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PODCAST – The One Thing: Leslie Brown Albright & Lori Hubler, Nonstop Health

Friday, September 20, 2024
A screenshot taken of "The One Thing Podcast" Tfeaturing our hosts, Robin Bettenhausen and Tom Kallai and two guests from Nonstop Health: Leslie Brown Albright, Director of Business Development, and Lori Hubler, Benefits Consultant.
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This week on The One Thing podcast, our hosts, Robin Bettenhausen and Tom Kallai, spoke with two guests from Nonstop Health: Leslie Brown Albright, Director of Business Development, and Lori Hubler, Benefits Consultant. They dove deep into the topic of health equity and how Nonstop Health is driving positive change, particularly for lower-wage workers, through innovative solutions like first-dollar coverage.

Nonstop Health’s offers clients significantly reduced out-of-pocket costs to employees and big savings on insurance premiums, eliminating cost barriers to care. “Imagine knowing that your employer truly values your health – they’re removing the barrier that often keeps people from going to the doctor,” Lori said. “That changes everything.”

Throughout the conversation, Lori and Leslie shared insights from their experiences at various conferences and case studies that demonstrated the real-world impact of first-dollar coverage. One memorable example included an organization that saw significant savings in both premiums and out-of-pocket costs for employees.

They touched on how nonprofits, in particular, benefit from these programs, not only in reducing health care costs but in improving employee retention and morale. “We believe that everyone should have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare, whether you’re signing someone in the door or running the organization,” Leslie said.

The discussion also addressed skepticism around the program being “too good to be true,” with Lori reminding listeners that Nonstop Health’s approach is about empowering organizations: “Why pay the carrier for a richer plan design just in case your members use it, when you can internally pay yourself and turn it into a platinum plan?”

Leslie wrapped up by sharing the foundational values driving Nonstop Health: “We were born out of an agitation for the way lower-wage earning staff were able to access care… Our mission is to address health equity and humanity issues.”

Tune in to this episode to learn how Nonstop Health is disrupting the traditional health benefits system and advocating for equitable healthcare access, especially for nonprofits and underserved communities.


TRANSCRIPTION

00:00:07.965 –> 00:00:10.475
Hello and welcome back to The One Thing Podcast.

00:00:11.095 –> 00:00:12.275
I’m Robin Bettenhausen,

00:00:12.275 –> 00:00:15.115
and I’m here with my colleague Tom Kallai,

00:00:15.995 –> 00:00:18.735
and we are so excited to welcome to new guests.

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Today we have Lori Hubler

00:00:20.795 –> 00:00:23.375
and Leslie Brown Albright from Nonstop Health.

00:00:23.405 –> 00:00:25.575
Welcome ladies. Thank you so much for joining us.

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Thank you. Yeah, thanks for having us.

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I feel like every time I’ve spoken to you the last couple

00:00:31.855 –> 00:00:34.615
of months, you’ve been on a whirlwind sort of world tour,

00:00:34.875 –> 00:00:38.015
or at least US based tour at different conferences.

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So what was your favorite stop by far and why?

00:00:42.695 –> 00:00:44.715
Oh my gosh. Um, well, Lori

00:00:44.715 –> 00:00:47.835
and I recently went to, um, Sacramento

00:00:48.135 –> 00:00:51.155
and we were at, uh, one of the SHM conferences,

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and it was, it was great

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because we got to connect with employers, we got

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to see broker partners there.

00:00:56.935 –> 00:00:59.715
Um, just great engagement, uh, really good group.

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And um, you know, we just, we just like being

00:01:02.875 –> 00:01:04.715
around our people, so it was really lots of fun.

00:01:04.755 –> 00:01:06.435
I don’t know, Lori, I don’t wanna speak for you, but

00:01:06.815 –> 00:01:07.815
No, I agree. Um,

00:01:07.815 –> 00:01:09.635
and it was small, you know,

00:01:09.635 –> 00:01:11.955
sometimes we attend conferences that are just so huge

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and overbearing, and this one was a little bit small

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and I don’t know, just felt more homey. I guess

00:01:18.245 –> 00:01:19.955
California is not a bad place to be.

 

What is Health Equity?

00:01:20.335 –> 00:01:23.675
Well, I’m sure one of the things

00:01:23.675 –> 00:01:25.755
that you spoke about while at that conference

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and all of the others is a little bit about health equity.

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So I was hoping that we could start off by you telling us

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what is your definition of health equity

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and how does first dollar coverage from Nonstop Health

00:01:37.355 –> 00:01:38.875
really fit into that theme?

00:01:40.425 –> 00:01:42.395
Yeah, sure. I’ll go ahead and start us off.

