The next “it” job in health care?

Health advocates may be just what the industry needs to help drive true health care consumerism.

By Bridget Lipezker | June 13, 2018 at 10:37 AM

Forbes magazine population ages basic health care terms health literacy Related: 30 percent of consumers don't understand what an EOB is errors on a medical bill

An advocate's day-to-day

Helping clients make informed decisions about available coverage or treatment options
Answering questions about benefits coverage and cost-sharing
Ensuring patients and their family members understand diagnoses and recommended procedures
Researching and explaining alternative treatment options
Coordinating care across multiple health providers
Overseeing case management and discharge planning
Arranging for second opinions or appointments with specialists
Obtaining cost estimates for recommended tests and procedures
Representing clients with insurance companies and health care providers on claims and billing issues

procedure prices

What does it take to be an advocate?

Bridget Lipezker, SVP and General Manager, Advocacy and Transparency, DirectPath.

NOT FOR REPRINT

1 Stop HSA Headaches: Helping Clients Choose the Right Provider

2 Armed man causes UnitedHealthcare buildings to lock down

3 Trump tells DOL to develop PBM transparency regulations to lower drug prices

4 Biden breaks silence to slam Trump over Social Security cuts

5 Employers' ACA coverage in limbo as Supreme Court weighs task force legality

Insurance
BenefitsPRO Broker Expo 2025
May 06, 2025 - Boston

The premier educational and networking event for employee benefits brokers and agents.
More Information
Workers' Compensation Risk Management Award for Excellence Nominations
May 05, 2025 - Nomination Deadline

The 2025 Workers Comp Risk Management Award for Excellence honors outstanding loss control, safety and return-to-work programs.
More Information
Consulting
Consulting Top Consultants 2025
June 26, 2025 - New York

Consulting Magazine identifies consultants that have the biggest impact on their clients, firms and the profession.
More Information

Strong bipartisan majority backs extension of health care tax credits

By Alan Goforth | April 18, 2025

Nearly 8 in 10 Americans support extending health care tax credits.

Strong bipartisan majority backs extension of health care tax credits

New report suggests how HR professionals can navigate a changing landscape

By Michael Popke | April 17, 2025

A staggering 92% of HR leaders say they face internal resistance when championing such people-centric initiatives as DEI, flexibility and wellbeing.

New report suggests how HR professionals can navigate a changing landscape

As regulatory landscape continues to shift, retirement & health care benefits evolve

By Alan Goforth | April 17, 2025

Eighty-five percent of corporate partners increased employee premiums for at least one plan, and 7% have added a new no-deductible plan option in the last two years.

As regulatory landscape continues to shift, retirement & health care benefits evolve

How One Employer Helped 1 in 3 Employees Improve Blood Pressure link

Case Study

Sponsored by Labcorp

Reducing Employee Onboarding Time and Solving Staffing Challenges

Long onboarding times and staffing shortages create costly delays. Discover how one large healthcare system streamlined its hiring process, reducing onboarding time from weeks to days while improving the candidate experience and freeing up internal staff.

Browse More Resources ›

White Paper

Sponsored by Trustmark Voluntary Benefits

Opt In or Opt Out: Solving the Problem of Low Employee Engagement in Passive Voluntary Benefit Enrollments

Voluntary benefit elections are not what they used to be. The shift toward passive enrollments prevents employees from being actively engaged in the enrollment process, generating low participation rates and putting employers and insurers at risk. This guide explores a new approach to enrollment that combines facets of both traditional enrollment processes and the new self-service culture to increase engagement and boost participation.