Health Insurance Technology: A Key Ingredient to Success

With more than 47 million uninsured Americans and no viable government health care reform on the horizon, health insurance carriers and agencies are starting to use technology to make health insurance user-friendly and to include value-added services to your portfolio. You do, however, need to know how to use such software in your practice. Following are three steps to integrating technology into your health insurance practice.

Step 1: Combine health insurance plans with consumers

With all the health care plan choices available and a consumer base that is relatively uninformed about their options, there is a huge opportunity for companies to use technology that could help consumers find the health insurance plan that best meets their individual needs. Several health insurance agencies that offer multiple carriers have found value in developing proprietary software that allows users to enter the applicant's information, including pre-existing conditions, budget, and desired benefits, in order to narrow down the options and help the user find the health insurance plan that fits requirements.
Some companies put these applications directly on their Web site, allowing applicants to access them and undergo the entire application process without assistance. Other companies that still see value in the consultation of a licensed insurance agent have developed applications that allow the producer to utilize similar tools in order to more effectively serve their customer base. In either case, the customer is well served by technology that compares their personal information against numerous health plans and narrows down their choices in a matter of minutes.
Each of these business models appeals to a different sector of the uninsured market. The self-serve Web site-based application model serves the consumers who value autonomy in their search for health insurance and want to put in the time and effort to educate themselves about their options. Other consumers prefer the guidance of an expert and want further assistance in understanding the options that are available to them after the software applies the filter. For these clients, the licensed insurance agent can then play an integral part in educating and further assisting the applicant.
Licensed agents that wish to take advantage of implementing technology into their sales repertoire will likely need to join a large insurance agency in order to profit from their technological investment. Contrary to past experience, in today's world joining a company doesn't mean going into the office everyday. Advances in web based technology can allow companies to empower home based agents.
Agents that wish to work from home should look for agencies that will provide them with an opportunity to utilize their system via an internet connection. When interviewing companies look for one that has developed their web application using ASP.net (the latest programming language that allows for increased functionality), and don't be afraid to ask the company if you can test the system first. When testing the system evaluate its processing speed (how fast does it take you from one screen to another), system continuity (are the fields presented in a manner that makes sense when qualifying a potential customer), and note if there are any bugs in the system (does the system crash when you try to perform an operation).

Step 2: Sprinkle value-added services on top

Once a consumer has selected a health insurance plan, they will find that most carriers provide tools for the members who help them quickly and easily find the information they need in order to get the most out of their plan. While most people know that they can go online and find a doctor who is covered by their insurance plan, many carriers are going far beyond providing this rudimentary information and offering a total management suite for their members.
Some general information that users can find online regarding their health plan includes a description of their plan and its benefits, detailed information regarding their applicable out-of-pocket expenses and what they have paid to date, the ability to change their primary care physician online, and detailed line item accounts of their medical and pharmacy claims. More advanced tools allow members to compare hospitals, estimate procedure costs, research doctor disciplinary records and hospital report cards, and maintain personal medical records.
The level of detailed information available to the consumer differs from carrier to carrier. Insurance agents should be informed of the tools available for the plans that they sell. Not only is it good customer service to inform clients of the existence and potential benefits of the tools and information, but for the savvy consumer it could be the selling point that closes the deal.

Step 3: Mixture will rise as increasing political heat is added

Whether it's used to ease the process of finding a plan or to provide ancillary benefits to improve customer service and maintain members, technology is paving the way for health insurance to become a manageable product for the average consumer. Web-based applications and readily available informational resources are providing the uninsured with the tools necessary to make educated decisions about health coverage.
As health insurance in America continues to be at the center of political debate, technological advances can alleviate the stress of finding and maintaining a policy and should continue to be an important focus of any company or individual in the health insurance sector.

By Liz Kenneally and Tiffany Tobol
Liz Kenneally is the Vice President of Business Development for Oxonia Insurance Group, Inc , a national health insurance agency and exclusive distributor for the Sure Health and Intelicare Health Programs , an innovative provider of Mini Medical products for the individual or group market. Liz serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Association of Health Underwriters (FAHU) as their Publication Chair and is also the editor for the free monthly online newsletter, One Voice. (www.fahuonevoice.com)

* required

* First and Last Name
*Your date of birth Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Day 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Year 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900
*Gender Select Male Female	*Smoker Select No Yes
*Zip Code	* Phone - -

Complete Health Insurance Guide
Health Insurance News Covered
Health Insurance at VitalOne
Family Healthcare Plans at VitalOne
How to Buy Health Insurance Online
How to Buy Short Term Health Insurance
How to Determine Your Health Insurance...
How to Determine the Right Health...
HealthCare Plans for Young Adults
 Children Health Insurance Plans
 What is a Co-Payment? a deductible?
 Health Savings Account (HSA)

 
Read Ana's HealthCare blog  How to Buy Individual & Family Healthcare Insurance Plans: Know what type of healthcare coverage you need because comparing Health Insurance Plans can be tricky, more of choosing Health Insurance