Five Years In, AHP a Financial Success for Members

Experience the savings with WBA’s Association Health Plan

By Brian Siegenthaler

Five years ago, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) became the first Wisconsin business group to launch a statewide Association Health Plan (AHP). AHPs provide the same flexibility to small businesses that large organizations enjoy when it comes to negotiating pricing and coverage options for healthcare.

The plan — offered exclusively to WBA-member banks through WBA Employee Benefits Corporation (EBC), a subsidiary of the WBA, is administered by UnitedHealthcare (UHC). Since its inception, WBA’s plan has saved WBA-member banks over $1.8 million. We’ve added 2,000 members and are UHC’s fastest- growing AHP.

Joining the WBA AHP has several benefits, including:

A Local Association Team

We provide a consultative approach to help you create a desirable benefit portfolio for your association groups. Our strong customer support helps teams ease the process of addressing healthcare needs.

Opportunity for Cost Savings

As a small group of 1–50employees, you can access plans that give you strength in numbers. For rating purposes you’re seen as a large employer, and not subject to Adjusted Community Rating. For groups with 51 or more eligible employees, UHC is offering a Premium Discount and a Renewal Rate Cap of 9% for the first renewal.

More Plan Options

UHC offers plan flexibility with dozens of plan designs to choose from — allowing flexibility in options to balance costs. Consumer-driven plan flexibility includes high deductible options, health reimbursement accounts (HRA), and health savings accounts (HSA). The AHP features a customized 45-plan package for the WBA Association Health Plan Employers.

Easy to Switch

Our array of plans, doctors, and services are likely similar to what members have today, making for a smoother transition.

Strong National Network

The nation’s single largest proprietary network that reaches 98% of the United States’ population — more than 907,000 physicians and healthcare professionals at over 5,500 hospitals.

Convenient Resources

Mobile, online, or person-to-person resources that help members make well informed choices about their healthcare costs and needs.

The process to receive a fully underwritten AHP health insurance proposal has been improved. Just two items are needed to receive firm rates — a quote checklist and census.

In addition, WBA EBC is thrilled with the successful launch of the online system for streamlined insurance and human resources tasks. The online portal, accessible through a partnership with the Iowa Bankers Insurance Services, provides member banks with enhanced service, better transparency on costs and expenses, member driven control of enrollment or changes, and the ability to better control administrative costs in the future.

For more information or if you have any questions about WBA EBC’s insurance options, please visit wisbankin.com.