quiz. You can also learn how we’re working to get your employees involved – see the story entitled A Jump Start for Better Health in 2006.
HEADLINES
Reminders for Better Prevention
A little prevention goes a long way toward better employee health and better cost savings for you.
Now HealthPartners is contacting members due for select preventive services – and reminding them to make an appointment with their personal care physician.
Members will get automated telephone-based reminders for these services: mammograms, pap smears, colorectal screenings, and immunization reminders for children based on their age. That means members will get the right preventive services at the right time for better health – and lower cost trends – in the long run.
We’re No. 15 in the U.S. for Medicare
When it comes to Medicare plans, you can rest assured that HealthPartners is delivering care that counts. In October, U.S. News & World Report ranked HealthPartners No. 15 in the U.S. for Medicare plans.
- Our members rate us tops in easy access to care, prevention, treatment for diabetes, heart disease, mental and behavioral health, and overall member satisfaction.
- The rankings were compiled from data collected and analyzed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a private, non-profit organization that accredits and certifies health care organizations.
- Learn more online at www.usnews.com.
- Learn more about HealthPartners Medicare plans.
Medicare Part D Update
On October 1, 2005, private organizations nationwide offering a Medicare Part D plan in 2006 began marketing their products and services to all Medicare-eligible beneficiaries. Open enrollment begins November 15, 2005, and ends May 15, 2006.
Your retirees will be receiving a lot of information over a short period of time regarding their options. This information will come in the form of direct mail, outbound calls, newspapers, television, etc. Here is what we are doing to help simplify this plan for retirees: Medicare Part D Brochure.
If you have questions, please contact your broker, consultant or HealthPartners Sales Executive.
Buying Smart – See What You Missed Our second annual purchaser symposium on October 13 gave our audience of about 500 employers, brokers, consultants, benefits administrators and community leaders a chance to put health care spending under the microscope.
- Dr. Elliott Fisher, a professor of medicine at Dartmouth Medical School, discussed his landmark research that shows higher spending on health care services does not result in improved health outcomes for patients. He calculates that if all U.S. regions adopted the practice patterns of the most effective regions, such as the Twin Cities, the nation could reduce health care spending by 30 percent. Dr. Fisher’s solution? Provide better information so patients can make informed choices, manage future growth rather than simply build more facilities, and foster provider accountability for quality and cost.
- Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners President and CEO, spoke about how we’re partnering with providers, members and purchasers in ways that address Dr. Fisher’s concerns. Mary highlighted how HealthPartners delivers more effective care and better cost containment by:
- Partnering with providers through programs such as Pay for Performance, preferred networks and how we measure and report quality results.
- Partnering with members by providing easy to use cost and quality information, decision support tools, benefit incentives and our AchieveSM health improvement programs.
- Partnering with employers through tiered plan designs, consumer-driven health plans, customized networks and administrative ease.
Check out Mary’s presentation at healthpartners.com.
A Jump Start for Better Health in 2006 Coming in February 2006! Our innovative new Jump Start program gives your employees a great perk that helps them get healthier – at no cost to you! Free to our members, the HealthPartners Jump Start Kit includes:
- The Jump Start online “diagnostic test,” our proven health assessment that identifies those at risk for disease.
- Free membership in our 10,000 Steps® exercise program, our award-winning way to help your employees feel great and lose weight. Includes a free 10,000 Steps pedometer.
- Free recharge. Members can always take the health assessment again later – a great way to map progress.
See it in action for yourself – visit our e-demo now. If you have questions, please contact your broker, consultant or HealthPartners Sales Executive.
LIBRARY: QUICK LINKS TO GREAT RESOURCES
Our Group Medical Plans
Our Group Dental Plans
Our AchieveSM Health Improvement Programs
Our CareSpanSM Disease Management Programs
Direct Connect to Employer Portal
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Our e-Newsletter for Your Employees: filled with health info and ready for you to send.