Assurant Health offers free advocacy service to members with high out-of-pocket costs Posted: February 16th, 2011

Assurant Health has announced a partnership with Health Payment Advocates (HPA) to provide advocacy services to members with high out-of-pocket costs. The Milwaukee-based health insurer is offering the complimentary service to members of its Assurant Health Access plan who have out-of-pocket costs exceeding $500.

HPA will work with policyholders to help them understand their medical coverage options and cost-sharing responsibility. In addition, the advocacy firm will work with medical providers to create mutually beneficial payment solutions.

Three potential HPA actions:

1. Negotiating provider discounts for out-of-pocket costs
2. Developing payment plans
3. Enrolling members in charity care programs

"We conducted a pilot of the HPA services across our entire book of business over the last year, and the results exceeded our expectations," Scott Krienke, senior vice president of product and marketing for Assurant Health, said in a press release announcing the program. "We're now offering this service to individuals enrolled in our Assurant Health Access product to help them manage their exposure if they exceed coverage limits and have high out-of-pocket expenses."