Video: Navigating Change

Jeff Slay and Jeff Yoos speak with business owner Jason Lavin about Health Care’s evolving landscape.

Video: Care Above All Else

Jeff Slay and Jeff Yoos talk candidly with business owner Jason Lavin about Neovia’s unique business model—Care above all else.

Video: Concerns About Health Care Reform

Jeff Slay comments on the concerns surrounding health care reform.

Video: Health Care Reforms Affect on Business

Jeff Yoos speaks about health care reforms affects businesses.

The Art and Science of the Internet

I recently attended an Internet marketing seminar, hosted by Jason Lavin, CEO of GoldenComm.com.  Neovia recently hired GoldenComm to re-engineer our website and through the process I have learned more about the internet and its inner workings than ever.

Prior to attending the Internet Marketing Workshop, I perceived the Internet largely as a place to gather needed information on various topics.  After participating in the seminar, my perspective has certainly shifted. There is both an art and science behind how to structure your website to ensure proper branding, as well as humanizing the site to create relationships in the marketplace.  Lastly, Jason drives home the message that there are “tools that exist today to monitor your Return on Investment (ROI) across all forms of marketing and advertising endeavors.”

Jason is brilliant at his ability to deliver somewhat complex internet jargon into simple and effective strategy and execution that can be implemented immediately for positive Return on Investment.

Apart from the Internet marketing advice and expertise, Jason shared something that really resonated with me:

“Two things make YOU great: (1). Love what you do (2). Repetition”

So simple, yet so true.  Being passionate and inspired by the work we do is critical for success and then repeating/replicating that passion each day is what make’s individuals and organizations thrive.

Internet marketing will never look the same.  Thanks Jason!

- Jeff Yoos, Executive Vice President of Neovia

Tip: Five Ways Companies can Reduce Healthcare Costs

Businesses are spending more than ever on health care for employees. With health costs projected to rise 66 percent between 2008 and 2017, business owners need to find ways to mitigate those increases. Jeff Slay, founder of Neovia Integrated Insurance Services offers tips to help companies navigate the rapidly changing health care system.

• Apply for the Affordable Health Care Act Early Retiree Program – A new provision of the health care legislation helps companies pay for health care benefits for early retired employees. Accepting applications as of June 29, 2010, companies who seek to insure retirees age 55 or older, who are not yet eligible for Medicare, can apply for reimbursement of up to 80 percent of medical claims between $15,000 and $90,000.

• Work with Insurers to Increase Customer Care and Efficiency – Employers and employees alike are seeking simplified customer service with processing health claims. As a business owner, seek health care partners that work toward both efficiency and compassion in processing claims. Delays cost employees money, time and result in frustration. An efficient partner that focuses on customer service can help reduce these costs across the board.

• Enroll Employees in Wellness Programs – With $1.3 trillion in health care costs directly related to chronic conditions caused by unhealthy patient lifestyles, businesses can reduce their health care premiums by promoting healthier lifestyles. Many insurers offer wellness plans that support lifestyle modification including weight loss and smoking cessation—encouraging healthy habits can help reduce medical costs in both the short and long term.

• Enlist Employees in Health Care Decisions – Employees are more likely to participate in at-work health and wellness initiatives if they are directly involved in planning and executing the program, notes Slay. Get employees excited during the planning phase—ask what kinds of health initiatives they’re interested in and listen to their responses. You hired your employees for their skill and intelligence—use those skills to design and implement plans that will work for your specific company.

• Understand New Government Regulations – Companies have many regulations to comply with, from HIPAA to COBRA and now the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590. Work with your insurance company and broker to understand what new legislation means for you. Being proactive about changes now will help companies better manage costs later.

Tip: Involve Employees in Healthcare Initiatives

Your employees care about health care benefits even more than you do! Let them know you’re thinking about their care and how to get them the very best coverage possible. When rates are going up, and you must find a way to stabilize costs, it’s a perfect time to enlist your employees in the effort. You hired them for their skill and intellect—let them put those brains to work for you.

If you want to institute an at-work health and wellness initiative that encourages employees to make healthier choices—get your employees to assist in designing the plan.  The more ownership they feel over their health and wellness choices, the more likely they will get involved once it is started. By giving employees the tools to become healthier in their daily lives, businesses will directly reduce costs due to illness.   When patients take a preventative approach to their own health, costs associated with doctors visits, medications, and hospitalizations will go down.