Tag: Insurance

Community initiatives in public health in the era of COVID-19

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Guest: Virginia Barnes, Director of Blue Health Initiatives,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

Host: Sam Meers, EVP, Practice Lead, Barkley

COVID-19 has demonstrated how ill-prepared we were as a nation for a public health crisis. The lack of an immediate response plan to rapidly ramp up testing, our lack of contact tracing, and the grossly understaffed public health sector all exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic, making it a larger healthcare and economic issue than it might have been.

Much of healthcare is reactive, focusing on the acute needs of those who are unwell. There’s swelling support for a shift toward value-based healthcare and programs and benefits that focus on preventive care and long-term outcomes.  But those investments are at odds with the way the system works. This is why community health initiatives that take on social determinants of health are so important for preventive care and access to healthcare resources.

In this episode of Modern Marketeers, we’ll examine what should have been done, and what needs to be done nationally, regionally and locally to get ahead of COVID-19 and to be better prepared for the next global pandemic.

Have a comment or topic suggestion for a future episode of Modern Marketeers? Please email our producer, Michael Levine, at mlevine@barkleyus.com.

Unbundling health insurance in the era of COVID-19

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Guest: John Kelly, CEO, NexBen

Host: Sam Meers, EVP, Practice Lead, Barkley

When you combine a global pandemic with an unexpected economic cliff event, most businesses will be caught off guard. And in an era when employers and their employees are struggling with rising health insurance costs, adding more strain to the business ecosystem exacerbates the situation even more. The latest US Census Bureau report shows that while 92% of Americans had health insurance coverage, only 20% are satisfied with the cost.

Not only are consumers looking for lower health insurance costs, they’re expecting a better experience. They’re being shaped by their experiences with companies like Amazon. In fact, 50% of consumers would like their healthcare experience to feel like their Amazon experience.

Is this possible in a traditional health insurance ecosystem? Can we meet the consumer demands of lowering costs (or at least demonstrating more value) while at the same time improving their healthcare experience?

In this episode of Modern Marketeers, we work to unravel this dichotomy and examine alternatives for both employers and employees in the era of COVID.

Have a comment or topic suggestion for a future episode of Modern Marketeers? Please email our producer, Michael Levine, at mlevine@barkleyus.com.

Business and community implications of COVID-19

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Guest: Matt All, CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

Host: Sam Meers, EVP, Practice Lead, Barkley

Every business in the US has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. None more so than those companies in the healthcare industry. In COVID hotspots, hospital systems have been stretched to capacity. And even in non-hotspots, hospitals postponed elective surgeries to limit the exposure of patients to the Coronavirus. 

Health insurance carriers have had a front row seat to the pandemic, working to help their members and groups while working to understand the short-term and long-term implications of the pandemic on their business and the communities they serve.

In this episode of Modern Marketeers, we’ll discuss the complex realities of COVID-19 and the impact it has had on the healthcare ecosystem in Kansas.

Have a comment or topic suggestion for a future episode of Modern Marketeers? Please email our producer, Michael Levine, at mlevine@barkleyus.com.