What? America doesn't have the 'best' health system? Read on.

An August 12 New York Times editorial highlights the imperfections of the American healthcare system. It is becoming clear that the United States certainly doesn’t have the “world’s best medical care.” Our healthcare system could, in fact, be considered one of the worst when looking at things such as the percentage of people who are covered by insurance and the survival rate for certain diseases and conditions.

The editorial discusses insurance coverage and says that 45 million Americans simply do not have health insurance. This is a problem. Because of the high cost of care people without health insurance are unable to receive routine checkups and are therefore unable to be screened for diseases that could be treated if caught early. Because of this, many Americans are forced to wait until they are in the late stages of a disease (cancer, for example) before they go for treatment, because they can’t afford it otherwise. The problem is that the treatment for late-stage cancer is much more expensive than preventative care, or treatment for the disease in the early stages. As a result, the disease ends up costing the patient, and the system, much more than it should. This is part of the reason why healthcare in this country is so expensive and why so many millions of American’s can’t afford healthcare coverage.

Policy Change

The healthcare and insurance system in America needs fundamental change, not incremental change, and the 2008 presidential candidates are stepping up to the plate and offering their plans for change. All of the candidates agree that something needs to be done to combat the rising cost of healthcare and the growing number of uninsured Americans. Many candidates even support a government-run universal healthcare program which would ensure that all Americans have access to affordable coverage. Other candidates, like Mike Huckabee, do not support universal coverage through the government, but instead want to focus on preventative care and driving down the cost of insurance within the private sector.

In the wake of Michael Moore’s “Sicko,” the term “universal healthcare” instantly excites people and Huckabee almost seems radical in saying that we do not need a government-run universal healthcare program. But, in reality, Huckabee might have the right idea. As discussed above, and in previous posts, preventative care and a system that values health care, not just sick care, would greatly reduce cost and force Americans to become more proactive about their health.

While no one would disagree that every American needs to have access to affordable healthcare, the argument becomes whether or not the healthcare system should remain private, or if it should become public, and run by the government. And honestly, do we really want the government running our healthcare system anyway?

Record Keeping Technology

The same editorial addresses the issue of the way medical records are kept in the United States. Astonishingly, despite the sophistication of technology in our country most of our medical records are still kept with pen and paper. But, Google and Microsoft both recognize the need for change, and are looking to fill the void in electronic medical record keeping. It makes sense that consumers want to take control of their own medical records and decide who gets to see them and what they get to see. This fits well with the consumer driven healthcare revolution, and will allow consumers to fully take charge of their health and wellness.

Gupta of CNN: Using Cable Reach for Good Health Messages

We all know we need to take care of ourselves when we are sick. But, what about taking care of ourselves when we aren’t sick? With healthcare costs spiraling out of control, taking charge of your wellness is one of the easiest things you can do to save money and regain a sense of power in relation to your health.

In Dr. Sanjay Gupta's CNN blog, Miriam Falco talks about the need for preventative medicine and what we can do to help keep ourselves healthy. Her recommendations, which come from the Partnership for Prevention group, include getting screened for colon cancer and getting a yearly flu shot. She also says “less than half of Americans who should be taking aspirin daily to prevent heart disease do so. If that number went up to 90 percent, 45,000 additional lives would be saved – at a cost of pennies a day.”

Preventing Chronic Disease

According to a study by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, “40 percent of the candidates on the waitlist for organ transplantation [in 2004] . . . had a primary diagnosis of a preventable chronic condition.” These “preventable chronic conditions” included Type 2 Diabetes, hepatitis, emphysema and cirrhosis. The point is that 40 percent of people who were sick enough to need an organ transplant could have prevented it.

