“Just like buying an alarm system to protect your house, I can't imagine not purchasing identity theft protection for a nominal monthly fee to protect your identity.”
Logical steps
Telemedicine has been center stage in lowering the cost of health care. A handful of state medical boards passed regulations to protect their turf, but the federal government has now taken notice of the cost savings and there is a bipartisan bill winding its way through Congress to include telemedicine as part of the solution to control costs for federal programs.
The latest and greatest non-insured benefit being offered to employers through brokers is identity theft protection. Most people know someone who has had their ID stolen or have heard about a family member or friend who's been compromised. Personally, it happened to my daughter in Chicago several weeks ago when her wallet was stolen at a restaurant. Within 72 hours, the thief tried to open an account in her name with T.J.Maxx. Her identity theft protection company immediately sent her a text alert about the activity so the account wasn't opened and a fraud alert was established with the credit reporting company to prevent further problems. Like buying an alarm system to protect your house, I can't imagine not purchasing identity theft protection to protect you and your family.
Joel Ray, CEO of New Benefits
Great Service(s)
Concierge services is where brokers are really letting money fall through the cracks. Three industries in particular really like concierge services: high-tech/biotech companies, law firms and health care facilities. Professionals within these industries are often highly-paid and work long hours, and really like perks such as picking up groceries or dry cleaning that increase efficiency at work and enhance work-life balance. Such employers like offering these services because employees in these sectors often have opportunities to jump ship to other companies, and these kinds of perks help to better retain them.
Erin Krehbiel, president of ACI Specialty Benefits
New perspectives
The perception from a lot of brokers is that medical bill negotiation is really for someone who does not have health insurance, but I find that many times, health insurance agents don't realize that there is a lot of room for negotiation in medical bills, even if their client has health insurance.
And medical tourism, both international and domestic, is a really hot concierge benefit right now. Our current health care system is broken in so many different ways, but the lack of transparency in medical billing is just ridiculous. It's amazing to see how inexpensive health care can truly be with the right kinds of programs.
Don Hansen, co-owner of Concierge Benefits Services
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Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson is the editor-in-chief of BenefitsPRO Magazine and BenefitsPRO.com. He has covered the insurance industry for more than a decade, including stints at Retirement Advisor Magazine and ProducersWeb.
