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SOTSQ Episode 22 10 18 2018

17 Oct 2018 · 1 min

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1:18

Andy Neary (SOTSQ Episode) uses an iPhone-purchase analogy to illustrate how open enrollment meetings often give employees only price, deductible/out-of-pocket info, and a short enrollment window, which leaves them unprepared to use their health plans. He advises employers to teach employees how to interact with the health care system: how to access high-quality, lower-cost care, how to shop for prescription prices at pharmacies, and how to use the plan effectively so employees leave enrollment confident rather than confused. The segment closes with a motivational tagline: "bear down, focus on the target and strike out the status quo."

Chapters

Imagine you walk into an Apple store with very little knowledge on how to use an iPhone effectively. But you want to buy one. And upon purchase you're only given three pieces of information. You're told the iPhone will cost $699. You're told about your data and your utilization limits. And you're also told that if you want the phone, you've got to buy it in the next 14 days. What are the odds you're going to walk out of the store with a very expensive phone you have no clue how to use? Now imagine being one of your employees at an open enrollment meeting learning about the new health plan and you're only given three pieces of information. You're told how much the plan will cost. You're told about your deductible and your out of pocket limits. And you're also told that if you want to be on the plan, you've got to sign up for it in the next 14 days. What are the odds you're going to walk out of that meeting having a clue as to how to use the health plan? So here's my tip for this open enrollment meeting. Focus on teaching your employees how to interact with the health care system effectively. Teach them how to access high quality care at low prices. Show them how to shop their drugs at pharmacies to get a better price. Teach them how to use the health plan. So instead of walking out of that open enrollment meeting with an expensive health plan they have no clue how to use, they'll be confidently marching out of that room knowing they can interact with the healthcare system and their health plan effectively and efficiently. Until next time, bear down, focus on the target and strike out the status quo.