And preventing these diseases does not have to include numerous yearly visits to the doctor’s office or expensive medical testing. There are many things that we can do that do not require any medical attention whatsoever. If you are exercising and eating right you are more likely to have a healthy body weight, which reduces your risk for diabetes and other chronic conditions. If you quit smoking you will significantly reduce your risk for developing lung cancer. If you put on sunscreen before you head out the door each morning you will be protecting your body from the harmful rays that can cause skin cancer; the list is endless.

Other things include drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day, exercising regularly and eating healthy foods. I know you’ve heard these things a thousand times, but the truth is that small changes do make a big difference. If you start drinking more water each day your body will feel more hydrated and you will have more energy throughout the day. With your newfound energy you will be more motivated to be active and exercise, and once you start exercising you will be more likely to make healthy eating choices. It really is like a domino effect.

It is simple: the healthier you are the less money you have to spend on healthcare. So why not skip that soda you were about to open, and grab a glass of ice water instead? Remember, the little things count too!

Response to Dick Feagler op-ed, Cleveland PD

(Note to readers: See Feagler's article here.)

Dear Mr. Feagler -- if you ever want to experience what 'free' health
care is like, I encourage you to come to Hungary for your next operation
or medical visit for a pre-existing condition, like diabetes. Bring
Hillary.

I am a native of Cleveland and have lived in Budapest since 1991.
That's long enough to be able to tell you that I would never wish the
Hungarian, 'free', socialized healthcare system on my worst enemy -- or
on you. Come, have your gall bladder taken out at St. John's hospital
in Budapest. You will only have to share your room with 12 other people
with various illnesses, including folks in the last stages of cancer who
are literally screaming with pain. 'Morphine, you asked? What
morphine, Mr. Feagler. Didn't you know our morphine quota ran out two
months ago? He'll be gone soon, anyway...' Oops, there are only 11 of
you in the room now. I didn't notice that two people had passed away
earlier today -- and no one else seems to have noticed either -- despite
the fact that there are no curtains between beds and everyone is exposed
to everyone else, whether you're dying or just trying to maneuver the
bed pan to the right place.

BTW, when you do come to Budapest for that operation, don't forget to
bring dishes, utensils, towels, toilet paper, juice, crackers, etc.,
because none of those are provided at the hospital. And, since the
meals are a bit on the 'lite' side, (a roll with butter for breakfast, a
bowl of soup for lunch, and a slice of mystery meat for dinner), you'll
want to make sure that a friend or relative brings you real meals a
couple times a day so that you can keep up your strength during the
recuperation period. We all know how important a healthy immune system
is after an operation, especially with that nasty staph infection
problem they can't seem to shake off at St. John's.

After a day or two in the hospital, it's always nice to take a hot
shower. The bathrooms and toilets, circa 1898, are down the hall --
sorry about the line. I realize there are no doors on the stalls, no
seats on the toilets or toilet paper, but remember when I told you you'd
have to bring that? No handles on the water taps? Sorry. 'Must be
those damn gypsies again, stealing anything they can get money for down
at the junkyard...'

Oh, and then there's the medication. Budapest hospitals don't always
have what you need on hand during and following the operation. So
you'll want to make sure you get everything on the list they hand you a
couple days before the operation. (I hope you have a friend who owns a
pharmacy or know someone who does...)

A visit to the maternity ward reveals 13 women in one room: some are in
full labor (again, no curtains); some are nursing their newborns for the
first time, while still others have just had an abortion or their third
miscarriage in as many years. Life, death, and the murder of innocents
play out in the same space, for all to witness and process.

After having given birth to my only child in Budapest in 1999, my
husband and I promised ourselves that we would never subject ourselves
or our newborn to 'free' health care. Ever. Not having many options,
we did what anyone who had experienced both the American and Hungarian
healthcare systems would have done: we joined the AMERICAN Clinic in
Budapest, now known as FirstMed Centers. It's not 'free', Mr. Feagler,
but as we all know, you get what you pay for.

Julianna Gulden
Budapest, Hungary

Doing the Math for Smokers

Smoking and Wealth

As if tar-coated lungs and yellow teeth are not enough to convince smokers to quit, a new study shows the negative effects that smoking can have on your wealth.

