Showing posts with label Aetna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aetna. Show all posts

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Healthcare Reform – Good News, Bad News

As the new national health care plan goes into effect, companies and insurers are seeking ways to keep plans affordable. One idea that is being tried in limited markets is offering plans with reduced premiums, but have a narrower selection of doctors and hospitals than the traditional plans. Sort of a throw back to the managed care days of the 1990’s.

These plans will no doubt appeal to smaller businesses that already offer insurance to their employees, but who are being confronted with rapidly increasing premiums. As this type of plan catches on, though, larger companies will certainly gravitate toward them as well. What this will mean for employees is that they will keep their premiums down, but will have very few choices in-network of who they see and where they can go. And to go out-of-network will cost individuals dearly.

How does WhiteGlove House Call Health fit into this equation? Adding WhiteGlove to a company’s benefits plan lowers overall health care spending, which in turn can translate into helping to control rising premiums. WhiteGlove caps costs for routine care, improves employee productivity, reduces absenteeism and helps with the potential morale problems caused by ever tightening health plan restrictions.

How? WhiteGlove is a membership-based routine healthcare provider. A company or health plan pays a membership fee per employee and dependents, and then that employee can use WhiteGlove as often as desired for any routine healthcare needs, at a capped fee of $35 per visit. The visit fee includes medical care that comes to the employee’s home or office, generic prescription medications, a care package of foods, beverages, and over-the-counter remedies.

Healthcare reform is a work in progress. But there are growing pains that are going to be associated with its implementation. WhiteGlove can help to ease that pain.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Healthcare Uncertainty

Has your company been forced to move to a high deductible health plan (HDHP) in order to continue to offer, or begin to offer, healthcare to your employees? You are not alone! In 2011, for the first time a majority of U.S. workers are expected to have health insurance deductibles of $400 or more.

Many employers have told us that this causes uncertainty with:
· How much employees will spend on healthcare because now they will pay 100% of their healthcare costs until they reach their deductible. That could man $100s of every doctor visit.
· Employee reaction to the HDHP and how it will impact morale, because they no longer have a co-pay for doctor visits – many will see this as taking a cut in pay.
· The impact to the business – many fear losing key employees because of their ability to offer competitive benefits.

In a May 2010 study of employers, when asked how important specific health care reform goals were to their organization, respondents labeled the following as essential or high priority:
· Containing health care costs (96 percent of respondents).
· Encouraging healthy lifestyles (88 percent).
· Improving the quality of care (75 percent).

What role does WhiteGlove play in these uncertain times? By adding the WhiteGlove service to your company’s healthcare offering, you can be certain that your employees and dependents will spend much less on their healthcare and love the care we bring to them.

WhiteGlove lowers overall spending, caps costs for routine care, improves employee productivity, reduces absenteeism and helps with the potential morale problems caused by having to change your health plan.

WhiteGlove’s Corporate Membership Program is designed to help companies (and their employees) take control of their healthcare costs.
· For fully insured companies: we are able to lower the cost of healthcare for your employees and dependents, increase employee productivity, and improve employee morale.
· For self-funded companies: we are able to lower the cost of healthcare for both the company and your employees/dependents, increase employee productivity, and improve employee morale.

We are certain that WhiteGlove can help your company through these uncertain times! Want to learn more? Visit our website at www.whiteglove.com.

Friday, May 28, 2010

WhiteGlove Offers More Services Than You Might Think

When one of my friends has a health issue, I often suggest that they call WhiteGlove. The responses I get usually range from “I thought they were just for coughs and colds” to “Do they do that?” My answer is usually “yes!”

Most WhiteGlove members know that they can call for help for a cold or flu and be seen in their home or office by a nurse practitioner within hours of that call. But the scope-of-care offered by WhiteGlove goes way beyond that. It is so broad that I often even have to check the list myself before making the suggestion!

WhiteGlove can see you for dehydration, high blood pressure, back pain, pink eye, migraines, allergies, bronchitis and much more. They can also do screenings including diabetes, hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The list is long, and often surprising. It is also better organized than mine! And that’s just their care for when you aren’t feeling well. WhiteGlove offers well-care services, too. Things like camp and sports physicals, flu shots, vaccinations and all sorts of screenings.

My best suggestion to my friends and family is to always check with WhiteGlove first. You can go onto their website and see a list of services, or you can just call and ask.

