Private health care exchanges are a hot topic, and the number of HRO service providers with such an offering is expanding. In addition to current providers including Aon Hewitt, Extend Health, and Xerox/ACS, Mercer announced a suite of health care exchange offerings last week.
It’s no surprise that health care exchanges are increasingly popular since the benefits extend to both employers and employees. While employers reduce liability and administration while accessing better plans or prices, employees obtain access to competitive pricing, employer subsidies, and assistance with selecting the plan best-suited for their needs.
Here is a brief synopsis of the existing health care exchanges in the market.
Retiree exchanges: These exchanges typically help retirees select a Medicare plan and/or supplemental insurance products based on their medical needs and budget. Service provider offerings typically include:
- Call center services to assist retirees in selecting a plan including assessing needs, evaluating options, and enrollment into a plan
- An online portal for shopping plans
- Written materials / communications such as booklets, letters (e.g., appointment, confirmation of coverage, and annual enrollment letters), appointment reminders, etc.
Retiree exchanges were the first type of exchange to appear in the market, and as a result, there are a few service providers with such offerings available. Extend Health has its ExtendRetiree exchange. Aon Hewitt added its retiree health care exchange in March 2010 when it acquired Senior Educators, Ltd. In 2011, the exchange was renamed “Aon Hewitt Navigators.” Xerox/ACS launched its retiree exchange, “My Medicare Advocate,” in October 2010.
Among the exchanges it announced last week, Mercer launched its Retiree Medical Exchange. Its exchange leverages any employer subsidies available for coverage by converting current and future retirees to a DC model where they purchase individual coverage most-suited for them.
Active employee exchanges: While the retiree exchanges are focused on individual coverage, the exchanges for active employees are focused on group plans.
Aon Hewitt’s offering, for example, provides employees with a credit to purchase health coverage that can be accessed through its private exchange. Once employees log-on to the exchange, they will select health care coverage from group options that are standard levels of coverage with varying levels of reimbursement.
The Mercer Benefits Choice Exchange (MBCE) allows employers with 100 – 1,000 employees to contribute a set amount to a HRA. Employees then use decision-support tools to select coverage and enroll online.
Mercer’s other offering, Mercer Health Advantage (MHA), allows self-funded employers with >3,000 employees to enroll employees in new medical plans beginning January 1, 2013 that will save the employer 5% or more. Employers will also get access to dedicated MHA clinical care management with ongoing oversight and audit capabilities.
Benefits administration is a major and mature HRO service line. Health care exchanges present a welcome new growth opportunity for HRO and more options for employers and active and retired employees. Expect more benefits service providers to add to the available service offerings.
Amy L. Gurchensky, Research Analyst, HRO, NelsonHall
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