The Ohio State University study shows that the net worth of a typical non-smoker is about twice that of a heavy smoker (smokes 2 packs per day, or more). Also, the net worth of a non-smoker is about 50% more than that of a light smoker (smokes less than one pack per day). It also shows that for each year an adult smokes their net worth decreases by about $410.

Obviously, a smoker spends money on their habit, which could certainly contribute to the lower net worth. The study shows that a typical smoker in the United States spends over $700 per year on tobacco products. Using that number, if a person smokes regularly for 20 years, they will spend over $14,000 on cigarettes.

That is $14,000 that a non-smoker would be able to spend in a different way, or put into savings.

While the study admits that causation between heavy smoking and a lower net worth can’t be proved, the correlation between the two is undeniable.

Smoking and Youth

In today’s society, smoking is quickly becoming more and more socially unacceptable. Many states have implemented laws that forbid smoking in public places and some workplaces have also implemented non-smoking policies.

It is also becoming difficult for young people to justify why they start smoking since the health dangers that come along with smoking are very well known. It has also recently been shown that young people are likely to become addicted to cigarettes more quickly than previously thought.

The new study, which was published July 2007 in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, says that within two days of inhaling their first cigarette, some youths can crave nicotine. More specifically, about half of young smokers in the study felt cravings for nicotine when they were smoking only seven cigarettes per month.

This challenges the thought many young people have that they can smoke casually and socially in their youth and then quit before they become addicted.

It also makes it even more important for parents to communicate with their children about the dangers of smoking and the harmful addiction that comes with it.

Time to Quit

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health; the surgeon general tells us so. But we now know that smoking can also be bad for your bank account. If a heavy smoker quits smoking they can save about $700 per year. So what are you waiting for?

The above studies can be found online at:

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/13/4/370

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/153/9/935

Health Insurance for All Children.....A must!

In another battle between private and public healthcare coverage in America, democrats in the House of Representatives have called on a plan that would make changes to the Medicare program as well as increase insurance coverage for children from low to middle-income families.

According to the Associated Press, the legislation would implement a federal tax increase of 61-cents on each pack of cigarettes, and the revenue would be used to help finance health insurance for children from families whose yearly financial income prohibits them from receiving traditional Medicare coverage, but still can’t afford to purchase a health insurance plan.

The plan is a follow-up of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which expires on Sept. 30, and according to the AP lawmakers in both the House and the Senate support an increase in federal spending for children’s health insurance, with the House supporting a steeper increase.

The bill, which would also restructure the way Medicare dollars are spent, once again brings up the debate between private and public health insurance in America. Ideally, all children should have health insurance coverage, but in the United States that is certainly not a reality.

The Problem

According to a study done by the National Coalition on Health Care, 8.3 million children in the US were uninsured in 2005 (about 11.2 percent of all US children).

The same study also reported that “nearly 40 percent of the uninsured population reside in households that earn $50,000 or more.”

This highlights the fact that, with health insurance costs on the rise, it is not just low-income families that struggle to pay for health insurance; middle-income families are also struggling. This legislation appears to target these struggling middle-class families, in an attempt to make sure more US children are covered, which is a step in the right direction.

The Solution

The bill highlights the thin line between free-market health insurance, which is currently failing to meet the needs of the American population, and a government-run universal healthcare system, which would be inadequate, at best.

Government run universal healthcare is not the answer for America, a country that thrives on a free market economy and frowns upon the socialistic concepts that government sponsored universal healthcare demands. Universal healthcare delivered through private insurance option, is, however, what American needs.

In addition, Americans need to begin making better decisions regarding health and wellness. If we could learn to take better care of ourselves our insurance costs would go down immediately. Simply consuming healthy foods and participating in physical activity greatly reduces the risk of developing many chronic illnesses, which in turn helps reduce healthcare cost.

