Products September 14, 2011

UMB Healthcare Services Launches Toolkits to Help Employers Implement and Communicate Benefit Plans

September 14, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – UMB Healthcare Services announced the launch of three comprehensive toolkits to help employers successfully implement and communicate high-deductible health plans (HDHP) with health savings accounts (HSAs). 
 
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Developed in partnership with Benz Communications, a HR and benefits communication strategy boutique, the UMB Toolkits provide implementation, launch, and ongoing communication tools to better enable clients to educate employees, while meeting their goals for HDHP with HSA adoption and use, and empowering employees to become smart health care consumers.

UMB Healthcare Services developed these toolkits to help overcome the two major hurdles to successful adoption: a lack of adequate understanding of the administrative mechanics of establishing HSA-compatible plans and a lack of effective employee communication to garner adequate participation rates.

In a recent Aetna-sponsored poll of human resource professionals by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), more than half of respondents were not comfortable with their level of knowledge about these types of plans. Additionally, 77% of respondents reported they found it challenging to engage employees in getting the best value from their plans, and to encourage them to focus on their health and wellness.

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) revealed that as of January 2011 more than 11.4 million Americans are now covered by HSAs in conjunction with high-deductible health plans, a 14% increase from 2010.

The UMB Toolkits were developed to support and enhance communication throughout the open enrollment process and beyond:

•  Implementation Toolkit – Tools and resources to help employers understand exactly what to expect and provide support in designing their HDHP with HSA.

•  Launch Communication Toolkit – Comprehensive tools needed to successfully launch and garner high enrollment in a HDHP partnered with an HSA, including best practices, planning guides, timelines and a variety of communication templates.

•  Ongoing Communication Toolkit –Helps employers continue to educate employees and families, and promote benefit programs year round, to ensure satisfaction with benefits.

 

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