Until the passage of health reform legislation in 2010, health insurance companies were not legally required to make preventive care affordable or accessible. Since then, the industry has been undergoing a paradigm shift. Health insurers no longer solely offer financial protection in the case of medical catastrophe, but increasingly act as an advocate for health and well-being as well.
This trend not only benefits companies, whose key competency is to manage health risk, but also society as a whole, in dire need of support to curb the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – which include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
HealthPartners, a Minnesota-based HMO, is creating Shared Value for communities through an initiative called PowerUp for Kids. The company engaged its marketing, analytics, clinical, community relations, and other teams to lead a multisectoral approach to childhood obesity prevention near the companyÂ’s headquarters. PowerUp permeates the walls of schools, clinics, workplaces and policies to ensure that children grow up healthier than their parents.
Read more about how HealthPartners is going beyond the four walls of the clinic to promote health among its employees, members, and communities here .
What is the role of health plans in promoting health for their members, employees, and communities? Share your ideas below or on social media, using #beyond4walls
Thumbnail image credit: Gravholt Design
