Everyone likes an educated consumer especially brokers and employers.  Consumers who get involved in their healthcare purchases realize that with a better understanding of how to manage their own healthcare purchases, they will be able to decrease utilization costs, and slow the rate of premium increases. 

Educated consumers will find ways to get what they want and save money.

We will cover a bit of history and answer a couple of questions.  Who plays the most important role in designing and packaging the best benefits solution?  Who is in control of the cost of healthcare?   We are going to discuss these answers in detail throughout this article with the purpose of showing you why a CDHP Designer is the best way to develop a Consumer Driven Healthcare Plan that will save everyone money.

A Bit of History:
The Health Care Market has evolved since the late 1940’s when employer sponsored health care began expanding; in the 1960’s the employer fee for service plans were affected by the creation of Medicare for the over 65 crowd, and Medicaid for the low income crowd; in the 1970’s the ERISA program motivated large employers to establish self-insured arrangements; in the 1980’s the HMO and Managed Care entered the industry; and in the 1990’s the risk was shifted to the providers.   From the 1940’s to the 1990’s we have yet to see an option that shifts the ability to control costs to the consumers yet we have all of the risk and responsibility.  Even though we pay for health care we are not in control of our expenses because we don’t understand how they are created, it is difficult to take control of something you do not understand.

It is not until the consumer is in control of the cost of their own health care will the costs of healthcare decrease!

Consumerism – the process where a consumer takes ownership, through education, of where and how to spend their money.  Consumers will control and cut costs when they understand what their choices are.

The Most Important Role:
Who plays the most important role in health care or any industry? The Educated Consumer does, by far all across the country in every industry the consumer plays the most important role.

People buy Services not paper, not numbers, not confusion.  The majority of us policy holders consider the Health Care Industry as large volumes of paper with large volumes of numbers combined into an organized state of confusion.  Policy holders are looking for a person they can trust someone who knows what they are doing and has a track record of operational integrity.  They are also looking to be loyal to employers who do the leg work of hiring quality vendors.

Sometimes professionals; knowing the industry, the product offerings, and the benefits to the client might pause if they realize that an educated consumer increases the longevity of premiums.  The best Agents truly educate.  Why would that be?  The consumer controls the sale, and if the Agent brings an experienced knowledgeable CDHP Design Firm to the table to educate the employees they have set themselves apart from your competition.  That Agent will have earned trust.  Marketing is about trust. 

As an agent your knowledge and understanding will be tested and you must clearly explain “why” you are making the recommendations for the health care plan options you are proposing.  As a team member, we will be there with you revealing our extensive knowledge of the IRS regulations, and experience of CDHP implementation, and employee training.  There will be more pointed, in depth questions regarding Health Care Plans, more time giving clearly explained and supported answers regarding policies, premiums, claims and other details.  We will invest more time earning that new group with you and the return on your investment will be with loyalty and trust developed as a result of your efforts to educate not just sell.  One of my favorite teachers is my 5^th grade math teacher Mr. Salem. Mr. Salem taught me math tools in a way that I still remember and use today.  I say that education creates trust and loyalty that is why I still remember Mr. Salem after 36 years.  If we give the group something good to remember you by we will have earned their trust and loyalty.

A Solution Provider:
Benefits Matrix will design a Consumer Driven Healthcare Plan for your employers looking for a solution to their Healthcare challenges.  Benefits Matrix will also educate employees, assist in selecting a Third Party Administrator (TPA), and create an overall quality solution for your clients.

Health Reimbursement Arrangements are one of the best Consumer Driven Healthcare Plans (CDHP) that give financial control back to consumers.  Money set aside for their medical expenses allows for the Employee to choose the best way to spend their money and reduce costs.  An educated buyer spends wisely and more efficiently.

People buy Services not paper, not numbers, not confusion.  Educating Employees and building relations between brokers and companies.

Benefits Matrix: creating the best Consumer Driven Healthcare Plans.