Healthcare

Healthcare benefits are emotionally charged.

The fear of losing coverage, being unable to use doctors they want, or unable to afford care are among employees’ serious concerns.

Shouldn’t these be addressed upfront in healthcare communication?

Why not describe the plan’s purpose, what drives the costs, and where the money comes from to pay the benefits? If employees don’t understand these things, they’re left to wonder why the plan doesn’t cover all expenses, why networks, and why the complaining about rising health costs – “Isn’t that why the company has insurance?”

Unfortunately, too many health plan descriptions lead with a spreadsheet type listing of premiums, deductibles, copays, and other jargon-laced stuff.

Have you tried a flowchart approach? Or how about more of a story, “Each year, you pay the first $XXX of eligible expenses – that’s called the deductible. If you have additional eligible expenses, the plan begins to pay…” and so on?

Especially in healthcare benefit communication, data without context does not increase knowledge.

Articles

Help Employees Make Sense Out of Plan Costs

Until employees learn the financial facts of benefits, reactions will be primarily emotional.

Treatment Drives Healthcare Costs

If we do not control the delivery of treatment, then the main issue is how to pay the cost.

Want Employees To Control Costs: Say So, Act Like It

If you say health plan expenses are threatening your organization’s financial health, act like it matters.

Effectively Communicating Your CDHC Plan

The new consumer-involved design requires a different communication approach.

Taking Care In Communicating Cutbacks

Healthcare is an emotionally sensitive benefit. That’s why communicating about cuts is difficult to do well.

Speeches

Healthcare Savings Accounts and Consumerism Communication

Help employees act like healthcare consumers.