Another idea is to “bargain shop” for health care treatment. With new consumer directed healthcare choices, we are able to choose the doctors that provide the best quality of service for the most reasonable price. Demanding quality of service from our doctors and refusing to overpay for services can drastically affect market prices for healthcare.

Demanding that our leaders take wellness and healthcare efforts seriously is also very important. Research the different 2008 presidential candidates, and make sure your vote goes to someone committed to solving the healthcare crisis in America.

While these solutions do require time and effort, it is a small price to pay for more affordable healthcare. Taking these steps could ensure the fundamental idea that every child, and every person for that matter, deserves access to affordable health insurance coverage.

Who is Sicko? Really now!

Just when it feels like the healthcare debate is just beginning to heat up, Michael Moore’s ‘Sicko’ adds fuel to the fire by speaking to a general population that more and more is concerned with the rising cost of medical expenses and health insurance in America. When area Americans going to be concerned about the health status they possess, which drives costs?

Moore’s film explores the downfalls of the American for-profit healthcare system and speaks volumes about the emotional and often tragic consequences that go along what that system. His interviews with the families and victims of tragedies due to inability to pay for medical expenses or the denial of insurance coverage are touching, saddening and ultimately frustrating.

Moore also shows the so-called perfection of healthcare systems in countries that offer universal coverage for their citizens. What he fails to show, however, are the downfalls that can come with this type of universal coverage.

While there is no doubt that something needs to be done about the healthcare system in our country, Moore’s suggestion that a universal healthcare system, like they have in the UK or Canada, would solve all our problems is short-sighted and altogether misinformed. He fails to address the problems that are present in these systems such as long waiting periods for care, the inability to choose your physician and the high taxes associated with having “free” healthcare. He also ignores the fact that in some countries where universal coverage is available, people choose not to use it. For example, in the UK approximately 12 % of people have chosen private health insurance in lieu of using the National Health System. This points to the fact that even in the “perfection” of universal healthcare, there are still problems.

Moore also does not address the simple fact that the quality of care in the US is often far superior to the quality of care received in other countries. Because of the privatized healthcare system in America, the medical research and development that occurs here far surpasses the development that occurs in other countries. So while there are certainly downfalls in the way the American system treats healthcare there are also benefits, such as a higher quality of care and higher rate of development.

While it would be hard to disagree with the idea that everyone deserves access to quality medical care, moving to a universal healthcare system in the United States would not be as perfect as Moore would like us to think. His utopian presentation of a world in which prescription drugs are cheap, doctors visits are free and overall care is up to US standards is enticing, although not quite realistic. I support a universal coverage system in America, where those who want to improve their basic benefit package can buy supplemental health insurance on the free open market, just like they would be able to do for the basic coverage package.

If Moore’s goal was to get the attention of the public he certainly succeeded. If his goal, however, was to accurately portray the downfalls of the US healthcare system and suggest a realistic alternative, he failed miserably. But, Moore’s polarized and oversimplified view has gotten peoples’ attention. As the old adage goes, ‘there is no such thing as bad publicity.’ Publicity for the healthcare debate, in this case. If ‘Sicko’ has done only one thing it has been to raise awareness and fuel the debate about the problems within the healthcare system, which can only be the first step toward any real change.

Integrated Healthcare selects award-winning bWell-informed Health Plan Forecaster

AWARD-WINNING BWELL-INFORMED™ HEALTH PLAN FORECASTER SELECTED BY INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE FOR INCLUSION IN ITS CONSUMER-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE PLATFORM

Small- to mid-sized companies can now offer valuable healthcare decision-making tools to their employees

NEW YORK, N.Y./BOSTON, Mass. – March 7, 2007 – bWell International’s award-winning bWell-Informed™ Health Plan Forecaster—an interactive, personalized comparison tool to evaluate health plan options over time based on individual health and risk factors—will be included in the suite of tools offered by CDH market leader Integrated Healthcare (IHC) to its client base of self-insured, small to mid-sized companies with 51-1,000 employees.

