• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

The Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan Selects Aetna As Its New Insurer

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 November 2006, 09:01 CST

The Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan (RFVCHP) today announced its selection of Aetna, a leading health care benefits company, as the insurance carrier for its 16 new health plan designs, all of which offer discounted premiums to members of area chambers of commerce. The 16 new health plans are customized for small, medium and large employers in the Roaring Fork and Eagle Valleys.

"RFVCHP exists to address the rural health care challenges faced by businesses and the medical community in the Roaring Fork Valley," said Brad O'Neill, vice president of Van Gilder Insurance Corporation and development consultant to the RFVCHP. "Bringing Aetna on board marks a major milestone in reaching our goal of promoting community-oriented health care plans with competitive pricing, accessibility, and quality outcomes."

RFVCHP chose Aetna as its endorsed carrier following a rigorous process to evaluate proposals from many major insurance companies including the incumbent carrier, PacifiCare, whose contract with RFVCHP ends December 2006. Aetna will succeed PacifiCare as the endorsed carrier for the RFVCHP effective January 1, 2007.

"Aetna is honored by the trust the Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan has placed in us, and we look forward to a long relationship with them and the local businesses they serve," said Jeff Miller, Aetna's Colorado market head. "Health care is a local issue, and we design our health plans with local needs in mind. In 2005, we acquired the Colorado-grown Sloan's Lake network because we recognized the importance of working with hospitals and physicians who understand the local community and can serve our customers and members statewide. We also believe in the importance of helping businesses educate their employees on how to be smart health care consumers, so that they can participate in keeping costs down while seeking out quality and maximizing the value of their health care dollar. Aetna's plan offerings through the RFVCHP include high deductible health plans that are HSA-compatible so individuals can weigh whether the savings available from these tax-advantaged plans are right for them."

Separate of the Aetna agreement, the health plan announced an additional agreement with Ben-e-lect, a leader in consumer directed health care innovation, to provide an adaptable service that can be combined with any of the RFVCHP Chamber plans or any other PPO health insurer. Ben-e-lect provides businesses with additional administrative services, including management of the health savings accounts tied to Aetna's high deductible health plans. This offering gives employers even more flexibility and options to consider when designing their health benefits strategy. Ben-e-lect can advise on the tax advantages of certain high deductible plans paired with HSAs and handle plan administration, freeing business owners to concentrate on growing their business instead of managing their benefits.

Businesses are eligible for discounted plans from Aetna, reduced administrative fees and the Ben-e-lect program if they belong to the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, the Basalt Chamber of Commerce, the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, the Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association or the Rifle Chamber of Commerce. Creating a discounted association plan for area chambers has long been a goal of area chambers of commerce and the RFVCHP.

"Health Care is a major focus of our members, and we are pleased to offer this new program to help them save money on one of their largest expenses," said Marianne Virgili, president and CEO of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association.

The combined strength of Aetna and Ben-e-lect provides businesses with resources and economies-of-scale usually reserved for larger companies. The plan's past success and these new programs for the future are a result of collaboration among the RFVCHP's board of directors, made up of local hospitals, physicians, and a valley-wide community network.

"This powerful one-two punch with the Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan Chamber Plans by Aetna, and the adaptable tools Ben-e-lect offers employers is unlike any other health care initiative available in Colorado," said O'Neill. "Aetna offers the quality and strength of a large insurance carrier with a local mindset to promote health and wellness initiatives. Ben-e-lect provides small business solutions to help control costs and promote healthy workforce behaviors. Just as they were designed to do, these plans will meet the needs of the active lifestyles of the Roaring Fork Valley."

To obtain price quotes for the Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan by Aetna or for Ben-e-lect services, businesses and individuals must belong to one of the local chambers of commerce. Quotes will be available from select local brokers who are members of the Chamber of Commerce.

About RFVCHP

The Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan is a not-for-profit corporation organized to create and promote community-oriented health care plans that are focused on competitive pricing, accessibility, and quality outcomes for members of rural communities in Western Colorado. The RFVCHP is the collaboration of local employers, Chambers of Commerce, community-at-large representatives, brokers, hospitals and provider groups with a goal of bringing quality, affordable health care and health education to the Roaring Fork Valley community.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 29.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com

About Ben-e-lect

Ben-e-lect is a leading administrator of consumer driven health plans. The Ben-e-lect concept is a cost effective medical plan created to help employers take control and lower employee benefit cost. Employers get the freedom of flexibility and choice in designing their own plans and making modifications when they choose. For more information visit www.benelect.com.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category