At Issue
Learning from MESSA members
Today’s challenges require that we constantly ask members, leaders and bargainers for their views and opinions.
The state’s ongoing crisis in
providing adequate funding
for education has put the squeeze
on many school employees.
Many have moved to less costly health plans, accepted higher out-of-pocket expenses and sacrificed raises to help school districts balance budgets and still keep their choice of health plan.
As a not-for-profit membership organization that always strives to put members’ best interests first, MESSA works to balance plan design changes with the goal of preserving the quality benefits that give members the peace of mind and sense of financial security they expect from MESSA.
Reaching out
In order to successfully mesh MESSA’s needs with its goals, it is important to actively seek out the views of members, leaders and bargainers.
MESSA’s Marketing and Underwriting Department takes the lead role in member surveys and outreach efforts.
In partnership with nationally respected consultants, MESSA Marketing conducts surveys, focus groups and other polling to ensure that marketing and plan design decisions are guided by the needs of MESSA stakeholders.
MESSA’s latest member survey and focus groups provided some very valuable insights into our members’ attitudes and preferences.
MESSA members value benefits
Members overwhelmingly prefer to keep their current benefits and pay levels rather than take a raise and higher out-of-pocket medical costs. MESSA members continue to value their benefits as the most important component Learning from MESSA members Today’s challenges require that we constantly ask members, leaders and bargainers for their views and opinions. of their total compensation: more than retirement benefits, salary and working conditions.
When MESSA introduced the MESSA Choices and Choices II PPO programs, the cost savings attributed to using In-network providers who provide discounted pricing to members helped slow the rate of cost increase for our plans. MESSA members are using In-network PPO providers and generic prescription drugs at unprecedented levels.
Introduction of the $10/$20 drug program dramatically improved generic drug utilization. Members are protected by an annual out-of-pocket maximum for their drug co-payments. The $10/$20 drug program saved more than $1,300 on the family premium rate last renewal and was an important component of this year’s low renewal rates as well.
Keeping costs down
The migration to Choices and Choices II and the $10/$20 drug program has had an immense positive impact on premium cost trends.
These changes were managed by our Marketing and Underwriting Department and guided by input received from members in surveys and focus groups. Despite the success of the PPO plans and $10/$20 drug program, pressures remain to find additional options for members to maintain quality health coverage while holding the line on costs.
Much of the national focus in the past couple years has been on shifting more and more of the cost of health care onto the shoulders of employees.
The downside of HSAs
High deductible health plans with the availability of tax-advantaged Health Savings Accounts produce lower premiums, at least initially. But the downside to having “skin in the game,” as proponents like to say, is that HSA participants are required to pay thousands of dollars out of their own pockets before the insurance plan kicks in.
Studies are showing that HSA participants don’t receive the care they need. They don’t fill their prescriptions. For a great many people, this may result in poorer physical and economic health— and higher health care costs in the end.
Wellness programs reduce costs
There are areas that hold promise for helping to reduce costs over the long term. MESSA has long promoted aggressive wellness, member education and chronic care management programs—to help members improve their quality of life and keep costs down.
But more can be done. The MESSA Marketing Department has placed a special focus in survey strategy on assessing members’ views on wellness programs and incentives to get people to live healthier lifestyles.
The fact is that chronic illness accounts for 75 percent of the nation’s health care costs. At least 50 percent of these costs are related to behavior. Seven of every 10 Americans develop diseases linked to preventable high-risk behaviors such as poor diet, insufficient exercise, stress, and tobacco/alcohol use.
Promoting healthier lifestyles
One surefire way to reduce health care costs is to live healthier. MESSA is committed to helping our members achieve and maintain the best health possible.
Another proposed cost-saving trend is having people pay higher premiums for unhealthy lifestyles. MESSA members involved in our most recent focus groups supported greater wellness initiatives and told us a better approach is to reward people for healthy lifestyles and for taking steps to improve their health. This concept is growing in popularity nationally as well as among MESSA members. (See graph above.)
Take the survey
MESSA remains committed to providing high quality benefits at an affordable cost. As MESSA looks at future plan design changes, we are committed to actively seeking members’ input and views.
We are also interested in knowing your thoughts on health care. You can take an online survey at http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB226F32UUCLL.
Please log on to take the survey and leave your comments. Your input is important to MESSA