“The bWell-Informed™ Health Plan Forecaster provides a vendor neutral learning experience about all the benefit programs available to individual employees, with education that segues seamlessly to the transactional enrollment experience,” explains Phil Micali, founder and CEO of bWell. bWell also markets the bWell-Informed™ Health Risk Forecaster, allowing employees to actively identify and manage their personal health risks while seeing illustrations of the cost implications over time.

According to Dan Boisvert, president and CEO of Integrated Healthcare, “The bWell-Informed™ Health Plan Forecaster rounds out our integrated, point-and-click platform, further simplifying the consumer experience and enabling smaller companies to educate their workforces on the short- and long-term cost of ownership of health plan membership. This business partnership with bWell boosts the value of our program to employees and their dependents who might otherwise not have had access to this level of empowerment."

About bWell International, Inc.
bWell International brings cutting-edge education products—including the award-winning bWell-informed™ Health Plan Forecaster—and services for promoting consumerism to individuals for employers, governments, banks and health plans. bWell is proud to support the initiatives of the New York Business Group on Health (NYBGH), The Conference Board, Consumer Health World and several other organizations that encourage thoughtful consideration of the role of the individual in the delivery of healthcare services. For more information, visit www.bwell-inc.com, e-mail at info@bwell-inc.com, or call (917) 254-4151.

About Integrated Healthcare
Integrated Healthcare, a division of Greenwood International Insurance Services, Inc., offers a fully integrated, point & click-based consumer-driven health platform. Through technology innovation, Integrated Healthcare delivers a web-based platform that provides simple, up-to-date access and control while mitigating rising healthcare costs for the employer and employee. For more information, visit www.integratedhci.com or call (877) 877-3353.

bWell-informed Health Plan Forecaster wins major industry award

BWELL-INFORMED™ HEALTH PLAN FORECASTER HONORED AS “MOST INNOVATIVE CDHC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION TOOL” AT 2007 CDHC AWARDS IN LAS VEGAS

Award recognizes best product providing CDHC plan members timely access to appropriate and accurate information

bWell International’s flagship product, the bWell-informed™ Health Plan Forecaster, has been named the winner of the “Most Innovative CDHC Product or Solution – Employee/Member Education & Communication Tools” category at the 2007 CDHC Awards in Las Vegas. Created and produced by Prepaid Media, the CDHC Awards recognize noteworthy professionals, organizations, and programs throughout the consumer-driven health care industry.

“We are thrilled that the bWell-informed™ Health Plan Forecaster has been honored with this award,” said Phil Micali, founder and CEO of bWell International. “The forecaster is the only tool in the market that effectively educates consumers about CDHC plan options and then provides them with the ability to model the actual cost of individual health plan options over time based on their unique health profile. We’ve designed it to be innovative, and it’s gratifying to see it achieve such prominent industry recognition.”

“We want to congratulate all the companies that submitted their products, services, and professionals for consideration for the first annual CDHC Awards,” said Jonathan Weiner, president of Prepaid Media. “These winners represent some of the most innovative programs and products that have had significant impact in their respective categories in the past twelve months.”

bWell February Lunch and Learn: Sign Up Today!

bWell's February Lunch and Learn Teleconference
February 15, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET

Looking Into 2007 and Beyond.
What can we expect in the world of consumer-directed healthcare in 2007? Will political winds cause a change in political will? What is the future of major entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid? Join this dynamic panel of speakers for a glimpse into 2007 and beyond:

• John Nail, The Radar Group
• Cynthia Feiden-Warsh, Independent Health Care Consultant, formerly of Lumenos
• Phil Micali, Founder and CEO, bWell International

Registration is $169.00, and includes:

• Up to the minute information and commentary on healthcare consumerism from leading experts, educators, and employers
• PDFs of all presentation materials
• Summary of follow-up Q&A session with speakers

For more information, or to register for the teleconference, click here.

