The cost of healthcare seems to always be on the rise, both for employees and their employers. Various plans have been introduced throughout the years to help control these costs – from front end deductibles to high deductible/HSA plans. Recently, United Healthcare and McGohan Brabender partnered to launch a new, innovative program and product to help employers earn significant trend and rate adjustments for their renewals call Bend the Trend.
The easiest way to understand how the program works is to break the program down into Years 1 and 2.
Year 1 establishes the foundation for the Bend the Trend Program at the employer level. To "get on the field to play," employers agree to some basic strategic commitments in the following categories: wellness, optimal plan components, outcomes-based plan design, diabetes prevention/control. Don't worry, it sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is -- and chances are good that you're probably already doing some of it or all of it already. If you are an existing UHC customer, you can go ahead and start at year 2.
For meeting each employer strategic commitment, points are awarded Click Here to Download PDF Chart . The more commitments you meet, the more points you earn. Thus, the greater the premium discounts.
Beginning with your Year 1 start date, the Year 2 clock begins ticking. Now we need your employees to get involved. Do you remember those four strategic buckets we started with at the employer level? Well, we take those same four buckets and add some employee activities to them. Some are very simple, and others may require a little more effort – but that's ok. Our goal is to get your employees to own their health care plan…not rent it!
Just as with the employer commitment, employees earn points. Some of the points are awarded for participation while others are based on outcomes.
At the end of Year 1, your Year 2 rate adjustments are determined. This is done by adding up your earned Year 1 and Year 2 points. The greater your points, the greater your rate adjustment.
Want to know more about this program? Check out the Bend the Trend website for a potential financial impact calculator, wellVibe trailer, and a contact form!
