Encore sponsors “The Group Health Insurance Puzzle…The Missing Piece” symposium.

October 2006

August 30, 2006- In partnership with the Indianapolis Chamber of Commence, the Indianapolis Association of Health Underwriters (IAHU) presented “The Group Health Insurance Puzzle…The Missing Piece” symposium. Many of the following topics were addressed during the three hour program.



Author of “The Missing Piece”, Harold “Bud” Boughton was the symposium’s keynote speaker. Drawing from his own real-world experiences in business and athletics, Bud delivered a message that was both meaningful and inspirational. Having worked for several major corporate entities as well as some smaller entrepreneurial firms, Bud spoke about his perspective on the value of technology in today’s business environment and how organizations can get the best possible return from their technology investments and their people.

Dan Evans of Clarian spoke about the uninsured and the clinical perspective while Dan O’Brien of O’Brien Insurance Services discussed reasons why health insurance costs are so high. O’Brien compared the increases in health insurance premiums to other indicators. Secondly, O’Brien stated one or many reasons health insurance is so high is because the healthy subside the sick. He also pointed out that the United States exceeds other industrialized nations in total health spending as a percentage of GDP. He left the audience with one outrageous statistic: Last year, total annual medical costs for the average family of four were $13,382—up 9.6% from the previous year.



Various insurance strategies were discussed by Shelley Campbell of the SETCCO Group and Doug Metzer of United Health Care. They addressed the rise of consumer-driven health care and employee readiness. FSA, HAS and HRAs were covered as well. Campbell also spoke about Wellness & Health Management.

George Bernier from Blue Cross Blue Shield posed the question, "What is the missing piece that will create well-educated consumers?" His answer: transparency. Bernier said, "Transparency is defined as providing patients the tools, including information on quality outcomes and cost, so they can make well-educated decisions on their own individualized healthcare consumption."

Network Cost Containment Options were addressed by Craig Chapman of Premier Healthways/St. Francis. He covered topics such as direct contracting, tiered networks, dual options, and arrangements for high-priced services. Chapman also discussed enhanced discounts such as hearing services, vision, alternative therapies and preventive health services.



The symposium concluded with a panel discussion.

View “Bud” Boughton PowerPoint Presentation
Read Bud’s biography