Insight from the Galen Institute: "Change is Inevitable."

Here at bWell we always love hearing from Grace-Marie Turner at the Galen Institute—as our CEO Phil Micali says, she's always "right on." Her most recent article in the Galen Institute Newsletter includes perceptive insight on how change is inevitable because the current system of job-based insurance that fit a post-World War II economy isn't working in the Information Age, and is today's required reading.

The take away? "... unless things change, the number of people without health insurance will continue to increase, and the threat of a government-controlled health care system will grow."

The truth in humor

I have a great network of friends and colleagues, and they keep me amused with a steady stream of anecdotes and jokes delivered directly to my inbox. One recent arrival made me chuckle, then made me think:

Two patients limp into two different American Medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.

The first patient sees the family doctor after waiting a week for an appointment, then waits eighteen weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed for another month and finally has his surgery scheduled for 6 months from then. The second patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week.

Why the different treatment for the two patients?

The first is a Senior Citizen.
The second is a Golden Retriever.

While the story is meant to be humorous, it's illustrative of an important principle of consumer-directed health care. Why does the golden retriever get the special treatment? Not because he's a dog, or because vets care more about their patients than human doctors do. Rather, it's because veterinary care represents a model of truly consumer-directed care. If a patient takes his/her golden retriever to the vet and the vet leaves them waiting in the lobby for 45 minutes, you can bet that pet owner is going to be looking for a new vet! There are no "HMOs" or "Hospital Networks" or "Preferred Providers" when it comes to veterinary care. Services are generally paid for directly, without adjudication or reconcilliation. Providers compete for business, making them more aware of the need to keep costs in line and service levels higher.

Granted—there is a huge difference between health care for animals and health care for humans. The stakes are higher for human patients than they are for our animal companions, no matter how much we treasure them. However, this little joke did make me think.

At last a fuss about discriminating tax treatment of health coverage

The best outcome from President Bush's State of the Union speech last Tuesday night would be that more people think about having coverage and care about what it cost. There hasn't been a real consumer market for coverage options, since employers receive a tax deduction for the premiums they pay for their employees and dependents. Meanwhile, individuals and families that buy private health insurance outside of an employement situation don't have any tax advantages, like employers do, to buy coverage.

Just having this discussion at the water cooler, where workers congregate, or hearing it on the evening news has put this topic of appropriate level of health insurance coverage on the radar screen of many Americans. It's about time that those who are covered truly understand the costs associated with their coverage, and those not yet covered take the time to review the affordable options that exist in the emerging market.

160 million, or so, Americans have employer sponsored coverage. It is believed that 80% of them fall under the proposed tax deduction cap and the remaining 20% would be required to pay taxes on their more expensive coverage. The irony is that many of those who have the more expensive coverage, who would be subject to increased tax liability, are lower paid workers who may not be able to afford it. All the more reason to shop for the most appropriate coverage that fits the coverage needs of the individual, rather than the Also, the carriers offering insurance products will inevitably find ways to compete with consumer friendly products and policies to underwrite those applying for insurance.

We need all the incentives we can get to create a real market for health insurance and stop hiding the costs of premiums and treatment costs to consumers.

"Tectonic Shift" Anticipated

From today's "Managing Your Healthcare" newsletter by Don Mazzella, a very interesting article on some anticipated proposals in the upcoming State of the Union address. Huge news for individuals who purchase healthcare "off the shelf"! — Mary Hobson

Tectonic Shift In Healthcare Payment Landscape Being Proposed By President Bush

President Bush will propose a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families regardless of whether they buy their own health insurance or receive medical coverage at work, according to published sources.

The proposal, to be announced Tuesday in his State of the Union address, has a two-fold purpose: reducing the cost of healthcare insurance for most Americans and providing an incentive for the uninsured to buy a policy.

