Advocacy, which helps health plan members navigate a rocky landscape with ease, is worth its weight in gold given the inherent complexity associated with plan design, narrow networks and clinical programs. Ultimately, it creates a pathway to finding high-quality care at an affordable price. When healthcare consumers are empowered to make more informed decisions, they’re better able to understand the nuances, cost, quality and value of their self-funded plan choices, according to Stephanie Meyer, senior director of activation strategies at UMR, a UnitedHealthcare company. She says an ability to review transparent data involving provider quality rankings and the cost of services helps health plan members find the right care, eliminate stress and leverage the use of their benefits.
UMR provides a single access point and centralized engagement hub for advocacy support involving medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, behavioral health and other care. She says advocates in the GenerationYou solution know every detail about the member’s benefits plan and have access to real-time information to assist with a host of tasks that include prior authorization and claims submission.
The reason engagement is so critically important, Meyer explains in this podcast, is that being more informed typically results in members receiving higher quality care, paying less for services and maximizing the value of their health plan. They also tend to take advantage of other products and services that help maintain their health and vitality, pursue preventive screenings or close care gaps. Those benefits also enable the plan sponsor to rein in their employee healthcare costs.
