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Benemax Chosen for Two National Conferences;
Timely Topic is “Kinder, Gentler” Consumer-Driven Health Plans
MEDFIELD, Mass.—Feb. 20, 2003— David Cowles, co-founder of benefit management firm Benemax, will take the stage at two national conferences this spring to guide employers on implementing “kinder, gentler” consumer-driven health plans that reduce skyrocketing premiums and are seen as a solution to the country's health insurance crisis.
On April 7, opening day of The Consumer Directed Health Care Conference and Expo in Las Vegas (Rio Suites Hotel, April 7-9, www.cdhcc.com), Cowles’ session, “Kinder, Gentler Consumer-Driven Health Plans—Strategies for Gradual Implementation and Minimal Cost Shifting,” will present scenarios for employers to transition to cost-saving consumer-driven plans, without reducing employee benefits.
“Kinder, gentler consumer-driven plans are catching on because they introduce market incentives without shifting excessive costs to employees,” said Cowles. “Right away, employers save as much as 25 percent on premiums, while eliminating managed care gatekeepers that frustrate employees. Plus, employers can phase-in consumer-driven plans over several years.”
On April 30, Cowles heads to Chicago to kick-off the conference "Moving Beyond Cost Shifting in Employee Health Care: Developing and Implementing a Proactive Long-Term Strategy to Reduce Spending” (Omni Ambassador East, April 30-May 2, www.councilconferences.com).
Cowles’ workshop, "How to Design and Implement a Consumer-Driven Health Care Plan,” will cover every aspect—from cost/benefit analysis, designing a customized plan, communicating the advantages to employees—to evaluating the plan’s effectiveness.
“Consumer-driven plans make employees aware of the true cost of health care, and give them a financial stake by putting them in charge of their available health care dollars,” said Cowles. “To help meet deductibles and handle co-payments, employers establish tax-free personal care accounts (PCAs) that employees can spend as they see fit. And, PCA funds can be carried forward from year-to-year so that employees build a ‘benefit bank.’ That’s a huge incentive for patients—and their doctors—to make prudent treatment decisions,” he added.
About Benemax
Benemax, based in Medfield, Mass., (www.benemax.com)
was founded in 1985 and manages employee benefits for clients ranging
from start-ups to divisions of Fortune 500 companies. The company designs
and administers attractive yet highly cost-effective employee benefit
packages, including consumer-driven health and dental plans. The company
grew by more than 35 percent in 2002, the third consecutive year of over
35 percent growth.