00:01:42.415 –> 00:01:46.155
Um, so just kind of by definition, um, health equity is sort

00:01:46.155 –> 00:01:48.675
of the idea that everyone should have a fair

00:01:48.775 –> 00:01:52.555
and just chance to be as health as possible, regardless

00:01:52.615 –> 00:01:56.035
of factors like race, ethnicity, disability,

00:01:56.035 –> 00:01:59.915
sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, um,

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and first all coverage just means

00:02:02.075 –> 00:02:05.595
that a health insurance plan is gonna pay first, um,

00:02:05.695 –> 00:02:07.515
at nonstop health equity.

00:02:07.745 –> 00:02:09.035
It’s really built into our mission.

00:02:09.265 –> 00:02:12.275
It’s the core value of our company. I would say.

00:02:13.015 –> 00:02:16.835
Um, all of our programs are built with first dollar coverage

00:02:16.835 –> 00:02:19.435
because, um, you know, it’s been proven

00:02:19.905 –> 00:02:23.075
that cost is a barrier to care for lower wage earning staff.

00:02:23.695 –> 00:02:25.995
Um, Kaiser Family Foundation has a,

00:02:26.115 –> 00:02:27.235
a ton of research on this.

00:02:27.475 –> 00:02:30.275
I would really strongly encourage anyone, um, you know,

00:02:30.395 –> 00:02:31.395
that wants to dig into that,

00:02:31.395 –> 00:02:32.875
to check out some of their articles.

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Um, and you know,

00:02:35.285 –> 00:02:37.245
so we wanna eliminate that barrier to care.

00:02:37.245 –> 00:02:38.685
That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.

Nonprofit Benefits Program & Employee Experience

00:02:39.345 –> 00:02:42.325
Um, we’re talking about people here

00:02:42.545 –> 00:02:45.645
and, you know, we believe that everyone should have access

00:02:45.645 –> 00:02:48.685
to high quality, affordable healthcare,

00:02:49.035 –> 00:02:51.965
whether you’re signing someone in the door that day

00:02:52.385 –> 00:02:54.685
or you’re running the organization.

62
00:02:55.545 –> 00:02:58.605
Um, we found that our solution

00:02:59.065 –> 00:03:01.485
and first dollar coverage can provide a better way

00:03:01.705 –> 00:03:04.565
of serving the needs of healthcare consumers through their,

00:03:04.745 –> 00:03:05.845
you know, employers

00:03:06.545 –> 00:03:09.845
and that we could really make this a real right

00:03:10.385 –> 00:03:14.005
and we can move the needle economically for employees

00:03:14.005 –> 00:03:15.885
and employers in a positive way.

00:03:16.385 –> 00:03:19.245
Um, so I would say that first dollar coverage in

00:03:19.625 –> 00:03:21.405
and health equity are sort

00:03:21.405 –> 00:03:23.965
of unwavering foundational building blocks

00:03:24.065 –> 00:03:25.845
for here, us here at Nonstop.

00:03:26.685 –> 00:03:28.125
I know you just mentioned that, you know,

00:03:28.125 –> 00:03:29.205
we’re talking about people

00:03:30.025 –> 00:03:31.925
and a lot of the clients that, that Robin

00:03:31.925 –> 00:03:33.565
and I work with are non-for-profits,

00:03:33.565 –> 00:03:36.365
and one of the ways that they attract people to come work

00:03:36.365 –> 00:03:38.525
with them is their benefits program.

00:03:38.955 –> 00:03:41.765
Yeah. So what, what is that employee experience

00:03:42.035 –> 00:03:43.365
with your program like, and,

00:03:43.385 –> 00:03:45.085
and what benefits do you see

00:03:45.895 –> 00:03:48.165
nonprofits see when they implement the program?

00:03:49.615 –> 00:03:50.865
Yeah, I’ll take that one, Leslie.

00:03:51.085 –> 00:03:55.185
Um, so first of all, we see a lot of different things.

00:03:55.285 –> 00:03:57.025
So the first thing is morale, right?

00:03:57.325 –> 00:03:59.305
We see that, um, one

00:03:59.305 –> 00:04:00.505
of the things within the organization

00:04:00.505 –> 00:04:01.665
is the morale just changes.

00:04:02.045 –> 00:04:04.425
Um, you know, I always think, imagine knowing

00:04:04.495 –> 00:04:06.745
that your employer truly values your health.

00:04:07.485 –> 00:04:08.745
Um, they’re removing the barrier

00:04:08.745 –> 00:04:10.745
that often keeps people from going to the doctor, right?

00:04:11.715 –> 00:04:13.225
Costs, um, come down.

