Agents, Providers and Consumers Seek Alternative Financing/Consumer-Driven
Solutions
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Reimbursement Arrangements
(HRAs) drew strong interest from agents, providers and consumers as
alternative solutions for double-digit increases in healthcare costs at the
recent Healthcare Symposium of the Iowa Association of Health Underwriters on
Friday, September 19.
"A Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or HRA, coupled with a high
deductible health plan creates a very affordable option for employer sponsored
health coverage," says Tim Bireley, Vice President of Small Group Product
Management, Fortis Insurance Company. "It also serves as a catalyst for
employees to be more discerning healthcare consumers, which is a vital
component to solving the healthcare affordability crisis." Attending providers
as well voiced the need to integrate wellness and personal responsibility into
the healthcare system.
Representing Fortis Health, Bireley was joined by Kevin Knopf of the U.S.
Treasury Department. Together, they provided product and other information to
help small business owners decide how HRAs could help them bridge the
affordability gap. Small businesses have been faced with the choice of bearing
high cost increases, shifting the burden to employees, or no longer providing
health benefits. HRAs represented a new kind of solution that attendees were
seeking.
The annual symposium provided a forum for addressing the pressing issues
of healthcare delivery, reform, administration and financing. This year's two-
day forum also included speakers from the White House, Department of Labor,
Health & Human Services, and others.
For more information about HRAs and other types of tax-favored options,
visit http://www.fortishealth.com or call 800-800-1212.
About Fortis Health:
Fortis Health ( http://www.fortishealth.com ) is comprised of Fortis Insurance
Company, John Alden Life Insurance Company and Fortis Benefits Insurance
Company. These companies develop and provide individual medical, small group,
short term and student health insurance products. In business since 1892, the
company provides health insurance coverage for over one million people
nationwide. With almost 3,000 employees, Fortis Health is headquartered in
Milwaukee, Wis., and has operations offices in Minnesota, Idaho, and Florida,
as well as sales offices across the country.
Fortis Health is part of Fortis, Inc., a financial services company that,
through its operating companies and affiliates, has built leadership positions
in a number of specialty insurance market segments. Fortis, Inc. is part of
Fortis, a financial services provider active in the fields of insurance,
banking and investment. As of year-end, 2002, Fortis had total assets of
approximately $500 billion. As one of the world's largest financial services
companies, Fortis ranks 73rd based on revenues on the Fortune 'Global 500'
(July 21, 2003) and 40th based on revenues on Forbes' International 500 list
(July 3, 2003).
SOURCE Fortis Health
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Related links:
http://www.fortishealth.com
CONTACT:
Michelle Love-Johnson of Seroka Public
Relations for Fortis Health, +1-262-523-3740, michelle@seroka.com
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