Employees Receive a 12% Return On Their 2009 Health Care Premiums
Indianapolis, IN (February 1, 2010) – Employees of Indiana Health Centers (IHC), an Indianapolis based not-for-profit that provides health care for more than 65,000 uninsured and underinsured residents across Indiana, are reaping rewards for practicing what they preach.
Lynn Clothier. CEO of Indiana Health Centers, announced all 162 current and former employees participating in IHC’s self-funded health plan will receive a 12 percent refund in their February 19, 2010 payroll check. For a full-time employee in 2009 who elected full family coverage that totals up to a refund of $705 — or 12 percent of their $5,875 yearly premiums.
In 2010, Indiana Health Centers anticipates a decrease of six percent – or more than $94,000 – in health insurance rates. For 2010, IHC’s health care costs are expected to drop and premiums will be frozen.
The company’s self-funded plan also allows employees to receive an extra $1000 a year as a preventative/wellness benefit, so they can choose preventative medical care, such as mammograms, Pap smears, dental cleanings and x-rays.
How did this happen? Last year, IHC started an employee education campaign, teaching employees how they can be wise health consumers and stretch their dollars. In one year, it worked.
“IHC employees engaged and assumed a greater role in being wise health care consumers,” said Indiana Health Centers’ Chief Human Resources Officer Kari Niblack.
“Our employees really stepped up,” said Lynn Clothier, President and CEO of Indiana Health Centers. “As a result of our health education campaign, they made major changes last year. They asked for 100% generic medications on all prescriptions. They used the network provides 98% of the time. And they used emergency departments more responsibly. All of us — our doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and staff — are in the health care business, but by incentivizing and rewarding our employees, we are now an industry leader in lowering health insurance costs,” Clothier added.
“This is unprecedented,” added Kari Niblack. “Never in my 20-year career have I seen this type of opportunity for employees, or heard of a company giving back a percentage of the health care premiums paid for by their employees,” she said.
Indiana Health Centers is a not-for-profit network of federally-qualified health centers in twelve locations statewide. Professional staff provides a full range of high-quality, affordable medical, dental, prenatal, health education and preventative care to more than 65,000 patients across Indiana, primarily those in underserved urban and rural communities. Since its founding in 1977, IHC has a long record of being the medical home for those who otherwise might not be able to afford healthcare.
About Indiana Health Centers
Beginning services in 1977, as a 501-c-3, Indiana Health Centers serves the medical, dental and wellness needs of more than 65,000 uninsured, underinsured, unemployed and medically underserved patients in Indiana. As a federally-qualified health center network, IHC meets or exceeds all of the federal performance criteria. Indiana Health Centers has grown to now include twelve locations statewide, with major health clinics in South Bend, Marion, Kokomo, Seymour, Peru and Logansport.
Depending on the location, IHC offers medical, dental, social services, eligibility assistance with Medicaid, CHIP and HIP programs, and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) programs. In addition, sites offer bilingual staff, lab tests done on site, health education and assistance with medications, prenatal care, preventative and wellness care (immunizations and flu vaccinations).