And as always with WhiteGlove, you will be seen within hours of your call, at your convenience by a nurse practitioner. In most cases, the nurse practitioner can provide you with any medications you might need. If they don’t have it with them, they’ll make sure they get it to you.

So the next time you’re not feeling well, and think that you might should go see a doctor, take a look at the website at www.whiteglove.com or give them a call at 877-329-8081. You might be pleasantly surprised and save yourself a trip to the doctor.

Friday, May 7, 2010

WhiteGlove House Call Health – A First Hand Account Of The Experience

The Decision
I was sick. It started with a sore throat, and then moved on to chest congestion and had ended up with an unending cough. I was making a trip to Dallas in a few days and kept thinking, “Tomorrow I’ll feel better. It’s just allergies.” Finally, the day before I needed to leave for my trip, I threw in the towel and admitted to myself that I wasn’t getting any better. I knew there was pertussis at my daughter’s school, and so that was a nagging thought in the back of my mind. My other main thought was that I was leaving town tomorrow and I needed to get work done today! I didn’t really have time to do the whole “beg-to-get-in-to-see-a-doctor, wait-in-the-office, run-get-my-prescription-filled” thing.

Because we have Aetna for our insurance, and because we live in a WhiteGlove House Call Health service area, I knew we were automatically members. So I logged onto www.whiteglove.com to schedule a visit. Since I work out of the house, I didn’t have to bother with the decision of whether I should stay home or meet them at work. But it is nice to know WhiteGlove will go to either place.

At 8:30 a.m. I requested an appointment through the online system. At 8:45 a.m. I got a call from Stacy in WhiteGlove’s membership support and set a visit for 11 a.m. Perfect. That gave me time to straighten my house and brush my teeth. (One advantage of having them come to your office is that you don’t feel compelled to clean up for them.) I also managed to get in some work.

After the call, I also got a follow-up email to confirm my visit time. The neurotic, sleep-deprived part of me really appreciated that attention to detail.

The Visit
My nurse practitioner, Melinda, showed up promptly at 11 a.m. She very professionally and pleasantly introduced herself and asked for my ID. We set up on my kitchen table. Melinda went over my medical history, including the medications I take. (You can’t ever escape that step!) The nice thing about being at home and doing that medications information is that I could just grab my bottles and show them to her! I didn’t have to search my memory for names and amounts.

Melinda asked about my symptoms and worked through all the details of my illness. She then performed a physical exam—blood pressure, ears, nose throat, lungs, and temperature. When she was done, she gave me a thorough explanation of my diagnosis, (not pertussis!) answering questions and reviewing treatment options.

Melinda prescribed some medication, and then excused herself to go out to her car. She returned in a few minutes with the medication in hand! She then also gave me a “get well kit”. It was a wonderful assortment of cough drops, Tylenol and Kleenex, all very needed and welcome. Plus some feel better food items like soup, crackers, ginger ale and jello. I felt like my mom had dropped by to take care of me!

She gave me some written end-of-visit instructions. She explained that my co-pay would be put onto my credit card that I had input when I registered with WhiteGlove and so there was no payment and no additional paperwork required at that time. Then, as efficiently as she arrived, Melinda left. I was sad to see her go (keep in mind that I work at home alone all day), but really excited that I didn’t have to drive to the store to fill my prescription! It was 11:40 a.m.

The Follow-up
The next day, I went to Dallas. I missed my follow-up phone call from WhiteGlove, but my husband assured them I was well enough to travel. An even more comforting thought was the knowledge that if I did not feel better, I could call WhiteGlove in Dallas and they would come to my hotel. When you are a member of WhiteGlove, you are a member in all their service areas, not just your home.

Will I call WhiteGlove House Call Health again? In a heartbeat! Do I recommend it to all my friends? Every day!


Tips:

DO fill out your registration on a day when you feel good and have some free time. You’ll be glad you did when you wake up sick and can simply log on or call and request a visit!

DO have some ID ready when the nurse practitioner arrives. They ask for ID to make sure you are who you say you are. That seems pretty reasonable!

DON’T feel like you have to clean the house for the nurse practitioner. They won’t judge you, you’re sick!

DON’T think you have to have Aetna, Humana or UnitedHealthcare to use WhiteGlove House Call Health. Anyone can become a member.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The WhiteGlove Difference

You may ask yourself what makes WhiteGlove House Call Health different from other routine healthcare services and providers. The short answer is - “EVERYTHING!”

