Self Funding

Ep #38: What If Doctors Bid On Your Medical Care? – With Chris Hobbs

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   Add new comment

ShiftShapersCoverArt

In this episode we are speaking with Chris Hobbs, CFO at MediBid. As a Canadian who immigrated to the United States, Chris brings an interesting perspective on healthcare delivery – mainly the payment for healthcare. He believes that the Traditional PPO model is broken and that consumers need to know more than whether or not their provider is in-network before making provider and treatment choices. With that in mind, MediBid has shaped a new paradigm where physicians bid on non-emergent health care, often with dramatically lower costs and better outcomes.

We invited Chris to talk about why the post-ACA environment has exacerbated a long-standing problem that is ripe for non-traditional solutions. He believes that consumers should be able to make provider and procedure decisions using the same kind of tools available to them in nearly every other consumer arena. We discuss the types of quality metrics and tools the benefit advisors need to be aware of and what types of plan designs can benefit from such a service.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • Chris’s background.
  • Why the traditional PPO model is broken.
  • The effect of ACA on the healthcare payment models.
  • Why quality metrics are important decision tools.
  • The importance of transparency in healthcare pricing.
  • What types of plans are best for this type of service

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Subscribe-with-iTunes-small Subscribe-with-Stitcher-small

Ep #37: Don’t be Sony! Secure Your Communications – With Peter Schaub

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   Add new comment

ShiftShapersCoverArt

Today on ShiftShapers podcast, we welcome Peter Schaub, president and CEO of NeoCertified. Peter is our go-to subject matter expert for learning about email encryption and security solutions. With the news of last week’s hack attack on Sony it is a great time for your practice to take some simple steps that secure your email communications.

We discuss the tools and techniques used by all sizes of businesses. Surprisingly for such a complex problem, there are simple solutions that you can apply today! Peter delves into the intricacies of secure email, how it works and why benefit advisors should use it. He will also discuss the legal requirements for securing your client and prospect communications.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • How and why Peter got into secure email applications market.
  • What other industries require secure email.
  • Whether all communication need to be secure.
  • How vulnerable the information is that is sent electronically.
  • How to use secure email as a differentiator with clients.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Subscribe-with-iTunes-small Subscribe-with-Stitcher-small

Ep #36: Building A Successful Referral-Based LTC Practice – With Tobe Gerard

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   3 Comments

ShiftShapersCoverArt

On this episode of ShiftShapers podcast, we’re very excited to welcome Tobe Gerard, the owner of Tobe Gerard Insurance. After 20 years in the industry she started her own agency, deciding to specialize exclusively in long-term care insurance. For the past 15 years she has been doing just that, but with a few unique practice parameters that have made the agency highly efficient, effective and successful.

Rather than finding prospects directly – as is the case with most practices – Tobe took a different route; cultivating relationships with other professional (such as financial planners, life insurance brokers, accountants and others) who are happy to refer their clients to a subject matter expert. Once the prospects began flowing, she developed a multi-part strategy to avoid being a “quote machine” with a file cabinet full of china eggs.

Join us to find out how Tobe was able to shape her successful referral-based long term care specialty practice and how it is doing in today’s environment. Learn about what tools and techniques are most effective in working with long term care clients and prospects and why the current trend of using riders on life plans may not always be the best solution for your clients.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • Tobe’s background.
  • The reason she chose to specialize in long-term care.
  • Why her practice is referral-only.
  • How Tobe creates new sources of referrals for her agency.
  • Tools and techniques for working with long term clients.
  • What “Invisible Coverages” are.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Subscribe-with-iTunes-small Subscribe-with-Stitcher-small

Ep #35: Help Employers Turn ACA Changes Into A Competitive Advantage – With Craig Scurato

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   Add new comment

ShiftShapersCoverArt

On this episode of ShiftShapers podcast, we welcome Craig Scurato, founder and managing member at Simplifi Benefits. Post ACA, Craig has crafted some tools and techniques that make the process of writing group insurance a lot less painful for employers. Included in his strategy is a unique approach to crafting and deploying direct pay primary care networks by working with physicians eager to find new practice models themselves.

Coupled with educating employers and employees about the benefits of using a health care allowance (Section 213(d) of IRC) and providing a comfortable environment with decision support and other tools, Craig has crafted an interesting and scalable model. Listen to learn more about Craig’s unique perspective and initiatives for helping employers turn ACA changes into a competitive advantage.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • Craig’s background.
  • His interaction with Dr. Erika Bliss of Qliance (see Episode 26).
  • How and why physicians are adopting the DPPC model.
  • Why integrating DPPC with traditional offerings creates value for clients.
  • How other benefit advisors can use this approach.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Subscribe-with-iTunes-small Subscribe-with-Stitcher-small

Ep #34: Self Funding Tactics, Strategies and Opportunities – With Craig Lack

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   3 Comments

ShiftShapersCoverArt

Today, we’re talking to Craig Lack, CEO of Premium Reduction Strategies. He is a best-selling author and nationally-recognized health care expert and an expert on self-funding who has appeared on ABC, CBS and FOX as well as in a number of national publications.

Craig’s 25-year experience in the industry has given him a deep understanding of the challenges facing benefit advisors in a post-ACA world. We invited Craig to discuss strategies such as the “Spousal Incentive HRA” and other opportunities for self funding created by the Affordable Care Act. He will also share why premiums are just “CRAP”.

Seasoned self funders and advisors new to the world of self funding will learn how to engage employers in compelling conversations that create differentiation and value.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • The difference between fully-insured and self funded.
  • Why the premiums are just C.R.A.P.
  • Why this isn’t the typical renewal discussion.
  • How ACA has impacted the world of self funding.
  • What the Spousal Incentive HRA is.
  • Whether you should create a deductible rewards program.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Subscribe-with-iTunes-small Subscribe-with-Stitcher-small

Back to top