00:04:13.805 –> 00:04:14.985
Um, you know, we know

00:04:14.985 –> 00:04:16.785
that’s the second largest spend really

00:04:16.805 –> 00:04:17.985
in most organizations.

00:04:18.165 –> 00:04:21.265
And so when the cost is, is beneficial to an employer

00:04:21.405 –> 00:04:23.745
and an employee does a lot for that as well.

00:04:23.805 –> 00:04:25.625
And then retention and recruitment is

00:04:25.655 –> 00:04:26.945
huge within the organization.

00:04:27.175 –> 00:04:30.385
I’ll just go back to we have a, um, a group

00:04:31.205 –> 00:04:32.505
pretty close to you guys.

00:04:32.815 –> 00:04:34.465
Life Unlimited, they’re not too far away.

00:04:34.465 –> 00:04:36.785
They’re in Missouri. They have about 240 employees.

00:04:36.965 –> 00:04:39.025
The marketing team recently did a case study with them,

00:04:39.025 –> 00:04:40.545
and they shared that the success

00:04:41.405 –> 00:04:43.985
by improving benefits helped them increase their retention

00:04:43.985 –> 00:04:45.265
rate to over 60%.

00:04:45.485 –> 00:04:47.025
So huge, um,

00:04:47.165 –> 00:04:48.865
win there when it comes to retention and recruitment.

00:04:48.865 –> 00:04:49.985
So that is really what we see.

00:04:50.045 –> 00:04:53.305
And then education, that’s another thing that we hear a lot

00:04:53.305 –> 00:04:55.305
of within the organization is just, um,

00:04:55.485 –> 00:04:57.145
how strong our education team is.

00:04:57.765 –> 00:05:00.705
We are there to help ease that burden for them,

00:05:01.015 –> 00:05:02.185
educate them on the program.

00:05:02.445 –> 00:05:03.865
We want them to be able to know how

00:05:03.865 –> 00:05:05.025
to use the program really well.

00:05:05.535 –> 00:05:07.385
Yeah. And just a quick follow-up question on that.

00:05:07.655 –> 00:05:11.105
What was it about first dollar coverage that drove the,

00:05:11.165 –> 00:05:13.345
the increase of 60% in retention?

00:05:14.295 –> 00:05:17.505
Yeah, so I mean, what really drove that was the fact

00:05:17.505 –> 00:05:21.105
that they were trying to increase their total comp package.

00:05:21.925 –> 00:05:23.385
Um, so, you know, they’re competing

00:05:23.385 –> 00:05:24.905
with large systems in the area.

00:05:25.565 –> 00:05:29.505
Um, these are direct support providers, um, you know,

00:05:29.525 –> 00:05:31.705
really tough work, very good work.

00:05:32.245 –> 00:05:33.545
Um, and the employer

00:05:33.565 –> 00:05:36.345
and the CEO there is is just phenomenal.

00:05:36.625 –> 00:05:38.785
I mean, just phenomenal.

00:05:38.805 –> 00:05:43.545
She has a whole structure where even her, um, her, uh,

00:05:44.445 –> 00:05:46.305
org chart has her at the bottom

00:05:46.605 –> 00:05:48.865
and the direct support providers at the top.

00:05:49.125 –> 00:05:52.465
So she really looks at it as serving the employees.

00:05:53.205 –> 00:05:56.785
And I think that the value, what I heard from, uh,

00:05:56.815 –> 00:05:59.925
from the HR team as well is just that people started

00:05:59.945 –> 00:06:02.685
to understand that, wow, this employer really values me.

00:06:03.385 –> 00:06:06.245
And, you know, they had other people asking them like, Hey,

00:06:06.545 –> 00:06:07.805
can I come work for you guys?

00:06:08.265 –> 00:06:10.285
You know, so they were actually getting in inquiries

00:06:10.345 –> 00:06:12.125
to come work for them because the,

00:06:12.145 –> 00:06:13.445
the benefits were so rich.

00:06:14.225 –> 00:06:17.605
Um, so it was a, it was a good, uh, point for us

00:06:18.105 –> 00:06:20.845
and a very proud moment for them when they sort of realized

00:06:21.275 –> 00:06:23.565
that they were really changing lives

00:06:23.665 –> 00:06:25.645
and the lives of people that were, you know,

00:06:25.645 –> 00:06:27.005
taking care of our loved ones.

00:06:28.445 –> 00:06:31.415
There’s something so powerful in that story, right?

00:06:31.415 –> 00:06:35.655
And in the message of, you pay for this benefit, we want you

00:06:35.655 –> 00:06:39.095
to use it, and therefore when you go, you’re not going

00:06:39.095 –> 00:06:42.215
to have to make decisions about do I fill this medication

00:06:42.835 –> 00:06:44.015
or do I pay rent?