· WhiteGlove comes to you – WhiteGlove clinicians travel to our members’ homes or places of work all over Texas.
· WhiteGlove offers routine medical care at your convenience - WhiteGlove members receive medical care, generic prescription medications, foods, beverages and over the counter remedies in the comfort of their home or office, 365 days a year, 8 am to 8 pm.
· WhiteGlove caps the cost of a visit to one pre-set fee - We cap our members’ out-of-pocket expenses. Your medical visit, most generic Rx medications, and all the incidentals are included in one fixed visit fee (labs, brand Rx medications, and vaccines are run through your health plan, if needed).
· WhiteGlove is not health insurance - WhiteGlove is a membership-based routine medical care provider where members pay a single, fixed visit fee. You do not need health insurance to use the WhiteGlove service or become a member.
· WhiteGlove is available to everyone – there are three ways to become a member.

1. Individual and Family Membership: Any individual or family can pay a monthly fee for membership.
2. Insurance Paid Membership: Anyone with Aetna or Humana health insurance in all service areas or UnitedHealthcare in Austin and San Antonio has their membership fee covered.
3. Corporate Membership: Anyone who works for a company that sponsors the WhiteGlove membership for its employees/dependents.

Visit the WhiteGlove website to start enjoying the “WhiteGlove Difference” today. www.whiteglove.com

Thursday, March 4, 2010

You May Already Be A Member of WhiteGlove

If you have Aetna or Humana and live in our Austin, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth or San Antonio service areas, or if you have UnitedHealthcare and live in our Austin and San Antonio service areas, you are already a member of WhiteGlove House Call Health. Your insurance company is paying for your membership; all you have to do to activate it is go the WhiteGlove website and sign up.

When you are a WhiteGlove member, we bring routine medical care to you at your work or home, 365 days a year, 8am to 8pm. Your visit includes medical care, generic Rx medications, foods, beverages, and over-the-counter remedies that all come to you within hours of your call. And your only financial obligation is the all-inclusive visit fee that is your applicable co-pay (specialist co-pay for Aetna and Humana, PCP co-pay for UnitedHealthcare).

You may already be a member! What are you waiting for?

WhiteGlove provides service in the following Texas markets:

Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare
Austin-Area Counties
· Hays
· Travis
· Williamson

San Antonio-Area Counties
· Bexar
· Comal
· Guadalupe (Zip codes: 78108, 78124, 78154)


Aetna, Humana
Dallas-Area Counties
· Collin
· Dallas
· Rockwall

Fort Worth-Area Counties
· Denton
· Tarrant

Houston-Area Counties
· Harris

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Schools Using WhiteGlove Service For Routine Medical Care

In an exciting and innovative move, some school districts in San Antonio are opting for a new type of routine health care for employees. This service, provided through WhiteGlove House Call Health, brings the doctor’s office to the school district employees, at their homes or at their school.

Employees are visited on-site by a nurse practitioner who examines and treats them. The nurse practitioner also brings generic prescription medications, foods, beverages, and over-the-counter medications, which are furnished to the patient. Employees simply pay their applicable co-pay (for most that is about $35), and that fee covers everything provided, including prescription medications.

No longer do teachers suffering from routine illnesses have to miss a day’s instruction in order to see a primary care physician. The care comes to them, saving them time away from the job and the school money for substitute teachers.

The school district’s insurer covers the WhiteGlove membership fee, and the employees pay the visit fee. The three insurers partnering with WhiteGlove to provide this service are: Humana, Aetna and United Healthcare. This service is available to participating school district employees 365 days a year between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. — at work or at home.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Houston Members Are Weighing In On The WhiteGlove Experience

WhiteGlove House Call Health is a membership-based routine medical care provider where you pay a single, fixed visit fee. Membership gives you access to routine medical care that comes to you at home or work, 365 days a year, 8am to 8pm, within hours of your call.

Unlike other healthcare choices, WhiteGlove brings the medical care, generic Rx medications, foods, beverages, and over-the-counter remedies to its members at home, work or even a hotel room.

Members have access to the WhiteGlove service in all of our service areas: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Most recently, WhiteGlove has expanded into Houston. As more and more Houston members are trying this service, they are discovering what their fellow members in other service areas have already learned – WhiteGlove is “great” and “unbelievable”!

