J.D. Power and Associates Reports: HealthPartners has highest member satisfaction in Minnesota-Wisconsin
HealthPartners ranks “Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Minnesota-Wisconsin Region” according to J.D. Power and Associates 2008 National Health Insurance Plan StudySM. The study measures member satisfaction with 107 large commercial health plans in 17 regions throughout the United States. It examines the following areas:
- Coverage and benefits
- Choice of doctors
- Hospitals and pharmacies
- Information and communication
- Approval processes
- Claims processing
- Insurance statements
- Customer service
The 2008 National Health Insurance Plan Study includes responses from 37,060 total members of large commercial health plans. In all factors, HealthPartners scored higher than the national average. HealthPartners received 768 points out of a possible 1,000 compared to an average of 729 for the Minnesota-Wisconsin region. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of members surveyed November-December 2007.
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction.
For more information, please visit jdpower.com.
Introducing new dental benefits for diabetes and maternity care
We’re making it easy for you to deliver better dental benefits and better value to your employees. Introducing two new dental benefits that provide enhanced coverage for pregnant women and people with diabetes. The new benefits provide 100 percent coverage for extra dental exams, extra cleanings and preventive periodontal services with no deductibles, coinsurance or annual maximums.
“There is growing evidence that poor oral health has an impact on overall health,” said David Gesko, DDS, dental director of HealthPartners Dental Group. Gesko said recent studies suggest that preventive dental care for pregnant women who suffer from serious periodontal disease can reduce preterm births and that expectant mothers who increase the frequency of teeth cleanings to prevent or minimize gum disease are more likely to give birth to healthy full-term babies.
Likewise, Gesko notes that patients with diabetes who have their teeth professionally cleaned are better able to control blood glucose levels, which helps prevent complications from the disease, including blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, nervous system disorders and amputations.
“Our goal is to make high quality dental and medical care affordable for members,” said Forrest Flint, vice president of HealthPartners Dental. "These benefits are part of a series of enhancements HealthPartners introduced this year aimed at patients with specific oral health needs." HealthPartners has also enhanced coverage for dental implants to include both the surgical portion of the treatment, along with the prosthetics.
For more information about the enhanced periodontal or implant benefits, please contact your HealthPartners sales executive or your broker.
HealthPartners medical director awarded Bush Fellowship
Marcus Thygeson, M.D., vice president and associate medical director of consumer health solutions, is one of nine Minnesota physicians to be selected for the prestigious 2008 Bush Medical Fellows Program.
Only 13 fellowships are awarded annually for physicians to pursue work, which addresses the healthcare needs of their communities. Dr. Thygeson will be focusing on the issue of affordability in healthcare management and policy and will work with leaders throughout the industry.
“This is important recognition of Dr. Thygeson’s leadership in the Minnesota medical community,” says Andrea Walsh, HealthPartners executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “This fellowship provides an exciting opportunity for Dr. Thygeson to work with national healthcare leaders and study ways to improve healthcare through science, engineering systems, and business processes.”
Learn more about the Bush Foundation Medical Fellows Program.
Keep the flu out of your workplace!
Each year in the United States, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die from flu complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Influenza can infect over 25 percent of the population, which means the flu costs you money, due to:
- Absenteeism
- Presenteeism (lost productivity that occurs when employees come to work but perform below average due to any kind of illness)
- Lost productivity
- Increased healthcare costs
The flu vaccine is the best way to protect your employees against the flu. HealthPartners makes it easy for employees to get vaccinated and we make it easy for employers by managing all the details of an on-site flu clinic.
Plus, for fully insured groups, the flu shot is a covered benefit – there’s no extra charge! As a self-insured group, you can cover the flu shot for your employees by paying through the claims process. It’s simple and doesn’t require a pre-planned budget item.
You have the option to offer the program to employees only or employees and their dependents. At the time of the clinic, the employee will simply need to supply their HealthPartners member number.
Visit us online to learn more or to register using the online Flu Shot Registration Form.
Open enrollment campaign: Healthy should be simple
It’s already that time again! In September, HealthPartners will be kicking off an open enrollment advertising campaign. The campaign will be built around the theme of “Healthy should be simple.” We want to make healthcare easy for our members by focusing on the programs, services and tools available to help them navigate and understand healthcare. The four key messages include:
- Call: HealthPartners has phone lines to answer all of your plan and care questions.
- Click: Helpful online tools for your plan, patient and health & wellness needs are available 24/7 at the new healthpartners.com.
- Visit: HealthPartners offers an open access network plan that ensures you won’t need to switch doctors when you join us.
- Lift: Join HealthPartners and receive discounts on gym memberships and more to feel great and stay healthy.
Watch for updates to healthpartners.com, along with billboards and buses in your area featuring whimsical illustrations and artwork!
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