00:06:44.115 –> 00:06:46.655
Or do I buy groceries that are giving,

00:06:46.655 –> 00:06:47.975
getting even more expensive?

00:06:48.035 –> 00:06:49.935
And I just love that that’s the message

00:06:49.935 –> 00:06:51.015
that we can bring to people.

00:06:51.015 –> 00:06:53.455
Mm-Hmm. And so, you know, I’ve worked

00:06:53.455 –> 00:06:55.975
with you on several different clients, um,

00:06:56.235 –> 00:06:57.735
and they seem to really love it.

00:06:58.375 –> 00:07:00.655
I think one of the interesting things is when we do open

00:07:00.655 –> 00:07:03.455
enrollment meetings, sometimes we’ll hear people say,

00:07:04.115 –> 00:07:05.815
you know, this seems too good to be true.

00:07:06.515 –> 00:07:08.255
Or an employer might say, well,

00:07:08.255 –> 00:07:10.095
why isn’t everyone doing this?

00:07:10.635 –> 00:07:12.815
So I’m sure you’ve heard those before as well.

00:07:12.995 –> 00:07:14.175
So how do you respond?

00:07:14.545 –> 00:07:17.055
Who’s a good fit, who might not be a good fit

00:07:17.115 –> 00:07:18.215
for a program like this?

00:07:19.285 –> 00:07:21.655
Yeah. Yeah. That’s a start. It’s such a good thing.

00:07:21.975 –> 00:07:23.855
I know, Lori, we, we just hear this so much.

00:07:24.115 –> 00:07:25.975
Um, I’ll, I’ll take the first part then, you know,

00:07:25.975 –> 00:07:28.295
of course I’m gonna pass it over to Lori to speak

00:07:28.295 –> 00:07:29.375
to who’s a good fit.

00:07:29.715 –> 00:07:31.375
Um, ’cause she’s truly our expert.

00:07:32.555 –> 00:07:36.425
Um, it’s too good to be true is, is one

00:07:36.425 –> 00:07:38.785
of our largest barriers that we actually face.

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Um, you know, people think we’re selling them a, a unicorn

00:07:42.365 –> 00:07:45.065
to fix a really serious solution.

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It’s the rising cost of health insurance premiums.

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I mean, everyone is,

00:07:49.205 –> 00:07:50.905
if you’re an employer, you’re talking about it.

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You’re looking at this every year.

00:07:52.465 –> 00:07:54.905
You’re faced with this in some regard.

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Um, and I think it could be really scary to trust something,

00:07:58.605 –> 00:08:01.545
you know, new and maybe new to the market.

00:08:01.805 –> 00:08:04.945
Um, you know, we, we’ve been working well for a long time,

00:08:04.945 –> 00:08:06.145
but we are new to some markets.

00:08:06.925 –> 00:08:09.105
Um, and, you know, they’re gonna try to trust something

00:08:09.125 –> 00:08:11.425
that’s gonna work within a damaged system.

00:08:12.125 –> 00:08:15.245
And, um, I think the other thing is that change is hard.

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You know? Um, it is a different way of looking at things,

00:08:19.465 –> 00:08:21.765
but I think that’s why, you know, we, we look

00:08:21.765 –> 00:08:24.125
to you guys like, you know, our broker partners

00:08:24.585 –> 00:08:27.765
to really vet us, um, alongside the client

00:08:28.465 –> 00:08:30.805
and really discuss with us openly whether

00:08:30.825 –> 00:08:32.805
or not this is going to be a good fit for them.

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Um, we, at nonstop, we’re really looking

00:08:35.825 –> 00:08:38.445
for true partnership from broker to employer

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to employee all the way through.

00:08:41.745 –> 00:08:45.445
Um, so that’s kind of my job really is

00:08:45.445 –> 00:08:47.125
to build trust across the country.

00:08:47.745 –> 00:08:49.685
Um, and lawyer and I are out there having

00:08:49.685 –> 00:08:51.165
conversations all the time.

00:08:51.745 –> 00:08:53.525
Um, but, you know, we respect

00:08:53.525 –> 00:08:56.125
that adapt adaptation can be slow.

00:08:56.665 –> 00:08:58.485
Um, but, you know, we aren’t going anywhere

00:08:58.505 –> 00:09:00.325
and we’re just gonna keep sharing our story.

00:09:01.025 –> 00:09:03.485
And, you know, having our clients,

00:09:03.665 –> 00:09:05.245
our happy clients share stories

00:09:05.245 –> 00:09:06.725
because truly, you know,

00:09:06.835 –> 00:09:08.525
they don’t wanna hear from us how great we are.