Read what some real WhiteGlove users living in Houston have said about their experience:

“Why hasn't this existed before”

“Great service!…House call in about 2 hrs, prescriptions filled on the spot”

“House Calls! - They come to you (home or office)”


But don’t take our word for it, read these and more reviews from Houston users on CitySearch.

To learn more about WhiteGlove House Call Health, go to www.whiteglove.com.

Monday, February 22, 2010

WhiteGlove Service – How To Access It

WhiteGlove House Call Health is a membership-based routine medical care provider where you pay a single, fixed visit fee. To use WhiteGlove’s service, you have to be a member. A membership gives you access to routine medical care that comes to you at home or work, 365 days a year, 8am to 8pm, within hours of your call.

There are three ways to become a WhiteGlove member:

· Individual and Family Membership: Any individual or family can pay a monthly fee for membership. Each membership is $35 per month. If you are signing up your family, we cap your monthly membership fee at $88 per month. The membership term is 12 months. Our members pay $35 for each visit.
· Insurance Paid Membership: Anyone with Aetna or Humana health insurance in all service areas or UnitedHealthcare in Austin and San Antonio has their membership fee covered. They simply have to logon to the WhiteGlove website and register. They only have to pay their applicable co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible depending on their plan
· Corporate Membership: Anyone who works for a company that sponsors the WhiteGlove membership for its employees/dependents is covered. They only have to pay $35 for each visit.

Once you become a member of our service you can use us an unlimited number of times across ALL of our service areas during your membership term and pay only a single, flat visit fee each time we come to see you. You do not need health insurance to use the WhiteGlove service or become a member.

Want to learn more? Visit our website at www.whiteglove.com.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

WhiteGlove eliminates surprise medical bills and caps costs for routine medical care.

As a WhiteGlove member, we cap your out-of-pocket expenses. Your medical visit, most generic Rx medications, and all the incidentals are included in our visit fee – no matter when you call us, where in our service areas you are, and what routine medical need you have (labs and brand Rx medications are run through your health plan, if needed). And we come to you, so you don’t spend money on gas, parking, tolls, and childcare.

In the past, if you had a routine medical problem after normal office hours, or on the weekend, you had three choices, wait for an appointment with your primary care physician, go to an urgent care center or go to the emergency room. Now, you have a fourth; let a WhiteGlove medical professional come to you, 365 days a year, from 8 am to 8 pm. No more surprise medical bills from urgent care center and emergency room visits for routine care.

At WhiteGlove, we are committed to lowering your healthcare costs while improving your healthcare experience.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

WhiteGlove Members Covered In All Service Areas

What do you do if you are out-of-town and get sick? As a member of WhiteGlove House Call Health, you can use our service an unlimited number of times across ALL of our service areas.

Unlike other healthcare choices, WhiteGlove brings the medical care, generic Rx medications, foods, beverages, and over-the-counter remedies to its members at home, work or even a hotel room, 365 days a year, 8am to 8pm.

Members have access to the WhiteGlove service in all of our service areas: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

Anyone can become a WhiteGlove member but those with Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare have their memberships covered and just pay a co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible depending on their plan. We are an in-network provider for Aetna and Humana in all of our service areas and UnitedHealthcare in Austin and San Antonio.

New service areas

WhiteGlove recently added service in the Texas cities of Cibolo, Marion, Northcliff, Santa Clara, Schertz, and Selma. The specific areas of Guadalupe County now supported include the following zip codes: 78108, 78124, and 78154.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The True Cost of A Routine Healthcare Visit

Most people, when asked, do not know the cost of a routine doctor visit. Some say it is the cost of their co-pay, $20 or $25. In a survey by Harris Interactive, many replied that the cost for the visit was around $95. In reality, the actual cost for a doctor’s visit is $200. *

Rx medications, gas, parking, tolls, foods, beverages, over-the-counter remedies, and childcare all factor into the final cost. Often, consumers never know what that one simple visit cost because they can’t put all the expenses together. According to the survey, more than half of those who responded did not know the cost of treatment until it was received (68 percent), and 11 percent revealed they never found out the cost.

WhiteGlove House Call Health has addressed this issue by offering routine medical care to its members that has transparent pricing, visit times that are reserved, and medical professionals that come to you at home or work, 365 days a year from 8am to 8pm. The cost for this routine healthcare visit? $35 or your applicable co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible if Aetna or Humana insured. Take control of your routine healthcare costs with WhiteGlove House Call Health!

*The Washington Post