DAVID ZANZE | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, WESTERN GROWERS ASSURANCE TRUST WESTERN GROWERS ASSURANCE TRUST
A Little Knowledge Can Prove Big Savings
Employers and employees have a common goal when it comes to health care, and that’s to save money. Most employers are seeing a rising cost of health care, which ultimately and unfortunately gets passed on to their employees. Many employers implement programs to reduce costs for all parties, which can include health and wellness and care management programs. However, employers tend to overlook something as simple as education when it comes to lowering costs of health care.
• Make a list of in-network providers. Additionally, you should make sure you keep a list readily available upon request. Educate employees on how to find and use providers who are in-network, and how they can find a provider in instances when they’re out of town. WGAT partners with Anthem, which offers some of the best negotiated rates. This means employees pay less for claims. If clients have employees or dependents outside of California or Arizona or are traveling outside of these states, they are still covered. They will have health care coverage through the First Health Network for non- emergency care. This will help mitigate out-of-network claims and higher out-of-pocket costs. • Remind employees that in non-life threatening situations, they can use Urgent Care or telehealth services instead of going to the emergency room. Emergency room visits can become extremely costly and, in many instances, can be avoided completely. If an employee can’t get to a doctor or aren’t sure if they need to go—and if it’s not an emergency—they should make an appointment with their physician. Plus, it’s important for them to build a relationship with their family doctor or specialist so they’ll have someone they know and trust. For members of WGAT, telemedicine program Doctor on Demand is available for all plan participants. This program is an added benefit to their health plan and is less expensive than a normal doctor’s visit. WGAT also operates Cedar Health and Wellness Centers for the communities in Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Maria and Oxnard. These centers provide general and family practice services (primary care and preventive services) in rural areas at a low cost. The clinics offer deep discounts for regular office visits and convenient access to prescription medications. Bilingual providers and extended hours are available to
It may not come as a surprise to learn than an estimated 33 percent of employees don’t understand or know how to utilize their health care coverage, according to Maestro Health, an employee health and benefits company. Going even further, the research found that employers aren’t doing enough to educate their employees about their benefits. A 2018 Policygenius poll showed that the majority of Americans’ inability to understand basic health insurance terms is the major cause for not fully understanding their benefits package. For example, only 50 percent of Americans can correctly identify what a deductible is; 22 percent understand how coinsurance works; 52 percent understand what a co-pay is; and 42 percent have an understanding of what an out-of- pocket maximum is. There’s no denying that there’s a connection between employee health care literacy and increasing costs to employers. Employees feel better about their benefit plans and use them correctly when they fully understand the details of their coverage. They are also able to stay healthier, avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room, and better manage their chronic conditions. At WGAT, we build relationships and establish trust with our plan participants, providing on-site support and health benefits education. All WGAT plan participants have access to our bilingual team of field service representatives. The role of our on-site representatives is to elevate and empower plan participants and assist them with any questions they may have regarding open enrollment, explanation of benefits, claims, and more. We also make onsite educational visits to promote healthy behaviors and help lower the risk of chronic diseases and other health conditions. What are other ways employers can fix the problem and help their employees understand and make the most of their health plans? Let’s name a few.
28 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com MARCH | APRIL 2020
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