00:09:08.715 –> 00:09:11.005
They wanna hear from our clients how great we are.

00:09:11.585 –> 00:09:15.045
Um, so, you know, it’s, it’s a good thing.

00:09:15.065 –> 00:09:16.925
But, uh, Lori, do you wanna talk a little bit about fit?

00:09:17.695 –> 00:09:20.145
Yeah, of course. So you know it, you’re right Robin,

00:09:20.175 –> 00:09:21.505
it’s not a great fit for everybody.

00:09:21.805 –> 00:09:24.265
Um, the first thing with nonstop to be able

00:09:24.265 –> 00:09:25.465
to offer a program, we have

00:09:25.465 –> 00:09:27.465
to have at least 50 employees enrolled on benefits.

00:09:27.885 –> 00:09:29.265
So that’s the first place we start.

00:09:30.045 –> 00:09:32.865
Um, but we want employers who value good benefits, right?

00:09:33.125 –> 00:09:34.545
Um, not everybody does.

00:09:34.885 –> 00:09:36.625
And so those kind of clients

00:09:36.655 –> 00:09:38.905
that really value offering good benefits with

00:09:38.905 –> 00:09:41.745
that first dollar coverage, um, those are a great fit.

00:09:42.605 –> 00:09:45.585
Any groups that are on high level plans that re that need

00:09:45.585 –> 00:09:47.985
to reduce costs without lowering a benefit, right?

00:09:47.985 –> 00:09:51.265
Because we’re, we’re giving ’em that first dollar coverage,

00:09:51.265 –> 00:09:52.625
turning them into platinum plans.

00:09:53.285 –> 00:09:55.985
And then any groups out there that are really good fit

00:09:55.985 –> 00:09:58.545
for any kind of alternative funding, but are concerned

00:09:58.545 –> 00:10:01.185
or unable to take on, like the burden or the potential risk

00:10:01.185 –> 00:10:02.625
because we eliminate that risk

00:10:02.625 –> 00:10:03.825
for them to take on our model.

00:10:04.075 –> 00:10:06.745
Those are the real good fits for our, for our product.

00:10:07.265 –> 00:10:09.465
I know that there is a, a component to the program

00:10:09.735 –> 00:10:11.305
that has a Visa card.

00:10:11.485 –> 00:10:13.505
So could you explain kind of how

00:10:13.505 –> 00:10:14.785
that interacts with the program?

00:10:15.005 –> 00:10:18.705
And then also how do you prevent someone from using it in

00:10:18.705 –> 00:10:21.945
the wrong place or maybe using it on

00:10:21.945 –> 00:10:23.025
something that’s not approved?

00:10:23.695 –> 00:10:26.265
Good question. Um, so first of all,

00:10:26.445 –> 00:10:30.385
the co the cards come medically coded to only work for RX

00:10:30.385 –> 00:10:32.585
and Medical, and we completely align it

00:10:32.585 –> 00:10:34.505
with the underlining carrier plan that we’re wrapping.

00:10:34.765 –> 00:10:36.825
So very, very difficult for them to go

00:10:36.825 –> 00:10:38.905
and use it anywhere that’s not supposed to be used.

00:10:38.965 –> 00:10:40.905
It just won’t work. Um,

00:10:41.965 –> 00:10:45.305
we also manage all swipes on that card in-house.

00:10:45.405 –> 00:10:47.625
We have a whole member services team, so we kind

00:10:47.625 –> 00:10:49.545
of pride ourselves on our member experience.

00:10:50.245 –> 00:10:52.585
Um, we have a white glove substantiation process.

00:10:53.245 –> 00:10:56.025
We do not substantiate every single claim that is swiped on

00:10:56.025 –> 00:10:57.225
that card, but,

00:10:57.485 –> 00:11:00.665
but we can easily, um, red flag things

00:11:00.735 –> 00:11:03.345
that may look a little suspicious or off.

00:11:04.125 –> 00:11:07.145
Um, because really we are the fiduciaries on

00:11:07.145 –> 00:11:08.505
that employer’s money,

00:11:08.565 –> 00:11:10.785
and we really just wanna, we take that seriously

00:11:10.785 –> 00:11:13.225
and we wanna be, be the best fiduciaries of that money

00:11:13.725 –> 00:11:17.415
and have a member experience that, um, kind

00:11:17.415 –> 00:11:18.495
of mirrors that, right?

00:11:19.115 –> 00:11:20.855
So we can’t use it anywhere unfortunately,

00:11:21.475 –> 00:11:22.615
is what you’re saying, right?