While administration officials say the changes will not affect total tax dollar collections, the published reports are unclear as to whether the traditional exemption for employers who pay for healthcare will continue. At present, employers can deduct the cost of healthcare insurance for employees dollar-for-dollar.

Employees with policies costing above the $7,500 and $15,000 limits would pay taxes on the excess. Individuals and families who purchase healthcare insurance directly would, for the first time, have some tax relief.

Interview with bWell CEO Phil Micali

Published in "New York Business Group on Health Newsletter"
Volume 29, Issue 2, Fall 2006

Meet a Member—bWell International, Inc.

New York Business Group on Health recently spoke with Philip Micali, founder and CEO of bWell International, Inc.

Given the changing healthcare market place, how does your company help in easing the transition?
bWell was founded to help consumers gain more confidence about their health coverage and lifestyle decisions. Fundamentally, bWell links and forecasts consumer health assets with personal wealth assets over time (multiple years.) The company’s vendor-neutral interactive and personalized consumer learning tools enable individuals to gain more confidence about making health/insurance coverage decisions and lifestyle decisions.

Can you discuss specifically how health benefits are becoming more focused on the consumer?
Health benefits are becoming much more flexible and focused on wellness. Benefit plans are also more complex and difficult to understand because it is not enough to evaluate a health benefit plan in one-year increments. In addition, financial incentives are being paid to consumers who participate in healthy behaviors. This is a major departure from the defined benefit world of health benefits where a $10 copay was the only “skin in the game” that consumers had.

Also, health coaching has become the holy grail to changing consumer behavior in a way that can be sustained over time. Think about it: Did you learn algebra overnight? Did your fitness training take some time to sink in?

Can you describe how your company helps increase the quality and/or reduce the costs of providing healthcare?
bWell’s consumer learning tools improve quality and appropriateness by providing vendor-neutral education before the health plans come in and ‘sell’. I am a firm believer that consumer understanding and education must precede the ‘sale’ by the health plan to buy their coverage, even when there is only one health plan option. The integration of a thorough health and well being assessment (aka “health risk assessment”) within our learning tools enhances quality by making individuals aware of their personal health assets and how to manage them over time as aging occurs.

bWell drives cost savings as a result of its emphasis on vendor neutral understanding and education around the cost of ownership of various health plan options, along with the understanding of personal health and well-being assets. The consequences of implementing our products are direct claims cost savings, as well as higher productivity in the workforce -- the result of consumer awareness of the targeted areas of their health that require attention. As more people are aware and feel comfortable with Consumer Driven Health Plan options, including Health Savings Account models, employers can expect a halving of the recent historical double digit percentage medical claims trend. This represents substantial cost savings for all size employers.

What should a company look for when choosing a consumer education and learning tool firm?
Companies should look for health plan vendor neutrality and integration of health asset algorithms with wealth asset forecasting tools. In addition, incorporating plan suitability based upon consumer readiness for change is very important. We are talking about overcoming some emotional barriers to change. A firm should understand how an education service/tool synchronizes benefit plan branding with corporate values and brand. This serves to maximize the potential that messages are heard and acted upon.

How does NYBGH membership benefit your company?
bWell has been a member of NYBGH since its inception in 2004. I am personally very active in the Health Benefits Advisory Group. I find the participation and content of the NYBGH to be very stimulating and the ideal forum for a healthy debate about the proposed solutions to our ailing healthcare system.

Welcome!

Welcome to bWell International's new blog, "Your Health is Your Wealth." We hope, through this forum, to bring a new voice to the discussion surrounding the dynamic Consumer Directed Health Care industry.

Over the next year, we will be inviting guest bloggers from throughout the industry to post here, in addition to bWell International's executive team. Watch this blog for important industry news, events, and commentary. And join in the discussion -- we look forward to hearing your voice!

Happy New Year,
Mary Hobson, bWell International Chief Marketing Officer