CIGNA Voluntary recently launched its new Starbridge.com website for members, a new vibrant and educational website that caters to the needs of the member, teaching them about becoming a responsible healthcare consumer and how to properly utilize their limited-benefits plan.

The website is designed to increase enrollment and demonstrate Starbridge’s value through distribution of relevant content.

“CIGNA Voluntary has a valuable opportunity to build a relationship with each member who visits Starbridge.com,” says Curt Wieden, vice president of strategy, product and marketing. “For many members this is their first experience with health insurance and we have a rare opportunity to position ourselves and the value of our products.”

Website Highlights include:

• New look and feel, featuring updated Starbridge branding
• Catered messages and images by lifestyle based on data found from marketing research
• Creation of a successful user interface
• Improved and simplified messaging

Visit the new and improved site at: www.starbridge.com

CIGNA Voluntary GM Reaches Out to Grocery, Supermarket Industries

CIGNA Voluntary’s General Manager Jeff Stelnik recently discussed the advantages of limited-benefit health plans in the grocery and supermarket industries in a guest column titled: Human Resources—Cover All the Bases for Progressive Grocer magazine.

An excerpt from Stelnik’s column:

It is a common belief in the supermarket industry that a company’s operation is only as strong as its personnel. For supermarket and grocery chains this means a heavy reliance on quality part-time and hourly employees to uphold consistent customer service.

One of the industry’s secret solutions in recruiting, hiring and retaining the best part-time and hourly workers available is the offering of a limited-benefit health plan.

Recruiting and retaining talent are critical advantages of offering a limited-benefit health plan. With personnel turnover being a constant issue facing all supermarket managers and executives, the ability to offer an affordable health plan that covers an employee’s routine medical expenses definitely will separate you from competitors.

The complete article can be found at: http://www.progressivegrocer.com/progressivegrocer/content_display/in-print/current-issue/e3i811727a8754c8b9b8eb2ae4cd62584bc

Wellness for the Working Uninsured covered in Benefits Selling

The advantages of wellness for the working uninsured was the topic covered by CIGNA Voluntary’s Curt Wieden, vice president of strategy, product and marketing in a recent issue of Benefits Selling magazine.

An excerpt from Wieden’s column:

The working uninsured typically lack an ongoing relationship with a primary care doctor, resorting to urgent care clinics or emergency rooms, even for non-emergency care. This leads to an inconsistent approach to both medical care as well as documentation in medical records.

The first and easiest step in improving the health of the uninsured is finding a way to provide access to health benefits for basic medical care and wellness. Fortunately, the limited-benefit health plan industry has expanded access to health coverage for the working uninsured, primarily hourly or part-time employees. For many of these workers, a limited-benefit health plan is the only affordable option that provides them with coverage for their everyday medical needs.

Of course, not all limited benefit plans are created equal. A plan with real value should include coverage for common health conditions, including prescription and outpatient benefits.  Leading health insurance companies have also started providing plan options with basic wellness coverage for annual exams, laboratory testing or vaccinations.

Although not all limited-benefit plans offer traditional wellness programs and incentives, some do offer significant discounts on physical fitness centers, stress management programs and oral health products. Many will also offer access to health education and information such as online smoking cessation tools and weight loss programs.

Limited-benefit health plans serve a significant demographic in the insurance market, and their members can greatly benefit from the knowledge and health care access a good plan can provide.  These members—regardless of their economic status, work shift, or skill set—simply need a set of tools to help them access the health care system and make lifestyle changes that can improve their future. Fortunately, limited-benefit health plans give us the opportunity to offer creative, affordable strategies to improve the health and wellness of the working uninsured.

The complete guest column is at: http://www.benefitssellingmag.com/r/bsMag/d/contentFocus/?adcID=2d48ca915ed530d37ed13f1ecdd2561f