00:11:22.635 –> 00:11:24.255
That’s by design, that’s

00:11:24.255 –> 00:11:25.335
Go out by airline tickets

00:11:25.475 –> 00:11:26.695
or anything like that with it now,

00:11:26.695 –> 00:11:27.695
Right?

Stabilizing Employer Health Insurance: A Case Study


00:11:27.795 –> 00:11:30.175
So we’ve talked over the last few minutes about

00:11:30.235 –> 00:11:32.055
how great this is for the member, right?

00:11:32.415 –> 00:11:34.135
Reducing their out of pocket first dollar

00:11:34.535 –> 00:11:35.735
coverage, love all of that.

00:11:36.195 –> 00:11:38.455
But I think employers are also gonna be wondering,

00:11:38.915 –> 00:11:42.215
is there a way that this hopefully reduces the long-term

00:11:42.385 –> 00:11:43.975
costs or our renewals,

00:11:43.975 –> 00:11:46.415
or what does it do for us in addition to

00:11:46.415 –> 00:11:47.815
how great it is for employees?

00:11:49.145 –> 00:11:50.715
Yeah. I’m gonna kick us off here.

00:11:50.715 –> 00:11:52.275
And, um, I love this question

00:11:52.275 –> 00:11:54.285
because sometimes we do get that, like,

00:11:54.385 –> 00:11:56.125
is this just a one year solution?

00:11:56.865 –> 00:11:58.765
And the answer is absolutely not.

00:11:58.975 –> 00:12:03.725
We’re looking to stabilize the employer’s,

00:12:03.865 –> 00:12:06.325
um, employee health insurance premiums.

00:12:06.325 –> 00:12:07.165
That’s what we’re trying to do.

00:12:07.165 –> 00:12:08.285
We’re trying to stabilize things.

00:12:09.105 –> 00:12:11.925
Um, and you know, I kind of said earlier that

00:12:12.585 –> 00:12:14.045
our clients tell our best story.

00:12:14.385 –> 00:12:16.365
And so I’m going to share just a,

00:12:16.525 –> 00:12:18.405
a small snippet of a case study.

00:12:18.905 –> 00:12:22.245
Um, you know, we have a large nonprofit,

00:12:22.645 –> 00:12:24.925
a community health center, in fact with, um, three,

00:12:24.925 –> 00:12:26.325
over 350 employees.

00:12:26.675 –> 00:12:28.805
They’re longstanding, client of ours been

00:12:28.805 –> 00:12:29.965
with us for about nine years.

00:12:30.115 –> 00:12:31.565
That came on in 2015.

00:12:32.385 –> 00:12:34.685
Um, and as of last year,

00:12:34.825 –> 00:12:36.805
we have saved the organization seven

00:12:36.865 –> 00:12:40.405
and a half million dollars in health insurance premiums.

00:12:41.105 –> 00:12:43.085
And this is the key component,

00:12:43.265 –> 00:12:46.965
nearly $935,000 in out-of-pocket costs

00:12:47.105 –> 00:12:48.605
for their employees.

00:12:49.185 –> 00:12:52.205
Wow. Um, those are impactful numbers, you know,

00:12:52.305 –> 00:12:54.725
and, uh, we are proud of those numbers

00:12:54.825 –> 00:12:56.765
and we’re excited that they’ve stayed with us as long

00:12:56.765 –> 00:13:00.525
as they have and we plan on continuing that relationship.

00:13:00.785 –> 00:13:02.925
And, um, you know, it’s, it’s, uh,

00:13:03.155 –> 00:13:04.805
it’s why we do what we do really.

00:13:05.625 –> 00:13:07.485
Um, but Lori, do you wanna kind

00:13:07.485 –> 00:13:10.045
of expand a little more on like the intricacies of,

00:13:10.145 –> 00:13:11.405
of how that kind of works?

00:13:11.715 –> 00:13:15.765
Yeah. So the whole idea, what behind our program is

00:13:15.765 –> 00:13:17.845
to be able to stabilize the increase

00:13:17.985 –> 00:13:19.925
to lower the percentage of renewals, right?

00:13:20.545 –> 00:13:23.365
Um, and kind of how this happens is, is

00:13:23.365 –> 00:13:25.205
with the way we build out our program,

00:13:25.915 –> 00:13:28.645
most folks aren’t even hitting the carrier plan.

00:13:29.105 –> 00:13:31.125
And so over time, less

00:13:31.125 –> 00:13:33.485
and less folks are actually even hitting the carrier plan,

00:13:33.485 –> 00:13:37.885
which in turn stabilizes that overall

00:13:38.885 –> 00:13:39.885
increase over time, right?

00:13:40.505 –> 00:13:42.645
Um, I always use the funny looking mole as an example.

00:13:42.785 –> 00:13:46.725
You know, if our whole goal, again is to allow folks

00:13:46.745 –> 00:13:47.845
to be able to seek services

00:13:47.865 –> 00:13:48.925
and get things taken care of,

00:13:49.445 –> 00:13:52.685
a $60 copay might not be a burden for you and I to go in

00:13:52.685 –> 00:13:54.285
and get something looked at or taken care of,

00:13:54.285 –> 00:13:57.045
but it could be for a frontline staff member working

00:13:57.065 –> 00:13:58.085
at a nonprofit, right?

00:13:58.545 –> 00:14:01.765
If we can just eliminate that one, she goes in, she’s able

00:14:01.765 –> 00:14:04.045
to get that taken care of, then maybe six months down the

00:14:04.045 –> 00:14:05.925
road, that person is not being treated for cancer.

00:14:06.145 –> 00:14:08.805
Mm-Hmm. Those large claims, those cancer things,

00:14:08.805 –> 00:14:10.085
those catastrophic things,

00:14:10.375 –> 00:14:12.005
those are gonna happen no matter what.

00:14:12.105 –> 00:14:14.285
And those are the things that affect the carrier plan,

00:14:14.665 –> 00:14:16.685
not the opting in to go get things taken care of.

00:14:16.685 –> 00:14:19.605
Mm-Hmm. So with our mission, if we can just eliminate one

00:14:19.605 –> 00:14:23.205
of those, what we see over time is we see that, um,

00:14:23.265 –> 00:14:26.405
really making an effect on that those carrier increases,

00:14:28.785 –> 00:14:30.455
Which everyone likes to see, right?

00:14:30.695 –> 00:14:33.335
I mean, we hate delivering bad news about increases

00:14:33.435 –> 00:14:35.655
and we want employees to use the benefit plan.

00:14:35.655 –> 00:14:37.535
That’s why it’s there, and that’s what they’re paying for.

Achieving Health Equity

00:14:37.675 –> 00:14:40.055
So, love all these examples that you shared.

00:14:40.295 –> 00:14:43.295
I think my last question for today is just

00:14:43.675 –> 00:14:45.455
how do you see nonstop health

00:14:45.975 –> 00:14:47.455
changing the healthcare landscape?

00:14:47.515 –> 00:14:49.055
And you’ve shared some really good examples.

00:14:49.115 –> 00:14:51.285
Is there anything else that you wanna leave our listeners

00:14:51.285 –> 00:14:54.445
with to understand why this program really matters,

00:14:54.815 –> 00:14:56.525
especially in the nonprofit space?

00:14:58.665 –> 00:15:03.275
Yeah. Um, you know, nonstop was created in 2012,

00:15:03.655 –> 00:15:04.875
um, with one mission,

00:15:05.375 –> 00:15:08.635
and that was to drive down the cost of health insurance

00:15:08.775 –> 00:15:10.555
for both employers and employees.

00:15:11.135 –> 00:15:13.155
And, you know, we know this is a really big statement,

00:15:13.295 –> 00:15:14.595
but, but we own it.

00:15:15.215 –> 00:15:18.755
Um, we were born out of an agitation

00:15:19.255 –> 00:15:21.635
for the way lower wage earning staff were able

00:15:21.655 –> 00:15:22.915
to access care.

00:15:23.535 –> 00:15:26.235
Um, our CEO was quite frankly, appalled.

00:15:26.815 –> 00:15:29.755
Um, and in his eyes, you know, he built this company

00:15:29.935 –> 00:15:32.875
to address health equity and humanity issues.

00:15:33.655 –> 00:15:36.755
And, uh, trust me, if you ever get the chance to meet David,

00:15:36.895 –> 00:15:38.915
um, there is no greater champion

00:15:39.015 –> 00:15:41.355
for people than David Slaves.

00:15:41.695 –> 00:15:43.675
Uh, it it’s pretty inspiring actually.

00:15:44.735 –> 00:15:47.555
Um, but you know, so basically he

00:15:47.655 –> 00:15:50.435
and our chief growth officer, Kristen Donahue, set out

00:15:50.435 –> 00:15:52.555
to build a workforce, um,

00:15:52.665 –> 00:15:55.555
that is absolutely comfortable disrupting the

00:15:55.555 –> 00:15:56.835
health benefits status quo.

00:15:57.415 –> 00:15:59.035
Um, we are proud of what we do,

00:15:59.615 –> 00:16:01.755
and I would say how it relates to nonprofits.

00:16:01.815 –> 00:16:06.595
You know, when we’re looking at the demo demographics of

00:16:06.615 –> 00:16:10.275
who makes up a typical nonprofit workforce, you know,

00:16:10.275 –> 00:16:13.115
we’re often talking about women and people of color.

00:16:13.735 –> 00:16:16.195
And you know, let alone when you combine the two of those,

00:16:16.215 –> 00:16:19.315
and you’re, you’re talking about black women in particular,

00:16:19.455 –> 00:16:23.035
the health disparity numbers are just absolutely staggering.

00:16:23.815 –> 00:16:26.715
And I would say for us as an organization, you know,

00:16:26.975 –> 00:16:30.955
we feel like it’s our mission to address these inequities.

00:16:31.935 –> 00:16:35.745
Um, and the last thing we want is

00:16:35.845 –> 00:16:39.265
for someone who’s working tirelessly, um,

00:16:39.405 –> 00:16:41.185
to make this world a better place

00:16:41.185 –> 00:16:44.585
through a nonprofit organization to have to decide,

00:16:44.645 –> 00:16:47.585
and Robin, you already said it, you know, to choose like,

00:16:47.585 –> 00:16:49.985
am I, am I going to put gas in my gas tank?

00:16:50.005 –> 00:16:51.425
Am I gonna put food on the table?

00:16:52.125 –> 00:16:53.505
Um, you know, or,

00:16:53.565 –> 00:16:55.505
or am I gonna go to the doctor to get

00:16:55.505 –> 00:16:57.145
that mold checked out that Lori talked about?

00:16:57.725 –> 00:17:00.745
Um, that choice is fundamentally wrong

00:17:00.805 –> 00:17:02.345
for people to have to make.

00:17:02.845 –> 00:17:06.225
Um, so we’re helping nonprofits with our solution

00:17:06.725 –> 00:17:09.985
by showing them the equitable benefits are possible, um,

00:17:10.015 –> 00:17:12.665
without damaging the nonprofit, um,

00:17:12.845 –> 00:17:14.305
or the employees financially.

00:17:14.885 –> 00:17:19.065
And we’re helping them uphold their missions of community

00:17:19.065 –> 00:17:20.385
and caring for people.

00:17:21.125 –> 00:17:23.625
Um, we just happen to be doing it

00:17:23.625 –> 00:17:25.025
through employee health benefits.

00:17:26.075 –> 00:17:28.485
Lori, how do you wanna expand on that a little bit?

00:17:29.285 –> 00:17:30.605
I, I think you nailed it, Leslie.

00:17:30.805 –> 00:17:32.285
I think you pretty much said everything,

00:17:32.305 –> 00:17:35.085
but kind of one thing that I’ll leave, it’s more

00:17:35.085 –> 00:17:37.765
of a thought and it came to mind when you were speaking,

00:17:37.865 –> 00:17:42.205
is I always just say that, that to nonprofits they just,

00:17:42.205 –> 00:17:43.725
just to be open-minded, right?

00:17:43.725 –> 00:17:45.645
Because sometimes again we go back to

00:17:45.645 –> 00:17:46.805
that this sounds too good to be true.

00:17:47.005 –> 00:17:48.245
I don’t understand it. What is this?

00:17:48.745 –> 00:17:50.325
And just to be really open-minded

00:17:50.715 –> 00:17:53.725
that it’s just a different way of purchasing healthcare

00:17:54.545 –> 00:17:57.205
to be able to give that health equity to your folks, right?

00:17:57.785 –> 00:17:59.805
Um, I always say, why pay the carrier

00:18:00.545 –> 00:18:02.125
for a richer plan design for the,

00:18:02.125 –> 00:18:05.605
just in case your members use it when you can internally

00:18:05.745 –> 00:18:06.925
pay yourself, right?

00:18:07.715 –> 00:18:10.325
Just because it’s a a less expensive healthcare plan,

00:18:10.575 –> 00:18:12.605
we’re turning it around into a platinum plan.

00:18:12.605 –> 00:18:14.685
Yeah. So that would be my final thought on that.

00:18:15.645 –> 00:18:17.565
I can’t think of two better guests for this year.

00:18:17.785 –> 00:18:20.325
Tom and I have really focused all of our communications

00:18:20.325 –> 00:18:23.045
that go out on a quarterly basis to be around health equity.

00:18:23.345 –> 00:18:25.605
So I was really looking forward to this conversation.

00:18:26.005 –> 00:18:28.005
I think there’s no better time to chat about it.

00:18:28.505 –> 00:18:31.205
And I wanna thank you for joining us on the One Thing

00:18:31.205 –> 00:18:33.085
podcast and we’ll talk again soon.

00:18:33.845 –> 00:18:34.945
Thanks so much. Thank you.

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